Ink jet recording apparatus and ink jet textile printing method

1. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising:

an ink composition, and

a liquid jet head including a nozzle for discharging the ink composition, wherein

the ink composition is a textile printing ink composition containing a resin particle, a white pigment, and water;

the resin particle is contained in an amount of 5.0 mass % or more based on the total amount of the ink composition;

the white pigment is contained in an amount of 5.0 mass % or more based on the total amount of the ink composition;

the resin particle has a glass transition temperature of less than 6° C.; and

the liquid jet head includes a first flow path substrate and a second flow path substrate that collectively define a pressure chamber to which the ink composition is supplied, and a nozzle plate coupled to the first flow path substrate that defines a nozzle in communication with the pressure chamber for discharging the ink composition, the first flow path substrate and the nozzle plate collectively defining a circulation return passage in communication with the pressure chamber configured to circulate the ink composition in the pressure chamber, and the pressure chamber communications with the circulation return passage via an exhaust passage in the form of a groove formed in the nozzle plate that faces the first flow path substrate and is configured to flow the ink composition between the pressure chamber and the circulation return passage.

2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the resin particle has a glass transition temperature of −25° C. or more and less than 6° C.

3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the ink composition contains the white pigment in an amount of 6.0 mass % or more based on the total amount of the ink composition.

4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the ink composition has a solid content concentration of 12.0 mass % or more.

5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the resin particle contains a urethane resin.

6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the white pigment is titanium oxide.

7. An ink jet textile printing method using an ink jet recording apparatus that includes a liquid jet head including a first flow path substrate and a second flow path substrate that collectively define a pressure chamber to which the ink composition is supplied, and a nozzle plate coupled to the first flow path substrate the defines a nozzle in communication with the pressure chamber for discharging the ink composition, the first flow path substrate and the nozzle plate collectively defining a circulation return passage in communication with the pressure chamber configured to circulate the ink composition in the pressure chamber, and the pressure chamber communicates with the circulation return passage via an exhaust passage in the form of a groove formed in the nozzle plate that faces the first flow path substrate and is configured to flow the ink composition between the pressure chamber and the circulation return passage, the method comprising:

discharging the ink composition from the nozzle; and

circulating at least a part of the ink composition from the circulation return passage to the pressure chamber, wherein

the ink composition is a textile printing ink composition containing a resin particle, a white pigment, and water;

the resin particle is contained in an amount of 5.0 mass % or more based on the total amount of the ink composition;

the white pigment is contained in an amount of 5.0 mass % or more based on the total amount of the ink composition; and

the resin particle has a glass transition temperature of less than 6° C.