Tray Ink Absorption for Marginless Printing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing apparatuses fail to perform marginless printing on print media like CDs and DVDs due to ink adhering to the tray, which then transfers to users' hands, as the trays are typically made of hard materials that repel ink.

Innovation Solution

A tray with a holding portion for the print medium and an adjacent ink absorption portion, designed to absorb ink during marginless printing, minimizing ink transfer to the user's hands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a hard material tray is used for printable discs, then the tray can provide structural support and stability, but ink adheres to the tray surface and transfers to users' hands

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural supportVSAvoidink adhesion

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The tray is divided into two distinct functional areas: a hard holding portion for supporting the printable disc and an adjacent ink absorption portion made of different material properties. This segmentation allows each area to perform its specialized function - the hard portion provides structural support while the soft portion absorbs ink

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the tray are given different material properties - the holding portion uses hard material for structural integrity while the ink absorption portion uses soft, ink-absorbent material. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing hard support where needed while preventing ink adhesion in the adjacent area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If marginless printing is performed with ink applied to the print medium, then complete coverage of the print medium is achieved, but ink adheres to the tray outside the print medium area

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprint coverageVSAvoidink adhesion to tray

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ink absorption portion acts as an intermediary element between the print medium and the hard tray surface. It intercepts and absorbs the ink that would otherwise adhere to the hard tray during marginless printing, enabling complete print coverage without the harmful side effect of ink adhesion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The ink that would normally be a harmful substance adhering to the tray is instead directed to the ink absorption portion where it is converted into a absorbed substance. The absorption portion transforms the harmful ink adhesion into a beneficial absorption function, eliminating the problem while maintaining marginless printing capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 tray effectively absorbs ink during marginless printing, preventing it from adhering to users' hands and ensuring a clean printing process.

Implementation Method 1

an ink absorption portion positioned adjacent to the holding area

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS10449785B2Tray, printing apparatus, and information processing method

Publication Date: 2019.10.22 CANON KK

AI summary

A tray includes a holding portion configured to hold a print medium in a predetermined holding area and an ink absorption portion positioned adjacent to the holding area.