Ink Jet Printing Apparatus Ink Permeation Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ink jet printing systems face challenges in maintaining optical density and image quality due to ink bleeding and uneven permeation rates, particularly when using high- and low-permeation inks in alternating patterns without specifying the order of ejection, leading to potential density issues and image degradation.

Innovation Solution

The system employs a controlled sequence of ejecting low-permeation ink followed by high-permeation ink for the non-edge area and low-permeation ink for the edge area, ensuring that low-permeation ink is printed first to maintain surface retention and then blended with high-permeation ink, enhancing optical density and preventing bleeding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high-permeation ink is ejected first followed by low-permeation ink, then printing speed and drying time are improved, but optical density decreases and image quality degrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting speedVSAvoidoptical density
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by ejecting low-permeation ink first to establish a base layer that retains pigment on the surface, then subsequently ejecting high-permeation ink to enhance permeation. This sequential approach ensures that the pigment is already in position before permeation occurs, preventing density loss while maintaining printing speed benefits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If high-permeation ink is used for printing, then drying time is reduced and printing speed is increased, but ink bleeding occurs and image quality degrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying timeVSAvoidink bleeding
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using different ink types in different spatial locations and sequences: low-permeation ink is used first to establish boundaries and prevent bleeding, while high-permeation ink is used subsequently in controlled areas to enhance permeation where needed, achieving both fast drying and bleeding prevention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If low-permeation ink is used for printing, then ink bleeding is reduced and image quality is maintained, but printing speed decreases and drying time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidprinting speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the advantages of both low-permeation and high-permeation inks by combining them in a specific sequence: low-permeation ink provides bleeding prevention and quality maintenance, while high-permeation ink contributes fast drying and speed improvement. The combination achieves both image quality and printing speed benefits simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 prevents optical density reduction, reduces image degradation, and improves rub resistance and bleed fastness by ensuring low-permeation ink is retained on the surface, while high-permeation ink enhances permeation without causing excessive ink raising or bleeding.

Implementation Method 1

ink having a relatively low permeation rate (ink that relatively slowly permeates a print medium; hereinafter referred to as low-permeation ink) is employed to form dots

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

ink having a relatively high permeation rate (ink that relatively rapidly permeates a print medium; hereinafter referred to as high-permeation ink) and the low-permeation ink are employed for form dots

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Data Source

PatentEP2409843B1Ink jet printing apparatus and ink jet printing method
Publication Date: 2014.09.10 CANON KK
  • EP2409843B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2409843B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP2409843B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An ink jet printing apparatus and an ink jet printing method, whereby high-permeation ink and low-permeation ink are employed to prevent a reduction in optical density is provided. The ink jet printing apparatus controls ejection of ink from print heads (201 to 206), so that only low-permeation ink is ejected onto the edge area (2013) of a print medium that is adjacent to a non-printing area, and this time, high-permeation ink is not employed. Further, the ink jet printing apparatus controls ejection of ink from the print heads (201 to 206), so that both low-permeation ink and high-permeation ink are employed for the non-edge area (2003) that is adjacent to the edge area (2013), and to perform printing, the low-permeation ink is ejected onto the non-edge area (2003) prior to the high-permeation ink.