UV-Cured Primer Test Patterns for Visible Inkjet Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods struggle to effectively check the application state of a primer on a print medium in inkjet printing apparatuses, particularly when using ultraviolet curing ink, due to the transparent nature of the primer, which makes visual inspection difficult, and existing techniques for overcoat agents are not applicable to primers.
Innovation Solution
A test pattern forming method that involves ejecting a primer and curing it with UV light, followed by ejecting colored ink at a specific ratio and height to create a visible contrast, allowing easy visual inspection of primer application by ensuring the colored ink spreads to the primer's periphery, forming a thinner layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a transparent primer is applied to the print medium, then the adhesion between the colored ink and print medium is improved, but the application state of the primer becomes difficult to check visually
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a colored ink (cyan, magenta, yellow, or black) onto the applied primer to create a visible test pattern. The colored ink provides visual contrast against the transparent primer, enabling easy detection of the primer's application state, coverage uniformity, and any defects without compromising the primer's adhesion function.
2Quantity of substance
If the colored ink is ejected at high printing rate, then the coverage is improved, but the liquid level height may exceed the primer's periphery reducing inspection visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies controlling the printing rate to be 70% or more and adjusting the liquid level height of the colored ink to be 70% or more of the liquid level height of the primer in the peripheral region. This parameter control ensures sufficient coverage while maintaining the colored ink within boundaries that allow visual inspection of the primer's application state.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional test patterns are used for misregistration checking, then the process is simple, but they cannot effectively detect primer application issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent forms a test pattern by first applying the primer to a first region and then ejecting colored ink onto that region. This preliminary action of applying primer before the colored ink creates a visible interaction that reveals the primer's application state, enabling detection of coverage issues, uniformity problems, and adhesion defects that conventional test patterns cannot detect.
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
Enables easy visual verification of primer application, reduces misregistration and ejection defects, and minimizes wasteful consumption of print media and ink, contributing to sustainable development goals.
Implementation Method 1
curing the primer ejected from the primer ejection head with ultraviolet light; curing the colored ink ejected from the colored ink ejection head with ultraviolet light
Data Source
AI summary
A primer is ejected to a first region on a print medium. Thereafter, the primer is cured by ultraviolet light. Next, a colored ink is ejected to a second region including the first region and a peripheral region of the first region. At this time, the colored ink is ejected from the colored ink ejection head so that a printing rate is 70% or more and a height of a liquid level of the colored ink in the peripheral region of the first region is 70% or more of a height of a liquid level of the primer in the first region. Thereafter, the colored ink is cured by ultraviolet light.