Transparent Ink Ejection Inspection via Light Transmittance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ejection inspection methods struggle with accurately detecting the landing position and area of transparent ink, which is difficult to observe and recognize, leading to complications and high costs in maintaining image quality in liquid droplet ejection devices.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using a recording medium with an ink absorption layer containing void cells and adjusting the ejection amount of transparent ink to create regions with and without liquid, allowing for observation and recognition of test patterns through reflected or transmitted light using an image capturing element, enabling precise ejection inspection without complex optical systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If transparent ink is used to adjust image quality, then image uniformity is improved, but detection accuracy deteriorates because the ink is difficult to observe and recognize
Solution Approach 1:
A transparent test pattern is introduced as an intermediary element between the transparent ink and the detection system. This test pattern, when illuminated, creates optical contrasts (reflected light and transmitted light) that enable detection of the transparent ink's ejection characteristics without compromising the ink's transparency for image quality adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The detection method utilizes optical property changes - specifically variations in reflected light and transmitted light - rather than relying on the ink's inherent color. By measuring these optical changes, the system can detect transparent ink patterns that would otherwise be invisible
2Measurement precision
If conventional optical systems are used to detect transparent ink, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex optical systems to directly detect transparent ink, the method creates an optical copy or representation through the test pattern. The test pattern converts the invisible transparent ink information into visible optical signals (reflected and transmitted light) that can be captured by simple imaging devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical/optical detection systems with a simpler system based on light illumination and basic optical measurement. By using a transparent test pattern that responds to illumination, the system substitutes sophisticated detection hardware with a more straightforward optical measurement approach
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
This approach allows for highly accurate ejection inspection of transparent ink, stabilizing the ejection characteristics of liquid droplet ejection nozzles and maintaining image recording quality, even in cases where the ink is hard to observe or recognize, without the need for expensive optical systems or image processing devices.
Implementation Method 1
an ink absorption layer having light transmittance where a great number of void cells having a particle diameter smaller than wavelength of the light are dispersed into a joining material
Implementation Method 2
an ink absorption layer having light transmittance where a great number of void cells having a particle diameter smaller than wavelength of the light are dispersed into a joining material
Data Source
AI summary
An ejection inspection method includes: preparing a liquid ejection nozzle for ejecting liquid onto a recording medium; irradiating a pattern formed by the liquid ejected onto the recording medium with light; and conducting ejection inspection of the liquid ejection nozzle based on results of observing or recognizing reflected light or transmitted light of the light from the recording medium. The recording medium includes an ink absorption layer having light transmittance where a great number of void cells having a particle diameter smaller than wavelength of the light are dispersed into a joining material, and an ejection amount of the liquid is adjusted such that a region where the liquid is sufficiently filled in the void cells and a region where substantially no liquid is filled exist in a thickness direction and a horizontal direction in planar view of the ink absorption layer.