Inkjet Cleaning Liquid with Dual Solvents for Nozzle Clogging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Water-based inks with added wetting agents for hydrophobic recording media cause phase separation, leading to nozzle clogging and channel blocking in ink-jet recording apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning liquid comprising specific ratios of first and second water-soluble organic solvents and a nonionic surfactant, including an acetylene glycol-based surfactant, is used to suppress nozzle clogging and channel closure during maintenance of ink-jet recording apparatuses using water-based inks with good wetting properties on hydrophobic media.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a wetting agent is added to water-based ink for hydrophobic recording media, then wetting property is improved, but phase separation occurs causing nozzle clogging and channel blocking
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the cleaning liquid by specifying precise compositional ratios (first water-soluble organic solvent: second water-soluble organic solvent = 3:7 to 7:3 by mass, nonionic surfactant: first water-soluble organic solvent = 1:49 to 9:51 by mass) to optimize cleaning effectiveness while preventing phase separation and nozzle clogging
Solution Approach 2:
The nonionic surfactant acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the water-based ink and hydrophobic recording media, enabling wetting without causing phase separation when used in the specified concentration ranges
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 cleaning liquid effectively prevents nozzle clogging and channel closure, ensuring stable operation of ink-jet recording apparatuses on various recording media, including hydrophobic surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning liquid including: a first water-soluble organic solvent, a vapor pressure at 20°C of the first water-soluble organic solvent being not less than 7 Pa; a second water-soluble organic solvent, a vapor pressure at 20°C of the second water-soluble organic solvent being not more than 1 Pa; a nonionic surfactant; and water
Implementation Method 2
a nonionic surfactant including an acetylene glycol-based surfactant having an ethylene oxide skeleton
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
There is provided a cleaning liquid usable for cleaning of an ink-jet recording apparatus, the cleaning liquid including: a first water-soluble organic solvent, a vapor pressure at 20℃ of the first water-soluble organic solvent being not less than 7 Pa; a second water-soluble organic solvent, a vapor pressure at 20℃ of the second water-soluble organic solvent being not more than 1 Pa; a nonionic surfactant; and water. The cleaning liquid satisfies the following conditions (1) to (3): In the conditions (1) to (3), A: a content amount (% by mass) of the first water-soluble organic solvent, B: a content amount (% by mass) of the second water-soluble organic solvent, and C: a content amount (% by mass) of the nonionic surfactant.