Dynamic Distance Control for Image Forming Device Treatment Quality

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Solution Overview

Problem

The quality of pretreatment and post-treatment in image forming devices varies due to transport, printing, and medium conditions, leading to inconsistent image formation, especially with the presence of patterns or coatings on the recording medium.

Innovation Solution

Acquiring information on transportation speed, ink application, and surface state to dynamically control the distance between printing and treatment units, ensuring optimal treatment quality by adjusting the timing and positioning of pretreatment and post-treatment processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the distance between printing unit and treatment unit is fixed, then the device structure is simple, but the treatment quality varies due to transport, printing, and medium conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment qualityVSAvoiddistance control mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the distance between the printing unit and treatment unit adjustable rather than fixed. The distance control unit dynamically adjusts this distance based on acquired information about transportation speed, ink application amount, and surface state, allowing the system to adapt to varying conditions and maintain optimal treatment quality consistently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the distance parameter between printing and treatment units based on multiple input parameters including transportation speed, ink application amount, and surface state. This dynamic parameter adjustment enables the system to compensate for variations in processing conditions and maintain consistent treatment quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the treatment unit processes the entire recording medium surface, then the treatment is comprehensive, but the cost and waste increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment quality consistencyVSAvoidmaterial waste and cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by enabling the treatment unit to process only specific regions of the recording medium where printing has occurred, rather than treating the entire surface. The position control unit directs the treatment unit to precise locations based on printing position information, ensuring treatment is applied only where needed and reducing material waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements segmentation by dividing the recording medium processing into distinct regions - treated regions where printing occurred and untreated regions where it did not. This allows selective treatment of only the necessary portions, reducing resource consumption while maintaining treatment quality consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If the printing unit prints on the entire recording medium, then the coverage is complete, but the productivity decreases due to unnecessary printing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting accuracyVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality to printing by enabling the printing unit to print only on specific regions of the recording medium rather than the entire surface. The position control unit guides the printing unit to precise locations based on predetermined printing positions, ensuring accurate printing only where needed and improving processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by having the printing unit print only on the necessary portions of the recording medium rather than the entire surface. This selective printing approach reduces processing time and resource consumption while maintaining printing accuracy at the required locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4094945B1Image forming device and printed matter manufacturing method
Publication Date: 2025.03.26 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP4094945B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4094945B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4094945B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are an image forming device that always forms an image with an optimum treatment quality, and a manufacturing method of a printed material. An image forming device includes a transport unit that transports a recording medium in a transport direction, a printing unit that applies an ink to a printing surface of the transported recording medium to perform printing, a treatment unit that performs treatment on the transported recording medium, and a movement unit that changes a distance between the printing unit and the treatment unit in the transport direction, in which the distance is controlled based on at least one information of information on a transportation speed of the recording medium in the transport unit, information on an applied amount of the ink in the printing unit, or information on a surface state of the printing surface of the recording medium.