Staged UV Curing for High-Density Liquid Dot Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In high-density dot formation in liquid printing, adjacent dots tend to spread before electromagnetic wave irradiation, leading to poor image quality on non-absorbent media.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharging method involving multiple nozzle rows with specific arrangements and irradiation stages, where dots are formed at varying intervals and cured in stages to prevent spreading, using UV ink and controlled electromagnetic wave exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dots are formed at high density on a medium, then productivity and image quality are improved, but the dots spread before irradiation causing manufacturing precision to deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by forming a first layer of dots at a first interval and irradiating them before forming a second layer of dots at a second (shorter) interval. This preliminary formation and curing of the first dot layer creates a stable foundation that prevents spreading when subsequent dots are formed at higher density, thus maintaining manufacturing precision while enabling high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the dot formation process into multiple stages: first forming dots at a first interval in a first direction, then forming additional dots at a second (shorter) interval in a second direction. This segmentation allows each dot layer to be formed and cured separately, preventing spreading while achieving high overall dot density, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and manufacturing precision.
2Productivity
If multiple nozzle rows are used to form high-density dots, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the nozzle rows universal by configuring multiple nozzle rows to perform different functions at different stages: the first nozzle row forms dots at the first interval, while the second nozzle row forms dots at the second (shorter) interval. Both nozzle rows use the same basic structure but serve different purposes in the multi-stage process, achieving high productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 method effectively suppresses dot spreading at high densities, enhances image quality, and improves uniformity and gloss by staged curing and nozzle arrangement strategies.
Implementation Method 1
liquid that is cured when electromagnetic waves are irradiated to the medium
Implementation Method 2
irradiating the dots formed on the medium with electromagnetic waves
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting method using a liquid discharging apparatus, the method including: a first process, forming dots on a medium in a predetermined direction at a first interval by discharging liquid that is cured when electromagnetic waves are irradiated to the medium; a second process, irradiating the dots formed on the medium with electromagnetic waves; a third process, forming dots in the predetermined direction at the first interval so that the dots formed in the first process and the dots formed in the third process are positioned in the predetermined direction at a second interval which is shorter than the first interval; and a fourth process, irradiating the dots formed on the medium with electromagnetic waves.