Printed Material Edge Breakage Prevention via Local Quality

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printed materials experience edge breakage when pressure-bonded surfaces are peeled off due to uneven pressure distribution during the pressure-bonding process, leading to increased pressure-bonding strength at the outer edge portions.

Innovation Solution

A printed material with a recording medium having a pressure-bonding surface featuring an image portion and a pressure phase transition layer, where the exposed area ratio of the pressure phase transition layer in the outer edge portion is controlled to be smaller than in other regions, reducing the pressure-bonding strength and preventing edge breakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the pressure phase transition layer is uniformly distributed across the entire surface, then the pressure-bonding strength is uniformly high, but edge breakage occurs when pressure-bonded surfaces are peeled off

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure-bonding strengthVSAvoidedge breakage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure phase transition layer is selectively distributed to create different bonding characteristics in different regions. The outer edge portions have a lower exposed area ratio of the pressure phase transition layer compared to the inner regions, resulting in reduced pressure-bonding strength at edges to prevent breakage during peeling, while maintaining sufficient bonding strength in the main body areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If the exposed area ratio of the pressure phase transition layer is increased in the outer edge portion, then the pressure-bonding strength at edges is increased, but edge breakage occurs during peeling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure-bonding strength at edgeVSAvoidedge integrity during peeling
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of increasing the exposed area ratio of the pressure phase transition layer at the edges to improve bonding strength, the invention inverts the approach by reducing the exposed area ratio at the outer edge portions. This creates a gradient distribution where the edge regions have lower bonding strength than the inner regions, preventing edge breakage during peeling while maintaining overall bonding integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Stability of the object's composition

If adhesive is applied uniformly across the pressure-bonding surface, then bonding is consistent, but excessive adhesive at edges causes edge breakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding consistencyVSAvoidedge breakage
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive application pattern is optimized with spatial variation. The outer edge portions have a lower exposed area ratio of the pressure phase transition layer, which corresponds to reduced adhesive presence in these regions. This local reduction in adhesive quantity at edges prevents excessive edge stress and breakage during peeling, while maintaining consistent and sufficient bonding in the main body areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 controlled exposed area ratio of the pressure phase transition layer in the outer edge portion reduces edge breakage and peeling when pressure-bonded surfaces are peeled off, maintaining sufficient pressure-bonding strength while preventing excessive edge stress.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure phase transition layer is formed on which an image portion and a pressure phase transition layer are formed, the recording medium being folded upon the recording medium and pressure-bonded

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure phase transition: Phase Change

Data Source

PatentEP4067100B1Printed material and method for producing printed material
Publication Date: 2023.08.16 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP
  • EP4067100B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4067100B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4B
  • EP4067100B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A printed material includes: a recording medium having a pressure-bonding surface on which an image portion and a pressure phase transition layer are formed, the recording medium being folded upon the recording medium and pressure-bonded; or a recording medium having a pressure-bonding surface on which an image portion and a pressure phase transition layer are formed and an additional recording medium, the recording medium and the additional recording medium being stacked and pressure-bonded together. When the printed material is unfolded into an unfolded medium by peeling pressure-bonded surfaces of the printed material off from each other and a surface of the unfolded medium that corresponds to the pressure-bonded surfaces of the printed material is observed, an exposed area ratio EA of the pressure phase transition layer in an outer edge portion E located in a location corresponding to at least one of edges of the printed material is smaller than an exposed area ratio IA of the pressure phase transition layer in a region other than the outer edge portion E.