Printing Unit Inclination Adjustment for Cylindrical Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in printing cylindrical objects, such as glasses and bottles, is maintaining high print quality despite variations in the distance between the printing cylinder and the object, which is sensitive to manufacturing tolerances and fluctuations in object thickness, leading to suboptimal alignment and reduced print quality.
Innovation Solution
A device with a printing unit mounted on a carrier unit, including an anilox roller and a printing cylinder, and a holding device that measures the object's surface to adjust the printing unit's inclination and distance for optimal alignment, using a measuring device and control device to compensate for tolerances and thickness variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If letterpress printing process is used to print finer structures with high resolution, then print quality and resolution are improved, but the print quality becomes sensitive to precise alignment and distance between printing cylinder and object
Solution Approach 1:
The holding device is designed with adjustable components that allow dynamic modification of the cylindrical object's shape during the printing process. The holding device can adaptively change the object's geometry to compensate for variations in wall thickness and maintain optimal printing conditions, transforming a static holding approach into a dynamic one that responds to real-time printing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system modifies physical parameters of the cylindrical object by applying radial forces through the holding device to change the object's shape and dimensions. By altering the object's geometric parameters (radius, cross-sectional shape) during printing, the system compensates for manufacturing tolerances and maintains consistent distance between the printing cylinder and object surface.
2Device complexity
If holding device is mounted on one side only, then device complexity is reduced, but the holding device deflects under printing force causing inclination change and position deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The single-sided holding device incorporates adjustable components that can dynamically compensate for deflection under load. The device adapts its holding force and geometry in response to printing pressures, maintaining alignment accuracy without requiring complex dual-sided mounting structures.
3Manufacturing precision
If temperature changes occur during printing operation, then thermal expansion causes deviation in component positions from initial position, but adding temperature control increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The holding device is designed to adaptively change its geometry and holding characteristics in response to thermal expansion. By modifying physical parameters such as the radius of the holding surface or the applied holding force, the system compensates for temperature-induced position deviations without requiring active temperature control mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
The device has a printing unit comprising flexo printing works mounted on a carrier unit (8). The printing unit is provided with a raster roller and a pneumatic cylinder. An accommodating pin (1) accommodates an object, and a measurement mechanism measures a surface of the object accommodated by the accommodating pin and/or measures a surface of the accommodating pin. An adjusting piston (7) adjusts an inclination of the printing works regarding the accommodating pin and/or distance of the printing forms of the accommodating pin. An independent claim is also included for a method for printing of objects.