Printing device and color development controlling method

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for printing and color development in a series of steps face challenges in ensuring consistent ink development due to varying transporting speeds and ink amounts, leading to insufficient or excessive heating of the print medium, which can result in inadequate color development or print medium damage.

Innovation Solution

A printing device with a control unit that adjusts the heating time and temperature of the print medium by controlling the amount of electrical conduction to heaters based on transporting speed and ink amount, using multiple heaters to fine-tune heating conditions and prevent excessive heating, while synchronizing with the color development process to avoid waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the printing step and color developing step are carried out in a series of steps with fixed heating parameters, then the process efficiency is improved, but the ink may not be sufficiently color developed or the print medium may become dirty from vapor depending on varying print conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess efficiencyVSAvoidcolor development quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of heating parameters (temperature and time) based on real-time detection of ink amount and transport speed. The control unit modifies the heating conditions in the color developing machine according to the actual printing conditions, transforming a static fixed-parameter system into a dynamic adaptive system that maintains reliable color development across varying productivity conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the heating parameters (temperature and time) as variable parameters rather than fixed values. The control unit adjusts these parameters based on detected ink amounts and transport speeds, allowing the system to adapt heating conditions to match different printing scenarios while maintaining consistent color development quality throughout the series process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the heating temperature is increased to compensate for faster transport speed, then the color development is improved, but the print medium may become dirty from excessive heating and ink vapor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor development qualityVSAvoidprint medium contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback control where the control unit detects actual ink amounts and transport speeds, then uses this information to adjust heating parameters. This closed-loop feedback mechanism prevents both under-heating and over-heating by continuously monitoring conditions and making real-time adjustments, thereby avoiding print medium contamination from excessive heating while ensuring adequate color development

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically changes heating parameters (temperature and time) based on detected conditions. When transport speed increases, the system adjusts both temperature and time parameters together in a coordinated manner, rather than simply increasing temperature, thereby achieving adequate color development without causing excessive heating that would contaminate the print medium

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the heating time is extended to ensure sufficient color development, then the ink development is improved, but the productivity of the series process is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor development qualityVSAvoidprocess throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of heating time based on actual ink amounts and transport speeds. Rather than using a fixed extended heating time, the system adapts the heating duration to match the specific printing conditions, maintaining sufficient color development while optimizing process throughput for different productivity scenarios

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes heating time as a variable parameter rather than a fixed value. The control unit adjusts heating time in coordination with temperature adjustments, allowing the system to achieve adequate color development with optimized time parameters that maintain high productivity across varying print conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution ensures appropriate ink development under various print conditions by dynamically adjusting heating parameters, preventing both under-heating and over-heating, thus enhancing the efficiency and quality of the printing and color development process.

Implementation Method 1

a heater that generates heat by electrical conduction and heats the print medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

a heater that generates heat by electrical conduction and heats the print medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 3

the print medium fed out from the feed roller is brought into contact with a heat generating roller to heat the print medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3293007B1Printing device and color development controlling method
Publication Date: 2020.07.22 MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO LTD
  • EP3293007B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3293007B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3293007B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

To appropriately color develop ink according to a print condition even when carrying out the printing step and the color developing step in a series of steps. A printing device includes a printing machine that discharges ink to a print medium (M) and a color developing machine (2) that heats the print medium (M), on which the ink discharged by the printing machine is attached, to color develop the ink, the printing device including a control unit that adjusts at least one of a heating time and a heating temperature of the print medium (M) by the color developing machine (2) according to at least one of an amount of discharged ink and a transporting speed of the print medium (M) transported from the printing machine.