Printer Lamp Positioning for Compact Gloss Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printers using photocurable ink for gloss printing face challenges in maintaining a compact size while effectively smoothing ink layers, as existing designs require LEDs to be positioned far from their respective heads, potentially increasing the device's overall size.
Innovation Solution
A printer configuration where the first and second lamps are positioned differently in the height direction relative to the platen, allowing for relative movement during gloss print mode without the need for large support structures, enabling efficient ink smoothing without increasing the device's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the white/clear LEDs are arranged at positions separated from the white/clear ink head in the main scanning direction to secure smoothing time, then the gloss printing quality is improved, but the printer device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the white/clear LEDs not only in the main scanning direction but also in the sub-scanning direction relative to the ink head. This multi-dimensional arrangement allows the light irradiation path to overlap with the ink ejection path, enabling the LEDs to be closer to the ink head while still providing sufficient irradiation time for smoothing, thus resolving the contradiction between print quality and device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the dynamic movement of the carriage carrying the ink head and LEDs relative to the conveyed object. By synchronizing the movement speeds and positions, the system ensures that the LEDs irradiate the freshly ejected ink for the required duration without needing to be positioned far ahead, thereby maintaining compact device dimensions while achieving gloss printing quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If the color LEDs are arranged at positions separated from the color ink head in the main scanning direction to secure smoothing time, then the ink layer smoothing is improved, but the support member size and overall printer size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the color LEDs in both the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction relative to the color ink head. This spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions allows the LEDs to be closer to the ink head while still providing adequate irradiation time for the ink layer to smooth before curing, thus improving smoothing quality without increasing support member size.
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages the synchronized dynamic movement between the carriage (carrying ink heads and LEDs) and the object conveyance system. By controlling the relative positions and speeds, the LEDs can irradiate the ink layer for the necessary duration to achieve smoothing, eliminating the need for large separations and reducing support member dimensions.
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 smoothing of ink layers in gloss print mode while maintaining a compact printer size by optimizing the positioning of lamps and heads, improving print quality and reducing device dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
The first head is configured to eject a first ink onto the object to be printed. The first ink is a photocurable ink... The first lamp is aligned with the first head in a main scanning direction, and is configured to irradiate light onto the object to be printed... The processor causes to irradiate the light from the first lamp onto the second ink ejected onto the object to be printed
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes a platen, a first head, a second head, a first lamp, and a second lamp. The first head, the second head, the first lamp, and the second lamp are moved relatively with respect to the platen in a main scanning direction, and the platen is moved from the second head toward the first head relatively with respect to the first head, the second head, the first lamp, and the second lamp, repeatedly. The second head ejects the second ink onto the object to be printed placed on the platen while the first head, the second head, the first lamp, and the second lamp are moving in the main scanning direction. The first lamp irradiates light onto the second ink on the object to be printed while the first head, the second head, the first lamp, and the second lamp are moving in the main scanning direction.