3D Screen Printing Carrier Segmentation for Drying Bottlenecks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces face productivity limitations due to insufficient utilization of printing stations, as drying times exceed printing times, leading to reduced operational efficiency and increased downtimes.
Innovation Solution
A method where workpiece carriers are positioned on a separate printing table plate, allowing for independent drying between printing processes, enabling multiple carriers to be loaded on the printing device, and utilizing automated transport and handling systems to enhance productivity and reduce manual handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple drying devices are positioned adjacent to the printing station, then drying capacity is improved, but printing station utilization deteriorates due to longer drying times compared to printing times
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the workpiece carrier from the printing table plate, allowing the carrier to be removed after printing while leaving the plate in the printing station. This enables the printing station to immediately prepare for the next printing operation while the printed workpiece is transported to drying devices, thus resolving the contradiction between drying capacity and printing station utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The printing table plate serves as an intermediary between the printing station and the workpiece carriers. After printing, the plate remains in the printing station while carriers are transferred out for drying. This intermediary mechanism allows continuous printing operations without waiting for drying completion, improving printing station utilization while maintaining drying capacity.
2Ease of operation
If the workpiece carrier remains on the printing table plate during drying, then handling is simplified, but printing device downtime increases due to carrier availability constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the workpiece carrier from the printing table plate after the printing process. The plate remains in the printing station ready for immediate use, while the carrier with the printed workpiece is transferred to drying devices. This segmentation eliminates the waiting time for carrier return, reducing printing device downtime while maintaining simple handling through automated transfer mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The printing table plate is prepared in advance for the next printing operation while the previous carrier is being dried. This preliminary preparation eliminates idle time in the printing device, as the plate is already positioned and ready when the carrier returns from drying, thus reducing downtime without complicating the handling process.
3Productivity
If automated transport systems are implemented, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated transport system is designed to perform multiple functions: transferring workpiece carriers between printing and drying stations, positioning carriers on printing table plates, and coordinating operations across multiple devices. By creating a universal automated system that handles all these tasks, the patent improves productivity while managing complexity through integrated control rather than separate specialized mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Method for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, in particular 3D screen printing method, in which at least one workpiece carrier for at least one screen-printed workpiece is provided, in which in a printing device a screen-printed workpiece is produced on a layer by layer on a workpiece carrier in a plurality of printing operations, in which the workpiece carrier, for carrying out a printing process, is positioned on a printing table plate being formed separately from the workpiece carrier, and in which the workpiece carrier is, between two successive printing processes for a screen-printed workpiece, removed from the printing table plate for drying the screen-printed workpiece.