Screen Printing Machine Scraping Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional screen printing machines require time-consuming preparation and maintenance work due to the need to replace squeegees and screen masks, leading to potential drips of applying material, which can dirty substrates and obstruct mechanisms, and result in decreased print quality from prolonged material viscosity.

Innovation Solution

A screen printing machine with a scraping mechanism that actively removes adhered material from the squeegee during suspension of printing, allowing for simultaneous replacement of the screen mask without detaching the squeegee, utilizing a scraping unit with a wire portion for efficient cleaning and a receptacle to catch the scraped material, thereby reducing preparation time and maintaining print quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the squeegee is removed during screen mask replacement, then the screen mask can be replaced without material drips, but the preparation work becomes time-consuming and the versatility of squeegees cannot be fully utilized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescreen mask replacement processVSAvoidpreparation work time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful factor (adhered applying material) is extracted from the squeegee surface by introducing a scraping means. The scraping means includes a scraping member that contacts the squeegee surface and removes adhered material, preventing it from dripping during mask replacement while allowing the squeegee to remain mounted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The scraping means performs preliminary cleaning action on the squeegee before screen mask replacement. By actively scraping off adhered material in advance, the system prevents potential contamination during mask replacement without requiring squeegee removal, thus saving preparation time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the squeegee is left mounted during screen mask replacement, then the versatility of squeegees is utilized, but adhered material may drip into the mask mounting area and dirty substrates or obstruct mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesqueegee utilizationVSAvoidmaterial drip contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The scraping means converts the harmful adhered material into a removable substance. By actively scraping the material off the squeegee surface before mask replacement, the system prevents contamination while maintaining squeegee mounted status, thus preserving versatility while eliminating harm.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Productivity

If applying material is retained on the squeegee for an extended period, then the squeegee can be reused, but the viscosity of the material changes and print quality declines

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesqueegee reuse efficiencyVSAvoidprint quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The scraping means performs periodic cleaning action on the squeegee surface. By regularly removing adhered material at scheduled intervals (before mask replacement or at the end of printing), the system maintains material freshness and print quality while maximizing squeegee utilization through controlled reuse.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

4Manufacturing precision

If manual wiping of applying material is performed at the end of printing, then print quality is maintained, but additional maintenance work is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprint qualityVSAvoidmaintenance workload

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The scraping means provides automatic cleaning service for the squeegee. By actively scraping off adhered material without requiring manual wiping operations, the system maintains print quality while reducing maintenance workload. The scraping mechanism can be automatically controlled to operate at appropriate times without additional manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Simplifies the attachment and detachment process of screen masks, reduces maintenance workload, prevents material retention on the squeegee, and maintains high print quality by ensuring the squeegee remains clean and operational.

Implementation Method 1

scraping means for coming into sliding contact with the squeegee upon suspension of printing and scraping off applying material adhered to the squeegee

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2690939B1Screen printing machine

Publication Date: 2016.11.30 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD

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AI summary

A screen printing machine including: a screen mask (1) detachably mounted to a mask mounting area set in advance; a squeegee (91), arranged above the screen mask (1) mounted to the mask mounting area, that reciprocates relative to the screen mask (1) in a Y-axis direction (a squeegee-movement direction); and scraping means (144) for coming into sliding contact with the squeegee (91) upon suspension of printing and scraping off applying material adhered to the squeegee (91).