Overcoat Layer Gloss Control in Dye-Sublimation Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In dye-sublimation printing, the overcoat layer's varying gloss and thickness due to thermal adhesion energy reduce the visibility of supplemental information recorded in the overcoat layer, causing a bluish-green tint for recorded info and a reddish tint for the background, which diminishes the visibility of the printed image.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus and method that combines high and low gradation values in a mixture pattern for the overcoat layer to enhance visibility, where supplemental information is printed using overcoat layer data generated by alternating or randomly arranging high and low gradation values, thereby reducing the gloss difference between the information and the background.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If high thermal adhesion energy is applied to record supplemental information in the overcoat layer, then the gloss changes to indicate the information, but the overcoat layer becomes thinner and bluish, reducing visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different thermal adhesion energy levels to different regions of the overcoat layer. High thermal adhesion energy is applied locally to the supplemental information areas to create visible contrast, while low thermal adhesion energy is applied to the background areas to maintain uniform appearance and prevent excessive bluish tint. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by enabling information recording without compromising overall visual uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal adhesion energy parameter spatially across the overcoat layer. By varying this parameter between high and low values in different regions, the system achieves both visible supplemental information (through gloss changes at high energy) and maintained uniformity (through low energy in background areas), thus resolving the visibility versus uniformity contradiction.
2Manufacturing precision
If low thermal adhesion energy is applied to the overcoat layer, then the overcoat layer remains thicker and reddish, but the gloss change is insufficient to indicate supplemental information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies low thermal adhesion energy to background areas to maintain uniform reddish appearance and prevent excessive gloss changes, while applying high thermal adhesion energy to supplemental information areas to create sufficient gloss contrast for visibility. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between maintaining uniformity and achieving visible information indication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent spatially varies the thermal adhesion energy parameter, using low values in background regions to preserve uniform appearance and high values in information regions to ensure sufficient gloss change for visibility. This parameter differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of both uniformity and information visibility.
3Loss of information
If thermal adhesion energy varies across the overcoat layer, then supplemental information becomes visible through gloss changes, but hue differences between information and background increase, reducing overall visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies high thermal adhesion energy locally to supplemental information areas to create necessary gloss contrast for visibility, while applying low thermal adhesion energy to background areas to minimize hue differences. This local quality differentiation allows the system to achieve visible information without generating excessive harmful hue differences across the entire overcoat layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal adhesion energy parameter differently in different spatial regions. By using high values only where information is recorded and low values in background areas, the system achieves sufficient gloss change for information visibility while minimizing overall hue differences, thus reducing the harmful effect.
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 improves the visibility of supplemental information by minimizing hue differences and achieving a silky surface finish, reducing the bluish-green tint and enhancing the readability of the printed image.
Implementation Method 1
an overcoat layer that protects transferred dye ink components has thermally adhered to an image-receiving layer of the image-receiving paper
Implementation Method 2
when thermal adhesion energy is high, the overcoat layer subjected to thermal adhesion contracts
Data Source
AI summary
In one or more embodiments, a control unit reads image data and date information of a main image from a memory card into a RAM. When a watermark printing is set, the control unit combines characters of the date information having a high gradation value with overcoat layer data having a mixture pattern in which pixels having a high gradation value and pixels having a low gradation value are located randomly or alternately in rows and columns to generate overcoat layer print data and stores the data in an overcoat layer data storage area. The control unit generates CMY print data from the image data of the main image to print it on image-receiving paper by using a print processing section. After printing of the main image, the control unit prints the overcoat layer print data so that it is superimposed on the main image on the image-receiving paper.