MAINTENANCE AND RECOVERY UNIT AND MAINTENANCE AND RECOVERY METHOD USING INK WHICH RAPIDLY INCREASES VISCOSITY (VISCOSITY INCREASE RATIO (MPA S/%) EXCEEDING 50) DURING MOISTURE EVAPORATION 30-45% AND INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inkjet recording apparatus capable of outputting a high-speed high-quality image on plain paper and having long-lasting reliability, and also a maintenance and recovery unit and a maintenance and recovery method.

SOLUTION: In the maintenance and recovery unit for the inkjet recording apparatus which records by ejecting ink from nozzles of an inkjet head, the ink contains at least a colorant dispersed in water, wetting agents and a penetration improver. The ink is further composed so that the viscosity increase rate (mPa s/%) accompanying moisture evaporation is not more than 1.0 wherein the moisture evaporation rate does not exceed 30% based on the total weight of the ink, and the viscosity increase rate exceeds 50 during the moisture evaporation rate of 30-45%. The feature of the maintenance and recovery unit includes heads having a plurality of covering means which cover the heads and a suction force generating means communicating at least to one covering means and having at least one covering means not communicating to the suction force generating means.

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