Printing control device, printing device and printing control program

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing technologies face challenges in efficiently dyeing resin bodies due to curling substrates causing clogging and ensnaring issues, and the need for manual processing of precut substrates, which hampers work efficiency and results in color inconsistencies.

Innovation Solution

A printing device and control program that manage roll-shaped substrates by orienting the dyeing surface outward to prevent curling, using multiple ink heads with different ink types for optimal color reproduction, and enabling horizontal or vertical array printing to efficiently produce dye-attached substrates with precise ink placement and cutting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a roll-shaped to-be-dyed substrate is used, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but the substrate curls and causes clogging and ensnaring issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidsubstrate stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate is precut into individual sheets before being loaded onto the substrate holder, and the edges are treated to prevent curling. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the substrate is fed through the printing device, it remains flat and stable, preventing clogging and ensnaring issues while maintaining the efficiency benefits of roll-shaped substrate storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If precut substrates are processed one at a time, then printing precision is maintained, but work efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting precisionVSAvoidwork efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple precut substrate sheets are stacked and held together on a single substrate holder, allowing them to be fed through the printing device in sequence without manual intervention between each sheet. This combining approach maintains printing precision for each individual substrate while significantly improving work efficiency by eliminating repeated setup and positioning operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple inks with different characteristics are used, then color reproduction accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor reproduction accuracyVSAvoidink head configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The printing device is equipped with multiple ink heads that can handle different types of inks (sublimable ink, pigment ink, dye ink). Each ink head is designed to be versatile, capable of printing with its designated ink type while following the same control logic and positioning system. This multi-functionality approach enables accurate color reproduction across different resin materials without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 prevents substrate curling and clogging, ensures consistent color reproduction by selecting suitable inks based on resin characteristics, and enhances manufacturing efficiency by allowing simultaneous printing and cutting of substrates, reducing material waste and improving dyeing accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

a sublimable dye that is adhered to a to-be-dyed substrate is heated, and the heated sublimable dye is deposited on a resin body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSublimation: Sublimation

Data Source

PatentEP3315661B1Printing control device, printing device and printing control program
Publication Date: 2020.06.17 NIDEK CO LTD
  • EP3315661B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3315661B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3315661B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for manufacturing a dye-attached substrate to be used in a dying process for dyeing a resin body by heating a sublimable dye to cause the dye to sublimate toward the resin body includes an arranging step of arranging a to-be dyed substrate, to which the dye is to be adhered, that is formed in a roll shape, and of which a surface on the side to which the dye is to be adhered is formed on an outside surface of the roll-shaped to-be-dyed substrate, in a printing device, such that the outside surface of the roll-shaped to-be-dyed substrate faces an ink head of the printing device, when printing the dye on the to-be-dyed substrate using the printing device, and a printing step of printing the dye on the to-be-dyed substrate, by discharging ink that includes the dye to be deposited on the resin body, toward the to-be-dyed substrate using the ink head of the printing device.