Lenticular Lens Printing on Penetrable Paper
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 3D printing and pseudo-embossment printing on paper with ink penetrability, such as plain paper, the large amount of ink supplied leads to incomplete curing due to UV radiation not reaching ink penetrating inside the paper, causing blots and unusual odors.
Innovation Solution
A printing method involving a thin undercoat layer formed with radiation-curable transparent ink, followed by controlled UV curing to prevent ink penetration and ensure complete curing, along with a lenticular lens or pseudo-embossment structure formation using a dual curing process with varying UV intensities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a large amount of ink is supplied to form a predetermined shaped structure on the print side, then the structure formation is achieved, but the ink penetrates inside the paper causing incomplete curing
Solution Approach 1:
The printing process is segmented into two distinct stages: first forming a thin undercoat layer that penetrates the paper to create a cured barrier, then forming the transparent structure on top of this barrier. This segmentation prevents ink penetration during structure formation while ensuring complete curing of both layers through separate UV irradiation steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The undercoat layer is formed and cured before forming the transparent structure. This preliminary action creates a cured barrier within the paper that prevents subsequent ink penetration, while still allowing UV radiation to pass through to cure the final structure layer.
2Productivity
If ultraviolet is irradiated to cure the ink after printing on plain paper, then surface ink is cured, but the penetrated ink inside the paper remains uncured causing blots and odors
Solution Approach 1:
The curing process is segmented into two phases: first curing the undercoat layer that has penetrated into the paper, then curing the transparent structure layer on the surface. This ensures complete curing of all ink layers while maintaining productivity through efficient UV irradiation sequencing.
3Reliability
If a thin undercoat layer is formed and cured before forming the transparent structure, then ink penetration is prevented, but the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The formation of the undercoat layer and the transparent structure is merged into a single printing process using the same radiation-curable transparent ink, but executed in two sequential stages with intermediate UV curing. This approach prevents ink penetration while avoiding the need for separate printing systems or complex additional equipment.
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
Enables the formation of lenticular lenses or transparent structures on ink-penetrable papers without blots or odors, ensuring complete ink curing and maintaining the structural integrity of the printed material.
Implementation Method 1
ultraviolet-curable ink is used for the printing, and after the printing, ultraviolet is irradiated to solidify the ink
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a printer and printing method that forms a lenticular lens or a transparent structure based on pseudo-embossment printing or the like on paper having penetrability, and an inkjet printer performs: with respect to a base material having a characteristic of being penetrated by radiation-curable ink, an undercoating step of using radiation-curable transparent ink to form a thin undercoat layer; an undercoat curing step of irradiating the formed undercoat layer with radiation to completely solidify the thrilled undercoat layer; a transparent structure forming step of using the radiation-curable transparent ink to form a spacer layer and microlens layer as a desired transparent structure on the solidified undercoat layer; and a transparent structure curing step of afterward further irradiating the radiation to cure the formed spacer layer and microlens layer.