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From small home printers to professional machines: What is the evolution story of inkjet printing?
Inkjet printing technology is a computer printing technology that reproduces digital images by releasing ink onto paper or plastic substrates. This technology was the most commonly used type of printer in 2008, with everything from cheap, small consumer models to expensive professional machines. However, by 2019, sales of laser printers were almost twice those of inkjet printers, showing that this technology is facing fierce market challenges.
The concept of inkjet printing technology first originated in the 20th century, and its most intensive development began in the 1950s.
While working at Canon in Japan, Ichiro Endo proposed the idea of a "bubble jet" printer; at the same time, Jon Vaught at HP was developing a similar idea. By the late 1970s, inkjet printers capable of reproducing digital images were developed by companies such as Epson, HP and Canon. According to market analysis, the current sales of inkjet printers in the global consumer market are mainly controlled by four manufacturers: Canon, HP, Epson and Brother.
Development of inkjet printing technology
In 1982, Robert Howard founded a company called R.H. Research and began developing a small color printing system that used piezoelectricity to release ink droplets. His innovative technology eventually led to the creation of Pixelmaster technology, a technology that uses thermal jet solid ink for printing. This technology allows inkjet printing to no longer be limited to simple paper printing as the times progress, but can also be used for more complex applications, such as printing biomaterials and PCBs for electronic products.
In contemporary inkjet printers, there are two main technologies in use: continuous inkjet (CIJ) and drop-on-demand (DOD).
Continuous inkjet technology is commonly used for marking and coding products and packaging. The principle is based on the siphon recorder patented by Lord Kelvin in 1867, a device that printed telegraph signals on paper in a continuous manner. After decades of development, continuous inkjet technology has been perfected to release thousands of ink droplets per second, while drop-on-demand inkjet was only discovered in the 1920s. This technology has made inkjet printers more and more popular. It is more flexible and can control the release of ink more precisely.
Expansion of technology applications
With the evolution of inkjet printing technology, the application range of inkjet materials has greatly expanded. Starting from traditional paper printing, it can now be used for flexographic printing and even 3D printing. For example, many biological materials can now be directly printed into biosensors and tissue engineering materials using inkjet technology. With the innovation of printing technology, a variety of strict marketing names have appeared on the market to distinguish high-quality art reproductions from ordinary printing, such as Digigraph, Giclée, etc.
Inkjet printed images are sometimes marketed under trade names to imply higher quality and avoid association with everyday printing.
Currently, most inkjet printers used in homes and offices are based on thermal inkjet technology. The development of thermal inkjet technology has been able to continuously improve the printing speed and accuracy of printers to meet the increasing needs of consumers. At the same time, the application of piezoelectric technology has enabled a wider range of inks and materials to enter the printing field.
The future of inkjet printing
Looking to the future, inkjet printing technology is still evolving, and materials, technology and market demands are all continuing to change. From small home printers to professional machines, inkjet printing has come a long way. In the face of market changes and technological progress, we can't help but think: What will be the next innovation point in inkjet printing?
