UV Curing Light Shielding for 3D Inkjet Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet printing on 3-dimensional objects, such as handheld terminal covers, faces issues with stray ultraviolet light leakage due to misalignment of surfaces during rotation, which can damage printer components and surrounding materials.
Innovation Solution
A light-shielding portion that adjusts its position and surface area to match the orientation of the 3-dimensional object being printed, using a configuration similar to a slider-type door, to effectively shield ultraviolet rays and minimize stray light leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the orientation of the 3-dimensional object is changed by rotating shaft members to print on different surfaces, then printing versatility is improved, but stray light leakage occurs due to gaps created when surfaces are repositioned
Solution Approach 1:
The light-shielding portion is designed to dynamically adjust its position and shielding area in synchronization with the rotation of shaft members. When the orientation of the 3-dimensional object changes, the light-shielding portion automatically moves to maintain appropriate shielding, transforming a static shielding structure into a dynamic one that adapts to different printing surfaces and orientations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of the light-shielding portion (position and shielding area) based on the printing requirements. By adjusting these parameters in response to shaft member rotation and surface repositioning, the system optimizes light shielding effectiveness for each printing scenario without compromising printing versatility.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the light-shielding area is increased to prevent stray light leakage, then harmful factor reduction is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism for the light-shielding portion is merged with the existing shaft member rotation mechanism. Both functions (rotating the object and adjusting light shielding) are integrated into a single coordinated system, eliminating the need for separate complex adjustment mechanisms while achieving effective stray light prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-shielding portion automatically adjusts its position and area in response to shaft member rotation without requiring external control. The system uses the motion of the shaft members themselves to drive the light-shielding adjustment, making the shielding mechanism self-regulating and reducing overall device complexity.
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 solution allows for precise alignment of surfaces to be printed and significantly reduces stray light leakage, ensuring accurate and cost-effective printing on multiple 3-dimensional objects while protecting printer components and surrounding materials.
Implementation Method 1
When changing the position of the surfaces to be printed, gaps which allow leakage of ultraviolet rays may be created
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2(a)~2(c)
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
When printing on 3-dimensional objects such as covers for handheld terminals, generation of stray light may be adequately suppressed. There is provided an ink jet printer including an ink jet head (12), an ultraviolet irradiating portions (14), and an object-to-be-printed holding member (18), wherein the object-to-be-printed holding member includes a 3-dimensional object holding portion (152) configured to hold a 3-dimensional object, and a light-shielding portion (110), the 3-dimensional object holding portion changes an orientation of the 3-dimensional object (50) to bring a first surface to be printed and a second surface to be printed respectively to oppose the ink jet head, the light-shielding portion is provided so as to be capable of advancing and retracting in a direction of discharge at least at some position, and changes a shielding area that shields ultraviolet rays in a direction orthogonal to the direction of discharge.