TWI889206B - A pad printer for controlling the concentration of color ink - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pad printer for controlling the concentration of color ink, including a color ink cup, a fastener, a solvent bottle, and a lifting device. The fastener is attached to the color ink cup to fasten the solvent bottle. The centers of the color ink cup and the fastener form a channel collectively for positioning the solvent bottle. A solvent from the solvent bottle can be dropped into the color ink cup when the solvent bottle is pressured. The lifting device is provided with a lifting base capable of shifting up and down, and a pressing portion is formed on the lifting base to align with the solvent bottle. The solvent can be dropped into the color ink cup when the lifting base moves toward and pressures the solvent bottle. Therefore, the color ink is kept (maintains) the best concentration through repeatedly pad printing from the pad printer. Moreover, an interval distance between the pressing portion and the solvent bottle is adjustable for users modifying the one-time adding amount of the solvent according to the different requirements of the pad printing.

Description

Pad printer with controllable ink concentration

The present invention relates to a pad printing machine that can keep the ink at a fixed concentration during the pad printing process, in particular, a pad printing machine that can squeeze a container through a displacement mechanism so that the solvent inside the container flows out and mixes with the ink.

The ink cup pad printer is a widely used printing device that can print on a variety of materials and shapes such as metal, ceramic, plastic, glass, electronics, flat surface, curved surface and spherical surface. The pad printer has a movable ink cup and pad head and a fixed printing plate. The ink stored in the ink cup is injected into the template on the printing plate, and then the silicone pad head is used to adhere to the ink on the printing plate, so that the pattern can be printed on the object to be printed.

However, pad printers in most printing applications use volatile inks. The ink will become thicker after long-term use due to the volatilization of the liquid. Thick ink may cause stringing during the transfer process, and the printed product may have problems such as low resolution or color distortion. Moreover, each material has different adhesion to the ink during printing, so being able to keep the ink at a certain concentration during printing is a major problem that printing companies must overcome.

It is known that in order to prevent the ink from becoming thick, most people usually replace the ink in the ink cup directly when using a pad printer. However, this method requires a lot of time to disassemble the ink cup and clean the entire ink cup before adding new ink. Finally, the ink cup needs to be installed again, which not only wastes ink but also greatly reduces printing efficiency.

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a pad printing machine that can control the ink concentration. The ink is kept within a certain concentration through mechanical displacement, which can improve the problem of the ink becoming thick after long-term use and improve the stability of pad printing quality.

The secondary purpose of the present invention is to use a retaining member to connect between the ink cup and the solvent container, and by replacing the retaining member with a different connecting part to match the ink cup model and solvent container already available on the market, the pad printer does not need to redesign the ink cup with a relatively high cost.

Another purpose of the present invention is to add a mechanism capable of squeezing the solvent container without changing any mechanism or operation of the pad printer, and the mechanism can change the amount of solvent added at one time according to the needs of the user.

To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the pad printing machine capable of controlling ink concentration of the present invention comprises an ink cup holder, an ink cup, a retaining member, a solvent bottle and a lifting device.

The ink cup stores ink inside and has an ink outlet and an addition port; the ink cup holder has a central opening matching the ink cup and two connecting parts, so that the ink cup can pass through the central opening and be pressed by the ink cup holder; the retaining member is installed on the ink cup and has a connecting channel to align with the addition port; the solvent bottle has a dropper portion entering the connecting channel and a fixed portion. In the storage part of the fixing member, a solvent is stored inside the storage part, which can flow into the ink cup through the dropper part; and the lifting device has a driving source, a lifting seat and two supporting parts. The lifting seat has an arched part that can be displaced by the driving source, and a pressing part aligned with the storage part is provided on the arched part. The two supporting parts are respectively connected between the connecting part and the arched part.

When the driving source drives the lifting seat and the two supporting parts to press against the ink cup seat, the lower pressing part of the lifting seat will press against the storage part at the same time, so that part of the solvent flows into the ink cup to control the concentration of the ink.

The pressing part is configured as an adjusting screw, which can be rotated relative to the arched part to perform a linear displacement, so that the spacing formed between the adjusting screw and the storage part can be adjusted to change the one-time dosage of the solvent flowing into the ink cup.

In addition, the lifting device is arranged on a translation device of the pad printing machine, and the translation device can make the lifting device move horizontally forward and backward relative to the pad printing machine.

In addition, the supporting part includes: a supporting column, an elastic member and a pressure block, one end of the supporting column can slide through the arched part, and the other end is immovably inserted into the pressure block; and the elastic member is arranged around the supporting column and connected between the supporting column and the arched part.

The supporting part has a connecting column extending horizontally inward, and the connecting part has a horizontal guiding surface, a vertical limiting surface and a groove part matching the size of the connecting column. When the ink cup holder is installed, the connecting column can sequentially contact the guiding surface, the limiting surface and the groove part, wherein the guiding surface allows the connecting column to be inserted and guided to the limiting surface; and when the connecting column contacts the limiting surface, the connecting column will be aligned with the groove part, and at this time, the pressing part will also be aligned with the storage part at the same time, and when the connecting column is inserted downward into the groove part, the two supporting parts can drive the ink cup to move horizontally forward and backward.

In addition, the connecting channel of the retaining member can be further divided into a fixed area, a contraction area and a connection area, the diameter of the contraction area is smaller than the fixed area, the connection area and the storage part, and the diameter of the contraction area is larger than the dropper part of the solvent bottle, so that a small part of the storage part is fixed in the fixed area, and a remaining part of the storage part is exposed outside the retaining member, and the dropper part can penetrate the contraction area and the connection area.

In addition, the dropper portion includes a tube body and a dropper nozzle. When the solvent bottle is installed, the dropper nozzle is set in the ink cup and the dropper nozzle will not be immersed in the ink.

Furthermore, the addition port of the ink cup is structured with a circular wall that matches the connection area, and the circular wall can be inserted into the connection area so that the ink cup and the retaining member are connected.

The feature of the invention is that when the pad printer is performing pad printing, the two supporting parts and the ink cup will be pressed downward when fixed. By arranging the downward pressing part on the arched part, and pressing the storage part while pressing downward, the solvent can be added to the ink in the ink cup. Moreover, the downward pressing part can be extended and shortened, so that the solvent bottle can be squeezed to different degrees when pressed downward. Therefore, the ink cup does not need to be disassembled and assembled due to the ink during the entire printing process, which greatly improves the printing efficiency.

1: Translation device

10: Translation seat

101: Lifting device

102: Telescopic device

11: Lifting seat

111: Arched part

112: Lower pressure part

112a: Adjustment screw

12: Support parts

121: Support column

122: Elastic parts

123: Pressure block

123a: Connecting column

13: Driving source

2: Ink cup holder

21: Central entrance

22: Connection part

221: Guiding surface

222: Limiting surface

223: Groove section

23: Connect the magnet

3: Ink cup

31: Knife ring part

32: Ink outlet

33: Add port

34: Circle wall

4: Retaining parts

41: Connecting channel

411: Fixed area

412: Contraction area

413: Connection area

5:Solvent bottle

51: Dropper Department

511: Tube body

512: drip tip

52: Storage tank

6: Printed steel plate

7: Machine body

71: Control Panel

Figure 1 is a three-dimensional diagram of the pad printer of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the pad printing mechanism inside the pad printer of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a three-dimensional diagram of the ink control mechanism composed of the ink cup, ink cup seat, retaining member, solvent bottle and lifting device of the present invention; Figure 4 is an exploded view of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the combination of the ink cup, retaining member and solvent bottle.

In order to facilitate a deeper, clear, detailed understanding and knowledge of the structure, use and features of the present invention, a better embodiment is given and described in detail with diagrams as follows:

Please refer to Figures 1 and 2. The present invention is installed on a translation device 1. The translation device 1 has a translation seat 10 to connect with a lifting device 101 and a telescopic device 102. The translation device 1 can simultaneously drive the lifting device 101 and the telescopic device 102 to move forward and backward, and the telescopic device 102 has a pad printing head (not shown). The telescopic device 102 can drive the pad printing head to adhere an ink to a printed object.

Please refer to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 again. The present invention mainly includes: the lifting device 101, an ink cup holder 2, an ink cup 3, a retaining member 4 and a solvent bottle 5. The ink cup holder 2 has a central opening 21 that matches the size of the ink cup 3, a connecting portion 22 and a plurality of connecting magnets 23 respectively arranged on both sides. The plurality of connecting magnets 23 are arranged at the bottom of the ink cup holder 2.

The ink cup 3 has a knife ring 31, an ink outlet 32 and an addition port 33. The ink outlet 32 can form a storage space with a printed steel plate 6, and the ink is poured into the ink cup 3 through the addition port 33. The knife ring 31 is arranged around the outer wall of the ink outlet 32, so that the ink cup 3 can only pass through the central opening 21 from the bottom of the ink cup holder 2 and the knife ring 31 will be clamped by the ink cup holder 2 and the printed steel plate 6, wherein the printed steel plate 6 is a material that can be adsorbed by the plurality of connecting magnets 23. The top of the ink cup 3 has the addition port 33 and the addition port 33 extending upward from the addition port 33. A circular wall 34, the circular wall 34 can connect the fixing member 4 thereto in a plug-in manner; the fixing member 4 has a connecting channel 41 aligned with the addition port 33, the connecting channel 41 can install the solvent bottle 5; the solvent bottle 5 is composed of a dropper portion 51 and a storage portion 52, the storage portion 52 can be positioned on the fixing member 4 and internally stores a solvent that can flow into the ink cup 3 through the dropper portion 51; the dropper portion 51 includes a tube body 511 of gradually reduced size and a drip nozzle 512 that enters the ink cup 3, when the solvent bottle 5 is installed, the drip nozzle 512 will not be immersed in the ink.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the connecting channel 41 of the retaining member 4 can be further divided into a fixed area 411, a contraction area 412 and a connection area 413. The diameter of the contraction area 412 is smaller than that of the fixed area 411, the connection area 413 and the storage part 52, and the diameter of the contraction area 412 is larger than that of the dropper part 51 of the solvent bottle 5. , so that a small part of the storage part 52 is fixed in the fixing area 411, and a remaining part of the storage part 52 is exposed outside the retaining member 4, and the dropper part 51 can penetrate the contraction area 412 and the connection area 413; and the connection area 413 can match the size of the circular wall 34, so that the circular wall 34 can be inserted into the connection area 413.

However, the above connection method between the ink cup 3 and the retaining member 4 is only for the convenience of explanation. The retaining member 4 and the circular wall 34 can also be provided with two mutually matching threads or magnets, so that the ink cup 3 and the retaining member 4 are connected by screw connection or magnetic attraction.

Please refer to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 again. The lifting device has a lifting seat 11, two supporting members 12 and a driving source 13. The lifting seat 11 has an arched portion 111 that can be displaced up and down by the driving source 13, and the arched portion 111 is provided with a pressing portion 112 aligned with the storage portion 52. The two supporting members 12 are respectively connected between the connecting portion 22 and the arched portion 111.

In this embodiment, the pressing portion 112 is configured as an adjusting screw 112a, and the adjusting screw 112a can be rotated relative to the arch portion 111 to perform a linear displacement, so that the spacing distance formed between the adjusting screw 112a and the storage portion 52 can be adjusted.

The support member 12 includes: a support column 121, an elastic member 122 and a pressure block 123. The support column 121 passes through the elastic member 122 and is connected between the arch portion 111 and the pressure block 123. One end of the support column 121 can slide through the arch portion 111, and the other end is immovably inserted into the pressure block 123. The elastic member 122 is connected between the support column 121 and the arch portion 111. The pressure block 123 has a connecting column 123a extending horizontally inward.

In addition, the connecting portion 22 of the ink cup holder 2 further includes a horizontal guide surface 221, a vertical limit surface 222, and a groove portion 223 that matches the size of the connecting column 123a. When the ink cup holder 2 is installed, the connecting portion 22 must first be inserted into a gap between the connecting column 123a and the printed steel plate 6. At this time, the connecting column 123a will contact the guide surface 221. As it is inserted into the gap, the connecting column 123a will be guided. When the lifting device 101 contacts the limit surface 222, the connecting column 123a will be aligned with the groove 223, and the adjusting screw 112a will also be aligned with the storage portion 52 at the same time. Then the lifting seat 11 is lowered to press the connecting column 123a into the groove 223. After the connecting column 123a is inserted into the groove 223, when the lifting device 101 is moved by the translation device 1, the two supporting members 12 can drive the ink cup holder 2 to move horizontally forward and backward.

When the driving source 13 drives the lifting seat 11 and the two supporting members 12 to press against the ink cup seat 2 for connection, the adjusting screw 112a of the lifting seat 11 will simultaneously press against the storage portion 52, so that a portion of the solvent flows into the ink cup 3 to dilute the concentration of the ink, and a user can adjust the adjusting screw 112a to change the depth of the adjusting screw 112a pressing down on the solvent bottle, thereby changing the one-time dosage of the solvent flowing into the ink cup 3, so that the user can adjust the required concentration of the ink.

However, the above adjustment screw 112a is only for convenience of explanation. The pressing portion 112 may also be provided with a protrusion, and the protrusion may be electrically controlled to adjust the spacing distance between the protrusion and the storage portion 52, so that the amount of the solvent extruded in a single dose may be changed.

In addition, the solvent bottle 5 is only for the convenience of explanation. The solvent bottle 5 can also be provided with a syringe, and the solvent can be added to the ink after being mortgaged by the lower pressing part 112. After each use, the next addition can be carried out by simply reducing the distance between the lower pressing part 112 and the storage part 52. The syringe also has scale lines, which can more accurately control the amount of each squeezed out.

Please refer to Figures 1 and 2 again. The machine body 7 also has a control panel 71, through which the displacement of the lifting seat 11 can be controlled. The control panel 71 includes a fully automatic mode. When the pad printer uses the fully automatic mode, the frequency of the up and down displacement of the lifting seat 11 can be set. By setting the frequency of the downward pressure and adjusting the distance between the adjustment screw 112a and the storage part 52, the solvent can be added to the ink in a timely and quantitative manner, so that the ink can always be kept within a certain concentration range.

11: Lifting seat

111: Arched part

112: Lower pressure part

112a: Adjustment screw

12: Support parts

121: Support column

122: Elastic parts

123: Pressure block

123a: Connecting column

2: Ink cup holder

21: Central entrance

22: Connection part

221: Guiding surface

222: Limiting surface

223: Groove section

23: Connect the magnet

3: Ink cup

31: Knife ring part

32: Ink outlet

33: Add port

34: Circle wall

4: Retaining parts

41: Connecting channel

5:Solvent bottle

51: Dropper Department

511: Tube body

512: drip tip

52: Storage tank

Claims (8)

A pad printer capable of controlling ink concentration comprises: an ink cup storing ink therein, having an ink outlet and an ink addition port; an ink cup holder having a central opening matching the ink cup and two connecting parts, so that the ink cup can pass through the central opening and be pressed by the ink cup holder; a retaining member installed on the ink cup, having a connecting channel to align with the addition port; a solvent bottle having a dropper portion entering the connecting channel and a storage portion positioned on the retaining member, wherein a solvent that can flow into the ink cup through the dropper portion is stored in the storage portion; A lifting device has a driving source, a lifting seat and two supporting parts. The lifting seat has an arched part that can be displaced by the driving source, and a pressing part aligned with the storage part is provided on the arched part. The two supporting parts are respectively connected between the connecting part and the arched part; Wherein, when the driving source drives the lifting seat and the two supporting parts to press against the ink cup seat, the pressing part of the lifting seat will press against the storage part at the same time, so that part of the solvent flows into the ink cup to control the concentration of the ink. A pad printing machine capable of controlling ink concentration as described in claim 1, wherein the pressing portion is configured as an adjusting screw, and the adjusting screw can be rotated relative to the arch portion to perform a linear displacement, so that a spacing distance formed between the adjusting screw and the storage portion can be adjusted, thereby changing the one-time dose of the solvent flowing into the ink cup. A pad printing machine capable of controlling ink concentration as described in claim 1, wherein the lifting device is arranged on a translation device of the pad printing machine, and the translation device can horizontally move the lifting device forward and backward relative to the pad printing machine. A pad printing machine capable of controlling ink concentration as described in claim 1, wherein the supporting portion comprises: a supporting column, an elastic member and a pressure block, one end of the supporting column can slide through the arched portion, while the other end is immovably inserted into the pressure block; and the elastic member is arranged around the supporting column and connected between the supporting column and the arched portion. A pad printing machine capable of controlling ink concentration as described in claim 1, wherein the supporting portion has a connecting column extending horizontally inward, and the connecting portion has a horizontal guide surface, a vertical limit surface and a groove portion matching the size of the connecting column, and when the ink cup holder is installed, the connecting column can sequentially contact the guide surface, the limit surface and the groove portion, wherein the guide surface allows the connecting column to be inserted and guided to the limit surface; and when the connecting column contacts the limit surface, the connecting column will be aligned with the groove portion, and at this time, the pressing portion will also be aligned with the storage portion at the same time; and when the connecting column is inserted downward into the groove portion, the two supporting portions can drive the ink cup to move horizontally back and forth. A pad printing machine capable of controlling ink concentration as described in claim 1, wherein the connecting channel of the retaining member can be further divided into a fixed area, a contraction area and a connection area, the diameter of the contraction area is smaller than that of the fixed area, the connection area and the storage part, and the diameter of the contraction area is larger than that of the dropper part of the solvent bottle, so that a small part of the storage part is fixed in the fixed area, and a remaining part of the storage part is exposed outside the retaining member, while the dropper part can penetrate the contraction area and the connection area. A pad printing machine capable of controlling ink concentration as described in claim 1, wherein the dropper portion comprises a tube body and a dropper nozzle, and when the solvent bottle is installed, the dropper nozzle is disposed in the ink cup and the dropper nozzle will not be immersed in the ink. A pad printing machine capable of controlling ink concentration as described in claim 6, wherein the addition port of the ink cup is configured with a circular wall that matches the connecting area, and the circular wall can be inserted into the connecting area so that the ink cup and the retaining member are connected.

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