Printing Machine Carousel Rail Guide Maintenance Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing machines face challenges in accessing and maintaining print heads due to restricted access when operational, making comprehensive functional checks and cleaning difficult, and there is a need for flexible and rapid docking of printing units in different pitch circle sections without compromising positioning accuracy.

Innovation Solution

A printing machine with a continuously rotating carousel and stationary docking stations equipped with rail guides that allow printing units to be moved from an operating position to a maintenance position, enabling easier exchange, maintenance, and visual inspection of print heads, while maintaining precise guidance and connection to supply lines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If printing units are kept docked on the operational carousel for continuous operation, then productivity is maintained, but access to individual assemblies for maintenance and cleaning is severely restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to printing units for maintenanceVSAvoidcontinuous operation of printing machine

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The printing unit is divided into a stationary docking station portion and a movable printing unit portion. The movable portion can be extracted along the rail guide from the docking station, allowing maintenance personnel to access print heads and cleaning stations while the docking station remains fixed and connected to supply lines.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The printing unit is extracted from the operational carousel position to a maintenance position along the rail guide. This extraction allows comprehensive access to all components including print heads and cleaning stations without affecting the operational status of the remaining printing units on the carousel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If printing units are moved away from the carousel for maintenance, then accessibility to print heads is improved, but positioning accuracy must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility to print headsVSAvoidpositioning accuracy of print heads

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The rail guide acts as an intermediary mechanism between the docking station and the maintenance position. It provides precise guidance and positioning during the movement of the printing unit, ensuring that the printing unit can be accurately repositioned after maintenance while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The manual positioning method is replaced with a mechanically guided system using the rail guide. This ensures precise and reproducible positioning of the printing unit relative to the carousel, eliminating reliance on operator skill and ensuring consistent positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If comprehensive functional checks and cleaning are performed, then reliability is improved, but maintenance time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional completeness of printing unitsVSAvoidmaintenance time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The printing unit is moved to the maintenance position before comprehensive cleaning and functional checks are performed. This preliminary positioning action allows all necessary maintenance activities to be conducted efficiently in one location, reducing total maintenance time by avoiding repeated positioning operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The maintenance position serves multiple functions: it allows for cleaning of print heads, functional checks of printing units, and replacement of components. This multi-functional design consolidates various maintenance activities into a single location, reducing overall maintenance complexity and time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3450182B1Printing machine for directly printing on containers

Publication Date: 2022.06.01 KRONES AG

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AI summary

This document describes a printing machine for the direct printing of containers, featuring a continuously rotating carousel for container transport, multiple printing units, and stationary docking stations for peripherally docking the printing units to the carousel. Because the printing machine incorporates fixed rail guides assigned to the docking stations, allowing for the separate movement of the printing units from a docked operating position to a maintenance position spaced outwards from the carousel and back again, the printing units can be easily accessed from multiple sides for maintenance and quickly and reproducibly locked in their operating position.