Inkjet Maintenance Liquid pH Buffering for Nozzle Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording methods using pigment-based inks face issues with nozzle clogging due to solidification, leading to maintenance challenges and reduced detergency performance, particularly when pH levels change, causing ink aggregation and deterioration of cleaning efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A maintenance liquid with a pH range of 6.0 to 8.5, comprising water, an organic solvent, a basic compound, and an acidic compound, which stabilizes pH and maintains detergency performance by using a combination of compounds with pKa values between 6.0 and 8.5, ensuring effective cleaning and preventing ink aggregation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a basic compound is added to increase pH to improve detergency performance, then cleaning ability is improved, but ink aggregation is accelerated and detergent properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the pH level of the maintenance liquid to fall within the range of 6.0 to 8.5. This optimal pH range allows the basic compound to provide sufficient detergency performance while preventing ink aggregation. The patent identifies that pH levels above 8.5 cause adverse effects on the ejection head metal and water repellent-processed film, while pH levels below 6.0 accelerate ink aggregation, thus establishing the optimal parameter range to resolve the contradiction between cleaning ability and ink stability.
2Ease of manufacture
If pH level is increased to enhance cleaning ability, then detergency is improved, but nozzle clogging increases due to ink solidification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by changing the pH parameter to an optimal range of 6.0 to 8.5. This parameter change enables the maintenance liquid to effectively remove ink residues without causing excessive ink solidification that would lead to nozzle clogging. The patent demonstrates that maintaining pH within this range provides sufficient cleaning ability while preventing the harmful effect of nozzle clogging.
3Stability of the object's composition
If pH buffering ability is enhanced by adding more basic compound, then storage stability is improved, but detergency performance decreases due to ink aggregation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the pH level to fall within 6.0 to 8.5, which provides sufficient buffering ability for storage stability while maintaining detergency performance. The patent identifies that excessive basic compound addition raises pH above 8.5, which causes ink aggregation and deteriorates detergent properties. Thus, the optimal parameter range resolves the contradiction between storage stability and cleaning ability.
4Reliability
If pH level is reduced to prevent ink aggregation, then ink stability is improved, but detergency performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by changing the pH parameter to an optimal range of 6.0 to 8.5. This parameter change provides sufficient ink stability by preventing aggregation while maintaining adequate detergency performance for effective cleaning. The patent demonstrates that pH levels below 6.0 improve ink stability but compromise cleaning ability, thus the optimal range balances both requirements.
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 maintenance liquid effectively stabilizes pH, preventing nozzle clogging and maintaining detergency performance, ensuring reliable inkjet recording by buffering pH levels and preventing ink aggregation, thus enhancing the operational stability and quality of inkjet systems.
Implementation Method 1
A combination of the basic compound and the acidic compound that are contained in the maintenance liquid of the present invention has an effect of stably keeping the pH of the maintenance liquid
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a maintenance liquid for inkjet recording including at least water, an organic solvent, a basic compound and an acidic compound, and having pH of from 6.0 to 8.5.