Dynamic Surface Tension Ink for Leakage-Resistant Jet Tanks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ink tanks face challenges in reliably counteracting shocks during physical distribution and ensuring efficient ink usage until exhaustion, with issues related to ink injection and distribution due to varying static surface tensions affecting permeation and leakage.
Innovation Solution
The ink tank employs an ink retention member with a dynamic surface tension that changes over time, where the surface tension is higher than the interfacial tension at initial displacement to prevent leakage and lower than the interfacial tension during steady displacement for efficient filling and supply, ensuring reliable shock resistance and extended ink usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ink with low static surface tension is used, then ink permeation and distribution in the retention member is improved, but ink leakage during physical distribution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by using ink whose surface tension changes over time. Initially, the ink has high surface tension to prevent leakage during shock and vibration. As time progresses, the surface tension naturally decreases to enable proper permeation and distribution in the retention member. This temporal dynamic property allows the ink to adapt its characteristics to different operational phases without requiring separate ink formulations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by utilizing ink with varying surface tension characteristics over time. The surface tension parameter transitions from a higher initial value (preventing leakage) to a lower steady-state value (enabling permeation). This parameter evolution resolves the contradiction between leakage prevention and permeation efficiency by allowing the same ink to exhibit different properties at different times.
2Reliability
If ink with high static surface tension is used, then ink leakage during physical distribution is prevented, but ink permeation and distribution in the retention member deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by employing dynamic surface tension characteristics. The ink maintains high surface tension initially to prevent leakage, then naturally transitions to lower surface tension over time to enable effective permeation and distribution. This dynamic behavior eliminates the need to choose between high or low surface tension inks.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution utilizes parameter changes in the ink's surface tension over time. The surface tension parameter evolves from a higher initial state (providing leakage resistance) to a lower operational state (enabling permeation). This temporal parameter change allows the ink to satisfy both contradictory requirements at different stages.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional ink with constant surface tension is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but both shock resistance and ink distribution efficiency cannot be simultaneously optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting ink whose surface tension naturally varies over time. This approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while achieving both shock resistance (through initial high surface tension) and efficient ink distribution (through subsequent lower surface tension). The time-varying parameter eliminates the need for complex multi-component ink formulations.
Solution Approach 2:
The ink performs self-service by automatically adjusting its effective surface tension characteristics over time without external intervention. The natural evolution of surface tension from high to low values provides both shock resistance and permeation efficiency, eliminating the need for complex control mechanisms or multiple ink components.
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 enhances the ink tank's ability to counter shocks and maintain efficient ink usage by controlling dynamic surface tension, preventing leakage and ensuring uniform ink distribution, thereby improving the design freedom and material selection for the tank and retention member.
Implementation Method 1
an ink retention member, which to hold ink exerts a negative pressure through capillary force
Implementation Method 2
for which a dynamic surface tension in a lifetime of 50 msec, obtained by a maximum bubble pressure method, is higher than an interfacial tension of the ink retention member, a dynamic surface tension in a lifetime of 5000 msec is lower than the interfacial tension of the ink retention member
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet recording ink tank includes: an ink retention member, which to hold ink exerts a negative pressure through capillary force; and ink, which is retained in the ink retention member, for which a dynamic surface tension in a lifetime of 50 msec, obtained by a maximum bubble pressure method, is higher than an interfacial tension of the ink retention member, a dynamic surface tension in a lifetime of 5000 msec is lower than the interfacial tension of the ink retention member, and a difference between the dynamic surface tension in the lifetime of 50 msec and the dynamic surface tension in the lifetime of 5000 msec is equal to or greater than 8 mN/m.