Inkjet Print Head Wiper Material for Oil-Based Ink Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet print heads using oil-based inks face premature degradation of wiper blades due to swelling and wear caused by organic solvents, leading to reduced ink removal performance, particularly with nitrile rubber wipers.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning method using a wiper blade made of nitrile rubber containing at least 30% acrylonitrile, paired with an oil-based ink containing a solvent mixture of 5-70% ester-based solvents and 20-80% saturated hydrocarbon solvents with a boiling point of at least 100°C, minimizing solvent interaction and degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a wiper blade made of typical rubber (e.g., EPDM) is used to clean the ink discharging surface, then the ink removal performance is initially good, but the wiper blade degrades prematurely due to swelling and wear caused by organic solvents in oil-based inks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the wiper blade material by specifying nitrile rubber with at least 30% acrylonitrile content. This parameter change makes the material resistant to swelling and degradation when exposed to organic solvents in oil-based inks, thereby resolving the contradiction between initial cleaning performance and long-term durability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs nitrile rubber as a composite material that combines the elasticity needed for effective wiping with chemical resistance to organic solvents. This composite material property allows the wiper blade to maintain both good ink removal performance and resistance to solvent-induced degradation
2Productivity
If oil-based inks with high organic solvent content are used to improve penetration and reduce drying energy, then the ink demonstrates excellent resistance to nozzle clogging and enhanced penetration, but the organic solvents cause the wiper blade rubber to swell and deform
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical resistance parameter of the wiper blade material to withstand high concentrations of organic solvents. By selecting nitrile rubber with ≥30% acrylonitrile, the material maintains structural stability even when exposed to ink formulations optimized for high productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent avoids the need for frequent wiper blade replacement by selecting a material that resists degradation. This extends the service life of the wiper blade, making it more economical despite the aggressive chemical environment created by high-performance oil-based inks
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
Maintains effective ink removal performance by reducing solvent-induced swelling and wear of the wiper blade, ensuring stable ink discharge and high image quality.
Implementation Method 1
the wiper blade includes nitrile rubber containing at least 30 percent by mass of acrylonitrile
Implementation Method 2
rubbing the ink discharging surface of the inkjet print head that discharges an ink with a wiper blade
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning method for an inkjet print head includes rubbing the ink discharging surface of the inkjet print head that discharges an ink with a wiper blade, wherein the ink is an oil-based ink containing a coloring material and a solvent mixture, the solvent mixture including an ester-based solvent represented by the following Chemical Formula 1 accounting for 5 to 70 percent by mass of the organic solvents and a saturated hydrocarbon solvent accounting for 20 to 80 percent by mass of the organic solvents, wherein the solvent mixture includes organic solvents having a boiling point of at least 100 degrees Celsius accounting for at least 70 percent by mass of the ink, wherein the wiper blade includes nitrile rubber containing at least 30 percent by mass of acrylonitrile,where R1 and R2 each independently represent a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic alkyl group.