Retractable Ball Transfer Units for Heavy Substrate Handling

Solution Overview

Problem

Current flatbed table inkjet printing devices are not suitable for easily transporting and positioning heavy-weight substrates, leading to ergonomic issues and inefficiencies due to contamination and wear of ball transfer units, which limits their ability to handle various substrate types effectively.

Innovation Solution

The inkjet printing device employs ball transfer units with a drive module that can be moved away from the support surface, using a sink system to position substrates flatly on the table, reducing contamination and wear, and allowing for the handling of diverse substrate types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If ball transfer units are used to transport heavy-weight substrates, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to contamination and wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of transporting substratesVSAvoidreliability of ball transfer units

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The ball transfer units are extracted from the flatbed table surface and positioned in a removable carrier assembly. This allows the ball transfer units to be easily removed, cleaned, or replaced without affecting the flatbed table or substrate printing process, thereby maintaining ease of operation while addressing reliability issues through maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A carrier assembly is introduced as an intermediary between the flatbed table and the ball transfer units. The carrier holds multiple ball transfer units and can be selectively positioned to provide transport assistance only when needed, while protecting the ball transfer units from contamination during printing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If ball transfer units are used for substrate transport, then productivity is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increase due to ink contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproductivity of printing deviceVSAvoidink contamination of ball transfer units

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ball transfer units are extracted from the flatbed table surface and positioned in a removable carrier assembly. This allows the ball transfer units to be easily removed, cleaned, or replaced without affecting the flatbed table or substrate printing process, thereby maintaining ease of operation while addressing reliability issues through maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A carrier assembly is introduced as an intermediary between the flatbed table and the ball transfer units. The carrier holds multiple ball transfer units and can be selectively positioned to provide transport assistance only when needed, while protecting the ball transfer units from contamination during printing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a large flatbed table is manufactured to support large substrates, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle various substrate typesVSAvoidcomplexity of flatbed table system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into modular components: a standard flatbed table, removable carrier assemblies, and interchangeable ball transfer unit sets. This segmentation allows the same flatbed table to handle both small and large substrates by adjusting the carrier configuration, reducing device complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The carrier assemblies are designed to be dynamically reconfigurable, allowing operators to adjust the number and position of ball transfer units based on substrate size and weight. This dynamic adaptability eliminates the need for multiple fixed-size flatbed tables, simplifying the overall system while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 the ergonomic handling of heavy-weight substrates, reduces contamination and wear, and enables the printing of multiple substrate types on a single device, improving efficiency and productivity while adhering to ergonomic standards.

Implementation Method 1

ball transfer units, arranged in the support surface (105), for transporting and/or positioning substrates on the flatbed table (100)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBall bearing: Ball Bearing

Data Source

PatentEP3159174B1Inkjet printing device for heavy-weight substrates

Publication Date: 2019.12.11 AGFA NV

Figure 1
Figure 2~3B
Figure 4A~5

AI summary

An inkjet printing device (300) comprising a flatbed table (100) for supporting on its support surface (105) heavy-weight substrates to print on; and ball transfer units (450), arranged in the support surface (105), for transporting and/or positioning substrates on the flatbed table (100); and wherein the inkjet printing device (300) comprises a drive module for moving away the ball transfer units (450) from the support surface (105).