Inkjet Printer Underlying Layer Dot Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet printing methods on non-white recording mediums, such as cloth or paper, often result in images that lack depth and massiveness due to the underlying color layer's influence, leading to graphical patterns from ink dot extraction patterns being visually recognizable.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet printer system with multiple color ink heads and a controller that allows for independent extraction conditions for each color, enabling the formation of underlying and subject images in a piled-up manner, reducing the appearance of graphical patterns by varying extraction conditions for each color.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single extraction condition is applied to all color inks, then the printing process is simple, but graphical patterns become visually recognizable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the extraction condition into multiple independent sets, one for each color ink (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). Each color can have its own extraction pattern, allowing the system to eliminate graphical patterns by varying extraction conditions across colors while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different extraction conditions locally to each color ink type. By allowing each color to have customized extraction parameters (extraction ratio, threshold values, pattern characteristics), the system optimizes pattern elimination for each color while preserving the overall printing process efficiency.
2Device complexity
If the entire image is printed as an upper layer, then the printing process is simple, but the image lacks massiveness and depth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image into two distinct layers: an underlying layer with extracted ink dots and an upper layer with the complete image. This segmentation creates visual depth and massiveness while the automated layer generation process keeps the overall system complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a vertical dimension to the printing structure by creating piled-up layers. The underlying layer serves as a base with selective ink dots, and the upper layer is piled upon it, creating three-dimensional visual effect and massiveness without significantly complicating the printing mechanism.
3Productivity
If process color ink is directly injected onto non-white recording medium, then the printing process is efficient, but the real color of the ink is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by first forming an underlying layer with extracted ink dots that serve as a color-correcting base. This preliminary layer compensates for the non-white characteristics of the recording medium, ensuring that subsequent upper layer ink colors appear accurate and vibrant without requiring a complete white underlayer that would reduce efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet printer injects first ink of a plurality of colors and second ink. An extraction condition setter sets an extraction condition to extract a portion of, or an entirety of, ink dots of the first ink of each of the plurality of colors. An extractor extracts an underlying layer dot group from ink dots of the first ink of each of the plurality of colors based on the extraction condition. Such a plurality of underlying layer dot groups and ink dots of the second ink form a first printing layer. An image dot group including at least the ink dots, of the first ink, other than the underlying dot groups forms at least one additional printing layer.