Image Recording Apparatus Ink Curing Footprint Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image recording apparatuses using photo-curable inks face issues with unwanted curing of inks on nozzles due to reflected light, leading to clogging and decreased printing quality, and the combination of full curing and semi-curing light sources increases the apparatus' footprint.
Innovation Solution
An image recording apparatus with a transport mechanism that includes a viscosity increasing light irradiator and a fixing light irradiator, where the first type of irradiation light increases ink viscosity and the second type fixes the ink, with a switching mechanism to change the transport orientation, reducing unwanted curing and footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a platen with steps is used to prevent reflected light from curing ink in recording heads, then nozzle clogging is prevented, but the recording medium becomes curved and ink spread increases resulting in decreased printing quality
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful reflected light is blocked by extracting/adding a light blocking structure (platen with steps) between the recording medium and recording heads. This removes the harmful factor (reflected light causing unwanted curing) without affecting the main curing function.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of trying to prevent ink spread through complex mechanisms, the invention inverts the approach by using gravity to the advantage - orienting the recording medium vertically during transport so that uncured ink naturally flows downward rather than spreading laterally across the surface.
2Manufacturing precision
If semi-curing LED assemblies are used to suppress ink spread, then printing quality is maintained, but the apparatus footprint increases due to longer transport path
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the transport orientation from horizontal to vertical, utilizing the vertical dimension to suppress ink spread through gravity rather than requiring extended horizontal transport paths with multiple LED assemblies. This dimensional change achieves ink control without increasing footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical/optical system (extended transport path with LED assemblies) with a gravitational field-based solution (vertical orientation). Instead of using light to control ink spread over a long path, gravity naturally controls ink flow in the vertical direction.
3Productivity
If full curing light source is used immediately after ink ejection, then ink is fixed quickly, but reflected light cures ink in recording heads causing nozzle clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful reflected light is blocked by extracting/adding a light blocking structure (platen with steps) that prevents curing light from reaching the recording heads, thereby removing the cause of unwanted ink curing in the nozzles while maintaining full curing capability on the recording medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The recording medium is oriented vertically before curing occurs, establishing a configuration where gravity suppresses ink spread and light blocking structures prevent reflected light from reaching recording heads, thereby preventing nozzle clogging before it can occur.
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
The solution effectively suppresses unwanted curing of inks in the recording heads, maintains printing quality, and reduces the apparatus' footprint by strategically positioning light sources and switching the transport orientation.
Implementation Method 1
a viscosity increasing light irradiator downstream from the at least one recording head in the transport direction, the viscosity increasing light irradiator irradiating the recording medium with a first type of irradiation light that increases the viscosity of the ink
Implementation Method 2
a fixing light irradiator downstream from the viscosity increasing light irradiator in the transport direction, the fixing light irradiator irradiating the recording medium with a second type of irradiation light that fixes the ink on the recording medium
Data Source
AI summary
This image recording apparatus includes a viscosity increasing light irradiator that increases the viscosity of ink ejected onto a recording medium, and a fixing light irradiator that fixes the ink on the recording medium. The fixing light irradiator is disposed behind a first switching part that causes the transport orientation of the recording medium to approach the vertical. This reduces the footprint of the image recording apparatus. Also a second type of irradiation light emitted from the fixing light irradiator is intercepted by the recording medium. This suppresses the unwanted curing of the ink in an image recorder. Also the viscosity increasing light irradiator is disposed at a location upstream from the first switching part in a transport direction. This suppresses the decrease in printing quality resulting from the passage of the ink remaining uncured through the first switching part.