Inkjet Printing Medium Fluff Cutting for Clear Image Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink jet printing apparatuses face challenges in maintaining printing quality when dealing with fluff on the printing medium, as contact between the fluff and the discharging head can lead to defects like nozzle clogging and landing deviation, and the use of laser irradiation for fluff processing is costly and poses safety issues.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus equipped with a fluff cutter portion that cuts the fluff to a predetermined height, reducing contact opportunities between the discharging head and the printing medium, and includes a moving unit to adjust the distance between the fluff cutter and the medium, a rotating blade with adjustable speed for different types of media, an absorbing portion to collect cut fluff, and a notifying system to prevent inappropriate printing conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a laser irradiating device is used to thermally fuse the fluff layer, then printing quality is improved by preventing fluff contact with the discharging head, but the apparatus cost increases and safety issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful fluff from the printing surface by mechanically removing it through cutting, rather than using a complex laser irradiating device to fuse it. The fluff cutter portion separates the fluff removal function from the printing function, eliminating the need for expensive and potentially unsafe laser equipment while achieving the same goal of preventing fluff contact with the discharging head.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a simple, inexpensive mechanical cutting mechanism instead of a costly laser system. The fluff cutter portion uses basic mechanical components (cutting blade, support roller) that are cheap to manufacture and replace, providing an economical solution for fluff removal that does not require expensive equipment or complex safety systems.
2Reliability
If the discharging head is raised to avoid contact with fluff, then safety is improved, but image clarity deteriorates due to increased landing deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by removing the fluff from the printing surface before the printing process occurs. The fluff cutter portion is positioned upstream to cut and remove fluff in advance, so that when the discharging head prints at the normal low position, there is no fluff to cause contact issues or landing deviation, thus maintaining both reliability and image clarity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (the fluff cutter portion) between the printing medium and the discharging head. This intermediary removes the harmful fluff elements before they can interfere with the printing process, allowing the discharging head to operate at the optimal low position without direct contact with fluff, thereby maintaining both reliability and image clarity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the fluff cutter portion is added to cut fluff before printing, then printing quality is improved by reducing fluff contact, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fluff removal function with the existing printing apparatus structure. The fluff cutter portion is integrated into the printing system, with the cutting blade and support roller positioned within the existing apparatus framework, combining multiple functions (fluff removal, printing) into a unified system rather than adding a completely separate device.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluff cutter portion is designed as a multi-functional component that serves both to remove fluff and to prepare the printing surface. The same mechanical structure that cuts the fluff also positions the printing medium properly for subsequent printing, making the added component serve multiple purposes and reducing the overall impact on device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a discharging head which discharges liquid on a printing medium mounted on an endless belt; a medium transport portion as a transport unit which transports the printing medium; an input device as an input unit to which printing condition is input; and a fluff cutter portion which is provided on an upstream side of the discharging head in the transport direction and which cuts fluff of the printing medium in a predetermined height according to the printing condition.