Ink-jet Print Head Protection via Dynamic Distance Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital printing machines with ink-jet print heads face challenges in maintaining precise alignment and preventing damage during the printing of continuous sheet materials, especially when thickening occurs, as previous solutions fail to allow simultaneous maintenance and printing, and often result in misalignment or damage to the print heads.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a chassis with movable supports and actuation, tensioning devices, and detectors to adjust the position of ink-jet print heads relative to the sheet material, ensuring a safe distance is maintained during thickening, and allowing for independent position adjustment and maintenance of each printing unit while maintaining printing operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the ink-jet print heads are positioned close to the band of sheet material for precise printing, then printing precision is improved, but the risk of damage from thickening reaches the print heads increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of thickening upstream of the printing position and preemptively moves the print heads away before the thickening reaches them. The detection means identifies thickening at an earlier position, and the control means activates the displacement device to create safe distance in advance, preventing potential damage while maintaining close positioning for normal printing operations.
2Ease of repair
If the ink-jet print heads are mounted on a movable carriage for maintenance access, then ease of maintenance is improved, but misalignment of print heads occurs due to connection tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces mechanical connection systems with displacement means (such as pneumatic or electric actuators) that can dynamically adjust and precisely position the print heads. This substitution eliminates the accumulation of mechanical tolerances through rigid connections while maintaining ease of maintenance through controlled movement capabilities.
3Ease of repair
If multiple printing units are arranged on a sliding carriage for centralized maintenance, then maintenance organization is improved, but printing operations must be interrupted for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the printing units so that each unit or subset of units can be independently moved to maintenance positions while other units remain in printing positions. The displacement means allows selective positioning of individual printing units, enabling maintenance on one unit without interrupting printing operations on other units, thus maintaining overall productivity.
4Manufacturing precision
If the print heads are positioned close to the sheet material for high-quality printing, then printing quality is improved, but the print heads are vulnerable to damage from material variations
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs detection means that continuously monitor the position and condition of the sheet material upstream of the printing position. When thickening or material variations are detected, feedback signals trigger the control means to activate the displacement device, which adjusts the print head position in real-time to maintain an appropriate safe distance, thereby protecting the print heads while preserving printing quality through dynamic adaptation.
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a
AI summary
The present invention relates to a digital printing module method for printing a band of continuous sheet material, wherein the module comprises a chassis (1), rollers (2), and a plurality of digital printing units (10), each with a bridge (11) with guides (12) and a sliding carriage (13) with ink-jet print heads (14), one part of each guide overlapping the band and another part projecting beyond the band path, the carriage being movable between the printing and maintenance positions; and in that each bridge is attached to the chassis by means of a position adjustment device (20) and an articulation (25) that are spaced apart or by means of two position adjustment devices (20) that are spaced apart.