JPH1120193A - ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a foreign matter from being formed at a nozzle by supplying to an ink-jet print head an ink containing multivalent alcohol lower alkyl ether filled in a cartridge storing polyurethane foam. SOLUTION: A compressed ink-holding body 111 is stored in a case 101 and a lid 102 is bonded or fused, thereby forming a cartridge. Ink is held by the ink-holding body 111 and supplied to a head via a feed port 121. A filter 122 is set at a boundary part between an ink chamber and the feed port to prevent a foreign matter from invading the head. In the case of an ink cartridge storing a foam thereinside through which the ink permeates, the ink contains water, a dye, multivalent alcohol lower alkyl ether, a chelate agent. The multivalent alcohol lower alkyl ether is contained by 5-15 wt.% in the ink.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an ink cartridge used for an ink jet recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet printer that forms an image by ejecting ink toward a print medium has a high speed, a high quality,
The color has become common, and the composition of inks that can dry quickly and can form clear, unbleached, perfectly circular dots has been continuously improved. In order to satisfy these conditions, a type of ink that quickly penetrates a print medium using a solvent or a surfactant is suitable, and many inks have been commercialized.

In an ink jet printer, as a means for supplying ink to a print head, an ink cartridge in which a porous body capable of holding ink is housed in a case and filled with ink is generally used.
When manufacturing such an ink cartridge, the porous body may be used without treatment such as washing and aging for reasons such as cost reduction, but various unreacted substances remain in the porous body. Often.

[0004]

In such an ink cartridge, unreacted substances elute from the porous material into the ink,
In addition to changing the ink composition, it sometimes recrystallized to form foreign matter, which affected printing characteristics. Particularly, depending on the composition of the ink, a solvent which swells the porous body well and is easy to extract may be used. Polyether urethane foam generally used as an ink carrier,
In the production process, an organotin compound such as dibutyltin laurate or tin octylate is used as a catalyst. The amount added varies depending on the manufacturer, but this elutes into the ink using the above-mentioned solvent, and when the ink reaches the nozzle, the organotin compound recrystallizes to form foreign matter in the nozzle, and the discharged ink A phenomenon was observed in which the nozzle was bent and the nozzle was blocked.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an ink cartridge containing a foam in which ink is impregnated, wherein the ink contains at least water, a dye, a polyhydric alcohol lower alkyl ether, and a chelating agent.

In the ink cartridge of the present invention, the lower alkyl ether of the polyhydric alcohol in the ink is preferably 5 to 1%.
It is contained in the range of 5% by weight.

In the ink cartridge of the present invention, the chelating agent of the ink is selected from ethylenediaminetetraacetate.

In the ink cartridge of the present invention, the chelating agent is contained in the ink in an amount of 0.01 to 0.5% by weight.

In the ink cartridge of the present invention, the ink contains at least one dye selected from the following dyes a to h.

A. Compound represented by general formula (I)

[0011]

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(In the above general formula, R ¹ is —PO (O
M) represents ₂ or —COOM, X and Y each independently represent C _1-4 alkoxy, and M represents a cation of a group selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal, ammonia and organic amines. Represent. B. Compound represented by general formula (II)

[0013]

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(In the above general formula, X ¹ , X ² , X ³
And X ⁴ represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, —NH ₂ or a COOM group, Y represents a hydrogen atom, a COOM group, or SO ₃ M, and R ¹ and R ² each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, _{NH 2, -C 6 H 5,} > C
＝ O, —O— represents at least one of C _{1 to} C ₁₀ substituents, and m represents 0, 1 or 2. M represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal, ammonium, or an organic amine. ) C. Compound represented by general formula (III)

[0015]

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(In the above formula, R ¹ , R ² and R ³ each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, a hydrogen atom. , A hydroxyl group or a COOM group, m represents a number of 0, 1 or 2, and R ⁴ , R ⁵ ,
R ⁶ and R ⁷ each independently represent a hydrogen atom,
Represents an alkyl group or an aryl group of any one of (1) to (18), and when these represent other than a hydrogen atom, they may have a substituent. Here, at least one of R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ and R ⁷ represents a group having a COOM group as a substituent. M
Represents an alkali metal, ammonium or an organic amine. D). C. I. Direct yellow 86 e. C. I. Direct Yellow 132 f. C. I. Direct yellow 144 g. C. I. Direct blue 86 h. C. I. Direct Blue 199 In the ink cartridge of the invention, the ink contains a surfactant.

In the ink cartridge of the present invention, the surfactant is acetylene glycol represented by the general formula (IV), and the surfactant is contained in the ink in an amount of 0.3 to 1.8% by weight.

[0018]

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In the ink cartridge according to the present invention, the foam is a polyether urethane.

In the ink cartridge of the present invention, the foam is produced by using an organotin compound as a catalyst.

The ink cartridge according to the present invention is characterized in that the amount of the organotin compound added is 0.0
1 to 0.2% by weight.

The ink cartridge according to the present invention has a tin content of 1.5 × 10 ⁻⁵ mol in the ink to be filled.
/ G.

[0023]

Next, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to specific examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

The configuration of the ink cartridge of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an ink cartridge and is an example of the present invention. The cartridge is formed by compressing and storing the ink holding body 111 in the case 101 and bonding or welding the lid 102. The ink is held by the ink holder 111 and supplied to the head via the supply port 121. By providing the filter 122 at the boundary between the ink chamber and the supply port, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering the head.

The ink holding member 111 is a polymer elastic porous material having fine cells inside, and can be used as long as it has ink resistance and is not deteriorated by ink.
It is preferable to use polyether urethane foam. The polyether urethane foam is preferably one in which a film-like substance generated between cells is removed, but can be used without performing this treatment. Further, it is preferable that the foam density is further controlled, but it can be used without performing this. When using an organotin compound as a catalyst when producing a foam, the amount added as a catalyst must be suppressed to 0.01 to 0.2% by weight in order to be extracted into ink and recrystallized by a nozzle to form a foreign substance. Is preferred. The foam is preferably subjected to treatments such as washing and aging, but these treatments need not be carried out. FIG. 1 shows an example in which one cartridge is filled with one type of ink. However, the interior of the case may be arbitrarily partitioned to provide several ink chambers, and may be filled with several different inks.

In the present invention, when the content of tin in the ink is 1.5 × 10 ⁻⁵ mol / g or less, the formation of foreign matter is further suppressed, and the foreign matter is more effectively prevented from entering the head. It is more preferable because it can be prevented.

Next, the composition of the ink to be filled in the ink cartridge of the present invention will be described.

The ink used in the present invention contains a polyhydric alcohol lower alkyl ether. Preferred specific examples of the polyhydric alcohol lower alkyl ether include mono, di and triethylene glycol C _1-6 alkyl ether, mono, di and tripropylene glycol C _1-6 alkyl ether, more preferably triethylene glycol monobutyl ether, Examples thereof include diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, and propylene glycol monobutyl ether. Particularly preferred examples include diethylene glycol monobutyl ether and triethylene glycol monobutyl ether. This addition amount is 5 to 15
% By weight.

The chelating agent contained in the ink of the present invention is not particularly limited, but preferably forms a water-soluble chelating compound, and examples thereof include polyaminocarboxylic acids, oxycarboxylic acids, and condensed phosphates. Tetraacetic acid and its salts (eg disodium salt, tetrasodium salt) are preferred. The added amount is 0.0
A range of 1 to 0.5% by weight is preferred.

As the coloring material used in the ink of the present invention, any water-soluble dye can be used, but preferably a compound represented by the general formula (I):

[0031]

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(In the above general formula, R ¹ is —PO (O
M) represents ₂ or —COOM, X and Y each independently represent C _1-4 alkoxy, and M represents a cation of a group selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal, ammonia and organic amines. Represent. A compound represented by the general formula (II),

[0033]

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(In the above general formula, X¹, X², X³
And X⁴Is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, -NH₂Also
Represents a COOM group, Y represents a hydrogen atom, a COOM group, or
Is SO ₃M, R¹And R²Are each independently water
Element atom, hydroxyl group, -NH₂, -C₆H₅,> C
= C containing at least one of O, -O-₁~ C₁₀Place
And m represents a number of 0, 1 or 2. M is hydrogen
Shows atoms, alkali metals, ammonium and organic amines
You. A compound represented by the general formula (III),

[0035]

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(In the above formula, R ¹ , R ² and R ³ each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, a hydrogen atom, Represents a hydroxyl group or a COOM group, m represents a number of 0, 1 or 2, and R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R
⁶ and R ⁷ are each independently a hydrogen atom, carbon number 1 to
18 represents an alkyl group or an aryl group, and when it represents a group other than a hydrogen atom, it may have a substituent. Here, at least one of R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ and R ⁷ represents a group having a COOM group as a substituent. M represents an alkali metal, ammonium or an organic amine. C.). I. Direct Yellow 86, C.I. I. Direct Yellow 132, C.I. I. Direct Yellow 144,
C. I. Direct Blue 86, C.I. I. A dye selected from the group of dyes of Direct Blue 199 is used alone or in combination. The compound represented by the general formula (I), the compound represented by the general formula (II), the compound represented by the general formula (III)
Any type of compound represented by the general formula can be used as long as it is a compound represented by the general formula. Particularly preferred specific examples include the following. Specific examples of the dye represented by the general formula (I) include:

[0037]

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[0038]

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[0039]

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[0040]

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[0041]

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[0042]

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Specific examples of the dye represented by the general formula (II) include:

[0044]

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[0045]

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[0046]

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Specific examples of the dye represented by the general formula (III) include

[0048]

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[0049]

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[0050]

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And the like.

These dyes can be used alone or as a mixture. The total amount of the dyes is 1 to 10.
Preferably it is in the range of 8% by weight.

Further, the ink of the present invention contains acetylene glycol represented by the general formula (IV) as an ink composition.

[0054]

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Preferred specific examples of acetylene glycol are shown in Table 1 below.

[0056]

[Table 1]

No. 1 in Table 1. One acetylene glycol is most preferred. As these acetylene glycols, commercially available ones can be used. For example, Olfin E1004, Olfin E101
0, Olfin STG (manufactured by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) can be used. The amount of acetylene glycol added is 0.
It is preferably from 3 to 1.8% by weight.

Further, the ink of the present invention preferably contains a water-soluble, high-boiling, low-volatile organic solvent that dissolves the dye. Specific examples of preferable water-soluble high-boiling low-volatile organic solvents include alkylene glycols having an alkylene group containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms, such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, and propylene glycol; glycerin; And the like.

The ink of the present invention may contain an organic solvent other than those described above. Specific examples include amides such as dimethylformamide and dimethylacetamide; ketones or ketone alcohols such as acetone and diacetone alcohol; ethers such as tetrahydrofuran and dioxane;
C1-5 alkyl alcohols such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, n-propyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol; sulfolane, pyrrolidone, N-
Methyl-2-imidazolidinone, 1,5-pentanediol, and the like. Further, it may contain a solvent such as urea, trimethylolpropane, and trimethylolethane which is solid at normal temperature. These solvents can be used alone or as a mixture, and can be used in combination with the polyhydric alcohol lower alkyl ether.

Further, the ink composition may contain additives for improving various properties. For example, viscosity,
Adjustment of various physical properties such as surface tension, pH, specific resistance and preservation,
Fatty acid salts, alkyl sulfate salts,
Anionic surfactants such as alkyl benzene sulfonic acid and alkyl naphthalene sulfonic acid salt; acetylene glycol, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether,
Nonionic surfactants such as polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters and sorbitan fatty acid esters; water-soluble natural or synthetic polymers such as celluloses, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol and water-soluble resins; diethanolamine, triethanolamines; potassium,
Sodium hydroxide, lithium chloride, ammonium chloride,
Inorganic salts of sodium chloride, benzotriazole and the like can be added.

The present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples. Table 2 shows Examples 1 to 9 and Comparative Examples 1 to 9. Comparative Examples 1 and 2 show the case where the chelating agent is out of the range of the present invention, Comparative Examples 3 and 4 show the case where the polyhydric alcohol lower alkyl ether is out of the range of the present invention, and Comparative Examples 5 and 6 show that the surfactant is the present invention. , And Comparative Examples 7 to 9 are cases where the foam catalyst deviates from the present invention.
In Table 2, Dye 1 is a compound represented by Structural Formula (I-2), Dye 2 is a compound represented by Structural Formula (I-5), and Dye 3 is a compound represented by Structural Formula (II-2). And Dye 4 is a compound represented by the structural formula (III-1). The unit of the amount of the composition is% by weight, and the remaining amount is ion-exchanged water.

[0062]

[Table 2]

In producing the ink of the present invention, the liquid mixed with the composition shown in Table 2 was sufficiently stirred, and then filtered using a membrane filter having a pore diameter of 0.8 μm. The cartridge was assembled according to FIG. 1 using the foam of Table 2 and filled with ink. For tests requiring printing, inkjet printers manufactured by Seiko Epson Corporation, MJ
-510C (trade name) and its print head were used.

The tin content of each of the filled inks was measured. The values are shown in Table 2.

<Test-1> Recoverability of clogging Using the manufactured ink cartridge, the head set in the printer was filled with ink, and after confirming that ink was normally ejected from all nozzles, the ink cartridge was checked. With the head mounted, the head was removed from the printer, and left in an environment at 40 ° C. for 7 days and 14 days with no nozzle surface capped. After the standing, the head was attached to the printer, and the number of operations required until all the nozzles could normally discharge only by the cleaning operation without the ink suction operation such as the initial filling was determined according to the following criteria. When left for 7 days A: once, B: 2-3 times, NG: 4
More than once. When left for 14 days A: once, B: 2-3 times, C: 4 ~
5 times, NG: 6 times or more.

<Test-2> Observation of foreign matter formation state Ink was removed from the head of Test-1 and foreign matter in the nozzle was observed. If there is any foreign matter, compare it with the result of Test-1 and investigate whether the foreign matter has affected the printing characteristics.
The judgment was made according to the following criteria. A: No foreign matter, B: Fine foreign matter, but no influence on ejection, N
G: There is a foreign substance, which affects the ejection.

<Test-3> Influence on print quality Using a manufactured ink cartridge, plain paper: Xer
5 points from 4 points to ox-P (Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.)
Characters having a size of 0 points were printed, and the print quality was examined. A: No bleeding, B: Mustache bleeding, C: Bleeding, but 4-point characters are readable, NG: 4-point characters are not readable.

[0068]

According to the present invention, when ink containing polyhydric alcohol lower alkyl ether filled in a cartridge containing a polyurethane foam is supplied to an ink jet print head, foreign matter is formed at a nozzle. Can be prevented.

Further, according to the present invention, by using the ink and the cartridge, it is possible to obtain stable printing characteristics without the ink being bent.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an ink cartridge as an example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Case 102 ... Lid 111 ... Ink holder 121 ... Supply port 122 ... Filter

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Koike 3-3-5 Yamato, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture Inside Seiko Epson Corporation

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An ink cartridge containing a foam in which ink is impregnated, wherein the ink contains at least water, a dye, a polyhydric alcohol lower alkyl ether, and a chelating agent. 2. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the lower alkyl ether of the polyhydric alcohol is contained in a range of 5 to 15% by weight.
The ink cartridge as described in the above. 3. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the chelating agent of the ink is selected from ethylenediaminetetraacetate. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the chelating agent is contained in the ink at a concentration of 0.0.
The ink cartridge according to claim 1, which is contained in an amount of 1 to 0.5% by weight. 5. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink contains at least one dye selected from the following dye groups a to h. a. Compound represented by the general formula (I) (In the above general formula, R ¹ represents —PO (OM) ₂ or —COOM, and X and Y each independently represent C
_1-4 alkoxy, M represents a cation group selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atom, alkali metal, ammonia and organic amines. B. Compound represented by general formula (II) (In the above general formula, X ¹ , X ² , X ³ and X ⁴ represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, —NH ₂ or a COOM group, Y represents a hydrogen atom, a COOM group, or SO ₃ M, and R ¹ And R ² are each independently a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, —NH ₂ , —C ₆ H ₅ ,> C ＝ O, —O—
Represents a C _{1 to} C ₁₀ substituent containing at least one of the following,
m represents the number of 0, 1 or 2. M represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal, ammonium, or an organic amine. ) C. Compound represented by general formula (III) (In the above general formula, R ¹ , R ² and R ³ each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group. Or a COOM group, m represents a number of 0, 1 or 2, and R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ and R
⁷ each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and when these represent other than a hydrogen atom, they may have a substituent. Here, at least one of R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ⁶ and R ⁷ represents a group having a COOM group as a substituent. M represents an alkali metal, ammonium or an organic amine. D). C. I. Direct yellow 86 e. C. I. Direct Yellow 132 f. C. I. Direct yellow 144 g. C. I. Direct blue 86 h. C. I. Direct Blue 199 6. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said ink contains a surfactant. 7. The ink according to claim 7, wherein the surfactant is acetylene glycol represented by the general formula (IV),
2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, which comprises 1.8% by weight. Embedded image 8. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said foam is polyether urethane. 9. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the foam is manufactured using an organotin compound as a catalyst. 10. The amount of the organotin compound added is 0.01.
The ink cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the content of the ink cartridge is from 0.2 to 0.2% by weight. 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the amount of tin added to the filled ink is 1.5 × 10 ⁻⁵ mol / g or less.
The ink cartridge according to 0.