Movable Blower for Stamping Strip Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet printing technologies face issues with the separation of metallized strips from sheets after stamping, leading to wrinkles and suboptimal print quality due to the use of gripper bars that grip sheets at the top, causing deformation and creasing.

Innovation Solution

A blower member that can move between a working position near the gripper bars' passage zone and a retracted position, allowing for the use of gripper bars that grip sheets at the bottom, ensuring proper support and preventing deformation during deceleration and immobilization between platen plates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a blower is fixed directly to the outlet of the platen press to separate strips from sheets, then separation effectiveness is improved, but gripper bars must grip sheets at the top which causes sheet deformation and wrinkling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation effectivenessVSAvoidprint quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The blower is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position between the platen press outlet and the gripper bar passage zone. This enables the system to maintain both effective separation (when blower is in working position) and optimal sheet transport (when blower is retracted), resolving the contradiction between separation effectiveness and print quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The blower's function is segmented into two distinct operational states: a working position for separation and a retracted position for non-interference. This segmentation allows the same component to serve different purposes at different times, eliminating the need to choose between effective separation and good print quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If gripper bars grip sheets at the top for blower access, then blower positioning is simplified, but sheet transport quality deteriorates due to deformation and creasing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblower positioningVSAvoidsheet transport quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The blower's movable design allows it to retreat from the gripper bar passage zone, enabling the use of top-gripping bars without interference. The dynamic positioning ensures that when the blower is not in use, it does not obstruct the gripper bars, thus maintaining ease of operation while improving sheet transport quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable blower acts as an intermediary element that can be positioned to facilitate separation when needed and retracted when not needed. This intermediary approach allows the system to accommodate top-gripping bars while maintaining both operational ease and sheet quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the blower operates in the gripper bars' passage zone, then separation is effective, but the device complexity increases due to movement mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation effectivenessVSAvoidblower movement mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blower's movement capability, while adding some complexity, enables effective separation by positioning the blower precisely in the gripper bar passage zone when needed. The dynamic positioning ensures that the blower only occupies this critical space during separation operations, maximizing separation effectiveness while minimizing interference with other system components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution enables optimal sheet transport and precise positioning, improving print quality and increasing the operating rate by avoiding wrinkles and ensuring effective separation of strips from sheets post-stamping.

Implementation Method 1

a blower member (320) which is capable of separating said strip (410) from said sheet (10, 20) by generating a flow of pressurized air at their junction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressurized air flow: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

The plates or the counterparts being heated, the wax then melts and the hot-melt glue takes hold only at the level of their contact zones

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Data Source

PatentEP2616243B1Device for printing by stamping
Publication Date: 2016.07.27 BOBST MEX SA
  • EP2616243B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2616243B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2616243B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Device (300) for printing elements in sheet form (10), comprising a platen press (310) for applying to each sheet (10), by stamping, some coloured or metallized film that comes from at least one stamping strip (410), conveyor means using a succession of gripper bars (610) to move each sheet (10) individually through the platen press (310), and a blower member (320) to separate each stamping strip (410) from each sheet (10) leaving the platen press (310). The blower member (320) is mounted so that it can be moved between a work position in which it is able to operate from the transit zone in which the gripper bars (610) travel at the exit of the platen press (310), and a withdrawn position in which it lies away from said transit zone.