Variable Cutoff Printing Press Cylinder Gap Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing variable cutoff printing presses often fail or apply excessive force when incorrect stop positions are set or cylinder sizes are changed, leading to potential damage, especially when using single pneumatic actuators for positioning impression and blanket cylinder movement.

Innovation Solution

A variable cutoff printing press design featuring a plate cylinder, blanket cylinder, and impression cylinder with actuators that maintain a consistent gap between supports, allowing for different cylinder sizes and ensuring proper print load through a combination of actuators and linkage mechanisms, including a motorized actuator for precise positioning and a counterbalance system to minimize force requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single pneumatic actuator is used to position both blanket and impression cylinders, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to over-torque situations and potential damage when incorrect stop positions are set or cylinder sizes are changed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactuator system complexityVSAvoidcylinder positioning reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single actuator system into two separate actuators: one for positioning the blanket cylinder and another for positioning the impression cylinder. This segmentation allows each actuator to independently control its respective cylinder, preventing over-torque situations and damage when cylinder sizes are changed or stop positions are misconfigured, thereby improving reliability while maintaining manageable system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a gap maintenance mechanism that acts as an intermediary between the blanket cylinder support and impression cylinder support. This intermediary ensures that a consistent gap is maintained during cylinder positioning, preventing direct contact that could cause damage, while still allowing the actuators to function effectively

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If cylinder sizes are changed without proper adjustments, then adaptability is improved, but harmful factors increase due to excessive force application and potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecylinder size adaptabilityVSAvoidexcessive force and damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary positioning actions where the blanket cylinder is first positioned to the correct stop before the impression cylinder is positioned. This preliminary action ensures that the blanket cylinder is securely in place before the impression cylinder approaches, preventing excessive force application and potential damage when changing cylinder sizes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The gap maintenance mechanism serves as a protective intermediary that prevents direct contact between the blanket and impression cylinder supports during positioning. This intermediary allows cylinder size changes to occur without excessive force being applied, as the gap absorbs positioning variations and prevents damaging contact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If stop position is incorrectly set, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to actuator failure and excessive force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestop position adjustment easeVSAvoidactuator operation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the positioning control into two independent actuator systems, allowing each to be adjusted and monitored separately. This segmentation means that an incorrect stop position setting on one actuator does not cause failure in the other, improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation through independent adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a gap maintenance mechanism that provides beforehand cushioning between the blanket and impression cylinder supports. This cushioning protects against actuator failure and excessive force even when stop positions are incorrectly set, as the gap absorbs the erroneous positioning attempts before damage can occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS8985017B2Variable cutoff printing press with off impression gap

Publication Date: 2015.03.24 SHANGHAI ELECTRICGROUP CORP

AI summary

A variable cutoff printing press includes a plate cylinder, a plate cylinder support removably supporting the plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder, a blanket cylinder support removably supporting the blanket, an impression cylinder and an impression cylinder support. An actuator for moving the blanket cylinder support accommodates different blanket cylinder sizes, the actuator further moving the impression cylinder support so that regardless of blanket cylinder size a gap exists between the blanket cylinder support and the impression cylinder support. An on impression actuator moves the impression cylinder support against the blanket cylinder support to set a desired print load. A method is also provided.