Variable-Speed Container Holder for Non-Symmetrical Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for printing non-rotationally symmetrical containers, such as bottles with complex shapes, face challenges in maintaining a constant printing distance and surface speed, leading to inconsistencies in print quality due to varying radii of curvature and surface speeds.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that utilize a controllable print head and transport system, allowing for individual rotation and movement of containers along a closed path, ensuring a constant printing distance and surface speed through adjustable axes of rotation and linear motors, enabling precise alignment and speed control for high-quality printing on containers with complex shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If containers with non-rotationally symmetrical shapes are printed using conventional methods, then printing can be performed on diverse container shapes, but the printing distance and surface velocity fluctuate significantly, degrading print quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the rotational speed of the container holder based on the real-time position and shape characteristics of the container. The control unit modifies rotation parameters to compensate for varying radii of curvature, maintaining constant surface velocity and printing distance throughout the printing process, thereby resolving the contradiction between handling diverse shapes and ensuring print quality consistency
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the control unit continuously monitors the container's position and shape characteristics during printing. Based on this feedback, the system adjusts rotational speed and printhead positioning in real-time to maintain optimal printing conditions, ensuring consistent print quality across different container geometries
2Productivity
If the printing distance is increased to accommodate larger containers, then more containers can be handled, but ink aerosol escapes into the surrounding air, causing smearing and defects
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the rotational speed of the container holder based on the real-time position and shape characteristics of the container. The control unit modifies rotation parameters to compensate for varying radii of curvature, maintaining constant surface velocity and printing distance throughout the printing process, thereby resolving the contradiction between handling diverse shapes and ensuring print quality consistency
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the control unit continuously monitors the container's position and shape characteristics during printing. Based on this feedback, the system adjusts rotational speed and printhead positioning in real-time to maintain optimal printing conditions, ensuring consistent print quality across different container geometries
3Adaptability or versatility
If the surface speed varies during printing to match container shape, then complex shapes can be accommodated, but the resolution of the printed image becomes non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the rotational speed of the container holder based on the real-time position and shape characteristics of the container. The control unit modifies rotation parameters to compensate for varying radii of curvature, maintaining constant surface velocity and printing distance throughout the printing process, thereby resolving the contradiction between handling diverse shapes and ensuring print quality consistency
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the control unit continuously monitors the container's position and shape characteristics during printing. Based on this feedback, the system adjusts rotational speed and printhead positioning in real-time to maintain optimal printing conditions, ensuring consistent print quality across different container geometries
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 approach ensures high-quality, uniform printing on containers with complex shapes by maintaining a constant printing distance and surface speed, improving print quality and throughput, particularly for containers with non-circular bases and varying curvatures.
Implementation Method 1
The printing ink is applied directly to the container's outer surface or the label using one or more printheads... using inkjet technology
Implementation Method 2
The transport system can be designed as a carousel, on which the rotatably arranged container holders travel in a circular path, or as a continuously rotating transport system forming a closed loop
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a device for printing on containers (110), in particular containers that are not rotationally symmetrical, comprising at least one printing unit (120a ... 120e) with at least one printhead, a transport system (100) with several container holders (130) rotatably arranged about axes of rotation, which is designed such that the container holders (130) rotate on a closed path and a print section of an outer surface of a container (110) held in a container holder (130) can be guided past the printhead, and at least one first drive for rotating the container holder (130) holding the container (110) about its axis of rotation with at least one control and/or regulating unit, wherein the first drive can be controlled variably such that the print section is guided past the printhead at a predetermined, substantially constant print distance.