Liquid Ejection Carriage with Differential UV Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultraviolet-curable ink adhering to the nozzle of a liquid ejection unit is cured by reflected light, causing ejection abnormalities in existing liquid ejection apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a liquid ejection apparatus with a carriage and irradiation unit arrangement where a second wall surface has higher light absorptance than a first wall surface, mitigating ultraviolet light reflection and absorption to prevent nozzle curing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the irradiation unit is positioned to irradiate the liquid onto the medium, then the liquid can be cured effectively, but ultraviolet light is reflected by the medium and reaches the liquid ejection unit, causing the liquid adhering to the nozzle to be cured and resulting in ejection abnormalities
Solution Approach 1:
A wall surface is introduced as an intermediary element between the medium and the liquid ejection unit. This wall surface serves as a mediator that intercepts and absorbs the ultraviolet light reflected from the medium, preventing it from reaching the liquid ejection unit and curing the liquid at the nozzle, thereby eliminating ejection abnormalities while maintaining effective irradiation of the liquid onto the medium
2Reliability
If the wall surface has high light absorptance to prevent reflected ultraviolet light from reaching the liquid ejection unit, then ejection abnormalities are prevented, but the structural complexity of the irradiation unit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wall surface is designed with non-uniform light absorptance characteristics: the first wall surface facing the liquid ejection unit has high light absorptance to absorb reflected ultraviolet light and prevent it from reaching the nozzle, while the second wall surface facing the medium has low light absorptance to allow ultraviolet light to pass through and effectively irradiate the liquid onto the medium. This localized differentiation of optical properties enables the single wall surface to simultaneously fulfill both protective and irradiative functions, preventing ejection abnormalities without requiring additional complex structures
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
Prevents ultraviolet-curable ink from being cured at the nozzle, ensuring normal ejection functionality and improving the reliability of the liquid ejection process.
Implementation Method 1
a light absorptance of the second wall surface is higher than a light absorptance of the first wall surface
Implementation Method 2
an ultraviolet light source configured to emit the ultraviolet light
Implementation Method 3
a liquid ejection unit configured to eject a liquid that is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet light
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection unit configured to eject a liquid that is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet light onto a medium, an irradiation unit configured to irradiate the liquid ejected onto the medium with ultraviolet light, a carriage loaded with the liquid ejection unit and the irradiation unit so as to be arranged side, and configured to move above the medium, and a motor configured to move the carriage, wherein the irradiation unit includes an ultraviolet light source configured to emit the ultraviolet light, a first wall surface located between the ultraviolet light source and the liquid ejection unit, and a second wall surface located at a position at an opposite side to the first wall surface across the ultraviolet light source, and a light absorptance of the second wall surface is higher than a light absorptance of the first wall surface.