Spring Loaded Rollerball Pen for Deposition on Raised Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing technologies, such as inkjet and extrusion printing, face challenges in depositing materials onto raised surfaces without continuous adjustment of the print head, requiring complex sensing and feedback systems to navigate the surface topology.

Innovation Solution

A material deposition system featuring a rollerball and housing component with a bias mechanism and low-friction stationary fitting, allowing the rollerball to maintain contact with the substrate while traversing raised features, using air pressure to manage material flow and depositing a non-Newtonian fluid to form unbroken traces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If non-contact inkjet or extrusion printing is used to print on raised surfaces, then material deposition capability is improved, but system complexity increases due to required optical sensing and feedback systems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial deposition capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex optical sensing and feedback systems with a simple mechanical contact-based deposition system. The rollerball assembly physically contacts the substrate surface, allowing the rollerball to naturally follow surface topography through mechanical compliance, eliminating the need for optical sensors, data feedback systems, and complex planning algorithms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The rollerball assembly serves itself by using its own mechanical properties (compliance, rolling contact) to automatically adapt to surface features. The spring-loaded mechanism self-regulates contact pressure, and the rollerball's rotation naturally follows surface contours without requiring external control systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If ejection tip or print head continuously adjusts to follow surface features, then printing accuracy on raised surfaces is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to complex control requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting accuracyVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from static, pre-programmed print head positioning to dynamic, real-time mechanical adaptation. The rollerball assembly continuously adapts its position through rolling contact and spring compression, naturally following surface topography changes without requiring complex control algorithms or continuous adjustments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If contact-based rollerball deposition is used, then ease of operation improves by eliminating feedback systems, but manufacturing precision may worsen due to difficulty maintaining consistent contact proximity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidprinting accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The spring-loaded bias mechanism provides beforehand cushioning by maintaining constant contact pressure between the rollerball and substrate. The spring compression absorbs surface irregularities and ensures consistent material transfer pressure, preserving deposition quality while allowing mechanical compliance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 efficient deposition of materials onto complex surfaces without the need for pre-surface topology analysis, maintaining continuous contact and forming unbroken traces over raised features, simplifying the printing process and eliminating the requirement for feedback systems.

Implementation Method 1

A bias mechanism is positioned to contact the second end of the housing component

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The inner surface of the stationary fitting has a low coefficient of friction to allow smooth sliding of the outer surface of the housing component against the inner surface of the stationary fitting

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

An air pressure generator positioned and configured to generate air pressure to move the material to be deposited through the material carrying tube arrangement and out over the rollerball

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 4

having the material to be deposited is a non-Newtonian fluid which does not flow out of the material deposition assembly until movement of the rollerball which causes a sheer stress lowering the viscosity of the material which permits the material to flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNon-Newtonian fluid behavior: Non-Newtonian Fluids

Data Source

PatentUS10349528B2Spring loaded rollerball pen for deposition of materials on raised surfaces

Publication Date: 2019.07.09 XEROX CORP

AI summary

A material deposition system and method is disclosed for depositing material onto raised features on a surface of a substrate. The material deposition system and method are a contact deposition or printing system and method, which employs biased rollerball to deposit the material as it travels along the substrate and over the raised features.