Printer, heating device, and printing method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing print processing apparatuses for fabrics lack an efficient method to set and acquire precise heating treatment conditions for different types of fabrics, leading to suboptimal ink fixation and increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A printer system that includes a print engine, a heating device, and circuitry to set the type of fabric and acquire prescribed treatment conditions from an external device, which includes temperature and duration settings specific to each fabric type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If fixed heating treatment conditions are used for all fabrics, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision of ink fixation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing optimal heating treatment conditions (temperature, time, humidity) for multiple fabric types in the control unit before actual printing operations. When a printing job is received, the system automatically retrieves and applies the pre-determined conditions corresponding to the specified fabric type, eliminating the need for manual condition setting and ensuring consistent high-quality ink fixation without increasing operational complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If heating time is extended to improve ink fixation, then the manufacturing precision improves, but the productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by storing multiple sets of heating treatment conditions with different temperature and time parameters for various fabric types in the control unit. The system automatically selects and applies the optimal parameter set based on the fabric type specified in the printing job, enabling high-quality ink fixation with minimized heating time for each specific fabric, thus maintaining both manufacturing precision and productivity.
3Duration of action of moving object
If higher heating temperature is used to reduce heating time, then the duration of action is reduced, but the use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by storing optimized heating treatment conditions with appropriate temperature and time parameter combinations for each fabric type. The control unit automatically retrieves and applies the most energy-efficient parameter set that achieves complete ink fixation within the required time, preventing both excessive heating time and unnecessary energy consumption from overly high temperatures, thus optimizing the balance between heating duration and power consumption.
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 enables precise control of heating processes for various fabrics, improving ink fixation, reducing heating time, and minimizing power consumption by tailoring treatment conditions to each fabric type.
Implementation Method 1
a heating device configured to heat the fabric under a prescribed treatment condition... a temperature at which the heating device heats the fabric
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes: a print engine configured to discharge ink onto a fabric to print the fabric; a heating device configured to heat the fabric under a prescribed treatment condition; and circuitry configured to: set a type of the fabric; and acquire the prescribed treatment condition from an external device connected to the printer. The prescribed treatment condition includes: a temperature at which the heating device heats the fabric; and a duration of time during which the heating device heats the fabric, and the prescribed treatment condition is set for each types of fabrics.