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PADPRINT NOTEBOOK
Useful Tips & Information © ITW Trans Tech An Illinois Tool Works Company |
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 CHALLENGE: Decorate medical catheter on both sides with manual or semi-automatic system SOLUTION: Two preferred designs for rotating fixtures enable customer-specified load & unload requirements:  Solution One: Completely manual fixture system, hand-operated mechanism rotates catheter 180 degrees.  Solution Two: Semi-automatic fixture is hand loaded and unloaded but turns 180 degrees and indexes supporting table automatically.  Both fixtures are easily interfaced to Combi 90 pad printing machine for ease of use and future flexibility. OTHER USEFUL TOPICS: • Catheter Pad Printing: • Automation Case Study: • Service Tips: • More Fixture FAQs: Practical Answers Contact Us |
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Solutions for Decorating Catheters Allow Customer Fixture Options
HOW TO decorate one side of a tubular medical device with an image is difficult though not impossible. But when the piece must be rotated 180 degrees and the image repeated, the application becomes even more of a challenge.
Because various devices like catheters that require graduations, numbers and logos must often be viewed from both sides, two sets of images must be applied; hence the need for a rotating fixture to hold the part in place, not once but twice in succession.
Recently two customers approached us with similar applications but with very different specifications. Although they both preferred using the Combi 90 machine, the first application was on clear 1/8-inch PVC tubing, 18 inches long. The part was firm enough to be easily loaded into a groove along a single, straight line. A completely manual operation was well-suited to this simple product.
The second tubing application, however was more complex. The product was a more flexible, much longer catheter– so long that its tail end had to be wrapped back around and held in place on the fixture. The customer preferred a semi-automatic fixture that could be hand-loaded but then would rotate automatically while firmly holding the part.
SOLUTION ONE:
Completely Manual Rotating Fixture
An overview of the first solution shows the Combi 90, fitted with the completely manual, two-position tubing fixture with handles on either end.
To suit the customer's application and production requirements, we designed a fully manual fixture. This solution involves loading a part into the vacuum-assisted groove that holds the tubing firmly in place on the fixture. The two-pad assembly picks up the image from the cliché and 90mm ink cup and transfers it to the tubing in the first position. Then, as the pad returns to get the second image, the operator turns the handles 180 degrees to the second position. The part is now ready to receive the same image, now applied to its reverse side. As the pad returns to repeat the process, the operator unloads the finished part and reloads another.
The printing area of the Combi 90, fitted with the completely manual, tubing fixture. A single pad blower is mounted at center to enhance image transfer. One of two vacuum hoses that assist in holding the tubing is visible under the left handle.
SOLUTION TWO:
Semi-Automatic Rotating Fixture
The semi-automatic catheter fixture is pictured above, mounted on a Combi 90 machine with a sample part loaded into position. The system also includes a 60mm cup slide, safety guarding and light curtain.
The semi-automatic catheter decorating alternative involved a more complex product and therefore a more sophisticated fixture. The extremely flexible rubber substrate and the catheter's length– extending far beyond the image area– dictated the concept.
Due to the soft, floppy nature of the part, a firm grip was critical to hold it in place during printing and while rotating it 180 degrees. Thus, the extra "tail" of the part needed to be wrapped around the fixture and held in place during the process.
In addition, our fixture design solution included an automatic support table that raises and lowers to fill open "windows" at the specific image areas. This device has two functions: to support the pads as they descend onto the catheter as well as to firmly grip the part during both printings.
1
Catheter is manually loaded into fixture from left to right with tail end wrapped back around to firmly position it on printing axis.
2
Four-pad assembly carrying inked image moves forward and down onto part's front side as support table rises to fill in four openings.
3
As the pads withdraw, fixture automatically rotates 180 degrees (as shown by hand for demo only).
4
Support table returns back into position again and back side is now ready to receive the second print.
5
Fixture rotates back to home position and finished part is unloaded.
Other than a careful, manual load and unload, the entire cycle is automatic. The actual production rate is dependent on the speed that the operator can properly insert and remove the part from the fixture.
For more details on our custom-designed and built fixtures, click here, or feel free to contact your Trans Tech consumables rep at: www.itwtranstech.com
ITW TRANS TECH An Illinois Tool Works Company
475 North Gary Avenue • Carol Stream, IL 60188-4900
Phone: 630.752.4000 • Fax: 630.752.4460
www.itwtranstech.com
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