UV Curing Control for Transparent Media Printing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in printing images on transparent and semi-transparent media, such as glass or plastic, is the scattering of UV light during the curing process, which causes inkjet printheads to foul and results in inconsistent image quality and increased production delays, as well as the difficulty in controlling the precise amount of UV light required for proper curing.

Innovation Solution

A method to precisely control the movement of media during the final curing step, including lateral movement, number of rotations, and modulation of UV lamp power, with UV emitters positioned away from inkjet printheads to minimize UV radiation exposure, allowing for simultaneous processing of multiple media pieces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If UV light is applied during the curing process to cure ink on transparent media, then the ink curing effectiveness is improved, but UV light scatters and causes printhead fouling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveink curing effectivenessVSAvoidprinthead fouling

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The UV curing process is divided into two separate stages: an initial curing stage that occurs during printing with minimal UV exposure, and a final curing stage that occurs after printing is complete. This segmentation allows the ink to be partially cured during printing without causing printhead fouling, then fully cured afterward to achieve complete ink adhesion and durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The final curing step is extracted and separated from the printing process. Instead of applying continuous UV light during printing, the system applies UV light only after printing is complete, removing the harmful UV exposure from the printhead area while maintaining effective ink curing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If UV lamp power is increased to improve curing speed, then productivity is improved, but UV light scattering increases causing more printhead fouling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecuring speedVSAvoidUV light scattering

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The curing process is segmented into low-power initial curing during printing and high-power final curing after printing. This allows the system to use intense UV light for fast curing without causing printhead fouling, since the printhead is not present during the high-power exposure phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary printing and partial curing before applying the final high-power UV curing. This preliminary action prepares the ink for complete curing while avoiding the harmful effects of intense UV light during the printing phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If media movement is not precisely controlled during curing, then device complexity is reduced, but image quality consistency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia control systemVSAvoidimage quality consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts media movement speed and positioning during the curing process to ensure uniform UV exposure across the entire printed surface. This dynamic control maintains consistent image quality while avoiding overly complex mechanical systems by using software-based speed and position modulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The media undergoes periodic rotations during the curing process to ensure all surfaces receive uniform UV exposure. This periodic motion distributes the curing effect evenly across the three-dimensional object, maintaining image quality consistency without requiring complex multi-angle curing systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 approach reduces UV light scattering, prevents printhead fouling, and ensures consistent image quality by optimizing UV light application, enabling efficient and high-quality printing on transparent and semi-transparent media without the need for frequent printhead replacement.

Implementation Method 1

fast-curing using ultra-violet (UV) radiation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUV curing: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS11338593B1Method for controlling the movement of transparent media during final curing to minimize print head degradation

Publication Date: 2022.05.24 LSINC CORP

AI summary

A method is disclosed for reducing the scatter of UV light during a final curing operation in the three-dimensional printing on the surface of transparent and semi-transparent media. The method precisely controls the movement of media during a final cure step in the printing of an expressed inkjet image on the surface of transparent media. The method also controls a number of factors during final curing operation such as the lateral movement of media under a final cure lamp, the number of rotations that media undergoes during final curing, the timely modulation of UV lamp power during final curing, and the selection of UV emitter segments positioned away from a inkjet print head to reduce the amount of potential UV radiation from impinging upon one or more of the adjacent printing heads.