Roll-to-Roll Printer for Automatic Film Peeling and Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing UV printers for producing crystal labels require frequent manual operations, leading to low efficiency and reduced automation.
Innovation Solution
A roll-to-roll printer system with mechanisms for automatically peeling protective films and attaching transfer films to substrates, including holding, printing, and carrying mechanisms, along with clamping rollers and switching portions, to facilitate continuous operation without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual operation is used for peeling protective film and attaching transfer film, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases and automation extent is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (substrate holding, protective film peeling, printing, transfer film attaching, and carrying) into a single integrated roll-to-roll printer system. The first holding mechanism holds the substrate while the second holding mechanism peels the protective film, and the third holding mechanism attaches the transfer film, all within one continuous automated process, thereby improving productivity without requiring separate manual operations for each step.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to automatically perform protective film peeling and transfer film attaching without manual intervention. The first holding mechanism automatically feeds the substrate, the second holding mechanism automatically peels the protective film as it passes, and the third holding mechanism automatically attaches the transfer film after printing, enabling the system to serve itself and greatly improving productivity.
2Productivity
If manual operation is used for substrate handling, then ease of operation is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous automated operation where the substrate is continuously fed from the first holding mechanism, printed by the printing mechanism, and the transfer film is continuously attached by the third holding mechanism. This continuous process eliminates interruptions and manual handling, greatly improving productivity while the automated nature simplifies operation through a single continuous run.
3Productivity
If automated protective film peeling is implemented, then productivity increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the automated protective film peeling function into a separate second holding mechanism that is dedicated solely to this task. This mechanism works in parallel with the substrate holding and printing mechanisms, allowing the peeling function to be automated independently without complicating the other subsystems, thereby improving productivity while managing device complexity through functional segmentation.
4Productivity
If roll-to-roll continuous printing is implemented, then productivity increases, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares the substrate by automatically peeling the protective film in advance before the printing process. This preliminary action ensures that the substrate surface is properly prepared and free of the protective film during printing, which maintains printing precision while enabling continuous automated operation that improves productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A roll-to-roll printer includes a first holding mechanism for rotatably supporting a substrate stored in a rolled form, a second holding mechanism provided above the first holding mechanism, a printing mechanism provided in front of the first holding mechanism, a third holding mechanism, and a carrying mechanism. The printing mechanism is provided with a printing platform on which a printed substrate with the protective film peeled is held. The substrate is continuously transferred across the printing platform from the first holding mechanism to the front of the printing platform. The third holding mechanism is in front of the printing platform, and can rotatably support a transfer film. The carrying mechanism is in front of the printing platform to continuously carry the transfer film and the substrate, where the transfer film adheres to a printed surface of the substrate.