Maintenance Liquid for UV Curable Inkjet Printer Nozzle Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
UV curable inkjet printers face nozzle clogging issues due to the formation of hydrocarbon-based foreign matters triggered by humidity, which are difficult to remove with conventional maintenance liquids, leading to ejection problems.
Innovation Solution
A maintenance liquid composition that includes a water-soluble compound originating from the acidic monomer and initiator in the UV curable ink, specifically diethyleneglycol, which effectively dissolves and removes the foreign matters without harming the ink, along with a second ingredient that can dissolve the cured ink matter, addressing the clogging issue through a two-step cleaning process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional maintenance liquids (organic solvents like alkylene glycol derivatives) are used to clean the nozzle, then the cleaning process is simple and familiar, but the water-soluble foreign matters formed by humidity-triggered reactions cannot be effectively removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the maintenance liquid by incorporating water-soluble compounds (carboxylic acids, alcohols, or ketones) alongside conventional organic solvents. This parameter change enables the liquid to dissolve both hydrocarbon-based foreign matters and water-soluble reaction products, effectively resolving the clogging issue that conventional liquids cannot address.
Solution Approach 2:
The maintenance liquid is formulated as a composite solution containing multiple ingredient types: water-soluble compounds (carboxylic acids, alcohols, or ketones), conventional organic solvents (alkylene glycol derivatives), and auxiliary additives. This composite structure allows the liquid to handle multiple types of deposits simultaneously, combining the strengths of different chemical approaches.
2Productivity
If UV curable ink is cured immediately after ejection to eliminate drying time, then productivity is improved, but stray UV rays cause premature curing of ink around the nozzle leading to clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing maintenance cleaning before clogging occurs. The maintenance liquid is applied to the nozzle to prevent the accumulation of cured ink residues and foreign matters that would otherwise form due to stray UV light exposure during high-speed printing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The maintenance liquid acts as an intermediary substance that removes harmful cured residues and foreign matters from the nozzle. It mediates between the UV curing process and the nozzle integrity, preventing the harmful effects of premature curing accumulation while allowing the productivity benefits of immediate curing to continue.
3Speed
If UV curable ink with high hydrophobic monomer content is used to achieve instant photopolymerization, then curing speed is improved, but affinity with water decreases causing foreign matter formation in humid environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of water sensitivity into a benefit by using water-soluble compounds in the maintenance liquid. These compounds specifically target and dissolve the water-soluble foreign matters that form as a result of humidity-triggered reactions, turning the previously problematic water interaction into a solvable issue through appropriate chemical selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the solubility parameters of the maintenance liquid by incorporating water-soluble compounds with specific functional groups (carboxylic acids, alcohols, ketones). This parameter change enables the liquid to interact with and dissolve foreign matters that have water-soluble characteristics, addressing the affinity problem through chemical composition adjustment.
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 maintenance liquid effectively solves the ejection problem by dissolving and removing the water-soluble foreign matters and cured ink residues, maintaining the printer's performance without adverse effects on the ink, especially in high humidity environments.
Implementation Method 1
a maintenance liquid for a UV curable inkjet printer... includes a first ingredient in which a water-soluble compound is soluble
Implementation Method 2
a UV curable ink is cured by UV rays immediately after this ink is ejected from a head nozzle
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a maintenance liquid and a maintenance method that can solve an ejection problem of a UV curable inkjet printer. The maintenance liquid includes: a first ingredient in which a water-soluble compound is soluble and a cured matter of a UV curable ink is insoluble. The maintenance method includes: a first cleaning process at which a water-soluble compound that adheres to an inkjet head included in the UV curable inkjet printer is dissolved by a first maintenance liquid including the first ingredient in which the water-soluble compound is soluble and a cured matter of a UV curable ink is insoluble, and a second cleaning process at which the inkjet head is cleaned by a second maintenance liquid including a second ingredient in which the water-soluble compound is insoluble and the cured matter of the UV curable ink is soluble.