Segmented Roller Marking Head for Hot Stamping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing marking machines for articles, particularly those using hot stamping, require large rollers that are cumbersome and costly to manufacture and assemble, limiting versatility and marking speed due to their size and weight.
Innovation Solution
A marking machine with a carriage movable along both a marking axis and a transverse axis, equipped with two rollers that can alternate in marking the same or successive articles, allowing for reduced roller size and increased versatility and speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single large roller is used for hot stamp marking, then the roller can effectively heat and mark articles, but the roller becomes cumbersome, costly to manufacture, and limits marking speed due to its large size and weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single large roller into multiple smaller rollers (typically three rollers arranged in a triangle). Each smaller roller has reduced weight and size compared to the original single large roller, while collectively they maintain the heating and marking effectiveness through coordinated rotation and contact with the article surface.
2Reliability
If a single large roller is used for hot stamp marking, then the roller can effectively heat and mark articles, but the manufacture and assembly become complicated and costly
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the large roller into multiple smaller rollers, the patent simplifies the manufacturing process for each individual roller, reduces material requirements, and facilitates easier assembly and replacement. The smaller rollers can be manufactured with standard techniques and assembled into the marking head in a modular fashion.
3Temperature
If a single large roller is used for hot stamp marking, then the roller can effectively heat articles, but the marking speed is limited due to the roller's mass and size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large thermal mass into multiple smaller rollers, each with reduced heat capacity and faster thermal response time. This allows the rollers to heat up and cool down more quickly, enabling higher marking speeds while maintaining effective heating capability through the combined surface area of multiple rollers contacting the article.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a carriage that can move the rollers dynamically along the article surface, allowing flexible positioning and repeated marking passes. This dynamic capability enables the system to maintain high marking speeds by optimizing contact patterns and reducing idle time between marks.
4Reliability
If a single large roller is used for hot stamp marking, then the roller can mark articles, but the machine lacks versatility for different article shapes and sizes
Solution Approach 1:
By using multiple smaller rollers instead of one large roller, the patent creates a modular marking system where the rollers can be independently positioned and oriented. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to various article geometries by adjusting which rollers contact the surface and how they are positioned, significantly improving versatility for different article shapes and sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a movable carriage that can dynamically reposition the rollers along multiple axes, allowing the system to adapt its configuration for different article types. This dynamic positioning capability enables the same roller assembly to effectively mark articles of varying shapes, sizes, and orientations, greatly enhancing machine versatility.
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 solution simplifies the manufacture and assembly of rollers, reduces their size and weight, enabling higher marking speeds and greater versatility for different article shapes and sizes, while maintaining effective marking performance.
Implementation Method 1
the marking head also comprises means for heating the first roller and the second roller, for examples heating tiles, arranged in the carriage
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a machine for marking articles (100), comprising a marking head (10) suitable for applying a marking force (F10) on an article (100) along a marking axis (X10). The marking head (10) comprises a carriage (20) movable in translation along the marking axis (X10) and along a transverse axis (Z10) which is perpendicular to the marking axis (X10). The marking head (10) also comprises a first roller (30) and a second roller (40) carried by the carriage (20), rotatable respectively around a first axis (Y30) and a second axis (Y40) each located in a plane perpendicular to the marking axis (X10). The rollers (30, 40) are capable of alternately marking the same article (100) or two successive articles (100), depending on movements of the carriage (20). The invention also relates to a method for marking articles (100).