Ink Jet Recording Head Surface Tension Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet recording methods face challenges in achieving high-quality images with ruled line shifts suppressed and preventing color tone changes due to ink color mixing, especially during long-term use, while also requiring increased recording speed and downsizing of the recording apparatus.
Innovation Solution
The method employs a circulation serial head with a mechanism for warming the ink and a specific arrangement of ejection orifice arrays, where the static surface tension of the inks is optimized to ensure that the first ink has a higher surface tension than the second ink, and the ink is flowed between two paths to maintain stability and prevent mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a serial type recording head is used to downsize the apparatus, then the apparatus size is reduced, but the recording speed decreases and image quality deteriorates due to frequent preliminary ejection operations
Solution Approach 1:
The recording head is divided into multiple ejection orifice arrays (first array and second array) that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows different regions to perform different functions: one array records while the other performs preliminary ejection, enabling continuous operation without slowing down the overall recording speed.
Solution Approach 2:
Preliminary ejection operations are performed in advance on one ejection orifice array while the other array is actively recording. This preliminary action prevents ink thickening and maintains ejection property without interrupting the recording process, thereby maintaining high recording speed.
2Productivity
If the frequency of preliminary ejection operation is reduced to increase recording speed, then recording speed increases, but ejection property decreases due to ink thickening at ejection orifices
Solution Approach 1:
Preliminary ejection is performed in advance on one array while the other records, ensuring ink remains fresh and maintains proper ejection properties without reducing overall recording speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous useful action by alternating between two arrays: while one array records, the other performs recovery operations. This continuous alternation ensures both recording speed and ejection property are maintained without interruption.
3Productivity
If single pass recording is used to increase recording speed, then recording speed increases, but image quality deteriorates due to variation in ejection amount between ejection orifices causing ruled line shifts
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection orifices are segmented into multiple arrays that can be independently controlled and optimized. This allows precise control of ejection amount from each array, reducing variation and preventing ruled line shifts while maintaining single-pass recording speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by alternating active recording and preliminary ejection between different arrays. This dynamic parameter adjustment ensures consistent ejection characteristics across all orifices, maintaining image quality at high recording speeds.
4Reliability
If ink is warmed to suppress viscosity variation and ejection amount fluctuation, then ejection stability improves, but ink color mixing occurs between first and second ejection orifice arrays causing color tone changes
Solution Approach 1:
The warmed ink is segmented into separate flow paths for the first and second ejection orifice arrays. This physical separation prevents different colored inks from mixing while both arrays are operating, maintaining color tone accuracy even with warming applied.
Solution Approach 2:
A flow control mechanism acts as an intermediary between the ink supply and ejection arrays, directing warmed ink to the appropriate array based on which array is actively recording. This prevents color mixing while maintaining the benefits of ink warming for stability.
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 enables the recording of high-quality images with suppressed ruled line shifts and minimized color tone changes, even during long-term use, while allowing for increased recording speed and apparatus downsizing.
Implementation Method 1
a mechanism for warming an ink in the circulation serial head
Implementation Method 2
a mechanism for flowing an ink in the vicinity of an ejection orifice (circulation serial head)
Implementation Method 3
the static surface tension γs1 of the first ink and a static surface tension γs2 of the second ink satisfy a relationship of γs1≥γs2
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an ink jet recording method in which a high-quality image having a ruled line shift suppressed can be recorded with a circulation serial head and in which a change in color tone of an image due to ink color mixing can be suppressed even at the time of long-term use. The ink jet recording method includes recording an image by ejecting an ink from a recording head including: a plurality of ejection orifices. The plurality of ejection orifice arrays includes a first ejection orifice array configured to eject a first ink and a second ejection orifice array configured to eject a second ink on an upstream side and on a downstream side, respectively, with respect to a flow direction of the ink. A static surface tension γs1 of the first ink and a static surface tension γs2 of the second ink satisfy a relationship of γs1≥γs2.