Liquid Ejecting Apparatus Nozzle Clogging Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet recording apparatuses face issues with nozzle clogging and ejection failures due to the curing of thermosetting resin near the nozzle, which affects scratch resistance and gloss of printed images.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a forming section that creates a pre-treatment liquid layer with a higher thermosetting resin content, followed by an image layer using a liquid ejecting head, and a post-treatment liquid layer with a different thermosetting resin content, optimized for specific particle diameters and glass-transition points, and heated using a process and after-heater section to improve adhesiveness and scratch resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If thermosetting resin is included in ink near the nozzle to improve scratch resistance and glossiness, then printing quality is improved, but nozzle clogging and ejection failure occur due to curing of the resin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the treatment into three separate liquid layers: pre-treatment liquid (with thermosetting resin), image-forming liquid (with minimal thermosetting resin), and post-treatment liquid (with thermosetting resin). This segmentation allows the thermosetting resin to be present in the system for improving scratch resistance and glossiness while preventing its concentration near the nozzle that would cause curing and ejection failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different liquid compositions to different regions and stages of the printing process. The pre-treatment liquid is applied to the medium surface before printing, the image-forming liquid is ejected from the nozzle during printing, and the post-treatment liquid is applied after printing. Each layer has optimized thermosetting resin content suitable for its specific function and location.
2Strength
If pre-treatment liquid and post-treatment liquid with thermosetting resin are used to improve scratch resistance and gloss, then printing quality is improved, but the thermosetting resin composition is not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes multiple parameters of the thermosetting resin including glass-transition point (Tg1 for pre-treatment, Tg3 for post-treatment), particle diameter (R1 for pre-treatment, R3 for post-treatment), and content amount (A for pre-treatment, C for post-treatment). These parameter changes allow precise control over the resin's behavior during the printing process and final performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite liquid formulations where thermosetting resin is combined with other components in specific ratios. The pre-treatment liquid contains thermosetting resin with specific properties (glass-transition point Tg1, particle diameter R1, content A), and the post-treatment liquid contains thermosetting resin with different optimized properties (glass-transition point Tg3, particle diameter R3, content C), creating composite materials tailored for each stage.
3Reliability
If heating is applied to the transport path to prevent resin curing near the nozzle, then ejection reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pre-treatment liquid to the medium surface before the printing process. This preliminary action prepares the surface to receive the image-forming liquid, reducing the need for high heating temperatures during ejection and thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining ejection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating is applied periodically at specific stages: pre-heating the transport path before ejection, and post-heating after ejection. This periodic heating approach maintains resin fluidity during critical ejection moments while minimizing overall energy consumption by not continuously heating.
4Strength
If different treatment liquids are used for pre-treatment and post-treatment to improve printing quality, then scratch resistance and gloss are enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the same liquid ejecting head for ejecting both the image-forming liquid and the treatment liquids. The head can be configured to eject different liquids at different times or positions, making it multi-functional. This approach enhances printing quality through optimized treatment liquids while minimizing device complexity by reusing the existing ejection mechanism.
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 suppresses nozzle clogging, enhances scratch resistance, and improves gloss and image quality by optimizing the thermosetting resin content and heating processes in each layer, allowing for better control over the printing process based on the medium's absorbency.
Implementation Method 1
a heating section which heats a transport path on which the medium is transported
Implementation Method 2
when a glass-transition point of the thermosetting resin in the pre-treatment liquid is Tg1, a glass-transition point of the thermosetting resin in the liquid is Tg2, and a glass-transition point of the thermosetting resin in the post-treatment liquid is Tg3
Implementation Method 3
the thermosetting resin which is included in ink in the vicinity of the nozzle is cured by heating
Implementation Method 4
a pre-treatment liquid layer that includes a thermosetting resin on the medium
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a forming section which forms an image on a medium, a transport section which transports the medium in a first direction, and a heating section which heats a transport path on which the medium is transported, in which the forming section includes a first forming section which forms a pre-treatment liquid layer that includes a thermosetting resin on the medium, a liquid ejecting head which forms an image layer on the medium by ejecting liquid, and a second forming section which forms a post-treatment liquid layer that includes a thermosetting resin and is different from the pre-treatment liquid layer on the medium, and B<A and B<C in a case where content of the thermosetting resin in the pre-treatment liquid is A, content of the thermosetting resin in the liquid is B, and content of the thermosetting resin in the post-treatment liquid is C.