Kyocera launches new inkjet printhead "KJ4B-EX1200-RC" with ink recirculation

Main Features

1. Ink recirculation at the nozzle allows compatibility with a wider variety of inks, including fast-drying inks, over a wider range of applications.
2. Higher productivity, through high driving frequency and greater maximum drop volume.
3. High print quality, through Kyocera’s unique monolithic piezo actuator^*2.
4. Enhanced versatility, through standardized electrical interfaces.

Development Background

Digital printing offers the advantage of immediate, customizable printing in any quantity while reducing environmental impact by eliminating the liquid waste that occurs in plate-cleaning processes. As a result, the demand for digital printing, including inkjet printing, is rapidly expanding from traditional paper media into new applications such as textiles, food-grade packaging, and building materials.

In recent years, ink formulations have been diversified to increase productivity and accommodate a wider range of applications. Consequently, demand is rising for printheads that can handle a wider variety of inks at higher speeds while offering better print resolutions and enhanced durability. Especially in the commercial printing and package printing markets, new printheads must deliver optimized drop volumes to print not only on traditional high-quality papers but also coated papers and films. In addition, as print speeds continue to increase, faster-drying inks are becoming a key priority, placing new compatibility demands on printheads.

The robust design of Kyocera’s printhead technology allows stable, continuous printing to enhance productivity in industrial printing operations. As a result, Kyocera will lead the digitalization of the printing industry by reducing the workload of operators and improving labour efficiency.

Features

1. Ink recirculation at the nozzle allows compatibility with a wider variety of inks, including fast-drying inks, over a wider range of applications.
Kyocera’s unique technology recirculates ink around the nozzle, which prevents nozzle drying, while promoting temperature uniformity and inhibiting ink sedimentation. These features allow stable printing with various kinds of inks, including fast-drying formulations, while reducing routine maintenance, such as printhead cleaning when rebooting a printer. This new printhead also incorporates a water cooling system^*3 as a standard feature, enhancing stability in continuous, high-speed, high-quality printing.

2. Higher productivity through high driving frequency and greater maximum drop volume.
By optimizing the ink-flow-channel design and printhead structure, the maximum drop volume of ink ejected from nozzles has been increased to 4.0 pL, about 43% greater than the previous model at a driving frequency of 80 kHz, with improved jetting stability. Better productivity makes it possible to cover a wider range of media by optimizing drop volumes for commercial printing and package printing segments.

3. High print quality, through Kyocera’s unique monolithic piezo actuator^*2.
Kyocera has developed a large monolithic piezoelectric actuator, using proprietary material design technology for dense polycrystalline ceramic actuators, and manufacturing technology for thin piezoelectric ceramic substrates. Kyocera has now optimized and adopted the technology for this printhead (width: 116 mm x depth: 34 mm x thickness: 0.04 mm). By using a large monolithic piezoelectric actuator, Kyocera has achieved uniform image quality within the printhead and higher print quality.

4. Enhanced versatility, through standardized electrical interfaces.
By adopting the same interface as its conventional printhead (KJ4B-1200), Kyocera has reduced the development cost of the driving system and improved device versatility.

Through its advanced technologies, Kyocera will expand the possibilities of digital printing and contribute to the sustainability of the global printing industry.

Information about drupa 2024

Kyocera will exhibit this printhead at the drupa 2024 international printing and media industry exhibition from May 28th to June 7th, 2024.

^*1 As of February 15, 2024, according Kyocera research.
^*2 Piezo actuator: specialized component that generates ink-jetting power using the piezoelectric effect of fine ceramics.
^*3 Heat-transfer method to cool the driving board installed on the printhead.