Photo-curing Ink Edge Relief Control via Localized Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The 'thick heap phenomenon' occurs when printing with photo-curing ink, causing edges of images to be excessively raised and perceived as thicker due to uneven ink distribution, leading to image quality deterioration.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus and method that reduces ink application inside the outer border of images, using a nozzle to eject and an irradiation unit to cure photo-curing ink, with a thinning process determining optimal ink amounts based on line width and border width to suppress the thick heap phenomenon.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If photo-curing ink is ejected onto the medium and cured by light irradiation, then the ink is fixed on the medium, but the ink forms relief especially at edges causing thick heap phenomenon and image quality deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different ink ejection amounts to different regions of the image. Specifically, the ink ejection amount is reduced in a predetermined region (typically the edge region) compared to the normal region, creating local quality variation that prevents the thick heap phenomenon at edges while maintaining proper fixation throughout the image
2Quantity of substance
If photo-curing ink is coated uniformly on the medium, then the image is formed completely, but the edges become excessively raised and perceived as thicker
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by varying the ink coating amount across different regions. The control unit adjusts the ink ejection amount to be smaller in the predetermined region (edge area) compared to the normal region, thereby controlling the shape and relief of the printed image to eliminate excessive edge raising while maintaining adequate overall ink coverage
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
Improves image quality by reducing the perceived thickness of image edges, eliminating the thick heap phenomenon and perception, resulting in uniform gloss and reduced relief.
Implementation Method 1
photo-curing ink cured when irradiated with light
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a nozzle that ejects, onto a medium, photo-curing ink cured when irradiated with light, and an irradiation unit that irradiates, with the light, the photo-curing ink landed on the medium. Here, when printing an image on the medium by coating with the photo-curing ink, the photo-curing ink is ejected from the nozzle so that the photo-curing ink is coated on the medium with a smaller amount of ink than normally coated in a region inside an outer border of the image, and the photo-curing ink is cured by irradiating the image with the light from the irradiation unit.