Adjustable Vacuum Conveyor Suction for Variable-Width Inkjet Substrates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional vacuum conveyor systems for inkjet printing struggle with compromised adjustment capabilities when trying to adapt to substrate width and machine loading/unloading conditions, limiting their effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum conveyor system with multiple actuators that expand and retract to adjust the suction width and length in accordance with substrate dimensions, controlled by a controller to optimize substrate handling during inkjet printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional vacuum conveyor systems use fixed suction area, then结构简单 (structure is simple), but 适应性差 (adaptability is poor) when adjusting to substrate width and machine loading/unloading conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the vacuum conveyor's suction area adjustable through multiple actuators that can expand and retract. The active suction area dynamically changes to match substrate width and accommodate machine loading/unloading conditions, resolving the contradiction between fixed simplicity and adaptive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum conveyor system is segmented into multiple independent actuators distributed across the suction area. Each actuator can be independently controlled to expand or retract, allowing granular adjustment of the suction perimeter. This segmentation enables precise adaptation to different substrate dimensions while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If vacuum conveyor uses multiple actuators to adjust suction area, then 适应性提高 (adaptability improves), but 控制系统复杂度增加 (control system complexity increases)
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple actuators serve universal functions: they collectively manage both substrate width adjustment and machine loading/unloading adaptations. Each actuator can perform multiple tasks depending on positioning and coordination, reducing the need for specialized components and simplifying the overall control architecture despite the multi-actuator configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If vacuum conveyor suction area is fixed, then 制造简单 (manufacturing is simple), but 处理不同尺寸基材能力不足 (capability to handle different substrate sizes is insufficient)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements parameter changes by varying the physical extent of the suction area through actuator expansion and retraction. The suction perimeter parameters are dynamically adjusted to match substrate dimensions, enabling the system to handle various substrate sizes. This parameter variability is achieved through standardized actuator components, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while enhancing handling capability.
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
Enhances integration of substrate width adjustment and machine loading/unloading scenarios, providing improved robustness and capability to handle single substrates efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum table including a vacuum chamber configured to secure a substrate for inkjet printing of the substrate
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus, methods, and systems for a vacuum conveyor for inkjet printing with adjustment to the covered area are disclosed. In some embodiments, a controller of a vacuum conveyor expands first one or more actuators of multiple first actuators of a substrate transportation system to decrease a suction width of an area of suction provided by the vacuum conveyor in accordance with a substrate width of a substrate being inkjet printed using the vacuum conveyor. A second one or more actuators of the multiple first actuators being retracted. The controller retracts multiple second actuators of the vacuum conveyor to increase the suction length of the area of suction while the substrate transportation system moves the substrate along the vacuum conveyor for inkjet printing of the substrate. The controller expands the retracted actuators of the multiple first actuators to increase the suction length as the substrates exit the vacuum conveyor.