Ultraviolet Irradiation Lens Structure for Reflected-Light Ejection Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultraviolet light emitted from an irradiation unit is reflected by the medium, causing the liquid ejection unit to be irradiated and leading to ejection abnormalities in ultraviolet-curable ink.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection apparatus with a carriage and irradiation unit configured to emit ultraviolet light in a direction crossing the movement direction, featuring a lens part with a hemispherical tip and a columnar base, and a motor to move the carriage, ensuring the ultraviolet light sources are positioned to avoid direct reflection and maintain ink ejection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the irradiation unit emits ultraviolet light toward the medium, then the liquid can be cured effectively, but the ultraviolet light is reflected by the medium and irradiates the liquid ejection unit, causing ejection abnormalities
Solution Approach 1:
A reflective shield is introduced as an intermediary component between the medium and the liquid ejection unit. This shield reflects ultraviolet light away from the liquid ejection unit, preventing the harmful reflected light from causing ink curing in the nozzles while allowing the irradiation to proceed effectively on the medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The irradiation system is segmented into distinct functional zones: an irradiation-facing surface that receives ultraviolet light for curing the liquid, and a liquid ejection unit that is physically separated and protected from reflected light. This segmentation allows independent optimization of curing effectiveness and protection of the ejection mechanism.
2Device complexity
If the liquid ejection unit and irradiation unit are arranged close together on the carriage, then the apparatus structure is compact, but the reflected ultraviolet light causes ink to cure in the nozzle vicinity
Solution Approach 1:
A reflective shield is positioned between the irradiation unit and the liquid ejection unit to block and redirect reflected ultraviolet light. This intermediary component enables close arrangement of the units for compact structure while preventing the harmful interaction that would compromise ejection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective function is achieved not by increasing horizontal separation distance, but by introducing a vertical dimension element (the reflective shield extending downward) that blocks the reflected light path without significantly increasing the overall footprint of the apparatus.
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
Prevents ultraviolet-curable ink from curing in the nozzle, thereby maintaining normal ejection functionality and improving the reliability of the liquid ejection process.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitting part configured to emit the ultraviolet light
Implementation Method 2
a lens part configured to seal the light emitting part... the lens part includes a base portion having a columnar shape, and a tip portion which has a hemispherical shape
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection unit configured to eject a liquid that is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet light onto a medium, an irradiation unit configured to irradiate the liquid ejected onto the medium with ultraviolet light, wherein the irradiation unit includes a plurality of ultraviolet light sources which is configured to emit the ultraviolet light toward a second direction, and includes a first ultraviolet light source, the first ultraviolet light source includes a light emitting part and a lens part, the lens part includes a base portion having a columnar shape, and a tip portion which has a hemispherical shape, and is coupled to the base portion at the second direction side, and a length in the second direction of the lens part is longer than a diameter of the base portion.