Ink Jet Recording Method Viscosity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet recording methods face challenges in suppressing aggregation unevenness between different coloring materials at high printing speeds, as the ejection timing of multiple inks is not adequately regulated, leading to reduced recording speed and quality.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using a first ink composition with a surfactant and a second ink composition, where the relative positions of the recording heads are adjusted to ensure a time gap of 10 ms to 2,000 ms between their ejections on the recording medium, with the first ink composition having a viscosity of 15 mPa·s or less and increasing to 100 mPa·s after 50% volatile component evaporation, to prevent excessive mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the ejection timing of multiple inks is not regulated, then the recording speed can be maintained, but aggregation unevenness is generated between different coloring materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by regulating the time gap between ejections of different ink compositions before they contact the recording medium. By controlling the timing sequence in advance, the ink compositions are prevented from excessive mixing, thereby suppressing aggregation unevenness while maintaining high-speed recording operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temporal parameter (time gap between ejections) to resolve the contradiction. By setting specific time intervals between the ejection of different ink compositions, the patent achieves both suppressed aggregation unevenness and maintained recording speed, transforming a temporal parameter control into the solution.
2Manufacturing precision
If the time gap between ejections of different inks is increased to suppress aggregation unevenness, then image quality improves, but recording speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the temporal parameter (time gap between ejections) to a specific range that balances image quality and recording speed. By precisely controlling this parameter, the patent achieves suppressed aggregation unevenness without excessive reduction in recording speed, finding the optimal point between quality and productivity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the viscosity of ink is increased to prevent excessive mixing, then aggregation unevenness is suppressed, but ejection stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transition (evaporation) of the volatile component to change the viscosity of the ink composition dynamically. The ink is formulated with a volatile component that evaporates after ejection, causing the viscosity to increase from an initial low value (for stable ejection) to a higher value (for preventing mixing), thereby resolving the contradiction between ejection stability and aggregation suppression.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the viscosity of the ink composition time-dependent through volatile component evaporation. The viscosity transitions from low during ejection (ensuring stability) to high after evaporation (preventing mixing), allowing the system to adapt its rheological properties to different operational requirements at different times.
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 allows for high-speed image recording with suppressed aggregation unevenness and improved ejection stability by ensuring the first ink composition is sufficiently thickened before the second is applied, maintaining image quality and recording speed.
Implementation Method 1
a viscosity of the ink composition at 20° C. when the first ink composition is ejected is 15 mPa·s or less, and the viscosity at 20° C. when 50% of a volatile component contained in the first ink composition is volatilized is 100 mPa·s or greater
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet recording method including recording an image on the recording medium by causing a first recording head that ejects the first ink composition and a second recording head that ejects the second ink composition to eject the first ink composition and the second ink composition while relative positions thereof with respect to the recording medium are changed, in which, in the recording of the image, a time after the first ink composition is ejected to a predetermined area of the recording medium and before the second ink composition is ejected to the predetermined area is in the range of 10 ms to 2,000 ms, a viscosity of the ink composition at 20° C. when the first ink composition is ejected is 15 mPa·s or less, and the viscosity at 20° C. when 50% of a volatile component contained in the first ink composition is volatilized is 100 mPa·s or greater.