Liquid Discharge Apparatus Curing Light Illuminance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge apparatuses face challenges in forming three-dimensional objects with precision, as they often result in image defects like discoloration and degradation due to excessive or insufficient curing light irradiation, especially when dealing with objects having surface irregularities, leading to prolonged printing times and reduced productivity.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge apparatus that includes a stage, a discharge head for photocurable ink, and an irradiation device, controlled by circuitry to adjust the illuminance of curing light based on slice data indicating printing and non-printing regions, allowing for precise control of light exposure in each layer of the three-dimensional object.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If uniform curing light irradiation is applied to the entire printing region, then complete curing of ink is achieved, but discoloration and degradation occur in non-printing regions due to excessive light exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by dividing the printing region into printing sub-regions and non-printing sub-regions, then applying different curing light illuminance to each. The irradiation device selectively increases illuminance in printing sub-regions while reducing it in non-printing sub-regions, ensuring precise curing where needed and preventing discoloration where ink is not discharged.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the printing region into multiple sub-regions based on whether ink is discharged in each area. By segmenting the irradiation control into printing and non-printing sub-regions, the system can independently control light exposure for each segment, achieving complete curing in printing areas while protecting non-printing areas from excessive irradiation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the discharge head or stage moves to form three-dimensional objects layer by layer, then complex three-dimensional shapes can be created, but printing time increases due to sequential layer formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuity of useful action by performing curing light irradiation simultaneously with ink discharge operations for each layer. The irradiation device is positioned to irradiate ink immediately after discharge, eliminating idle time between discharge and curing. This continuous process maintains high adaptability for complex three-dimensional shapes while significantly reducing total printing time compared to sequential operations.
3Reliability
If excessive curing light irradiation is applied to ensure complete curing, then curing reliability improves, but image quality deteriorates due to discoloration and degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing region-specific illuminance control where the irradiation device provides high illuminance only in printing sub-regions to ensure complete curing, while providing low illuminance in non-printing sub-regions to prevent discoloration. This localized approach maintains curing reliability where needed while preserving image quality overall.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the curing light illuminance adjustable and changeable based on the printing state. The irradiation device dynamically adjusts illuminance levels between high (for printing regions) and low (for non-printing regions), allowing the system to adapt to different curing requirements in different areas, thereby maintaining both reliability and image quality.
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 the suppression of discoloration and image defects by optimizing light exposure, ensuring proper curing of ink layers, and improving the quality and speed of three-dimensional object fabrication.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating the ink with ultraviolet rays such that the ink is fixed to the printing material
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge apparatus to form a three-dimensional object with a plurality of layers of ink laminated includes a stage; a discharge head to discharge photocurable ink, toward the stage, for each layer in a height direction of the three-dimensional object; a driver to move the discharge head or the stage relative to the other; an irradiation device to cure the ink, for each layer, with curing light irradiation; and circuitry. The circuitry causes the discharge head to discharge the ink, according to slice data indicating a printing region and a non-printing region in each layer generated by sliding in the height direction of the three-dimensional object, corresponding to movement of the discharge head; and change, in each layer, illuminance of the curing light in the printing region and the non-printing region in accordance with a state of the printing region and the non-printing region indicated by the slice data.