Roll Printing Mechanism for High-Speed Optical Fiber Marking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current printing methods, such as inkjet and roll printing, face challenges in achieving high-speed marking on optical fibers with diameters of 1 mm or less, particularly in terms of visibility and cost efficiency, especially when dealing with multiple core wires.
Innovation Solution
A printer and printing method utilizing a combination of a drawing roll and a printing roll with specific print patterns, where the drawing roll draws ink and the printing roll transfers it to the optical fiber, allowing for high-speed marking with high visibility, using ink viscosity and surface tension to ensure precise ink deposition without increasing the number of units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If inkjet printing is used for marking optical fibers, then marking can be performed, but high-speed printing is limited and multiple inkjet printers are required to increase linear velocity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the inkjet printing system with a roll printing system that uses a printing roll and drawing roll mechanism. This mechanical substitution enables high-speed marking by using the drawing roll to pull the optical fiber through the printing roll, achieving linear velocities that would require multiple inkjet printers to match.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental printing mechanism from inkjet (droplet ejection) to roll printing (contact transfer). This parameter change in the printing method enables continuous high-speed operation suitable for fast-moving optical fiber production lines.
2Speed
If roll printing is used for marking, then high-speed printing is possible, but marking on linear bodies with diameter of 1 mm or less cannot be performed with high visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using a doctor blade to selectively remove ink from specific areas of the printing roll, creating precise marking patterns. This localized ink application ensures high visibility markings even on optical fibers with diameters of 1 mm or less, while maintaining high-speed printing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a doctor blade as an intermediary element between the ink supply and the printing roll. This mediator precisely controls ink distribution, ensuring that ink is applied only where needed on the printing roll surface, which enables clear markings on small-diameter optical fibers.
3Speed
If multiple inkjet printers are installed in series to increase linear velocity, then printing speed increases, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple inkjet printers into a single roll printing system. By combining the marking function with a continuous roll printing mechanism, it achieves high linear velocity marking without requiring multiple separate printing units, thereby reducing production cost while maintaining high speed.
4Productivity
If inkjet printing is used for marking multiple core wires simultaneously, then a number of inkjet printers must be increased, but this increases production cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal printing system where a single printing roll can mark multiple core wires simultaneously. The printing roll's cylindrical surface allows multiple marking stations to be arranged around it, enabling one device to perform the function of multiple inkjet printers and reduce production cost.
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
Enables high-speed marking on optical fibers with diameters as small as 1 mm or less, achieving high visibility and cost-effective production without the need for multiple inkjet printers or increased units, while maintaining ink precision and preventing ink leakage.
Implementation Method 1
a drawing roll 2 partially immersed in the ink I in the ink tray 1
Implementation Method 2
using ink viscosity and surface tension to ensure precise ink deposition
Implementation Method 3
the printing roll transfers it to the optical fiber, allowing for high-speed marking with high visibility
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A printer for printing on an optical fiber includes an ink tray storing an ink; a drawing roll configured to draw the ink from the ink tray; a printing roll, having a print pattern which is capable of filling the ink transferred from the drawing roll, configured to transfer the ink filled in the print pattern to a surface of the running optical fiber, the print pattern being a mesh pattern having a mesh size in a range of 75-mesh to 150-mesh; and a doctor blade configured to press the ink into the print pattern and to scrape the excess ink deposited on a surface of the printing roll.