Ink Ejection Control for Uniform Permeation in Recording Apparatus
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recording apparatuses face issues with insufficient dispersion of ink in the thickness direction of recording media, particularly when using color ink and permeation ink, leading to incomplete penetration and uneven image formation.
Innovation Solution
A recording apparatus with an ejecting unit capable of simultaneously ejecting first ink for image forming and second permeation ink, where the control unit coordinates the ejection operations to ensure overlapping landing positions of both inks on the recording medium, with the second ink being ejected before and after the first ink in specific patterns to enhance penetration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If permeation ink is ejected to support ink penetration into the recording medium, then ink permeation is improved, but insufficient dispersion of the first ink occurs in the thickness direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ink ejection process into multiple passes: first ejecting permeation ink to prepare the recording medium, then ejecting image-forming ink, and finally ejecting additional permeation ink. This segmentation allows each ink type to perform its specific function at the appropriate time, ensuring both adequate permeation and uniform dispersion of the image-forming ink throughout the recording medium thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by ejecting permeation ink before the image-forming ink to pre-condition the recording medium. This preliminary permeation layer creates optimal pathways for subsequent image-forming ink to disperse uniformly. The patent also applies preliminary action by ejecting permeation ink after image-forming ink to ensure complete penetration and uniform distribution throughout the medium thickness.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple inks are ejected onto the same point, then image formation quality is improved, but the complexity of controlling ejection operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by repeating the ejection of permeation ink at specific intervals: before image-forming ink ejection and after image-forming ink ejection. This periodic application of permeation ink creates a structured, multi-stage process that improves image quality while maintaining controllable complexity through regular, repeating patterns rather than arbitrary multi-step sequences.
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 suppresses insufficient dispersion of the first ink, ensuring better permeation and uniformity of the ink in the recording medium, allowing for adjustable ink density and improved image formation.
Implementation Method 1
a colorless second ink I2 onto a recording medium P, the second ink being a permeation ink for supporting permeation of the first ink into the recording medium
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A recording apparatus includes an ejecting unit which can eject first ink for image forming and a colorless second ink onto a recording medium; and a control unit which can control ejecting operations of the first ink and the second ink in the ejecting unit, in which the control unit performs ejecting operations of the first ink and the second ink so that landing positions of the second ink, the first ink, and the second ink overlap on the recording medium in this order.