Segmented Paint Roller for Glass Plate Enameling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for applying paint to glass plates, particularly for partial enameling, are inefficient due to high paint consumption, manual masking, and lengthy setup times, leading to increased costs and inaccuracies.
Innovation Solution
A device where the glass plate remains stationary, and a movable inking roller with precise electronic control applies paint only to the desired edge or area, reducing paint waste and eliminating the need for manual masking, allowing for precise application and efficient production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a long paint applicator roller is used to cover the entire glass plate width, then the entire surface can be painted, but paint consumption increases significantly and cleaning time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The glass plate surface is divided into multiple segments corresponding to different panes or sections. Instead of using one long roller to cover the entire width, multiple shorter rollers are used, each serving a specific segment. This segmentation reduces paint consumption by limiting the painted area to only the required sections while maintaining complete coverage capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The paint applicator system is made dynamic by allowing individual rollers to be independently moved into position or removed from the glass plate width. This dynamic configuration enables the system to adapt to different production requirements, painting only the necessary areas with the minimum number of rollers, thereby reducing paint consumption and cleaning requirements.
2Area of stationary object
If a long paint applicator roller is used, then full-surface painting is achieved, but cleaning effort and setup time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The paint applicator system is segmented into multiple independent rollers that can be individually positioned or removed. When only partial painting is required, fewer rollers are used, which directly reduces the cleaning effort and time needed. Each roller can be independently cleaned or replaced without affecting the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic adjustment of the number of active rollers based on the painting requirements. Rollers can be quickly moved into or out of position, enabling rapid reconfiguration for different production batches. This dynamic capability significantly reduces setup time and cleaning effort compared to a fixed long-roller system.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual masking is used for partial enameling, then precise area control is achieved, but production time and labor intensity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Manual masking operations are replaced by a mechanical paint applicator system with precisely positioned rollers. The rollers can be accurately positioned to apply paint only to the required areas, eliminating the need for manual masking while maintaining high precision. This mechanical substitution significantly increases production speed and reduces labor intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of paint application precision from manual control to mechanically controlled roller positioning. By adjusting the position and number of rollers, precise area control is achieved without manual intervention. This parameter change from manual to automated control maintains manufacturing precision while dramatically improving productivity.
4Productivity
If the glass plate is moved through a fixed paint applicator, then continuous production is achieved, but paint application precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the glass plate through a fixed paint applicator, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the glass plate stationary and moving the paint applicator rollers across the glass surface. This inversion allows for precise control of paint application while maintaining production continuity, as multiple rollers can be sequentially positioned and applied to different areas of the same glass plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic positioning of paint applicator rollers that can be precisely moved to any required location on the stationary glass plate. This dynamic capability enables high-precision paint application while maintaining production efficiency, as the rollers can be quickly repositioned between applications without requiring glass plate movement or complex alignment procedures.
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 reduces paint consumption, minimizes setup times, and enables precise application of paint to specific areas or patterns on glass plates, enhancing production efficiency and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a paint applicator roller (2) whose width (20) corresponds to the maximum width of the hardening systems
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for applying paint to a flat surface of an object, preferably to a glass plate (1), comprising at least one paint application roller (2) and a supporting device (3) for supporting the object (1) during the paint application by the paint application roller (2). According to the invention, in order to keep the paint consumption as low as possible, in particular during the application of paint to stripe-shaped sections of the object, the paint application roller (2) is retained in a frame structure (4) and can be moved relative to the frame structure (4).