JP3430822B2 - Capping auxiliary liquid and ink jet recording apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inkjet recording device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a capping auxiliary liquid for the purpose of preventing printing defects caused by drying of nozzles due to capping defects during shipping and delivery of inkjet recording devices, and an inkjet recording device using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an ink jet recording apparatus,
Due to the mechanism of ejecting a recording liquid from a minute nozzle to form an image on a recording medium, the clogging of the nozzle is related to the life of the printer itself, and various researches and developments have been made to prevent it.

Most of them depend on the composition of the ink, and as a general measure to prevent clogging, an additive for increasing the solubility is added, but this results in the deterioration of the storage quality of the printed matter. I don't get it.

In the ink jet type recording apparatus, after the print inspection is performed before the product is shipped, the ink in the head is discharged,
In order to prevent the head from drying out, it is recommended to fill it with a water-soluble organic solvent, which has excellent moisture retention and hygroscopicity, and a delivery liquid containing ion-exchanged water as the main component, but it does not spread to the fine flow passages inside the head. In order to achieve this, the liquid to be delivered must have a low viscosity and the amount of water-soluble organic solvent that can be added naturally is limited, so it may be dried in a high temperature and low humidity environment. If the drying progresses, a small amount of ink for print inspection that remains in the head solidifies, clogging the nozzles, and when the user fills the ink and starts printing, ejection failure or flight bending occurs. However, there are cases where normal printing cannot be performed. In addition, depending on the ink used, the cap may come off when the printer is turned on and the print head moves, because it dries in the area where the head and cap come into contact during capping and forms a highly viscous paste that adheres to the cap. It sometimes malfunctioned.

As a countermeasure against these problems, it can be easily inferred that a water-soluble organic solvent having an excellent moisture retaining property such as glycerin is applied around the cap and the nozzle. However, even if an organic solvent is used alone, it can not be applied even if an organic solvent is used alone for a cap made of rubber or a nozzle plate that has been subjected to water repellent treatment to prevent flight bending caused by wetting with ink. Occurs. Therefore, the cap and the nozzle plate cannot be brought into close contact with each other. In addition, since a portion that does not mix with the high-viscosity paste-like ink is generated, it is not possible to prevent excessive adhesion between the head and the cap.

As a further measure, it can be easily guessed that a surfactant is added to improve the wettability. However, a high-viscosity liquid is preferable for application to the edge of the cap and the nozzle plate, and in a composition containing almost no water, the surfactant is not effective and satisfactory wettability cannot be obtained.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to prevent the nozzles from being dried during shipping and delivery of an ink jet type recording apparatus so as to prevent defective printing when the user starts using the head and cap. Another object of the present invention is to provide a capping auxiliary liquid capable of eliminating malfunction caused by excessive adhesion of the ink, and an ink jet recording apparatus using the capping auxiliary liquid.

[0008]

According to the present invention, in an ink jet recording apparatus, at least 70 to 70 is applied by applying to a portion of the cap that contacts the head and the periphery of the nozzle.
A capping auxiliary liquid comprising 99% by weight of a water-soluble high-boiling point low-volatile organic solvent, a surfactant and a dye, and the dye contains at least one selected from the following a to e. a. C. I. Direct Black 154 b. C. I. Direct Black 168 c. C. I. Direct Yellow 86 d. C. I. Direct Yellow 144 e. C. I. Acid Red 289

[0009]

In the capping auxiliary liquid of the present invention, the total amount of the dye contained is 0.05 to 1.5% by weight.

The capping auxiliary liquid of the present invention has a boiling point of 190 to 33 as the water-soluble high-boiling point low-volatile organic solvent.
It contains at least one polyhydric alcohol at 0 ° C.

In the capping auxiliary liquid of the present invention, the water-soluble high-boiling point low-volatile organic solvent is diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,5-pentanediol, glycerin, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane. It is at least one type selected from.

[0013]

The capping auxiliary liquid of the present invention contains an ionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, or a mixture of two or more thereof as the surfactant.

The capping auxiliary liquid of the present invention contains 0.1 to 1.5% by weight of the acetylene glycol represented by the formula (I) as the surfactant.

[Chemical 2]

Further, the present invention is an ink jet recording apparatus having at least a print head and a cap, in which a capping auxiliary liquid is applied to a portion of the cap in contact with the nozzle.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The capping auxiliary liquid of the present invention is
Wetting property is obtained by dye. Although the principle is not clear, the dye has a relatively strong intermolecular force, the interaction with the organic solvent molecule serving as a solvent, the interaction with the surfactant, and the like bring the wettability to the capping solution of the present invention. it is conceivable that. Of the many dyes currently known,
As the dye having excellent wettability and used in the present invention, C.I.
I. Direct Black 154 , C.I. I. Direct Black 168, C.I. I. Direct Yellow 86, C.I.
I. Acid Yellow 144, C.I. I. Acid Red 289 and the like may be mentioned, and these may be used alone or in combination. The amount added is preferably in the range of 0.05 to 1.5% by weight. A more preferable addition amount is in the range of 0.1 to 1.0% by weight.

The water-soluble high-boiling point low-volatility organic solvent used in the present invention is a polyhydric alcohol having a boiling point of 190 to 330 ° C., such as diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol or 1,5-pentanediol. , Glycerin, trimethylolethane,
Trimethylolpropane may be used, and these may be used alone or in combination. Since the water-soluble high-boiling point low-volatile organic solvent used in the present invention is directly applied to the cap at a high concentration, it is important not to deteriorate the cap material. Since a composition that does not dry and solidify in a high temperature or low humidity environment during shipping is required, the total addition amount is preferably in the range of 70 to 99% by weight.

As the surfactant used in the present invention, any of ionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants and amphoteric surfactants can be used, and these can be used alone or in combination. Good. The surfactant preferably used includes acetylene glycol represented by the following formula (I), and specific examples are as shown in Table 1 below.

[0020]

[Chemical 3]

[0021]

[Table 1]

In Table 1, No. Most preferred is acetylene glycol of 1. As these acetylene glycols, commercially available products can be used, for example, Olfine E1010 and Olfine STG.
(Manufacturer and seller = Nissin Chemical Co., Ltd .; AirProduct and Chemical
s Inc. sells Surfynol 465 and Surfynol TG under the trade name). The addition amount of these is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 1.5% by weight. More preferably, it is 0.1 to 1.0% by weight.

In addition to the above components, the capping auxiliary liquid of the present invention may contain, if necessary, a pH adjusting agent, an antioxidant, a preservative, an antifungal agent, an anticorrosive agent, a chelating agent and the like. .

Since the capping solution of the present invention is used for the purpose of preventing drying, the water-soluble high-boiling point low-volatile organic solvent accounts for a large proportion, but it is common to use the dye in an aqueous solution from the viewpoint of workability. Therefore, it may contain ion-exchanged water.

An ink jet recording apparatus using the capping auxiliary liquid of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. Reference numeral 1 in the drawing is
The carriage is connected to the motor 3 by the timing belt 2 and guided by the guide member 4 to move the platen 5
It is configured to move parallel to. Carriage 1
The recording head 7 for color printing is provided on the surface of the recording paper 6 facing the recording paper 6, and the recording head 7 is supplied with ink from the ink cartridge 8 and ejects ink droplets onto the recording paper 6 from a nozzle opening (not shown). And print.

The capping device 10 is connected to the ink suction means 11 via a tube, and the recording head 7
Has a size capable of sealing the nozzle opening surface in one space, seals the nozzle opening surface during non-printing, and receives a negative pressure from the ink suction means 11 when performing a recovery operation for recording failure due to ejection failure. Ink is forcibly discharged from the recording head 7.

FIG . 2 shows an embodiment of the ink jet recording head cap of the present invention. FIG. 2A shows the upper surface,
(B) is a cross-sectional view in the FF direction in the figure, showing a state in which the recording head 7 having nozzle openings is in close contact. Cap 1
A concave portion is formed in the bottom portion of the cap 2 within the thickness of the cap 12, and an ink suction port 13 and an atmosphere opening port 14 communicating with the ink suction means 11 are formed. Inside the cap, absorbent materials 15 (a) and (b) are provided. The absorber 15 is fixed to the cap 12 by the fixing member 16.
The structure is such that it adheres closely to the inner wall and the bottom. The absorbent material 15 is made of a porous material and has innumerable uniform pores.

The above-mentioned capping auxiliary liquid is designated by reference numeral 2 in the figure.
It is applied at least at the position indicated by 0. As a method of application, there is a method of applying in advance to a portion of the cap 12 that contacts the recording head 7, a portion of the head 7 that contacts the tip of the cap 12 or a nozzle opening. It is possible to adopt a method of applying the entire surface in advance or a method of performing both of them.

[0030]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be specifically described with reference to examples.
Table 2 shows examples and comparative examples. Here, the unit of the amount of the composition is% by weight. Comparative Examples 1 and 2 are examples in which a dye and a surfactant are not included, Comparative Example 3 is an example in which no dye is included, and Comparative Example 4 is an example in which a different dye is used.

[0031]

[Table 2]

In the production of the capping auxiliary liquid of the present invention, the liquid mixed with the composition shown in Table 2 was thoroughly stirred and then filtered using a membrane filter having a pore size of 0.8 μm. Each capping auxiliary liquid produced was tested by the following method. A printer MJ-510C (Epson Sales Co., Ltd.) and its print head were used for the test.

(Test-1) 1 .mu.l of the liquid was dropped on the glass preparation, and after leaving it for 5 days in an environment of 60.degree. ◯: Droplet remains, x: Dry (Test-2) 1 ml of the liquid was dropped on a plate made of the same material as the nozzle plate and the cap, and the wetting method was observed. The nozzle plate was a SUS plate plated with eutectoid, and the cap was EPDM rubber. ○: Wet evenly, ×: Repelling and unevenness occur (Test-3) After the shipping check with ink, the ink is discharged and the print head of the delivery form filled with the delivery liquid of the following composition is put on the cap. Set it on the printer coated with the capping auxiliary liquid and perform capping.
After being left in an environment of ° C for 5 days, the operation when the power was turned on was observed, and it was confirmed that there was no abnormal operation such as sticking of the cap and head with the highly viscous paste-like ink and the cap did not come off. ○: No abnormality, ×: Error occurred because the head did not come off the cap Delivery liquid composition Diethylene glycol 45 wt% Glycerin 15 wt% Olphin E1010 0.2 wt% Proxel XL2 0.3 wt% Ion-exchanged water 39.5 wt% ( Test-4) The head of Test-3 was removed and the nozzle was observed. In the delivery form, a mixed liquid of ink and a liquid having the following composition is contained in the head, and when capping is not normally performed, it may be dried and solidified in the nozzle. ◯: Liquid is maintained, X: Dry (Test-5) The head of Test-4 is set again in the printer and ink is filled, and it is confirmed whether printing is normally performed. ○: No problem, ×: Missing dots and flight curve

[0034]

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the nozzles from being dried during the shipping and delivery of the ink jet type recording apparatus so that the printing failure does not occur when the user starts the use, and the malfunction is caused by the excessive close contact between the head and the cap. I was able to get rid of.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of a structure around a recording mechanism of an inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

2A and 2B are a top view and a cross-sectional view showing a cap member of the present invention, respectively.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 carriage 2 Timing belt 3 motor 4 Guide member 5 Platen 6 recording paper 7 recording head 8 ink cartridges 10 Capping device 11 Ink suction means 12 caps 13 Ink suction port 14 Atmosphere opening 15 Absorbent 16 Fixed member

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/165 B41J 2/175

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A recording head having a nozzle opening for ejecting ink, and a concave cap member capable of capping the recording head and sealing so as to form a space with a nozzle opening surface of the recording head. A capping auxiliary liquid used by applying to a portion of the ink jet recording apparatus where the cap member and the recording head are in contact with each other, wherein the capping auxiliary liquid is at least 70 to 99% by weight of a water-soluble high-boiling point low-volatile organic solvent, and a surface active agent. Agent and dye, and the dye is
A capping auxiliary liquid containing at least one kind selected from e. a. C. I. Direct Black 154 b. C. I. Direct Black 168 c. C. I. Direct Yellow 86 d. C. I. Direct Yellow 144 e. C. I. Acid Red 289 2. The capping auxiliary liquid according to claim 1, wherein the total amount of the dye is 0.05 to 1.5% by weight. 3. The capping auxiliary liquid according to claim 1, wherein the water-soluble high-boiling point low-volatile organic solvent contains at least one polyhydric alcohol having a boiling point of 190 to 330 ° C. 4. The water-soluble high-boiling point low-volatile organic solvent,
2. The capping auxiliary liquid according to claim 1, which is at least one selected from diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,5-pentanediol, glycerin, trimethylolethane, and trimethylolpropane. 5. The surfactant is an ionic surfactant,
The capping auxiliary liquid according to claim 1, which is a nonionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, or a mixture of two or more thereof. 6. The capping auxiliary liquid according to claim 1, which contains 0.1 to 1.5% by weight of acetylene glycol represented by the formula (I) as the surfactant. [Chemical 1] 7. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising a recording head having at least a nozzle opening and a cap member capping the nozzle opening of the recording head, wherein a portion where the cap member and the nozzle opening are in contact with each other. An ink jet recording apparatus to which the capping auxiliary liquid according to any one of 5 to 5 is applied. 8. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising a recording head having at least nozzle openings and a cap member capping the nozzle openings of the recording head, wherein the nozzle opening surface of the recording head is subjected to eutectoid plating.
The cap member is made of rubber, and the cap member has a concave shape that can be sealed so as to form a space with the nozzle opening surface of the recording head, and a portion where the cap member and the nozzle opening are in contact with each other. An ink jet recording apparatus to which the capping auxiliary liquid according to 5 is applied.