Peripheral Printing Tool for Slip-Free Pad Printing on Corners

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing methods face issues with ink slippage and deformation on surfaces with complex shapes, leading to image distortion and damage to the printing pad, especially when printing on inclined or cornered surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A printing tool is disposed around the periphery of the item to be printed, with an inner edge facing the peripheral edge, and a pad receiving surface that guides the printing pad to uniformly distribute load and conform to the surface shape, minimizing slippage and deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the printing pad is pushed through a large depth to print on the side surface of the item, then the printing range is expanded, but slippage occurs between the printing pad and the surface causing deformation of ink and reduction in accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting rangeVSAvoidprint image accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A support tool is introduced as an intermediary between the printing pad and the item to be printed. The support tool provides a stable reference surface that prevents slippage during deep printing operations, thereby maintaining print image accuracy while enabling expanded printing range on side surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support tool is positioned in advance to prevent slippage before it occurs. By providing preliminary stabilization of the printing pad during deep insertion, the system counteracts the harmful slippage effect that would otherwise cause ink deformation and accuracy loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Area of stationary object

If the printing pad is pushed through a large depth to print on the side surface, then the printing range is expanded, but the printing pad receives high load causing damage to the pad

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting rangeVSAvoidprinting pad durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The support tool serves as a mediator that distributes and reduces the load on the printing pad during deep printing operations. By providing structural support and stability, it prevents excessive stress concentration that would otherwise lead to printing pad damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support tool is positioned in advance to cushion and absorb excessive loads before they can damage the printing pad. This preliminary protective measure reduces stress on the printing pad during deep insertion operations, thereby extending pad life and preventing damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Manufacturing precision

If printing is performed by dividing the entire surface into multiple portions, then the print quality is maintained, but the printing time increases due to repeated operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprint qualityVSAvoidprinting efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The printing process is segmented into multiple portions that can be efficiently managed. The support tool enables each segment to be printed with high quality while reducing the overall operation time by providing stability that allows faster, more reliable printing passes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Area of stationary object

If the printing pad is pushed against a corner portion of the item, then the entire surface can be covered, but the surface of the printing pad receives high surface pressure causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting coverageVSAvoidsurface pressure on printing pad

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The support tool acts as an intermediary that distributes the pressure when the printing pad contacts corner portions of the item. By providing structural support and stability, it prevents excessive stress concentration at corner contact points, thereby reducing surface pressure on the printing pad while maintaining full surface coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12629932B2Printing tool, printing apparatus, and printing method

Publication Date: 2026.05.19 SHUHO KK

AI summary

A printing tool of the present disclosure is a printing tool disposed at least at a portion of a periphery of an item to be printed in performing printing in which a printing pad is pushed against the item to be printed by being linearly moved in a first direction toward a printing stage to transfer an ink image transferred to a printing surface of the printing pad to the item to be printed, wherein the printing tool includes an inner edge disposed side by side with the item to be printed in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and facing, in the second direction, a peripheral edge portion of the item to be printed that is a portion outside a printing range of the item to be printed.