Fluff Cutter Layout for Clear Inkjet Printing on Fuzzy Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses face challenges in maintaining high printing quality when dealing with fluff on the printing medium, as contact between the fluff and the discharging head can lead to defects like nozzle clogging and landing deviation, and the use of laser irradiation for fluff processing is costly and poses safety issues.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus equipped with a fluff cutter portion that cuts the fluff to a predetermined height, reducing contact between the discharging head and the printing medium, and includes a moving unit to adjust the distance between the fluff cutter and the medium, as well as a rotating blade with adjustable speed and an absorbing portion to manage fluff, ensuring optimal cutting and preventing scattering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a laser irradiating device is provided to thermally fuse the fluff layer, then printing quality is improved by preventing fluff contact with the discharging head, but the apparatus cost increases and safety issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful fluff layer from the printing medium surface by mechanically cutting it off before printing. Instead of using a complex laser irradiating device to fuse the fluff, the invention simply removes the fluff layer through a cutting blade that trims the fluff to a predetermined height, eliminating the need for expensive and potentially unsafe laser equipment while achieving the same goal of preventing fluff contact with the discharging head.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the expensive and complex laser irradiating device with a simple, inexpensive mechanical cutting blade. The cutting blade is a basic mechanical component that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed, whereas the laser device represents a high-cost, complex system with safety concerns. This substitution dramatically reduces apparatus cost and complexity while maintaining printing quality.
2Reliability
If the discharging head is raised to avoid contact with fluff, then safety is improved, but image clarity deteriorates due to increased landing deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by cutting the fluff layer before the printing process occurs. The cutting blade trims the fluff to a predetermined height in advance, so that when the discharging head later discharges droplets onto the printing medium, the fluff does not interfere with the printing process. This allows the discharging head to maintain its optimal low position for clear image formation without risking contact with excessive fluff.
3Manufacturing precision
If the discharging head is lowered to improve image clarity, then printing quality improves, but contact with fluff increases causing nozzle missing and landing deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting blade performs preliminary action by removing excess fluff before the discharging head operates. This preliminary fluff removal creates a clean surface that allows the discharging head to be positioned low for optimal image clarity without risking contact with fluff, thereby preventing nozzle missing and landing deviation while maintaining reliable printing.
Data Source
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AI summary
A printing apparatus (100) includes a discharging head (42) which discharges liquid on a printing medium (95) mounted on an endless belt; a medium transport portion (20) as a transport unit which transports the printing medium; an input device as an input unit 82) to which printing condition is input; and a fluff cutter portion (70) which is provided on an upstream side of the discharging head in the transport direction and which cuts fluff of the printing medium in a predetermined height according to the printing condition.