Inkjet Printhead Gloss Control via Clear Ink Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet printing methods using clear ink to control glossiness often result in decreased haze and image clarity, making it difficult to achieve high-quality images with both glossy and matte regions on the same printing medium.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet printing apparatus and method that uses a printhead to discharge color and clear inks, with specific data processing steps to adjust the clear ink discharge amounts in designated regions, allowing for multiple print scans to achieve a glossy image while maintaining image clarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If clear ink is used to control glossiness by roughening the image surface, then glossiness control is improved, but haze (image clarity) deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the printing process into multiple scan passes, separating color ink printing from clear ink printing. This allows independent optimization of each step: color ink is printed first to form the base image, then clear ink is selectively applied in subsequent passes to adjust glossiness without re-roughening the surface, thereby maintaining image clarity while achieving gloss control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by completing all color ink printing in initial scan passes before applying clear ink in later passes. This ensures the color image is fully established and dry before the clear ink is applied, preventing the clear ink from disturbing the color layer and causing haze, while still allowing glossiness adjustment on the finished image.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple scan passes are used to print clear ink for gloss control, then glossiness control is improved, but printing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively applying clear ink only to specific regions where glossiness adjustment is needed, rather than uniformly across the entire image. The clear ink discharging amount is varied by region (e.g., higher amounts in decoration regions, lower or zero in photograph regions), allowing precise gloss control where needed while minimizing unnecessary printing operations and reducing overall printing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial action by applying clear ink selectively in certain scan passes rather than continuously in every pass. The clear ink is applied with varying discharging amounts depending on the region and required gloss effect, avoiding excessive clear ink application that would increase printing time without additional benefit, while still achieving the desired gloss control in targeted areas.
Data Source
AI summary
The first print data indicating the discharging amounts of color and clear inks is generated in correspondence with an image to be printed with the color and clear inks. The second print data for designating a region for expressing decoration is generated. The discharging amount of the clear ink in the region for expressing decoration in the first print data is changed based on the second print data. Printing is done by scanning a printhead a plurality of number of times based on the changed first print data to execute the print scan of the clear ink after that of the color ink.