Multi-Head Liquid Discharge Apparatus with Resolution-Based Line Feed Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge apparatuses, such as DTG printers, face challenges in efficiently and productively printing on garments by sequentially applying pretreatment liquids, white ink, and color ink, due to differences in nozzle resolutions and line feed amounts, which can result in incomplete image formation and reduced productivity.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes multiple heads with specific nozzle resolutions for pretreatment, white ink, and color ink, arranged to satisfy the relationships N1≥N2≥N3, N1/N3=m, N2/N3=n, and m≥n, where m and n are integers. The conveyor system intermittently conveys the medium in response to head movements, with line feed amounts and head arrangements optimized to ensure consecutive and high-resolution printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If different nozzle resolutions are used for pretreatment, white ink, and color ink heads, then image quality can be optimized for each layer, but the complexity of coordinating line feed amounts and head arrangements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by establishing specific mathematical relationships between nozzle resolutions (N1≥N2≥N3, N1/N3=m, N2/N3=n) and line feed amounts (L1=W×p, L2=W×q). These parameter relationships enable different resolution levels for each ink type while maintaining systematic coordination, thus optimizing image quality without excessive complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The printing system is segmented into multiple heads with different functions (pretreatment head N1, white ink head N2, color ink head N3), each operating at optimized resolution levels. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each layer's image quality while the mathematical relationships coordinate their interactions.
2Manufacturing precision
If the medium is conveyed backward to accommodate different line feed amounts for different heads, then printing completeness can be ensured, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and pre-positioning multiple heads at specific distances (L1=W×p, L2=W×q) before printing begins. This allows all heads to operate forward simultaneously without needing backward conveyance, ensuring printing completeness while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of conveying the medium backward to accommodate different line feed amounts (traditional approach), the patent inverts the approach by positioning multiple heads forward at calculated distances to naturally accommodate different resolutions and line feed amounts, thus eliminating backward conveyance and improving productivity.
3Reliability
If multiple heads with different nozzle resolutions are arranged to print consecutively, then image robustness improves, but the arrangement space and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes by establishing mathematical relationships between head arrangement distances and line feed amounts (L1=W×p, L2=W×q). This allows multiple heads with different resolutions to be arranged systematically in a compact configuration, improving image robustness through consecutive printing while controlling arrangement complexity through formula-based positioning.
4Manufacturing precision
If the line feed amount is optimized for high-resolution printing, then manufacturing precision improves, but the coordination between multiple heads with different resolutions becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by establishing that line feed amounts for different heads are integer multiples of a base unit W (L1=W×p, L2=W×q). This enables high-resolution printing precision while simplifying coordination between heads with different resolutions, as all line feed amounts are systematically related through integer relationships.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge apparatus includes multiple heads including a first head to discharge a pretreatment liquid onto a medium in resolution N1, a second head to discharge a white ink onto the medium in resolution N2, and a third head to discharge a color ink onto the medium in resolution N3, multiple carriages, and a conveyor. Expressions of N1≥N2≥N3, N1/N3=m, N2/N3=n, and m≥n are satisfied. The conveyor intermittently conveys the medium by an amount of line feed W of the medium in response to one movement of the third head. The first head is arranged at a first distance L1 from the second head, and the second head is arranged at a second distance L2 from the third head. Expressions of L1=W×p, and L2=W×q are satisfied.