Inkjet Cleaning Liquid Solvent Formulation for Foaming and Corrosion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleaning liquids for inkjet recording apparatuses are prone to foaming, can deteriorate ink supply passage members, and have poor compatibility with test ink, leading to initial failure in ink filling operations and defective image fixation on non-porous substrates.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning liquid with organic solvents having a boiling point less than 250°C, specifically including methoxy-group-containing solvents and diols like 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,2-butanediol, and 2,3-butanediol, which minimizes foaming, maintains wettability and cleaning ability, and ensures excellent drying properties for initial images on non-porous substrates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cleaning liquids containing surfactant are used, then wettability and cleaning power are improved, but foaming occurs causing troubles in cleaning operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes surfactant from the cleaning liquid composition entirely, extracting the harmful foaming property while maintaining cleaning effectiveness through alternative mechanisms involving organic solvents and their interaction with ink components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by selecting specific organic solvents with controlled boiling points (200-250°C) and molecular structures that provide cleaning power without surfactant-induced foaming, representing a parameter change from surfactant-based to solvent-based cleaning chemistry
2Reliability
If conventional cleaning liquids with surfactant are used, then cleaning ability is improved, but deterioration of ink supply passage members and corrosion of metallic members occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates surfactant from the cleaning liquid formulation, removing the source of deterioration and corrosion while maintaining cleaning functionality through carefully selected organic solvents that are chemically compatible with ink supply passage materials and metallic components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs organic solvents that can be easily flushed through the system and disposed of without causing long-term damage, replacing the harmful but persistent surfactant with shorter-lived, less damaging solvent molecules that degrade or evaporate without corroding components
3Reliability
If conventional cleaning liquids are used, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but poor compatibility with test ink causes defective discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the chemical parameters of the cleaning liquid by selecting organic solvents with specific boiling points (200-250°C) and molecular characteristics that match the polarity and solubility properties of test ink, ensuring compatibility while maintaining cleaning effectiveness through controlled evaporation and mixing behavior
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite cleaning liquid formulation combining multiple organic solvents with complementary properties, where the mixture achieves both cleaning effectiveness and ink compatibility through synergistic interactions between different solvent components rather than relying on a single chemical agent
4Reliability
If conventional cleaning liquids are used, then cleaning power is improved, but poor drying properties cause images to fix with poor strength on non-porous substrates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the boiling point parameter of the organic solvents to fall within 200-250°C, which provides an optimal balance between maintaining liquid state for effective cleaning and enabling controlled evaporation for rapid drying, thereby improving both cleaning power and drying performance simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits the phase transition properties of organic solvents with controlled boiling points, where the solvents remain liquid during cleaning operations but transition to gas phase during drying, facilitating rapid evaporation and strong image fixation on non-porous substrates without the residue issues associated with lower boiling point solvents
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 solution effectively reduces foaming, prevents deterioration of ink supply passage members, ensures compatibility with ink, and provides high-quality image drying and gloss, ensuring reliable inkjet operations and image formation.
Implementation Method 1
the first organic solvent has a boiling point of 200° C. to 250° C.
Implementation Method 2
flowing the cleaning liquid in the ink supply passage
Implementation Method 3
being easily mixable with the refilled ink when remaining in the ink supply passages
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning liquid for an inkjet recording apparatus is provided. The cleaning liquid includes an organic solvent having a boiling point of less than 250° C. and no organic solvent having a boiling point of 250° C. or more. The organic solvent having a boiling point of less than 250° C. includes two or more methoxy-group-containing organic solvents and at least one of 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,2-butanediol, and 2,3-butanediol.