Inkjet Printing Method with Dual-Zone Temperature Control
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet recording methods using ultraviolet-curable inkjet inks face challenges with air bubble dischargeability and continuous injection stability, particularly with inks containing gelling agents, due to high viscosity which hinders gas discharge from the ink chamber.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet recording method involving an inkjet recording apparatus with a built-in heater in the ink tank and head, where the ink is heated to a specific temperature range, adjusted in the inkjet recording head, and irradiated with active radiation, incorporating a gelling agent with a sol-gel phase transition temperature above 25°C, and optionally stirred in the tank to enhance gas release and injection stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If ultraviolet-curable inkjet ink containing gelling agent is used, then image quality and drying speed are improved, but air bubble dischargeability deteriorates due to high viscosity
Solution Approach 1:
The ink is heated in advance in the ink tank before injection to reduce viscosity and facilitate air bubble discharge. This preliminary heating action prevents air bubbles from being trapped during subsequent injection processes, resolving the contradiction between maintaining high image quality with gelling agents and enabling proper air bubble dischargeability.
Solution Approach 2:
The viscosity parameter of the ink is dynamically changed by controlling temperature. The ink is heated to a specific temperature range (50-100°C) in the ink tank to reduce viscosity for better air bubble discharge, then cooled to a lower temperature (20-60°C) in the injection head to increase viscosity for improved image quality and dot coalescence prevention.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If ink temperature is increased to improve gas release, then gas dischargeability is improved, but ink viscosity decreases affecting injection stability
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature control system is segmented into two distinct zones: the ink tank where heating occurs to facilitate gas release, and the injection head where cooling occurs to maintain injection stability. This spatial segmentation allows the ink to experience different temperature conditions at different stages, resolving the contradiction between gas release and injection stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The ink viscosity is dynamically adjusted through temperature control at different stages. The ink is heated dynamically in the tank to reduce viscosity for gas release, then cooled dynamically in the injection head to increase viscosity for stable injection. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between gas release requirements and injection stability.
3Productivity
If high speed recording is performed, then productivity is improved, but dot coalescence occurs reducing image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The ink temperature parameter is changed to control viscosity during high-speed recording. By heating the ink in the tank to reduce viscosity and then cooling it in the injection head to increase viscosity, the system enables high-speed recording while preventing dot coalescence, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and image quality.
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 method reduces the influence of gas on injection, prevents omitted or crooked flight during continuous injection, and ensures stable inkjet recording by managing ink viscosity and gas release, thereby improving the reliability of the inkjet recording process.
Implementation Method 1
the ink is heated to a specific temperature range
Implementation Method 2
an inkjet recording method involving an inkjet recording apparatus with a built-in heater in the ink tank and head, where the ink is heated to a specific temperature range
Implementation Method 3
incorporating a gelling agent with a sol-gel phase transition temperature above 25°C
Implementation Method 4
irradiated with active radiation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
An inkjet printing method comprises: an inkjet printing device having an inkjet print head with a built-in heater, an ink tank with a built-in heater the tank interior of which communicates with the atmosphere, and an ink supply path that connects the inkjet print head with the ink tank; a process of heating a radiation-curable inkjet ink in the ink tank with a viscosity at 25 °C of 1.0 x 103 - 1.0 x 106 mPa·s to A °C; a process of supplying the inkjet ink to the inkjet print head; a process of making the inkjet ink in the inkjet print head to be a temperature B °C in the range of 70 °C to 120 °C and ejecting to the printing medium; and a processing of irradiating radiation on the printing medium. A °C is a temperature 5-30 °C higher than B °C.