Print Blanket Cleaning Roller With Heated Polymeric Layer Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Print blankets in Liquid Electro-Photographic (LEP) printers are prone to contamination from print agent residue and other substances, leading to uneven cleaning and reduced print quality due to incomplete removal of contaminants.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for servicing print blankets using a rotatably mounted ECS with a doctor blade and heating element to establish a level layer of polymeric material, scraping excess material into a container, and utilizing a containment blade to manage and monitor the polymeric material levels, ensuring consistent cleaning without interrupting the printing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sticky layer of polymeric material is used to clean the print blanket, then contaminants can be removed from the print blanket surface, but the polymeric material accumulates contaminants in an uneven manner leading to incomplete cleanings
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary leveling of the polymeric material surface before the cleaning contact with the print blanket. A leveling roller or doctor blade smooths the polymeric layer on the cleaning roller beforehand, ensuring uniform contaminant removal across the entire print blanket surface during subsequent cleaning operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical sticky layer contact with a combined thermal-mechanical system. Heating elements maintain the polymeric material in a softened state, and controlled cooling creates a fresh uniform surface, substituting mechanical scraping with thermal management to achieve consistent cleaning results
2Reliability
If the print blanket is cleaned frequently to remove contaminants, then print quality is maintained, but the printing process is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system operates continuously during the printing process rather than requiring interruptions. The cleaning roller rotates in contact with the print blanket throughout printing operations, and the polymeric material is continuously replenished and leveled, maintaining constant cleaning action without stopping production
Solution Approach 2:
The polymeric material on the cleaning roller automatically replenishes itself from a reservoir during operation. As the polymeric layer wears or accumulates contaminants, it is continuously fed from a supply reservoir, eliminating the need for manual intervention or process interruption to maintain cleaning effectiveness
3Manufacturing precision
If a doctor blade is used to scrape polymeric material from the ECS, then excess material is removed, but additional components and complexity are added to the system
Solution Approach 1:
The doctor blade serves multiple functions simultaneously: it scrapes excess polymeric material from the cleaning roller, levels the remaining polymeric layer, and defines the precise thickness of the cleaning layer. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each task, offsetting the added complexity with operational efficiency
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
Enables frequent and continuous cleaning of print blankets with minimal consumables, extending the life of print blankets and improving print quality by effectively removing contaminants.
Implementation Method 1
A heating element is positioned to heat the container such that the polymeric material contained therein does not solidify
Implementation Method 2
The doctor blade is disposed in relationship to the rotatably mounted ECS and to the container, and is to scrape a portion of polymeric material from the ECS into the container
Data Source
AI summary
In an example of the disclosure, a system to service a print blanket includes a rotatably mounted endless cleaning surface (“ECS”), a doctor blade, a heating element, and a container. The ECS is to carry a polymeric material and positioned to engage the print blanket. The doctor blade is disposed in relationship to the ECS and to a container to scrape a portion of the polymeric material from the ECS into the container. The heating element is to heat the container. The container is positioned to collect the scraped portion of polymeric material, and make heated polymeric material available to be picked up by the ECS as the ECS is rotated adjacent to the container.