Partially Open Housing for Container Printing Ink Mist Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing devices for containers, especially those with curved or convex surfaces, face issues with ink mist formation due to air currents and turbulences, leading to poor print quality and contamination, and are limited in handling non-cylindrical containers and complex mechanisms for opening and closing housings.
Innovation Solution
A partially open housing design for the printing device that accommodates containers, allowing flexible attachment of processing tools like inkjet print heads and UV lamps, with mechanisms for accessing the container feed and removal locations to prevent ink mist and accommodate various container geometries, and includes features like sealing to control air currents and ink extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an open structural design of the printing device is used, then access to containers is easy and device complexity is reduced, but air currents cause ink mist formation leading to poor print quality and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible housing structure with movable walls is used to enclose the printing area. The housing can open to allow container access and close to prevent ink mist formation. This resolves the contradiction by providing both easy access (when open) and print quality protection (when closed), using a flexible barrier that adapts to operational needs.
2Manufacturing precision
If a closed housing is used to prevent ink mist, then print quality improves and contamination is reduced, but access to containers for printing becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The housing structure incorporates movable walls that can dynamically open and close based on operational requirements. During printing, the housing closes to maintain air quality and prevent ink mist. During container loading/unloading, the housing opens to provide access. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between protection and accessibility.
3Productivity
If high conveying speeds are used for high bottle throughput rates, then productivity increases, but turbulences intensify ink mist formation and lead to contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The housing creates a controlled environment around the printing area. By enclosing the space, it isolates the printing process from external air currents generated by high-speed conveying. This inert/controlled atmosphere prevents turbulence-induced ink mist formation even when bottles are conveyed at high speeds, thus maintaining both productivity and print quality.
4Reliability
If a complex mechanism for opening and closing housing is used, then sealing effectiveness improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing mechanism is designed to be actuated automatically by the container itself or by simple sensors detecting container presence. The container's own movement or position triggers the housing to open or close, eliminating the need for complex external control mechanisms. This self-service approach maintains sealing effectiveness while minimizing mechanism complexity.
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 prevents ink mist deposition on machine components, improves print quality, allows for flexible tool handling, and enables printing on containers of arbitrary size and geometry, simplifying the mechanism for opening and closing the housing while maintaining effective sealing and ink extraction.
Implementation Method 1
direct printing method... by means of a plurality of individual nozzles... contactless, selective spraying-on of individual color droplets
Implementation Method 2
processing tools like inkjet print heads and UV lamps
Data Source
AI summary
A printing device for printing on containers in a rotationally-driven container conveying unit by means of which containers are conveyed between at least one container feed location and at least one container removal location, the printing device, and including at least one print head and at least one housing for housing a container. Each housing includes a hollow body, which is partially open at least in a printing area and which is used for accommodating the container, the opening for the printing area defining a front side and a side located opposite the front side defining a rear side.