Infrared Radiation Source Shielding in Liquid Ejection Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink jet recording apparatuses face issues with image quality due to insufficient heating and drying of ink, leading to bleeding, as the convection generated by the air blower cools the infrared radiation source, reducing its heating ability.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection apparatus with a separation wall between the infrared radiation unit and the convection generation unit, which shields air from hitting the radiation source, maintaining its heating ability and preventing bleeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a convection generation unit (air blower) is provided at an upper side of the carriage to blow air onto the recording medium for diffusing solvent, then solvent diffusion is improved, but the air cools the infrared ray irradiation light source, reducing its heating ability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the upper side of the carriage into distinct functional zones: a convection generation unit for air blowing and an infrared ray irradiation unit for heating. By segmenting these functions spatially and providing a separation wall between them, the air flow from the convection unit does not directly contact the infrared light source, thus preventing cooling while maintaining both solvent diffusion and heating capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
A separation wall is introduced as an intermediary structure between the convection generation unit and the infrared ray irradiation unit. This wall acts as a barrier that blocks the direct path of air flow from the convection unit to the infrared light source, preventing thermal cooling of the light source while allowing both units to function independently and effectively.
2Area of stationary object
If the infrared ray irradiation light source is arranged in the width direction of the recording medium, then heating coverage is improved, but the light source becomes vulnerable to cooling by convection air flow
Solution Approach 1:
The separation wall serves as a protective intermediary that shields the infrared ray irradiation light source from direct exposure to convection air flow. This allows the light source to be positioned in the width direction for broad heating coverage while preventing the cooling effect of air flow, thus maintaining both coverage area and heating reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different protective measures to different parts of the system: the infrared light source is positioned for broad coverage but is locally protected from air flow by the separation wall. This local quality approach allows the light source to maintain its optimal position for heating coverage while being protected from the harmful cooling effect of convection air.
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 prevents cooling of the infrared radiation source, ensuring sufficient drying of ink and improving image quality by maintaining the heating ability, thus suppressing bleeding and achieving high-quality prints.
Implementation Method 1
an infrared ray irradiation unit 160 which irradiates infrared rays onto landed ink to heat the ink so as to accelerate diffusion of solvent in the ink
Implementation Method 2
a convection generation unit 170 which blows air onto the recording medium S onto which ink has landed over the width direction
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a liquid ejection apparatus in which convection generated by a convection generation unit does not give an influence on an irradiation unit, ink can be heated and dried sufficiently, and bleeding can be suppressed from occurring. The liquid ejection apparatus includes a head unit which has a nozzle for ejecting liquid onto a recording medium, a carriage which makes the head unit relatively scan the recording medium, an infrared ray irradiation unit which is provided at a vertically upper side of the carriage in a scanning direction of the carriage and irradiates the recording medium with infrared rays, a convection generation unit which is provided at a vertically upper side of the carriage in the scanning direction of the carriage and generates convection on the recording medium, and a separation wall which is provided between the infrared ray irradiation unit and the convection generation unit.