Rotary Screen Ink Guide Grooves for Uniform Printing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing presses face issues with reliable ink supply to small hole groups, leading to nonuniformity in printing and increased paper waste due to inadequate ink distribution by rotary screens positioned below rubber rollers.

Innovation Solution

A liquid supply apparatus featuring a plate cylinder with small hole groups and a squeegee, along with liquid guide means such as guide grooves or weirs, that collect and redirect surplus ink back to the small hole groups, ensuring consistent ink distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the rotary screen is positioned below the rubber roller to feed ink upwardly, then the structure is simplified, but the ink supply to the pattern forming portion becomes inadequate and nonuniform

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestructureVSAvoidink supply reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a squeegee as an intermediary element between the rotary screen and the pattern forming portion. The squeegee actively pushes and directs the ink flow, ensuring reliable ink supply to the small hole groups while maintaining the simplified structure of having the rotary screen below the rubber roller.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the rotary screen is positioned below the rubber roller, then the structure is simplified, but ink distribution uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestructureVSAvoidprinting uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The squeegee acts as a mediator that distributes ink uniformly across the pattern forming portion. It guides the ink flow from the rotary screen and ensures even coverage of the small hole groups, achieving printing uniformity while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the ink flow parameters by introducing the squeegee, which changes the velocity and distribution characteristics of the ink. This allows the system to achieve uniform ink distribution despite the rotary screen being positioned below the rubber roller.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If surplus ink is not collected and redirected, then the structure is simpler, but ink supply adequacy to small hole groups decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestructureVSAvoidink quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where surplus ink is collected by the liquid guide means and redirected back to the small hole groups. This ensures adequate ink supply while avoiding excessive structural complexity, as the feedback loop uses simple guide grooves or weirs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of discarding surplus ink, the system recovers it through the liquid guide means (guide grooves or weirs) and redirects it to where it is needed - the small hole groups. This maximizes ink utilization without requiring complex recovery systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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

The apparatus ensures a reliable and sufficient ink supply to the small hole groups, preventing nonuniformity in printing and reducing paper waste by efficiently guiding surplus ink back to the pattern forming areas.

Implementation Method 1

a squeegee contacting an inner peripheral surface of the plate material... a material to be supplied with a liquid, the material being supplied with the liquid, which has been stored within the plate material, by the squeegee via the small hole group of the plate material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

liquid guide means for guiding a surplus of the liquid, which is not supplied to the small hole group of the plate material by the squeegee, to the small hole group of the plate material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP1916104B2Liquid supply apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.12.16 KOMORI CORP
  • EP1916104B2 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP1916104B2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1916104B2 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An intaglio printing press including a rotary screen (22) comprising a hollow cylinder (31), which has a small hole group (30) for special ink supply formed in a circumferential surface of the hollow cylinder (31) and which is supported rotatably, and a squeegee (35) contacting an inner peripheral surface of the hollow cylinder (31), a rubber roller (21) supported rotatably to oppose an outer peripheral surface of the hollow cylinder (31) at a position where the squeegee (35) contacts the inner peripheral surface of the hollow cylinder (31), and a sheet (W) supplied with special ink, which has been stored within the hollow cylinder (31), by the squeegee (35) via the small hole group (30) of the hollow cylinder (31), the intaglio printing press comprising special ink guide means, such as guide grooves (36), for guiding a surplus of the special ink, which is not supplied to the sheet (W) by the squeegee (35), to the small hole group (30) of the hollow cylinder (31).