Pallet Holder Composite Toothed Fitting for Screen Printing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing screen printing machines face challenges with pallet holders that are prone to damage due to normal wear and tear, requiring robust yet lightweight construction to withstand high stress forces and allow easy pallet replacement and adjustment, while maintaining printing precision.

Innovation Solution

A pallet holder with a built-in longitudinal coupling assembly using two distinct metal alloys for the toothed rack and support, providing stepwise adjustable and replaceable teeth to enhance durability and resistance to stress, allowing for precise and flexible pallet positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If the pallet holder is made with standard sheet metal and rivets to reduce weight, then the weight is reduced for smooth mechanical rotation, but the strength and durability to withstand high stress forces deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepallet holder weightVSAvoidstrength to withstand stress forces

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The pallet holder is constructed using composite materials: a lightweight aluminum alloy base structure combined with steel reinforcement plates at critical stress points. This composite construction maintains overall lightness while providing localized high-strength zones that withstand the heavy stress forces during printing operations without requiring the entire structure to be heavy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If the pallet holder is made robust to withstand high stress forces, then the strength is improved, but the weight increases which affects smooth mechanical rotation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrength to withstand stress forcesVSAvoidpallet holder weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making the entire pallet holder uniformly robust and heavy, steel reinforcement plates are strategically placed only at critical locations where stress concentration occurs during printing operations. The majority of the structure remains as lightweight aluminum alloy, achieving the necessary strength locally while maintaining overall lightness for smooth carousel rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If the toothed fitting is made with the same metal alloy as the pallet holder main body, then the manufacturing is simplified, but the resistance to stress and wear on teeth deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidresistance to stress and wear

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The toothed fitting is constructed as a composite component: the main body is made of aluminum alloy matching the pallet holder for ease of integration, while the teeth are fabricated from hardened steel and subsequently installed. This composite approach allows the teeth to withstand high stress and wear during pallet positioning while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through modular construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The toothed fitting is divided into two functional segments: the aluminum alloy body that integrates with the pallet holder and the separate hardened steel teeth. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the body for lightweight integration and the teeth for durable engagement - while simplifying the overall manufacturing process through modular assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If the pallet holder is made lightweight for smooth rotation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the ability to withstand high stress forces deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesmooth mechanical rotationVSAvoidwithstand stress forces

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The pallet holder employs a composite construction with a lightweight aluminum alloy framework for smooth rotation and minimal inertia, reinforced with strategically positioned steel plates at high-stress areas. This allows the carousel to rotate smoothly during operation while the steel reinforcements bear the heavy loads during printing, resolving the contradiction between lightness and load-bearing capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3521030B1Pallet holder for screen printing machines

Publication Date: 2023.04.12 KTK LDA

Figure 1~2B
Figure 3~8
Figure 9~10

AI summary

Pallet holder for a screen printing machine, the pallet (2) being a screen printing pallet for supporting an article for screen printing, said pallet holder (1) comprising a releasably attached toothed fitting (6) for coupling the pallet (2) to the pallet holder (1) such that the pallet coupling position relative to the pallet holder is stepwise adjustable by teeth of said fitting (6). The replaceable toothed fitting may comprise a support (6.2) for releasably attaching the fitting to the pallet holder and a toothed rack (6.1) attached to said support, wherein fitting teeth are formed in said toothed rack. The toothed fitting (6) may be made of two metal alloys, a first metal alloy for the toothed rack (6.1) and a second metal alloy for the support (6.2), wherein the first metal alloy is harder than the second metal alloy. The two metal alloys may be such that the support and toothed rack are welded directly.