Liquid Discharge Apparatus Distance-Based Light Intensity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge apparatuses face challenges in ensuring sufficient curing of photocurable ink on three-dimensional recording media without causing damage, as varying distances between the light source and the recording medium lead to inconsistent radiation intensity, potentially resulting in incomplete curing or surface deformation.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge apparatus with a head that discharges photocurable liquid, a radiation unit with adjustable light sources, and a movement mechanism that adjusts light emission intensity based on the distance to each area of the recording medium, ensuring adequate curing while minimizing surface temperature increases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the ultraviolet ray is radiated at an identical light emission intensity across the entire recording medium, then the device complexity is reduced and operation is simplified, but the manufacturing precision and curing quality deteriorate due to varying distances on three-dimensional surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by dividing the recording medium surface into multiple regions and assigning different light emission intensities to each region based on its distance from the radiation unit. This ensures that each local area receives appropriate irradiation intensity for proper curing, rather than using a uniform intensity across the entire surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the light emission intensity adjustable and variable rather than fixed. The radiation unit dynamically changes its output intensity based on real-time distance measurements to different areas of the three-dimensional recording medium, optimizing curing effectiveness across varying surfaces.
2Manufacturing precision
If the light emission intensity is increased to ensure sufficient curing at distant areas, then the curing quality improves, but the recording medium surface temperature increases causing deformation and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different light emission intensities to different regions based on their specific needs. Areas farther from the radiation unit receive higher intensity, while closer areas receive lower intensity, preventing unnecessary overheating and surface deformation in regions that require less energy for curing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by adjusting the light emission intensity parameter according to the distance parameter. The control unit modifies the intensity parameter dynamically based on measured distance variations, optimizing the energy input to achieve curing without excessive temperature rise that would cause damage.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the light emission intensity is decreased to prevent surface deformation at close areas, then the harmful effects are reduced, but insufficient curing occurs at distant areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by segmenting the recording medium into multiple regions and assigning optimized light emission intensities to each segment based on its distance from the radiation unit. This ensures that distant areas receive sufficient intensity for complete curing while close areas receive reduced intensity to prevent overheating and deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by making the light emission intensity a variable parameter that is adjusted according to distance measurements. The control unit changes the intensity parameter for different regions to optimize both curing effectiveness and temperature control, preventing both insufficient curing and surface deformation.
4Device complexity
If a single light emission intensity is used for the entire recording medium, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to three-dimensional surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by customizing the light emission intensity for each local region of the recording medium based on its three-dimensional geometry. This enables the device to adapt to various three-dimensional surface shapes and configurations, whether cylindrical, spherical, or irregular, by providing locally optimized irradiation conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the light emission intensity dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. This dynamic capability allows the device to adapt to different three-dimensional surface geometries and recording conditions, enhancing versatility while maintaining manageable control through automated distance-based adjustments.
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
The apparatus effectively prevents insufficient curing and reduces the risk of damage to the recording medium by dynamically adjusting light emission intensity according to the distance, ensuring consistent ink curing across varying surface geometries.
Implementation Method 1
a radiation unit which has a plurality of light sources and is configured to radiate light from the light sources to cure the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a head, a radiation unit, a movement mechanism, and a controller. The controller is configured to: acquire a radiation distance for each of a plurality of areas defined on a surface of a recording medium; control the movement mechanism and the head to discharge the liquid to the surface of the recording medium; and control the radiation unit to radiate the light onto the plurality of the areas of the recording medium so that the longer the radiation distance for each of the plurality of areas, the stronger a light emission intensity of each of the plurality of light sources which faces each of the plurality of areas in the first direction.