Mobile Printer Translucent Decolorizing Device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile printers with thermochromic colorants face challenges in selectively decolorizing designated regions due to non-selective heating methods, making it difficult for users to accurately check and decolorize specific areas before printing.
Innovation Solution
A mobile printer equipped with a translucent decolorizing device that generates heat by applied voltage, allowing users to visually confirm the decolorization position and control temperature settings, ensuring precise decolorization of thermochromic colorants on a recording medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a decolorizing apparatus heats the entire recording medium, then the thermochromic colorant can be decolorized, but it cannot selectively decolorize only a region designated by a user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the decolorizing device translucent only in the decolorization region, allowing users to visually confirm the exact area being decolorized. This localized translucency enables precise control over which regions are decolorized, resolving the contradiction between achieving selective decolorization and maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color changes by employing a translucent film that changes its optical properties (becomes translucent) when heated to the decolorization temperature. This visual feedback mechanism allows users to see exactly where the colorant is being decolorized, enabling precise regional control while simplifying user operation.
2Measurement precision
If a decolorizing instrument uses frictional heat from rubbing, then it can decolorize the thermochromic colorant, but accurately checking the decolorization position is not easy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs color changes by using a translucent film that transitions to a translucent state when heated. This optical change provides real-time visual feedback to users, making it easy to detect and measure the exact decolorization position, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and detection difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element - the translucent film - that mediates between the heating process and the user's observation. This film acts as a visual indicator, translating the thermal decolorization process into visible optical changes, thus making position detection easy while maintaining high precision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a mobile printer includes a decolorizing device, then users can decolorize before printing, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the mobile printer to perform multiple functions - both printing and decolorization - using integrated components. The same heating mechanism serves dual purposes, and the translucent film serves as both a heating element and a visual indicator, reducing overall device complexity while enhancing adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the decolorizing function with the existing printer structure by integrating the translucent film into the print head assembly. This combination allows the mobile printer to perform both printing and decolorization operations with a unified device structure, minimizing complexity while maximizing versatility.
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 accurate and user-friendly decolorization of thermochromic colorants, allowing for precise control over the decolorization process, ensuring that only the intended regions are decolorized before printing, enhancing the overall printing experience.
Implementation Method 1
a translucent film (22) in which heat is generated by an applied voltage
Implementation Method 2
The thermochromic colorant changes color by being heated to a predetermined temperature or higher
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
According to at least one embodiment, a mobile printer (1) includes a casing (10), a sensor (19), a print head (12), an interface (37), a controller (30), and a decolorizing device (11). The casing includes a power supply. The sensor detects the movement of the casing. The print head discharges ink containing a thermochromic colorant. The interface acquires image data. The controller discharges the ink from the print head based on the image data acquired by the interface and the movement of the casing detected by the sensor. The decolorizing device is coupled to the casing and includes a translucent film in which heat is generated by an applied voltage and a translucent substrate that is heated to a temperature at which the thermochromic colorant is decolorized by the heat generated in the translucent film.