Multipass Digital Printing Table Thermal Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multipass digital printing devices face challenges in achieving improved print quality and economy due to inefficiencies in ink drying and temperature control, particularly with blurred heating zones and heat conduction issues in single-pass systems.

Innovation Solution

A multipass digital printing device with a one-piece metal printing table top featuring a groove for thermal separation between pressure and inlet sections, allowing for homogeneous preheating and separate temperature control in different sections, along with an insulating plate and compensating membrane to prevent heat loss and ensure even temperature distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a heating device is provided under the printing area to accelerate ink drying, then production speed is improved, but temperature distribution becomes non-uniform and causes printing quality issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction speedVSAvoidprinting quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The printing table top is divided into multiple independently controllable heating zones with separate temperature control, allowing different sections to be heated to different temperatures to achieve uniform overall heating while preventing localized overheating that would degrade print quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the printing table top can be heated to different temperatures according to local requirements, with the ability to preheat the inlet section to a higher temperature than the printing section to ensure uniform temperature distribution across the entire printing area

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If the printing table top is made in one piece from metal, then structural strength is improved, but thermal conduction causes blurred heating zones and temperature control issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidtemperature distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

A groove is introduced into the one-piece metal printing table top to thermally separate the pressure section from the inlet section, preventing heat conduction from causing blurred heating zones while maintaining the structural integrity of the overall metal construction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The groove creates localized thermal isolation between different sections, allowing each section to maintain its required temperature independently while the overall metal structure provides the necessary mechanical strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If the printing table top is heated to high temperature to remove moisture quickly, then production speed is improved, but thermal stress and heat loss to surrounding components increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction speedVSAvoidheat loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The printing table top is thermally segmented into zones with independent temperature control, allowing the inlet section to be heated to higher temperatures for rapid moisture removal while the printing section and surrounding areas are heated to lower temperatures, minimizing heat loss to surrounding components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inlet section is preheated to a higher temperature before the material enters the printing area, so that moisture removal begins in advance, reducing the temperature required in the main printing section and thereby reducing thermal stress and heat loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 solution enhances production speed by quicker moisture removal and improved print quality, while maintaining safe operation by regulating temperatures and preventing thermal stresses, thus achieving better printing results and operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a heater (10) arranged in the printing table top (6), which can be kept at a desired temperature in the printing section (7) of the printing table top (6) by a further heater (11)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the pressure section being thermally largely separated from the inlet section by a groove arranged on the underside of its bearing surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 3

the printing table top is preferably mounted on an insulating plate, with a compensating membrane being arranged between this and the printing table top

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP2939839B1Multipass digital printing device
Publication Date: 2019.10.23 WEMHOENER SURFACE TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2939839B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

A multi-pass digital printing device for printing sheet- or roll-shaped film or paper material (1) is provided, comprising a printing area with several printheads (3;4) movable parallel to each other and transverse to the feed direction (2) of the material (1) and a heated printing table (5) arranged below it with a flat printing table plate (6), which is further improved compared to known printing systems with regard to their print quality and economy, by making the printing table plate (6) longer than the entire printing section (7) of the material (1) to be printed and arranging the extended section in front of the printing area, forming an infeed section (8).