Inkjet Recording Device Bidirectional Treatment Liquid Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet recording devices require reciprocation of the inkjet head in the main scanning direction to form an image, leading to low productivity, as the pre-treatment and post-treatment liquids cannot be ejected in the appropriate order when the head moves in the opposite direction.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet recording device with an inkjet unit and two treatment liquid ejection heads, one containing a coagulant and the other a resin dispersing agent, arranged on both sides of the inkjet unit, allowing for simultaneous ejection of treatment liquids in both forward and backward directions, ensuring proper order and enhancing productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the inkjet head moves in the opposite direction to the main scanning direction, then the pre-treatment liquid and post-treatment liquid cannot be ejected in the appropriate order, but maintaining the conventional single-side arrangement would require reciprocation and reduce productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment liquid ejection function is segmented into multiple independent ejection heads positioned on both sides of the inkjet head. This allows different heads to handle pre-treatment and post-treatment liquids independently, enabling proper sequencing regardless of scanning direction.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions (left and right sides) are assigned different functional qualities - specific ejection heads on each side are configured for specific treatment liquids (pre-treatment or post-treatment), allowing the system to maintain appropriate ejection order from either scanning direction.
2Manufacturing precision
If the inkjet head reciprocates in the main scanning direction to form an image, then image formation can be completed, but productivity is reduced due to the need for reciprocation
Solution Approach 1:
The inkjet head system is designed with multi-functional capability to perform complete image formation in both forward and backward scanning directions. The multiple treatment liquid ejection heads enable the system to maintain proper pre-treatment and post-treatment sequencing regardless of scanning direction, making the system universal for bidirectional operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts its treatment liquid ejection pattern based on the scanning direction. The control mechanism selects which ejection heads to activate depending on whether the inkjet head is moving in the forward or backward direction, enabling flexible operation in both directions without reciprocation.
3Productivity
If treatment liquid heads are arranged on both sides of the inkjet unit, then productivity is enhanced by enabling bidirectional scanning, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple treatment liquid ejection heads are merged into a single integrated system that works together with the inkjet head. The heads on both sides are coordinated through a unified control mechanism, managing the increased complexity through systematic integration rather than separate independent systems.
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
Enables efficient image formation on both forward and backward paths, improving productivity by ensuring appropriate ejection of treatment liquids regardless of the scanning direction, thus reducing the need for reciprocation and enhancing image quality.
Implementation Method 1
the first treatment liquid contains a coagulant that coagulates the ink
Implementation Method 2
the second treatment liquid contains a resin dispersing agent obtained by dispersing a resin into a solution
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
To improve a conventional head configuration and enable image formation in each of a forward path and a backward path in a main scanning direction. An inkjet recording device (1) is provided with an inkjet unit (11) that ejects ink to a recording medium (3) while scanning in a main scanning direction, a first treatment liquid ejection head (13) that is arranged side by side with the inkjet unit (11) in the main scanning direction, scans together with the inkjet unit (11), and ejects a first treatment liquid to the recording medium (3), and a second treatment liquid ejection head (14) that is arranged side by side with the inkjet unit (11) in the main scanning direction, scans together with the inkjet unit (11), and ejects a second treatment liquid different from the first treatment liquid to the recording medium (3), in which at least one of the first treatment liquid ejection head (13) and the second treatment liquid ejection head (14) is arranged on both sides of the inkjet unit (11) in the main scanning direction.