Printing Blanket Sheet Bonding Method Prevents Wrinkles

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for manufacturing printing blankets result in wrinkled sheets when bonding a replaceable sheet to an elastic body, leading to unsatisfactory printing surfaces and increased costs due to repeated printing and ink blurring.

Innovation Solution

A method involving fixing the sheet at the periphery, applying adhesive to the bonding surfaces, and pressing the sheet onto the elastic body while stretching it along the surface to prevent air bubbles and ensure a smooth bond, allowing for repeated use of the elastic body with a satisfactory printing surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If a replaceable sheet is bonded to the elastic body by pressing the elastic body against the sheet, then the sheet can be replaced when deteriorated, but the sheet becomes wrinkled due to deformation mismatch

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesheet replaceabilityVSAvoidprinting surface quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sheet is stretched in advance along the curved surface of the elastic body before bonding, so that the sheet's deformation state matches the elastic body's shape. This preliminary stretching prevents wrinkling when the elastic body is pressed against the sheet during bonding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The physical state of the sheet is changed by stretching it to match the curvature of the elastic body. This parameter change (from flat to stretched) ensures that when bonding occurs, both the sheet and elastic body are in compatible deformation states, preventing wrinkles on the printing surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If air bubbles enter between the sheet and elastic body during bonding, then the bonding process is simplified, but the printing surface quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding process simplicityVSAvoidprinting surface quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sheet is stretched and fixed to a frame before the bonding process, pre-positioning it to match the elastic body's curvature. This preliminary action ensures that when the elastic body is pressed against the sheet, air bubbles are excluded from the bonding interface, maintaining printing surface quality without complicating the bonding process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the elastic body is pressed against the printing master plate, then ink transfer is achieved, but the distal end and periphery of the printing blanket deteriorate or damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting functionVSAvoidprinting blanket durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The printing blanket is segmented into two functional parts: a durable elastic body that provides structural support and resistance during pressing, and a replaceable sheet that contacts the printing master plate and undergoes wear. This segmentation allows the elastic body to maintain reliability while the sheet can be replaced when deteriorated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sheet is designed as a consumable, replaceable component that absorbs the wear and damage from repeated pressing operations. When the sheet deteriorates, it is replaced rather than the entire printing blanket, maintaining productivity while managing the cost of wear through economical replacement rather than complete replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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

This method prevents sheet wrinkling and air bubble entry, enabling a high-quality printing surface and reducing printing costs by allowing for the repeated use of the elastic body with new sheets.

Implementation Method 1

applying an adhesive to at least one of the bonding surface of the sheet or the bonding surface of the elastic body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

a printing blanket being the elastic body having the sheet bonded to the curved surface, the printing blanket being configured to press a surface of the sheet against a surface to be printed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

when the printing surface of the printing blanket is pressed against the printing master plate so that the printing blanket is deformed, the silicon oil mixed in the printing blanket seeps out to a surface of the printing blanket

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOil seepage: Permeation

Data Source

PatentEP3392053B1Method for manufacturing printing blanket
Publication Date: 2024.07.31 SHUHO KK
  • EP3392053B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3392053B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3392053B1 patent drawingFigure 7

AI summary

A method of manufacturing a printing blanket without wrinkles in a sheet is provided, the printing blanket including an elastic body and a sheet bonded to a surface thereof, the method being configured to press a surface of the sheet against a surface to be printed, to perform printing, and including: fixing the sheet at a periphery of a region of the sheet to be bonded to the elastic body; mounting the elastic body to oppose a bonding surface of the elastic body to a bonding surface of the fixed sheet; applying an adhesive to at least one of the bonding surface of the sheet or the bonding surface of the elastic body; and pressing the bonding surface of the sheet and the bonding surface of the elastic body against each other to bring the sheet into close contact with the elastic body through intermediation of the adhesive while stretching the sheet along the surface of the elastic body.