Portable Printer Nozzle Control for Clear Printing on Skin and Paper
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable printers face challenges in maintaining a consistent distance between the nozzle and the skin or paper surface, leading to image distortion and smearing, especially when printing on surfaces with varying hardness, such as skin and paper.
Innovation Solution
A portable printer with a magnetic body that rotates with the roller, a sensing unit to detect roller rotation, and a controller to adjust the nozzle's distance and ejection based on surface hardness, ensuring a constant optimal distance and smooth printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the printer uses a fixed nozzle position, then the structure is simple, but the distance between nozzle and skin surface varies causing image distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a movable nozzle assembly that can dynamically adjust its position relative to the skin surface. The nozzle is mounted on a carriage system that allows it to move forward and backward along the printing direction, enabling real-time compensation for variations in skin contour and maintaining optimal printing distance throughout the printing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a sensor system that detects the distance between the nozzle and the skin surface in real-time. This feedback information is used by the control system to automatically adjust the nozzle position, ensuring consistent printing quality despite variations in skin topography or printing speed.
2Ease of operation
If the printer moves at variable speed, then ease of operation is improved, but image sharpness deteriorates due to non-uniform printing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses speed sensors to continuously monitor the printing speed and provides feedback to the control system. When variable speed is detected, the system automatically adjusts the nozzle ejection timing and frequency to compensate for speed changes, maintaining image sharpness regardless of printing speed variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes the ejection parameters (timing, frequency, amount) of the printing material based on the detected printing speed. When speed varies, the control system modifies these parameters in real-time to ensure consistent image quality across different operating conditions.
3Device complexity
If the same nozzle structure is used for both skin and paper, then device complexity is reduced, but printing quality deteriorates on soft surfaces like skin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a pressure-adjustable roller system where the pressing force can be dynamically modified. For soft surfaces like skin, the roller applies gentler pressure to avoid deformation, while for hard surfaces like paper, stronger pressure ensures proper contact. This dynamic adjustment allows the same roller structure to effectively handle different surface types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the roller and nozzle system based on the detected surface type. When skin is detected, the system reduces roller pressure and adjusts nozzle ejection parameters suitable for soft, deformable surfaces. When paper is detected, it increases pressure and uses parameters optimized for rigid surfaces, allowing one structure to serve multiple purposes effectively.
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 printer maintains a consistent distance and adjusts nozzle height to ensure clear printing on both soft (skin) and hard (paper) surfaces, preventing image distortion and smearing.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic body configured to rotate in correspondence with rotation of the roller; a sensing unit configured to detect a magnetic field according to the rotation of the magnetic body
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a portable printer and a portable printing system including: a main body in a portable form configured to accommodate a cartridge including a nozzle that prints an image by delivering a printing material to a target having a soft or hard surface; a seating part that is provided to be exposed to an outside from a lower portion of the main body to face a surface of the target and surrounds the nozzle at least partially; a roller provided at each of the front and rear of the nozzle at the lower portion of the main body, based on a direction in which the main body moves along the surface of the target to deliver the printing material to the target; and a magnetic body configured to rotate in correspondence with rotation of the roller.