Inkjet Reactive Liquid Dosing for Uniform Stacking Area Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inkjet printing technologies face issues with inconsistent coagulation of color materials in stacking areas, leading to variations in scratch resistance, bleeding, and color development, particularly on non-absorbable print media like transparent films.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet printing apparatus that applies different determination methods for the application amounts of first and second reactive liquids in stacking and non-stacking areas, using a printing unit to synchronize ink application with conveyance based on generated print data, ensuring precise control of ink and reactive liquid application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single determination method is used for reactive liquid application amounts across all areas, then the control process is simple, but image quality becomes inconsistent in stacking areas versus non-stacking areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different determination methods for reactive liquid application amounts based on the local area type. For stacking areas where multiple ink layers are formed, a first determination method is used that accounts for the complex interaction between multiple color materials and reactive liquids. For non-stacking areas, a second determination method is used that simplifies the calculation. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by adapting the control complexity to the specific requirements of each area, ensuring consistent image quality while maintaining manageable overall system complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If reactive liquid is applied uniformly across the entire print medium, then the application process is simple, but coagulation becomes uneven in stacking areas leading to scratch resistance and bleeding issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality control by determining different application amounts of reactive liquid for stacking areas versus non-stacking areas. The determination unit calculates the application amount based on the specific characteristics of each area type, ensuring that stacking areas receive appropriate reactive liquid quantities to prevent both insufficient coagulation and excessive coagulation that would cause scratching and bleeding. This localized approach maintains reliability of coagulation while keeping the overall application process manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of reactive liquid application amount based on area type. The determination unit adjusts the application amount parameter dynamically depending on whether the current print area is a stacking area or non-stacking area. This parameter change enables uniform and reliable coagulation across different area types, resolving the contradiction between simple application process and consistent coagulation results.
3Device complexity
If the same coagulation control is applied to all ink layers, then the processing method is simple, but color development and scratch resistance vary in stacked regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality control by treating stacking areas and non-stacking areas differently in the coagulation control process. The determination unit calculates appropriate reactive liquid application amounts specifically for stacking areas where multiple color materials are present, ensuring uniform color development and scratch resistance. For non-stacking areas, a simplified determination method is used. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by matching the processing complexity to the specific requirements of each area type.
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
This approach achieves high-quality image printing with improved scratch resistance and uniform color development across stacking and non-stacking areas on various print media, including transparent films.
Implementation Method 1
mixes them on a print medium to coagulate a color material in the color ink, thereby forming an image
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprises: a printing unit configured to print an image on a print medium by applying a first ink, a second ink, a first reactive liquid, and a second reactive liquid; a generation unit configured to generate first print data by the first ink based on first image data, and generate second print data by the second ink based on second image data; a determination unit configured to determine application amounts of the first ink, the second ink, the first reactive liquid, and the second reactive liquid based on the first print data and the second print data; a conveyance unit configured to convey the print medium; and a control unit configured to control the printing unit to drive the printing unit in synchronization with conveyance by the conveyance unit based on the determined application amounts.