Ink Supply Capability Control for High-Speed Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing technologies face challenges in achieving high-speed printing across various paper types and ink materials, including unevenness and delays due to differences in raster region formation and ink refilling, particularly when using pigment or dye inks.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with separate pigment and dye ink suppliers, where the pigment ink supply capability is higher than the dye ink supply capability, allowing for controlled ejection of black pigment or dye ink based on the medium type, enabling continuous high-speed printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the main scanning for forming the raster region is divided into a plurality of operations, then the refilling delay is reduced, but the printing time increases and unevenness occurs between different raster regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the main scanning operation mode based on the detected ink supply capability. When pigment ink is detected, the system performs main scanning in a single operation without division, optimizing for high supply capability. When dye ink is detected, the system divides main scanning into multiple operations to handle refilling delays. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by selecting the appropriate scanning strategy based on real-time ink supply conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter of main scanning from a fixed divided mode to a variable mode that adapts to ink supply capability. The control section detects the type of ink (pigment or dye) and accordingly modifies the main scanning operation count - using single operation for pigment ink and multiple operations for dye ink. This parameter change enables the system to optimize printing speed for high-capacity pigment ink while maintaining reliability for dye ink with refilling delays.
2Device complexity
If a single ink supply system is used for both black and color inks, then the device complexity is reduced, but the printing speed and quality cannot be optimized for different ink types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal ink supply system where a single black ink supply unit can provide both pigment ink and dye ink to the same nozzle array. The system detects which ink type is supplied and adjusts the main scanning operation accordingly - using single operation mode for pigment ink to maximize speed, and multiple operation mode for dye ink to handle refilling. This multi-functional approach allows one supply system to serve multiple ink types with different characteristics, achieving high printing speed when pigment ink is used while maintaining compatibility with dye ink.
3Manufacturing precision
If the printing mode is selected based on image data type (color or black), then the printing quality is optimized, but the system cannot adapt to different paper types and ink materials simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static printing mode selection based solely on image data type to dynamic mode selection that considers multiple factors including ink supply capability, paper type, and ink material. The control section detects these variables in real-time and dynamically adjusts the main scanning operation count and other printing parameters. This enables the system to optimize printing quality for different image types while simultaneously adapting to various paper types (plain, glossy, transparent) and ink materials (pigment, dye), resolving the contradiction between quality optimization and versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a printing method using a printing apparatus. The printing apparatus includes a head that has a nozzle array, in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting a black pigment ink is arranged, and a nozzle array in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting a color ink is arranged. The printing method includes: a step of acquiring image data of an image to be printed on a medium; a step of ejecting the black pigment ink onto the medium on the basis of the image data; and a step of ejecting the color ink onto the medium on the basis of the image data. A supply capability of the pigment ink supply section is higher than a supply capability of the color ink supply section.