Inkjet Printing Machine Slab Locking and Centring Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing machines for rigid slabs, especially transparent ones like glass, suffer from imprecision and contamination due to micro movements during the printing process, leading to visible defects and inability to achieve high-quality, juxtaposed passes.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet printing machine with a locking and centring group that temporarily secures the slab, combined with a measuring system to calibrate the printing device for precise ink placement, and a conveyor system that minimizes contamination by stabilizing the slab during printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the slab advances continuously on the conveyor during printing, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to micro movements and sliding of the slab
Solution Approach 1:
The printing process is divided into discrete steps: the slab is locked in position, printed upon, then moved to the next position. This segmentation of the continuous conveyor operation into locked-print-move cycles eliminates micro-movements during printing while maintaining continuous production through rapid sequential operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking and centring group performs preliminary action by securing the slab in the exact desired position before the printing head deposits ink. This preliminary positioning ensures that when printing occurs, the slab is perfectly stable, eliminating positioning errors that would occur during continuous movement.
2Manufacturing precision
If the printing module slides transversally to cover the entire width of the slab, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the printing module transversally across the slab width (which requires complex positioning systems), the invention inverts the approach by keeping the printing module stationary and moving the slab itself through the printing zone. The printing head remains fixed while the slab conveyor moves the material past the stationary printing module, dramatically simplifying the device while maintaining precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple passes of ink are performed to improve printing quality, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring group performs preliminary measurement of the slab dimensions and position before printing occurs. This preliminary measurement allows the control system to pre-calculate the exact positioning and ink deposition parameters for multiple passes, enabling precise multi-pass printing without time-consuming measurements during each pass.
Solution Approach 2:
The measuring group provides continuous feedback on slab position and dimensions to the control system, which automatically adjusts the printing parameters for each pass. This feedback mechanism enables precise multi-pass printing where each pass is automatically positioned relative to the previous one, improving quality without requiring manual intervention or significant time delays.
4Manufacturing precision
If the slab is locked and centred on the support, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking and centring group is designed to automatically secure the slab in the correct position without requiring complex external positioning systems. The mechanism self-adjusts to the slab's dimensions and position on the conveyor, using the slab's own geometry to determine the locking points and centring position, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high precision.
Data Source
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AI summary
An inkjet printing machine (10) on slabs (L) that comprises: - a support (20) for supporting a slab (L); - a locking and centring group (40) configured to contact the slab (L) temporarily locking and centring it on the support (20); and - a printing device (30) provided with at least one inkjet printing head (31) that is mobile with respect to the support (20) along a sliding direction (D) and spaced from it, wherein the printing head (31) is configured to release a decoration on a surface (L1) of the slab (L) resting on the support (20).