Post-processing Agent Control for Glossiness Uniformity

Solution Overview

Problem

Image forming apparatuses face issues with post-processing agent application accuracy, leading to uneven glossiness between printed and unprinted areas due to incomplete application, requiring wider application areas to compensate for inaccuracies, resulting in unnecessary agent use and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A post-processing agent application control device that determines the optimal amount of agent to apply based on glossiness differences between image and non-image areas, adjusting the application amount in a stepwise manner to minimize glossiness variations at boundaries, using a first glossiness determination unit, comparison unit, and second post-processing agent application amount determination unit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If the post-processing agent is applied to only the printed area to reduce cost and increase dryness, then the cost per page decreases and dryness improves, but the agent may be applied to shifted positions due to accuracy issues in printing, agent application, and conveying

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepost-processing agent amountVSAvoidapplication position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different amounts of post-processing agent to different regions: a first amount to the printed area and a second amount (different from the first) to the non-printed area. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by maintaining precise application control while compensating for positioning inaccuracies through variable dosage rather than uniform expansion of the application area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of agent application amount based on location (printed vs. non-printed area). By adjusting the amount parameter rather than the area parameter, the system achieves accurate application even when position accuracy varies, thus resolving the contradiction between reduced agent usage and maintained precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the post-processing agent is applied to an area wider than the printed area to compensate for accuracy issues, then application position accuracy improves, but the agent is partly applied to unprinted areas causing glossiness differences at boundaries

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication position accuracyVSAvoidglossiness uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different amounts of post-processing agent to different regions: a first amount to the printed area and a second amount (different from the first) to the non-printed area. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by maintaining precise application control while compensating for positioning inaccuracies through variable dosage rather than uniform expansion of the application area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of applying agent to non-printed areas into a benefit by intentionally applying a controlled second amount to create a gradient effect. This gradient transition reduces the visual impact of boundary glossiness differences, transforming what would be a defect into an acceptable or even desirable aesthetic outcome.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If the post-processing agent is applied to an area wider than the printed area to prevent shifted application, then application reliability improves, but the cost per page increases due to unnecessary agent use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication coverage reliabilityVSAvoidpost-processing agent amount

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different amounts of post-processing agent to different regions: a first amount to the printed area and a second amount (different from the first) to the non-printed area. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by maintaining precise application control while compensating for positioning inaccuracies through variable dosage rather than uniform expansion of the application area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies a partial amount of agent to the non-printed area (second amount different from the first amount) rather than applying the full amount uniformly. This partial action ensures sufficient coverage reliability while minimizing unnecessary agent consumption in areas where full application is not required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS9944092B2Post-processing agent application control device, image forming system, post-processing agent application control method and recording medium

Publication Date: 2018.04.17 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

A post-processing agent application control device includes: a first post-processing agent application amount determination unit configured to determine an amount of a post-processing agent to be applied to an image formed on a recording medium; a first glossiness determination unit configured to determine a first glossiness that is a glossiness of a non-image area of the recording medium in a case where the determined amount of the post-processing agent is applied to the non-image area; and a second post-processing agent application amount determination unit configured to, if glossiness difference between the determined first glossiness and a second glossiness that is a glossiness of the non-image area of the recording medium is applied is larger than the predetermined value, change an amount of the post-processing agent to be applied, in a stepwise manner from an image area to the non-image area.