Printing Apparatus Textured Surface Control via UV Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink jet printing apparatuses find it difficult to create images with an uneven surface, resulting in a three-dimensional textured appearance, which limits the variety of imaging effects they can provide.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a carriage that moves relative to a medium, equipped with a recording head for ejecting cured color and clear inks, and ultraviolet light irradiation sections, where the clear ink is cured before sufficient leveling, by controlling the time periods and distances between ink deposition and light emission, allowing for the formation of textured images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If clear ink is ejected and allowed to level before irradiation with ultraviolet light, then a flat glossy surface is formed, but it becomes difficult to create textured images with uneven surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by controlling the timing of ultraviolet light irradiation to occur at specific time points during or after clear ink ejection, but before complete leveling. This preliminary irradiation at controlled intervals allows the formation of textured surfaces with three-dimensional appearance, while still enabling glossy surface formation when full leveling occurs, thus resolving the contradiction between surface flatness and imaging effect variety
2Shape
If ultraviolet light irradiation is delayed after clear ink deposition, then a glossy surface is achieved, but the ability to create three-dimensional textured images is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by using multiple ultraviolet light irradiation sections that irradiate the clear ink at different time intervals. The first irradiation section irradiates immediately after ejection, the second section irradiates after a first time period, and the third section irradiates after a second time period. This periodic irradiation at controlled intervals enables precise control over texture formation, allowing both textured and glossy surfaces to be created, thus resolving the contradiction between surface smoothness and texture formation control
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 creation of images with uneven surfaces, providing a three-dimensional textured appearance and increasing the number of imaging effects achievable by the printing apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
clear ink which is cured by irradiation with light... the period of time from when the clear ink is deposited on the medium to when the light is emitted by the light irradiation section is defined as a second time period
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a carriage having a recording head movable in a first direction relative to a medium, a color ink nozzle row and a clear ink nozzle row that are provided in the recording head and that respectively eject photo-curable color ink and photo-curable clear ink, and a light irradiation section. A first period of time from when the color ink is deposited on the medium to when light is emitted by the light irradiation section is equal to or longer than a second period of time from when the clear ink is deposited on the medium to when the light is emitted by the light irradiation section.