Printing Method for Complex Surfaces Using Segmented Blankets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing methods face challenges in accurately printing complex shapes, particularly concave portions, leading to issues like overlapping printed ranges and darkened color tones at the boundaries of divided print areas.
Innovation Solution
A printing method that divides the surface into overlapping small areas, adjusts ink distribution to minimize overlap, and uses multi-axis robots or lifting devices to precisely apply ink to each area, ensuring even coverage and preventing darkening of overlapping regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the to-be-printed surface is divided into a plurality of small to-be-printed surfaces for printing on complex shapes, then printing capability on complex shapes is improved, but overlapping printed ranges are generated at the boundaries causing dark color tones
Solution Approach 1:
The to-be-printed surface is divided into a plurality of small to-be-printed surfaces, each with boundaries overlapping adjacent boundaries by a prescribed width. This segmentation enables printing on complex shapes including concave portions while the overlapping boundary design prepares for ink amount adjustment to prevent darkening
Solution Approach 2:
The ink amount is differentiated by region: the ink amount in the overlapping area between boundaries is made less than the ink amount outside the overlapping area. This local quality adjustment ensures uniform color tone by compensating for the double printing effect in overlapping regions
2Productivity
If printing is performed in one process on flat surfaces, then printing efficiency is improved, but printing on concave portions becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The printing process is segmented into multiple small printing operations, each targeting a specific small to-be-printed surface. This allows the printing blanket to access and print on concave portions that would be inaccessible in a single-process printing approach
Solution Approach 2:
The to-be-printed surface is developed into a plane to create a small developed picture, transforming the three-dimensional complex surface into a two-dimensional representation that can be accurately reproduced through controlled printing operations
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 precise printing on complex shapes, including concave portions, by controlling ink distribution and using specialized devices for accurate application, resulting in high-quality images without darkened boundaries.
Implementation Method 1
pressing a small printing blanket corresponding to each of the plurality of small to-be-printed surfaces against the corresponding small printing original plate to transfer the ink to the small printing blanket, and printing the picture on the to-be-printed surface by pressing each of the plurality of small printing blankets against the corresponding small to-be-printed surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(d)
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
A printing method includes a step of dividing the to-be-printed surface 10 of a to-be-printed object 100 into a plurality of small to-be-printed surfaces 1a, 1b, ... (a, b, ... will be omitted below) and dividing a picture 20 to be printed on the to-be-printed surface 10 into small pictures 2 to be printed on the small to-be-printed surfaces 1, a step of a creating small developed picture 3 by developing each of the small pictures 2 into a plane, a step of putting ink on small printing original plate 30 corresponding to the small to-be-printed surface 1 according to the small developed picture 2, a step of a pressing small printing blanket 40 corresponding to each of the small to-be-printed surfaces 1 against the corresponding small printing original plate 30 and transferring the ink, and a step of printing the picture 20 on the to-be-printed surface 1 by pressing the small printing blanket 30 grasped by the arm of a multi-axis robot against the small to-be-printed surface 1 to print the small picture 2.