Web Printing Device with Turning Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital printing devices for web-shaped materials require significant space and complex control technology to print on both sides, leading to high production costs and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A compact digital printing device with at least two movable printing modules and guide elements, allowing direct printing on both sides of the web without an intermediate carrier, utilizing a pivoting or linear movement to minimize waste and reduce component count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an endless intermediate carrier is used to print on both sides of the web, then printing on both sides is achieved, but the installation space required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the endless intermediate carrier from the system entirely. Instead, the web itself serves as the printing surface, and the printing device is designed to print directly on the web as it passes through. This extraction of the intermediate carrier eliminates the large space requirements associated with circulating carriers while maintaining the capability to print on both sides of the web.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a turning device that rotates the web by 180 degrees between printing operations. This dimensional change in the web's orientation allows the same printing device to access both sides of the web sequentially, eliminating the need for separate printing stations or large intermediate carriers while maintaining dual-sided printing capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an endless intermediate carrier is used for dual-sided printing, then printing functionality is improved, but the control technology complexity increases due to coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the endless intermediate carrier, the patent eliminates the complex coordination control system that would be required to synchronize the carrier's circulation with the web's transport. The control system is simplified to only manage the turning device and the printing modules, significantly reducing control technology complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The web itself serves as the carrier, eliminating the need for a separate circulating intermediate carrier. This self-service approach simplifies the system architecture and control requirements, as the web's own movement and orientation changes are sufficient to enable dual-sided printing without additional coordination mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If printing modules are fixed in position, then device structure is simplified, but the ability to print on both sides of the web is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a turning device that dynamically changes the orientation of the web by 180 degrees between printing operations. This dynamic adjustment of the web's position, rather than moving the printing modules themselves, enables the fixed printing modules to access both sides of the web, maintaining structural simplicity while achieving dual-sided printing capability.
4Ease of manufacture
If an intermediate carrier is used for web printing, then printing process is enabled, but production costs increase due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the intermediate carrier component entirely, using the web itself as the printing surface. This extraction removes the need for manufacturing, maintaining, and coordinating complex intermediate carrier systems, thereby reducing production costs while preserving the essential printing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The web serves its own function as the carrier, eliminating the need for separate intermediate carrier components. This self-service approach reduces the bill of materials and manufacturing complexity, leading to lower production costs while maintaining the printing process capability.
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for printing a web (6) made of substrate on a first and/or a second side (6a, 6b), comprising a printing unit (10) with at least two printing modules (11, 12, 13), in particular inkjet printheads, and with an active area (20) associated with the printing unit, in which printing fluid (30), in particular ink, is transferred to the web by means of the printing modules, comprising a first guide element (40a) for guiding the web along at least a first part (20a) of the active area, a turning device (41) for the web arranged downstream of the first guide element in the web direction (7), and a second guide element (40b) arranged downstream of the turning device in the web direction for guiding the web along at least a second part (20b) of the active area.wherein, in order to execute a relative movement (50), at least one pressure module is arranged to be movable relative to at least one of the two guide elements and/or at least one of the two guide elements is arranged to be movable relative to at least one of the pressure modules.