INK-JET RECORDING APPARATUS

Abstract

The ink-jet recording apparatus employing an elastic member in at least a part of an ink passage into which a water-based ink for ink-jet recording is filled is configured to satisfy the following inequality (1):

Description

Claims

1. An ink-jet recording apparatus in which an elastic member is employed in at least a part of an ink passage into which a water-based ink for ink-jet recording is filled, wherein the ink-jet recording apparatus is configured to satisfy the following inequality (1): (T1/T0)×100≦about 200%   (1),

2. The ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is at least one selected from the group consisting of isobutylene-isoprene rubber polymer, ethylene propylene diene rubber polymer, isoprene rubber polymer, butadiene rubber polymer, styrene-butadiene rubber polymer, silicone rubber polymer, chloroprene rubber polymer, urethane rubber polymer, nitrile rubber polymer, acrylic rubber polymer and fluororubber polymer.

3. The ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is the isobutylene-isoprene rubber polymer or the ethylene propylene diene rubber polymer represented by the following formula:

4. The ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the non-conjugated diene compound is ethylidene norbornene, dicyclopentadiene or 1,4-hexadiene.

5. A selection method for an elastic member to be employed in an ink passage of an ink-jet recording apparatus using a water-based ink for ink-jet recording, the method comprising selecting an elastic member satisfying the following inequality (1): (T1/T0)×100≦about 200%   (1),

6. The selection method for an elastic member according to claim 5, wherein the elastic member is at least one selected from the group consisting of isobutylene-isoprene rubber polymer, ethylene propylene diene rubber polymer, isoprene rubber polymer, butadiene rubber polymer, styrene-butadiene rubber polymer, silicone rubber polymer, chloroprene rubber polymer, urethane rubber polymer, nitrile rubber polymer, acrylic rubber polymer and fluororubber polymer.

7. The selection method for an elastic member according to claim 5, wherein the elastic member is the isobutylene-isoprene rubber polymer or the ethylene propylene diene rubber polymer represented by the following formula:

8. The selection method for an elastic member according to claim 7, wherein the non-conjugated diene compound is ethylidene norbornene, dicyclopentadiene or 1,4-hexadiene.

9. A treating method for an elastic member to be employed in an ink passage of an ink-jet recording apparatus into which a water-based ink for ink-jet recording is filled, the method comprising subjecting an elastic member not satisfying the following inequality (1) to an immersion-washing treatment in which the elastic member is immersed in an aqueous solution of a penetrant at about 60° C. to about 80° C. for 4 days or more: (T1/T0)×100≦about 200%   (1),

10. The treating method for an elastic member according to claim 9, wherein the elastic member is at least one selected from the group consisting of isobutylene-isoprene rubber polymer, ethylene propylene diene rubber polymer, isoprene rubber polymer, butadiene rubber polymer, styrene-butadiene rubber polymer, silicone rubber polymer, chloroprene rubber polymer, urethane rubber polymer, nitrile rubber polymer, acrylic rubber polymer and fluororubber polymer.

11. The treating method for an elastic member according to claim 9, wherein the elastic member is the isobutylene-isoprene rubber polymer or the ethylene propylene diene rubber polymer represented by the following formula:

12. The treating method for an elastic member according to claim 9, wherein the non-conjugated diene compound is ethylidene norbornene, dicyclopentadiene or 1,4-hexadiene.

13. The treating method for an elastic member according to claim 9, wherein the penetrant is at least one selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol isobutyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol propyl ether, dipropylene glycol isopropyl ether, dipropylene glycol butyl ether, triethylene glycol methyl ether, triethylene glycol butyl ether, tripropylene glycol methyl ether and tripropylene glycol butyl ether.

14. The treating method for an elastic member according to claim 9, wherein the penetrant is dipropylene glycol propyl ether or triethylene glycol butyl ether.

15. The treating method for an elastic member according to claim 9, wherein the amount of the penetrant in the aqueous solution of the penetrant is in the range of about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % with respect to the total amount of the aqueous solution of the penetrant.

16. The treating method for an elastic member according to claim 9, wherein in the immersion-washing treatment, the elastic member is immersed in the aqueous solution of the penetrant at about 60° C. to about 80° C. for 4 days or more, so that the volume of the aqueous solution is 3 mL or more per 1 cm2 of the surface area of the elastic member.