UV Curing Control for Print Quality

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing devices that use ultraviolet-curable paints face challenges in ensuring complete curing, as the accuracy of determining the need for additional ultraviolet irradiation is limited by visual checks by operators.

Innovation Solution

An information processing device is provided that acquires characteristic information of the paint, print conditions, and image data, and uses this information to determine whether follow-up ultraviolet irradiation is needed after printing, thereby ensuring complete curing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If visual checking by operator is used to determine additional ultraviolet irradiation, then the process is simple and quick, but the accuracy of determination is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetermination accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual visual inspection method with an automated image processing system that captures images of the printed material and analyzes them using a determination unit. This substitution of mechanical/visual inspection with an automated optical system resolves the contradiction by providing higher measurement precision through objective image analysis while managing system complexity through standardized processing algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an image capture device and image processing system as an intermediary between the printing process and the determination of additional irradiation needs. This intermediary layer enables automated analysis of print quality and curing completeness, improving determination accuracy by removing subjective human factors while maintaining a systematic approach to quality control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If additional ultraviolet irradiation is performed to ensure complete curing, then the curing completeness is improved, but the energy consumption and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecuring completenessVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary image capture and analysis immediately after the initial ultraviolet irradiation to assess whether additional irradiation is needed. By determining the curing status before performing any additional irradiation, the system avoids unnecessary energy consumption while ensuring complete curing when required, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and energy usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts the irradiation parameters (whether to perform additional irradiation and for how long) based on the image analysis results. This parameter adjustment based on actual measured conditions allows the system to achieve complete curing only when necessary, optimizing the balance between curing reliability and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If manual visual inspection is used, then the operation is simple, but the productivity is reduced due to time-consuming inspections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidoperational simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a self-service quality control system where the determination of additional irradiation needs is performed automatically by the system itself through image capture and processing. This eliminates the need for manual operator inspection, significantly improving productivity by reducing inspection time while maintaining systematic quality control through automated algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 solution enables more accurate determination of the need for additional ultraviolet irradiation, ensuring complete curing of the paint and improving the quality of printed images.

Implementation Method 1

a printing device that prints, using a paint that is cured by ultraviolet irradiation. When printing, such a printing device casts ultraviolet light on an ejected paint and thus cures the ejected paint

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltraviolet irradiation curing: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS12337588B2Information processing device, information processing method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program

Publication Date: 2025.06.24 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

An information processing device controlling a printing device is provided. The printing device includes an ejection unit ejecting a paint that is cured by ultraviolet light, and an irradiation unit irradiating the paint ejected on a print medium with ultraviolet light. The information processing device includes: an acquisition unit acquiring characteristic information of the paint, a print condition in printing by the printing device, and image data representing an image printed by the printing device; and a determination unit determining whether execution of follow-up irradiation, which is additional ultraviolet irradiation, is needed or not, after the printing of the image involving ultraviolet irradiation by the irradiation unit, based on the characteristic information, the print condition, and the image data.