Printer Table Structure Leafing Device Orientation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printers for groups of products face issues with safe unloading and controlled advancement of tables towards the printing head, leading to errors in printed products due to incorrect unloading and positioning.

Innovation Solution

A printer and table structure design featuring a rib for orienting tables, leafing devices for controlled single-table supply, and pushers for smooth movement, along with a guide system for centring, ensuring accurate and error-free unloading and advancement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If tables are piled up in a loader and supplied one at a time, then the printing process can be continuous, but positioning errors occur during unloading and advancement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous printing processVSAvoidtable positioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces intermediary elements (guide ribs, alignment guides, and positioning mechanisms) between the loader and the printing head to ensure accurate table positioning during transfer. These intermediaries mediate the movement and positioning of tables, preventing positioning errors while maintaining continuous supply.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The loader is designed with preliminary positioning features (guide ribs, alignment structures) that prepare and pre-position tables before they reach the printing head. This preliminary action ensures that tables are correctly oriented and positioned in advance, eliminating positioning errors during the actual printing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If simple table structures are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but tables of varying thicknesses cannot be accommodated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetable structure simplicityVSAvoidaccommodation of varying table thicknesses
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The printing head or support structure incorporates adjustable or dynamic elements that can adapt to different table thicknesses. This dynamic capability allows the system to accommodate varying table dimensions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, as the adjustment mechanism is localized rather than requiring complex redesign of the entire table structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows for parameter changes in the support or positioning mechanisms to accommodate different table thicknesses. By adjusting parameters such as support height, positioning depth, or clearance, the system can handle various table dimensions without requiring fundamentally different table structures, thus maintaining simplicity while achieving versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2374623B1Printer and table structure for supporting and supplying groups of products in such a printer
Publication Date: 2012.10.17 CABUR
  • EP2374623B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2374623B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2374623B1 patent drawingFigure 4~4B

AI summary

A printer (10) for groups of products (101) supported on a table structure (100) comprising a housing (11) for receiving a plurality of tables (100) placed one on another, means for orienting (12) the tables (100) in the housing (11) as regard to the printer (10), means for supplying (13) of a single table (100) at a time from the housing (11) to an advancing plane (14) towards a printing head (15) and means for moving (16) the single table (100) on the advancing plane (14), in which the means for supplying (13) of a single table at a time from the housing to the advancing plane towards the printing head comprise leafing devices (13) placed laterally and in a lower portion of the housing (11), the leafing devices (13) being mobile between a first position in which they maintain lifted the pile of tables (100) from the advancing plane (14) and a second position in which a single table (100) drops from the housing (11) on the advancing plane (14).