Ink Discharge Control at Ridge Lines in 3D Surface Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printing apparatuses experience issues with positional deviations of ink droplets at ridge lines, leading to blank parts in printed images and potential peeling due to uneven ink application on inclined surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus that adjusts ink discharge to increase the amount per unit area at ridge lines by using a controller to modify the discharging operation based on the shape of the print medium, ensuring adequate ink coverage and adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional ink discharge is used on ridge lines, then the printing process is simple, but blank parts appear due to ink droplet positional deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different ink discharge amounts to different regions of the print medium. Specifically, the ridge line present area receives a larger ink discharge amount compared to other areas, creating localized quality enhancement where needed most to prevent blank parts while maintaining simplicity elsewhere
Solution Approach 2:
The controller dynamically adjusts the ink discharge amount based on the detected shape of the print medium. By obtaining shape information and varying discharge amounts accordingly, the system adapts to different printing conditions and maintains high print quality across various scenarios
2Manufacturing precision
If uniform ink discharge is used across all areas, then the discharge control is simple, but ink coverage is insufficient at ridge lines causing blank parts
Solution Approach 1:
The system identifies ridge line present areas and applies enhanced ink discharge specifically to those regions. This localized approach ensures adequate ink coverage at critical locations without requiring complex discharge control across the entire print medium
Solution Approach 2:
The controller obtains shape information about the print medium and uses this feedback to determine where ridge lines are present. Based on this information, the system adjusts discharge amounts accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains simple operation while achieving precise ink coverage
3Manufacturing precision
If increased ink discharge is applied at ridge lines, then blank parts are prevented, but ink distribution becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent intentionally creates non-uniform ink distribution by applying larger discharge amounts specifically to ridge line present areas. This localized variation is acceptable and even desirable since it addresses the specific problem of blank parts at ridge lines while maintaining uniformity in other areas
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the ink discharge parameter (amount per unit area) based on the spatial location and detected shape of the print medium. By varying this parameter across different regions, the system optimizes print quality at critical locations while accepting that overall uniformity will be compromised to the extent necessary to prevent blank parts
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes: a discharging head discharging, onto a print medium, at least one ink among a printing ink, a base layer ink and a protective layer ink; an obtaining section obtaining information regarding a shape of the print medium; and a controller. The controller executes an ink amount increasing processing by controlling a discharging operation of the discharging head so as to increase an amount per unit area of the at least one ink with respect to a ridge line present area including a ridge line as a boundary between one print surface and the other print surface which are adjacent to each other in the print medium than another area different from the ridge line present area, based on the information regarding the shape of the print medium obtained by the obtaining section.