Printing Device Ink Volume Control for Glossy Appearance

Solution Overview

Problem

When white ink with light-shielding properties and metallic ink with special gloss are printed to overlap, the glossy appearance of the metallic ink is decreased, affecting the quality of the printed image.

Innovation Solution

A printing device with a controller that discriminates overlap fields between light-shielding and special glossy inks, reducing the ink volume of the light-shielding ink in these areas to prevent a decline in the glossy appearance, and optionally allowing users to adjust this setting for optimal results.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If light-shielding ink and special glossy ink are printed to overlap, then light-shielding properties are improved, but glossy appearance of special glossy ink deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight-shielding propertiesVSAvoidglossy appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different ink volume control strategies to different regions of the printing medium. In overlap fields where light-shielding ink and special glossy ink are both applied, the controller reduces the ink volume of light-shielding ink to preserve the glossy appearance. In non-overlap fields, normal ink volumes are used to ensure adequate light-shielding properties. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each region according to its specific requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the ink volume parameter dynamically based on the printing field type. The controller identifies overlap fields and adjusts the ink volume of light-shielding ink to a reduced level in these specific regions, while maintaining normal ink volumes in other regions. This parameter adjustment allows the system to maintain both light-shielding properties and glossy appearance by optimizing ink delivery quantities according to spatial location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If light-shielding ink volume is reduced in overlap fields, then glossy appearance is preserved, but light-shielding properties may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglossy appearanceVSAvoidlight-shielding properties

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different ink volume control strategies to different regions of the printing medium. In overlap fields where light-shielding ink and special glossy ink are both applied, the controller reduces the ink volume of light-shielding ink to preserve the glossy appearance. In non-overlap fields, normal ink volumes are used to ensure adequate light-shielding properties. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each region according to its specific requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by reducing light-shielding ink volume only in the specific overlap fields where it would interfere with glossy appearance, rather than reducing it uniformly across the entire printing medium. This selective partial reduction preserves glossy appearance in critical areas while maintaining adequate light-shielding properties in non-overlap regions where full ink volume is applied.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Illumination intensity

If normal ink volume is used for light-shielding ink, then light-shielding properties are ensured, but ink consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight-shielding propertiesVSAvoidink consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the ink volume parameter dynamically based on the printing field type. The controller identifies overlap fields and adjusts the ink volume of light-shielding ink to a reduced level in these specific regions, while maintaining normal ink volumes in other regions. This parameter adjustment allows the system to maintain both light-shielding properties and glossy appearance by optimizing ink delivery quantities according to spatial location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by reducing light-shielding ink volume only in the specific overlap fields where it would interfere with glossy appearance, rather than reducing it uniformly across the entire printing medium. This selective partial reduction preserves glossy appearance in critical areas while maintaining adequate light-shielding properties in non-overlap regions where full ink volume is applied.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS8888205B2Printing device, printing method, and medium having recorded program

Publication Date: 2014.11.18 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

To provide a technique when printing using a light-shielding ink and a special glossy ink, the printing device includes an affixing part for affixing ink to a printing medium, and a controller for controlling ink volumes of a colored ink, a light-shielding ink having light-shielding properties, and a special glossy ink having special gloss. The controller has a field discriminating part for discriminating an overlap field of a light-shielding ink field and a special glossy ink field; and a part for allowing, in the overlap field, the ink volume of light-shielding ink to be brought lower than the ink volume of the light-shielding ink determined in accordance with the image data, irrespective of the overlap field.