# US 12,179,492 B2 · Maintenance liquid for solving ejection problem of UV curable inkjet printer

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- Number: US 12,179,492 B2
- Document ID: US12179492B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/371,096
- Filed: 2021-07-08
- Published: 2022-01-13
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2020-07-10
- Assignees: Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Takahito Makinouchi; Kazuki Ohara
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179492B2

## CPC

- B41J 2/16552: {using cleaning fluids}
- C09D 11/40: Ink-sets specially adapted for multi-colour inkjet printing
- B08B 3/08: the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect
- B41J 2/165: Prevention {or detection} of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
- C09D 11/101: Inks specially adapted for printing processes involving curing by wave energy or particle radiation, e.g. with UV-curing following the printing
- C09D 11/107: from unsaturated acids or derivatives thereof
- C09D 11/36: based on non-aqueous solvents
- C09D 11/38: characterised by non-macromolecular additives other than solvents, pigments or dyes
- C11D 7/261: {Alcohols; Phenols}
- C11D 7/263: {Ethers}
- C11D 7/266: {Esters or carbonates}
- C11D 7/30: Halogenated hydrocarbons
- C11D 7/32: containing nitrogen
- C11D 7/5022: {containing oxygen}
- C11D 2111/20: Industrial or commercial equipment, e.g. reactors, tubes or engines
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D)
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL

## Abstract

Provided are a maintenance liquid and a maintenance method that can solve an ejection problem of a UV curable inkjet printer. The maintenance liquid includes: a first ingredient in which a water-soluble compound is soluble and a cured matter of a UV curable ink is insoluble. The maintenance method includes: a first cleaning process at which a water-soluble compound that adheres to an inkjet head included in the UV curable inkjet printer is dissolved by a first maintenance liquid including the first ingredient in which the water-soluble compound is soluble and a cured matter of a UV curable ink is insoluble, and a second cleaning process at which the inkjet head is cleaned by a second maintenance liquid including a second ingredient in which the water-soluble compound is insoluble and the cured matter of the UV curable ink is soluble.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A maintenance liquid for an ultraviolet (UV) curable inkjet printer, the maintenance liquid comprising:
a first ingredient in which a water-soluble compound is soluble and a cured matter of a UV curable ink is insoluble, and
a second ingredient in which the water-soluble compound is insoluble and the cured matter of the UV curable ink is soluble,
wherein
the first ingredient is configured to dissolve the water-soluble compound, which is a crystal-like solid matter originated from an acidic monomer and an initiator included in the UV curable ink, and water,
the initiator is a phosphorous-based initiator; and
the second ingredient is configured to dissolve the cured matter of the UV curable ink.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The maintenance liquid according to claim 1, wherein
the first ingredient is diethyleneglycol, and
the second ingredient is diethyleneglycol monoethyl ether acetate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The maintenance liquid according to claim 1, wherein
the first ingredient in the maintenance liquid is in a range of 90% to 100% by mass, and
the water in the maintenance liquid is in a range of 10% or less by mass.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The maintenance liquid according to claim 1, wherein
the second ingredient in the maintenance liquid is in a range of 10% to less than 90% by mass.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An ink set for an ultraviolet (UV) curable inkjet printer, the ink set comprising:
the maintenance liquid according to claim 1,
wherein
the water-soluble compound that adheres to an inkjet head included in the UV curable inkjet printer is dissolved in the first ingredient; and
the cured matter of the UV curable ink is dissolved in the second ingredient.