Back to articles
Regular Articles
Volume: 62 | Article ID: jist0553
Image
Evolution Theory of Ink Jet Technologies: Progress by Component or Architectural Knowledge
  DOI :  10.2352/J.ImagingSci.Technol.2018.62.4.040502  Published OnlineJuly 2018
Abstract
Abstract

Ink jet technology has extended its market by upgrading functions and improving performances of a few key components (printhead, ink and media) under a simple marking process for years. However, this trend has been saturated in the personal market, and the market has been stagnant. In this situation, two directions for ink jet technology progress have become obvious. One is expansion of the ink jet to various applications such as digital fabrications utilizing a simple process and the other is facing challenges (to the commercial printing market) from performance limitations derived by imaging processes that are achieved only by the interaction between ink and media. The differences of technical approaches in each direction also exist. The progress of an elemental technology region (key components) has been noticeable in the expansion of the possibility. The challenge to the limitation has been effective in the progress of system integration or peripheral technology. The former evolution (Concentrating Functions Progress) can generate “Incremental Innovation” and needs component knowledge to improve component performances. The latter (Sharing Functions Progress) demands architectural knowledge to test the optimum combination of components maximizing system performances and is one of the driving forces generating “Architectural Innovation”. Generically, venture companies or small start-ups play a role in Architectural Innovation because they are free from resource allocation mechanisms or an organizational form for Incremental Innovation. But in the current commercial printing market, many big companies have introduced ink jet printers with different component combinations (architectures) and the Dominant Design has not been fixed yet. The shift from Incremental Innovation to Architectural Innovation has also occurred in additive manufacturing.

Subject Areas :
Views 17
Downloads 1
 articleview.views 17
 articleview.downloads 1
  Cite this article 

Masahiko Fujii, "Evolution Theory of Ink Jet Technologies: Progress by Component or Architectural Knowledgein Journal of Imaging Science and Technology,  2018,  pp 040502-1 - 040502-7,  https://doi.org/10.2352/J.ImagingSci.Technol.2018.62.4.040502

 Copy citation
  Copyright statement 
Copyright © Society for Imaging Science and Technology 2018
  Article timeline 
  • received July 2018
  • accepted July 2018
  • PublishedJuly 2018

Preprint submitted to:
  Login or subscribe to view the content