Indexing Printhead Staggered Ink-Fixer Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing systems face challenges with ink flux and image quality due to the short ink-to-fixer time when using fixer and ink fluids, leading to potential bleeding and coalescing of pigments, which can be mitigated by increasing the ink-to-fixer time without extending the swath time.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves arranging printheads on a common scan axis and controlling their movement between index positions to increase the ink-to-fixer time by staggering the dispensing of fixer and ink fluids across different rows during forward and reverse scans, allowing for efficient evaporation of the fixer fluid without increasing the overall printing speed or swath time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the ink-to-fixer time is increased to prevent pigment bleeding and coalescing, then the image quality improves, but the printing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the printing process by implementing bidirectional scanning (forward and reverse scans) with indexed positioning. This allows the system to stagger the dispensing of fixer and ink fluids across different time intervals within the same scanning cycle, effectively increasing the ink-to-fixer time without reducing overall printing speed. The printheads are moved to specific index positions between scans to control the timing sequence.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex drying mechanisms are added to increase ink-to-fixer time, then the image quality improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs natural evaporation of the fixer fluid as the primary drying mechanism, eliminating the need for complex external drying systems. By increasing the ink-to-fixer time through bidirectional scanning and indexed positioning, the system allows sufficient time for the fixer fluid to evaporate naturally before ink is applied, thereby improving image quality without adding complex drying mechanisms.
3Manufacturing precision
If the printhead structure is enlarged to accommodate separate fixer and ink dispensing, then the ink-to-fixer time increases, but the printer structure becomes larger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single printhead assembly that can dispens Both fixer and ink fluids by moving to different index positions during bidirectional scanning. This multi-functional approach allows the same physical structure to handle multiple fluids sequentially, increasing the ink-to-fixer time through controlled positioning rather than through structural enlargement. The printhead serves multiple purposes at different times within the same scanning cycle.
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 approach effectively increases the ink-to-fixer time to about 3.1 seconds while maintaining the same swath time, reducing the risk of pigment bleeding and coalescing, and avoids the need for complex drying mechanisms or larger printer structures.
Implementation Method 1
allowing for efficient evaporation of the fixer fluid without increasing the overall printing speed or swath time
Data Source
AI summary
A method in a printer comprising a first printhead to dispense a first printing fluid and a second printhead to dispense a second printing fluid, the first and second printheads being arranged on a common scan axis that is substantially perpendicular to a media advance direction. The method comprises controlling movement of the first and second printheads relative to a media being printed, between a first index position and a second index position, the second index position being downstream of the first index position, and wherein the movement occurs during a time period between a forward scan and a reverse scan of the first and second printheads across a media being printed.