Printing Apparatus Ink Transfer Prevention Standby Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In printing apparatuses, the region where the printing surface of a retracted print medium contacts the conveyed print medium can lead to deteriorated print quality due to ink transfer, especially when a large amount of ink is applied, causing issues with product quality.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a feeding unit, conveyance unit, printing unit, and control unit that keeps a subsequent print medium on standby for a predetermined time before starting printing on its first side, allowing ink on the preceding print medium to dry and preventing contact-induced quality issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If printing on both sides of print medium is performed in parallel with conveyance and retraction operations, then productivity is improved, but print quality deteriorates due to ink transfer between sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by advancing the subsequent print medium to a standby position before the preceding sheet completes its retraction. The control unit calculates required standby time based on ink application amount and conveyance speeds, ensuring the subsequent sheet is positioned and ready before contact occurs, thus preventing ink transfer while maintaining continuous operation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary standby position in the conveyance path where the subsequent print medium is temporarily held. This intermediary position acts as a buffer zone that separates the retraction path of the preceding sheet from the conveyance path of the subsequent sheet, allowing controlled timing of their interaction while preventing harmful ink transfer
2Manufacturing precision
If the subsequent print medium is kept on standby for predetermined time, then print quality is improved by preventing ink transfer, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the standby time based on real-time parameters including ink application amount, conveyance speeds of both sheets, and positioning requirements. The control unit calculates the minimum necessary standby period to ensure ink dryness, avoiding fixed excessive wait times and optimizing throughput while maintaining print quality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of standby duration from a fixed value to a variable determined by ink application amount and conveyance conditions. By adjusting this parameter dynamically, the system minimizes time loss while ensuring sufficient drying time for the ink on the preceding sheet
Data Source
AI summary
A printing unit performing printing by applying ink to a print medium conveyed in a first direction, a reversal conveyance path reversing the print medium conveyed in a second direction opposite to the first direction to guide the print medium to a position to which the ink can be applied by the printing unit, and a control unit performing printing on a first side and an opposite second side in a first print medium and a subsequent second print medium are included, and in starting printing on the first side in accordance with the amount of the ink applied to a region that the second print medium being conveyed in the first direction contacts in the first print medium conveyed through the reversal conveyance path after the first side is printed, the control unit keeps the second print medium on standby for predetermined time in the first position.