JPS59184663A - ink manufacturing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To continuously and automatically produce ink of stable quality for ink jet recordong by using a dye solution whose inorganic salt content is well controlled. CONSTITUTION:A dye powder and pure water are mixed in a compounding tank, and the dye aqueous solution is controlled to a given dye concentration by a dye concentration detector and also to a given inorganic salt concentration by an inorganic salt concentration detector, a desalting filter, etc. The aqueous dye solution so controlled is stored in a storage tank 52. The dye solution in the tank 52 is mixed with a water-soluble organic solvent from a storage tank 4 through a valve 6 and then with an additive from a storage tank 5 through a valve 7, together with pure water through a valve 8, in a compounding tank 1 with a stirrer 9 to prepare an ink. The ink thus prepared is measured in terms of amount by a liquid amount detector 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an ink manufacturing apparatus, and particularly to an ink manufacturing apparatus suitable for preparing a recording liquid (generally referred to as ink) suitable for inkjet recording and the like.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, ink used in a set of inkjet recording blades that perform recording by ejecting ink in a recording head from an ejection orifice using vibrations caused by a piezo vibrator, etc. has been made by mixing various dyes and pigments with water or other organic materials. It is known that the ink is dissolved in a liquid medium consisting of a solvent.It is also known that similar inks are used in writing instruments such as felt pens and fountain pens.

Examples of such inks that are generally unconstituted include those whose main ingredients are a water-soluble dye, water as its solvent, and the king of glycols as an anti-drying agent.

Here, the water-soluble dye usually contains inorganic salts such as thorium and sodium sulfate. These W-free salts are not only by-products during the dye synthesis reaction process, but also are actively added as precipitating agents, diluents, or leveling agents.

When recording ink is prepared using dyes containing such inorganic salts, the following disadvantages arise. That is, the inorganic 1g content lowers the solubility stability of the dye in the ink, causing aggregation and precipitation of the dye. In addition, in inkjet recording heads and writing instruments, when the ink undergoes IKZ near the ejection orifice and its static composition changes, it causes precipitation of inorganic salts. All of these causes clogging of the discharge orifice, which is most avoided.

Therefore, in order to eliminate such adverse effects, it is necessary to control the concentration of inorganic salts within a predetermined range (generally 0.5% by weight or less in the ink) during ink production. This is essential when a commercially available dye containing inorganic salts as an impurity is used to prepare an inkjet recording ink or a writing instrument ink.

[Purpose] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to enable the concentration of inorganic salts contained in the ink to be adjusted when preparing the ink, thereby making it suitable for inkjet recording, writing instruments, etc. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink manufacturing apparatus suitable for manufacturing suitable ink.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The first bacterium represents an embodiment of the ink manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. Here, (2) is a mixing tank, and an aqueous dye solution purified as described later is supplied from a dyestuff device 2 through a valve 3. In addition, storage i'+l (4 and storage part 5
, a water-soluble organic solvent and additives are supplied to the mixing tank 1 via Halpro and 7, respectively. Furthermore, pure water is similarly cofloated via valve 8. Agitate each of these scammers with a mixer 9,
Mix ink.

Mix the ink fabric produced in +1lIil with liquid
It is detected by the detector 10. In addition, the ink in this mixing tank 1 is supplied via the loss valve 11 as needed (4)1.
put out

FIG. 2 shows the failure of the dye purifier in the apparatus shown in FIG.

Here, 21 is a dye 5v:[supply section in which dye powder 22 is stored, and the dye powder 223 is supplied via a dye valve 23.
It is supplied to the mixing tank 24. Further, pure water is supplied to the mixing tank 24 via a pure water supply pipe 26 into which a pure water valve 25 is inserted.

In this mixing tank 24, the supplied dye powder 22 and pure water are combined and dissolved by a mixing tank agitator 27 to produce an aqueous dye solution. The amount of the aqueous dye solution stored in the mixing tank 24 is detected by a mixing tank liquid amount detector 28 . The aqueous dye solution obtained in the mixing tank contains particles of dye powder that were not dissolved in the pure water, and these are removed by the filter 28. This filter 29
For this purpose, ordinary filter paper or Fluorobor (trade name) can be used. The aqueous dye solution from which particles and the like have been removed by passing through the filter 29 is supplied to the supply tank 31 .

The dye 4 aqueous solution supplied to the supply +1III' 31 is stored in the supply tank 31 while the supply valve 32 is in the closed state. Here, this supply tank 31 is provided with a valve 33 for controlling the liquid level, and the aqueous dye solution stored in the supply tank is provided with a valve 33 for controlling the liquid level.
＜'? Keep the amount below a certain amount.

Next, 41 is a purification section that removes inorganic salts from the aqueous dye solution. In this purification section 41, 42 is a salt reduction tank, 43
is a salt reduction filter, and 44 is a salt removal tank. Salt reduction tank 4
2, an aqueous dye solution is supplied through a supply valve 32. The supplied aqueous dye solution is stirred by a tank stirrer 45 to homogenize the aqueous solution No. 7, and the inorganic salt concentration in the aqueous solution No. 4 (k) is measured by an inorganic salt concentration detector 46. .This concentration detection is.

For example, it is performed using the Iman chromatography method.

Further, the dye concentration in the aqueous solution is detected by the dye preparation detector 47. This concentration detection is performed, for example, by spectrophotometry. As mentioned below, λ! 11 If it is detected that the salt concentration is higher than a specified value (for example, 5% by weight added to the raw material), what happens? The Ifi ring pump 48 is operated to circulate the dye aqueous solution in the Class 1 salt bath through the salt reduction filter 43. As for this micro 1 no 2, 1 furuta,
For example, an ultrafiltration filter, a 4.4-pass filter, or the like is used. By passing through such company filter 43,
Dye water '4': It is filtered from the dye aqueous oil as a water-soluble mixture of military salts such as chloride and sodium sulfate contained in J+X and discharged into the tank 44. In this way, water, which is a solvent for the dye, is discharged into the toner tank 44 together with the inorganic salts. Therefore, in addition to replenishing the dye aqueous solution with this discharged water, pure water is supplied to the salt-reducing tank 42 via the pure water valve 48 so that the dye aqueous solution with the desired concentration is obtained in the salt-reducing tank 42. supply

In this way, an aqueous dye solution having an inorganic salt concentration and a dye concentration within a predetermined range is obtained in the salt reduction tank 42. The amount of dye aqueous solution in the salt reduction tank 42 is detected by a salt reduction tank liquid level detector 50. The aqueous dye solution purified as described above (salt reduction) is transferred to the storage tank 52 via the storage valve 51.
and store it in the storage tank. As shown in FIG. 1, the aqueous dye solution in the storage tank 52 is supplied to the RAI mixing tank 1 by controlling the opening and closing of the valve 3, and is used for mixing ink.

FIG. 3 shows parts related to the dye purification apparatus 2 in the control system of the apparatus shown in FIG.

In the figure, 61 is a controller that controls the drive of each part. 62 is a read only memory (ROM) in which a control program such as the operating procedure shown in FIG. 4 is stored. θ3 is a random access memory (RAM), which does not temporarily store various data. In this example, analog Ye-2 is output from the inorganic salt concentration detector 4 and the dye 4 concentration detector 47. , each A/D converter 6
After being converted into a digital signal via circuits 4 and 65, it is supplied to the controller 61 via an input cover/sofa circuit 66. Digital signals are output from the power, mixing tank liquid td detector 28 and salt reduction tank 1 night detector 50, and are supplied to the controller 61 through the human cover and fa circuit 68.

67 to 74 are the aforementioned valves 23, 25, 48.32
and 51, a drive circuit for driving the lIq stirring machine and 45, the circulation pump 4, respectively, from the drive circuit supplied from the controller 61 via the output expansion circuit 75. On/off controlled.

81 and 82 are dye A:1 concentration range setting switch and inorganic salt/72 degree range setting switch, respectively;
A signal corresponding to the set concentration range is supplied to the controller via the console input/output/sofa circuit 83. 84
and 85 are a dye concentration indicator and an inorganic salts concentration indicator, respectively.
The g8 degree value and the inorganic salts'Jm lr value are displayed.

Therefore, the operator of the ink manufacturing apparatus can easily know the quality of the ink being manufactured.

The values set for the dye concentration range and the inorganic salt concentration range by the switches 81 and 82 are temporarily stored in the RAM f33. Inorganic salt concentration detector 46 and dye concentration detector 4
The detected concentration values of inorganic salts and dyes in the aqueous dye solution being purified by 7 are compared with set values in a comparison section 611 of the controller, and based on the comparison results, the circulation pump 48 is adjusted as described below. The driving of each load is controlled.

FIG. 4 shows an operation flow of the dye purification apparatus 2 shown in FIG.

In the figure, step 5TI-ST4 is a step for maintaining the aqueous dye solution in the mixing tank 24 at a constant level. That is, procedure S
In the TI, from the output of the mixing tank liquid level detector 28, the mixing tank 2
It is detected whether the zero surface height of the dye aqueous solution in 4 is at "-" with respect to a low position defining a predetermined setting range. If it is below that low position, proceed to step ST2, otherwise proceed to step ST3. In step ST2,
The dye valve 23 and the pure water valve 25 are opened, and predetermined dye powder and pure water are respectively introduced into the mixing tank 28. In the mixing tank 24, since the stirrer 27 is always in operation, the dye powder introduced is dissolved in pure water.
An aqueous dye solution is prepared. In step ST3,! (1′
Based on the output of the detector 28, it is detected whether the liquid level in the mixture 124 is above the high position that defines the set 11 envelope. If it is above that high position, proceed to step ST4,
If not, proceed to step ST5. Hand 11i (i
ST4, close the dye valve 23 and pure water valve 25 that are in the open state, and supply the dye powder and pure water to 1.
Tomeru.

In step ST5, the dye concentration 4ji in the dye aqueous solution in the salt reduction tank 42 detected by the dye concentration detector 47 is
It is displayed on the display 84. Step ST8 is the same inorganic FFI! The inorganic salt concentration value detected by the seismic intensity detector 46 is displayed on the display 85.

In step ST7, the stain detected by the detector 47
It is determined by the switch 81 whether or not the agricultural melon is within the dye concentration range determined by the switch 81. If it is determined that it is within the setting range, proceed to step ST8; otherwise, proceed to Step +11143T9.Step +111'n
At 5T8, it is determined whether the concentration of inorganic salts detected by the detector 46 is within the range of values set by the switch 82. If it is determined that the value is within the set range, the process proceeds to step 5TIO, and if not, the process proceeds to step ST8.

In step ST8, the salt-reducing tank 4 detected by the detector 50
1 in 2 is determined whether or not the night surface is above the high position that defines the immersion range. If it is below that height, step 5
Proceed to TII, and if not, proceed to step 5T12. In step 5TII, the supply valve 32 and the pure water valve 48 are controlled to open and close to supply the aqueous dye solution and pure water into the salt reduction tank 42 . As a result, the dye a degree in the aqueous dye solution in the salt reduction tank 42 is adjusted to fall within the range set by the switch 81 as described above. After this,
Proceed to step 5T13. On the other hand, in step 5T12, the supply valve 32 and the pure water valve 48 are closed.

In 13, the circulation pump 48 is made to circulate the aqueous dye solution in the column and tank 42 through the Iori salt filter 43, and the inorganic J14 class 4:I is extracted from the aqueous dye solution. Exclude

” As in two series, the dye concentration and the inorganic concentration
If the dye concentration and the inorganic salt concentration are outside the set range, the dye concentration and the inorganic salt concentration are brought to values within the set range by repeating ST11 and step 5T13 or step 5T12 and step 5T13. 1 peak J concentration or within the setting range (
After this is resolved, proceed to step 5TIO.

1) In 1 injection 5T10, it is determined whether or not the liquid level in the type 42 is lower than the low/low range that defines the set φh range. -H than that low level insult
If so, proceed to step 5T14, otherwise proceed to step 5T15. In step 5T14, circulation pump 4
8 is stopped, and the control/large lube 51 is opened. As a result, a predetermined amount of water is poured into the salt reduction tank 42! A purified dye aqueous solution is supplied to the storage tank 52.

In step 5T15, the storage valve 51 is closed and the supply valve 32-1 pure pulp 48 is opened to terminate the supply to the storage tank 52, increase the amount of the dye aqueous solution in the salt reduction tank 42, and Make sure the liquid level is within the set range.

After that, the routine that goes through steps 5TII and S1'13 or steps 5T12 and 5T13 described above is repeated, and a predetermined amount of the dye aqueous solution whose dye concentration and inorganic salt concentration are within the set range is added to the salt reduction tank 42. is obtained. After this, the process proceeds to step 5T14 described above.

As described above, in this embodiment, the dye aqueous solution is purified in the purification unit 41 in fixed amounts, so the purified dye aqueous solution is continuously supplied to the ig1 from the dye purification device 2.
The purified dye 14 aqueous solution can be supplied to the mixing tank 1, and ink can be continuously manufactured in the mixing tank 1 using this purified dye 14 aqueous solution.

[Effects] As explained above, according to the present invention, when producing ink, it is possible to continuously supply a dye solution with an adjusted concentration of inorganic salts, which improves quality when used for inkjet recording, etc. It becomes possible to continuously and dynamically produce a stable ink of

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows an Al
a Schematic configuration diagram, Figure 2 shows the dyeing process in the first tN device.
[Schematic configuration diagram showing the purification device, No. 31A is shown in FIG.
Flock showing part of control S++ of A k! A, aR
Figure g is a flowchart showing the operation of the dye purification apparatus shown in Figure 2. 1...Blending tank, 2...Dye purification device 6゜3.../Help, 4...Storage section, 5...Storage BB, 6...Valve, 7...Valve, 8 ... Valve, 8... Stirrer, 10... Liquid amount detector, 11... Discharge valve, 21... Dye supply section, 22... Dye powder, 23... Dye 7 herb, 24...Blending tank, 25...Pure water/Hertz, 26...Pure water supply S pipe, 27...Blending tank threader 28...Blending tank liquid level detector, 23...・Filtration filter. 31... Supply tank, 32... I-Kyogo pulp ', 33... Valve, 41... Refining section, 42... Salt reduction tank, 43... Salt reduction filter, 44...・Salt removal tank, 45...Salt reduction tank agitator, 46...Inorganic salt concentration detector, 47...Dye concentration detector, 48...Circulation pump, 48...Pure water valve・50... Crystal, iXi tank 1 '9 No detection: (::,
51... Storage valve, 52... Storage tank, C... Controller, 62... Read only memory (ROM), 83...
Random access memory (RAM), e4,85・
. . . A/D converter, 66 . ...Inorganic fljl product range setting switch, 83...Console footpath, 84...Dye concentration indicator, 85...Inorganic salt concentration detector, 81]...Comparison section .

Claims (1)

[Claims] It is characterized by comprising a dye solution manufacturing section that manufactures a dye solution with a controlled concentration of inorganic salts, and an ink preparation section that prepares ink using the dye solution supplied from Konomi "Nozo [1]". Ink manufacturing equipment.