Grooved End Ring Seals for Compressible Sleeve Liners
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sleeve assemblies for Anilox rolls in rotary printing presses face issues with operative liquid ingress into the compressible liner, compromising its radial compressibility and leading to seizure on the bridge mandrel, despite existing sealing mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The sleeve assembly incorporates end rings with excavation formations and continuous channels, combined with a gasket forming composition, to form a continuous annular or axial barrier seal, preventing liquid ingress by overlapping with corresponding channels in the sleeve or liner, ensuring complete sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a compressible liner is used to enable easy mounting and removal of the sleeve assembly, then ease of operation is improved, but the liner becomes susceptible to liquid ingress that compromises its compressibility
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is divided into multiple segments: end rings with excavation formations, continuous channels in the sleeve and liner, and gasket forming composition. These segmented elements work together to create a comprehensive sealing barrier that prevents liquid ingress while maintaining the compressible nature of the liner.
Solution Approach 2:
The end rings are nested within the sleeve assembly, with excavation formations that receive gasket forming composition. The continuous channels are nested within the liner and sleeve structure, creating a multi-layered sealing system where each nested element contributes to the overall sealing function.
2Reliability
If end rings are screwed into the sleeve to secure the assembly, then reliability is improved, but liquid can still ingress through gaps between the end ring and sleeve
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket forming composition acts as an intermediary sealing element between the end ring and the sleeve/liner assembly. This intermediary material fills the gaps and creates a continuous seal that prevents liquid ingress while allowing the end ring to be securely screwed into the sleeve.
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket forming composition forms a flexible sealing film that conforms to the excavation formations and continuous channels, creating a adaptable barrier against liquid ingress. This flexible seal maintains the security of the assembled structure while preventing harmful liquid penetration.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If excavation formations and continuous channels are added to create a barrier seal, then liquid ingress is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged into existing structural elements: the end rings, sleeve, and liner. The excavation formations are integrated into the end rings, and the continuous channels are incorporated into the sleeve and liner structures, eliminating the need for separate sealing components and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The end rings serve multiple functions: securing the assembly mechanically through screwing and providing sealing surfaces through excavation formations. The continuous channels serve dual purposes as structural features and sealing pathways. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated sealing components.
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 solution effectively prevents operative liquid ingress, maintaining the compressibility of the liner and ensuring the sleeve assembly can be easily mounted and removed from the mandrel, enhancing durability and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a continuous annular barrier seal which extends radially across the interstice defined between adjacent corresponding cylindrical surfaces of end ring and sleeve, and A continuous rib barrier seal which extends axially across the interstice defined between adjacent corresponding annular end surfaces of end ring and liner
Implementation Method 2
the innermost cylindrical surface of the compressible liner provided within the Anilox sleeve to radially expand by a small amount (of the order of only 1-2mm, possibly even less) thus releasing the sleeve from the mandrel
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A sleeve assembly is disclosed in which a pair of annular end rings are screwed into respective ends of an annular sleeve which includes around its inner surface a compressible liner. In order to create an effective, fluid impregnable seal between the end rings and the sleeve, respective surfaces of both end ring and sleeve are provided with specific complementary groove, chamfer, undercut or channel formations, and prior to screwing insertion of an end ring into a sleeve end, respective surfaces and formations are filled and covered with a viscous but fluent curable gasket forming composition such that amounts of gasket forming composition provided on and continuously around the end ring unite with corresponding amounts of gasket forming composition provided within and completely around corresponding surfaces of the sleeve as and when the end ring is completely screwed into a sleeve end. Thus, when the respective amounts of gasket forming composition provided on end ring and sleeve unite together and then cure, effective rib or band-like rubberised seals are created which extend either or both of: - radially into and within respective axially aligned or adjacent formations provided on exterior and interior surfaces of end ring and sleeve alike, and - axially from within an end surface of the end ring and into some formation, for example a channel excavation, provided within a respective end of the liner adjacent which said end ring end surface becomes disposed when the end ring is fully screwed in place within the sleeve.