Ink Tank Circulation Degassing for White Pigment Nozzle Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inkjet recording apparatuses face issues with nozzle clogging due to dissolved air in the ink, particularly when using inks with high specific gravity pigments, leading to reduced degassing efficiency and dispersion stability.

Innovation Solution

A circulation degassing system is implemented, where ink is circulated through a dedicated flow path within the ink tank while under reduced pressure, effectively replacing ink near the liquid surface with ink from the bottom surface to enhance degassing efficiency and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If ink capacity is increased, then storage capacity is improved, but it becomes difficult to replace ink near the liquid surface with ink near the bottom surface, lowering degassing efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveink capacityVSAvoiddegassing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the magnetic stirrer mechanism with a natural circulation system driven by pressure reduction. By reducing pressure in the ink tank, dissolved air is removed from the ink near the liquid surface, creating density differences that drive natural circulation to replace deep ink with surface ink, eliminating the need for mechanical stirring while maintaining effective degassing in large-capacity tanks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the pressure parameter of the ink tank environment to achieve degassing. By reducing pressure, the solubility of air in ink decreases, causing air to be released from the ink near the liquid surface. This pressure change drives the circulation process and enables effective degassing regardless of tank size or ink depth

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If ink capacity is increased, then storage capacity is improved, but pigment settling increases, lowering dispersion stability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveink capacityVSAvoiddispersion stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical stirring with pressure-driven natural circulation to maintain pigment dispersion. The pressure reduction creates circulation currents that continuously move ink from the bottom to the surface and back, preventing pigment settling in large-capacity tanks without requiring mechanical agitation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes continuous circulation of ink through pressure-driven flow paths. This continuous movement ensures that pigment particles remain suspended and dispersed throughout the ink volume, preventing settling even in large-capacity tanks where static conditions would allow accumulation at the bottom

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If magnetic stirrer is used to stir ink, then degassing is achieved near liquid surface, but it becomes ineffective when ink capacity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedegassing efficiencyVSAvoidink capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the magnetic stirrer mechanical system with a pressure-driven circulation system. By reducing pressure in the ink tank, air is removed from the ink near the liquid surface, creating density-driven circulation that naturally replaces deep ink with degassed surface ink, making the system effective for large-capacity tanks without mechanical stirring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces pressure reduction as an intermediary mechanism to achieve degassing and circulation. The pressure change acts as a mediator that simultaneously removes air from the ink and drives circulation currents, replacing the need for direct mechanical stirring while maintaining effective degassing across various tank sizes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 circulation degassing system maintains efficient degassing performance regardless of ink depth or tank diameter, reduces noise, and improves dispersion stability of inks with high specific gravity pigments, preventing nozzle clogging.

Implementation Method 1

The pressure reducing device reduces pressure in the ink tank

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure reduction: Depressurisation

Implementation Method 2

The circulation device circulates the ink through the circulation flow path

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid circulation: Convection

Implementation Method 3

The recording head ejects the ink supplied from the ink tank

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInkjet ejection: Jet

Data Source

PatentUS20260054499A1Inkjet recording apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.02.26 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A degassing device includes an ink tank, a recording head, a pressure reducing device, a circulation flow path, and a circulation device. The ink tank stores ink. The recording head ejects the ink supplied from the ink tank. The pressure reducing device reduces pressure in the ink tank. The circulation flow path communicates different positions of the ink tank. Thea circulation device circulates the ink through the circulation flow path. The ink contains a white pigment.