Rotatable Sheet Transport Device for Single-Sheet Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing systems face challenges in efficiently printing single sheets, particularly for security documents like identity cards and passports, as they often require flexible adaptation to different materials and sizes, and existing methods are not optimized for individual sheet processing.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that involve a rotatably mounted sheet transport device with multiple work surfaces, where a single sheet is pre-heated and transported to a printing position, printed using a dedicated printing device, and then released, allowing for flexible handling and processing of sheets of various materials and sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a continuous material on a roll is used for printing, then printing efficiency is improved, but flexibility to print individual sheets of different materials and sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous material roll is segmented into individual sheets through a cutting device, allowing the system to process discrete sheets while maintaining the efficiency of continuous feeding. The sheets are then individually handled by the transport device with multiple work surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet transport device is designed with multiple work surfaces that can accommodate different sheet sizes and materials. The same transport mechanism handles various print jobs by adjusting the configuration of work surfaces, providing universal functionality for both continuous and individual sheet processing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If individual sheets are fed one after the other, then flexibility to print different materials and sizes is improved, but printing efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple work surfaces are prepared in advance on the transport device, allowing sheets to be pre-positioned and ready for printing. This eliminates idle time between print jobs and maintains high efficiency while handling individual sheets of varying materials and sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport device maintains continuous operation by having multiple work surfaces available simultaneously. While one sheet is being printed, another can be positioned on a different work surface, ensuring that the printing process continues without interruption and maximizing productivity.
3Productivity
If a drum transport element is used to move sheets past printing devices, then printing capability is improved, but the ability to hold sheets stationary during printing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The transport device dynamically transitions between motion and stationary states. The work surfaces move sheets into printing position, then remain stationary during printing to provide stability, and finally move the printed sheets away. This dynamic operation resolves the contradiction between transport capability and printing stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The work surfaces act as intermediaries between the moving sheet and the stationary printing device. They provide a stable platform during printing while maintaining the ability to transport sheets before and after the printing process, mediating between the conflicting requirements of motion and stability.
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 and flexible printing of single sheets, allowing for different materials and sizes, with the ability to handle different print jobs without complex conversions, ensuring high-quality output and efficient processing.
Implementation Method 1
The separated sheet is heated to a processing temperature by means of a heating device
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a device for printing a single sheet. The following steps are proposed in said method: providing a single sheet on a stacking surface (21) of a feed device (20); transferring the single sheet from the feed device (20) to a rotatably mounted sheet transport device (24), the single sheet being arranged and held on one of a number of working surfaces (25) in the region of a revolving surface of the sheet transport device (24); controlling the temperature of the single sheet to a processing temperature by means of a heating device; transporting the single sheet into a printing position by rotating the sheet transport device (24); printing the single sheet using a printing device (27b), the sheet transport device (24) remaining in a non-rotating resting position during the printing process; transporting the single sheet away from the printing position by the rotation of the sheet transport device (24) and releasing the single sheet from the transport device (24).