Latex Ink

We developed a latex ink with excellent standards in safety, color reproducibility and jetting-reliability for inkjet printers. As well as being able to print on osmotic base materials (paper, etc.), it can also print on non-osmotic plastic base materials (PVC, PET, etc.).

What is latex ink?

Generally, latex ink is a heat-fusing type, which allows printing on various un-coated base materials even though it is a water-based ink. It should be handled in the same way as water pigment ink, but compared to conventional water-based pigment ink, it can be fused to the base material, making it waterproof and robust against scratches.

The distinctive characteristics of the newly developed latex ink

1. Safe

The latex ink developed by Ricoh employs water-based pigment ink technology, which is an eco-friendly ink that reduces VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions, so there is no need for special ventilation for the printer.

2. Broad color gamut and adaptability to base materials

Ricoh's latex ink has a collection of color inks that include characteristic color inks such as orange and green, and a white ink; these are in addition to the process colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). Characteristic color inks make possible broad color-reproduction even for the sign graphics applications often used for printing photographs of ordinary commodities, characters, and the like. Regarding the white ink, because of its high opacifying properties, it can obtain high contrast when used for surface coat printing on transparent base materials such as shop front signboards; images are produced with good visibility. In addition, by using the homogeneous dispersion technology of the pigment, Ricoh's latex ink can obtain stable image density for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and PET films and the like, which are often used for sign-graphics applications. Furthermore, the ink has a special feature to produce high density color, not only on paper but on plastic base materials as well . It can be adapted to a broad range of base materials.

3. High jetting-reliability

In an inkjet system, reliability is especially important. Ricoh's latex ink achieves superb jetting-reliability through high stabilization technology. Generally, to obtain high confidence in an inkjet system, many contrivances are exercised on ink, inkjet printhead, and the reliability conserving mechanism, etc.

Ink

• Selection of materials to eliminate the trade-off between image formation and discharge.
  Before discharge: It is NOT preferred that ink dries and becomes clogged in the nozzle
  After landing: It is preferred that ink dries quickly.

Inkjet printhead

• Inkjet printheads are designed to accurately eject the intended volume of ink onto the paper surface.
• Inactive poles are placed between individual liquid chambers to control ink discharge.

Maintenance Reliability

• Mechanisms for wiping off mist on the nozzle surface and ejecting thickened ink appropriately installed in the nozzle.

With Ricoh's latex ink, however, high confidence is possible without mounting complicated mechanisms in the inkjet system of the piezoelectric system. In addition, proprietary automatic head cleaning technology enables stable continuous printing, which is especially important in commercial printing.

Sorted by : field “Inkjet” | product type “Inkjet”