UV Inkjet Printer Shutter System for Glossy Finish
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wide-format UV inkjet printers face challenges in achieving a uniform glossy finish due to the need for repositioning the UV radiation device to allow varnish to spread, which increases production time and costs, and can result in ink curing on nozzle surfaces, affecting print quality.
Innovation Solution
The use of a UV bulb lamp in the UV radiation device that does not require repositioning, combined with a shutter system creating multiple irradiation zones to cure ink and varnish separately, minimizes the gap between zones to prevent ink curing on nozzles and ensures even curing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the UV radiation device is offset to allow varnish to spread, then the glossy finish quality is improved, but the production time increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UV radiation device is divided into multiple independent UV radiation units that can be selectively activated. The shutter system segments the irradiation zones, allowing different regions to be cured at different times without moving the entire radiation device, thus maintaining productivity while achieving quality finishes.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter system dynamically controls the irradiation zones by opening and closing specific regions. This dynamic control allows the varnish to spread in designated areas while other areas remain cured, enabling quality control without offsetting the radiation device and maintaining production speed.
2Manufacturing precision
If the UV radiation device is offset to allow varnish to spread, then the glossy finish quality is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire UV radiation device movable and complex, the system segments the irradiation control into fixed radiation units with a shutter system. This segmentation allows selective curing without requiring complex offsetting mechanisms, reducing device complexity while maintaining finish quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter system acts as an intermediary between the fixed UV radiation device and the varnish application. It controls which areas receive UV radiation by opening or closing shutters, enabling precise control of curing zones without requiring the radiation device itself to move or become more complex.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the UV radiation device is offset, then the varnish spreading time is extended, but ink curing on nozzle surfaces occurs affecting print quality
Solution Approach 1:
The irradiation zones are segmented into separate controllable regions. The shutter system can close off zones where ink is being jetted while opening zones where varnish needs to spread. This selective segmentation prevents ink curing on nozzles while providing sufficient time for varnish spreading in the appropriate areas, maintaining print quality.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the receiver are treated with different UV radiation conditions. Areas where ink is jetted receive protected (shutter closed) conditions to prevent premature curing, while areas where varnish is applied receive open shutter conditions to allow proper spreading. This local differentiation of radiation quality ensures both print quality and varnish distribution.
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 solution reduces production time and costs by eliminating the need for repositioning, prevents ink curing on nozzle surfaces, and maintains print quality by ensuring even curing of ink and varnish, resulting in a uniform glossy finish.
Implementation Method 1
an UV radiation device (100) has been used wherein the UV inkjet ink is cured when being irradiated with ultraviolet light
Implementation Method 2
the UV inkjet ink is cured when being irradiated with ultraviolet light by an UV radiation device (100)
Data Source
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AI summary
An UV inkjet printer comprising an UV radiation device (100) to irradiate jetted ink on a receiver, wherein the UV radiation device (100) is attached to the inkjet print head module (300) and comprising an UV bulb lamp (101) parallel to the slow scan direction (370); and wherein the radiation device is characterized by comprising a shutter system (200) to create a first irradiation zone on the receiver and to create a second irradiation zone.