UV-Curable Inkjet Printer for ADA Braille Signage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sign manufacturing technologies face limitations in printing height and dot placement accuracy, particularly for ADA-compliant signs like Braille, due to ink viscosity and wetting issues, which affect the efficiency and precision of dot spacing and height.
Innovation Solution
A printer system utilizing a UV-curable inkjet technology with a micro piezo print head and a UV curing system that includes mirrors to intensify UV irradiation, allowing for precise ink dispensing and immediate curing, reducing the number of printing passes and enhancing dot placement accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If UV-curable ink is used for printing, then printing height and dot placement accuracy are improved, but ink wetting across the substrate occurs due to low viscosity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by immediately curing the UV-curable ink with UV irradiation right after dispensing it onto the substrate. This prevents the low-viscosity ink from wetting across the substrate before it can spread uncontrollably, while still allowing the ink to maintain sufficient viscosity for precise dot placement and height formation.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple printing passes are used to ensure ink pinning, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuity of useful action by integrating the UV curing system to operate continuously and immediately after each ink dispensing event. This ensures that every drop of UV-curable ink is promptly cured to prevent wetting and ensure proper dot formation, eliminating the need for multiple separate curing passes and thereby maintaining high productivity while ensuring manufacturing precision.
3Productivity
If UV irradiation intensity is increased to ensure immediate pinning, then productivity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by directing UV irradiation specifically at the locations where UV-curable ink has been dispensed, rather than illuminating the entire substrate area. This localized approach ensures immediate pinning of the ink dots with minimal energy consumption, as the UV energy is concentrated only where needed for curing, rather than being wasted on areas without ink.
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 system achieves faster printing with increased accuracy and precision in dot placement and height, producing ADA-compliant signs with improved quality and efficiency by ensuring all ink is pinned during each pass, meeting or exceeding regulatory standards with fewer passes.
Implementation Method 1
an ink jet dispenser carried by a print head and configured to jet UV-curable ink onto the substrate in a target region, and a UV curing system configured to emit UV irradiance in a radiation field that covers the target region and provides sufficient intensity to at least pin the UV-curable ink in the target region
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes a table configured to hold a substrate, an ink jet dispenser carried by a print head and configured to jet UV-curable ink onto the substrate in a target region, and a UV curing system configured to emit UV irradiance in a radiation field that covers the target region and provides sufficient intensity to at least pin the UV-curable ink in the target region.