UV Nail Curing Apparatus with Dual-Direction LED Array
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nail gel curing apparatuses using UV LEDs inadequately cure the thumbnail due to its anatomical positioning, requiring users to reposition their hand or cure the thumb separately, doubling the curing time and disrupting the application sequence.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an additional UV light source positioned at the same angle and distance as the main UV source, with LEDs on a horseshoe-shaped base and upright sections, ensuring uniform irradiation of all fingernails and the thumbnail simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single UV light source is used to irradiate fingernails from above, then the fingernails are adequately cured, but the thumbnail does not receive adequate irradiation due to its anatomical positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The UV illumination system is segmented into two distinct components: a top board with LEDs for irradiating the four fingernails, and a base with upright sections containing additional LEDs for irradiating the thumbnail. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific target area, ensuring adequate curing of both fingernails and thumbnail simultaneously without requiring hand repositioning.
2Reliability
If the thumb is cured separately from the four fingers, then adequate irradiation is achieved for the thumbnail, but the total curing time doubles
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system merges the curing of fingernails and thumbnail into a single simultaneous operation. The top board LEDs and base upright section LEDs are activated together, allowing all five nails to receive UV irradiation at the same time. This combining eliminates the need for sequential curing operations, reducing total curing time from four minutes to two minutes while maintaining adequate curing for all nails.
3Reliability
If separate curing of thumb and fingers is implemented, then adequate irradiation is achieved, but the application sequence is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the curing operations for all nails into a single unified process. By positioning LEDs on both the top board and base upright sections to illuminate all five nails simultaneously, the application sequence remains intact and efficient, eliminating the need to interrupt the workflow for separate thumb curing operations.
4Reliability
If additional UV light sources are added to irradiate the thumbnail, then uniform curing is achieved for all nails, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system applies local quality by positioning UV light sources at different locations (top board and base upright sections) with different orientations relative to each nail type. The top board LEDs are positioned for optimal illumination of the four fingernails, while the base upright section LEDs are positioned to illuminate the thumbnail, ensuring each area receives appropriate irradiation intensity and angle.
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 configuration allows for simultaneous and uniform curing of all nails, reducing the total curing time by half and maintaining the sequence integrity, thus improving efficiency and reducing the risk of application mistakes.
Implementation Method 1
the source of the UV radiation, whether LEDs or other source of UV radiation
Implementation Method 2
A nail gel curing apparatus which operate by using a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) operating at an ultra-violet (UV) wavelength suitable for curing gels
Implementation Method 3
the gel applied to the fingernails being cured
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus to provide ultra-violet (UV) irradiation to cure a gel nail. The apparatus includes a top section and a bottom section, the top and bottom sections forming a unit with an opening sized to allow at least a portion of a human hand to be inserted. An array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed in the unit to emit UV irradiation in a first direction when supplied with electrical power. At least one LED is disposed in the unit to emit UV irradiation in a second direction when supplied with electrical power. The first direction is approximately perpendicular to the second direction such that fingernails and a thumbnail of a human hand inserted into the opening substantially simultaneously receive amounts of UV irradiation sufficient to cure a UV curable gel applied to the fingernails and the thumbnail at approximately the same time.