Inkjet Head Layout for Wide Media Preprocessing Without Wider Carriages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording devices face challenges in efficiently applying preprocessing and postprocessing solutions to wide and long recording media, such as fabrics, while maintaining image quality and reducing carriage width.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates a carriage with ink heads, a preprocessing head arranged upstream, and a postprocessing head downstream, with specific positional relationships defined by Formulas 1 and 2, ensuring optimal application of solutions and reduced carriage width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a preprocessing head and postprocessing head are added to the carriage in addition to ink heads, then the functionality for applying processing solutions is improved, but the carriage width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the preprocessing head and postprocessing head at different locations in the conveyance direction relative to the ink heads, rather than arranging all heads in a single line in the main scanning direction. This spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions allows multiple processing functions to be integrated without proportionally increasing carriage width.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the processing heads into functionally distinct segments: preprocessing heads positioned upstream and postprocessing heads positioned downstream relative to the ink heads. This segmentation allows each head type to perform its specific function at the appropriate stage of the printing process, optimizing both functionality and space utilization.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple processing heads are arranged to cover the entire recording medium width, then the coverage is improved, but the carriage width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the conveyance direction as an additional dimension for head arrangement. By positioning preprocessing heads upstream and postprocessing heads downstream in the conveyance direction, the system achieves full width coverage through coordinated operation of multiple heads rather than requiring all heads to be simultaneously accessible across the full width in the main scanning direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The preprocessing heads are positioned upstream in the conveyance direction to apply preprocessing solutions before the ink is ejected. This preliminary action prepares the recording medium surface in advance, improving ink fixation and pigment aggregation without requiring the preprocessing heads to occupy space alongside the ink heads in the main scanning direction.
3Manufacturing precision
If processing solutions are applied before and after ink ejection, then the image quality and fastness are improved, but the number of heads increases
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage is designed as a multi-functional platform that integrates ink ejection, preprocessing, and postprocessing capabilities. By consolidating these functions into a single reciprocating carriage assembly, the system achieves comprehensive image quality enhancement and fastness improvement without requiring separate fixed installations for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The carriage operates through periodic reciprocation in the main scanning direction, with ink heads and processing heads ejecting materials during each pass. This periodic action allows multiple processing steps to be applied in sequence during forward and return trips, achieving comprehensive treatment without requiring all heads to be active simultaneously, thus managing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet recording device includes a conveyance unit, a carriage, one or a plurality of ink head lines, and a processing head. The processing head includes a preprocessing head arranged on an upstream side of the one or plurality of ink head lines in the conveyance direction and configured to eject a non-coloring preprocessing solution. In a case where a head arranged closest to one end in the main scanning direction is defined as a one-end side head, a head arranged closest to the other end is defined as an other-end side head, a distance from the one-end side head to the other-end side head in the main scanning direction is defined as LC, and a distance from the one-end side head to the preprocessing head in the main scanning direction is defined as B1, a relationship of |(B1−LC/2)|/LC≤1/4 is satisfied.