Red Aqueous Ink Composition with Calcium-Salt Viscosity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed recording on absorbent recording media using a line head ink jet printer results in poor color developing properties and clogging due to ink reactivity with calcium salts, leading to ejection stability issues and difficulty in recovering from clogging.
Innovation Solution
An ink composition containing a red-based aqueous ink with an azo-based pigment and a specific viscosity ratio when mixed with a calcium propionate solution is used, reducing reactivity with calcium salts and maintaining color developing properties while enhancing ejection stability and clogging recoverability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-speed recording is performed on absorbent recording medium using line head, then productivity is improved, but color developing properties deteriorate and clogging occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the ink composition by controlling the viscosity ratio when mixed with calcium propionate solution (keeping it below 2.0 times the original viscosity). This parameter control prevents excessive reaction with calcium salts in the absorbent recording medium, maintaining ejection stability during high-speed recording operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful reaction between ink and calcium salts into a beneficial outcome by formulating the ink composition to have controlled viscosity increase (less than 2.0 times) when mixed with calcium propionate. This controlled interaction prevents clogging while allowing the ink to effectively deposit on the absorbent recording medium during high-speed recording.
2Manufacturing precision
If ink composition reacts with calcium salts in absorbent recording medium, then color developing properties may improve, but nozzle clogging occurs and ejection stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the viscosity parameter of the ink composition when mixed with calcium propionate solution, ensuring the viscosity ratio remains below 2.0 times the original viscosity. This parameter control allows the ink to interact with calcium salts in the recording medium for color development while preventing excessive thickening that would cause nozzle clogging.
3Productivity
If conventional ink composition is used for high-speed recording, then productivity is improved, but clogging recoverability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the ink composition parameters to control viscosity increase (keeping it below 2.0 times when mixed with calcium propionate). This parameter optimization prevents severe clogging during high-speed recording, thereby improving clogging recoverability when issues do occur, while maintaining high productivity.
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 ink composition achieves excellent color developing properties, ejection stability, and improved clogging recoverability during high-speed printing on absorbent media by inhibiting ink reactivity with calcium salts, thus reducing nozzle clogging and maintaining ink supply.
Implementation Method 1
transporting a recording medium by a transport unit and ejecting an ink composition from an ink jet head to cause the ink composition to adhere to the recording medium that is being transported
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet recording method includes transporting a recording medium by a transport unit and ejecting an ink composition from an ink jet head to cause the ink composition to adhere to the recording medium that is being transported. The ink jet head is a line head having a length of a recording area of the recording medium or more in a direction crossing a direction of the transporting. The recording medium is an absorbent recording medium. The ink composition is a red-based aqueous ink containing a pigment. The pigment contains an azo-based pigment. A viscosity η1 of a mixed liquid when 10 parts by mass of the ink composition and 1 part by mass of an aqueous calcium propionate solution with a concentration of a Ca element of 0.3 mol/L are mixed together is less than 2.0 times a viscosity η0 of the ink composition.