Printing Apparatus Ink Segmentation for Clogging and Fastness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing methods using polymer emulsion inks face issues with clogging of ejection openings due to high solids content, leading to reduced image quality and glossiness for indoor displays, while inks without polymer emulsion lack durability for outdoor displays.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus that uses a combination of inks, including a pigment-based ink and a clear emulsion ink with no coloring material, applied on different types of printing media, where the clear emulsion ink forms a film to enhance water, light, and rubbing fastness, and a reaction liquid is used to prevent bleeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ink containing polymer emulsion is used to improve fastness to water, light and rubbing, then durability for outdoor display is improved, but clogging of ejection openings occurs due to high solids content
Solution Approach 1:
The ink system is segmented into two separate inks: a first ink containing pigment for coloring and a second ink containing polymer emulsion for fastness. This segmentation allows each ink to be optimized for its specific function without the problems of combining both in a single formulation, particularly avoiding clogging issues while maintaining fastness properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of pigment ink and polymer emulsion ink by applying both to the printing medium. The first ink provides coloring and the second ink provides fastness, and their combined effect achieves both image quality and durability without the drawbacks of using a single combined ink formulation.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If diameter of ejection openings is increased to reduce clogging, then ink ejection is improved, but image definition and glossiness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the ink into separate first and second inks with different functions, the patent can use smaller ejection openings for each ink type. The first ink (pigment-based) can be ejected through smaller openings to maintain image definition, while the second ink (polymer emulsion-based) is applied separately to provide fastness without compromising the fine detail quality.
3Manufacturing precision
If ink without polymer emulsion is used to avoid clogging and maintain image quality, then image definition is improved, but fastness to water, light and rubbing is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the advantages of both ink types by applying the first ink (pigment-based, good for image quality) and the second ink (polymer emulsion-based, good for fastness) to the same printing medium. This merging allows the printing medium to benefit from both high image definition and excellent fastness properties simultaneously.
4Manufacturing precision
If polymer emulsion particles remain in the ink layer due to insufficient heating, then image formation is complete, but surface roughness increases and glossiness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the heating parameters to ensure complete melting of polymer emulsion particles. By optimizing temperature and heating time, the polymer emulsion is fully melted to form a smooth, glossy film without residual particles, achieving both complete image formation and high surface quality.
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
The solution achieves high image quality with improved fastness to water, light, and rubbing for both indoor and outdoor applications by optimizing ink composition and application based on the type of printing medium.
Implementation Method 1
the ink dropped on the printing medium is heated so that the particles of the polymer emulsion can melt to form a film over the surface of the printing medium and thus fix the image
Implementation Method 2
the ink dropped on the printing medium is heated so that the particles of the polymer emulsion can melt to form a film
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus is operable to eject a plurality of inks having different functions onto any one of a plurality of types of printing medium. The plurality of inks include a first ink containing a coloring material, and a second ink containing a polymer emulsion and substantially no coloring material. The plurality of types of printing medium includes a first printing medium and a second printing medium less permeable to liquid than the first printing medium. When the first printing medium is printed, the first ink is used without using the second ink, and when the second printing medium is printed, both the first and the second ink are used.