Rotary Screen Printing Squeegee Sub-Frame Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional rotary screen printing presses have squeegees that are long and heavy, making attachment and detachment cumbersome and risky for operators, with a high likelihood of damaging the squeegee or the screen during these processes.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a shorter, lighter squeegee with a squeegee holding member that allows for easier attachment and detachment, using a sub-frame with flanges and a squeegee engagement-disengagement system to reduce operator burden and prevent contact with the rotary screen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the squeegee is supported on frames at positions outside and distant from the frames of the rotary screen printing press, then the squeegee can be mounted on the press, but the squeegee bar becomes very long (2-3m) and heavy (13-20kg), making attachment and detachment cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of squeegee attachment and detachmentVSAvoidweight of squeegee
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

A sub-frame is introduced as an intermediary structure between the main frames and the squeegee supporting means. The sub-frame is positioned close to the rotary screen and supports the squeegee bar, eliminating the need for long support arms extending from the main frames. This intermediary structure allows the squeegee to be short and light while still being properly mounted on the press.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the squeegee is supported on frames at positions outside and distant from the frames of the rotary screen printing press, then the squeegee can be mounted on the press, but the squeegee bar becomes very long (2-3m) and heavy (13-20kg), imposing a large burden on the operator

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of squeegee attachment and detachmentVSAvoidlength of squeegee bar
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sub-frame acts as a mediator that relocates the squeegee support point close to the rotary screen. This eliminates the need for long support arms and reduces the squeegee bar length to a practical size that operators can easily handle during attachment and detachment operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the operator manually handles the heavy squeegee for attachment and detachment, then the squeegee can be mounted and dismounted, but the squeegee may contact the rotary screen or both may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety of squeegee handlingVSAvoidrisk of damage to squeegee and screen
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sub-frame provides a stable mounting structure that positions the squeegee precisely and securely. This reduces the risk of accidental contact between the squeegee and rotary screen during handling operations, thereby protecting both components from damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The squeegee is pre-positioned on the sub-frame at a safe distance from the rotary screen before engagement. This preliminary positioning ensures that the squeegee approaches the screen in a controlled manner, reducing the risk of accidental contact or damage during the attachment process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3132935B1Rotary screen printing press
Publication Date: 2018.08.01 KOMORI CORP
  • EP3132935B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3132935B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3132935B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A rotary screen printing press comprises a screen plate (201A) formed in a cylindrical shape, a squeegee (213), and squeegee supporting means. The squeegee supporting means include a supporting plate (217) supported swingably, a squeegee holding member (219) holding the squeegee (213) and turnably supported on the supporting plate (217), an eccentric sleeve (221), and a stopper part for limiting the turning movement of the supporting plate (217). The eccentric sleeve (221) is configured to adjust the position of the center of swinging movement of the supporting plate (217) and to move the tip of the squeegee (213) along a tangent line of an impression cylinder (100) at a position where the screen plate (201A) and the squeegee (213) contact each other.