Impression Cylinder Sleeve Charging via Segmented Core

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional multi-part impression rollers with electrostatically charged sleeves require complex insulating bearings to prevent charge flow, making them difficult to maintain and challenging to comply with stringent explosion protection regulations.

Innovation Solution

An impression roller design featuring a roller core with an electrical contact point and power supply, where the sleeve's conductive or semiconductive layer is insulated from the core, allowing for electrostatic charging without charging the roller core, thus simplifying the bearing design and meeting stricter safety regulations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the sleeve is electrostatically charged via the roller core, then improved print quality is achieved, but complex insulating bearings are required to prevent charge flow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprint qualityVSAvoidbearing insulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The roller core is segmented into a charged region (with electrical contact point and power supply) and an uncharged region (bearing shaft area). The conductive/semiconductive area on the sleeve contacts only the charged region, allowing the bearing shaft to remain uncharged and use simple bearings without complex insulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Only a specific local area of the roller core (the conductive/semiconductive area) is charged, while the bearing shaft region remains uncharged. This localized charging approach maintains print quality improvement while avoiding the need for complex insulating bearings throughout the entire roller core.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If the entire roller core is charged, then the sleeve can be electrostatically charged, but explosion protection regulations become difficult to meet

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprint qualityVSAvoidexplosion risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The roller core is divided into a charged segment (for print quality) and an uncharged segment (bearing shaft for safety). This segmentation limits the charged area to only where necessary, reducing overall explosion risk while maintaining printing performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Charging is applied locally only to the conductive/semiconductive area that contacts the sleeve, while the bearing shaft region remains uncharged. This localized approach achieves the necessary print quality without creating explosion hazards throughout the entire roller core.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If complex insulating bearings are used, then charge flow is prevented, but maintenance costs and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharge retentionVSAvoidmaintenance complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the roller core into charged and uncharged regions, the bearing shaft can use simple, easy-to-maintain bearings. The sleeve can still be charged through the conductive/semiconductive area without requiring complex insulation on the bearings, thus reducing maintenance complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Manufacturing precision

If the roller core is charged, then the sleeve can be charged, but the bearing shaft becomes complicated with insulation requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrostatic charging capabilityVSAvoidbearing shaft complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The roller core is segmented so that only the necessary conductive/semiconductive area is charged, while the bearing shaft region remains uncharged. This allows the bearing shaft to be simple and easy to manufacture, while still achieving the required electrostatic charging capability for the sleeve.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This design prevents the roller core from being charged, allowing for uncomplicated bearing insulation and easier compliance with explosion protection regulations, enhancing maintenance efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

A conductive or semiconductive area of the pushed-on sleeve rests against the electrical contact point. The electrical contact point and the power supply are electrically insulated from the rest of the roller core that has the bearing shaft, so that the rest of the roller core is not charged during operation.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

The electrical contact point and the power supply are electrically insulated from the rest of the roller core that has the bearing shaft, so that the rest of the roller core is not charged during operation.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical insulation: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentEP2209630B1Impression cylinder
Publication Date: 2016.03.09 DOPPLER ALFRED
  • EP2209630B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2209630B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2209630B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

An impression cylinder (6) comprises a cylinder core (71) encompassing a bearing shaft (79), and a removable sleeve (63) that is slid onto the cylinder core (71). The cylinder core (71) has an electrical contact point in the form of a double-crimped metal ring (100) as well as a non-rotating brush (102) as a power supply. A conducting zone (631) of the slid-on sleeve (63) rests against the electrical contact point (100). The electrical contact point (100) and the power supply (102) are electrically insulated from the rest of the cylinder core (71) encompassing the bearing shaft (79) such that the rest of the cylinder core (71) is not charged during operation. The bearings (12) of the impression cylinder (6) therefore do not need to be electrically insulated with a lot of effort.