Transparent Ink Coating Control for Gloss Uniformity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional printing systems, especially consumer-grade inkjet printers, face challenges in effectively using transparent ink to achieve high design quality due to limitations in print settings and operational complexity, leading to issues like gloss unevenness and high costs in commercial printing.

Innovation Solution

A printing system with a print control apparatus that allows users to select from various coating modes for transparent recording agents, determining the application area, and adjusting print settings to optimize transparent ink usage, ensuring proper application without requiring complex operator intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If transparent ink is applied to the entire printable area to improve image quality and reduce gloss unevenness, then image quality is improved, but the complexity of print settings and operational procedures increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidprint settings complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines the photograph area and applies transparent ink without requiring manual intervention. The print control apparatus autonomously analyzes print data to identify photograph regions and controls the printing apparatus to apply transparent ink only to those areas, eliminating the need for users to manually configure complex settings while maintaining high image quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis of print data to identify photograph areas before the actual printing process. By pre-determining which areas require transparent ink application through automated analysis of print data attributes, the system prepares the printing parameters in advance, avoiding the need for complex user configuration during the printing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of substance

If transparent ink is applied only to image data areas to reduce unnecessary ink usage, then ink efficiency is improved, but gloss unevenness occurs in white portions of the photograph

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransparent ink usageVSAvoidgloss uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies transparent ink selectively to specific photograph areas rather than uniformly across the entire printable area. By analyzing print data to identify photograph regions and applying transparent ink only to those localized areas, the system achieves both ink efficiency and gloss uniformity within the photograph regions without wasting ink on non-photograph areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If commercial printing systems with complex operations are used to achieve high design quality with transparent ink, then image quality is improved, but the cost and operational complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign qualityVSAvoidoperational simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs all operations required for high-quality transparent ink printing without manual intervention. The print control apparatus autonomously analyzes print data, determines photograph areas, controls transparent ink application, and manages the entire printing process, enabling consumer-grade printers to achieve commercial-quality results without requiring skilled operators or complex procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual operational procedures with automated digital processing. Instead of requiring operators to manually configure complex settings and monitor the printing process, the system uses automated analysis of print data attributes and digital control signals to manage the entire transparent ink printing process, significantly simplifying operation while maintaining high quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Productivity

If print data is incorrectly delivered as an erroneous photographic area, then transparent ink is applied expansively to portions other than the photograph, but this causes image failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting speedVSAvoidimage accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms to verify the accuracy of photograph area determination. The print control apparatus analyzes print data attributes, determines photograph areas, and controls transparent ink application based on this analysis. By implementing feedback control that monitors the accuracy of area determination and adjusts the printing process accordingly, the system prevents incorrect transparent ink application while maintaining efficient printing speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8804218B2Printing system, print control apparatus and control method for connecting to a printing apparatus

Publication Date: 2014.08.12 CANON KK

AI summary

A user is prompted to select one coating mode from a plurality of coating modes having different methods of applying a transparent recording agent. If the selected coating mode is not available in a preset print setting, a print setting available in the selected coating mode is presented to the user, and the set print setting is changed.