Line Inkjet Head Timing and Surface Tension to Prevent Blotting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording apparatuses face challenges in inhibiting ink blotting, especially on hardly absorbent recording media like coated paper, when using multiple inks of different colors, due to ink ejection stability issues.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs two or more line recording heads with specific ejection intervals and inks containing a glycol ether compound, ensuring a dynamic surface tension difference of no more than 3.0 mN/m between successive ink ejections, and a surface tension of at least 40.0 mN/m at 10 milliseconds, to prevent ink mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If multiple inks of different colors are used to form color images, then image quality and color reproduction are improved, but ink blotting occurs between adjacent areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the dynamic surface tension of different inks to within 3.0 mN/m of each other and setting the ejection interval T to 300-530 milliseconds. This parameter optimization ensures that inks of different colors do not mix at boundaries while maintaining stable ejection performance, thereby eliminating ink blotting in color image formation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic action by establishing a regular ejection interval T (300-530 ms) between successive ink ejections from different recording heads. This periodic timing allows sufficient drying time between adjacent ink deposits, preventing ink mixing and blotting while enabling continuous color image formation
2Productivity
If ejection speed is increased to improve productivity, then recording time is reduced, but ink ejection stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the ejection interval T to fall within 300-530 milliseconds, which balances recording speed with ink ejection stability. Additionally, by controlling the dynamic surface tension of inks to be within 3.0 mN/m of each other, the system maintains stable meniscus formation and ejection characteristics even at higher recording speeds
3Object-generated harmful factors
If ejection interval is increased to prevent ink mixing, then ink blotting is reduced, but recording time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the ejection interval T to the specific range of 300-530 milliseconds. This optimized timing provides sufficient drying time to prevent ink mixing and blotting while minimizing the total recording time. The simultaneous control of dynamic surface tension differences within 3.0 mN/m further enables this optimized timing by ensuring stable ink behavior during the interval
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 configuration enhances ink ejection stability and effectively inhibits ink blotting on hardly absorbent media by allowing sufficient drying time between ink layers, maintaining a stable meniscus and reducing ink mixing.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the inks has a dynamic surface tension at a surface age of 10 milliseconds of at least 40.0 mN/m. Where one of the inks that is accommodated in the first line recording head is a first ink and another one of the inks that is accommodated in the second line recording head is a second ink, a difference between a dynamic surface tension of the first ink at a time when the ejection interval T has elapsed from ejection of the first ink onto the recording medium and a dynamic surface tension of the second ink at a surface age of 10 milliseconds is no greater than 3.0 mN/m.
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet recording apparatus includes two or more line recording heads and inks each accommodated in a corresponding one of the line recording heads. The line recording heads perform ink ejection onto a recording medium in a specific order at a regular ejection interval T. The ejection interval T is at least 300 milliseconds and no greater than 530 milliseconds. The line recording heads include at least a first line recording head that performs ink ejection onto the recording medium first and a second line recording medium that performs ink ejection onto the recording medium next to the first line recording head. Each of the inks contains a pigment, a water-soluble organic solvent, and water. The water-soluble organic solvent includes a glycol ether compound.