Printing Apparatus Single Slitter Borderless Ink Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses face challenges in implementing borderless printing across various-sized printing media due to increased load and inefficiencies in cutting processes, particularly when using multiple slitters to cut the left and right ends of the media.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a print head, conveyance unit, receiving portion for ink, and a slitter that cuts the media in the conveyance direction, allowing for borderless printing by using the ink processing port at one end and the slitter to extend printing beyond the media width, reducing the need for multiple slitters and associated cutting loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a pair of left and right slitters are used to cut both ends of the printing medium, then borderless printing can be implemented regardless of printing medium size, but the cutting load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting process is divided into two sequential stages: first, the printing medium is cut to a predetermined width by the single slitter; second, the printed image is trimmed at the edges. This segmentation allows borderless printing on various medium sizes using one slitter instead of requiring simultaneous dual-end cutting, thereby reducing cutting load while maintaining versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The slitter performs preliminary cutting of the printing medium to a predetermined width before the printing process. This preliminary action prepares the medium for borderless printing by establishing proper dimensions in advance, allowing the subsequent printing and trimming operations to proceed efficiently with reduced cutting load during the main processing stage
2Adaptability or versatility
If ink is ejected beyond the width of the printing medium, then borderless printing is achieved, but ink processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ink processing function is extracted and dedicated to the slitter unit, which handles excess ink and trimmed portions separately from the main printing process. This extraction simplifies the overall ink processing system by creating a specialized subsystem for managing borderless printing byproducts, reducing complexity in the main printing pathway
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple slitters are used for cutting, then complete borderless printing is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slitter unit combines multiple functions into a single integrated device: it performs width cutting, edge trimming, and ink processing in one consolidated mechanism. This merging eliminates the need for separate left and right slitters, reducing device complexity while achieving complete borderless printing functionality through coordinated operation of the unified slitter system
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes: a print head configured to eject ink based on print data; a conveyance unit configured to convey printing medium in a conveyance direction; a receiving portion configured to receive ink ejected beyond a first end of the printing medium in an intersecting direction, which intersects the conveyance direction; and a slitter configured to cut the printing medium in the conveyance direction at a predetermined position, wherein printing on one side of the printing medium in the intersecting direction is performed from the first end through the receiving portion, and wherein printing on the other side of the printing medium in the intersecting direction is performed beyond the predetermined position toward a second end side, which is on an opposite side of the first end.