Non-contact Printer for Corrugated Paperboard Traceability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current corrugated paperboard sheet manufacturing processes lack efficient methods for printing individual identification information on each sheet, leading to difficulties in traceability and management, especially due to issues with barcode durability and the inability to change printing content during operation.
Innovation Solution
A corrugated paperboard sheet manufacturing apparatus with a printer positioned downstream of the double facer, capable of printing individual identification information on each sheet in a non-contact state, allowing for easy content changes and improved printing accuracy by associating production information with the printed data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a barcode is printed on the front liner by a printer with a plate cylinder and impression cylinder, then information about commercial products can be obtained, but the printing content cannot be changed during operation and the printed surface is abraded by the heating plate of the double facer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical printing system (plate cylinder and impression cylinder) with a non-contact printing system. This substitution eliminates the mechanical contact that causes abrasion of the printed surface by the heating plate, while also enabling flexible content changes without physical plate changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adaptability in the printing content by allowing the printed information to be changed during operation. This is achieved by replacing the static printing plates with a dynamic printing system that can adjust printing content based on production requirements.
2Loss of information
If a product tag is inserted into a batch of stacked corrugated paperboard sheets, then production information such as date of manufacturing is recorded, but individual sheet traceability cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the batch-level information recording into individual sheet-level information recording. By printing unique identification codes on each individual sheet, the system segments the traceability information from batch level to individual sheet level, enabling precise tracking of each sheet through the manufacturing process.
3Loss of information
If printing is performed before the double facer, then individual identification information can be printed on each sheet, but the printed surface deteriorates due to contact with the heating plate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the printing action after the double facer processing is complete, rather than before. This sequencing ensures that the printing occurs on the final product surface that will not undergo further high-temperature processing, preventing deterioration of the printed quality while still achieving individual sheet identification.
Data Source
AI summary
A corrugated paperboard sheet manufacturing apparatus (1) comprises a single facer (8) for preparing a single-faced corrugated paperboard sheet (6), a double facer (12) for preparing a double-faced corrugated paperboard sheet (12), a slitter-scorer (17) for performing a scoring and a slitting of the double-faced corrugated paperboard sheet (10), a cutter (20) for cutting the double-faced corrugated paperboard sheet (10) after the scoring and slitting, and a printer (18) for printing individual identification information on the double-faced corrugated paperboard sheet, in a non-contact state. The printer (18) is disposed on a conveyance line of the corrugated paperboard sheet manufacturing apparatus (1) at a position on a downstream side of the double facer (12).