Actinic Radiation Curable Ink Viscosity Control for Ejection Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Actinic radiation curable ink-jet systems face challenges in maintaining image quality due to viscosity and surface tension variations among different color inks, leading to unstable ejection and degradation of image quality, particularly when used on non-specialized recording media.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using actinic radiation curable ink-jet inks with specific viscosity differences and incorporating compounds like oxirane and oxetane groups, which are ejected with controlled viscoelastic characteristics to stabilize ejection and minimize color mixing, employing an ink-jet recording apparatus that heats the ink and recording head to maintain consistent temperature and exposure conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If viscosity and surface tension are changed for each type of colored ink to improve image quality, then image quality is enhanced, but ejection stability deteriorates markedly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the viscosity difference between different colored inks within a specific range (ΔS: 5-1000 mPa·s). This allows optimization of image quality through controlled parameter variation while maintaining ejection stability, resolving the contradiction between improving image quality and maintaining stable ejection across different ink colors
2Adaptability or versatility
If UV radiation curable ink-jet inks are employed to enable recording on non-specialized media, then adaptability is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to large changes in dot diameter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the viscosity difference parameter (ΔS) within a specific range of 5-1000 mPa·s to stabilize dot diameter during the curing process. This parameter control enables the system to maintain image quality while achieving adaptability to various non-specialized recording media through UV curable ink technology
3Manufacturing precision
If time lag from deposition to curing is reduced to improve image quality, then manufacturing precision is improved, but this creates constraints on ink formulation and processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes specific viscosity difference ranges (ΔS: 5-1000 mPa·s) that enable reduced time lag between ink deposition and curing while maintaining stable ejection characteristics. This parameter optimization allows faster processing without compromising image quality, reducing overall process complexity
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
This approach enables the stable formation of highly detailed images with minimal color bleeding and excellent text quality on various recording media without the need for specialized paper, improving ejection stability and image quality across different substrates.
Implementation Method 1
an actinic radiation curable ink-jet system in which, after recording, actinic radiation such as ultraviolet radiation (UV radiation) is exposed onto the deposited ink to result in crosslinking
Implementation Method 2
an ink-jet recording apparatus which heats the ink and recording head to maintain consistent temperature and exposure conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A method of producing an image including the steps of: (a) ejecting droplets of at least two actinic radiation curable ink-jet inks from an ink-jet recording head so as to deposit onto a recording medium; and (b) irradiating the deposited droplets of the actinic radiation curable ink-jet inks with actinic radiations, wherein the two actinic radiation curable ink-jet inks being different in hue with each other; and an absolute value of ΔS(Slow−Shigh) is 5-1,000 mPa·s, where Slow represents a viscosity of the actinic radiation curable ink-jet ink measured with a share rate of 11.7 l/s at 25° C., Shigh represents a viscosity of the actinic radiation curable ink-jet ink measured with a share rate of 1,000 l/s at 25° C., and ΔS(Slow−Shigh) represents a difference between the viscosities of Slow and Shigh.