JP5481887B2 - Cleaning liquid for ink jet recording apparatus and cleaning method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cleaning liquid for a liquid flow path of an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with a liquid discharge head, and a cleaning method using the same.

Ink jet recording apparatuses require cleaning of the liquid flow path after the discharge inspection during manufacturing, before and after the repair process, and when changing the discharge liquid. Conventionally, the main solvent (for example, water), surfactant is used as the cleaning liquid. A solution containing a moisturizing agent or the like has been used.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a cleaning liquid for an ink jet recording apparatus containing a polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether [a surfactant corresponding to the general formula (1) described later]. Discharge defects such as bending of the discharge liquid caused by adhering to the discharge ports and the like cannot be sufficiently solved (see Comparative Examples 1 to 3 and 6 described later). That is, when cleaning the liquid flow path of the ink jet recording apparatus, it is difficult to completely remove the discharged liquid residue unless the flow path is disassembled and cleaned in parts. Therefore, when the liquid flow path of the ink jet recording apparatus is washed as it is, a minute amount of ejected liquid residue remains, and this residue has an adverse effect when the liquid is filled and ejected next time.
In particular, in recent years, image formation by an ink jet recording apparatus is required to have a high resolution image and patterning accuracy, and the tolerance for bending of the discharge liquid is reduced compared to the conventional case, and more accurate discharge properties are required. Yes. Furthermore, since the discharge liquid contains various solid contents, it is difficult to clean the liquid flow path, particularly the nozzle, to such an extent that the solid contents do not adversely affect the liquid discharge. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning liquid and a cleaning method capable of effectively cleaning the inside of a liquid flow path so that an adverse effect due to a discharge liquid residue is eliminated in an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with a liquid discharge head.

The above problems are solved by the following inventions 1) to 4 ).
1) A cleaning solution of the liquid channel of the ink jet recording apparatus equipped with a liquid discharge head, an ink jet recording apparatus for the cleaning liquid, characterized in that it contains a polyether-modified silicone oil and the surface active agent.
2) The addition amount of the polyether-modified silicone oil, 1 characterized in that 0.5 to 5.0 wt.%) Symbol mounting an ink jet recording apparatus for cleaning liquid.
3 ) A method for cleaning a liquid flow path of an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the cleaning liquid according to 1) or 2) is used.
4 ) A method for cleaning a liquid flow path of an ink jet recording apparatus according to 3 ), wherein the inside of the ink jet recording apparatus having a liquid discharge head driven by a piezoelectric actuator is cleaned by driving a piezoelectric actuator. .

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.
The present invention is characterized in that the cleaning liquid contains silicone oil as a mold release component.
In the cleaning liquid of the present invention, even if the liquid flow path is dried after cleaning, the discharged liquid residue is not easily fixed firmly, and even if fixed, the discharged liquid residue is easily peeled off. Even when it occurs, the effect of cleaning and removing the sticking residue is high, and it is also effective as a head regenerating liquid.
Accordingly, when the discharge liquid contains fine particle components such as a resin emulsion and a pigment, a sticking residue is likely to be generated. Even in such a case, the use of the cleaning liquid of the present invention makes the liquid very effective. The flow path can be washed.
Further, when cleaning is performed using the cleaning liquid of the present invention, if the inkjet recording apparatus has a liquid discharge head driven by a piezoelectric actuator, cleaning is performed while driving the piezoelectric actuator during vibration in the head and applying vibration to the cleaning liquid. Is more effective.

The silicone oil used in the present invention is a linear polymer composed of a bifunctional siloxane unit having a relatively low degree of polymerization. Modified silicone oils are those in which a part of the methyl group of dimethyl silicone oil is substituted with an organic group, and are classified into reactive silicone oil and non-reactive silicone oil. Examples of reactive silicone oils include amino-modified, epoxy-modified, carboxy-modified, and methacryl-modified silicone oils. Non-reactive silicone oils include polyether-modified, methylstyryl-modified, long-chain alkyl-modified, fluoro-modified, and phenyl. Examples thereof include modified silicone oil.
The content of silicone oil in the cleaning liquid is preferably 0.5 to 5.0% by weight. If it is 0.5% by weight or more, the effect of releasing the fixed substance is large, and if it is 5.0% by weight or less, there is no influence on the storage stability of the cleaning liquid.

Among the silicone oils, polyether-modified silicone oils are preferable, and particularly effective when a moisturizing agent is contained or when a polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether represented by the general formula (1) described later is contained as a surfactant. .
Polyether-modified silicone oil has moderate dispersibility in the cleaning liquid compared to dimethyl silicone oil that is not polyether-modified, so that the storage stability of the cleaning liquid is increased and the anti-sticking effect can be stably obtained. It is thought that.
The polyether-modified silicone oil has a polyoxyalkylene group which is an adduct of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide in dimethylpolysiloxane, and has a balance between hydrophilicity and lipophilicity (HLB) depending on the number of polyoxyalkylene groups. Can be controlled in various ways, and can be selected and used depending on the discharge liquid.
Commercially available products of these silicone oils can be used. For example, Toray Dow Corning: SH-200, FZ-2123, L-7604, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd .: KF-353, Nihon Unicar Co., Ltd .: SS- 2801, SS-2804, and the like.

Examples of components of the cleaning liquid other than silicone oil include solvents, surfactants, humectants, and other additives. The materials of these constituent components are not particularly limited, but those which are common constituents with the discharge liquid and do not contain solid content are preferable.
The solvent is mainly water, but a water-soluble organic solvent or the like can also be mixed and used. Examples of the water-soluble organic solvent include ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, glycerin, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, 1 Polyhydric alcohols such as 1,2,4-butanetriol, 1,2,3-butanetriol, petriol, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, Polyhydric alcohol alkyl ethers such as tetraethylene glycol monomethyl ether and propylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol Polyhydric alcohol aryl ethers such as phenyl ether and ethylene glycol monobenzyl ether, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-hydroxyethyl-2-pyrrolidone, 2-pyrrolidone, 1,3-dimethylimidazolidinone, ε-caprolactam Nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds such as formamide, amides such as N-methylformamide, N, N-dimethylformamide, amines such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, monoethylamine, diethylamine, and triethylamine, dimethyl sulfoxide, Examples include sulfur-containing compounds such as sulfolane and thiodiethanol, propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, and γ-butyrolactone.

The surfactant is added as necessary to improve the cleaning property, improve the mixing stability of the cleaning liquid, improve the refillability after cleaning, and the like.
As an anionic surfactant, alkyl allyl or alkyl naphthalene sulfonate, alkyl phosphate, alkyl sulfate, alkyl sulfonate, alkyl ether sulfate, alkyl sulfosuccinate, alkyl ester sulfate, alkyl benzene sulfonate, Alkyl diphenyl ether disulfonate, alkyl aryl ether phosphate, alkyl aryl ether sulfate, alkyl aryl ether ester sulfate, olefin sulfonate, alkane olefin sulfonate, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether phosphate, polyoxyethylene alkyl Examples include ether sulfate ester salts, ether carboxylates, sulfosuccinates, α-sulfo fatty acid esters, fatty acid salts, condensates of higher fatty acids and amino acids, and naphthenates. It is.
Examples of the cationic surfactant include alkylamine salts, dialkylamine salts, aliphatic amine salts, benzalkonium salts, quaternary ammonium salts, alkylpyridinium salts, imidazolinium salts, sulfonium salts, phosphonium salts, and the like.

Nonionic surfactants include polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl allyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene glycol ester, polyoxyethylene fatty acid amide, polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene polyoxy Propylene glycol, glycerin ester, sorbitan ester, sucrose ester, glycerin ester polyoxyethylene ether, sorbitan ester polyoxyethylene ether, sorbitol ester polyoxyethylene ether, fatty acid alkanolamide, amine oxide, polyoxyethylene alkylamine, Glycerin fatty acid ester, sorbitan fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fat Esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitol fatty acid esters, alkyl (poly) Gurikokishido like.
Examples of amphoteric surfactants include imidazoline derivatives such as imidazolinium betaine, dimethylalkyl lauryl betaine, alkyl glycine, and alkyldi (aminoethyl) glycine.

上記一般式（１）におけるｍ，ｎ，ｘ，ｙの値を変えることにより、疎水性、親水性の制御ができる。ｍ，ｎを増やすとアルキル部が長くなり疎水性に傾き、ｘ，ｙを増やすとオキシアルキレン部が長くなり親水性に傾く。さらに、ｘ，ｙの比率を変えることによっても特性が変化し、泡性状等が異なるので、使用用途にあったものを選択できる。 In the present invention, a polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether represented by the following general formula (1) of a nonionic surfactant is particularly effective. The content in the cleaning liquid is preferably 0.01 to 10% by weight, more preferably 0.05 to 1.0% by weight. If the content is 0.01% by weight or more, the effect of improving the cleaning property appears, and if it is 10% by weight or less, problems such as storage stability and foaming property of the cleaning liquid itself do not occur.

Hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity can be controlled by changing the values of m, n, x, and y in the general formula (1). Increasing m and n makes the alkyl part longer and tends to be hydrophobic, and increasing x and y makes the oxyalkylene part longer and tends to be hydrophilic. Furthermore, since the characteristics are changed and the foam properties are different by changing the ratio of x and y, the one suitable for the intended use can be selected.

The humectant is mainly contained for the purpose of preventing the cleaning liquid from drying in the flow path and preventing foaming.
Examples thereof include water-soluble polyhydric alcohols, nitrogen-containing hydrocarbon solvents, sulfur-containing hydrocarbon solvents, and the like. Among these, water-soluble polyhydric alcohols are preferable, and specific examples include ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 2-ethyl-1, Examples include 3-hexanediol, glycerin, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,2,4-butanetriol, 1,2,3-butanetriol, and petriol.

Examples of other additives include pH adjusters and antiseptic / antifungal agents.
Examples of pH adjusters include hydroxides of alkali metal elements such as lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, alkali metal carbonates such as lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate, and quaternary ammonium hydroxides. And amines such as diethanolamine and triethanolamine, ammonium hydroxide, and quaternary phosphonium hydroxide.
Examples of antiseptic / antifungal agents include 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, sodium benzoate, sodium dehydroacetate, sodium sorbate, sodium pentachlorophenol, sodium 2-pyridinethiol-1-oxide, and the like.

Examples of the discharge liquid include ink for ink jet recording.
Constituent components of the ink include, for example, coloring materials, wetting agents, water-soluble organic solvents, surfactants, resins, and other additives (antiseptic / anti-rust agents, rust preventives, water-soluble UV absorbers, water-soluble infrared absorbers) Agents, pH adjusters, etc.). When this ink dries, solid components such as coloring materials and resins remain as sticking residues in the nozzles, which cause discharge defects such as bending.
What is dispersed without dissolving in a solvent, such as a pigment as a color material or a resin emulsion, tends to become a fixed residue. Some pigments are redispersible, but once the resin emulsion is fixed, it will not be redispersed even when it comes into contact with the newly ejected liquid, and it is often added to impart fixing properties. Since it has a function, it is very difficult to completely remove it if it adheres to the inner wall of the nozzle. However, the cleaning liquid of the present invention can solve such problems.

As the coloring material, conventionally known various dyes and pigments can be used. As described above, when a pigment is used, a sticking residue tends to occur, and the present invention is particularly useful. In addition, as a pigment (for example, carbon), a self-dispersed pigment which has a functional group such as a sulfone group or a carboxyl group added to the surface thereof and can be dispersed in water, or the pigment is included in a microcapsule, and the pigment is dispersed in water. It may be possible.
The addition amount of the pigment as the coloring material is preferably about 0.5 to 25% by weight, more preferably about 2 to 15% by weight. In general, when the pigment concentration is increased, the image density is increased and the image quality is improved. However, the reliability such as fixing property, ejection stability, and clogging tends to be adversely affected.
The particle diameter of the pigment is not particularly limited, but a pigment ink having a particle diameter of 20 to 150 nm in terms of the maximum frequency in terms of the maximum number is preferable. When the particle diameter exceeds 150 nm, not only the pigment dispersion stability in the ink is deteriorated, but also the ejection stability is deteriorated, and the image quality such as the image density is lowered, which is not preferable. If the particle size is less than 20 nm, the storage stability of the ink and the jetting characteristics in the printer are stable, but the dispersion operation and classification operation for making such a fine particle size become complicated, and the ink is produced economically. It is difficult.
As the dispersant for dispersing the pigment, conventionally known dispersants can be used, and examples thereof include a polymer dispersant and a water-soluble surfactant.

The resin added to the ink is used as necessary for the purpose of improving the image fixing property, improving the image quality, and improving the pigment dispersibility.
As the resin, various known synthetic or natural polymer compounds can be used. Further, instead of a resin that is soluble in a solvent, a resin emulsion dispersed as fine particles in a solvent may be used, and a known or commercially available resin emulsion may be used.
Other components of the ink, such as a wetting agent, a water-soluble organic solvent, a surfactant, an antiseptic / antifungal agent, and a pH adjuster, are the same as those of the cleaning liquid and are not particularly limited.

An embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. The ink jet recording apparatus (ink jet printer) of the present embodiment forms an image by ejecting, for example, four colors (black, yellow, cyan, magenta) of ink onto a recording medium such as printing paper.
The ink jet printer 1 includes four ink jet heads 11 for ejecting ink of each color, a carriage 12 on which the four ink jet heads 11 are mounted, and a carriage 12 in the main scanning direction (left and right in the figure) by a drive system (not shown). A guide rod 13 that guides the movement and a paper transport mechanism 14 that transports the print paper P in the sub-scanning direction (vertical direction in the figure) are provided. The paper transport mechanism 14 includes a transport roller 15 that is rotated by a drive system (not shown), a tension roller 16, and a transport belt 17 that is stretched between them.
Each inkjet head 11 includes a piezoelectric actuator made of a piezoelectric element. Of course, another actuator for discharging ink, for example, a thermal actuator, a shape memory alloy actuator, or an electrostatic actuator may be provided.
Further, the ink jet printer 1 includes four ink cartridges 18 that store ink of each color, four sub tanks 19 mounted on the carriage 12 and connected to each ink jet head 11, each ink cartridge 18, and each sub tank 19. An ink supply tube (not shown) that communicates is provided, and the ink of each color accommodated in each ink cartridge 18 is supplied to each inkjet head 11 via each sub tank 19. That is, the liquid flow path of the ink jet printer 1 is configured by the ink supply tube, the sub tank 19, and the in-head flow path of the ink jet head 11. The ink supply tube is provided with a supply pump (not shown) for supplying the ink in the ink cartridge 18 to the sub tank 19.
Further, when the cleaning liquid is introduced into the liquid channel at the time of cleaning the liquid channel, a cartridge containing the cleaning liquid according to the present invention is set instead of the ink cartridge 18.

According to the present invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning liquid and a cleaning method capable of effectively cleaning the inside of a liquid flow path so that an adverse effect due to a discharge liquid residue is eliminated in an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with a liquid discharge head. To do.

1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example and a comparative example are shown and this invention is demonstrated further more concretely, this invention is not limited by these Examples. In the examples, “part” is “part by weight”.

Example 1
On the surface of the Ni electroforming nozzle, a silicone resin (SR-2411 manufactured by Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd.) was applied by a spray method to form a silicone layer having a thickness of about 1.0 μm. At that time, the nozzle holes and the back surface of the nozzle plate were masked with a water-soluble resin, and were formed by peeling and removing after the silicone layer was formed. Subsequently, the ink-repellent layer was cured by heating at 200 ° C. for 1 hour, and a nozzle plate made of Ni / silicone resin was produced.
A head was prepared using this Ni / silicone nozzle plate, and mounted on a printer (IPSiO G707, manufactured by Ricoh Co.), and the following evaluation was performed.
First, printing was performed by filling the following ink, and it was confirmed that ink was ejected from all nozzles and that there were no streaks, white spots, and ejection disturbance in the solid portion.
Next, after sucking ink from the front of the nozzle with an external pump, the following cleaning liquid was supplied from the supply port using the supply pump of the inkjet recording apparatus, and the operation of sucking the cleaning liquid from the front of the nozzle with the pump was repeated five times. . When the cleaning liquid was introduced into the ink jet head, a cartridge containing the cleaning liquid was set instead of the ink jet head.
<Ink>
The following materials were mixed and stirred, and then filtered through a 1.0 μm filter to prepare a black ink.
Pigment: CAB-O-JET 200 (sulfonic acid group addition type) 20.0 parts Surfactant (manufactured by Nikko Chemicals: ECTD3NEX) 1.5 parts Acrylic silicone resin emulsion 8.0 parts (manufactured by Toyo Ink: NANOCRYL SBCX-2821)
・ Glycerin 15.0 parts ・ 1,3-butanediol 7.5 parts ・ Pure water 48.0 parts <cleaning solution>
The following materials were mixed and stirred, and then filtered through a 0.1 μm filter to prepare a cleaning solution.
-Polyether-modified silicone oil 2.0 parts (Toray Dow Corning: FZ-2123)
・ Surfactant of general formula (1) (m + n = 9 to 11, x = 7, y = 2.5) 1.0 part (manufactured by Nippon Shokubai: Softanol EP-7025)
・ Glycerin 15.0 parts ・ 1,3-butanediol 7.5 parts ・ Pure water 74.5 parts

After that, put a moisturizing cap on the nozzle surface and leave the printer in a 50 ° C. 60% RH environment for 1 month, then refill with ink, and visually check for streaks in the 5% chart solid area, white spots, and ejection disturbance. And evaluated according to the following criteria. The results are shown in Table 1.
In addition, the printing pattern printed each ink at 100% duty in a chart in which each color printing area is 5% in the entire area of the paper. The printing conditions were a recording density of 360 dpi and one-pass printing.
A: There are no white spots, streaks, or jet disturbance in the solid part.
◯: There are no white spots in the solid portion, but some streaks and jet disturbance are observed.
Δ: White spots, streaks, and jet disturbance are partially observed in the solid portion.
X: White spots, streaks, and jet disturbances are observed in the whole area.

Example 2
Evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the prescription of the cleaning liquid was changed as follows.
The results are shown in Table 1.
<Cleaning liquid>
Polyether-modified silicone oil 0.4 parts (Toray Dow Corning: FZ-2123)
・ Surfactant of general formula (1) (m + n = 9 to 11, x = 7, y = 2.5) 1.0 part (manufactured by Nippon Shokubai: Softanol EP-7025)
・ Glycerin 15.0 parts ・ 1,3-butanediol 7.5 parts ・ Pure water 76.1 parts

Example 3
Evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the prescription of the cleaning liquid was changed as follows.
The results are shown in Table 1.
<Cleaning liquid>
-4.5 parts of polyether-modified silicone oil (Toray Dow Corning: FZ-2123)
・ Surfactant of general formula (1) (m + n = 9 to 11, x = 7, y = 2.5) 1.0 part (manufactured by Nippon Shokubai: Softanol EP-7025)
・ Glycerin 15.0 parts ・ 1,3-butanediol 7.5 parts ・ Pure water 72.0 parts

Example 4
Evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the prescription of the cleaning liquid was changed as follows.
The results are shown in Table 1.
<Cleaning liquid>
-Polyether-modified silicone oil 6.0 parts (Toray Dow Corning: FZ-2123)
・ Surfactant of general formula (1) (m + n = 9 to 11, x = 7, y = 2.5) 1.0 part (manufactured by Nippon Shokubai: Softanol EP-7025)
・ Glycerin 15.0 parts ・ 1,3-butanediol 7.5 parts ・ Pure water 70.5 parts

Example 5
Evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the formulation of the ink and the cleaning liquid was changed as follows. The results are shown in Table 1.
<Ink>
The following materials were mixed and stirred, and then filtered through a 1.0 μm filter to prepare a black ink.
Pigment: CAB-O-JET 200 (sulfonic acid group addition type) 20.0 parts Surfactant (manufactured by Nikko Chemicals: ECTD3NEX) 1.5 parts Polyurethane resin emulsion (manufactured by Takeshi Mitsui Chemicals: W5661) 5 parts-Glycerol 15.0 parts-1,3-butanediol 7.5 parts-Pure water 53.5 parts <Cleaning solution>
The following materials were mixed and stirred, and then filtered through a 0.1 μm filter to prepare a cleaning solution.
Polyether-modified silicone oil (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd .: KF-353) 2.5 parts Surfactant of general formula (1) (m + n = 9 to 11, x = 9, y = 5) 1.0 part ( (Nippon Shokubai: Softanol EP-9050)
・ Glycerin 15.0 parts ・ 1,3-butanediol 7.5 parts ・ Pure water 74.0 parts

Example 6
Evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Example 5 except that the prescription of the cleaning liquid was changed as follows.
The results are shown in Table 1.
<Cleaning liquid>
The following materials were mixed and stirred, and then filtered through a 0.1 μm filter to prepare a cleaning solution.
-Polyether-modified silicone oil 3.0 parts (manufactured by Toray Dow Corning: L-7604)
-Surfactant of general formula (1) (m + n = 9 to 11, x = 9, y = 5) 1.0 part (Nippon Shokubai: Softanol EP-9050)
・ Pure water 96.0 parts

Example 7
Evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Example 5 except that the prescription of the cleaning liquid was changed as follows.
The results are shown in Table 1.
<Cleaning liquid>
The following materials were mixed and stirred, and then filtered through a 0.1 μm filter to prepare a cleaning solution.
-Polyether modified silicone oil (Nihon Unicar: SS-2804) 4.0 parts-Surfactant (Nikko Chemicals: ECTD3NEX) 1.5 parts-Glycerin 15.0 parts-1,3-butanediol 7.5 Department ・ 72.0 parts pure water

Example 8
Evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the formulation of the ink and the cleaning liquid was changed as follows. The results are shown in Table 1.
<Ink>
The following materials were mixed and stirred and then filtered through a 0.8 μm polypropylene filter to prepare a magenta ink.
-Pigment: Daiwa IJ Magenta R (Daiwa Kasei) 50.0 parts-Surfactant (Nikko Chemicals: ECTD3NEX) 1.0 part-Glycerin 5.2 parts-Diethylene glycol 15.6 parts-Pure water 28.2 parts <Cleaning liquid>
The following materials were mixed and stirred, and then filtered through a 0.1 μm filter to prepare a cleaning solution.
・ Polyether-modified silicone oil (Nihon Unicar: SS-2801) 2.5 parts ・ Surfactant (Nikko Chemicals: ECTD3NEX) 1.0 part ・ Glycerin 15.0 parts ・ 1,3-Butanediol 7.5 Department ・ 74.0 parts of pure water

Example 9
After forming a SiO ₂ layer having a film thickness of about 50 nm on the surface of the Ni electroforming nozzle plate and in the nozzle hole, a modified perfluoropolyoxetane (manufactured by Daikin Industries: OPTOOL DSX) as a fluorine-based silane coupling agent Was deposited by about 100 nm by a vacuum deposition method. Subsequently, it heated at 150 degreeC in air | atmosphere for 2 hours, and produced the nozzle plate which consists of a Ni / fluorine-type silane coupling agent layer.
A head was prepared using this nozzle plate, mounted on a printer (Ricoh Co., Ltd .: IPSiO G707), and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 using the same ink and the following cleaning liquid as in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 1.
<Cleaning liquid>
The following materials were mixed and stirred, and then filtered through a 0.1 μm filter to prepare a cleaning solution.
・ Silicon oil (Toray Dow Corning: SH-200) 1.5 parts ・ Surfactant of general formula (1) (m + n = 9 to 11, x = 7, y = 2.5) 1.0 part (Japan) (Catalyst: Softanol EP-7005)
・ Glycerin 15.0 parts ・ 1,3-butanediol 7.5 parts ・ Pure water 75.0 parts

Comparative Example 1
Evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the prescription of the cleaning liquid was changed as follows.
The results are shown in Table 1.
<Cleaning liquid>
The following materials were mixed and stirred, and then filtered through a 0.1 μm filter to prepare a cleaning solution.
・ Surfactant of general formula (1) (m + n = 9 to 11, x = 7, y = 2.5) 1.0 part (manufactured by Nippon Shokubai: Softanol EP-7025)
・ Glycerin 15.0 parts ・ 1,3-butanediol 7.5 parts ・ Pure water 76.5 parts

Comparative Example 2
Evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Example 5 except that the prescription of the cleaning liquid was changed as follows.
The results are shown in Table 1.
<Cleaning liquid>
The following materials were mixed and stirred, and then filtered through a 0.1 μm filter to prepare a cleaning solution.
-Surfactant of general formula (1) (m + n = 9 to 11, x = 9, y = 5) 1.0 part (Nippon Shokubai: Softanol EP-9050)
・ Glycerin 15.0 parts ・ 1,3-butanediol 7.5 parts ・ Pure water 76.5 parts

Comparative Example 3
Evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Example 6 except that the prescription of the cleaning liquid was changed as follows.
The results are shown in Table 1.
<Cleaning liquid>
The following materials were mixed and stirred, and then filtered through a 0.1 μm filter to prepare a cleaning solution.
-Surfactant of general formula (1) (m + n = 9 to 11, x = 9, y = 5) 1.0 part (Nippon Shokubai: Softanol EP-9050)
・ Pure water 99.0 parts

Comparative Example 4
Evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Example 7 except that the formulation of the cleaning liquid was changed as follows.
The results are shown in Table 1.
<Cleaning liquid>
The following materials were mixed and stirred, and then filtered through a 0.1 μm filter to prepare a cleaning solution.
・ Surfactant (Nikko Chemicals: ECTD3NEX) 1.5 parts ・ Glycerin 15.0 parts ・ 1,3-butanediol 7.5 parts ・ Pure water 76.0 parts

Comparative Example 5
Evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Example 8 except that the formulation of the cleaning liquid was changed as follows.
The results are shown in Table 1.
<Cleaning liquid>
The following materials were mixed and stirred, and then filtered through a 0.1 μm filter to prepare a cleaning solution.
・ Surfactant (Nikko Chemicals: ECTD3NEX) 1.0 part ・ Glycerin 15.0 parts ・ 1,3-butanediol 7.5 parts ・ Pure water 76.5 parts

Comparative Example 6
Evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Example 9 except that the formulation of the cleaning liquid was changed as follows.
The results are shown in Table 1.
<Cleaning liquid>
The following materials were mixed and stirred, and then filtered through a 0.1 μm filter to prepare a cleaning solution.
Surfactant [in general formula (1), m + n = 9 to 11, x = 7, y = 2.5] 1.0 part (Nippon Shokubai: Softanol EP-7025)
・ Glycerin 15.0 parts ・ 1,3-butanediol 7.5 parts ・ Pure water 76.5 parts

Example 10
After the evaluation of Comparative Example 1, the ink is sucked again from the front surface of the nozzle by an external pump, and then the cleaning liquid of Example 1 is supplied from the supply port using the supply pump of the inkjet recording apparatus, and the cleaning liquid is discharged from the front surface of the nozzle by the pump. The sucking operation was repeated 5 times, and after leaving for 24 hours with the cleaning liquid finally filled, the cleaning liquid was sucked and discharged from the ink flow path.
Thereafter, in the same manner as in Example 1, the ink was filled again for evaluation. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 11
After the evaluation of Comparative Example 1, the ink is sucked again from the front surface of the nozzle by an external pump, and then the cleaning liquid of Example 1 is supplied from the supply port using the supply pump of the inkjet recording apparatus, and the cleaning liquid is discharged from the front surface of the nozzle by the pump. The suctioning operation was repeated five times. Finally, the piezoelectric actuator was driven for 5 minutes so that the cleaning liquid was not discharged while the cleaning liquid was filled, and then the cleaning liquid was sucked and discharged from the ink flow path.
Thereafter, in the same manner as in Example 1, the ink was filled again for evaluation. The results are shown in Table 1.

Comparative Example 7
After the evaluation of Comparative Example 1, the ink is again sucked from the front of the nozzle by an external pump, and then the cleaning liquid of Comparative Example 1 is supplied from the supply port using the supply pump of the inkjet recording apparatus, and the cleaning liquid is supplied from the front of the nozzle by the pump. The sucking operation was repeated 5 times, and after leaving for 24 hours with the cleaning liquid finally filled, the cleaning liquid was sucked and discharged from the ink flow path.
Thereafter, in the same manner as in Example 1, the ink was filled again for evaluation. The results are shown in Table 1.

Comparative Example 8
After the evaluation of Comparative Example 1, the ink is again sucked from the front of the nozzle by an external pump, and then the cleaning liquid of Comparative Example 1 is supplied from the supply port using the supply pump of the inkjet recording apparatus, and the cleaning liquid is supplied from the front of the nozzle by the pump. The suctioning operation was repeated five times. Finally, the piezoelectric actuator was driven for 5 minutes so that the cleaning liquid was not discharged while the cleaning liquid was filled, and then the cleaning liquid was sucked and discharged from the ink flow path.
Thereafter, in the same manner as in Example 1, the ink was filled again for evaluation. The results are shown in Table 1.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet printer 11 Inkjet head 12 Carriage equipped with inkjet head 11 13 Guide rod 14 Paper transport mechanism 15 Transport roller 16 Tension roller 17 Transport belt 18 Ink cartridge 19 Sub tank P Printing paper

JP 2005-146224 A

Claims (4)

A washing liquid of the liquid channel of the ink jet recording apparatus equipped with a liquid discharge head, an ink jet recording apparatus for the cleaning liquid, characterized in that it contains a polyether-modified silicone oil and the surface active agent. The addition amount of the polyether-modified silicone oil, claim 1 Symbol mounting an ink jet recording apparatus for cleaning liquid, characterized in that 0.5 to 5.0 wt%. The method of cleaning liquid flow path of an ink jet recording apparatus characterized by using a cleaning solution according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The method for cleaning a liquid flow path of an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the head of the ink jet recording apparatus having a liquid discharge head driven by a piezoelectric actuator is cleaned by driving the piezoelectric actuator.

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