Ink Set with Ampholyte and Acid Resin for Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image recording methods using multiple inks, such as chromatic inks, treatment liquids, and base-expressing inks, suffer from reduced working efficiency due to the increased number of steps required for image formation, and often result in insufficient aggregation of dispersed components.
Innovation Solution
An ink set comprising a first ink composition with water, a dispersant, a colorant, and an ampholyte, and a second ink composition with water, a colorant, and a resin containing an unneutralized acid group, which allows for the aggregation of dispersed components without the need for a treatment liquid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a treatment liquid having an aggregation function is used to aggregate chromatic inks and base-expressing inks, then aggregation of dispersed components is improved, but the number of processing steps increases and working efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the aggregation function into the chromatic ink composition itself by incorporating a specific surfactant (compound with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups). This eliminates the need for a separate treatment liquid, reducing the number of processing steps while maintaining effective aggregation of dispersed components. The surfactant in the ink composition directly aggregates pigment particles and other dispersed components during the ink application process.
Solution Approach 2:
The chromatic ink composition is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides coloration, maintains dispersion stability during storage, and aggregates dispersed components during application. The surfactant in the ink composition serves both as a dispersion stabilizer (preventing aggregation during storage) and as an aggregation promoter (facilitating aggregation during application), eliminating the need for separate treatment liquids for each function.
2Reliability
If multiple kinds of inks (chromatic inks, treatment liquids, and base-expressing inks) are used, then aggregation function is provided, but device complexity and number of processing steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the aggregation function into the chromatic ink composition by incorporating a surfactant that can both stabilize dispersion during storage and promote aggregation during application. This single integrated solution replaces the need for separate treatment liquids, reducing the number of processing steps from three (applying base-expressing ink, applying chromatic ink, applying treatment liquid) to two (applying base-expressing ink, applying chromatic ink with built-in aggregation function).
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
The proposed ink set enables efficient image recording by effectively aggregating dispersed components, thereby improving working efficiency and image quality, while reducing the number of processing steps.
Implementation Method 1
the first ink composition contains water, a dispersant, a colorant, and an ampholyte, and the second ink composition contains water, a colorant, and a resin containing an unneutralized acid group
Data Source
AI summary
An ink set includes a first ink composition containing water, a dispersant, a colorant, and an ampholyte; and a second ink composition containing water, a colorant, and a resin containing an unneutralized acid group.