Laser Printer for Pathological Embedding Cassettes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for printing on polyoxymethylene (POM) pathological embedding cassettes face challenges such as ink adhesion issues with oil solvent-based and water-based inks, and indirect position detection leading to poor printing quality and curing efficiency, especially when exposed to organic solutions like xylene.
Innovation Solution
A laser printer system that uses a semiconductor laser to cure pigment ink droplets on the POM surface, combined with precise position detection using photoelectric sensors and a conveyor belt mechanism for efficient cassette handling, ensuring the ink is integrated with the plastic surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If oil solvent-based inkjet technology is used to print characters on POM pathological embedding cassette, then characters can be adsorbed on the surface, but characters will fall off after immersion in organic solution such as xylene
Solution Approach 1:
A special coating layer is applied as an intermediary between the POM surface and the ink. This coating layer has specific chemical properties that enable ink adhesion while maintaining resistance to organic solutions. The coating acts as a mediator that resolves the incompatibility between the ink and the POM surface when exposed to xylene.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface properties of the POM cassette are changed by applying a special coating layer that modifies the chemical parameters of the surface. This coating changes the surface energy, porosity, or chemical composition to enable ink adhesion while maintaining solution resistance.
2Reliability
If water-based ink is used to print on POM pathological embedding cassette, then no adhesion problem occurs, but water-based ink cannot adhere to the surface of POM pathological embedding cassette at all
Solution Approach 1:
The special coating layer serves as an intermediary that is compatible with both water-based ink and POM plastic. It provides a surface that water-based ink can adhere to, while the coating itself maintains the necessary properties for solution resistance.
3Reliability
If ultraviolet curable ink is used with ultraviolet lamp irradiation to print on POM pathological embedding cassette, then characters can resist abrasion and withstand immersion in organic solutions, but the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using expensive and complex ultraviolet curable ink systems, the patent employs a simpler coating approach that achieves similar durability results. The special coating layer provides the necessary adhesion and solution resistance without requiring UV curing equipment or specialized inks.
4Reliability
If thermal ribbon method is used to print on POM pathological embedding cassette, then printed characters can resist wear and withstand immersion in organic solutions, but the device complexity and heat requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex thermal ribbon system with a simpler coating-based solution. The special coating layer is applied in a more straightforward manner that does not require thermal pressing equipment, achieving similar durability with reduced device complexity.
5Productivity
If laser beam irradiation is used on POM plastic surface without special coating, then the surface is thermally melted and deformed, but colors change under high temperature are not significant and cannot be easily recognized
Solution Approach 1:
The special coating layer acts as an intermediary that absorbs laser energy and converts it to visible color changes. When the laser irradiates the coated surface, the coating material undergoes controlled chemical or physical changes that produce distinct, easily recognizable colors, unlike the subtle changes in bare POM plastic.
6Device complexity
If indirect position calculation method is used for ink ejection and laser beam irradiation, then the system is simpler to implement, but the quality of printing and curing is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism using photoelectric sensors to directly detect the position of the embedding cassette. This detected position information is fed back to the control system, which adjusts the ink ejection and laser irradiation timing accordingly, ensuring high printing quality through real-time position correction.
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
The solution enables durable, easily recognizable color application on POM surfaces that withstand immersion in organic solutions, improving printing quality and efficiency by directly detecting cassette positions for precise ink irradiation and curing.
Implementation Method 1
a semiconductor laser is disposed on a side of the ink jet cartridge 3... subsequently the semiconductor laser 4 emits a laser beam to irradiate the ink droplets, so that the ink droplets on the surface of the embedding cassette 1 have a rapid increase in temperature and are cured
Implementation Method 2
a photoelectric sensor 10 for detecting the position of an embedding cassette 1 is disposed on the conveyor belt 6
Implementation Method 3
the ink droplets on the surface of the embedding cassette 1 have a rapid increase in temperature and are cured
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are a laser printer for pathological embedding cassettes and a printing method thereof. The laser printer includes an ink jet cartridge (3) filled with pigment ink, where a conveyor belt (6) is disposed below the ink jet cartridge (3), the semiconductor laser (4) is disposed on a side of the ink jet cartridge (3), and a photoelectric sensor (10) for detecting the position of an embedding cassette (1) is disposed on the conveyor belt (6). The beneficial effects brought by the printer and the printing method thereof are as follows: 1. By ejecting pigment ink droplets on an embedding cassette and irradiating the ink droplets with a laser beam from a semiconductor laser, the ink droplets have a rapid increase in temperature and are cured, so that colors are applied on a plastic surface and can be easily recognized. 2. With a combination of a guide groove and a semilunar pushing wheel, the conveyance of the embedding cassettes is implemented effectively to facilitate an operator in picking up and placing the embedding cassettes. 3. The position of an embedding cassette can be directly precisely detected using a photoelectric sensor, so as to ensure the precise irradiation of the ink droplets by the semiconductor laser, thereby improving the curing quality.