Rotatable Guide Member for Inkjet Head Scanning Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing two-dimensional and three-dimensional image forming and shaping apparatuses face issues with non-uniformity in droplet impinging positions, leading to reduced quality of two-dimensional images and three-dimensional objects due to factors like inkjet head quality, nozzle clogging, and relative positional variations between the inkjet head and the printing object.
Innovation Solution
A two-dimensional and three-dimensional shaping apparatus that includes a discharge part with linearly arranged nozzles, a main scanning direction movement part with a guide member to move the discharge part or stage, and a rotation part to adjust the relative rotation position of the stage, allowing for precise control of line width reproducibility by aligning the discharge nozzles with the movement direction and rotating the stage to ensure parallelism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional ink-jet head with linearly arranged nozzles is used for printing, then the printing speed and productivity are improved, but the uniformity of droplet impinging position deteriorates due to factors like nozzle clogging, inkjet head quality variations, and relative positional variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the guide member rotatable relative to the stage, allowing the main scanning direction to be dynamically adjusted. This rotation capability enables the system to adapt the printing direction to minimize the impact of nozzle variations and positional drift, thereby maintaining uniform droplet impingement despite using a conventional linear nozzle array for high-speed printing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the guide member by rotating it to different angles relative to the stage. By adjusting this angular parameter, the system optimizes the alignment between the main scanning direction and the nozzle arrangement, compensating for manufacturing tolerances and maintaining consistent droplet placement uniformity during high-speed operation
2Device complexity
If the main scanning direction is fixed relative to the stage, then the device complexity is reduced, but the line width reproducibility deteriorates due to non-uniform droplet impinging positions
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is designed to be rotatable, transforming a fixed scanning system into a dynamically adjustable one. This allows the main scanning direction to be rotated to optimal angles, improving line width reproducibility by ensuring uniform droplet impingement while adding only minimal rotational mechanism complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary rotation of the guide member to align the main scanning direction optimally before beginning the printing process. This preliminary alignment action ensures that subsequent printing operations achieve consistent line width reproducibility without requiring complex real-time adjustments during printing
3Productivity
If multiple nozzles are used to print a line segment, then the printing coverage and productivity are improved, but the line width uniformity deteriorates due to variations in nozzle quality and droplet discharge consistency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different portions of the nozzle array to be selectively activated or deactivated based on their performance characteristics. By rotating the guide member, the system can optimize which nozzles are used for critical line segments, ensuring that local variations in nozzle quality do not compromise overall line width uniformity while maintaining high printing coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable guide member enables dynamic reconfiguration of the effective nozzle subset used for printing. By adjusting the rotation angle, the system can optimize the alignment between the main scanning direction and individual nozzle characteristics, compensating for local quality variations and maintaining uniform line width across the entire printing area
Data Source
AI summary
The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus is provided with: a first discharge section and a second discharge section, which have multiple discharge nozzles disposed in rows and which discharge molding material from the discharge nozzles toward a fabrication stage; a guide member of a head unit-moving unit, which is equipped with the guide member to guide the movement of the first discharge section and the second discharge section in the main scanning direction (X-direction) that is orthogonal to the direction in which the discharge nozzles are disposed and which moves the first discharge section and the second discharge section relative to the fabrication stage along said guide member; and a stage rotating unit for changing the rotational position of the main scanning direction of the first discharge section and the second discharge section relative to the fabrication stage.