Dual Liquid Ejectors for Balanced Absorption and Curl Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of pretreatment liquid in inkjet recording apparatuses can cause increased liquid absorption by the sheet, leading to sheet curling, especially when combined with color ink, which is not effectively addressed in existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection apparatus with dual liquid ejectors and a controller that adjusts the ejection of pretreatment and recording liquids based on recording data to equalize liquid absorption between the two surfaces of the medium, ensuring balanced liquid distribution by controlling the ejection regions and amounts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If pretreatment liquid is ejected onto the sheet in addition to color ink, then liquid absorption by the sheet increases, but sheet curling becomes conspicuous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the ejection control of pretreatment liquid between the first surface and second surface of the sheet. The controller adjusts the ejection amount or ejection regions of the pretreatment liquid based on the recording liquid ejection patterns on each surface, creating non-uniform local treatment that balances overall liquid absorption and prevents sheet curling while maintaining necessary pretreatment effects.
2Reliability
If pretreatment liquid is ejected to improve pretreatment effect, then liquid absorption increases, but difference in liquid absorption between first surface and second surface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by having the controller determine the ejection amount and ejection regions of the pretreatment liquid on the second surface based on the recording liquid ejection pattern on the first surface. This feedback mechanism ensures that the pretreatment liquid distribution is adjusted to compensate for differences between surfaces, maintaining balanced liquid absorption while preserving the necessary pretreatment effect for recording 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 effectively suppresses sheet curling by equalizing liquid absorption across both surfaces, improving the stability and quality of the printing process.
Implementation Method 1
a first liquid ejector configured to eject a pretreatment liquid as a liquid for pretreatment onto a medium, a second liquid ejector configured to eject a recording liquid as a liquid for recording onto the medium
Implementation Method 2
an amount of liquid absorption by the sheet increases to make a curl of the sheet conspicuous
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection apparatus includes a first liquid ejector configured to eject a pretreatment liquid as a liquid for pretreatment onto a medium, a second liquid ejector configured to eject a recording liquid as a liquid for recording onto the medium onto which the liquid is ejected by the first liquid ejector, and a controller configured to control the first liquid ejector and the second liquid ejector, wherein one surface of the medium is defined as a first surface and another surface of the medium is defined as a second surface, the controller is configured to perform an adjustment of the ejection of the pretreatment liquid to suppress a difference in liquid absorption between the first surface and the second surface based on recording data.