Ink Set Surface Tension Control for Nozzle Clogging Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet image forming devices face issues with ink mixing and nozzle clogging due to the use of adjacent nozzle arrays for different color inks, leading to degradation of ink dischargeability and image quality, especially when dark and light color inks are mixed during wiping, causing color mixing and nozzle clogging.
Innovation Solution
An ink set comprising black ink with a static surface tension of 0.6 mN/m or more and yellow ink with a lower static surface tension, used in an image forming device with nozzle arrays where each nozzle has a cylindrical portion of 25 μm or longer, preventing dark ink from entering light ink nozzles and reducing capillary action-induced mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If adjacent nozzle arrays are used for different color inks, then device complexity is reduced and productivity is improved, but ink mixing occurs and nozzle clogging results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the surface tension parameter of the inks to resolve the contradiction. Specifically, it uses a dark color ink with surface tension of 20-35 mN/m and a light color ink with surface tension of 15-30 mN/m, creating a surface tension difference that prevents capillary action between adjacent nozzles. This parameter change allows adjacent nozzle arrays to be used while preventing ink mixing and nozzle clogging.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dark and light color inks are used together, then color diversity is improved, but color mixing occurs during wiping leading to degraded image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies surface tension parameter control to prevent color mixing during wiping operations. By setting the dark color ink surface tension (20-35 mN/m) higher than the light color ink surface tension (15-30 mN/m), the patent eliminates capillary action that would otherwise cause dark ink to be drawn into light ink nozzles during wiping, thereby maintaining image quality while enabling full-color printing.
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 effectively prevents color mixing and nozzle clogging, maintaining ink dischargeability and image quality by ensuring that dark and light inks do not mix, even when the nozzle surface is wiped, thereby enhancing the reliability of the image forming process.
Implementation Method 1
black ink having a static surface tension A and yellow ink having a static surface tension B, wherein the static surface tension A is by 0.6 mN/m or more greater than the static surface tension B
Implementation Method 2
preventing dark ink from entering light ink nozzles and reducing capillary action-induced mixing
Data Source
AI summary
An ink set comprises black ink having a static surface tension A and yellow ink having a static surface tension B, wherein the static surface tension A is by 0.6 mN/m or more greater than the static surface tension B, wherein the ink set is used in an image forming device including an inkjet head including a nozzle plate including a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array disposed adjacent to the first nozzle array, the first nozzle array including multiple first nozzles configured to discharge the black ink and a second nozzle array including multiple second nozzles configured to discharge the yellow ink, wherein each nozzle of the multiple first nozzles and the multiple second nozzles has a cylindrical portion having a length of 25 μm or longer along an axial direction with an opening on an ink discharging side of the nozzle plate.