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Kyocera Launches Inkjet Printhead "KJ4B-EX600-RC" with Ink Recirculation

Industry-leading productivity*1 promotes digitization; suitable for a wide range of printing applications including textiles, corrugated board, and building materials

 
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*1: As of March 1, 2024, according to a survey by Kyocera.


Kyocera Corporation (President: Hideo Tanimoto) has developed a new inkjet printhead with ink recirculation technology at the nozzle. Available in April 2024, the new KJ4B-EX600-RC (hereinafter "printhead") achieves industry-leading productivity*1 over a wide range of printing applications, including textiles, corrugated board, and building materials, and is compatible with a wide range of inks.

<仮>インクジェットプリント「KJ4B-EX600-RC].jpg

Inkjet Printhead"KJ4B-EX600-RC"

Model KJ4B-EX600-RC
Dimensions 200.0×30.0×68.2mm
(Width x Depth x Height)
Maximum print speed 101.6m/min
Resolution 600dpi
Effective print width 108.3mm
Maximum jetting frequency 40kHz
Maximum drop volume 14 pl (at 40kHz) / 18 pl (at 30kHz) / 24 pl (at 20kHz)
Compatible ink Aqueous
Development facility Kagoshima Kokubu Plant (Japan)


Features of the product

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. High durability achieved by the simple and robust flow channel structure with stainless steel lamination.

*2: Piezo actuator: specialized component that generates ink-jetting power using the piezoelectric effect of fine ceramics


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. Furthermore, realizing stable jetting with maximum drop volume is also an important factor for printing, mainly in textile and corrugated board applications.

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 digitization of the printing industry by reducing the workload of operators and improving labor 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.

*3: Heat-transfer method to cool the driving board installed on the printhead.

Ink Recirculation Technology

(英)ノズル近傍循環機構_600.jpg

Water cooling system

★コントラスト調整(英)水冷仕様.jpg

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 14 pL, about 17% greater than the previous model at a driving frequency of 40 kHz, with improved jetting stability. With a wide effective printing width of 108.3mm, Kyocera's printhead achieves high precision and industry-leading productivity*1.

★コントラスト調整(英)最大液滴量グラフ.jpg
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: 116mm x depth: 21mm x thickness: 0.04mm). By using a large monolithic piezoelectric actuator, Kyocera has achieved uniform image quality within the printhead and higher print quality.

(英)一体型ピエゾアクチュエータ_600.jpgMonolithic piezoelectric actuator


4. High durability achieved through a simple and robust flow-channel structure with stainless steel lamination.

Adopting a monolithic piezoelectric actuator increases design flexibility and results in a simple and robust structure. This provides improved strength and structural stability for enhanced durability.

(英)構造設計.jpg

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.

Session May 28 - June 7, 2024
Location Düsseldorf Exhibition Center (Düsseldorf, Germany)
Official website https://www.drupa.com/
Kyocera booth Hall 10, booth number A11

This news release is intended for media purposes, and is current of the date of publication. Information is subject to change without notice.