Ink Jet Recording Head With Orthogonal Ink Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing ink jet recording apparatuses with integrated recording heads and ink storage portions formed from thermoplastic resin compositions face issues such as cracking due to external pressure and bleeding at color boundaries during image recording.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates an ink storage portion with three or more independently divided storage parts arranged orthogonally, each containing cyan, magenta, and yellow inks, and a recording head with three rows of ejection orifice arrays corresponding to these inks. The ink corresponding to the middle ejection orifice array has the smallest dynamic surface tension, facilitating reduced bleeding by ensuring quick ink penetration into the recording medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the ink storage portion is formed from only a thermoplastic resin to reduce weight, then the weight of the recording unit is reduced, but the ink storage portion becomes liable to be deformed and cracked due to external pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The ink storage portion is formed from a composite material consisting of a thermoplastic resin and a filler material. The thermoplastic resin provides lightweight properties while the filler material enhances strength and rigidity, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and strength improvement.
2Length of moving object
If the width of the recording head is reduced to downsize the apparatus, then the apparatus size is reduced, but the ink storage portion becomes more susceptible to cracking from external pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The ink storage portion uses a composite material with thermoplastic resin and filler material to maintain sufficient strength despite the reduced width of the recording head, allowing downsizing without compromising structural integrity.
3Strength
If inks are stored in the ink storage portion formed from thermoplastic resin composition containing filler material, then the ink storage portion gains improved strength, but bleeding is caused at boundary portions between colors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different surface treatments to different regions of the ink storage portion. The inner surface facing the ink has a different surface energy characteristic than the outer surface, allowing control of ink behavior at the interface while maintaining the strength benefits of the filler material throughout the structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the surface energy parameter of the ink storage portion through surface treatment. This changes the interaction between the ink and the storage portion surface, preventing bleeding at color boundaries while preserving the mechanical strength provided by the filler material.
4Volume of stationary object
If a serial-type recording head is used to adapt to downsizing, then the apparatus size is reduced, but the space required for scanning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the ink storage portion directly with the recording head to form a unified recording unit. This merging eliminates the need for separate ink supply mechanisms and reduces the scanning space required, as the integrated unit can be positioned more efficiently within the apparatus.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an ink jet recording method, while the strength of the recording unit is maintained, an image having a high quality with reduced bleeding can be recorded. The ink jet recording method includes recording an image through use of an ink jet recording apparatus including an aqueous ink, an ink storage portion, and a recording head. The ink storage portion includes three or more storage parts divided independently of each other by a partition portion arranged orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the ink storage portion, and the storage parts are arrayed in one predetermined direction. The aqueous ink includes a cyan ink, a magenta ink and a yellow ink and the ink corresponding to the ejection orifice array arranged at a middle out of the three rows of ejection orifice arrays has a smallest dynamic surface tension γ10 at a lifetime of 10 milliseconds.