Inkjet Recording Apparatus Ink Circulation Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording apparatuses face challenges with ink circulation stability and ejection amount stability due to ink agglomeration and abrupt pressure changes, particularly when using inks with binder resin particles that tend to agglomerate.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a damper member and a relief mechanism to mitigate abrupt pressure changes, along with binder resin particles having specific zeta potential and volume median diameter ranges to inhibit agglomeration, ensuring stable ink circulation and ejection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a circulation type recording head is used to achieve stable ink circulation, then ink circulation stability is improved, but ink agglomeration occurs during circulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for binder resin particles (zeta potential: -60.0 to -45.0 mV, volume median diameter: 5 to 100 nm, breaking elongation: 60% or less) to prevent agglomeration while maintaining circulation stability. These parameter optimizations resolve the contradiction by tuning particle properties to resist aggregation during circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a collection function as an intermediary mechanism that captures agglomerates formed during circulation and redirects them to a separate flow channel, preventing them from disrupting the main circulation flow and maintaining overall circulation stability.
2Productivity
If ink circulation is maintained over extended period, then productivity is improved, but ink ejection amount varies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes binder resin particle parameters (particularly volume median diameter of 5-100 nm and zeta potential of -60.0 to -45.0 mV) to maintain consistent ink flow characteristics during extended circulation, preventing ejection amount variation even after prolonged use.
Solution Approach 2:
The collection function extracts and removes agglomerates from the circulation flow, preventing them from affecting ejection consistency. This separation ensures that only uniform ink particles reach the ejection nozzles, maintaining stable ejection amounts over extended printing periods.
3Reliability
If relief mechanism is added to control ink pressure, then ink circulation stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relief mechanism acts as an intermediary pressure control element within the ink supply unit, smoothly regulating ink pressure to prevent abrupt changes that could cause agglomeration or ejection instability, while integrating compactly to minimize overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The relief mechanism is integrated into the ink supply unit structure, combining pressure regulation functionality with the existing ink supply components. This merging approach achieves pressure control without adding significant structural complexity to the overall system.
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 achieves excellent ink circulation stability and ejection amount stability by preventing agglomeration and maintaining consistent ink flow, suitable for non-permeable recording media and front printing applications.
Implementation Method 1
The relief mechanism adjusts pressure of the ink supplied to the damper member to a level no greater than a predetermined value
Implementation Method 2
The binder resin particles have a zeta potential of at least −60.0 mV and no greater than −45.0 mV
Implementation Method 3
The binder resin particles have a zeta potential of at least −60.0 mV and no greater than −45.0 mV... inhibiting occurrence of ink agglomeration during ink circulation
Implementation Method 4
an inkjet recording apparatus including a circulation type recording head... stable ink circulation over an extended period of time by inhibiting occurrence of ink agglomeration during ink circulation and inhibiting a decrease in stability of ink circulation flow rate
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet recording apparatus includes an ink, a circulation type recording head, a damper member that supplies the ink to the circulation type recording head, and an ink supply unit that supplies the ink to the damper member. The circulation type recording head ejects to a recording medium at least a portion of the ink supplied from the damper member and discharges the rest of the ink to the ink supply unit. The ink supply unit includes a relief mechanism. The relief mechanism adjusts the pressure of the ink supplied to the damper member to a level no greater than a predetermined value. The ink contains a pigment, binder resin particles, and an aqueous medium. The binder resin particles have a zeta potential of at least −60.0 mV and no greater than −45.0 mV.