Parallel Inkjet Printing with Non-Printing Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet printing devices face a decrease in printing speed due to the need for a pause time to allow background ink to dry before image ink can be printed, which increases the time required for both background and image printing and risks blur between the two.
Innovation Solution
The printing method involves performing background and image printing steps in parallel, with a non-printing area where background and image inks are not discharged, allowing simultaneous printing while preventing ink mixing and blur.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a pause time is introduced to wait for background ink drying, then blur between background and image is suppressed, but printing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The printing device divides the nozzle array into multiple independent nozzle groups (first nozzle group, second nozzle group, third nozzle group) that can operate simultaneously. Each nozzle group is assigned to print different regions (background or image) without interfering with others, enabling parallel processing of background and image printing to eliminate the need for pause time while maintaining print quality through spatial separation
2Productivity
If background and image are printed simultaneously, then printing speed increases, but ink mixing and blur occur at the boundary
Solution Approach 1:
The printing device segments the nozzle array into multiple independent nozzle groups that print different regions simultaneously. The first nozzle group prints background in a first region, while the second and third nozzle groups print image in a second region, spatially separating the printing processes to prevent ink mixing while maintaining high printing speed through parallel operation
Solution Approach 2:
A non-printing area is introduced as an intermediary zone between the first region (background printing) and the second region (image printing). This non-printing area acts as a buffer that prevents direct contact and mixing between background ink and image ink, allowing simultaneous printing while maintaining clear boundaries and preventing blur at the interface
Data Source
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AI summary
A printing method of printing a background and an image on a medium includes a background printing step of printing a background on the medium by discharging background ink, and an image printing step of being performed in parallel with the background printing step and printing an image on the medium by discharging image ink. A non-printing area, where the background ink and the image ink are not discharged to a boundary between the background and the image, is provided in the background printing step and the image printing step.