Ink Jet Recording Head Overlapping Nozzle Timing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet recording methods using elongated recording heads with aqueous ink containing fluorescent dyes often suffer from image unevenness due to differences in fluorescence intensity at overlapping and non-overlapping nozzle array junctions, leading to reduced color developability and increased environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
The use of an ink jet recording method that includes an aqueous ink with resin particles dyed with fluorescent dyes, where the nozzle arrays are arranged to overlap, and the ink is ejected with an application time difference of 20 milliseconds or less, reducing fluorescence aggregation and enhancing color developability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If nozzle arrays are arranged to overlap to suppress streak in discontinuous areas, then high-speed recording capability is improved, but image unevenness occurs due to fluorescence intensity differences at junctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by controlling the ejection timing of ink from overlapping nozzles in advance. The control unit sets different ejection timings for nozzles in the first and second nozzle arrays so that ink is ejected from overlapping nozzles within a predetermined time difference, ensuring uniform ink deposition at junctions before the recording process begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the timing parameter of ink ejection to resolve the contradiction. By adjusting the ejection timing difference between overlapping nozzles to within a predetermined range, the system maintains high-speed recording capability while achieving uniform ink deposition, thus improving image uniformity without sacrificing productivity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If aqueous ink with fluorescent dye is used to expand color gamut, then color developability is improved, but image unevenness occurs due to fluorescence intensity variations
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary timing adjustment for ink ejection from overlapping nozzles. By pre-setting the ejection timing difference within a predetermined range, the system ensures uniform fluorescence intensity at junctions before the actual recording occurs, maintaining color developability while preventing image unevenness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts the timing parameter of ink ejection to control fluorescence uniformity. By limiting the time difference between ejection from overlapping nozzles to a predetermined value, the system maintains consistent fluorescence intensity across the recording medium, improving image uniformity while preserving the enhanced color gamut provided by fluorescent dyes.
3Productivity
If multiple nozzle arrays are arranged in elongated configuration to increase recording speed, then productivity is improved, but streak defect is generated at boundary portions
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary timing control for overlapping nozzles to prevent streak defects. By setting the ejection timing difference within a predetermined range before recording, the system ensures that ink from multiple nozzle arrays deposits uniformly at boundary portions, eliminating streak defects while maintaining high-speed recording capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the timing parameter of ink ejection to eliminate streak defects at boundaries. By controlling the time difference between ejection from adjacent nozzle arrays to within a predetermined value, the system achieves uniform ink deposition at discontinuous areas, removing the harmful streak effect while preserving high productivity.
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 significantly reduces image unevenness, maintains high fluorescence intensity, and improves color developability while maintaining high-speed recording capabilities, thus addressing the limitations of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
an aqueous ink containing resin particles each dyed with a fluorescent dye
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an ink jet recording method including using an ink jet recording apparatus, the ink jet recording apparatus including: an aqueous ink containing resin particles each dyed with a fluorescent dye. A plurality of nozzle arrays include a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array arranged in a predetermined direction so as to be displaced from each other in such a manner that end nozzles in the nozzle arrays adjacent to each other form an overlapping portion in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction. The aqueous ink is ejected from overlapping nozzles at the overlapping portion while the nozzles are allocated to the first nozzle array and the second nozzle array. An application time difference of the aqueous ink ejected from the overlapping nozzles is 20 milliseconds or less.