Substrate Conveyor Carriages for Inkjet Printing Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing substrate transport systems in digital printing machines face challenges in precision, flexibility, and efficiency, particularly when handling substrates of varying sizes and types, and combining different printing and drying processes, as they often cause deformation, ink suction issues, and require tedious adjustments of print heads.
Innovation Solution
A substrate conveyor system with carriages that move along a transport path, equipped with motorization and displacement sensors, allowing for precise movement and adjustment to accommodate various substrate sizes and types, while preventing interference with printing and drying stations, and enabling variable pitch printing and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If suction belts are used to transport substrates, then automated processing is achieved, but substrate deformation occurs and printing accuracy is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The transport system is divided into multiple independent carriages that can be individually controlled and positioned. Each carriage is a separate unit that can be precisely located along the transport path, eliminating the continuous deformation caused by suction belts while maintaining automated transport capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the pneumatic suction belt system with a mechanical carriage-based transport system. Instead of using air pressure to move substrates continuously, discrete carriages mechanically transport substrates at controlled intervals, eliminating the deformation issues associated with suction belts.
2Manufacturing precision
If cylinders with grippers are used for substrate transport, then printing precision is improved, but print head adjustment becomes tedious and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage system incorporates adjustable mechanisms that allow dynamic reconfiguration of the transport path and carriage positioning. This enables precise substrate transport while accommodating different substrate types and sizes without requiring complex manual adjustment of print heads, as the system adapts to various configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The carriage design is universal and can accommodate multiple substrate types, sizes, and configurations through adjustable fixtures and positioning mechanisms. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for complex print head adjustments when changing substrate specifications, as the carriages can be reconfigured to match different requirements.
3Device complexity
If fixed pitch printing is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to variable substrate sizes is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs variable pitch mechanisms that allow the distance between print locations to be dynamically adjusted based on substrate size and requirements. This maintains relative system simplicity while enabling adaptation to different substrate dimensions, as the pitch can be changed without redesigning the entire printing system.
Solution Approach 2:
The printing system allows modification of key parameters such as pitch, speed, and positioning based on substrate characteristics. By changing these parameters rather than the fundamental system architecture, the patent maintains simplicity while achieving versatility across different substrate sizes and types.
4Productivity
If high-speed transport is implemented, then productivity increases, but precision and quality control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The transport system operates with periodic cycles where substrates are accelerated to high speeds for transport, then decelerated and held stationary during printing and processing operations. This periodic acceleration-deceleration-hold pattern maintains high overall productivity while ensuring precision during critical operations, as the system alternates between speed and stability phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary positioning and stabilization of substrates on carriages before entering high-speed transport modes. By preparing substrates in advance with precise positioning, the system ensures that when high-speed transport occurs, the substrates are already optimally configured, and subsequent printing/processing can proceed with high precision despite the speed differential.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a novel device and a novel method for conveying printable substrates in a precise manner, adapted to substrates of different types, sizes and thicknesses. In addition, the invention is adapted to printing machines that do not come into contact with the substrate, such as inkjet printing machines.