Image Recording Apparatus Two-Stage Curing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image recording apparatuses face issues with image quality deterioration due to bleeding or blurring caused by uneven light illumination, which can result in irregularities on the printing medium.
Innovation Solution
A printer system that applies energy to a liquid in a divided manner, adjusting the energy amount based on the printing surface state to maintain a controlled flow state, reducing differences in viscosity and fluidity, thereby minimizing bleeding and irregularities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If high illuminance light is applied to the liquid on the printing medium, then the liquid is cured quickly, but the liquid cannot spread sufficiently and irregularities appear on the printing medium surface
Solution Approach 1:
The light irradiation process is divided into two distinct stages: a first irradiation stage with lower illuminance to allow liquid spreading, and a second irradiation stage with higher illuminance to cure the liquid. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by separating the spreading phase from the curing phase, enabling both sufficient spread and surface uniformity while maintaining curing speed.
2Manufacturing precision
If low illuminance light is applied to the liquid on the printing medium, then the liquid spreads sufficiently, but the liquid takes too long to cure and spreads further causing bleeding or blurring
Solution Approach 1:
The irradiation process is divided into two stages: first irradiation with lower illuminance to control spreading, and second irradiation with higher illuminance to complete curing quickly. This prevents bleeding and blurring while reducing total curing time by performing the high-speed curing in the second stage after spreading is controlled.
Solution Approach 2:
The light irradiation is applied periodically in two distinct periods: a first period with lower illuminance duration to control spreading, and a second period with higher illuminance duration to complete curing. This periodic action with varying intensities resolves the contradiction between sufficient spreading and timely curing.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the liquid is cured before sufficiently spreading, then bleeding or blurring is suppressed, but irregularities appear on the printing medium surface due to diffused light
Solution Approach 1:
The irradiation is segmented into two stages: first irradiation allows controlled spreading without excessive bleeding, and second irradiation cures the liquid uniformly. This segmentation enables the liquid to spread sufficiently without bleeding while the subsequent uniform curing eliminates surface irregularities.
4Manufacturing precision
If the liquid is allowed to spread too much before curing, then uniform coverage is achieved, but the liquid mixes with adjacent liquid causing bleeding or blurring
Solution Approach 1:
The irradiation process is segmented into two stages: first irradiation with lower illuminance allows the liquid to spread uniformly for good coverage, and second irradiation with higher illuminance quickly cures the liquid to prevent bleeding. This timing-based segmentation achieves both uniform coverage and prevents harmful mixing.
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 system effectively suppresses image quality deterioration by ensuring uniform energy application, reducing bleeding and irregularities, and maintaining a consistent flow state irrelevant to the printing surface state.
Implementation Method 1
causing the energy applying unit to apply first energy to the liquid so that the liquid is in a flow state in which the liquid has an increased viscosity and the liquid has fluidity
Implementation Method 2
causing the energy applying unit to apply second energy to the liquid so that the liquid, to which the first energy has been applied, is cured
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a printer including a head configured to discharge a liquid onto a printing surface of a printing medium, the liquid being curable by applying energy; an energy applying unit; a moving device which relatively moves the head and the energy applying unit with respect to the printing medium; and a controller. The controller executes discharge of the liquid from the head onto the printing surface while relatively moving the head and the printing medium; application of first energy and second energy from the energy applying unit to the liquid, while relatively moving the energy applying unit and the printing medium; and decision of an added-up energy amount of the first energy applied to the liquid on the printing surface from the energy applying unit until the second energy is applied after the application of the first energy depending on a state of the printing surface.