Glass Slide Printer Inkjet Curing for Pathology Marking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual marking of pathological glass slides is inefficient and prone to human error, as the ink used for section numbers can dissolve or fade when exposed to water, ethanol, and xylene solutions during specimen preparation.
Innovation Solution
A glass slide printer with an inkjet device and curing mechanism that prints characters or two-dimensional codes on the slides, using a conveying system and a microcontroller for precise ink placement and curing, ensuring durability and clarity of markings without thermal decomposition or harmful byproducts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual marking with special pencil or label strip is used, then the marking can be applied to glass slides, but the work intensity increases and working efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical marking process (handwriting with pencil or manual labeling) with an automated inkjet printing system. The inkjet device deposits ink droplets precisely on the glass slide surface under computer control, eliminating manual labor while maintaining marking quality. This substitution of mechanical/manual operations with automated printing technology directly resolves the contradiction between productivity improvement and ease of operation.
2Reliability
If regular ink is used for marking, then the marking process is simple, but the ink dissolves or falls off when exposed to water, ethanol, and xylene solutions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the marking material by using specially formulated ink compositions that contain resins and additives providing water, ethanol, and xylene resistance. The ink formulation parameters are optimized to ensure durability while maintaining printability. This parameter change in the ink composition resolves the contradiction between marking durability and process simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite ink materials that combine multiple components including resins, pigments, and protective additives. This composite formulation provides both the adhesion needed for durability on glass surfaces and the chemical resistance required to withstand exposure to water, ethanol, and xylene solutions during pathological processing, while the inkjet application method keeps the process simple.
3Reliability
If high temperature curing is used to cure the printing ink, then the ink curing is effective, but thermal decomposition of the paint coating occurs and harmful smoke and dust are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the curing temperature parameter from high temperature to low temperature (room temperature or slightly elevated). The ink formulation is specifically designed to cure effectively at these lower temperatures through chemical reactions that do not require high thermal energy. This parameter change eliminates thermal decomposition and harmful emissions while maintaining adequate curing effectiveness for marking durability.
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
The printer enhances efficiency and reduces human error by providing clear, durable markings on glass slides, using low thermal curing temperatures and chemical curing liquids that do not generate harmful gases, ensuring accurate pathological diagnoses.
Implementation Method 1
the curing device is capable of curing the printing ink droplets ejected onto the glass slide to form characters or two-dimensional codes by heating
Implementation Method 2
the electric heating element is an infrared heating tube or a heating ceramic plate, and the light radiating device is a laser or an infrared emitter
Implementation Method 3
the curing liquid is capable of being ejected out through the ejecting nozzle to cure the printing ink droplets
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a glass slide printer, which comprises: a conveying device, an inkjet device, and a curing device; wherein the conveying device has a conveying path, and causes the glass slide to be printed to move along the conveying path; the inkjet device is provided above the conveying path, and is configured to perform inkjet printing on the marked area of the glass slide on the conveying path; the curing device is provided above the conveying path, and the curing device is located downstream of the inkjet device; the curing device is capable of curing the printing ink droplets ejected onto the glass slide to form characters or two-dimensional codes by heating or ejecting curing liquid.