Printing system and corresponding printing method
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Solution Overview
Problem
In printing systems, managing pre-processing and post-processing steps alongside the printing step is challenging, particularly in determining optimal conditions for these steps to ensure quality and efficiency, especially with decreasing labor populations and reliance on personal expertise.
Innovation Solution
A printing system configuration that includes a control device to determine the conditions of post-processing steps, such as washing, based on the conditions of the printing step, allowing for consistent and appropriate execution of post-processing operations without relying on individual worker expertise, by considering factors like washing water amount, temperature, and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If each step (pre-processing, printing, post-processing) is managed individually by different administrators, then each step can be managed independently, but consistency across multiple steps deteriorates and management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple step management functions into a single integrated control device that manages pre-processing, printing, and post-processing steps collectively. This merging of management functions ensures consistency across all steps while maintaining ease of operation through unified control, directly resolving the contradiction between independent management and cross-step consistency.
2Productivity
If washing conditions are determined without reference to printing step conditions, then washing can be performed independently, but washing quality and appropriateness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The control device uses feedback from printing step conditions (ink type, ink amount, printing parameters) to automatically determine appropriate washing conditions. This feedback mechanism ensures washing quality is optimized based on actual printing outcomes while maintaining independent washing operation, resolving the contradiction between productivity and manufacturing precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If excessive water and energy are used in washing to ensure quality, then washing quality improves, but environmental impact and resource consumption worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts washing parameters (water amount, temperature, washing time) based on printing step conditions and ink characteristics. This parameter optimization ensures adequate washing quality while minimizing resource consumption, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and energy loss by finding the optimal parameter set for each specific printing scenario.
4Adaptability or versatility
If washing conditions are manually determined by worker expertise, then flexibility in handling different cases improves, but reliability deteriorates due to dependence on individual knowledge and difficulty in worker replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The control device automatically determines washing conditions based on printing step data without requiring manual worker intervention. The system serves itself by using embedded knowledge of ink characteristics and washing requirements to make decisions, ensuring consistent reliability while maintaining adaptability to different printing scenarios, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
[Problem] To more appropriately determine a condition of a step executed at the time of creating a product of printing. [Solution] A printing system (10) that creates a product of printing by performing at least printing includes a printer (16) which is a printing apparatus that executes a printing step of performing printing by ejecting ink; a washing machine (20) which is a post-processing machine that executes a post-processing step on a printed matter obtained by performing the printing step in the printer (16); and a control device (12) that determines a condition of a post-processing step based on a condition of the printing step.