Printing Device Adhesion Control for Recycled Paper

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Solution Overview

Problem

The recycling of printed sheets is hindered by excessive adhesion of print agents, which prevents the production of high-quality recycled paper, as existing techniques fail to effectively manage and reduce the adhesion of ink or toner during the printing process.

Innovation Solution

A printing device and system equipped with a judgment unit to assess the total adhesion amount of print agents and a control unit to execute processes that reduce this adhesion when it exceeds a threshold, allowing for printing that considers recycling possibilities by adjusting the adhesion amount.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If normal printing is performed without modification, then printing quality is maintained, but the total adhesion amount of print agent exceeds the threshold value and disables recycling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting qualityVSAvoidexcessive print agent adhesion

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the adhesion amount parameter of the print agent by adjusting printing conditions (such as print density, color composition, or printing area ratio) to reduce the total adhesion amount below the threshold value, thereby enabling recycling while maintaining acceptable printing quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts printing parameters based on the calculated total adhesion amount. When the adhesion amount exceeds the threshold, the system automatically modifies printing conditions to reduce adhesion, creating a dynamic control mechanism that balances printing quality and recyclability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the total adhesion amount of print agent is reduced to enable recycling, then recycling possibility is achieved, but printing quality may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecycling possibilityVSAvoidprinting quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the total adhesion amount is calculated based on print data, compared against a threshold value, and used to automatically adjust printing parameters. This closed-loop control ensures that printing quality is maintained within acceptable ranges while achieving recycling goals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial reduction of print agent adhesion amount rather than complete elimination. By reducing the adhesion amount just enough to fall below the threshold value, the system achieves recycling enablement while minimizing impact on printing quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS7865093B2Printing device, printing method and printing system

Publication Date: 2011.01.04 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A printing device includes a printing unit which prints an image on a sheet according to a print command, a judgment unit which judges whether a total adhesion amount of a print agent adhering to the sheet for the image printing exceeds a prescribed threshold value based on inputted print data, and a control unit which executes a process for reducing the total adhesion amount of the print agent when the total adhesion amount is judged to exceed the threshold value by the judgment unit.