Ink Set for Ink Jet Recording Preventing Nozzle Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink jet recording apparatuses face issues with clogging due to residual cleaning/maintenance liquids in ink flow channels, which affect recording quality and cause blockages, especially when the recording ink contains pigments and resins.
Innovation Solution
An ink set comprising a recording ink and a displacement ink, where the recording ink contains a pigment, resin, water, and a first surfactant, and the displacement ink contains water, a second surfactant, an aprotic polar solvent, and an alkyl polyol with a normal boiling point of 280° C. or more, with the displacement ink having a lower kinetic viscosity and surface tension than the recording ink, allowing for effective cleaning and refilling without leaving residue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If cleaning liquid or maintenance liquid is applied to the ink flow channels and nozzles, then the ink system can be quickly cleared of ink and refilled, but the cleaning liquid residue may cause clogging and affect recording quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specifically formulated maintenance liquid containing polyhydric alcohol, alcohol, and water as an intermediary substance to replace the recording ink in the ink flow channel. This maintenance liquid acts as a mediator that effectively removes recording ink residue while its specific composition prevents it from causing clogging or affecting subsequent recording quality, thus resolving the contradiction between quick clearing and reliable recording.
2Manufacturing precision
If the ink flow channels are made small to improve recording precision, then the ink jet can discharge smaller droplets, but the channels become more prone to clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The maintenance liquid serves as an intermediary that protects the small-diameter ink flow channels from clogging. Its specific composition with polyhydric alcohol and alcohol creates a fluid that effectively lubricates and cleans the narrow channels without leaving residue that could cause blockages, thereby enabling the system to maintain small precise droplet discharge while preventing clogging in the vulnerable small channels.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If cleaning liquid is used to remove thickened ink from nozzle surfaces, then the nozzle plate can be kept clean, but the cleaning liquid may leave residue that causes poor discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the maintenance liquid by specifically formulating it with polyhydric alcohol, alcohol, and water in defined proportions. This parameter change creates a liquid with specific solvating and wetting properties that effectively remove thickened ink from nozzle surfaces while ensuring the liquid itself does not leave residue that would cause poor discharge, thus resolving the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and discharge quality.
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 ink set prevents clogging and ensures easy refilling, maintaining recording quality by effectively displacing the recording ink and preventing residue adhesion in the ink flow channels, enhancing the abrasion resistance of the recordings.
Implementation Method 1
The displacement ink flows through the ink flow channel and displaces the recording ink
Implementation Method 2
Each of the first surfactant and the second surfactant includes a silicone surfactant and/or a fluorosurfactant. The recording ink has a higher surface tension than that of the displacement ink.
Implementation Method 3
The displacement ink contains an alkyl polyol with a normal boiling point of 280° C. or more
Data Source
AI summary
An ink set includes a recording ink and a displacement ink. The recording ink contains a pigment, a resin, water, and a first surfactant and is substantially free of alkyl polyols with a normal boiling point of 280° C. or more. The displacement ink contains water, a second surfactant, an aprotic polar solvent, and an alkyl polyol with a normal boiling point of 280° C. or more. Each of the first surfactant and the second surfactant includes a silicone surfactant and/or a fluorosurfactant. The resin includes a water-soluble resin and/or a resin emulsion. The recording ink has a higher surface tension than that of the displacement ink.