Print Control Apparatus for Consistent Surface Effects on Irregular Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gloss control technologies fail to consistently achieve desired surface effects on sheets with large surface irregularities, leading to variations in applied surface effects.
Innovation Solution
A print control apparatus and method that includes a storage unit for surface-effect selection tables, an acquiring unit, a table generating unit, a determining unit, an image data generating unit, and an output unit, which together allow for the generation and application of specific surface effects on recording media based on acquired media information, ensuring consistent surface effects regardless of sheet type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional gloss control technology is used, then surface effects can be applied to recording media, but the surface effects vary and desired effects cannot be obtained on sheets with large surface irregularities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by creating multiple surface-effect selection tables with different density value mappings tailored to specific sheet types (e.g., glossy paper, matte paper, cardboard). The system selects and applies the appropriate table based on the recording medium's properties, thereby adjusting the parameters to achieve consistent surface effects across different sheet types despite their varying surface irregularities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by applying different surface effect processing to different sheet types through selective table application. Each surface-effect selection table contains density value mappings optimized for specific local characteristics of recording media, allowing the system to treat each sheet type with the appropriate local processing parameters rather than using a universal approach.
2Reliability
If clear toner is applied to achieve surface effects, then visual and tactual effects can be realized, but the effects vary depending on sheet smoothness and glossiness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by changing the density value parameters in surface-effect selection tables according to sheet type characteristics. For example, sheets with lower glossiness use density values that compensate for their surface properties, ensuring that the clear toner application produces consistent visual and tactual effects across different sheet types regardless of their inherent smoothness and glossiness variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing optimized density value mappings in multiple surface-effect selection tables for different sheet types before actual printing. This preliminary preparation allows the system to quickly select the appropriate table and achieve reliable surface effects without real-time adjustments, ensuring consistent reproduction accuracy across various sheet types.
3Manufacturing precision
If a single surface-effect selection table is used, then the system is simple, but it cannot achieve desired surface effects on all sheet types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by designing a multi-functional surface-effect selection table system where multiple tables serve different sheet types. The determining unit universally selects the appropriate table based on sheet type identification, and the image data generating unit universally applies the selected table to generate image data for clear toner application. This universal framework allows a single system to handle diverse sheet types effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent manages complexity through parameter changes by organizing multiple surface-effect selection tables with differentiated density value parameters for different sheet types. Rather than creating complex processing logic, the system simply changes the selected parameter set (density value mappings) based on sheet type, achieving consistent surface effects while maintaining system manageability through parameterized configurations.
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
Enables the precise application of desired surface effects on various types of recording media, including those with large surface irregularities, by generating tailored image data for clear toner application, thereby overcoming the limitations of conventional technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a fixing unit that fixes a toner image to a recording medium
Implementation Method 2
A toner image formed with the clear toner is fixed to a recording medium
Data Source
AI summary
A print control apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store surface-effect selection tables for respective pieces of recording medium information on a recording medium, different types of same surface effects being registered in each surface-effect selection table; an acquiring unit configured to acquire a piece of recording medium information; a table generating unit configured to generate a surface-effect selection table corresponding to the piece of recording medium information and store the surface-effect selection table in the storage unit; a determining unit configured to determine the surface-effect selection table; and an image data generating unit configured to generate image data based on the surface-effect selection table and based on gloss-control plane data in which a type of a surface effect to be applied to the recording medium and an area of the recording medium to which the surface effect is to be applied are specified.