Transparent Metal Complex Ink Jetting State Evaluation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting jetting failures in liquid jetting devices, such as those using infrared absorbers or UV polymerization initiators, face issues like unnecessary ink components, high costs, and incompatibility with transparent inks, making them inefficient and costly for evaluating the jetting state of liquid jetting heads.
Innovation Solution
A liquid jetting device that uses a transparent metal complex ink, a liquid jetting head, a relative moving mechanism, and an exposure machine to form and evaluate patterns on a substrate, allowing for the assessment of the jetting state using a processor and observation device, while minimizing exposure energy and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If infrared absorber is added to transparent ink for jetting failure detection, then jetting state can be visually detected, but ink characteristics deteriorate and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the detection function from the ink composition itself by using the natural coloration property of metal complex ink after UV exposure. Instead of adding infrared absorbers or other detection additives to the ink, the system utilizes the inherent characteristic that metal complex ink changes color when exposed to UV light, allowing jetting state detection without modifying ink composition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces UV exposure as an intermediary process between ink jetting and detection. The UV light acts as a mediator that activates the coloration property of metal complex ink, enabling the observation device to detect jetting failures through color differences. This intermediary step allows detection without direct contact between the detection system and the ink composition.
2Measurement precision
If UV exposure machine capacity is increased to turn polymerization initiator yellow, then defective nozzle detection is enabled, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using minimal UV exposure energy sufficient to activate the coloration property of metal complex ink for detection purposes, rather than using excessive energy required for complete UV curing. This partial exposure enables defective nozzle detection without requiring high-capacity exposure machines, reducing device cost while maintaining detection accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If infrared light sensing is used for automated detection, then jetting state can be detected, but automation difficulty increases due to sensor availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from infrared light sensing to visible light sensing. By utilizing the coloration property of metal complex ink that is visible to the human eye and detectable by standard visible light sensors, the system enables automated detection using widely available and cost-effective sensors, thereby increasing the extent of automation while maintaining detection precision.
4Reliability
If transparent ink is used for jetting, then ink characteristics are maintained, but jetting state evaluation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by exposing the metal complex ink to UV light before detection. This pre-exposure activates the coloration property of the ink, creating a visible state that enables subsequent jetting state evaluation. The preliminary UV exposure step ensures that the ink maintains its transparent characteristics during jetting while becoming detectable after exposure, resolving the contradiction between ink reliability and measurement precision.
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 enables effective evaluation of the jetting state of liquid jetting heads using transparent metal complex inks, reducing costs and power consumption, and ensuring compatibility with various ink types, including transparent inks, by forming readable patterns with minimal exposure energy.
Implementation Method 1
expose the metal complex ink applied on the substrate
Implementation Method 2
acquire a reading result obtained by reading the first pattern using an observation device
Data Source
AI summary
The presently disclosed technology can evaluate a jetting state of a liquid jetting head using a transparent metal complex ink. The liquid jetting device includes a liquid jetting head that jets the metal complex ink, a relative moving mechanism that relatively moves the liquid jetting head and a substrate, an exposure machine that exposes the metal complex ink applied on the substrate, and at least one processor, in which the at least one processor forms a first pattern on the substrate by causing the metal complex ink to be jetted from the liquid jetting head, acquires a reading result obtained by reading the first pattern using an observation device after exposing the first pattern using the exposure machine, and evaluates the jetting state of the liquid jetting head from the reading result.