UV LED Braille Printer with Integrated Curing Head
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sign manufacturing technologies face limitations in printing height and dot placement accuracy, particularly for ADA-compliant signage like Braille, due to ink viscosity issues and wetting problems, which affect the efficiency and precision of dot placement.
Innovation Solution
A UV LED inkjet printer system with a movable print head and a UV source coupled to the inkjet dispenser, utilizing micro piezo dispensers and a UV curing system with mirrors to intensify UV irradiation, allowing for precise ink placement and curing on each pass, thereby increasing printing speed and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If UV curable ink is used for printing, then dot placement accuracy is improved, but printing speed is reduced due to multiple passes being required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the UV source and ink jet dispenser in a fixed relative arrangement before printing begins. This allows the system to perform accurate dot placement in a single pass without requiring multiple passes for alignment, thereby improving printing speed while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the UV curing function with the ink jet dispensing function by integrating the UV source directly with the ink jet dispenser assembly. This combination allows simultaneous ink deposition and curing in a single pass, eliminating the need for separate curing passes and improving overall printing speed.
2Length of moving object
If printing height is increased for better visibility, then ADA compliance is improved, but ink viscosity issues cause wetting problems that reduce dot placement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the ink by using UV curable ink with specific viscosity characteristics that prevent wetting even at increased printing heights. The UV curing property allows the ink to maintain its shape and not spread excessively, enabling higher printing heights while preserving dot placement accuracy for ADA compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical printing methods with UV curable ink jet technology, where the curing mechanism replaces the need for mechanical pressure control to prevent wetting. This substitution allows for greater printing height without the wetting problems that plague conventional ink systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple printing passes are used to improve dot placement accuracy, then manufacturing precision is improved, but production time increases reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs all necessary alignment and positioning actions in advance through the fixed relative arrangement of the UV source and ink jet dispenser. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for multiple passes to achieve accurate dot placement, allowing single-pass printing that maintains precision while reducing production time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous useful action by maintaining a fixed relative position between the UV source and ink jet dispenser throughout the printing process. This continuous alignment capability allows accurate dot placement in a single continuous pass without interruption for realignment, thereby reducing production time while preserving manufacturing precision.
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 system enables faster production of ADA-compliant signage with improved dot spacing and height accuracy, reducing the number of printing passes required and ensuring precise dot placement, thus meeting or exceeding ADA standards with enhanced efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The ink jet dispenser is configured to jet UV LED curable ink onto the substrate. A UV source coupled to the ink jet dispenser in a following direction is configured to emit UV irradiance.
Implementation Method 2
A plurality of mirrors are coupled to the UV source and configured to deflect UV irradiance from the UV source in a direction perpendicular to the print direction.
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes a substrate and a print head. The print head is movable in a print direction. The print head includes an ink jet dispenser configured to jet ink toward the substrate. The print head further includes a UV source coupled to the ink jet dispenser in a following direction. The UV source is configured to emit UV irradiance. The plurality of mirrors are coupled to the UV source and configured to deflect UV irradiance from the UV source in a direction perpendicular to the print direction.