Screen Printing Ink Recovery Mechanism Reducing Waste
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing screen printing technologies face challenges in reducing ink usage and increasing ink reuse, leading to higher printing costs due to ink spreading beyond the squeegee ends, making it difficult to recover and reapply efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A screen printing apparatus equipped with an ink recovery mechanism that guides excess ink from the front side of the squeegee to the back side, where the scraper slides, allowing the ink to be reused by spreading it back over the screen plate, thereby reducing waste and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a conventional squeegee is used to transfer ink, then the ink transfer function is achieved, but the ink spreads beyond the squeegee ends making it difficult to reuse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an ink recovery mechanism that collects excess ink discharged beyond the squeegee ends and returns it to the screen plate. The recovery unit includes a collection container positioned to receive overflow ink and a return mechanism that transports the collected ink back to the screen, enabling continuous reuse and reducing waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a recovery unit as an intermediary system between the squeegee and the ink supply. This intermediate mechanism captures the discharged ink and mediates its return to the screen plate, preventing direct loss and enabling循环利用 of the ink material.
2Manufacturing precision
If more ink is applied to ensure complete coverage, then the printing quality is improved, but the ink consumption increases and cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
The recovery mechanism captures excess ink that would otherwise be wasted and returns it to the screen plate, maintaining adequate ink availability for complete coverage while reducing overall consumption. This enables sustained printing quality without proportionally increasing ink usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop where discharged ink is collected and monitored, then returned to the screen plate based on observed ink levels and flow patterns. This feedback mechanism optimizes ink distribution, ensuring sufficient coverage while minimizing excess application and consumption.
3Area of stationary object
If the squeegee width is increased to cover the entire screen plate, then the ink coverage is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the ink transfer function into two segments: the primary squeegee that transfers ink within its width constraints, and the secondary recovery unit that handles excess ink beyond the squeegee ends. This segmentation allows use of a narrower, simpler squeegee while maintaining complete coverage through the added recovery functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The recovery unit acts as an intermediary that extends the effective coverage area without requiring the main squeegee to be widened. By positioning the recovery mechanism to collect and manage overflow ink at the edges, the system achieves full screen plate coverage while keeping the primary transfer device compact and simple.
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 ink recovery mechanism effectively recovers and reuses excess ink, reducing the amount of ink used and lowering printing costs by ensuring efficient ink application and minimizing variations in ink thickness.
Implementation Method 1
a scraper that spreads ink on a screen plate, in which an opening is formed, and fills the opening with the ink by sliding over the screen plate
Implementation Method 2
a scraper that spreads ink on a screen plate, in which an opening is formed, and fills the opening with the ink by sliding over the screen plate
Implementation Method 3
a squeegee that transfers the ink, with which the opening is filled, to a surface of a workpiece by sliding over the screen plate while pressing the screen plate against the workpiece
Implementation Method 4
a squeegee that transfers the ink, with which the opening is filled, to a surface of a workpiece by sliding over the screen plate while pressing the screen plate against the workpiece
Implementation Method 5
an ink recovery mechanism that recovers excess ink discharged to a region in which the scraper does not slide over the screen plate. By sliding the squeegee, the ink recovery mechanism guides the excess ink from a front side of the squeegee to a region that is on a back side of the squeegee
Implementation Method 6
the ink recovery mechanism guides the excess ink from a front side of the squeegee to a region that is on a back side of the squeegee
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(A)~3(D)
AI summary
[Object] To provide a screen printing apparatus and a screen printing method with which it is possible to promote reuse of ink and thereby reduce the printing cost. [Solution] A screen printing apparatus 101 includes an ink recovery mechanism 110 that recovers excess ink 81 discharged to a region in which a scraper 60 does not slide over a screen plate 50. By sliding a squeegee 70, the ink recovery mechanism guides the excess ink from a front side 71 of the squeegee to a region that is on a back side 72 of the squeegee 70 and in which the scraper slides over the screen plate.