Liquid Ejecting Apparatus Pre-treatment Nozzle Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet-type liquid ejecting apparatuses face a decrease in printing quality due to increased landing time differences between pre-treatment liquids and ink, especially on mediums with high liquid absorbency, as the pre-treatment liquid permeates into the medium, reducing the reaction amount and surface residual, leading to poor ink fixation.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a transport mechanism, pre-treatment liquid coating mechanism, and control unit that allows for adjustable landing time differences by positioning pre-treatment liquid and ink nozzles in specific regions, enabling selection based on medium type to optimize reactivity and printing quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If pre-treatment liquid nozzle rows are only provided on the upstream side of the ink nozzle rows, then the structure is simplified, but the landing time difference between pre-treatment liquid and ink increases, reducing reaction amount and printing quality
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-treatment liquid coating mechanism is divided into multiple independent nozzle rows positioned at different locations (upstream side and downstream side relative to ink nozzles). This segmentation allows selective activation of specific nozzle rows based on medium type, enabling flexible control of landing time difference while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects which pre-treatment liquid nozzle rows to activate based on the detected medium type. For high absorbency mediums, upstream nozzle rows are activated to reduce landing time difference; for low absorbency mediums, downstream nozzle rows are activated to increase landing time difference. This dynamic adaptation optimizes printing quality across different medium types.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the landing time difference between pre-treatment liquid and ink is increased, then the pre-treatment liquid has time to permeate into the medium, but the surface residual amount decreases, reducing reaction amount with ink
Solution Approach 1:
Different nozzle rows are positioned to create different local landing conditions. Upstream nozzle rows create a local configuration where pre-treatment liquid and ink land closer together in time (smaller landing time difference), while downstream nozzle rows create a local configuration with larger time difference. This local quality variation allows optimization for different medium absorbency characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter (which nozzle rows are active) based on medium absorbency characteristics. For high absorbency mediums, the parameter is set to use upstream nozzle rows to minimize landing time difference and prevent excessive permeation. For low absorbency mediums, the parameter is set to use downstream nozzle rows to increase landing time difference and allow sufficient permeation for reaction.
3Manufacturing precision
If pre-treatment liquid is ejected from upstream nozzle rows, then the landing time difference is reduced for high absorbency mediums, but the configuration cannot optimize for low absorbency mediums
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-treatment liquid coating mechanism is designed with multiple nozzle rows that can serve different functions depending on activation. The same physical structure (multiple nozzle rows) can be configured to optimize for high absorbency mediums (using upstream rows) or low absorbency mediums (using downstream rows), making the system universally adaptable to different medium types without requiring separate dedicated systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates medium type detection that provides feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback about medium absorbency characteristics, the control unit automatically selects which pre-treatment liquid nozzle rows to activate. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures optimal printing quality is achieved automatically for whatever medium type is being used.
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 apparatus effectively adjusts landing time differences to enhance the reactivity between pre-treatment liquids and ink, improving printing quality across various mediums by optimizing the surface residual and wet-spreading properties of the pre-treatment liquid.
Implementation Method 1
reactive components such as an aggregating agent and an ink using a liquid ejecting head and landing the ink on the medium after landing the pre-treatment liquid so as to react the pre-treatment liquid and the ink on the surface of the medium
Implementation Method 2
the pre-treatment liquid easily permeates into a medium with high liquid absorbency
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a transport mechanism which transports a medium in a first direction; a pre-treatment liquid coating mechanism which coats a pre-treatment liquid on the medium; a liquid ejecting unit which includes a plurality of ink nozzles which eject ink; and a control unit which controls the pre-treatment liquid coating mechanism and the liquid ejecting unit, in which the pre-treatment liquid coating mechanism includes a first mechanism which is disposed in a first region A and a second mechanism which is disposed in a second region B positioned on an upstream side of the first region A in the first direction, and the plurality of ink nozzles has a portion which overlaps with respect to the first mechanism in a second direction which intersects with the first direction and a portion which does not overlap with respect to the second mechanism in the second direction.