Printer Treatment Fluid Application for Image Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current printing technologies face challenges in controlling the bonding, hardening, and durability of colorants on substrates, as well as achieving desired gloss and texture effects, due to limitations in the application and interaction of treatment fluids with colorants and substrates.
Innovation Solution
A printer system that includes both pre-treatment and post-treatment fluid application devices, which use fluid ejection devices to apply precise amounts of treatment fluids based on colorant characteristics, substrate properties, and desired effects, integrating with a control circuit to determine optimal treatment fluid amounts for each image region, thereby influencing coalescence, bleed, and curing processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If treatment fluids are applied to control bonding and hardening of colorants, then durability of printed image is improved, but control precision over colorant interaction is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different treatment fluids to different image regions based on local colorant characteristics. The system analyzes colorant amounts, types, and combinations in each region and selects specific treatment fluids (e.g., pre-treatment, post-treatment, coalescing, or non-coalescing) to achieve precise control over bonding and hardening in each local area, thereby improving both durability and control precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system varies treatment fluid application parameters including fluid type, amount, and timing based on colorant characteristics. By changing these parameters dynamically across different image regions, the system achieves precise control over colorant interaction while maintaining improved durability through optimized treatment fluid selection and application conditions.
2Manufacturing precision
If treatment fluids are applied to achieve desired gloss and texture effects, then appearance quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the treatment process into multiple distinct stages with different fluid application devices: pre-treatment device, colorant application device, and post-treatment device. Each device performs a specific function (e.g., applying pre-treatment fluid before colorant, or post-treatment fluid after colorant), allowing for sophisticated appearance control while managing device complexity through functional segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a unified control circuit that manages multiple treatment fluid application devices and coordinates their operation based on image region analysis. This multi-functional control approach allows a single control system to orchestrate various treatment fluids for different effects (gloss, texture, bonding), achieving diverse appearance quality outcomes without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise amounts of treatment fluids are applied based on colorant characteristics, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of substance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies treatment fluids selectively and partially based on actual colorant characteristics in each image region. Rather than applying uniform treatment across the entire substrate, the system determines precise fluid amounts needed for each region's specific colorant composition, achieving manufacturing precision while minimizing unnecessary fluid application and associated substance loss.
Data Source
AI summary
Certain examples of printers and methods of printing may involve determining colorant amounts of image regions within a print image.