Inkjet Recording Apparatus with Synchronized Color and Invisible Ink Curing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording apparatuses using photo-curable ink face issues with uneven gloss and image quality due to variations in dot sizes and curing timing, especially in serial-type systems, which existing technologies struggle to address effectively without increasing apparatus size or complexity.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a control system that synchronizes the jetting and curing of color and invisible inks, ensuring uniform dot sizes by controlling the timing of inkjetting and light irradiation, with the color ink jetted bidirectionally and invisible ink jetted unidirectionally, and uses a dual light irradiation setup to maintain consistent curing across both scanning directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If bidirectional scanning is used to increase recording speed, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to variation in dot sizes and curing timing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the recording process into two separate scanning directions: forward scanning for jetting color ink and backward scanning for jetting invisible ink. This segmentation allows each direction to have optimized curing timing, preventing dot size variation while maintaining bidirectional recording speed capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by curing the color ink immediately after jetting during forward scanning, before the invisible ink is jetted. This ensures uniform dot sizes are established before subsequent ink layers are added, preventing later curing timing variations from affecting dot uniformity
2Reliability
If photo-curable ink is used to prevent ink soaking and bleeding, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to uneven gloss from variation in deposited ink quantity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses invisible ink containing no coloring material to create a uniform transparent layer over the color ink. This homogeneous invisible layer masks variations in color ink deposition, ensuring uniform gloss across the recorded image while maintaining the reliability benefits of photo-curable ink
3Productivity
If large quantity of ink is applied to improve image coverage, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to partial excessive gloss and image variation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of ink transparency by using invisible ink with no coloring material. This allows larger quantities of ink to be applied for complete coverage without producing excessive gloss or image variation, as the transparent invisible layer uniformly distributes across the surface regardless of thickness
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
This approach prevents uneven gloss and improves image quality by ensuring uniform dot sizes and curing times, while maintaining a compact and efficient apparatus design, allowing for high-quality image recording without reducing recording speed.
Implementation Method 1
irradiates the ink deposited on a recording medium to cure and fix the ink on the medium
Data Source
AI summary
The inkjet recording apparatus has a color ink recording head to jet color ink toward a recording medium; an invisible ink recording head to jet invisible ink toward the recording medium; and a light irradiating device to irradiate light toward the recording medium to cure the ink. A control section causes the color ink to be jetted then the light irradiating device irradiates the color ink, thereafter the invisible ink is jetted, and finally the light irradiating device irradiates the invisible ink after a lapse of a certain time from the invisible ink jetting.