Screen Printing Consumable Prediction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The screen printing apparatus experiences low operating ratios due to frequent stoppages for consumable item replacements, as existing methods only measure or estimate residual quantities of consumable supplies, leading to inadequate evaluation and timely interruptions during production.
Innovation Solution
A screen printing apparatus that predicts consumable item consumption in advance by measuring residual quantities of the cleaning unit and cleaning agent supply unit before production, allowing for informed decisions on operation and supply replenishment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the screen printing apparatus operates continuously without stopping, then productivity increases, but consumable supplies (cleaning sheet, cleaning agent) are depleted faster requiring frequent replacements that interrupt operation
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit predicts the residual quantity of consumable supplies (cleaning sheet, cleaning agent) before they are depleted, allowing operators to prepare and replace consumables in advance during non-critical periods, thereby minimizing production stoppages and maintaining high operating ratios
2Quantity of substance
If the screen printing apparatus stops frequently to replace consumable supplies, then consumable depletion is managed, but productivity decreases due to interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors and predicts the residual quantities of consumable supplies (cleaning sheet, cleaning agent) and provides feedback to operators, enabling them to plan consumable replacement timing optimally and avoid unexpected stoppages that would reduce productivity
3Productivity
If consumable supplies are not monitored, then the apparatus can operate without interruption, but residual quantity evaluation is inadequate leading to unexpected stoppages
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary prediction of consumable supply residual quantities before they are depleted, providing accurate evaluation that enables advance planning and replacement, thus preventing unexpected stoppages and maintaining continuous operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual estimation or simple sensor detection with a control unit that calculates and predicts residual quantities based on consumption rates and usage patterns, providing more precise measurement and better decision-making capability
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
This approach enables the screen printing apparatus to operate continuously by predicting the number of print substrates that can be produced based on available consumables, improving overall production line efficiency and reducing unnecessary stoppages.
Implementation Method 1
an attractive force is exerted by the cleaning head
Implementation Method 2
a spraying nozzle or the like for a cleaning agent... spray, during cleaning of the mask sheet, the cleaning agent supplied from a storing section for the cleaning agent
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A screen printing apparatus is provided with: means (a control unit 40) for obtaining a residual quantity of a consumable consumed by a cleaning unit prior to starting printing on a plurality of print substrates W, means (the control unit 40) for predicting a print executable number Q(P) based on the obtained residual quantity, and means (a display/operation unit 46) for informing a prediction-result of processable quantity predicting means. The screen printing apparatus enables preferred consumption prediction of consumable supplies such as a cleaning sheet of a cleaning unit 90 and a cleaning agent at required timing, thereby contributing to improvement of an operating ratio.