Edible Inkjet Printer with Self-Cleaning Guide Roller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard inkjet printers face issues when printing on edible substrates like sugar paste, as the sticky nature causes uneven surfaces, clogs rollers, and reduces print quality, while adaptations such as removing central rollers lead to further complications like lifted substrates and damaged print heads.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a roller cleaning apparatus, such as a brush, that engages the guide rollers during printing to remove residue, along with features like ink reservoirs with level sensors and a modified paper guide with a deep border to prevent substrate separation, ensuring optimal roller performance and improved print quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard inkjet printers are used for printing on edible substrates, then printing functionality is achieved, but the sticky nature of sugar paste causes rollers to become clogged and print quality to deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A roller cleaning apparatus is mounted on the print head to clean the guide roller during the printing process. This preliminary cleaning action prevents residue buildup that would otherwise cause clogging and performance degradation, maintaining reliable operation throughout the printing task.
Solution Approach 2:
The print head system incorporates a self-cleaning capability through the roller cleaning apparatus. As the print head moves during printing, it automatically cleans the guide roller, allowing the system to maintain itself without external intervention and preventing the harmful effects of residue accumulation.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the central roller is removed to prevent contact with sugar paste, then roller clogging is reduced, but the substrate lifts and causes damaged rollers and contact with print-head mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The problematic central roller that直接接触 sugar paste is removed from the system. This extraction eliminates the source of clogging issues while the remaining rollers and cleaning apparatus handle substrate guidance without direct contact with the sticky sugar paste surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The roller cleaning apparatus acts as an intermediary between the print head and guide roller. It enables the system to maintain guidance functionality while preventing direct harmful contact between sugar paste and rollers, resolving the contradiction between preventing clogging and maintaining operational stability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If sugar paste substrate is used, then edible printing is achieved, but the surface becomes uneven and irregular resulting in reduced print quality
Solution Approach 1:
The roller cleaning apparatus performs preliminary cleaning of the guide roller before and during the printing process. This prevents residue buildup that would otherwise transfer to the substrate and cause surface irregularities, thereby maintaining high print quality on edible substrates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains print quality through self-cleaning functionality. The roller cleaning apparatus continuously maintains the guide roller in a clean state throughout printing operations, ensuring consistent substrate surface quality and print precision without external intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
The present inventions relates to An ink-jet printer for printing on an edible substrate, the printer comprising a guide roller for guiding the substrate through the printer and a print head for printing on the substrate, the print head being mounted adjacent the guide roller so as to be movable in a reciprocating manner substantially parallel to the guide roller characterized in that the print head mounts a roller cleaning apparatus which engages the guide roller as the print head reciprocates. This prevents a build-up of residue from the edible substrate on the guide rollers, thus providing improved performance and reliability. A method of operating the printer in conjunction with a user terminal is also disclosed.