Selective Drying Control for Security Printing Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current security printing machines lack an efficient and economical method for configuring dryer devices to achieve length-variable and selective drying, which is essential for printing complex security features on varying substrates with precision and speed.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a dryer device configuration system that includes an operating interface for personnel to adjust the dryer's position and width, combined with a device for image acquisition and evaluation to synchronize the drying process with the machine phase and printing material progress, using a control device to activate and deactivate radiation sources in correlation with the machine phase and printing material position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a dryer device is used in a security printing machine, then printing material can be dried, but the device lacks efficient and economical configuration for length-variable and selective drying
Solution Approach 1:
The dryer device is divided into multiple independently controllable radiation sources arranged in sections along the printing material path. Each section can be individually activated or deactivated based on the printing requirements, enabling length-variable and selective drying without requiring a completely reconfigurable system. This segmentation allows the dryer to adapt to different printing formats and patterns while maintaining manageable device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The dryer device incorporates dynamic control capabilities where radiation sources can be selectively activated and deactivated during operation based on real-time printing parameters. The system can adjust which sections of the dryer are active according to the printing material format, image content, and production requirements, providing adaptability without requiring physical reconfiguration of the entire dryer device.
2Reliability
If radiation sources are activated continuously, then printing material can be dried consistently, but energy consumption increases and economy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly activating all radiation sources, the system selectively activates only those sections of the dryer that correspond to areas where printing material requires drying. The control device determines which radiation sources to activate based on printing format, image content, and material properties, ensuring consistent drying where needed while avoiding energy waste in areas where drying is not required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by activating only the necessary portions of the dryer device rather than the entire system. By selectively enabling specific radiation source sections based on actual drying requirements, the system maintains reliable drying performance for printed areas while consuming significantly less energy compared to continuous full-system operation.
3Loss of energy
If the dryer device is configured for selective drying, then energy efficiency improves, but the configuration process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The dryer device incorporates automatic configuration capabilities where the control device determines the appropriate radiation source sections to activate based on printing parameters fed from the prepress stage. The system self-adjusts its operation mode without requiring manual intervention for each printing job, reducing the operational complexity while maintaining energy efficiency through selective activation of dryer sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from printing parameters and prepress data to automatically configure which dryer sections should be active. The control device receives information about printing format, image content, and material properties, then automatically determines the optimal radiation source configuration, eliminating the need for manual setup while achieving energy-efficient selective drying.
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 configuration enables quick and economical length-variable and selective drying, ensuring precise and efficient drying of printing materials, even on substrates with complex security features, enhancing the production speed and quality of security printing.
Implementation Method 1
a dryer device with a dryer (36) comprising a one-part or multi-part radiation means (38), through which the printing material (02) passing the dryer (36) on its transport path can be exposed to radiation to dry it
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for configuring a drying device in a printing machine, in particular a value document printing machine, the printing machine having at least one printing unit (19; 23; 19'; 23') which comprises an imaging cylinder (06; 06'; 07; 07') having a plurality of imaging printing elements (25; 25') or groups of imaging printing elements (25; 25') arranged in rows and columns on the circumference. The invention also relates to a drying device having a drier (14; 16; 36) by means of which print material (02) passing the drier (14; 16; 36) is subjected to radiation. The drying device is configured for ongoing or upcoming production in such a way that the print material (02) passing the drier (14; 16; 36), in order to be dried, is subjected to radiation in a plurality of tracks (t1; ti) spaced from each other by non-irradiated tracks according to the same switch-on and switch-off sequence extending over a cycle length (LZ), wherein the configuration takes place with regard to a lateral position and/or width of the tracks (ti) to be subjected to radiation by the drier (14; 16; 36) using product-related data (P) or information I(P) regarding the number and/or size and/or position of value items (57) to be printed next to each other on a print material portion and/or using data which come from a device (89) for image capture and/or evaluation comprised by the printing machine or are provided in parallel to such a device (89).