Image Recording Apparatus Surface Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image recording apparatuses face challenges in achieving good image recording across various types of recording media due to issues with ink fluidity, inter-color bleeding, and uneven ink spreading, which are exacerbated by the type of recording medium used.
Innovation Solution
The image recording apparatus incorporates a recording medium chemical surface treatment device that uses chlorine dioxide and light to oxidize the surface of the recording medium, increasing hydrophilic functional groups and improving the surface's wettability. This is combined with an image forming material applying device that uses an inkjet method to apply ink onto the treated surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If chlorine dioxide and light are used to oxidize the recording medium surface, then wettability and adhesion of image forming material are improved, but device complexity increases due to additional treatment units
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the chemical surface treatment device (with chlorine dioxide supplying unit and light irradiating unit) and the image forming material applying device into a single integrated apparatus. This merging allows the treatment and application processes to be performed in sequence within one device, improving image quality through surface oxidation while managing device complexity through functional integration.
2Ease of manufacture
If separate devices are used for surface treatment and image forming material application, then device functionality is specialized, but productivity decreases due to additional handling and positioning steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates separate surface treatment and image forming functions into a single apparatus, eliminating the need for separate handling and positioning steps between devices. The recording medium is conveyed through the integrated system where surface treatment and material application occur in sequence, improving productivity while maintaining the specialized functionality of each subsystem.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface treatment is performed as a preliminary action before image forming material application. The chlorine dioxide oxidation treatment prepares the recording medium surface in advance by increasing hydrophilic functional groups, ensuring optimal wettability and adhesion properties before the image forming material is applied, thereby improving overall process efficiency.
3Manufacturing precision
If recording medium surface is treated with strong oxidants, then wettability is improved, but recording medium properties may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses chlorine dioxide as a strong oxidant to change the chemical parameters of the recording medium surface, specifically increasing hydrophilic functional groups to improve wettability. The light irradiation activates the chlorine dioxide to enhance the oxidation effect while controlling the treatment conditions to modify surface properties without fundamentally altering the bulk composition or stability of the recording medium.
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 chemical surface treatment enhances the wettability and adhesion of the image forming material, reducing issues like beading and bleeding, and allowing for the formation of high-quality images on various recording media without affecting their properties.
Implementation Method 1
a chlorine dioxide supplying unit that supplies chlorine dioxide to a recording medium and a light irradiating unit that emits light to the recording medium
Data Source
AI summary
An image recording apparatus is provided that includes a recording medium chemical surface treatment device and an image forming material applying device. The recording medium chemical surface treatment device includes a chlorine dioxide supplying unit that supplies chlorine dioxide to a recording medium and a light irradiating unit that emits light to the recording medium. The image forming material applying device applies an image forming material to the recording medium subjected to chemical surface treatment by the recording medium chemical surface treatment device.