Gear Pump Bearing Frame Integration for UV Ink
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing gear pumps used for transporting ultraviolet-curable ink face challenges in forming bearing parts with high accuracy, leading to increased friction and heat generation, which complicates motor control and destabilizes ink transport due to the difficulty in aligning and maintaining the axis of bearing parts within the pump casing.
Innovation Solution
A gear pump design featuring a bearing frame with integrated driving and driven side bearing portions that supports the gear shafts, allowing for precise alignment and parallel arrangement, reducing friction and heat generation through optimized clearance ratios and material selection, thereby preventing ink curing and ensuring stable ink transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If bearing parts are formed in a divided pump casing structure, then the pump casing can be assembled from multiple parts, but the manufacturing precision of bearing part alignment becomes difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the bearing support function into the pump casing structure itself, where the casing directly forms the bearing support portions that hold the shafts. This integration eliminates the need for separate bearing parts, thereby achieving both ease of manufacture through modular casing design and high manufacturing precision through direct formation of the support structure.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If clearance between shaft and bearing is reduced to reduce friction, then friction is reduced, but excess heat generation increases causing ink curing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the shaft as an intermediary element between the gear and the bearing support structure. The shaft is designed with precise dimensions and material properties that allow it to rotate smoothly within the bearing support portions while maintaining optimal clearance. This controlled clearance reduces friction between moving parts and prevents excessive heat generation that would cause ink curing.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If reverse driving is performed to lubricate bearing parts, then lubrication is improved, but motor control becomes complicated and ink transport becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the bearing support portions to be self-lubricating by utilizing the ink itself as the lubricant. The ink flows naturally into the bearing support portions during normal forward driving operation, providing continuous lubrication without requiring reverse driving maneuvers. This eliminates the need for complex motor control sequences while ensuring stable ink transport and proper lubrication of the bearing parts.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design enables high-accuracy formation and maintenance of bearing parts, suppressing heat generation and preventing ink curing, ensuring stable and efficient transport of ultraviolet-curable ink, and facilitating easier assembly and maintenance of the gear pump.
Implementation Method 1
reducing friction and heat generation through optimized clearance ratios and material selection
Implementation Method 2
friction at those parts is reduced (an ultraviolet-curable ink properly functions as a lubricant (lubricating oil)), excess heat generation is suppressed
Implementation Method 3
Although the ultraviolet-curable ink undergoes a polymerization reaction and is cured induced by heat or the like
Data Source
AI summary
A gear pump includes a pump casing and a gear assembly. The gear assembly includes a driving gear, a driven gear, a driving gear shaft, a driven gear shaft, and a bearing frame. The bearing frame includes a frame main body, a pair of driving side bearing portions, and a pair of driven side bearing portions. The frame main body has a pair of bearing support portions, in which the driving side bearing portion and the driven side bearing portion are provided, and a connecting portion which connects the bearing support portions. The bearing support portions and the connecting portion are integrated together as a one-piece member.