Pretreatment Liquid Contact Angle Inkjet Recording
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high permeability of quick-drying inks in ink-jet recording leads to deteriorated image quality, particularly in optical density and feathering, and the use of pretreatment liquids is costly due to excessive consumption.
Innovation Solution
A pretreatment liquid with a contact angle greater than or equal to 75 degrees, comprising fine particles and a solvent, is applied to the recording medium to form a pretreatment layer, reducing consumption and maintaining image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a pretreatment liquid containing surfactant is applied to the entire surface of the recording medium using a roller, then image quality is improved, but pretreatment liquid consumption increases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the recording medium surface into multiple regions (recording areas and non-recording areas) and applies pretreatment liquid selectively only to the recording areas using an inkjet method, rather than treating the entire surface. This segmentation approach reduces pretreatment liquid consumption while maintaining image quality in the necessary areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different treatments to different regions of the recording medium. Pretreatment liquid is applied locally only to areas where images will be recorded, while non-recording areas receive no pretreatment. This local quality approach optimizes resource usage by concentrating pretreatment effects where they are most needed for image quality.
2Speed
If the permeability of the ink is increased for quick-drying, then printing speed is improved, but image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies pretreatment liquid to the recording medium before ink deposition. This preliminary action modifies the surface properties of the recording medium in advance, creating an optimal substrate that allows quick-drying ink to maintain both high permeability for speed and proper adhesion for image quality. The pretreatment layer acts as an intermediary that enables the quick-drying ink to perform well.
Solution Approach 2:
The pretreatment liquid forms an intermediate layer between the recording medium and the quick-drying ink. This intermediary layer mediates the interaction between the ink and the recording medium, allowing the ink to penetrate quickly (maintaining speed) while also ensuring proper adhesion and image quality through the controlled surface properties provided by the pretreatment layer.
3Manufacturing precision
If special paper with coating material is used to improve optical density and chroma, then image quality is improved, but cost increases and paper replacement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the special paper coating function from the recording medium itself and transfers it to a pretreatment liquid applied layer. Instead of relying on pre-coated special paper, the desired surface properties (optical density and chroma enhancement) are achieved by applying a pretreatment liquid that creates a functional layer on plain paper, eliminating the need for special paper and its associated replacement complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces expensive special paper with a more economical approach using plain paper plus a pretreatment liquid. The pretreatment liquid serves as a temporary, disposable coating that provides the necessary surface properties for high-quality imaging on plain paper, eliminating the need to invest in and manage expensive special paper inventories and replacements.
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
The solution reduces pretreatment liquid consumption, lowering costs without compromising image quality, as the pretreatment liquid with a high contact angle effectively penetrates the medium, forming a layer that enhances ink adhesion and image clarity.
Implementation Method 1
a contact angle between the pretreatment liquid and a surface of the recording medium is greater than or equal to about 75 degrees
Data Source
AI summary
A pretreatment liquid for ink-jet recording by applying the pretreatment liquid to a recording medium, the pretreatment liquid including fine particles and a solvent. Specifically, a contact angle between the pretreatment liquid and a surface of the recording medium is greater than or equal to about 75 degrees.