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PADPRINT
NOTEBOOK Useful Tips & Information © ITW Trans Tech An Illinois Tool Works Company |
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 System Description: Applying Two-Sided Image to Catheter Luer Lock Hub Here is the fully automatic system for printing on both sides of a polycarbonate catheter luer lock hub to our customer's specifications, which required a rate of 1500 printed parts per hour. Loading: The blank parts are bulk loaded into a vibratory feeder bowl which orients and advances parts onto feeder tracks with pneumatic orientation devices and load sensors. Once in place at the escapement area, the load shuttle places pairs of parts onto two-up, rotating custom fixtures. Indexing: Each of twelve fixtures which is mounted to an electro- mechanical dial indexer moves into the printing area of the Sealcup 60 pad printing machine. Our Sealcup 60 is an all-mechanical,cam-operated printer that features a sealed ink cup, with a fast cup & cliche changeover. It is fitted with a two-pad asembly and 60mm ink cup. One pad applies a logo while the other applies variable part information. After the first application, the dual fixture rotates 180 degrees and the back side of each part is imprinted with the image from the other pad. Removal: After both parts have been printed on each fixture, the dial revolves to move each pair to the rake-off station. Here they are unloaded down a chute and into a bulk container. KEY AUXILIARIES: Rotating Fixtures & Thermodiffusion Curing Two key elements that are interfaced for this automatic system are twelve rotating fixtures on the dial indexer that fit neatly into the thermo-diffusion unit. By combining the high speed of two-up, two-sided printing with instant, hot-air ink curing, maximum production rate is achieved.  FIXTURES: Detail view of rotating, two-up fixtures mounted to the twelve-position dial indexer. The fixtures are turned 180 degrees by an actuator positioned at the printing station.  CURING: Fixtures holding pairs of printed parts pass under the thermodiffusion curing unit, fitted with a special diverter channel that surrounds the parts to cure ink on both sides at once with hot, forced air. OTHER RELATED TOPICS: • Catheter Pad Printing: • Automation Case Study: • Service Tips: |
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Fully Automated Pad Printing System:
Two-Up Printing on Luer Locks
WHEN medical device manufacturers are looking for a way to decorate a product, they are never seeking to print only one. When prospective customers come to ITW Trans Tech, they are looking for a system to print thousands, perhaps millions of parts. What's more, they usually want a turnkey system and a single source; that goes for consumables and long-term support as well.
Overview of the complete system, including: bulk hopper (1), part feeder bowl (2), vibratory feed track (3), part orientation & escapement (4), dial indexer (5), Sealcup 60 padprinter (6), thermodifusion curing (7), rake-off device (8) as well as part present sensor (9), safety guarding (10) and automatic controls for continuous industrial use (11).
High Volume Capacity, Low Operator Involvement
One of these application requests recently came from a maker of polycarbonate catheter luer lock hubs. The customer needed to decorate this item at a rate of 1500 parts per hour and to be able to do so with minimal operator involvement. Ideally, the system would have a hopper capable of holding 3,500 to 5,000 parts. The sealed ink cup pad printing method would be preferred with a cup volume adequate to run 10,000 parts or a seven hour run.
The luer locks had to be imprinted with a logo on one side and variable information on the reverse side. The original idea was to use two separate pad printers, one for each image. But that concept was simplified into a single Sealcup 60 with a two-pad assembly, printing a different image with either pad. A custom-designed, rotating holding fixture would enable the two-sided imprint. In addition, a complete solution would also include suitable non-toxic inks, various cliché printing plates, silicone pads and other supplies.
Detail view of part escapement and loading section (arrow) of the system where pairs of oriented parts are inserted into the fixture.
Detail of printing area (arrow) of system, showing the actuator of the rotating fixture. This enables the fixture to turn 180 degrees to receive the second imprint.
After passing under the thermodiffusion unit (arrow), each fixture is indexed to the rake-off device which removes the finished pair of parts down a chute into a bulk container.
For additional information about this catheter pad printing system or ti discuss your particular application, feel free to call us at 630.752.4000 or e-mail us through our CONTACT US page.
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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