UV Inkjet Printer Dual Irradiation Curing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultraviolet curing inkjet printers face issues with UV ink stripping due to premature curing, where the upper layer UV ink is rejected by the lower layer UV ink on transparent media, leading to poor print quality.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a dual UV light irradiation system, where a first UV light irradiation device emits a low light quantity for temporary curing posterior to the inkjet head and a second UV light irradiation device emits a higher light quantity for final curing anterior to the inkjet head, allowing for the mixing and leveling of UV inks before complete curing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If UV inks are superposed by scanning multiple times for each single line to improve print quality, then the color image vibrancy is improved, but the UV ink on the upper layer side is liable to be stripped because it is rejected by the UV ink on the lower layer side due to premature curing
Solution Approach 1:
The UV light irradiation process is segmented into two distinct stages: a first UV light irradiation device performs temporary curing with lower light quantity during the scanning process, and a second UV light irradiation device performs final curing with higher light quantity after all scans are completed. This segmentation allows UV inks to remain in a temporarily cured state during layer formation, enabling better bonding between layers while maintaining print quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The first UV light irradiation device performs preliminary temporary curing of UV inks during the scanning process, but does not complete the curing. This preliminary action allows subsequent UV ink layers to bond properly with previously deposited layers. The final curing is then completed by the second UV light irradiation device after all scans are finished, ensuring both good interlayer bonding and complete curing for durability.
2Productivity
If a single UV light irradiation device is used to cure UV inks completely during scanning, then the curing efficiency is improved, but the UV ink stripping problem occurs due to rejection between cured layers
Solution Approach 1:
The curing process is divided into two segments: temporary curing during scanning and final curing after scanning. The first UV light irradiation device provides temporary curing that maintains productivity during the scanning process, while the second UV light irradiation device completes the curing after all layers are deposited. This segmentation prevents premature complete curing that causes ink stripping, while still maintaining efficient productivity through continuous processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The light quantity parameter is changed between the two UV light irradiation devices. The first device uses lower light quantity for temporary curing during scanning, allowing ink layers to remain bondable. The second device uses higher light quantity for final curing after all scans, ensuring complete and durable curing. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between curing efficiency and print quality.
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 enhances print quality by ensuring the UV inks are in a temporarily cured state during layer formation, allowing for better bonding and reducing the likelihood of stripping, thereby improving the printing strength and vibrancy of images on transparent media.
Implementation Method 1
a first ultraviolet light irradiation device which emits ultraviolet light of a first light quantity for temporarily curing the ultraviolet curable inks
Implementation Method 2
a second ultraviolet light irradiation device which emits ultraviolet light of a second light quantity for finally curing the ultraviolet curable inks temporarily cured by the first ultraviolet light irradiation device
Data Source
AI summary
An ultraviolet curing inkjet printer includes a first ejecting device, a first ultraviolet light irradiation device, and a second ultraviolet light irradiation device. The first ultraviolet light irradiation device is configured to emit ultraviolet light of a first light quantity for temporarily curing the ultraviolet curable inks ejected from the first ejecting device. The first ultraviolet light irradiation device is disposed posterior to the first ejecting device in a first direction as a scanning direction. The second ultraviolet light irradiation device is configured to emit ultraviolet light of a second light quantity for finally curing the ultraviolet curable inks temporarily cured by the first ultraviolet light irradiation device. The second ultraviolet light irradiation device is disposed anterior to the first ejecting device in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction and is a moving direction of a recording medium relative to the first ejecting device.