Hydrophilic ink passage
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorsSatoru Miyashita, Kiyohiko Takemoto
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an ink passage having surface which has a film comprising a fine particle of an inorganic oxide having a hydrophilic group. The surface of the ink passage according to the present invention has a high hydrophilicity and can rapidly remove bubbles formed within the ink passage. The recording head according to the present invention need not conduct filling of a liquid in the course of transportation and can be transported in an empty state.
Claims10
An improved ink jet recording apparatus comprising (a) a recording head with discharge means for discharging ink from the recording head and (b) base material means, including a base material, for forming a passage for ink to or through the recording head, wherein the presence of bubbles in the ink passage is detrimental to recording with the recording head, the improvement comprising a film on a surface of the base material, said film comprising fine particles of an inorganic oxide having a hydrophilic group, said fine particles being present in said film in a size and amount which impart sufficient hydrophilicity to the surface to cause rapid discharge of the bubbles formed within the ink passage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.