Print Control Apparatus Glossy Effect Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional print control systems fail to maintain the glossy effect of paper on regions where color toner adheres, as they do not consider the inherent glossy effect of the paper during the printing process.
Innovation Solution
A print control apparatus and method that acquires the glossiness of the recording medium, generates image data based on this glossiness, and outputs it to ensure the glossy effect on color toner regions is equivalent to the paper's glossy effect, using a digital front end (DFE) that communicates with a printer machine, glosser, and low-temperature fixing unit to control the toner adhesion and surface finish.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If color toner is applied to paper, then image formation is achieved, but the glossy effect of the paper is reduced in the color toner region
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different treatments to different regions: clear toner is selectively applied only to color toner regions, while white toner is applied to non-color regions. This local differentiation maintains the paper's original glossy effect in non-color areas while restoring it in color areas where clear toner is needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the toner layers by controlling the adhesion amounts of clear toner and white toner. By adjusting these parameters based on image data, the patent restores the glossy effect in color regions without affecting non-color regions, achieving uniform glossy appearance across the entire printed surface.
2Manufacturing precision
If clear toner is used to enhance glossy effect, then visual-tactual effects are improved, but the paper's inherent glossy effect is not preserved in color regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary processing by generating image data that identifies color toner regions before actual printing. This preliminary analysis allows the system to pre-determine where clear toner and white toner should be applied, ensuring that the paper's inherent glossy effect information is preserved and restored proactively rather than reactively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces white toner as an intermediary substance between the color toner and the paper surface. This white toner layer, when combined with clear toner in color regions, acts as a mediator that restores the paper's glossy effect without directly applying clear toner to the color toner, thereby preserving the original paper characteristics.
3Ease of operation
If conventional print control is used, then printing process is simple, but the glossy effect on color toner regions does not match the paper's glossy effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal image data structure that simultaneously contains information for both color toner regions and non-color regions. This multi-functional image data enables the print control apparatus to manage clear toner and white toner application through a single integrated process, maintaining operational simplicity while achieving precise glossy effect control across all regions.
Data Source
AI summary
A print control apparatus includes an acquiring unit configured to acquire a glossiness indicating a degree of glossy effect on a recording medium; a first generating unit configured to generate image data based on the glossiness acquired by the acquiring unit; and an output unit configured to output the image data.