Continuous-Motion Glass Printer with Synchronized Suction Rails
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing continuous glass printing machines require significant space and are costly due to their multi-level operation and complex mechanisms, leading to high manufacturing expenses.
Innovation Solution
A glass printing machine with a single roller conveyor system actuated by a three-phase motor or servo motor, utilizing suction cups on independent guide rails synchronized by linear motors to maintain glass position and prevent drift during continuous printing, achieving +/-0.2 mm print accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multi-level operation mechanisms are used to achieve continuous printing, then printing continuity is improved, but machine space requirements and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is segmented into multiple independent roller channels with separate suction cup guide rails for each channel. This allows parallel processing of multiple glasses simultaneously, achieving continuous printing without requiring vertical multi-level structures. Each channel operates independently, enabling seamless handoff between glasses while maintaining a compact horizontal footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using vertical multi-level operation to achieve continuity, the invention transitions to horizontal parallel processing by creating multiple roller channels side-by-side. This dimensional shift from vertical to horizontal arrangement maintains printing continuity while significantly reducing the machine's vertical space requirements and overall volume.
2Productivity
If multi-level operation mechanisms are used to achieve continuous printing, then printing continuity is improved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the printing process into multiple parallel roller channels, each with its own suction cup guide rail. This segmentation allows for modular manufacturing where identical channel assemblies can be produced independently and then assembled, reducing overall manufacturing complexity and cost compared to complex multi-level mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines multiple simple roller channels and suction cup guide rails into a single integrated printing system. By merging these relatively simple, identical modules into parallel configuration, the system achieves continuous printing capability without requiring expensive complex multi-level operation mechanisms, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.
3Device complexity
If traditional conveyor belts or rollers are used, then glass transport is simplified, but glass position drift occurs reducing printing accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
Suction cup guide rails act as an intermediary mechanism between the simple roller conveyor and the printing process. The suction cups attach to the glass surface and actively control its position throughout transport, preventing drift caused by roller eccentricities or belt variations. This intermediary system maintains printing accuracy of +/-0.2mm while keeping the overall transport mechanism simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces passive mechanical conveyor systems (belts and rollers) with an active positioning system using suction cups actuated by linear motors. This substitution eliminates position drift issues inherent in traditional mechanical conveyors while maintaining system simplicity through the use of straightforward linear motor actuation rather than complex mechanical positioning mechanisms.
4Manufacturing precision
If multiple suction cup guide rails are used to prevent glass drift, then printing accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail system is segmented into multiple independent channels, each with its own suction cups and linear motor. This segmentation allows each module to be relatively simple and identical, making the overall system manageable despite having multiple components. The modular nature reduces complexity compared to a single complex multi-axis positioning system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the control parameter from complex multi-axis mechanical positioning to simpler linear motor actuation of suction cups. By using linear motors that move along fixed guide rails, the system achieves high positioning accuracy through straightforward linear motion control rather than complex rotational and positional calculations, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining precision.
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 system ensures precise continuous printing with minimal space requirements and reduced manufacturing costs by maintaining glass position accuracy within +/-0.2 mm, enhancing printing efficiency and reducing machine size.
Implementation Method 1
The suction cups are actuated by a linear motor that moves linearly in a plane below the rollers and are synchronised with each other in such a way that when a group of suction cups picks up a glass
Implementation Method 2
The suction cups are actuated by a linear motor that moves linearly in a plane below the rollers
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Glass printer in a continuous motion comprising a printer input area (1), a scanning unit (2) for determining the position, measurement and quality of the glass or other substrate, a printing bridge (3), optionally, an output scanning unit (4) for the inspection of the print quality on the glass (or any other substrate) and an output area (5), where in addition it consists of a single transport of rollers from the input to the output of the machine passing through all the printer stations, where the rollers are actuated by a three-phase motor where the rollers are cut in several channels (6) in parallel arrangement leaving between them guide rails (7) of suction cups that run along the guide rails (7) independently of the suction cups of each guide rail (7), and where in addition, the suction cups are actuated in their displacement independently by means of a linear motor that moves linearly in a plane below the rollers and are synchronised with each other.