Variable Velocity Printing Blanket for Air-Free Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printing methods using elastic printing blankets face issues with ambient air being caught between the blanket and the original plate or printing medium, leading to incomplete pattern transfer and increased printing costs and efficiency degradation.
Innovation Solution
The method involves reducing the descending velocity of the printing blanket to a low rate at the initial stage of contact and gradually increasing it as the blanket is pressed further, with optional temporary stops, to manage contact area and prevent air entrapment, and also starting contact via non-end portions or adjusting curvature radii to control contact geometry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the printing blanket is pressed against the original plate at a constant velocity, then the printing process is simple and efficient, but ambient air is caught between the blanket and the original plate causing incomplete pattern transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by changing the pressing velocity from constant to variable. The pressing velocity is set to be lowest in the initial stage of contact between the blanket and the original plate, then gradually increased as the contact area increases. This dynamic velocity adjustment prevents air entrapment while maintaining printing efficiency, resolving the contradiction between simple constant-velocity operation and complete pattern transfer.
2Speed
If the contact area between the printing blanket and the original plate is increased rapidly, then the printing process is faster, but ambient air is trapped causing printing defects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by controlling the initial pressing velocity to be low when the contact area is small, allowing air to escape before the blanket fully contacts the original plate. This preliminary slow-contact phase prevents air entrapment, and then the velocity is increased for efficient completion of the pressing action, resolving the contradiction between fast pressing and air entrapment prevention.
3Manufacturing precision
If the printing blanket has a large curvature radius at the end portion, then the contact area increases rapidly causing air entrapment, but reducing the curvature radius decreases printing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the pressing velocity parameter based on the contact area development. Instead of changing the blanket geometry, the velocity parameter is modified during the pressing process - lowest at initial contact and gradually increased. This parameter change approach achieves precise contact area control while maintaining high printing efficiency, resolving the contradiction between curvature radius effects and productivity.
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 prevents ambient air from being caught between the blanket and the printing surfaces, reducing the risk of incomplete transfers and maintaining high printing efficiency and productivity without increasing costs.
Implementation Method 1
the printing blanket being formed of an elastic material and having a shape narrowed toward an end portion
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2(a)~3(c)
Figure 4(a)~6
AI summary
A printing method 100 includes causing, when pressing the printing blanket 20 formed of an elastic material and having a shape narrowed toward an end portion against an original plate 10 to which ink 2 is applied, the printing blanket 20 to descend at a lowest velocity at the moment when the end portion of the printing blanket 20 contacts the original plate 10, and increasing the velocity of descending as the printing blanket 20 is pressed further against the original plate 10. Likewise, when the printing blanket 20 is pressed against a surface to be printed 30, the printing blanket 20 is made to descend at a lowest velocity at the moment when the end portion of the printing blanket 20 contacts the surface to be printed 30, and the velocity of descending is increased as the printing blanket 20 is pressed further against the surface to be printed 30.