Ink Set Capillary Action for Nozzle Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet printers face issues with nozzle clogging and pigment aggregation when using both dye and pigment inks, as the aggregates deposited in the cap are not effectively removed, leading to staining and reduced printing quality.
Innovation Solution
An ink set comprising a first ink with self-dispersible pigment and a second ink with water-soluble dye and pigment dispersant, where the self-dispersible pigment has a specific surface area of 10 to 76 m2/g, and the inks are designed to prevent aggregation by using a cap with an absorber, optimizing the distance between nozzle lines and the cap to enhance cleaning efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single cap is used to collectively cap both first ejection ports (pigment ink) and second ejection ports (dye ink), then device complexity is reduced, but pigment aggregates are deposited in the cap causing nozzle clogging and staining
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a cap with spatially differentiated functional zones: a first contact portion that contacts the pigment ink ejection ports and a second contact portion that contacts the dye ink ejection ports. This local differentiation allows the cap to handle different ink types with appropriate local properties, preventing pigment aggregation while maintaining a single unified cap structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap acts as an intermediary between the two types of inks (pigment ink and dye ink). By introducing this intermediate component with specific structural features (first and second contact portions), the patent prevents direct harmful interaction between the inks that would cause pigment aggregation, while still allowing both inks to be capped by a single device.
2Ease of manufacture
If pigment ink and dye ink are mixed in the cap during capping, then cleaning is simplified, but liquid component condensation by volatilization causes increased pigment aggregation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a cap with spatially differentiated functional zones: a first contact portion that contacts the pigment ink ejection ports and a second contact portion that contacts the dye ink ejection ports. This local differentiation allows the cap to handle different ink types with appropriate local properties, preventing pigment aggregation while maintaining a single unified cap structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap acts as an intermediary between the two types of inks (pigment ink and dye ink). By introducing this intermediate component with specific structural features (first and second contact portions), the patent prevents direct harmful interaction between the inks that would cause pigment aggregation, while still allowing both inks to be capped by a single device.
3Productivity
If aggregates are generated in the cap, then cleaning frequency increases, but aggregates are not removed by ink suction device leading to staining
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by designing the cap structure in advance to prevent aggregate formation and deposition. The first and second contact portions are configured beforehand to minimize ink mixing and pigment aggregation during the capping operation, preventing the harmful effect before it occurs rather than requiring subsequent cleaning actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful mixing of inks in the cap into a beneficial outcome by carefully designing the contact portions. The structure allows controlled interaction that maintains ink stability while still enabling the cap to perform its cleaning and protection functions, transforming what could be a harmful aggregation process into a manageable operational characteristic.
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 solution effectively suppresses the deposition of aggregates in the cap, maintains ejection stability, and ensures high color development and reliability, while preventing nozzle clogging and improving cleaning applicability.
Implementation Method 1
the cap comprises an absorber
Implementation Method 2
the first ink contains water and a self-dispersible pigment
Implementation Method 3
the second ink contains water, a water-soluble dye, and a pigment dispersant
Data Source
AI summary
An ink set according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a first ink and a second ink, the ink set described above is used for an ink jet recording apparatus which includes a recording head having at least one first ejection port which ejects the first ink and at least one second ejection port which ejects the second ink; and a cap which collectively caps the first ejection port and the second ejection port, the first ink contains water and a self-dispersible pigment, and the second ink contains water, a water-soluble dye, and a pigment dispersant.