UV Curing Housing with Sliding Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing double-skinned housings for UV light sources in ink curing apparatuses are complex and costly to manufacture, prone to distortion due to heat expansion, and difficult to maintain due to axial locking, requiring removal of the entire cassette for lamp replacement and repair.
Innovation Solution
A double-walled housing with a locking mechanism allowing longitudinal movement of the inner skin relative to the outer wall, enabling expansion due to heat while preventing axial movement, and featuring separable sections for easier maintenance and efficient cooling channels for improved efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the double-skinned housing is integrally formed, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced and production cost is lowered, but the housing distorts during use because the inner wall absorbs more heat and expands while permanently fixed to the outer wall
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into two separate skins (inner skin and outer wall) that are not permanently fixed together, allowing the inner skin to expand independently when heated while maintaining structural integrity through locking means that permit relative movement
Solution Approach 2:
The locking means are designed to be dynamic rather than static, allowing the inner skin to move longitudinally relative to the outer wall in response to thermal expansion, while still maintaining axial locking to prevent separation
2Strength
If the double-skinned housing is axially locked together, then the structural integrity is improved, but the lamp maintenance becomes difficult because the entire cassette must be removed for lamp replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into separable sections with the lamp assembly being removable from the upper section, allowing maintenance personnel to access and replace the lamp without removing the entire cassette, thus improving ease of repair while maintaining structural integrity through the locking means
Solution Approach 2:
The lamp assembly is extracted as a separate removable component from the housing structure, enabling easy maintenance and replacement without affecting the overall structural integrity of the housing
3Ease of repair
If the entire cassette is removed for lamp replacement, then the lamp can be accessed for maintenance, but the time and complexity of maintenance are increased due to the weight of the cassette
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into separable sections allowing the lamp assembly to be removed independently from the upper section, reducing the weight and complexity of components that need to be removed during maintenance, thus reducing maintenance time while maintaining lamp accessibility
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 simplifies maintenance, reduces production costs, and enhances cooling efficiency, allowing for safer operation and reduced power consumption by enabling easy removal and replacement of components without the need to remove the entire cassette, while managing heat expansion effectively.
Implementation Method 1
the or each locking means is adapted to secure the inner skin and the outer wall together whilst permitting relative movement of the inner skin along the length of the outer wall... the housing allows for the expansion of the inner skin caused by heat created during UV curing/drying
Implementation Method 2
the housing further comprises at least one cooling means, wherein the or each cooling means comprises at least one channel within the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A double-walled housing (3) for an ultra-violet ink curing apparatus (1), comprising an inner skin (5) and an outer wall (7) secured together by at least one locking means (9), wherein the locking means (9) is adapted to secure the inner skin (5) and the outer wall (7) together while permitting relative movement of the inner skin (5) along the length of the outer wall (7).