Radial Image Forming System with Nested Conveyance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The image forming system with multiple image forming apparatuses and conveying units has a large occupancy area due to the routing of the conveying unit and the need for lateral support and conveying devices, which limits the number of can bodies that can be processed per unit time.
Innovation Solution
The system arranges image forming apparatuses radially around a central point with overlapping conveying units to minimize occupancy area, uses a can-body support mechanism that maintains a constant attitude during image formation, and employs a changing mechanism to adjust the can body's orientation, allowing for more efficient ink ejection and reduced system footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If can bodies are conveyed to each image forming apparatus by use of a conveying unit, then image formation can be performed on can bodies, but the image forming system has a large occupancy area depending on a route of the conveying unit
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying unit is configured to pass through the interior space of the image forming apparatus, utilizing the internal volume rather than occupying external space. This nesting approach allows the conveying path to be embedded within the apparatus structure, reducing the overall occupancy area of the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveying unit transitions from a lateral approach (horizontal dimension) to a vertical approach, passing through the image forming apparatus from above. This dimensional change allows the conveying path to overlap with the apparatus footprint rather than extending it laterally, thereby reducing the occupancy area.
2Ease of operation
If a can body is attached to the can-body support member arranged along a horizontal direction, then image formation can be performed, but it requires a supply device on a lateral side and increases the occupancy area
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of arranging the can-body support member horizontally and providing lateral supply and conveying devices, the invention inverts the arrangement to vertical. The support member is arranged vertically, allowing can bodies to be supplied from above and discharged from below, eliminating the need for lateral devices and reducing occupancy area.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical can-body support member serves multiple functions: it supports can bodies during image formation, receives can bodies from the conveying unit, and facilitates their discharge. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate lateral supply and conveying devices, reducing system complexity and occupancy area.
3Manufacturing precision
If image formation of the first color is performed from a predetermined origin position and image formation of the second color is performed from the origin position, then registration can be carried out, but it takes time for arranging a can body at the origin position and reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The can body is pre-positioned at the origin position by the conveying unit before image formation begins. This preliminary positioning action eliminates the time-consuming arrangement step during the imaging process, allowing immediate start of high-precision multi-color image formation while maintaining productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming system (100) is provided with plural image forming apparatuses (200) that form images on can bodies (10), a can-body supply mechanism (300) that supplies can bodies (10) to the plural image forming apparatuses (200) successively, and a can-body discharge mechanism (400) that discharges the can bodies (10) on which images have been formed by the image forming apparatuses (200). Each of the image forming apparatuses (200) receives, at a can-body receiving position (1C), can bodies (10) supplied by the can-body supply mechanism (300). Each of the image forming apparatuses (200) also discharges, at a can-body discharging position (1D), can bodies (10) on which images have been formed. The can-body receiving positions (1C) and the can-body discharging positions (1D) are arranged more to the inner side than a circular virtual line (1B) that passes through the centers of the image forming apparatuses (200).