Seamless Endless Belt for Indirect Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endless belts used for indirect printing of cylindrical parts fail to maintain dimensional accuracy, particularly in multi-color printing, leading to potential distortion of printed images.
Innovation Solution
A seamless endless belt is produced through continuous injection molding with reinforcing threads integrated uninterruptedly in multiple windings, ensuring no joint areas form, and an elastically yielding coating is applied to the outer side for image reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If an endless belt is manufactured as a closed belt loop with a joint area, then the belt can be formed as a continuous loop, but the dimensional accuracy deteriorates due to the joint area causing distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing thread is divided into multiple separate threads (e.g., 2-10 threads) instead of a single continuous thread. Each thread runs independently through the entire circumference of the endless belt, providing reinforcement without creating a joint area that would compromise dimensional accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The endless belt is constructed as a composite structure combining the elastomeric material with multiple reinforcing threads embedded within it. This composite construction provides both the flexibility needed for the continuous loop and the structural integrity to maintain dimensional accuracy without joints.
2Strength
If reinforcing threads are added to improve dimensional accuracy, then strength increases, but accuracy deteriorates if the threads are interrupted at the joint
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate reinforcing threads are used instead of a single interrupted thread. Each thread extends continuously through the joint area, ensuring that the reinforcement effect is maintained throughout the entire endless belt without interruption, thereby preserving both strength and print image accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcing threads are designed to extend continuously in the circumferential direction without interruption at the joint area. This continuity ensures that the dimensional stability and strength are maintained uniformly around the entire endless belt, preventing distortion of printed images.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple reinforcing threads are used to maintain accuracy around the joint, then dimensional stability improves, but the complexity of the manufacturing process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple reinforcing threads are pre-positioned and guided through the joint area before the final bonding of the endless belt. This preliminary arrangement ensures that the threads are properly aligned and distributed without requiring complex post-manufacturing adjustments, thereby maintaining dimensional accuracy while managing manufacturing complexity.
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 significantly improves dimensional accuracy and prevents image distortion, enabling precise superimposition of multiple print images without interruption.
Implementation Method 1
the endless belt is injected as a closed belt loop in one piece and continuously in the circumferential direction and is therefore seamless in an injection molding process
Implementation Method 2
The substrate can be formed of metal, rubber or textile materials
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an endless belt (2) as a printing carrier for a device (100) for the indirect printing of rollable, in particular cylindrical, parts (110), wherein the endless belt (2) is injection-molded in one piece as a closed belt loop (4) in the circumferential direction (10) and thus without joints in an injection molding process, and wherein at least one reinforcing thread (6), which is inserted in several turns (8) in the circumferential direction of the endless belt to be obtained into an injection mold used therein, is co-injected. The invention further relates to a device for producing the endless belt. The invention also relates to a method for producing an endless belt.