Variable Precoat Control for UV Inkjet Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing technologies face issues with ink spreading and color fade when using ultraviolet ray curable ink, particularly on certain print media, leading to increased costs and degradation of image quality due to unnecessary precoat applications.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a medium information acquisition section that determines the type of print medium and adjusts the amount of precoat liquid per unit area, allowing for targeted application of precoat only where necessary, using ultraviolet ray curable ink and separate curing sections for precoat and print ink to prevent mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If precoat is performed on all print media to prevent ink spreading and color fade, then image quality is improved, but ink consumption increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies precoat selectively based on the specific properties of the print medium rather than uniformly across all media. The coating control section determines whether precoat is necessary by evaluating medium information, and the coating amount is adjusted locally according to the actual needs of each medium type, thereby preventing unnecessary ink consumption while maintaining image quality where required
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of coating amount from a fixed value to a variable value that depends on medium properties. By acquiring medium information and adjusting the coating amount parameter accordingly, the system optimizes ink usage while ensuring adequate precoat application only when necessary to prevent spreading and color fade
2Reliability
If precoat is performed on all print media, then ink spreading is prevented, but cost of printed matter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies precoat only to print media that actually require it based on their specific properties. The coating control section evaluates medium information to determine which media need precoat for spreading prevention, and applies the coating only to those cases, thereby avoiding unnecessary costs while maintaining reliability where needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses medium information acquisition to obtain feedback about the print medium properties, then uses this feedback to control whether precoat is applied. This feedback mechanism ensures that precoat is performed only when necessary to prevent ink spreading, optimizing cost while maintaining prevention effectiveness
3Quantity of substance
If precoat is performed on print media where ink spreading does not occur, then no benefit is gained, but ink consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the coating amount parameter based on medium properties to match the actual need. By acquiring medium information and adjusting the parameter accordingly, the system ensures precoat is applied with appropriate quantity only when it provides benefit, eliminating wasteful ink consumption on media where spreading does not occur
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies precoat partially rather than universally. Instead of excessive action (applying precoat to all media), it uses partial action by selectively applying precoat only to media types where it is actually needed, thereby maintaining usefulness while reducing waste
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 approach reduces ink consumption and prevents unnecessary precoat, maintaining image quality while minimizing costs by applying precoat only where required, based on the specific properties of the print medium.
Implementation Method 1
a coating section that coats the print medium with precoat liquid before printing
Implementation Method 2
curing the ultraviolet ray curable ink by irradiating ultraviolet ray
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus of the invention includes a medium information acquisition section that acquires medium information that can specify a type of a print medium, a printing section that discharges print ink to the print medium, a coating section that coats the print medium with precoat liquid before the printing section performs printing, and a coating control section that controls the coating section. The coating control section variably changes an amount of coating of the precoat liquid per unit area according to the acquired medium information.