CN115697712A - Method for forming flow path of ink jet head, image forming method and ink jet head - Google Patents

Method for forming flow path of ink jet head, image forming method and ink jet head Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CN115697712A
CN115697712A CN202080101995.4A CN202080101995A CN115697712A CN 115697712 A CN115697712 A CN 115697712A CN 202080101995 A CN202080101995 A CN 202080101995A CN 115697712 A CN115697712 A CN 115697712A
Authority
CN
China
Prior art keywords
flow path
liquid
ink jet
jet head
particles
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
CN202080101995.4A
Other languages
Chinese (zh)
Inventor
户田义朗
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Konica Minolta Inc
Original Assignee
Konica Minolta Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Konica Minolta Inc filed Critical Konica Minolta Inc
Publication of CN115697712A publication Critical patent/CN115697712A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/18—Ink recirculation systems
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/19—Ink jet characterised by ink handling for removing air bubbles

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Abstract

Provided are a method for forming a flow path of an ink jet head, a method for forming an image, and an ink jet head, wherein the flow path of ink jet is formed with a small amount of stagnant portions. The method for forming a flow path of an ink jet head includes a flow path forming step including: a first liquid passing step of passing a first liquid containing sedimentary particles through a flow channel (200); a filling step of filling the inside of the flow path (200) with the first liquid; a settling step of stopping the flow of the first liquid for a predetermined time to settle the particles in a retention section (250) in the flow path (200); and a second liquid passing step of passing the first liquid through the flow path (200) again.

Description

Method for forming flow path of ink jet head, image forming method and ink jet head
Technical Field
The invention relates to a flow path forming method of an ink jet head, an image forming method and an ink jet head.
Background
Conventionally, there is an inkjet head recording device using an inkjet head that ejects ink from nozzles to form an image, a structure, or the like on a medium.
When the air bubbles remain in the liquid flow path of the ink jet head, the air bubbles absorb the pressure fluctuation at the time of ejection, and thus there is a problem that the ejection characteristics are deviated and the ejection is defective.
In this regard, patent document 1 describes the following technique: a path is provided for circulating ink between a recording head (ink jet head) and an ink cartridge and returning the ink from a filter in which bubbles are easily captured to the ink cartridge without passing through the recording head, thereby removing the bubbles.
Further, patent document 2 describes the following technique: the ink circulation between the ink jet head and the ink cartridge is performed by adjusting the differential pressure by a bellows or a regulator without using an expensive pressure sensor, thereby removing air bubbles.
Further, patent document 3 describes a recording head (ink jet head) having a liquid chamber having a structure in which: the flow velocity of the liquid flowing along the surface where the component of the liquid is accumulated is higher than the flow velocity of the liquid flowing along the other surface when the liquid is not discharged.
Documents of the prior art
Patent document
Patent document 1: japanese unexamined patent publication No. 6-155765
Patent document 2: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2011-110851
Patent document 3: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2019-34464
Disclosure of Invention
Problems to be solved by the invention
However, in the case of using the techniques of patent documents 1 and 2, once bubbles enter the retention portion in the flow path of the inkjet head, it is difficult to easily discharge the bubbles even if the ink is circulated, and it is not sufficient to discharge the bubbles. Here, the retention section is a region where the speed of the liquid in the flow path is relatively low, or a region where bubbles stay in the region by forming a vortex or the like without flowing in the direction in which the liquid originally flows.
In addition, in the case of using the technique of patent document 3, there are many regions where the flow velocity of the liquid in the flow path of the ink jet head is slow, and a structure in which the flow velocity is not slow in all of the regions becomes a factor of complicating the manufacturing process and increasing the cost, which is not realistic.
An object of the present invention is to provide a flow path forming method for an inkjet head, an image forming method, and an inkjet head, in which a flow path for ink jet with less bubble retention is easily formed.
Means for solving the problems
In order to solve the above problem, a method for forming a flow path of an ink jet head according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a flow path forming step including:
a first liquid passing step of passing a first liquid containing sedimentable particles through a flow path;
a filling step of filling the inside of the flow path with the first liquid;
a settling step of stopping the flow of the first liquid for a predetermined time to settle the particles in a retention section in the flow path;
and a second liquid passing step of passing the first liquid through the flow path again.
In addition, a method of forming a flow path of an ink jet head according to a second aspect of the present invention includes:
a tank for storing a first liquid containing sedimentable particles,
An ink jet head for jetting the first liquid,
A supply path for supplying the first liquid from the tank to the ink jet head,
An ink jet recording apparatus having a circulation path for returning the first liquid from the ink jet head to the tank includes a flow path forming step including:
a first liquid passing step of passing the first liquid through the tank, the supply path, the flow path of the head, and the circulation path in this order to circulate the first liquid between the head and the tank;
a filling step of filling the inside of the flow path with the first liquid;
a settling step of stopping the flow of the first liquid for a predetermined time to settle the particles in a retention section in the flow path;
and a second liquid passing step of circulating the first liquid again between the ink jet head and the tank.
Further, an invention according to a third aspect is the method for forming a flow path of an ink jet head according to the first or second aspect,
in the settling step, the first liquid is heated to a temperature higher than the ambient temperature.
In addition, an invention described in a fourth aspect is the method of forming a flow path of an ink jet head described in any one of the first to third aspects,
the flow path forming step includes a cooling step of cooling the first liquid to an ambient temperature and leaving it for a predetermined time between the filling step and the settling step.
In addition, an invention described in a fifth aspect is the method of forming a flow path of an ink jet head described in any one of the first to fourth aspects,
the flow path forming step includes an aggregation promoting step of passing a second liquid having a different PH from the first liquid through the flow path after the second liquid passing step.
In addition, an invention described in a sixth aspect is a method of forming a flow path of an ink jet head described in the fifth aspect,
the second liquid is a cleaning liquid.
An invention according to a seventh aspect is the method of forming a flow path of an ink jet head according to any one of the first to fourth aspects,
the flow path forming step includes an aggregation accelerating step of bringing the PH of the first liquid in the flow path close to the isoelectric point of the particles after the second liquid passing step.
An invention according to an eighth aspect is the method of forming a flow path of an ink jet head according to any one of the first to seventh aspects,
after the second liquid passing step, the flow path forming step is repeated again by replacing the first liquid with a third liquid containing at least one type of sedimentary particles having a volume average particle diameter different from that of the particles.
In addition, a flow path forming method of an ink jet head according to a ninth aspect of the invention includes a flow path forming step including:
a liquid passing step of passing a first liquid containing sedimentary particles that are dissolved by heat through a flow path;
a filling step of filling the inside of the flow path with the first liquid;
a settling step of stopping the flow of the first liquid for a predetermined time to settle the particles in a retention section in the flow path;
and a heating and dissolving step of heating the inside of the flow path to a temperature equal to or higher than a temperature at which the particles are dissolved, thereby heating and dissolving at least a part of the particles.
A tenth aspect of the present invention provides a method of forming a flow path of an ink jet head, comprising:
a liquid passage step of passing a first liquid, which contains particles having a polymerization initiating group and settleability on the surface thereof, through a flow path;
a filling step of filling the inside of the flow path with the first liquid;
a settling step of stopping the flow of the first liquid for a predetermined time to settle the particles in a retention section in the flow path;
and a polymerization reaction step of causing a liquid containing a polymerizable monomer to pass through the flow path to initiate a polymerization reaction on the surface of the particle.
An invention according to an eleventh aspect is a method of forming a flow path of an ink jet head according to the ninth or tenth aspect,
the flow path forming step is repeated.
In addition, an invention described in a twelfth aspect is the method of forming a flow path of an ink jet head described in any one of the first to eleventh aspects,
after the flow path forming step is performed in the direction of the inkjet head during the ejection operation, the flow path forming step is performed again by changing the direction.
In addition, an invention described in a thirteenth aspect is the method of forming a flow path of an ink jet head described in any one of the first to twelfth aspects,
the volume average particle diameter of the particles is 80 to 30,000nm.
In addition, an invention described in a fourteenth aspect is the method of forming a flow path of an ink jet head described in any one of the first to thirteenth aspects,
the particles include at least two or more types of particles having different volume average particle diameters.
In addition, an invention described in a fifteenth aspect is the method of forming a flow path of an ink jet head described in any one of the first to fourteenth aspects,
the difference between the density of the particles and the density of the main solvent of the first liquid is 0.2g/cm 3 As described above.
Further, an image forming method of the invention described in the sixteenth aspect
An image is formed using an inkjet head that forms a flow path using the flow path forming method of the inkjet head described in any one of the first to fifteenth aspects.
An ink jet head according to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention includes:
a flow path through which a liquid containing sedimentable particles flows;
a retention section that settles the particles in the flow path.
Effects of the invention
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method of forming a flow path of an ink jet head, a method of forming an image, and an ink jet head, in which a flow path of ink jet with little retention of air bubbles is easily formed.
Drawings
Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2A is a diagram illustrating a retention section of a flow path of an ink jet head according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2B is a diagram showing a retention section in the vicinity of a nozzle of an inkjet head according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a flowchart of a method of forming an ink jet head flow path according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 4A is a diagram showing a state in which sedimentary particles are deposited in a retention section of a flow path of an ink jet head according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 4B is a diagram showing a state in which the sedimentary particles are deposited in the retention section of the flow path of the ink jet head according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 4C is a diagram showing a state in which sedimentary particles are deposited in a retention section of a flow path of the ink jet head according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 5A is a diagram illustrating a retention section of a flow path of an inkjet head according to a first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 5B is a view showing a retention section near a nozzle of an inkjet head according to a first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 5C is a diagram showing a retention section of a flow path of an ink jet head according to a second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 5D is a view showing a retention section near a nozzle of an ink jet head according to a second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 6A is a diagram showing a state in which sedimentary particles are deposited in a retention section of a flow path of an ink jet head according to a first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 6B is a diagram showing a state in which sedimentary particles are deposited in a retention section of a flow path of an ink jet head according to a first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 6C is a diagram showing a state in which the sedimentary particles are deposited in the retention section of the flow path of the ink jet head according to the first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 6D is a diagram showing a state in which sedimentary particles are deposited in a retention section of a flow path of an ink jet head according to a second modification example of the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 6E is a diagram showing a state in which sedimentary particles are deposited in a retention section of a flow path of an ink jet head according to a second modification example of the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 6F is a diagram showing a state in which the sedimentary particles are deposited in the retention section of the flow path of the ink jet head according to the second modification example of the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 7 is a flowchart of an ink jet head flow path forming method according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed Description
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(embodiment I)
Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of an inkjet recording apparatus 1.
The inkjet recording device 1 includes an inkjet head 10, an ink cartridge 20 that temporarily stores ink, and external flow paths 31 and 32 that connect the inkjet head 10 and the ink cartridge 20.
The inkjet head 10 includes a connection portion 11 connected to the external flow path 31 and a connection portion 12 connected to the external flow path 32. The connection portion 11 is an inlet of ink, and the connection portion 12 is an outlet of ink.
The ink temporarily stored in the ink cartridge 20 passes through the external flow path 31 and the connection portion 11, reaches the nozzle 211 (fig. 2) of the inkjet head 10, and is partially discharged. The ink that is not ejected passes through the connection portion 12 and the external flow path 32 and returns to the ink cartridge 20. In this way, the ink circulates between the ink cartridge 20 and the inkjet head 10, the external flow path 31 functions as a supply path, and the external flow path 32 functions as a circulation path. Arrows near the external flow paths 31 and 32 in fig. 1 indicate the flow direction of ink.
Fig. 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating a retention section of a flow path of the inkjet head 10. Fig. 2B is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the nozzle 211.
The inkjet head 10 includes a head wafer 2, a holding portion 3, a common ink chamber 5, and the like.
The head wafer 2 is configured by integrally stacking a nozzle substrate 21, an intermediate substrate 22, an actuator substrate 23, and a protective substrate 24 in this order from the lower side.
The nozzle substrate 21 is formed with a nozzle 211 for ejecting a droplet of ink, a large diameter portion 212 communicating with the nozzle 211, and an independent circulation flow channel 213 for circulating the ink.
The intermediate substrate 22 is provided with a communication hole 221 that penetrates the intermediate substrate 22 in the vertical direction and communicates with the large diameter portion 212, and a common circulation flow path 222 that merges the inks flowing from the plurality of independent circulation flow paths 213.
The actuator substrate 23 is provided with a pressure chamber 231 that communicates with the communication hole 221 and stores ink.
The protective substrate 24 is provided with a supply flow path 241 that penetrates in the vertical direction and communicates the common supply liquid chamber 51 with the pressure chamber 231.
The common ink chamber 5 has a common supply liquid chamber 51 filled with ink.
A connection portion 11 is provided above the common ink chamber 5, and ink supplied from the connection portion 11 to the head wafer 2 is supplied.
Next, the circulation path of ink inside the inkjet head 10 will be described. The ink is supplied from the connection portion 11, flows through the common supply liquid chamber 51 of the common ink chamber 5, the supply flow path 241, the pressure chamber 231, the communication hole 221, the large diameter portion 212, the independent circulation flow path 213, the common circulation flow path 222, and the connection portion 12 in this order, and is discharged to the outside of the inkjet head 10.
The arrows of fig. 2A indicate the flow of ink.
Therefore, the connection portion 11, the common supply liquid chamber 51 of the common ink chamber 5, the supply flow path 241, the pressure chamber 231, the communication hole 221, the large diameter portion 212, the independent circulation flow path 213, the common circulation flow path 222, and the connection portion 12 constitute a flow path 200.
In the ink jet head 10 having such a structure, the point indicated by "o" in fig. 2A and 2B is the retention section 250, and the retention section 250 is a region where the velocity of the ink in the flow path 200 is relatively low or a region where bubbles stay in the region by forming a swirl or the like without flowing in the direction in which the ink originally flows. Specifically, the retention section 250 near the nozzle shown in fig. 2B is a retention section 250A, the retention section 250 at the upper right of the pressure chamber 231 shown in fig. 2A is a retention section 250B, and the retention section 250 at the lower left of the pressure chamber 231 is a retention section 250C.
In order to reduce the stagnation portion 250 in the flow path 200 as described above, the following method of forming an ink jet head flow path is performed: the ink containing the settling particles is filled in the ink jet head 10, and the settling particles are settled in the retention section 250 to fill the retention section 250.
When the volume average particle diameter of the settling particles contained in the ink is too small, it takes time to settle, when the volume average particle diameter is too large, the dispersion stability is poor, and the settling particles settle in the region other than the retention part 250 and become an inhibitor of the ink flow, and therefore it is preferable to use the settling particles having a volume average particle diameter of 80 to 30,000nm. Further, when the pigment ink is used, it is more preferable to use the settling particles having a volume average particle diameter of 150 to 10,000nm. When an ink containing titanium dioxide is used, it is more preferable to use a sedimentable particle having a volume average particle diameter of 200 to 10,000nm.
The volume average particle diameter of the sedimentary particles may be any one of a primary particle diameter and a secondary particle diameter in an aggregated state, and a method for measuring the volume average particle diameter is not limited.
In addition, at least two or more types of the sedimentary particles having different volume average particle diameters are preferably used. By using the sedimentary particles having different volume average particle diameters, the sedimentary particles can be sedimented in the retention section 250 in a state of having few voids or irregularities and being close to the closest packing.
In addition, the difference between the density of the settling particles and the density of the main solvent of the ink containing the settling particles is preferably 0.2g/cm 3 As described above. By the presence of the density difference, the sedimentable particles can be sedimented in a short time. Further, the density difference is more preferably 0.5g/cm 3 The above. However, the density difference is not limited to the above value as long as the particles are sedimentable.
The sedimentation velocity of the sedimentary particles is expressed by the stokes formula below, and is proportional to the difference between the density of the sedimentary particles and the density of the main solvent of the ink containing the sedimentary particles.
v s ＝D p 2 (ρ p -ρ f )g/18η
v s : terminal speed [ cm/s]
D p : particle size [ cm ]]
ρ p : density of particles [ g/cm ] 3 ]
ρ f : density of fluid [ g/cm ] 3 ]
g: acceleration by gravityDegree [ cm/s 2 ]
Eta: viscosity of fluid [ g/(cm. S) ]
As the settling particles, organic pigments, inorganic pigments, insoluble dyes, binder particles, and the like can be used.
The material of the precipitable particles may be organic, or inorganic containing metal, and in the case of organic, it may be thermosetting, or thermoplastic. Further, a composite material thereof is also possible.
The sedimenting particles may be single particles, or may have a coating or a deposit of a dispersant or the like on the particle surface, or may be aggregated with each other.
Specific organic pigments which can be preferably used include the following pigments.
Examples of the pigment for magenta or red include c.i. pigment red 2, c.i. pigment red 3, c.i. pigment red 5, c.i. pigment red 6, c.i. pigment red 7, c.i. pigment red 15, c.i. pigment red 16, c.i. pigment red 48: 1. c.i. pigment red 53: 1. c.i. pigment red 57: 1. c.i. pigment red 122, c.i. pigment red 123, c.i. pigment red 139, c.i. pigment red 144, c.i. pigment red 149, c.i. pigment red 166, c.i. pigment red 177, c.i. pigment red 178, c.i. pigment red 202, c.i. pigment red 222, c.i. pigment violet 19, and the like.
Examples of orange or yellow pigments include c.i. pigment orange 31, c.i. pigment orange 43, c.i. pigment yellow 12, c.i. pigment yellow 13, c.i. pigment yellow 14, c.i. pigment yellow 15: 3. c.i. pigment yellow 17, c.i. pigment yellow 74, c.i. pigment yellow 93, c.i. pigment yellow 128, c.i. pigment yellow 94, c.i. pigment yellow 138, c.i. pigment yellow 155, and the like. C.i. pigment yellow 155 is preferable particularly in terms of balance of hue and lightfastness.
Examples of the pigment for green or cyan include c.i. pigment blue 15, c.i. pigment blue 15: 2. c.i. pigment blue 15: 3. c.i. pigment blue 16, c.i. pigment blue 60, c.i. pigment green 7, etc.
Examples of the black pigment include c.i. pigment black 1, c.i. pigment black 6, and c.i. pigment black 7.
As specific inorganic pigments such as titanium dioxide which can be preferably used, there are three crystal forms of anatase type, rutile type and brookite type, but general crystal forms can be roughly classified into anatase type and rutile type. The rutile type is not particularly limited, but preferably has a large refractive index and high hiding property. Specifically, there may be mentioned TR series available from Fuji titanium industries, JR series available from TAYCA industries, and TIPAQUE available from Shinyuan industries.
Specific insoluble pigments which can be preferably used are not particularly limited, and examples thereof include azo, azomethine, methine, diphenylmethane, triphenylmethane, quinacridone, anthraquinone, perylene, indigo, quinophthalone, isoindolinone, isoindoline, azine, oxazine, thiazine, dioxazine, thiazole, phthalocyanine, diketopyrrolopyrrole, and the like.
In order to reduce the stagnation portion 250 in the flow path 200 as described above, the method of forming the flow path of the ink jet head 10 shown in the flowchart of fig. 3 is performed in the ink jet recording apparatus 1.
In this method of forming the flow path of the inkjet head 10, the inkjet head 10 is fixed in the direction in which ink is ejected, that is, in the direction in which the nozzle substrate 21 is positioned on the lower surface of the inkjet head 10.
In the method of forming the flow path of the ink jet head 10 described below, ink containing settling particles is used. At least two types of the sedimentable particles having different volume average particle diameters are used.
First, in the configuration shown in fig. 1, a first liquid passing step (step S1) of circulating first ink by flowing the first ink as the first liquid from the ink cartridge 20 in the order of the external flow path 31, the ink jet head 10, the external flow path 32, and the ink cartridge 20 is performed.
Next, a filling step (step S2) is performed in which the flow path 200 in the inkjet head 10, that is, the common supply liquid chamber 51 from the connection portion 11 to the common ink chamber 5, the supply flow path 241, the pressure chamber 231, the communication hole 221, the large diameter portion 212, the individual circulation flow path 213, the common circulation flow path 222, and the connection portion 12 are filled with ink, and the circulating flow of the first ink is stopped.
Next, a cooling step (step S3) of cooling the first ink to an ambient temperature and leaving it for a predetermined time is performed. By cooling the first ink to ambient temperature, the settleable particles are softened and aggregated.
Next, a settling step (step S4) is performed, in which the first ink is heated to a temperature higher than the ambient temperature and left standing for a predetermined time to settle the settling particles in the retention section 250 in the flow path 200. By heating the first ink to a temperature higher than the ambient temperature, aggregation of the settleable particles is promoted and sedimentation is facilitated.
Next, a second liquid passing step (step S5) is performed, in which the first ink is circulated again, and the settling particles existing in the flow path 200 other than the retention section 250 are caused to flow. At this time, the first ink may be ejected from the nozzle 211 in order to discharge the settling particles inside the nozzle 211.
Next, an aggregation accelerating step (step S6) is performed in which a second liquid having a PH different from that of the first ink is passed through the flow path 200 in the inkjet head 10, or the PH of the first ink in the flow path 200 in the inkjet head 10 is brought close to the isoelectric point of the sedimentary particles.
By passing the second liquid through the flow path 200 in the inkjet head 10, the dispersion stability of the settling particles is changed, and settling is facilitated or aggregates are readily formed. In this step, when the flow of the second liquid is started, the first ink may be filled or may not be filled in the flow path. A cleaning liquid may also be used as the second liquid.
In addition, the PH of the first ink in the flow path 200 is set close to the isoelectric point of the sedimentary particles, so that the sedimentary particles are easily aggregated.
Next, the steps S1 to S6 (flow path forming step) are performed again using a third ink (step S7) containing at least one or more types of settling particles having a volume average particle diameter different from that of the settling particles contained in the ink used in the steps S1 to S6.
By settling the settling particles having different volume average particle diameters, the filling rate can be increased, and the retention part 250 can be filled with a small amount of voids or irregularities.
Next, the direction in which the inkjet head 10 is fixed is changed to the direction in which the nozzle substrate 21 is positioned on the upper surface of the inkjet head 10, and steps S1 to S7 are performed again (step S8). Since the sedimentary particles sediment only in the direction of gravity (vertically downward), the direction is changed, and the sedimentary particles also sediment in the retention section 250 vertically upward, thereby filling the retention section 250.
Here, fig. 4A is a diagram showing a state in which the settling particles are deposited in the retention section 250A of the inkjet head 10, fig. 4B is a diagram showing a state in which the settling particles are deposited in the retention section 250B, and fig. 4C is a diagram showing a state in which the settling particles are deposited in the retention section 250C.
Next, it is checked whether or not the ink is reduced to a level that causes no problem in the ejection characteristics in the above steps S1 to S8 by ejecting the ink from the retention section 250 in the flow path 200 of the inkjet head 10 (step S9). Here, the injection characteristics refer to injection speed, injected liquid amount, injection angle, reverberation vibration, and the like. The sedimenting particles settle in the retention section 250, the retention section 250 decreases, and the ejection characteristics change without the bubbles being retained in the flow channel 200.
When the retention section 250 is sufficiently reduced (step S9: YES), the method of forming the flow path of the ink jet head is ended. If the retention section 250 is not sufficiently reduced (no in step S9), the process returns to step S1.
As described above, the method of forming a flow path of an ink jet head according to the first embodiment includes a flow path forming step in an ink jet recording apparatus 1 including a tank (ink cartridge 20) for storing a first liquid containing a sedimentable particle, an ink jet head 10 for ejecting the first liquid, a supply path (external flow path 31) for supplying the first liquid from the tank to the ink jet head, and a circulation path (external flow path 32) for returning the first liquid from the ink jet head 10 to the tank, the flow path forming step including: a first liquid passing step of passing the first liquid through the tank, the supply path, the flow path 200 of the ink-jet head 10, and the circulation path in this order to circulate the first liquid between the ink-jet head 10 and the tank; a filling step of filling the inside of the flow path 200 with the first liquid; a settling step of stopping the flow of the first liquid for a predetermined time to settle the particles in the retention section 250 in the flow path 200; the second liquid passing process, which circulates the first liquid again between the inkjet head 10 and the tank.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a method of forming a flow path of an ink jet head, a method of forming an image, and an ink jet head, in which the flow path of the ink jet head in which the retention of air bubbles is small is easily formed.
Further, according to image formation using an ink jet head in which a flow path having a small amount of retention is formed, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of image quality defects due to air bubbles.
Further, according to the ink jet head in which the flow path having the small number of stagnation portions is formed as described above, it is possible to perform image formation in which the occurrence of image quality defects due to bubbles is suppressed.
(modification example)
Hereinafter, the differences between the present modification and the ink jet recording apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be mainly described.
In the configuration of the present modification, as shown in fig. 1, the external flow path 32 as a circulation path is not provided, and ink is not circulated between the ink cartridge 20 and the ink jet head 10. That is, the ink is supplied from the ink cartridge 20 to the inkjet head 10 via the external flow path 31 as a supply path, and is ejected from the inkjet head 10 and discharged.
Fig. 5A and 5B are views showing the retention section 250 of the flow path of the ink jet head 10a according to the first modification of the first embodiment. Fig. 5B is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the nozzle 211.
The inkjet head 10a shown in fig. 5A is a bending mode inkjet head. The same components as those of the ink jet head 10 of fig. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description is made.
The flow path 200 of ink inside the inkjet head 10a will be described. Ink is supplied from the connection portion 11, flows through the supply flow path 241, the pressure chamber 231, and the communication hole 221 in this order, and is discharged from the nozzle 211.
The arrows of fig. 5A indicate the flow of ink.
In the ink jet head 10a according to the first modification, the point indicated by "∘" in fig. 5A and 5B is the retention section 250, and the retention section 250 is a region in which the velocity of the ink in the flow path 200 is relatively low or a region in which bubbles stay in the region by forming a vortex or the like without flowing in the direction in which the ink originally flows. Specifically, the retention section 250 near the nozzle 211 shown in fig. 5B is a retention section 250D, the retention section 250 at the upper right of the pressure chamber 231 shown in fig. 5A is a retention section 250E, and the retention section 250 at the lower left of the pressure chamber 231 is a retention section 250F.
Fig. 5C and 5D are views showing the retention section 250 of the flow path 200 of the ink jet head 10b according to the second modification of the first embodiment. Fig. 5C is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the nozzle 211.
The inkjet head 10b shown in fig. 5C is a shear mode inkjet head.
The flow path 200 of ink inside the inkjet head 10b will be described. Ink is supplied from the connection portion 11, flows through the common liquid supply chamber 51 and the pressure chamber 231 in this order, and is discharged from the nozzle 211.
The arrows of fig. 5C indicate the flow of ink.
In the inkjet head 10b of the second modification, the retention section 250 is defined as a point indicated by a circle in fig. 5C and 5D. Specifically, the retention section 250 near the nozzle 211 shown in fig. 5D is a retention section 250G, the retention section 250 at the lower right of the common feed liquid chamber 51 shown in fig. 5C is a retention section 250H, and the retention section 250 at the lower left of the common feed liquid chamber 51 is a retention section 250I.
In the configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 using the inkjet heads 10a and 10B shown in fig. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D, when the method of forming the flow path of the inkjet head shown in fig. 3 is performed, in the first liquid passing step (step S1), ink is caused to flow from the ink cartridge 20 to the external flow path 31, the inkjet heads 10a and 10B, and the nozzle 211 in this order without circulating the ink.
Similarly, in the second liquid passing step (step S5), ink is also caused to flow from the ink cartridge 20 through the external flow path 31, the inkjet heads 10a and 10b, and the nozzle 211 in this order.
The other configurations and the steps of the method of forming the flow path of the inkjet head are the same as those of the method of forming the flow path of the inkjet head according to the first embodiment.
Here, fig. 6A is a diagram showing a state in which the settling particles are deposited in the retention section 250D of the inkjet head 10a according to the first modification, fig. 6B is a diagram showing a state in which the settling particles are deposited in the retention section 250E, and fig. 6C is a diagram showing a state in which the settling particles are deposited in the retention section 250F.
Here, fig. 6D is a diagram showing a state in which the settling particles are deposited in the retention section 250G of the inkjet head 10b according to the second modification, fig. 6E is a diagram showing a state in which the settling particles are deposited in the retention section 250H, and fig. 6F is a diagram showing a state in which the settling particles are deposited in the retention section 250I.
As described above, the method for forming a flow path of an inkjet head according to a modification of the first embodiment includes: a first liquid passing step of passing a first liquid containing sedimentary particles through the flow channel 200; a filling step of filling the inside of the flow path 200 with the first liquid; a settling step of stopping the flow of the first liquid for a predetermined time to settle the particles in a retention section 250 in the flow channel 200; the second liquid passing step is to pass the first liquid through the flow path 200 again.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a method of forming a flow path of an ink jet head, a method of forming an image, and an ink jet head, in which a flow path of ink jet with less retention of air bubbles is easily formed.
(second embodiment)
Fig. 7 is a flowchart of an ink jet head flow path forming method according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The method of forming the ink jet head flow path according to the second embodiment performs the bonding step described in detail below without performing the aggregation accelerating step, instead of the second liquid passing step in the method of forming the flow path of the ink jet head according to the first embodiment and the modification. The liquid passage step of step S11 is the same as the first liquid passage step in the flow path forming method for an ink jet head according to the first embodiment and the modified examples described above.
In addition, the same process as in the method of forming the flow path of the ink jet head according to the first embodiment and the modification is denoted by the same reference numeral, and description thereof is omitted.
In the case of performing the method of forming an ink jet head flow path according to the second embodiment, at least one or more types of the settling particles are settling particles that are dissolved by heat, or settling particles in which a polymerization initiating group is present on the surface of the particles.
In the method of forming the flow path of the ink jet head according to the second embodiment, when the settling particles that are dissolved by one or more types of heat are used, a bonding step (heating and dissolving step) is performed in which the flow path 200 in the ink jet heads 10, 10a, and 10b is heated to a temperature at which the settling particles are dissolved, and at least a part of the settling particles is heated and dissolved.
Since there is a possibility that the sedimentable particles flow out of the retention section 250 if only the sedimentable particles are sedimented, at least a part of the sedimentable particles are dissolved, and the sedimented particles are dissolved and bonded to each other, thereby preventing the outflow.
As a method of heating the flow path 200 in the inkjet heads 10, 10a, 10b, the following method can be used: each of the ink jet heads 10, 10a, 10b is placed in a heater, or a high temperature solution is made to flow into the flow path 200, or a high temperature gas is made to flow into the flow path 200.
In the method of forming the flow path of the ink jet head according to the second embodiment, when one or more types of the settling particles having no polymerization initiating group on the particle surface are used, a binding step (polymerization reaction step) of passing a liquid containing a polymerizable monomer through the flow path 200 in the ink jet head 10, 10a, or 10b to cause a polymerization reaction on the surface of the settling particles is performed.
Since there is a possibility that the sedimenting particles flow out of the retention section 250 if only the sedimenting particles are sedimented, at least a part of the sedimenting particles are caused to initiate a polymerization reaction, and the sedimenting particles are bonded to each other or with a polymer to prevent the outflow.
In the case of performing the bonding step by the polymerization reaction, the liquid is sufficiently passed so that the sedimentary particles other than the retention section 250 flow after the sedimentation step in order not to cause the polymerization reaction in the section other than the retention section 250 in the flow channel 200. The liquid used at this time is preferably a liquid containing no polymerization initiator.
As described above, the method of forming a flow path of an ink jet head according to the second embodiment includes a flow path forming step in an ink jet recording apparatus 1 including a tank (ink cartridge 20) for storing a first liquid containing a sedimentable particle, an ink jet head 10 for ejecting the first liquid, a supply path (external flow path 31) for supplying the first liquid from the tank to the ink jet head, and a circulation path (external flow path 32) for returning the first liquid from the ink jet head 10 to the tank, the flow path forming step including: a liquid passing step of passing the first liquid through the tank, the supply path, the flow path 200 of the ink jet head 10, and the circulation path in this order to circulate the first liquid between the ink jet head 10 and the tank; a filling step of filling the inside of the flow path 200 with the first liquid; a settling step of stopping the flow of the first liquid for a predetermined time to settle the particles in a retention section 250 in the flow channel 200; and a bonding step of bonding the particles retained in the retention section 250.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a method of forming a flow path of an ink jet head, a method of forming an image, and an ink jet head, in which the flow path of the ink jet head in which the retention of bubbles is small is easily formed.
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made.
For example, in the method of forming the flow path of the inkjet head according to the above-described embodiment and modifications, the inkjet heads 10, 10a, and 10b are oriented so that the nozzle substrate 21 is fixed to the lower surface. The direction of the nozzle substrate 21 positioned on the upper surface may be fixed and changed to the direction of the nozzle substrate 21 positioned on the lower surface in the middle.
Further, the specific details of the structures shown in the above-described embodiments and modifications can be appropriately changed without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Industrial applicability
The present invention is applicable to a method of forming a flow path of an inkjet head, a method of forming an image, and an inkjet head.
Description of the reference numerals
1. Ink jet recording apparatus
2. Head wafer
21. Nozzle base plate
200. Flow path
211. Nozzle with a nozzle body
212. Large diameter part
213. Single circulation flow path
22. Intermediate substrate
221. Communicating hole
222. Common circulation flow path
23. Actuator substrate
231. Pressure chamber
24. Protective substrate
241. Supply flow path
250. Retention part
3. Holding part
5. Common ink chamber
51. Common liquid supply chamber
10. 10a, 10b ink jet head
11. 12 connecting part
20. Ink box
31. External flow path (supply path)
32. External flow path (circulation path)

Claims (17)

1. A method for forming a flow path of an ink jet head includes a flow path forming step,
the flow path forming step includes:
a first liquid passing step of passing a first liquid containing sedimentable particles through a flow path;
a filling step of filling the inside of the flow path with the first liquid;
a settling step of stopping the flow of the first liquid for a predetermined time to settle the particles in a retention section in the flow path;
and a second liquid passing step of passing the first liquid through the flow path again.
2. A method of forming a flow path of an ink jet head, wherein an ink jet recording apparatus having a flow path forming step comprises: a tank that stores a first liquid containing sedimentable particles, an ink jet head that ejects the first liquid, a supply path that supplies the first liquid from the tank to the ink jet head, and a circulation path that returns the first liquid from the ink jet head to the tank,
the flow path forming step includes:
a first liquid passing step of passing the first liquid through the tank, the supply path, the flow path of the inkjet head, and the circulation path in this order to circulate the first liquid between the inkjet head and the tank;
a filling step of filling the inside of the flow path with the first liquid;
a settling step of stopping the flow of the first liquid for a predetermined time to settle the particles in a retention section in the flow path;
and a second liquid passing step of circulating the first liquid again between the ink jet head and the tank.
3. The flow path forming method of an ink jet head according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,
in the settling step, the first liquid is heated to a temperature higher than ambient temperature.
4. The flow path forming method of an ink jet head according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein,
the flow path forming step includes a cooling step of cooling the first liquid to an ambient temperature and leaving it for a predetermined time between the filling step and the settling step.
5. The flow path forming method of an ink jet head according to any of claims 1 to 4,
the flow path forming step includes an aggregation promoting step of passing a second liquid having a different PH from the first liquid through the flow path after the second liquid passing step.
6. The flow path forming method of an ink jet head according to claim 5,
the second liquid is a cleaning liquid.
7. The flow path forming method of an ink jet head according to any of claims 1 to 4,
the flow path forming step includes an aggregation accelerating step of bringing the PH of the first liquid in the flow path close to the isoelectric point of the particles after the second liquid passing step.
8. The flow path forming method of an ink jet head according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein,
after the second liquid passing step, the flow path forming step is repeated again by replacing the first liquid with a third liquid containing at least one type of sedimentable particles having a volume average particle diameter different from that of the particles.
9. A method for forming a flow path of an ink jet head includes a flow path forming step,
the flow path forming step includes:
a liquid passing step of passing a first liquid containing sedimentary particles dissolved by heat through a flow path;
a filling step of filling the inside of the flow path with the first liquid;
a settling step of stopping the flow of the first liquid for a predetermined time to settle the particles in a retention section in the flow path;
and a heating and dissolving step of heating the inside of the flow path to a temperature equal to or higher than a temperature at which the particles are dissolved, thereby heating and dissolving at least a part of the particles.
10. A method for forming a flow path of an ink jet head includes a flow path forming step,
the flow path forming step includes:
a liquid passing step of passing a first liquid, which contains particles having a polymerization initiating group and settleability on the surface, through a flow path;
a filling step of filling the inside of the flow path with the first liquid;
a settling step of stopping the flow of the first liquid for a predetermined time to settle the particles in a retention section in the flow path;
and a polymerization reaction step of causing a liquid containing a polymerizable monomer to pass through the flow path to initiate a polymerization reaction on the surface of the particle.
11. The flow path forming method of an ink jet head according to claim 9 or 10,
the flow path forming step is repeated.
12. The flow path forming method of an ink jet head according to any of claims 1 to 11,
after the flow path forming step is performed in the direction of the inkjet head during the ejection operation, the flow path forming step is performed again by changing the direction.
13. The flow path forming method of an ink jet head according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein,
the volume average particle diameter of the particles is 80 to 30,000nm.
14. The flow path forming method of an ink jet head according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein,
the particles include at least two or more types of particles having different volume average particle diameters.
15. The flow path forming method of an ink jet head according to any of claims 1 to 14, wherein,
the difference between the density of the particles and the density of the main solvent of the first liquid is 0.2g/cm 3 As described above.
16. An image forming method which forms an image using an inkjet head having a flow path formed using the flow path forming method of the inkjet head according to any one of claims 1 to 15.
17. An ink jet head includes:
a flow path through which a liquid containing sedimentable particles flows;
a retention section that settles the particles in the flow path.
CN202080101995.4A 2020-06-16 2020-06-16 Method for forming flow path of ink jet head, image forming method and ink jet head Pending CN115697712A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/JP2020/023531 WO2021255814A1 (en) 2020-06-16 2020-06-16 Inkjet head flow path forming method, image forming method, and inkjet head

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CN115697712A true CN115697712A (en) 2023-02-03

Family

ID=79268636

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CN202080101995.4A Pending CN115697712A (en) 2020-06-16 2020-06-16 Method for forming flow path of ink jet head, image forming method and ink jet head

Country Status (3)

Country Link
JP (1) JP7485032B2 (en)
CN (1) CN115697712A (en)
WO (1) WO2021255814A1 (en)

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2004009685A (en) 2002-06-11 2004-01-15 Canon Finetech Inc Recorder
JP2011110853A (en) * 2009-11-27 2011-06-09 Mimaki Engineering Co Ltd Liquid circulating system
JP6003209B2 (en) * 2012-05-16 2016-10-05 セイコーエプソン株式会社 Maintenance method of liquid ejecting apparatus
JP2014091241A (en) * 2012-11-01 2014-05-19 Mimaki Engineering Co Ltd Pressure absorption damper
US10899136B2 (en) 2017-01-24 2021-01-26 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Printing fluid recirculation
JP2019034464A (en) * 2017-08-15 2019-03-07 キヤノンファインテックニスカ株式会社 Liquid ejection head and liquid ejection device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPWO2021255814A1 (en) 2021-12-23
JP7485032B2 (en) 2024-05-16
WO2021255814A1 (en) 2021-12-23

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP5954276B2 (en) Inkjet ink degassing method, inkjet ink manufacturing method, and inkjet printer
US9441129B2 (en) Ink for inkjet recording, ink container, and inkjet recording device
US7029109B2 (en) Ink, ink set, ink jet recording method, ink jet recording apparatus, recording unit and ink cartridge
CN102310656B (en) Liquid ejection head, liquid ejection apparatus and inkjet printing apparatus
US7063415B2 (en) Liquid jet apparatus using a fine particle dispersion liquid composition
AU621945B2 (en) Improved process for making pigmented ink jet inks
CN110774759A (en) Liquid ejection head, liquid ejection module, and liquid ejection apparatus
CN104070823A (en) Liquid ejecting apparatus and liquid supplying method for liquid ejecting apparatus
US10113078B2 (en) Ink discharge device and ink discharge method
CN111212737A (en) Fluid chip
CN115697712A (en) Method for forming flow path of ink jet head, image forming method and ink jet head
US20130010036A1 (en) Print heads and print head fluids
JP2002254615A (en) Ink jet recording method and recording device
JP2020023151A (en) Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge module, liquid discharge device
US20040082686A1 (en) Aqueous ink composition for ink jet, ink cartridge, recording unit, ink jet recording apparatus, and ink jet recording method
JP2005014566A (en) Inkjet recording apparatus
CN110774761B (en) Liquid ejection head, liquid ejection apparatus, and liquid ejection module
JP6401602B2 (en) Sub tank and printer
JP7091157B2 (en) Inkjet recording method and inkjet recording device
US20190249020A1 (en) Ink, ink container, inkjet recording device, and recording method
CN213891839U (en) Printing ink recovery unit
CN111073392B (en) Ink for ink-jet printing
JP6939403B2 (en) Flow path structure, liquid discharge device and liquid discharge method
CN114571864A (en) Liquid ejection head, method of operating liquid ejection head, and liquid ejection apparatus
WO2005083018A1 (en) Printing method using nozzles with small diameters

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PB01 Publication
PB01 Publication
SE01 Entry into force of request for substantive examination
SE01 Entry into force of request for substantive examination