Pigmented Ink Jet Composition Preventing Conductive Film Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Continuous ink jet (CIJ) printers face reliability issues due to the formation of conductive films from carbon black inks, leading to reduced uptime, increased maintenance needs, and potential damage to print head components, as carbon black inks form persistent conductive pathways that interfere with electrostatic mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
Developing ink compositions that use non-conductive pigments, such as blue, yellow, and red organic pigments, with carbon black present in amounts less than 35% by weight, to avoid conductive film formation, ensuring high uptime and maintaining print quality without the need for abrasive cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If carbon black based inks are used to achieve dark contrast and light stability, then print quality is improved, but conductive films form on print head components reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite pigments consisting of non-conductive carbon black combined with other non-conductive pigments (such as organic pigments or inorganic oxides) to create an ink formulation that maintains dark print contrast while preventing conductive film formation on print head components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical conductivity parameter of the pigment composition by limiting carbon black content to 50% or less (preferably 30% or less) and combining it with non-conductive pigments, thereby transforming the ink from conductive to non-conductive while maintaining acceptable print quality
2Stability of the object's composition
If carbon black inks are used to maintain print quality, then light stability is improved, but conductive pathways form interfering with electrostatic mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent formulates composite pigment systems combining carbon black (for light stability) with non-conductive pigments (such as azo pigments, phthalocyanine pigments, titanium oxide, or zinc oxide) to achieve both light fastness and non-conductive properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different pigment properties to different functional requirements: carbon black provides light stability while other non-conductive pigments provide electrical insulation, with each pigment contributing locally to the overall performance of the ink composition
3Strength
If pigmented inks are used to achieve high durability and contrast, then adhesion and transfer resistance are improved, but printer reliability decreases due to conductive films
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops composite ink formulations where non-conductive pigment combinations maintain the adhesion and transfer resistance properties needed for durable printing while eliminating the conductive film formation that causes printer failures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful conductive property of carbon black into a beneficial non-conductive property by combining it with other pigments, thereby transforming an ink formulation that caused reliability problems into one that enhances both print durability and printer reliability
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet ink composition includes an organic solvent, a binder, and a colorant. The colorant is selected from at least a first pigment and a second pigment. If the ink composition comprises carbon black, the carbon black is present in an amount less than 30% by weight of the total pigment content.