# US 2023/0066252 A1 · Printer, printed matter, and printing method

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2023/0066252 A1
- Document ID: US20230066252A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/895,351
- Filed: 2022-08-25
- Published: 2023-03-02
- Earliest claimed: 2021-09-01
- Assignees: Roland Dg Corporation
- Applicants: Roland DG Corporation
- Inventors: Hikaru HASEGAWA; Masanori ISHIHARA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230066252A1

## CPC

- B41J 2/04586: {controlling heads of a type not covered by groups B41J2/04575 - B41J2/04585, or of an undefined type}
- B41J 2/04505: {aiming at correcting alignment}
- B41J 2/2114: {Ejecting specialized liquids, e.g. transparent or processing liquids (B41J2/211 takes precedence)}
- B41M 5/502: {characterised by structural details, e.g. multilayer materials (supports, backcoats or intermediate layers for thermal dye transfer donor and receiver sheets B41M5/41, B41M5/42)}
- B41J 2/2117: {Ejecting white liquids}
- B41J 11/00214: {using UV radiation}
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P)

## Abstract

A printer includes a controller to exercise control so as to print a print layer on or over a medium. The print layer includes a first print region including first protrusions, and a second print region including second protrusions. Any one or more of a size, a height, a planar shape, an arrangement interval, and an arrangement direction of the first protrusions is/are different from a corresponding one or more of a size, a height, a planar shape, an arrangement interval, and an arrangement direction of the second protrusions. An extracted area of about 3 cm by about 3 cm is extracted from any location in the print layer. The first and second print regions are in the extracted area. At least either a number of first print regions or a number of second print regions in the extracted area is more than one.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A printer comprising:
a support table to support a medium;
an ink head to discharge ink onto or toward the medium supported by the support table;
a conveyor to move the ink head relative to the medium supported by the support table; and
a controller configured or programmed to exercise control so as to print a print layer on or over the medium; wherein
the print layer includes:
at least one first print region including a plurality of first protrusions; and
at least one second print region including a plurality of second protrusions;
any one or more of a size, a height, a planar shape, an arrangement interval, and an arrangement direction of the first protrusions in the first print region is/are different from a corresponding one or more of a size, a height, a planar shape, an arrangement interval, and an arrangement direction of the second protrusions in the second print region; and
when an extracted area that is about 3 cm by about 3 cm is extracted from any location in the print layer, the first and second print regions are in the extracted area, and
at least either a plurality of first print regions or a plurality of second print regions are in the extracted area.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The printer according to claim 1, wherein at least either the plurality of first print regions or the plurality of second print regions are spaced away from each other at least in one direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The printer according to claim 2, wherein at least either the first print regions or the second print regions have a same shape or substantially the same shape.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The printer according to claim 2, wherein at least either the first print regions or the second print regions each have a circular shape or a polygonal shape.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The printer according to claim 2, wherein at least either the first print regions or the second print regions are positioned at a first interval in a first direction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The printer according to claim 5, wherein at least either the first print regions or the second print regions are positioned at a second interval in a second direction intersecting with the first direction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The printer according to claim 1, wherein
the plurality of first print regions are in the extracted area and spaced away from each other at least in one direction; and
the plurality of second print regions are in the extracted area and spaced away from each other at least in one direction.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The printer according to claim 7, wherein the first and second print regions all have a same shape or substantially the same shape.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The printer according to claim 7, wherein the first and second print regions are provided alternately in a first direction.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The printer according to claim 9, wherein the first and second print regions are provided alternately in a second direction intersecting with the first direction.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The printer according to claim 7, wherein the first and second print regions each have a circular shape or a polygonal shape.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The printer according to claim 7, wherein the first print regions are different in size from the second print regions.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The printer according to claim 1, wherein the first and second protrusions each have a maximum dimension of about 1 mm or less in plan view.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The printer according to claim 1, wherein an interval between the first protrusions adjacent to each other is about 2 mm or less, and an interval between the second protrusions adjacent to each other is about 2 mm or less.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The printer according to claim 14, wherein the interval between the first protrusions adjacent to each other is about 20 µm or more, and the interval between the second protrusions adjacent to each other is about 20 µm or more.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The printer according to claim 1, wherein the first and second protrusions each have a height of about 10 mm or less.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The printer according to claim 1, wherein the first and second print regions each have an area of about 400 µm2 or more in plan view.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The printer according to claim 1, wherein
the ink head includes a first ink head to discharge clear ink; and
the controller is configured or programmed to exercise control so as to print the print layer by discharging the clear ink onto or toward the medium.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The printer according to claim 1, wherein
the ink head includes:
a first ink head to discharge clear ink; and
a second ink head to discharge color ink; and
the controller is configured or programmed to exercise control so as to print the print layer by discharging the clear ink and the color ink onto or toward the medium.

### Claim 20

A printed matter comprising:
a medium; and
a print layer on or over the medium, the print layer being made of ink; wherein
the print layer includes:
at least one first print region including a plurality of first protrusions; and
at least one second print region including a plurality of second protrusions;
any one or more of a size, a height, a planar shape, an arrangement interval, and an arrangement direction of the first protrusions in the first print region is/are different from a corresponding one or more of a size, a height, a planar shape, an arrangement interval, and an arrangement direction of the second protrusions in the second print region; and
when an extracted area that is about 3 cm by about 3 cm is extracted from any location in the print layer, the first and second print regions are in the extracted area, and at least either a number of first print regions or a number of second print regions in the extracted area is more than one.

### Claim 21

A printing method comprising:
preparing a medium; and
printing a print layer on or over the medium; wherein
the print layer includes:
at least one first print region including a plurality of first protrusions; and
at least one second print region including a plurality of second protrusions;
any one or more of a size, a height, a planar shape, an arrangement interval, and an arrangement direction of the first protrusions in the first print region is/are different from a corresponding one or more of a size, a height, a planar shape, an arrangement interval, and an arrangement direction of the second protrusions in the second print region; and
when an extracted area that is about 3 cm by about 3 cm is extracted from any location in the print layer, the first and second print regions are in the extracted area, and at least either a number of first print regions or a number of second print regions in the extracted area is more than one.