Printing Control Device Ink Supply Delay Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink supply delays occur in printing due to increased viscosity at low temperatures, leading to image quality deterioration, and existing solutions struggle to prevent print medium deformation during partial printing.
Innovation Solution
A control device that determines ink supply delays by analyzing the dot formation ratio, cumulative-used amount of ink, and head temperature, and adjusts the printing process by dividing band images into multiple partial images, ensuring earlier printing of images supported by rollers to prevent deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the number of passes is increased to reduce continuous ejections and suppress ink supply delay, then ink supply delay is suppressed, but the printing process becomes more complex and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the printing process into multiple passes, where each pass prints only a portion of the image. This segmentation allows the system to reduce the number of continuous ejections per pass, preventing ink supply delay while maintaining overall image quality through multiple coordinated passes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the printing strategy based on real-time conditions such as ink temperature and viscosity. The control device monitors these parameters and adapts the number of passes and ejection patterns accordingly, optimizing both ink supply stability and printing efficiency for current operating conditions.
2Reliability
If partial printing is performed to suppress ink supply delay, then ink supply delay is suppressed, but the print medium may deform due to repeated positioning and printing operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions to stabilize the print medium before partial printing operations. The print medium is fed and positioned in advance, and the system coordinates multiple passes to minimize repositioning. This preliminary preparation reduces the risk of deformation during subsequent printing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous printing action across multiple passes without interrupting the feed of the print medium. By coordinating the printing head movements and ink ejection timing, the system achieves continuous useful action that minimizes handling and repositioning of the print medium, thereby preventing deformation.
3Reliability
If the number of continuous ejections is reduced by increasing passes, then ink supply delay is suppressed, but image quality may deteriorate due to increased printing time and potential medium deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor ink temperature, viscosity, and printing progress. Based on this feedback, the control device adjusts the ejection parameters and pass coordination in real-time, ensuring optimal image quality while preventing ink supply delay. The system learns from each pass and fine-tunes subsequent operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes critical parameters such as ink temperature, ejection frequency, and pass interval to optimize both ink supply stability and image quality. By controlling ink temperature within specific ranges and adjusting ejection parameters across multiple passes, the system maintains high image quality while preventing ink supply delay.
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
This approach effectively suppresses ink supply delays and prevents print medium deformation by strategically printing partial images supported by rollers, maintaining image quality and reducing ink usage.
Implementation Method 1
a printing head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink
Implementation Method 2
an upstream roller conveying the print medium on a further upstream side than the printing head in the sub-scanning direction
Implementation Method 3
a downstream roller conveying the print medium on a further downstream side than the printing head in the sub-scanning direction
Implementation Method 4
an ink supply unit configured to supply the ink to the printing head
Data Source
AI summary
A control device controls an image printing by a printing execution unit. The control device performs: determination processing of determining whether a first condition indicating that a supply of ink from an ink supply unit to a printing head is possibly delayed at a partial printing is satisfied, for each of a plurality of band images included in an image to be printed and aligned in a sub-scanning direction; first printing processing of, in a case where the first condition is not satisfied, causing the printing execution unit to print the band image by single time partial printing; and second printing processing of, in a case where the first condition is satisfied, causing the printing execution unit to print each of N partial images included in the band image and aligned in the sub-scanning direction by single time partial printing, to print the band image by N times partial printings.