Laser Light Quantity Control for Ink Drying
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light emitting element drive control systems for inkjet printers face challenges in accurately controlling laser light quantities for efficient ink drying, leading to inefficiencies and potential incomplete or excessive drying due to variations in drive voltages and currents.
Innovation Solution
A light emitting elements drive control device that includes a detection unit for monitoring drive voltages and currents, a calculation unit to determine generated heat and actual emission light quantities, and a correction unit to adjust these quantities based on input heat and required light levels, ensuring precise control through constant-current and temperature compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If constant-current control is used to control laser beam light quantities for ink drying, then the control system is simple, but the actual emission light quantities cannot be accurately controlled due to variations in drive voltages and currents
Solution Approach 1:
The system measures actual drive voltages and currents for each laser light emitting element, calculates generated heat amounts based on these measurements, and uses this feedback information to correct and control the emission light quantities accurately, resolving the imprecision caused by simple constant-current control
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the control parameters from simple constant current to a more sophisticated approach that incorporates measured voltages and currents to calculate heat generation, thereby achieving precise control of emission light quantities while accounting for variations in drive conditions
2Productivity
If laser beams are used to dry ink droplets, then drying efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases due to unoptimized light quantities
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates generated heat amounts based on measured drive voltages and currents, and adjusts emission light quantities to match required heat input for drying, thereby optimizing energy consumption while maintaining high drying efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
By measuring actual drive parameters and calculating heat generation, the system provides feedback control that optimizes laser energy input, ensuring energy is not wasted on excessive drying while maintaining efficient ink removal
3Adaptability or versatility
If drive voltages and currents vary for semiconductor light emitting elements, then individual element characteristics are accommodated, but emission light quantities become inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The system measures drive voltages and currents for each individual laser light emitting element, calculates the resulting heat generation, and uses this feedback to correct emission light quantities, thereby maintaining consistency despite variations in individual element characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes from uniform control to individualized control based on measured parameters, adjusting emission light quantities for each element according to its specific drive voltage and current characteristics to achieve consistent performance
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 solution enables efficient and consistent ink drying by accurately controlling laser light quantities, reducing energy consumption and ensuring complete drying without inefficiencies, while maintaining stable operation across varying conditions.
Implementation Method 1
laser beams emitted from laser light emitting elements may be used
Implementation Method 2
The light quantities of laser beams are controlled according to the degrees of drying of deposited ink
Data Source
AI summary
A light emitting elements drive control device includes: a detection unit that detects drive voltages and drive currents of a plurality of respective semiconductor light emitting elements arranged in a width direction of a recording medium; a calculation unit that calculates generated heat amounts of the respective semiconductor light emitting elements from heating-raised temperatures of the respective semiconductor light emitting elements determined based on the drive voltages and the drive currents detected by the detection unit, and calculates actual emission light quantities of the semiconductor light emitting elements from differences between the generated heat amounts of the semiconductor light emitting elements and input heat amounts corresponding to powers supplied to the semiconductor light emitting elements, respectively; and a correction unit that corrects differences between the actual emission light quantities of the semiconductor light emitting elements calculated by the calculation unit and required emission light quantities, respectively.