Ink Jet Recording Nozzle Row Timing for Color Developability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet textile printing faces challenges with image quality, reliability, and productivity due to timing issues in attaching reaction liquid and ink compositions, leading to color developability and permeation unevenness problems.
Innovation Solution
The method involves a carriage with multiple nozzle rows that discharge specific compositions in a synchronized manner during both forward and return passes, with independent ink jet heads for reaction liquid compositions to manage nozzle clogging and mist interference, ensuring consistent attachment timing and distance between nozzle rows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the reaction liquid composition and ink composition are attached by ink jet method with different timing on forward pass and return pass, then the productivity is improved, but the image quality deteriorates due to permeation unevenness and streaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the attachment timing of reaction liquid composition and ink composition variable based on the pass direction. Specifically, on the forward pass the reaction liquid is attached before the ink, while on the return pass the attachment order is reversed. This dynamic adjustment of timing based on operational conditions resolves the contradiction by maintaining consistent color developability and image quality across different scanning directions while preserving high productivity benefits of the ink jet method.
2Loss of substance
If the reaction liquid composition is applied to ink jet method, then the environmental load is reduced compared to immersion method, but the reliability decreases due to nozzle clogging from mist
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by attaching the reaction liquid composition to the recording medium before attaching the ink composition. This pre-treatment allows the reaction liquid to be already in place and properly distributed on the medium surface before ink application, preventing mist generation that would otherwise occur during simultaneous or post-application. The reaction liquid forms a preparatory layer that reduces aerosol formation and subsequent nozzle clogging, while still enabling the environmental benefits of replacing immersion methods.
3Productivity
If the reaction liquid composition is applied to ink jet method, then the waste liquid system reliability may decrease, but the productivity is improved
Solution Approach 1:
By attaching the reaction liquid composition before the ink composition, the patent ensures that the reaction liquid is properly positioned and distributed on the recording medium before ink application. This preliminary attachment prevents aerosol generation during the ink attachment process, thereby reducing mist-related reliability issues in the waste liquid system while maintaining the high productivity advantages of the ink jet method.
4Device complexity
If the timing for attachment of reaction liquid composition and ink composition is not sufficiently considered, then the device complexity is reduced, but the image quality deteriorates due to color developability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic control of attachment timing based on pass direction without significantly increasing device complexity. By simply reversing the attachment order of reaction liquid and ink composition between forward and return passes, the system maintains good color developability and image quality while preserving the relative simplicity of the ink jet apparatus. This dynamic timing adjustment resolves the contradiction between process simplicity and color developability.
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 image quality, reliability, and productivity by maintaining consistent attachment order and reducing waste liquid system issues, resulting in improved color developability and reduced permeation unevenness.
Implementation Method 1
a reaction liquid composition containing an aggregating agent that aggregates components of the ink composition
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet recording method for performing recording by causing a carriage in which a first nozzle row, a second nozzle row, a third nozzle row, a fourth nozzle row, a fifth nozzle row, and a sixth nozzle row extending in a sub-scanning direction in which a recording medium is transported are arranged in this order in a main scanning direction intersecting the sub-scanning direction to perform reciprocating scanning in the main scanning direction, and discharging a first composition, a second composition, a third composition, a fourth composition, a fifth composition, and a sixth composition from the first nozzle row, the second nozzle row, the third nozzle row, the fourth nozzle row, the fifth nozzle row, and the sixth nozzle row, respectively, in both a forward pass and a return pass, the method including an ink attachment step of discharging an ink composition containing a pigment and resin particles and attaching the ink composition to the recording medium, and a reaction liquid attachment step of discharging a reaction liquid composition containing an aggregating agent that aggregates components of the ink composition and attaching the reaction liquid composition to the recording medium, in which a distance between the first nozzle row and the third nozzle row in the main scanning direction is equal to a distance between the fourth nozzle and the sixth nozzle in the main scanning direction, a distance between the second nozzle row and the third nozzle row in the main scanning direction is equal to a distance between the fourth nozzle and the fifth nozzle in the main scanning direction, the first composition and the sixth composition are the same composition, the second composition and the fifth composition are the same composition, the third composition and the fourth composition are the same composition, and nozzle rows that discharge a composition corresponding to the reaction liquid composition among the first composition, the second composition, and the third composition are provided in each or one independent ink jet head.