Ink Jet Nozzle Plate Wiping Priority for Film Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet recording apparatuses face issues with nozzle clogging and unstable ink discharge due to increased ink viscosity and adhesion of foreign substances, particularly inorganic pigments, which damage the liquid repellent film and affect discharge stability.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus prioritizes wiping the nozzle plate arrays that discharge ink compositions without inorganic pigments first, using a moving mechanism to vary the relative position of the nozzle plate and wiping member, ensuring the inorganic pigment is not pressed against the nozzle plate, thus reducing damage and maintaining the liquid repellent film's integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a wiping blade is used to clean the nozzle plate, then the liquid repellent film is damaged by inorganic pigment adhesion, but nozzle clogging is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
A liquid repellent film is applied as an intermediary layer between the nozzle plate surface and the inorganic pigment particles in the ink. This film acts as a protective mediator that prevents the pigment particles from directly adhering to and damaging the nozzle plate, while still allowing the wiping blade to effectively remove ink residues without causing film damage
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid repellent film is applied in advance to the nozzle plate surface before the wiping operation occurs. This preliminary protective layer is formed to prevent inorganic pigment adhesion before the wiping blade contacts the nozzle plate, thereby preventing damage before it can occur
2Manufacturing precision
If the nozzle diameter is reduced for high definition recording, then image resolution is improved, but nozzle clogging increases due to higher ink viscosity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the surface energy parameters of the nozzle plate by applying a liquid repellent film, which modifies the interaction between the ink (particularly inorganic pigment particles) and the nozzle surface. This parameter change allows smaller nozzle diameters to maintain discharge stability by preventing pigment adhesion that would otherwise cause clogging in high-resolution nozzles
3Manufacturing precision
If the amount of ink droplets is reduced for high definition recording, then image quality is improved, but discharge energy is reduced causing ink to adhere and increase viscosity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful effect of reduced discharge energy (which causes ink adhesion and viscosity increase) into a beneficial outcome by using the liquid repellent film to prevent the adhered ink from solidifying and clogging the nozzle. The film ensures that even with minimal discharge energy, the ink can be effectively removed during wiping without causing reliability issues
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 prevents nozzle clogging and maintains stable ink discharge by reducing the adhesion of inorganic pigments and preserving the liquid repellent film, enabling high-definition image recording with improved reliability and speed.
Implementation Method 1
a wiping member which wipes the surface of the nozzle plate and has absorbability of the ink composition
Implementation Method 2
a liquid repellent film provided on the nozzle plate
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet recording apparatus has a first discharge port array in which discharge ports of a plurality of nozzles which discharge an ink composition containing an inorganic pigment are disposed side by side, a second discharge port array in which discharge ports of a plurality of nozzles which discharge an ink composition containing a coloring material other than the inorganic pigment are disposed side by side, a nozzle plate having the first discharge port array and the second discharge port array, a liquid repellent film provided on the nozzle plate, a wiping member which wipes the surface of the nozzle plate and has absorbability of the ink composition, in which, in a series of operations in which the surface of the nozzle plate is wiped by the wiping member, the second discharge port array is wiped in priority to the first discharge port array.