Ink Cover Structure for Preventing Ink Mist on Recording Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ink mist contamination of the recording surface of a printing medium before printing occurs, leading to unsatisfactory image quality.

Innovation Solution

A printing apparatus and method that includes a first cover arranged between the recording surface of the printing medium and the ink discharge head to suppress ink mist adhesion, using a conveyor system to manage ink mist diffusion and a cover structure to prevent contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If ink is discharged from the head in an ink-jet method, then printing is performed on the recording surface, but ink mist is generated and contaminates the recording surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidink mist contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A cover structure is introduced as an intermediary element between the ink discharge head and the recording surface. This cover intercepts and contains the ink mist generated during printing, preventing it from reaching and contaminating the recording surface, thus resolving the contradiction between achieving printing function and avoiding ink mist contamination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful ink mist is extracted or separated from the printing process by containing it within the cover structure. The cover acts as a containment zone that isolates the ink mist generation area from the recording surface, effectively removing the contamination pathway while preserving the printing function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a cover is arranged between the recording surface and the ink discharge head, then ink mist adhesion is suppressed, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveink mist adhesionVSAvoidcover structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is designed as a thin-walled structure that provides effective ink mist containment while minimizing material usage and structural complexity. This thin-film approach achieves the protective function without significantly increasing device complexity or cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The cover structure is segmented into multiple parts (cover body, cover lid, and partition wall) that can be independently configured and assembled. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing and assembly while maintaining the overall containment function, thereby reducing device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4360891B1Printing apparatus and printing method

Publication Date: 2025.11.26 SCREEN HOLDINGS CO LTD

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AI summary

An image is printed on the front surface M1 by discharging the inks to the front surface M from the discharge heads 321 (first head) facing the front surface M1 (recording surface) of the printing medium M from above. Thus, the inks discharged from the discharge heads 321 partially become mist to possibly produce ink mist. Accordingly, the ink cover 51 (first cover) is arranged between the discharge heads 321 and the front surface M1 of the printing medium M before the discharge heads 321 discharges the inks to the printing medium M. By providing the ink cover 51 for the front surface M1 of the printing medium M before printing in this way, the adhesion of the ink mist to this front surface M1 can be suppressed.