Sheet-fed Printing Press Magnetic Flake Orientation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The separation of a substrate from a processing unit where magnetic flakes are oriented can cause undesired effects on the resulting orientation of the flakes, leading to modifications in the magnetic field applied, which is costly and may not fully address the issue.

Innovation Solution

A sheet-fed printing press with a processing unit featuring a cylinder body and magnetic-field-inducing devices on its outer circumference, where the substrate is brought into contact and proximity for orientation, and a second conveyor system for drying or curing the ink or varnish vehicle before separation, ensuring minimal disruption to the magnetic field.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the substrate is separated from the processing unit after magnetic flake orientation, then the substrate can be transported to the next processing stage, but the separation causes undesired effects on the magnetic field and flake orientation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubstrate transport efficiencyVSAvoidmagnetic flake orientation precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The ink or varnish vehicle is dried or cured before the substrate is separated from the processing unit. This preliminary drying/curing action fixes the magnetic flakes in their oriented positions while the substrate is still within the magnetic field influence zone, preventing orientation changes during subsequent separation and transport operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the magnetic field is applied continuously during substrate transport, then flake orientation is maintained, but the complexity of the processing unit increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflake orientation stabilityVSAvoidprocessing unit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces continuous mechanical/magnetic field application with a chemical/physical drying or curing process. The drying or curing unit transforms the ink or varnish vehicle from a liquid state to a solid state, locking the magnetic flakes in place without requiring continuous magnetic field application during substrate separation and transport

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 configuration ensures that the orientation of magnetic flakes is maintained with minimal disruption, effectively fixing the optical effect and preventing smearing issues during the separation process.

Implementation Method 1

at least one magnetic-field-inducing device for orienting magnetic flakes contained in the ink or varnish vehicle applied on the substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

at least one drying or curing unit disposed in the vicinity of the cylinder body for drying or curing the ink or varnish vehicle to fix the orientation of the magnetic flakes contained therein

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDrying: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP2845732B1Sheet-fed printing press and process for orienting magnetic flakes contained in an ink or varnish vehicle applied on a sheet-like substrate

Publication Date: 2017.03.22 KBA NOTASYS SA

AI summary

There is described a sheet-fed printing press and method for orienting magnetic flakes contained in an ink or varnish vehicle applied on sheets. The printing press comprises a printing group (2) designed to apply an ink or varnish vehicle containing magnetic flakes on successive sheets and system designed to orient the magnetic flakes contained in the ink or varnish vehicle applied on the sheets. The system comprises a processing unit (10*) with at least one magnetic-field-inducing device for orienting the magnetic flakes contained in the ink or varnish vehicle applied on the sheets, which processing unit (10*) is located along a path of the sheets in such a way that the each sheet is brought into contact with or in close proximity to the processing unit (10*) and the at least one magnetic-field-inducing device. The processing unit (10*) comprises a cylinder body (10), the at least one magnetic-field-inducing device being disposed on an outer circumference of the cylinder body (10). The printing press further comprises a first chain conveyor system (31) designed to transport and transfer the sheets to the processing unit (10*) and a second chain conveyor system (32) designed to take away the sheets from the processing unit (10*). The system further comprises at least one drying or curing unit (60) disposed in the vicinity of the cylinder body (10) for drying or curing the ink or varnish vehicle to fix the orientation of the magnetic flakes contained therein while the sheet is still in contact with or in close proximity to the cylinder body (10) and the at least one magnetic-field-inducing device before the sheet is taken away from the at least one magnetic-field-inducing device.