JP2011046115A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recorder in which an image collapse at the boundary of an image part printed with aqueous ink and non-image part has been inhibited. <P>SOLUTION: The image recorder 101 includes an intermediate transfer belt 10, a curable solution layer forming apparatus 12 which supplies a hydrophobic curable solution 12A containing a first curable material cured by external stimulus and water absorption particles to the intermediate transfer belt 10 and forms a curable solution layer 12B, an ink giving apparatus 14 which gives the aqueous ink 14A containing a second curable material cured by external stimulus to the curable solution layer 12B formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10, a transfer device 16 which makes the curable solution layer 12B contact a recording medium P and transfers the curable solution layer 12B to the recording medium P from the intermediate transfer belt 10, and a stimulus supply device 18 which supplies the stimulus for making the first curable material of the curable solution layer 12B and the second curable material of the aqueous ink cured to the curable solution layer 12B. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus.

For example, Patent Document 1 states that “a liquid is attached to the surface of an intermediate transfer body before the ink or flying ink droplets on the printing plate are transferred to the intermediate transfer body, and the ink is attached to the liquid. From the above, there has been proposed a “recording method characterized in that the ink on the intermediate transfer member is transferred to the printing medium together with the liquid”.
Patent Document 2 states that “a step of applying a first material (an aqueous solution containing a polyvalent cation) for aggregating the color material of the ink to the intermediate transfer member; A forming step of forming an ink image applied from a head, a transfer step of transferring an ink image to a recording medium, and an ink jet recording method of applying a second material to an intermediate transfer body before the transfer step are proposed. Yes.
Patent Document 3 states that “at least one of the first liquid and the second liquid contains a polymerizable compound that can be polymerized with an electron beam, and after the second liquid is applied to the recording medium, the first liquid is recorded. A liquid applying means for ejecting droplets on the medium, and an electron beam irradiating means for irradiating an electron beam toward the recording medium to which the first liquid and the second liquid are applied, and an acceleration voltage at the time of electron beam irradiation is 40 kV to An “ink jet recording apparatus characterized by being 60 kV” has been proposed.

JP 2001-212956 A JP 2005-170036 A JP 2008-23904 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus in which image collapse at the boundary between an image portion and a non-image portion due to water-based ink is suppressed as compared with a case where the water-based ink does not contain a curable material.

The above problem is solved by the following means. That is,
The invention according to claim 1
A curable solution layer forming means for supplying a first curable material cured by a first stimulus from the outside and a hydrophobic curable solution containing at least a water-absorbing component to a recording material to form a curable solution layer;
An ink applying means for applying an aqueous ink containing a second curable material that is cured by a second stimulus from the outside to the curable solution layer;
First stimulus supply means for supplying the first stimulus for curing the first curable material of the curable solution layer;
Second stimulus supply means for supplying the second stimulus for curing the second curable material of the water-based ink;
An image recording apparatus.

The invention according to claim 2
The recording material is an intermediate transfer member,
A curable solution layer forming means for supplying a first curable material to be cured by a first stimulus from the outside and a hydrophobic curable solution containing at least a water-absorbing component onto the intermediate transfer body to form a curable solution layer. When,
An ink applying means for applying an aqueous ink containing a second curable material that is cured by a second stimulus from the outside to the curable solution layer;
Transfer means for bringing the curable solution layer provided with the ink into contact with a recording medium and transferring the curable solution layer from the intermediate transfer member to the recording medium;
First stimulus supply means for supplying the first stimulus for curing the first curable material of the curable solution layer;
Second stimulus supply means for supplying the second stimulus for curing the second curable material of the water-based ink;
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

The invention according to claim 3
The second curable material that is cured by the second stimulus from the outside includes a curable polymer that is cured by the second stimulus from the outside, and a curable monomer or curable polymer that is cured by the second stimulus from the outside. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording apparatus is at least one selected from particles on the surface.

The invention according to claim 4
The image recording according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein after the second curable material is cured by the second stimulus supply unit, the first curable material is cured by the first stimulus supply unit. apparatus.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, image collapse at the boundary between the image portion and the non-image portion due to the ink is suppressed as compared with the case where the water-based ink does not contain a curable material.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, image collapse at the boundary between the image portion and the non-image portion due to the ink is suppressed as compared with the case where the water-based ink does not contain a curable material.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, image collapse at the boundary between the image area and the non-image area due to the ink is suppressed as compared with the case where a curable monomer is applied as the curable material contained in the water-based ink.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 4, after a 1st curable material is hardened | cured by the said 1st stimulus supply means, compared with the case where the said 2nd curable material is hardened | cured by the said 2nd stimulus supply means, it is an image. Increased robustness.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the effect | action of the image recording apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the image recording apparatus which concerns on other 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the image recording device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the image recording apparatus which concerns on other 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment which is an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is provided to the member which has a substantially equal function through all the drawings, and the overlapping description may be abbreviate | omitted.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an image recording apparatus according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image recording apparatus 101 according to the first embodiment includes, for example, an endless belt-like intermediate transfer belt 10 (an example of an intermediate transfer member as a recording material), and the periphery of the intermediate transfer belt 10. Further, in order from the upstream side in the moving direction (arrow direction) of the intermediate transfer belt 10, a hydrophobic curable solution 12A containing a first curable material and a water-absorbing component is supplied onto the intermediate transfer belt 10 to provide a curable solution. A curable solution layer forming apparatus 12 (an example of a curable solution layer forming unit) that forms the layer 12B and an aqueous ink 14A containing a second curable material are applied to the curable solution layer 12B to form an image T. By contacting the recording medium P with a water-based inkjet recording head 14 (an example of an ink applying unit) and a curable solution layer 12B to which an image T is formed and supplied with a water absorption inhibiting component, and applying pressure. The transfer device 16 (an example of transfer means) that transfers the curable solution layer 12B on which the image T is formed onto the recording medium P, and the residue of the curable solution layer 12B remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the attached foreign matter And a cleaning device 20 for removing (such as paper dust of the recording medium P).

  Further, on the inner side of the intermediate transfer belt 10, for example, a stimulus for curing the curable solution layer 12 </ b> B (the first curable material included therein) during the contact between the curable solution layer 12 </ b> B and the recording medium P is provided. A stimulus supply device 18 (an example of a first stimulus supply means and a second stimulus supply means) for supplying to 12B is provided. That is, the stimulus supply device 18 is installed facing the area where the curable solution layer 12B is in contact with the recording medium P. Further, the stimulus supply device 18 plays a role of supplying a stimulus for curing the second curable material contained in the aqueous ink 14A.

The intermediate transfer belt 10 is supported and disposed so as to rotate while applying tension from the inner peripheral surface side by, for example, three support rolls 10A to 10C and a pressure roll 16B (transfer device 16). Further, the intermediate transfer belt 10 has a width (length in the axial direction) equal to or greater than the width of the recording medium P.
In the present embodiment, the first stimulus that cures the first curable material contained in the curable solution 12A and the second stimulus that cures the second curable material contained in the aqueous ink 14A are the same stimulus. It demonstrates as a form which is. Of course, different forms are possible.

(Intermediate transfer belt)
Examples of the material of the intermediate transfer belt 10 include known materials generally used as an intermediate transfer belt, such as various resins, various rubbers, and metal materials. The intermediate transfer belt 10 may have a single layer configuration or a stacked configuration.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, since the stimulus supply device 18 is provided inside the intermediate transfer belt 10, the stimulus is supplied to the curable solution layer 12 </ b> B after passing through the intermediate transfer belt 10. Therefore, the intermediate transfer belt 10 preferably has stimulus permeability in order to supply stimulus to the curable solution layer 12B. The intermediate transfer belt 10 is preferably resistant to stimulation.

For example, when the stimulus supply device 18 is an ultraviolet irradiation device, the intermediate transfer belt 10 preferably has ultraviolet transparency and durability against ultraviolet rays. Specifically, for example, the intermediate transfer belt 10 may have an ultraviolet transmittance of 70% or more.
Specific examples of the material of the intermediate transfer belt 10 having ultraviolet transparency and durability against ultraviolet rays include ETFE (ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer), polyimide film, polyolefin film, and the like. It is done.

The intermediate transfer belt 10 may be provided with a surface release layer on the surface in contact with the curable solution layer 12B. Examples of the material used for the surface release layer include a fluorine-based resin material.
Among these, it is preferable to use a material having permeability to the stimulus. Moreover, when using the material which is hard to permeate | transmit with respect to the said stimulus, it is good to make the film thickness of a surface release layer thin to the film thickness which expresses permeability.

(Curing solution layer forming device)
The curable solution layer forming apparatus 12 includes, for example, a supply roller 12D that supplies the curable solution 12A to the intermediate transfer belt 10 in a housing 12C that stores the curable solution 12A, and the supplied curable solution 12A. And a blade 12E that defines the amount of the formed curable solution layer 12B.

  The curable solution layer forming apparatus 12 may be configured such that the supply roller 12 </ b> D continuously contacts the intermediate transfer belt 10 or is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 10. Further, the curable solution layer forming apparatus 12 may supply the curable solution 12A to the housing 12C from an independent solution supply system (not shown) so that the supply of the curable solution 12A is not interrupted. Details of the curable solution 12A will be described later.

  The curable solution layer forming apparatus 12 is not limited to the above-described configuration, and a known supply method (coating method: for example, die coating method, bar coating method, spray coating method, inkjet coating method, air knife coating) Apparatus using a blade method, a blade-type coating method, a roll-type coating method, or the like.

(Inkjet recording head)
The inkjet recording head 14 includes, for example, a recording head 14K for applying black ink, a recording head 14C for applying cyan ink, and a magenta ink from the upstream side in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 10. The recording head 14 </ b> M and the recording head 14 </ b> Y for applying the yellow ink are configured to include recording heads of respective colors. Of course, the configuration of the recording head 14 is not limited to the above-described configuration. For example, the recording head 14 may be configured by only the recording head 14K, or may be configured by only the recording head 14C, the recording head 14M, and the recording head 14Y.

  Each recording head 14 is, for example, on a non-bent region in the intermediate transfer belt 10 that is rotationally supported under tension, and the distance between the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the nozzle surface of the recording head 14 is, for example, 0.7. It is arranged at 1.5 mm.

Each recording head 14 is preferably a line type ink jet recording head having a width equal to or greater than the width of the recording medium P, but a conventional scanning ink jet recording head may be used.
The ink application method of each recording head 14 is not limited as long as it can apply ink 14A, such as a piezoelectric element driving type and a heating element driving type. Details of the water-based ink will be described later.

(Transfer device)
The transfer device 16 is configured as follows. Specifically, for example, the intermediate transfer belt 10 is stretched by the pressure roll 16B and the support roll 10C to form a non-bending region. In the non-bending region of the intermediate transfer belt 10, a support 22 for supporting the recording medium P is provided at a position facing the pressure roll 16B and the support roll 10C. The pressure roll 16 </ b> A is disposed at a position facing the pressure roll 16 </ b> B of the intermediate transfer belt 10 and contacts the recording medium P through an opening (not shown) provided in the support 22.
That is, a position where the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the recording medium P are sandwiched by the support roll 10C and the support 22 from a position where the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the recording medium P are sandwiched by the pressure rolls 16A and 16B (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “contact start position”). In the transfer region up to (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “peeling position”), the curable solution layer 12B is in contact with both the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the recording medium P.

(Stimulation supply device)
The stimulus supply device 18 is provided inside the intermediate transfer belt 10 and stimulates the curable solution layer 12B in contact with both the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the recording medium P via the intermediate transfer belt 10 in the transfer region. Supply.

The type of the stimulus supply device 18 is selected according to the type of the first curable material contained in the applied curable solution 12A and the second curable material contained in the aqueous ink 14A. Specifically, for example, when an ultraviolet curable material that is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays is applied, the stimulus supply device 18 is an ultraviolet ray that irradiates the curable solution 12A (the curable solution layer 12B formed thereby) with ultraviolet rays. Apply irradiation equipment.
Moreover, when applying the electron beam curable material hardened | cured by irradiation of an electron beam, the electron beam irradiation apparatus which irradiates an electron beam to the curable solution 12A (the curable solution layer 12B formed by this) as the stimulus supply apparatus 18 Apply.
Moreover, when applying the thermosetting material hardened | cured by provision of heat, the heat provision apparatus which provides heat to the curable solution 12A (the curable solution layer 12B formed by this) as the stimulus supply apparatus 18 is applied.

Here, as the ultraviolet irradiation device, for example, a metal halide lamp, a high pressure mercury lamp, an ultrahigh pressure mercury lamp, a deep ultraviolet lamp, a lamp that uses a microwave to excite a mercury lamp from the outside without an electrode, an ultraviolet laser, a xenon lamp, a UV-LED, etc. Applies.
Here, the irradiation condition of ultraviolet rays is not particularly limited, and may be selected according to the type of ultraviolet curable material, the thickness of the curable solution layer 12B, and the like. For example, when a metal halide lamp is used, the integrated light amount is 20 mJ. / Cm ² or more and 1000 mJ / cm ² or less.

Further, as an electron beam irradiation device, for example, there are a scanning type / curtain type, etc. The curtain type draws thermoelectrons generated in a filament by a grid in a vacuum chamber, and further, by a high voltage (for example, 70 to 300 kV), It is a device that accelerates at once, becomes an electron flow, passes through the window foil, and is released to the atmosphere side. The wavelength of an electron beam is generally smaller than 1 nm and has a large energy and ranges up to several MeV. However, an energy of several tens keV or more and several hundreds keV or less is applied when the wavelength of the electron beam is on the order of pm.
Here, the electron beam irradiation conditions are not particularly limited and may be selected according to the type of electron beam curable material, the thickness of the curable solution layer 12B, and the like. For example, the electron dose is 5 kGy or more and 100 kGy or less. It is.

Moreover, as a heat provision apparatus, a halogen lamp, a ceramic heater, a nichrome wire heater, a microwave heating, an infrared lamp etc. are applied, for example. An electromagnetic induction heating device is also used as the heat application device.
Here, the heat application condition is not particularly limited, and may be selected according to the thermosetting material type, the thickness of the curable solution layer 12B, and the like. is there.

(recoding media)
As the recording medium P, a permeation medium (for example, plain paper, coated paper, etc.) and a non-penetration medium (for example, art paper, resin film, etc.) are applied. The recording medium P is not limited to these, and includes other industrial products such as semiconductor substrates.

(Image recording process)
Hereinafter, an image recording process of the image recording apparatus 101 according to the first embodiment will be described.

  In the image recording apparatus 101 according to the first embodiment, the intermediate transfer belt 10 is rotationally driven. First, the curable solution layer forming apparatus 12 supplies the curable solution 12A to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 to thereby provide the curable solution. Layer 12B is formed.

  Here, the layer thickness (average film thickness) of the curable solution layer 12B is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 μm or more and 50 μm or less, and more preferably 3 μm or more and 20 μm or less.

  Further, for example, if the thickness of the curable solution layer 12B is set so that the aqueous ink 14A does not reach the lowermost layer of the curable solution layer 12B, the curable solution layer after the transfer of the curable solution layer 12B to the recording medium P is used. A region where the aqueous ink 14A is present in 12B is not exposed, and a region where the aqueous ink 14A is not present in the curable solution layer 12B functions as a protective layer after curing.

  Next, a water-based aqueous ink 14 </ b> A is applied to the curable solution layer 12 </ b> B by the ink jet recording head 14. Based on the image information, the inkjet recording head 14 applies the aqueous ink 14A to the region where the image of the curable solution layer 12B is formed.

  At this time, the application of the water-based ink 14 </ b> A by the inkjet recording head 14 is performed on a non-bent region in the intermediate transfer belt 10 that is rotated and supported by tension. That is, the aqueous ink 14A is applied to the curable solution layer 12B in a state where the deflection of the belt surface is suppressed.

  Next, the recording medium P and the intermediate transfer belt 10 are sandwiched between the pressure rolls 16A and 16B of the transfer device 16, and pressure is applied. At this time, the curable solution layer 12B on the intermediate transfer belt 10 contacts the recording medium P (contact start position). Thereafter, the state where the curable solution layer 12B is in contact with both the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the recording medium P is maintained until the position (peeling position) sandwiched between the support roll 10C and the support 22.

  Here, the pressure applied to the curable solution layer 12B by the pressure rolls 16A and 16B is, for example, 0.001 MPa or more and 2 MPa or less, and desirably 0.001 MPa or more and 0.5 MPa or less.

  Next, a stimulus is supplied via the intermediate transfer belt 10 by the stimulus supply device 18 to the curable solution layer 12B in contact with (in contact with) both the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the recording medium P. The curable solution layer 12B is cured. Specifically, stimulation supply is started after the curable solution layer 12B on the intermediate transfer belt 10 contacts the recording medium P (after passing through the contact start position), and the curable solution layer 12B is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 10. The stimulation supply is terminated before being peeled off (before reaching the peeling position).

Here, the stimulus supply amount is preferably an amount that cures the curable solution layer 12 </ b> B to such an extent that it is easily peeled off from the intermediate transfer belt 10. Specifically, for example, when the stimulus is ultraviolet light, the range of 10 mJ / cm ² or more and 1000 mJ / cm ² or less in terms of the integrated light amount is good.

  Next, the curable solution layer 12B is peeled from the intermediate transfer belt 10 at the peeling position, whereby a curable resin layer (image layer) containing the image T of the aqueous ink 14A is formed on the recording medium P.

  Then, the residue and foreign matter of the curable solution layer 12B remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 after the curable solution layer 12B is transferred to the recording medium P are removed by the cleaning device 20, and again on the intermediate transfer belt 10. In addition, the curable solution layer forming apparatus 12 supplies the curable solution 12A to form the curable solution layer 12B, and the image recording process is repeated.

In the image recording apparatus 101 according to this embodiment in which image recording is performed through the above steps, when the water-based ink 14A is applied to the curable solution layer 12B, the water-absorbing component contained in the hydrophobic curable solution layer 12B The liquid component (water component) of the water-based ink 14A is absorbed, and a residual component including the recording material (for example, a coloring material) adheres to the periphery of the water-absorbing component (see FIG. 2A). That is, a residual component including this recording material (for example, a color material) is present at the boundary between the water absorbing component and the other components of the curable solution layer 12B, thereby constituting an image portion. In this state, even if the curable solution layer 12B is cured, the boundary portion between the water-absorbing component and the region cured in the curable solution layer 12B, that is, the image portion (region where the residual component exists) is in an uncured state. As a result, the durability (strength) at the boundary between the image portion and the non-image portion is lower than that in other regions, and image collapse may occur.
Note that image collapse is caused by insufficient strength at the boundary between the image area and the non-image area, and when an external force such as bending is applied to the recording medium after image formation, the image area and the non-image area. Is a phenomenon in which peeling from the recording medium occurs at the boundary between and the shape of the boundary between the image portion and the non-image portion changes over time.

Therefore, in the image recording apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment, the ink containing the second curable material is applied as the water-based ink 14A to the hydrophobic curable solution layer 12B, thereby adhering around the water-absorbing component. A second curable material is present in the residual component. That is, when the second curable material is contained in the residual component constituting the image portion existing at the boundary between the water-absorbing component and the other components of the curable solution layer 12B, the recording material ( For example, an image portion composed of a residual component including a coloring material is cured by the second curable material (FIG. 3B).
For this reason, in the image recording apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment, image collapse due to the aqueous ink at the boundary between the image portion and the non-image portion is suppressed.

Note that, when an oil-based curable ink (for example, an oil-based ultraviolet curable ink) is applied to the hydrophobic curable solution layer 12B, image collapse at the boundary between the image portion and the non-image portion is suppressed, but the oil-based When the curable ink is applied, the ink is compatible with the curable solution layer 12B and easily diffuses, so that the image quality is noticeably disturbed.
For this reason, in the image recording apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment, the water-based ink 14A is not compatible with the hydrophobic curable solution layer 12B and difficult to diffuse as compared with the case where oil-based ink is applied. Disturbance is also suppressed.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the same type and the same device (stimulation supply means) are used for the stimulation that the first curable material included in the curable solution layer 12B and the second curable material included in the aqueous ink A are cured. Although the form provided in 18) has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and materials that cure with different stimuli may be combined (for example, the first curable material is a material that is cured by ultraviolet rays, and the second curable material is a heat The combination which is the material which hardens | cures by, etc.), The form which provided the apparatus which provides the irritation | stimulation which hardens each may be sufficient.

Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the water-based ink 14 </ b> A is included on the intermediate transfer belt 10 separately from the stimulus applying device 18 and between the inkjet recording head 14 and the stimulus applying device 18. As a 2nd irritation | stimulation provision means to harden | cure the 2nd curable material to be prepared, the form provided with 18 A of stimulation provision apparatuses (an example of a 2nd irritation | stimulation provision means) may be sufficient. That is, in the form shown in FIG. 3, after the second curable material contained in the aqueous ink 14 </ b> A is cured by the stimulus supply device 18 </ b> A, the stimulus supply device 18 (an example of the first stimulus applying unit) is used as the curable solution layer 12 </ b> B. It is the form by which the 1st curable material contained in is hardened. In this embodiment, for example, the first curable material is a material that is cured by ultraviolet rays, and the second curable material is a material that is cured by heat. A heat supply device is applied as the device 18A. Of course, other combinations may be used.
In the form shown in FIG. 3, when the second curable material contained in the water-based ink 14A is cured first, the periphery of the ink 14A, that is, the periphery of the image portion is cured, so that the image portion becomes the curable solution layer 12B. Therefore, it is considered that the image portion is difficult to be exposed. As a result, when the curable solution layer 12B is transferred to the recording medium P, it is considered that the adhesiveness between the curable solution layer 12B and the recording medium P is improved, so that the image fastness is improved.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus 101 according to another first embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the curable solution 12A and the water-based ink 14A used in the image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

<Curable solution>
Next, details of the curable solution 12A will be described.
The curable solution 12A includes at least a first curable material that is cured by an external stimulus (energy) and a water-absorbing component.
Here, the curable solution 12A being hydrophobic means having a property of separating after being left for 1 hour when mixed with water (pure water) at 1: 1 (mass ratio).

The first curable material will be described.
The “first curable material that is cured by an external stimulus (energy)” means a material that is cured by an external stimulus and becomes a “curable resin”. Specific examples include curable monomers, curable macromers, curable oligomers, and curable prepolymers.

  Examples of the first curable material include an ultraviolet curable material, an electron beam curable material, and a thermosetting material. UV curable materials are most desirable because they are easy to cure, have a faster cure speed and are easier to handle than others. The electron beam curable material does not require a polymerization initiator, and it is easy to control the coloration of the cured layer. Thermoset materials are cured without the need for extensive equipment. The curable material is not limited to these, and a curable material that is cured by moisture, oxygen, or the like may be applied. In addition, the curable material said here is irreversible after hardening.

  Examples of the “ultraviolet curable resin” obtained by curing the ultraviolet curable material include acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, urethane resin, polyester resin, maleimide resin, epoxy resin, oxetane resin, polyether resin, and polyvinyl ether resin. Etc. The curable solution 12A contains at least one of an ultraviolet curable monomer, an ultraviolet curable macromer, an ultraviolet curable oligomer, and an ultraviolet curable prepolymer. The curable solution 12A desirably contains an ultraviolet polymerization initiator for causing the ultraviolet curing reaction to proceed. Furthermore, the curable solution 12A may contain a reaction aid, a polymerization accelerator, and the like for further proceeding the polymerization reaction as necessary.

  Here, examples of the ultraviolet curable monomer include alcohol / polyhydric alcohol / amino alcohol acrylic ester, alcohol / polyhydric alcohol methacrylate, acrylic aliphatic amide, acrylic alicyclic amide, acrylic aromatic Radical curable materials such as aromatic amides; and cationic curable materials such as epoxy monomers, oxetane monomers, and vinyl ether monomers. The UV curable macromer, UV curable oligomer, and UV curable prepolymer include those obtained by polymerizing these monomers, acryloyl groups and methacryloyl groups added to epoxy, urethane, polyester, and polyether skeletons. , Radical curable materials such as epoxy acrylate, urethane acrylate, polyester acrylate, polyether acrylate, urethane methacrylate, and polyester methacrylate.

  When the curing reaction is a type that proceeds by radical reaction, examples of the ultraviolet polymerization initiator include benzophenone, thioxanthone, benzyldimethyl ketal, α-hydroxyketone, α-hydroxyalkylphenone, α-aminoketone, α-aminoalkyl. Examples include phenone, monoacylphosphine oxide, bisacylphosphine oxide, hydroxybenzophenone, aminobenzophenone, titanocene type, oxime ester type, and oxyphenylacetate type.

  When the curing reaction is a type that proceeds by a cationic reaction, examples of the ultraviolet polymerization initiator include arylsulfonium salts, aryldiazonium salts, diaryliodonium salts, triarylsulfonium salts, allene-ion complex derivatives, and triazine-based initiators. Etc.

  Examples of the “electron beam curable resin” obtained by curing the electron beam curable material include acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, urethane resin, polyester resin, polyether resin, and silicone resin. The curable solution 12A contains at least one of an electron beam curable monomer, an electron beam curable macromer, an electron beam curable oligomer, and an electron beam curable prepolymer.

  Here, examples of the electron beam curable monomer, the electron beam curable macromer, the electron beam curable oligomer, and the electron beam curable prepolymer include the same materials as the ultraviolet curable material.

  Examples of the “thermosetting resin” obtained by curing the thermosetting material include an epoxy resin, a polyester resin, a phenol resin, a melamine resin, a urea resin, and an alkyd resin. The curable solution 12A contains at least one of a thermosetting monomer, a thermosetting macromer, a thermosetting oligomer, and a thermosetting prepolymer. Further, a curing agent may be added during the polymerization. Further, the curable solution 12A may include a thermal polymerization initiator for causing the thermosetting reaction to proceed.

  Here, examples of the thermosetting monomer include polyalcohols such as phenol, formaldehyde, bisphenol A, epichlorohydrin, cyanuric amide, urea and glycerin, acids such as phthalic anhydride, maleic anhydride, and adipic acid. It is done. Examples of the thermosetting macromer, thermosetting oligomer, and thermosetting prepolymer include those obtained by polymerizing these monomers, epoxy prepolymers, polyester prepolymers, and the like.

  Examples of the thermal polymerization initiator include acids such as protonic acid / Lewis acid, alkali catalysts, and metal catalysts.

As described above, the curable material may be anything as long as it is cured (for example, cured by the progress of the polymerization reaction) by external energy such as ultraviolet rays, electron beams, and heat.
Among the curable materials, a material having a high curing speed (for example, a material having a high polymerization reaction speed) is desirable in view of speeding up image recording. Examples of such a curable material include a radiation curable curable material (the above-described ultraviolet curable material, electron beam curable material, and the like).

  The curable material may be modified with Si, fluorine, or the like in consideration of wettability with the intermediate transfer member or the like. Moreover, it is desirable that the curable material contains a polyfunctional prepolymer in consideration of the curing speed and the degree of curing.

  Further, the curable solution may contain water or an organic solvent for dissolving or dispersing the main components (monomer, macromer, oligomer, prepolymer, polymerization initiator, etc.) that contribute to the curing reaction. However, the ratio of the main component is, for example, 30% by mass or more, desirably 60% by mass or more, and more desirably 90% by mass or more.

  Moreover, the curable solution may contain various color materials for the purpose of controlling the coloring of the cured layer.

  The viscosity of the curable solution is preferably 5 mPa · s to 10000 mPa · s, more preferably 10 mPa · s to 1000 mPa · s, and still more preferably 15 mPa · s to 500 mPa · s. The viscosity of the curable solution is preferably higher than the viscosity of the ink.

Next, the water absorption component will be described.
When the water absorbing component is mixed with the water-based ink at a mass ratio of 30: 100 for 24 hours, and the water-absorbing component is taken out of the mixed solution by a filter, the water absorbing component has a mass of 5% with respect to that before mixing the water-based ink. It will increase.

  Examples of the water-absorbing component include a resin (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a water-absorbing resin) and inorganic particles (for example, silica, alumina, zeolite, etc.) having surface ink affinity, and are selected according to the ink used. Is done.

  Specific examples of the water-absorbing resin include polyacrylic acid and salts thereof, polymethacrylic acid and salts thereof, copolymers composed of (meth) acrylic acid ester- (meth) acrylic acid and salts thereof, and styrene. -Copolymer composed of (meth) acrylic acid and its salt, styrene- (meth) acrylic ester-Copolymer composed of (meth) acrylic acid and its salt, styrene- (meth) acrylic ester A copolymer composed of an ester formed from an alcohol having an aliphatic or aromatic substituent having a carboxylic acid and a salt structure thereof and (meth) acrylic acid, (meth) acrylic acid ester-carboxylic acid and a salt thereof A copolymer composed of an ester formed from an alcohol having an aliphatic or aromatic substituent having a structure and (meth) acrylic acid, Tylene- (meth) acrylic acid copolymer, butadiene- (meth) acrylic acid ester- (meth) acrylic acid and its salt, copolymer, butadiene- (meth) acrylic acid ester-carboxylic acid and its salt A copolymer composed of an ester formed from an alcohol having an aliphatic or aromatic substituent having a structure and (meth) acrylic acid, a polymaleic acid and a salt thereof, a copolymer composed of styrene-maleic acid and a salt thereof Examples thereof include sulfonic acid-modified products of the respective resins, phosphoric acid-modified products of the respective resins, and the like, preferably from polyacrylic acid and salts thereof, styrene- (meth) acrylic acid and salts thereof. A copolymer composed of styrene- (meth) acrylic acid ester- (meth) acrylic acid and its salts, Copolymer composed of an ester produced from (meth) acrylic acid and an alcohol having an aliphatic or aromatic substituent having len- (meth) acrylic acid ester-carboxylic acid and its salt structure, and (meth) acrylic Acid ester- (meth) acrylic acid and a copolymer composed of a salt thereof. These resins may be uncrosslinked or crosslinked.

  The ratio of the water-absorbing component to the entire curable solution 12A is, for example, preferably 10% or more by mass ratio, more preferably 20% or more, and particularly preferably in the range of 25% to 70%.

<Water-based ink>
As the aqueous ink, an ink containing an aqueous solvent as a solvent is used. Examples of the water-based ink include an ink in which a water-soluble dye or pigment is dispersed or dissolved in an aqueous solvent as a recording material. The water-based ink includes a second curable material that is cured by an external stimulus.

First, the second curable material will be described.
The “second curable material cured by external stimulus (energy)” means that the reactive groups of the second curable materials react with each other by external stimuli, or the reactive groups of the first curable material are It reacts with the first curable material of the curable solution layer 12B to bond and cure.
As the second curable material, when dispersed in water-based ink and the water-based ink is applied to the curable solution layer 12B, it is incompatible with the components of the curable solution layer 12B and adheres to and exists around the water-absorbing component. What to do is good. Examples of the second curable material include an ultraviolet curable material, an electron beam curable material, and a thermosetting material. UV curable materials are most desirable because they are easy to cure, have a faster cure speed and are easier to handle than others. The electron beam curable material does not require a polymerization initiator, and it is easy to control the coloration of the cured layer. Thermoset materials are cured without the need for extensive equipment. The curable material is not limited to these, and a curable material that is cured by moisture, oxygen, or the like may be applied. In addition, the curable material said here is irreversible after hardening.

Examples of the second curable material include a curable monomer that is cured by an external stimulus, a curable polymer that is cured by an external stimulus, and a curable monomer or polymer that is cured by an external stimulus. And at least one selected from particles possessed by
These substances are bonded and cured by reacting reactive groups between the substances or reacting with the first curable material of the curable solution layer 12B by an external stimulus. Progresses.

Among these, as the second curable material, at least one selected from a curable polymer that is cured by an external stimulus and particles having a curable monomer or polymer on the surface by an external stimulus. Good. When these polymers and particles are applied, image collapse at the boundary between the image area and the non-image area due to the aqueous ink is suppressed as compared with the curable monomer.
This is because the curable monomer tends to enter the water-absorbing component because the molecular size tends to be small, and exists around the water-absorbing component, that is, at the boundary between the water-absorbing component and the other components of the curable solution layer. In contrast, the polymer and particles adhere to the surface without entering the water-absorbing component, and are easily present around the water-absorbing component, that is, at the boundary between the water-absorbing component and the other components of the curable solution layer. This is probably because of this.

Examples of the curable monomer that is cured by an external stimulus include an ultraviolet curable monomer, an electron beam curable monomer, and a thermosetting monomer.
Examples of the ultraviolet curable monomer, electron beam curable monomer, and thermosetting monomer include 2, (2-ethoxyethoxy) ethyl acrylate, octyl acrylate, decyl acrylate, lauryl acrylate, stearyl acrylate, 2-phenoxyethyl acrylate, Cyclopentanyl acrylate, β-carboxyethyl acrylate, hydroxybutyl acrylate, isobornyl acrylate, methoxypolyethylene glycol acrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate, lauryl methacrylate, stearyl methacrylate, 2-phenoxyethyl methacrylate, isobornyl methacrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl Methacrylate, pentamethylpiperidyl methacrylate, acryloylmorpholine, N-vinyl Lumamide, N- (2-hydroxyethyl) acrylamide, N, N, dimethylacrylamide, 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate, neopentyl glycol diacrylate, 1.3-butylene glycol diacrylate, 1,4-butanediol di Acrylate, diethylene glycol diacrylate, triethylene glycol diacrylate, tetraethylene glycol diacrylate, polyethylene glycol diacrylate, dipropylene glycol diacrylate, polypropylene glycol diacrylate, cyclohexane dimethanol diacrylate, tricyclodecane dimethanol diacrylate, tris ( 2-hydroxyethyl) isocyanurate diacrylate, 2-hydroxy-3-acryloyloxypropyl methacrylate Polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, diethylene glycol dimethacrylate, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate, dipropylene glycol dimethacrylate, polypropylene glycol dimethacrylate, 2- (2-vinyloxyethoxy) ethyl acrylate, methacrylic acid 2 -(2-vinyloxyethoxy) ethyl, glycerin propoxytriacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, tris (2-hydroxyethyl) isocyanurate triacrylate, trimethylolpropane ethoxytriacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate , Isocyanuric acid oxyethylene triacrylate, pen Pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate, and ditrimethylolpropane tetraacrylate.

Examples of the curable polymer that is cured by an external stimulus include an ultraviolet curable polymer, an electron beam curable polymer, and a thermosetting polymer. Here, the polymer may have a degree of polymerization of 2 or more (preferably 5 or more), and includes macromers, oligomers, prepolymers, and polymers.
Examples of the ultraviolet curable polymer, the electron beam curable polymer, and the thermosetting polymer include those obtained by polymerizing each of the above curable monomers with a target polymerization degree.
In addition, these UV curable polymers, electron beam curable polymers, and thermosetting polymers have reaction sites that cause polymerization reaction of acrylate, methacrylate, etc. at the end of the skeleton of polyurethane, polyester, polyether, etc. Is mentioned.
These curable polymers preferably contain hydrophilic functional groups such as carboxylic acid and salts thereof, sulfonic acid and salts thereof, and polyoxyethylene in order to stably exist in the water-based ink 14A.

In addition, the curable polymer may play a role as a functional material of the water-based ink, and specifically, for example, may function as a pigment dispersant.
The UV curable polymer, electron beam curable polymer, and thermosetting polymer that function as the pigment dispersant include styrene-acrylate ester modified with a functional group that causes a polymerization reaction such as acrylate / methacrylate. Acrylic acid copolymer, styrene-methacrylic acid ester-acrylic acid copolymer, styrene-acrylic acid ester-methacrylic acid copolymer, styrene-methacrylic acid ester-methacrylic acid copolymer, acrylic acid ester-acrylic acid copolymer Examples of the polymer include methacrylic acid ester-methacrylic acid copolymer, naphthalenesulfonic acid formalin condensate, polystyrene sulfonic acid, glycerin fatty acid ester monoglyceride, polyglycerin fatty acid ester, sorbitan fatty acid ester, and polyoxyethylene glycerin fatty acid ester.

Moreover, as a particle | grain which has a curable monomer or curable polymer which hardens | cures by the irritation | stimulation from the outside, particle | grains are surface-treated with the said curable monomer or curable polymer. The processing amount is preferably, for example, from 1% by mass to 50% by mass.
Examples of the particles include organic particles.
Examples of the organic particles include styrene-acrylic acid ester-acrylic acid copolymer, styrene-methacrylic acid ester-methacrylic acid, which are surface-treated with a curable polymer having a functional group that causes a polymerization reaction such as acrylate / methacrylate. Examples thereof include latex particles such as a copolymer, an acrylate-acrylic acid copolymer, and a methacrylic acid ester-methacrylic acid copolymer.

The particles having a curable monomer or curable polymer on the surface may also serve as a functional material for water-based ink, and specifically, for example, function as a recording material (for example, a pigment). May be.
Examples of such particles include those obtained by surface-treating a recording material (for example, a pigment) with the curable monomer or curable polymer.

These second curable materials are newly added to an aqueous ink having a known configuration, or are used in place of or in combination with the known configuration (for example, a pigment or a pigment dispersant).
The content of the second curable material is, for example, preferably from 1% to 20% with respect to the water-based ink, although it depends on the type.

Moreover, you may use a polymerization initiator together with a 2nd curable material. Examples of the polymerization initiator include an ultraviolet polymerization initiator depending on the type of the second curable material.
Examples of the ultraviolet polymerization initiator include benzophenone, O-methylbenzoylbenzoate, 1-hydroxy-cyclohexyl phenyl ketone, 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-1-one, 2-hydroxy-1- ( 4-4- (2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionyl) -benzyl) -phenyl) -2-methyl-propan-1-one, 4- (2-hydroxyethoxy) phenyl- (2-hydroxy-2-propyl) Examples include ketones, thioxanthone ammonium salts, and benzophenone ammonium salts.

The content of these polymerization initiators is, for example, preferably from 0.1% by mass to 5% by mass with respect to the aqueous ink.

Next, the recording material will be described.
As the recording material, a color material is mainly used. As the coloring material, either a dye or a pigment is used, but a pigment is desirable from the viewpoint of durability.
Examples of the pigment include both organic pigments and inorganic pigments. Examples of the black pigment include carbon black pigments such as furnace black, lamp black, acetylene black, and channel black.
Examples of pigments include black, cyan, magenta and yellow primary pigments, specific color pigments such as red, green, blue, brown and white, metallic luster pigments such as gold and silver, colorless or light body pigments, Examples include plastic pigments.
Examples of the pigment include particles in which silica, alumina, polymer beads or the like are used as a core and a dye or pigment is fixed on the surface thereof, an insoluble lake of the dye, a colored emulsion, a colored latex, or the like.

Here, when a pigment is used as the color material, it is desirable to use a pigment dispersant together. Examples of the pigment dispersant used include a polymer dispersant, an anionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, and a nonionic surfactant.
These pigment dispersants may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  A pigment that can be self-dispersed in water is also used as a coloring material. A pigment that can be self-dispersed in water refers to a pigment that has many water-solubilizing groups on the surface of the pigment and disperses in water without the presence of a polymer dispersant. Specifically, it can be self-dispersed in water by subjecting ordinary so-called pigments to surface modification treatments such as acid / base treatment, coupling agent treatment, polymer graft treatment, plasma treatment, oxidation / reduction treatment, etc. Pigments are obtained.

  The self-dispersing pigment is desirably a pigment having at least sulfonic acid, sulfonate, carboxylic acid, or carboxylate as a functional group on the surface thereof. More desirably, the pigment has at least a carboxylic acid or a carboxylate as a functional group on the surface.

  Furthermore, a pigment coated with a resin is also used. This is called a microcapsule pigment, and not only commercially available microcapsule pigments manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc., or Toyo Ink, but also microcapsule pigments produced for the present invention are used.

  In addition, a resin-dispersed pigment in which a polymer substance is physically adsorbed or chemically bonded to the pigment is also used.

  Other recording materials include hydrophilic anionic dyes, direct dyes, cationic dyes, reactive dyes, dyes such as polymer dyes and oil-soluble dyes, wax powders / resin powders and emulsions colored with dyes, Fluorescent dyes and fluorescent pigments, infrared absorbers, ultraviolet absorbers, magnetic materials such as ferromagnetic materials represented by ferrite and magnetite, semiconductors and photocatalysts represented by titanium oxide and zinc oxide, and other organic and inorganic electrons Examples include material particles.

  The content (concentration) of the recording material is, for example, in the range of 5 to 30% by mass with respect to the aqueous ink.

Next, the aqueous solvent will be described. Examples of the aqueous solvent include water. In particular, ion exchange water, ultrapure water, distilled water, and ultrafiltered water are preferably used. A water-soluble organic solvent may be used together with the aqueous solvent. As the water-soluble organic solvent, polyhydric alcohols, polyhydric alcohol derivatives, nitrogen-containing solvents, alcohols, sulfur-containing solvents and the like are used.
At least one kind of water-soluble organic solvent may be used. As content of a water-soluble organic solvent, the range of 1 mass% or more and 70 mass% or less is mentioned, for example.

  Next, other additives will be described. In addition, a surfactant is added to the water-based ink as necessary.

Examples of these surfactants include various anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and the like. Desirably, anionic surfactants and nonionic surfactants are used. An activator is used.
These surfactants may be used alone or in combination.

  In addition, water-based inks include polyethylene imine, polyamines, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene glycol, ethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, etc. for the purpose of controlling properties such as penetrants and ink ejection properties for the purpose of adjusting permeability. In order to adjust the rate and pH, compounds of alkali metals such as potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, etc., pH buffer, antioxidant, antifungal agent, viscosity modifier, conductivity, etc. as necessary Agents, ultraviolet absorbers, chelating agents and the like are also added.

The viscosity of the water-based ink is preferably 1.5 mPa · s or more and 30 mPa · s or less, for example. The viscosity of the ink is preferably lower than the viscosity of the curable solution 12A.
Here, as the viscosity, a value measured using a rheomat 115 (manufactured by Contraves) as a measuring device under the conditions of a measurement temperature of 23 ° C. and a shear rate of 1400 s ⁻¹ was adopted.

In the image recording apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment, as described above, the curable solution layer 12B starts the stimulation supply after passing through the contact start position, and ends the stimulation supply before reaching the peeling position. However, it is not limited to the above form.
Specifically, for example, the stimulus supply may be started when the curable solution layer 12B passes through the contact start position, or the stimulus supply may be started before passing through the contact start position. Further, for example, the stimulus supply may be terminated when the curable solution layer 12B reaches the peeling position, or the stimulus supply may be terminated after passing through the peeling position. Further, the stimulus supply may be resumed after the stimulus supply is temporarily stopped from the start to the end of the stimulus supply. In addition, after the curable solution layer 12B is transferred to the recording medium P, the stimulus may be supplied.

  Further, in the actual image recording apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment, as described above, the stimulus supply device 18 is disposed inside the intermediate transfer belt 10, and after the stimulus passes through the intermediate transfer belt 10, the curable solution layer 12 </ b> B. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Specifically, for example, the stimulus supply device 18 is disposed outside the intermediate transfer belt 10, and the intermediate transfer is performed directly (or after passing through the support 22 and the recording medium P) without passing through the intermediate transfer belt 10. The form which supplies irritation | stimulation to the curable solution layer 12B on the belt 10 may be sufficient.

  In addition, for example, there may be a form in which the stimulus transmitted through the intermediate transfer belt 10 is supplied to the curable solution layer 12B while the body of the stimulus supply device 18 is disposed outside the intermediate transfer belt 10. Specifically, for example, when the stimulus supply device 18 is an ultraviolet irradiation device, the ultraviolet irradiation device main body is disposed outside the intermediate transfer belt 10, and ultraviolet light is transmitted from the ultraviolet irradiation device main body to the intermediate transfer belt using, for example, an optical fiber or the like. For example, the curable solution layer 12 </ b> B may be irradiated with ultraviolet light after being guided inside 10 and passing through the intermediate transfer belt 10.

  Further, for example, an intermediate transfer drum may be arranged instead of the intermediate transfer belt 10.

  Further, in the image recording apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment, the ink 14A is selectively applied based on the image data from the black, yellow, magenta, and cyan inkjet recording heads 14 so that a color image is recorded on the recording medium P. However, an image may be recorded using only one color ink. Further, the present invention is not limited to the recording of characters and the like on a recording medium. That is, the present invention may be applied to industrially used droplet application (jetting) devices.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram illustrating the image recording apparatus 102 according to the second embodiment.
The image recording apparatus 102 according to the second embodiment directly forms a hydrophobic curable solution layer 12B on a recording medium P as an example of a recording material, and forms an image by applying an aqueous ink 14 to be cured. This is a mode in which the first curable material of the aqueous solution layer 12B and the second curable material of the water-based ink 14 are cured.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the image recording apparatus 102 according to the present embodiment is supported by, for example, three support rolls 11 </ b> A to 11 </ b> C so as to rotate while applying tension from the inner peripheral surface side, and is an endless belt-like recording medium. A conveyance belt 11 (an example of a recording medium conveyance unit) is provided, and is located above the recording medium P conveyed by the recording medium conveyance belt 11 and sequentially from the upstream side in the moving direction (arrow direction) of the recording medium P. A curable solution layer forming apparatus 12 (an example of a curable solution layer forming means) for supplying a curable solution layer 12B by supplying a hydrophobic curable solution 12A containing a curable material and a water-absorbing component; and second curing An aqueous ink jet recording head 14 (an example of an ink application unit) that forms an image T by applying an aqueous ink 14A containing a curable material to the curable solution layer 12B, and the curable solution layer 12B and The stimulus to cure the second curable material and the curable solution layer stimulating supply device to 12B 18 (an example of a first stimulus supplying means and the second stimulus supply means) contained in the aqueous ink, is disposed.

  Next, an image recording process of the image recording apparatus 102 according to the second embodiment will be described.

  In the image recording apparatus 102 according to the second embodiment, the recording medium conveyance belt 11 is rotationally driven to convey the recording medium P, and the curable solution layer forming apparatus 12 applies the curable solution to the surface of the recording medium P that has been conveyed. 12A is supplied to form the curable solution layer 12B.

  Next, a water-based aqueous ink 14 </ b> A is applied to the curable solution layer 12 </ b> B by the ink jet recording head 14. Based on the image information, the inkjet recording head 14 applies the aqueous ink 14A to the region where the image of the curable solution layer 12B is formed.

  Next, the stimulus supply device 18 supplies the stimulus to the curable solution layer 12B, so that the curable solution layer 12B is cured.

  Next, when the recording medium P is detached from the recording medium conveyance belt 11, the recording medium P on which a curable resin layer (image layer) including the image T of the aqueous ink 14A is formed is obtained.

  Since other than these are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

In the image recording apparatus 102 according to the present embodiment described above, even if the method of directly forming the curable solution layer 12B on the recording medium P is adopted, as described in the first embodiment, the hydrophobic curable property is used. By applying the ink containing the second curable material as the aqueous ink 14A to the solution layer 12B, the second curable material is present in the residual component adhering to the periphery of the water absorbing component. That is, when the second curable material is contained in the residual component constituting the image portion existing at the boundary between the water-absorbing component and the other components of the curable solution layer 12B, the recording material ( For example, an image portion composed of a residual component including a coloring material is cured by the second curable material (FIG. 3B).
For this reason, also in the image recording apparatus 102 according to the present embodiment, image collapse due to the aqueous ink at the boundary between the image portion and the non-image portion is suppressed.

  Also in the present embodiment, the same kind of stimulation that the first curable material included in the curable solution layer 12B and the second curable material included in the aqueous ink A are cured is the same as in the first embodiment. In addition, the form to be applied by the same device (stimulus supply means 18) has been described. A combination in which the second curable material is a material that is cured by heat or the like), and a device that provides a stimulus for curing each of them may be provided separately.

Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, separately from the stimulus applying device 18, the recording medium P is transported by the paper transport belt 11, and between the ink jet recording head 14 and the stimulus applying device 18. In addition, as a second stimulus imparting unit that cures the second curable material contained in the water-based ink 14A, a mode including a stimulus imparting device 18A (an example of the second stimulus imparting unit) may be used. That is, in the form shown in FIG. 5, after the second curable material contained in the aqueous ink 14 </ b> A is cured by the stimulus supply device 18 </ b> A, the stimulus supply device 18 (an example of the first stimulus applying unit) is used. It is the form by which the 1st curable material contained in is hardened. In this embodiment, for example, the first curable material is a material that is cured by ultraviolet rays, and the second curable material is a material that is cured by heat. A heat supply device is applied as the device 18A. Of course, other combinations may be used.
Also in the form shown in FIG. 5, when the second curable material contained in the water-based ink 14A is cured first, the periphery of the ink 14A, that is, the periphery of the image portion is cured, so that the image portion is curable solution layer 12B. Therefore, it is considered that the image portion is difficult to be exposed. As a result, image robustness is improved.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples. However, these examples do not limit the present invention.

[Example 1]
Images were recorded using the image recording apparatus according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.
First, the curable solution layer forming apparatus 12 supplied the curable solution 12A to the intermediate transfer belt 10 to form the curable solution layer 12B. Next, each color ink was applied to the curable solution layer 12B by the ink jet recording head 14 (14K, 14C, 14M, 14Y) to form an image. Then, the stimulus was supplied by the stimulus supply device 18 while the curable solution layer 12B was brought into contact with the recording medium P by the transfer device 16, and the curable solution layer 12B was cured and peeled off from the intermediate transfer belt 10 for evaluation. The conditions are as follows. The following ultraviolet irradiation intensity and integrated light amount are the ultraviolet irradiation intensity and integrated light amount after passing through the intermediate transfer belt 10.

Intermediate transfer belt 10: ETFE endless belt having a thickness of 0.1 mm, a belt width of 350 mm, and an outer diameter of Φ168 mm coated with a fluorine resin (process speed: 400 mm / s)
Curing solution layer forming device 12: Gravure roll coater (layer thickness 10 μm of curable solution layer 12B)
Inkjet recording head 14: 14174 nozzle / resolution 1200 dpi (dpi: dots per inch) recording head (12-inch prototype head in which 600 dpi / 7087 nozzle heads are arranged in two rows in a staggered manner, 4 colors (Black, Cyan) , Magenta, Yellow) arranged in parallel)
・ Stimulation supply device 18: Metal halide lamp (UV irradiation intensity 240 W / cm with an integrated light amount of 100 mJ / cm ² irradiation)
-Recording medium P: A plain paper (C2 manufactured by Fuji Xerox Interfield)
・ Printing pattern: J6 chart (JEITA standard pattern)

  Moreover, the following were used for the curable solution and the ink of each color.

(Curing solution)
-Polyurethane acrylate: 25 parts by mass-Polyethylene glycol diacrylate: 30 parts by mass-Isocyanuric acid oxyethylene triacrylate: 25 parts by mass-Irgacure 754: 3 parts by mass-Sodium polyacrylate partially neutralized salt: 20 parts by mass
The above composition was mixed / stirred to obtain a curable solution.

(ink)
-Black ink-
Self-dispersible carbon black having a carboxylic acid group: 4 parts by mass Diethylene glycol: 15 parts by mass Propylene glycol: 8 parts by mass 2-pyrrolidone: 6 parts by mass Oxyethyleneoxypropylene block copolymer: 1.0 part by mass Self-dispersing urethane acrylate (second curable material: curable oligomer): 7 parts by mass Pure water: 55 parts by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 µm filter to obtain a black ink.

-Cyan ink-
-Self-dispersible copper phthalocyanine pigment having a carboxylic acid group: 3.5 parts by mass-Triethylene glycol: 10 parts by mass-Tetraethylene glycol: 5 parts by mass-Polyoxyethylene monostearate: 0.7 parts by mass-Self Dispersed urethane acrylate (second curable material: curable oligomer): 8 parts by mass / pure water: 75 parts by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a cyan ink.

-Magenta ink-
Self-dispersible quinacridone magenta pigment having a carboxylic acid group: 5 parts by mass Dipropylene glycol: 15 parts by mass Glycerin: 10 parts by mass Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether: 6 parts by mass Olfine E1010: 1.0 part by mass Self-dispersing urethane acrylate (second curable material: curable oligomer): 5 parts by mass / pure water: 60 parts by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a magenta ink.

-Yellow ink-
-Self-dispersible azo yellow pigment having a carboxylic acid group: 5 parts by mass-Polyethylene glycol 200: 7 parts by mass-N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone: 5 parts by mass-Triethylene glycol monobutyl ether: 5 parts by mass-Oxy Ethylene oleyl ether: 0.7 parts by mass Self-dispersing urethane acrylate (second curable material: curable oligomer): 8 parts by mass Pure water: 70 parts by mass The above composition is mixed, filtered through a 5 μm filter, and yellow Ink was obtained.

  The self-dispersing urethane acrylate (second curable material: curable oligomer) is obtained as follows. After reacting oxyethylene with the end of the polyurethane part that is the backbone of the structure to synthesize a polyethylene glycol moiety, which is a hydrophilic functional group, by reacting a hydroxyl group at the end of the polyethylene glycol moiety with acrylic acid, By doing so, a urethane acrylate having self-dispersibility in water can be obtained.

(Evaluation)
The evaluation was performed with respect to image quality evaluation and image collapse (durability) at the boundary between the image portion and the non-image portion. Details of the evaluation are as follows. The results are shown in Table 1.

-Image quality evaluation-
The image quality evaluation was performed as follows. The degree of disorder of the printed image was determined by comparison with a limit sample. Judgment criteria are as follows.
A: There was no rattling in the line / solid patch.
○: When enlarged with a magnifying glass or the like, whisker-like disturbances were slightly seen from the line, but I did not care at all.
(Triangle | delta): Although there was some disorder, it was a level which does not become a big problem as an image.
X: Image disturbance was severe and the image was at an unacceptable level.

-Image collapse (durability)-
For the image collapse (durability) at the boundary between the image area and the non-image area, the degree of peeling between the cured layer and the substrate on the cut surface when the print image was cut with a cutter knife was determined. Judgment criteria are as follows.
A: No peeling at all.
○: Slightly close to the float was seen in the image area, but there was no peeling.
(Triangle | delta): Although a part of image part was slight, peeling with a base material was seen.
X: Most or all of the image area was peeled off from the substrate.

[Example 2]
An image was recorded and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the following curable solution and each color ink were used. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Curing solution)
Polyester acrylate: 20 parts by mass Polypropylene glycol diacrylate: 25 parts by mass Trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate: 25 parts by mass Irgacure 184: 3 parts by mass Styrene-acrylic acid butyl ester-phthalic acid mono-2-methacryloyloxy Ethyl Na salt copolymer: 25 parts by mass
The above composition was mixed / stirred to obtain a curable solution.

(ink)
-Black ink-
Self-dispersible carbon black having a carboxylic acid group: 3.5 parts by mass Ethylene glycol: 5 parts by mass Glycerin: 6 parts by mass Urea: 5 parts by mass Surfynol 465: 1.5 parts by mass Self-dispersing Type urethane acrylate (second curable material: curable oligomer): 5 parts by mass / benzophenone ammonium salt: 0.2 part by mass / pure water: 75 parts by mass The above composition is mixed, filtered through a 5 μm filter, and black ink is added. Obtained.

-Cyan ink-
-Self-dispersible copper phthalocyanine pigment having a carboxylic acid group: 4 parts by mass-Diethylene glycol: 10 parts by mass-2-pyrrolidone: 5 parts by mass-Glyceryloxyethylene adduct: 5 parts by mass-Self-dispersing urethane acrylate (second Curable material: curable oligomer): 7 parts by mass / benzophenone ammonium salt: 0.3 part by mass / pure water: 70 parts by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a cyan ink.

-Magenta ink-
Self-dispersible quinacridone magenta pigment having a carboxylic acid group: 4.5 parts by mass Propylene glycol: 10 parts by mass Diglycerin: 10 parts by mass Olfin E1010: 1.0 part by mass Olfin E1004: 0.2 Part by mass / self-dispersing urethane acrylate (second curable material: curable oligomer): 6 parts by mass / benzophenone ammonium salt: 0.2 part by mass / pure water: 70 parts by mass The above composition is mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter. Thus, a magenta ink was obtained.

-Yellow ink-
Self-dispersible azo-based yellow pigment having a carboxylic acid group: 5 parts by mass Diethylene glycol: 6 parts by mass Glycerin: 5 parts by mass 1.5-pentanediol: 5 parts by mass 1.2-hexanediol: 1 .5 parts by mass-oxyethylene lauryl ether: 0.4 parts by mass-self-dispersing urethane acrylate (second curable material: curable oligomer): 6 parts by mass-benzophenone ammonium salt: 0.4 parts by mass
Pure water: 70 parts by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered with a 5 μm filter to obtain a yellow ink.

[Comparative Example 1]
Each color ink used in Example 1 was evaluated by performing image recording in the same manner as in Example 1 except that each color ink having the same composition was used except that it did not contain self-dispersing urethane acrylate. The results are shown in Table 1.

[Comparative Example 2]
An image was recorded and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the following ink colors were used. The results are shown in Table 1.

-Black ink-
Carbon black: 4 parts by mass Solsperse 17000: 0.4 parts by mass 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate: 55 parts by mass Urethane acrylate: 10 parts by mass Propylene glycol diacrylate: 25 parts by mass Irgacure 651: 4 Part by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a black ink.

-Cyan ink-
Copper phthalocyanine pigment: 3.5 parts by mass Solsols 24000: 0.5 parts by mass 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate: 60 parts by mass Polyester acrylate: 8 parts by mass Polyethylene glycol diacrylate: 25 parts by mass Darocur 1173: 5 parts by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a cyan ink.

-Magenta ink-
-Quinacridone magenta pigment: 6 parts by mass-Solsperse 24000: 0.6 parts by mass-Urethane acrylate: 10 parts by mass-1,6-hexanediol diacrylate: 50 parts by mass-Trimethylolpropane triacrylate: 10 parts by mass Propylene glycol diacrylate: 20 parts by mass
Darocur 1173: 5 parts by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a magenta ink.

-Yellow ink-
-Azo-based yellow pigment: 4 parts by mass-Solsperse 24000: 0.4 parts by mass-Polyether acrylate: 7 parts by mass-1,6-hexanediol diacrylate: 55 parts by mass-Tripropylene glycol diacrylate: 10 parts by mass Isobornyl acrylate: 20 parts by mass
Darocur 1173: 5 parts by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a yellow ink.

[Example 3]
An image was recorded and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the following curable solution and each color ink were used. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Curing solution)
-Polyurethane acrylate: 30 parts by mass-Polyether silicone modified acrylate: 4 parts by mass-Glycerin propoxytriacrylate: 20 parts by mass-Acryloylmorpholine: 20 parts by mass-Irgacure 754: 3 parts by mass-Styrene-sodium acrylate copolymer part Neutralized salt: 25 parts by mass The above composition was mixed / stirred to obtain a curable solution.

(ink)
-Black ink-
Carbon black surface-modified with acrylate groups (second curable material: particles having a curable monomer on the surface): 5 parts by mass Triethylene glycol: 15 parts by mass Trimethylolpropane: 15 parts by mass Diglycerinoxy Ethylene adduct: 8 parts by mass / oxyethylene oleyl ether: 1.5 parts by mass / pure water: 55 parts by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a black ink.

-Cyan ink-
Copper phthalocyanine pigment surface-modified with an acrylate group (second curable material: particles having a curable monomer on the surface): 3.5 parts by mass Diethylene glycol: 10 parts by mass Glycerin: 15 parts by mass Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether: 6 parts by mass / Olfin E1010: 1.0 part by mass / pure water: 65 parts by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a cyan ink.

-Magenta ink-
-Diketo-pyrrolo-pyrrole magenta pigment surface-modified with an acrylate group: 4.5 parts by mass-Propylene glycol: 15 parts by mass-Diglycerin: 15 parts by mass-Triethylene glycol monobutyl ether: 4 parts by mass-Polyoxyethylene Triglyceride: 1.5 parts by mass / pure water: 60 parts by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a magenta ink.

-Yellow ink-
Azo-based yellow pigment surface-modified with an acrylate group (second curable material: particles having a curable monomer on the surface): 4 parts by mass, 1,2,6-hexanetriol: 10 parts by mass Dipropylene glycol: 5 parts by mass / diethylene glycol monobutyl ether: 5 parts by mass / polyglycerol oleate: 1.0 part by mass / pure water: 75 parts by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a yellow ink.

  In addition, the pigment surface-modified with the acrylate (second curable material: particles having a curable monomer on the surface) was obtained as follows. Similarly to the preparation of the self-dispersing pigment, a carboxylic acid machine is introduced on the surface of the pigment, the introduced carboxylic acid group and one hydroxyl group of polyethylene glycol are ester-reacted, and then the other hydroxyl group of polyethylene glycol and Acrylic acid was subjected to an ester reaction to obtain an acrylate, whereby a pigment surface-modified with acrylate was obtained.

[Example 4]
The same curable solution as used in Example 1 was used, and the following inks were used as inks. Images were recorded in the same manner as in Example 1, and then evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

(ink)
-Black ink-
-Carbon black: 5 parts by mass-Diethylene glycol: 10 parts by mass-Glycerin: 8 parts by mass-Urea: 5 parts by mass-Olphine E1010: 2 parts by mass-Styrene-acrylic acid ester-acrylic acid co-modified with an ester terminal Polymer (second curable material: pigment dispersant) 1.5 parts by mass / pure water: 70 parts by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a black ink.

-Cyan ink-
Copper phthalocyanine pigment: 5 parts by mass Triethylene glycol: 15 parts by mass 2-pyrrolidone 5 parts by mass Surfinol 440: 1.0 part by mass Surfynol 485: 1.0 part by mass Styrene-acrylic acid ester-acrylic acid copolymer (second curable material: pigment dispersant) 1.0 part by mass / pure water: 75 parts by mass The above composition was mixed, filtered through a 5 μm filter, and cyan ink Got.

-Magenta ink-
Quinacridone pigment: 4.5 parts by mass Dipropylene glycol: 8 parts by mass Glycerin: 15 parts by mass N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone: 15 parts by mass Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether: 5 parts by mass Polyacrylate modified with methacrylate Glycerin fatty acid ester (second curable material: pigment dispersant) 1.2 parts by mass / pure water: 50 parts by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a magenta ink.

-Yellow ink-
-Azo-based yellow pigment: 6 parts by mass-1,5-pentanediol: 10 parts by mass-Polyethylene glycol (MW.200): 10 parts by mass-Diethylene glycol monohexyl ether: 2 parts by mass-Oxyethyleneoxypropylene block polymer: 2 0.0 part by mass-ester-acrylate-modified styrene-methacrylic ester-acrylic acid copolymer (second curable material: pigment dispersant) 1.5 parts by mass-pure water: 70 parts by mass The mixture was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a yellow ink.

[Example 5]
The same curable solution as in Example 2 was used, and evaluation was performed after image recording was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the inks of the following colors were used. The results are shown in Table 1.

(ink)
-Black ink-
・ C. I. Direct Black 154 Dye: 5 parts by mass, polyethylene glycol 400: 15 parts by mass, 1,2-hexanediol: 5 parts by mass, oxyethyleneoxypropylene block polymer: 1.5 parts by mass, styrene surface-treated with acrylate Acrylic ester-acrylic acid copolymer emulsion (second curable material: particles having curable polymer on the surface, solid content concentration 20 wt.%): 30 parts by mass, thioxanthone ammonium salt: 1 part by mass, pure water: 45 Part by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a black ink.

-Cyan ink-
・ C. I. Direct blue 199 dye: 4.5 parts by mass, tetraethylene glycol: 10 parts by mass, 1,3-butanediol: 5 parts by mass, diglycerin oxyethylene adduct: 10 parts by mass, styrene surface-treated with acrylate Acrylic ester-acrylic acid copolymer emulsion (second curable material: particles having curable polymer on the surface, solid content concentration 20 wt.%): 20 parts by mass, thioxanthone ammonium salt: 1 part by mass, pure water: 50 Part by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a cyan ink.

-Magenta ink-
・ C. I. Direct Red 227 Dye: 4 parts by mass, ethylene glycol: 15 parts by mass, glycerin: 13 parts by mass, Olphine E1010: 2.0 parts by mass, styrene-acrylic acid ester-acrylic acid copolymer emulsion surface-treated with acrylate (Second curable material: particles having curable polymer on the surface, solid content concentration 20 wt.%): 25 parts by mass / thioxanthone ammonium salt: 1 part by mass / pure water: 40 parts by mass The above composition is mixed, and a 5 μm filter. To obtain a magenta ink.

-Yellow ink-
・ C. I. Direct yellow 132 dye: 5 parts by mass, diethylene glycol: 17 parts by mass, glycerin: 8 parts by mass, 1.2-butanediol: 2 parts by mass, oxyethylene oleyl ether: 0.8 parts by mass, surface-treated with acrylate, Styrene-acrylic acid ester-acrylic acid copolymer emulsion (second curable material: particles having curable polymer on the surface, solid content concentration 20 wt.%): 20 parts by mass, thioxanthone ammonium salt: 1 part by mass, pure water : 60 parts by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a yellow ink.

[Example 6]
An image was recorded and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the following curable solution and each color ink were used. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Curing solution)
Polyurethane acrylate: 25 parts by mass Acrylyl morpholine: 15 parts by mass Isocyanuric acid triacrylate: 30 parts by mass Silicone-modified polyether acrylate 3 parts by mass Irgacure 127: 3 parts by mass Styrene-acrylic acid 2-ethylhexyl ester-acrylic Acid Na salt copolymer: 25 parts by mass The above composition was mixed / stirred to obtain a curable solution.

(ink)
-Black ink-
Self-dispersible carbon black having a carboxylic acid group: 4 parts by mass Diethylene glycol: 15 parts by mass Trimethylolpropane: 10 parts by mass Oxyethyleneoxypropylene block copolymer: 2.0 parts by mass Polyethylene glycol (600) di Acrylate (second curable material: curable monomer): 5 parts by mass / pure water: 65 parts by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a black ink.

-Cyan ink-
-Self-dispersible copper phthalocyanine pigment having a carboxylic acid group: 5 parts by mass-Polyethylene glycol 200: 15 parts by mass-Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether: 5 parts by mass-Polyoxyethylene sorbitan ester: 3 parts by mass-Polyethylene glycol (600) di Acrylate (second curable material: curable monomer): 6 parts by mass / pure water: 65 parts by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a cyan ink.

-Magenta ink-
Self-dispersible quinacridone magenta pigment having a carboxylic acid group: 6 parts by mass Propylene glycol: 5 parts by mass Glycerin: 15 parts by mass Triethanolamine: 4 parts by mass Oxyethylene stearyl ether: 1.0 part by mass Polyethylene glycol (600) diacrylate (second curable material: curable monomer): 5 parts by mass Pure water: 65 parts by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 µm filter to obtain a magenta ink.

-Yellow ink-
-Self-dispersible azo yellow pigment having a carboxylic acid group: 6 parts by mass-Diglycerin: 13 parts by mass-N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone: 2 parts by mass-1,2,6-hexanetriol: 7 parts by mass Surfynol 440: 0.5 part by mass Surfinol 465: 1.5 part by mass Polyethylene glycol (600) diacrylate (second curable material: curable monomer): 8 parts by mass Pure water: 60 parts by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a yellow ink.

[Example 7]
An image was recorded and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the following curable solution and each color ink were used. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Curing solution)
-Polyether acrylate: 15 parts by mass-Polyurethane acrylate: 20 parts by mass-Glycerin propoxytriacrylate: 15 parts by mass-Darocur 1173: 3 parts by mass-Hydroxyethylacrylamide 20 parts by mass-Styrene-butyl acrylate-phthalate mono- 2-Methacryloyloxyethylene / Na salt copolymer: 25 parts by mass
-Solsperse 24000 3 parts by mass The above composition was mixed / stirred to obtain a curable solution.

(ink)
-Black ink-
Self-dispersible carbon black having a carboxylic acid group: 5 parts by mass Diethylene glycol: 10 parts by mass Glycerin: 15 parts by mass Surfynol 465: 1.5 parts by mass Water-soluble epoxy acrylate (second curable material: Curing oligomer): 5 parts by mass, 4- (2-hydroxyethoxy) phenyl- (2-hydroxy-2-propyl) ketone: 0.1 part by mass, pure water: 65 parts by mass To obtain a black ink.

-Cyan ink-
-Self-dispersible copper phthalocyanine pigment having a carboxylic acid group: 4.5 parts by mass-Triethylene glycol: 10 parts by mass-1,6-hexanediol: 10 parts by mass-Diglycerin oxyethylene adduct: 3.5 parts by mass Parts / water-soluble epoxy acrylate (second curable material: curable oligomer): 5 parts by mass / 4- (2-hydroxyethoxy) phenyl- (2-hydroxy-2-propyl) ketone: 0.1 parts by mass / pure Water: 65 parts by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a cyan ink.

-Magenta ink-
-Self-dispersible quinacridone magenta pigment having a carboxylic acid group: 4 parts by mass-Polyethylene glycol 400: 15 parts by mass-Glycerin: 10 parts by mass-5 parts by mass of 2-2-butoxyethoxyethanol-Olfine E1010: 0.5 Parts by mass, water-soluble epoxy acrylate (second curable material: curable oligomer): 5 parts by mass, 4- (2-hydroxyethoxy) phenyl- (2-hydroxy-2-propyl) ketone: 0.1 parts by mass, Pure water: 60 parts by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a magenta ink.

-Yellow ink-
-Self-dispersible azo yellow pigment having a carboxylic acid group: 4.5 parts by mass-Tetraethylene glycol: 8 parts by mass-Glycerin: 10 parts by mass-Oxyethyleneoxypropylene block copolymer: 1.2 parts by mass-Water-soluble Epoxy acrylate (second curable material: curable oligomer): 5 parts by mass 4- (2-hydroxyethoxy) phenyl- (2-hydroxy-2-propyl) ketone: 0.1 parts by mass
Pure water: 70 parts by mass The above composition was mixed and filtered through a 5 μm filter to obtain a yellow ink.

  From the above results, it can be seen that the present example is superior in image quality and image collapse (durability) at the boundary between the image part and the non-image part in comparison with the comparative example.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Intermediate transfer belt 12 Curable solution layer forming device 12A Curable solution 12B Curable solution layer 14 Inkjet recording head 14A Ink 16 Transfer device 18 Stimulation supply device 101, 102 Image recording device

Claims (4)

A curable solution layer forming means for supplying a first curable material cured by a first stimulus from the outside and a hydrophobic curable solution containing at least a water-absorbing component to a recording material to form a curable solution layer;
An ink applying means for applying, to the curable solution layer, an aqueous ink containing a second curable material that is cured by a second stimulus from the outside;
First stimulus supply means for supplying the first stimulus for curing the first curable material of the curable solution layer;
Second stimulus supply means for supplying the second stimulus for curing the second curable material of the water-based ink;
An image recording apparatus. The recording material is an intermediate transfer member,
A curable solution layer forming means for forming a curable solution layer by supplying a hydrophobic curable solution containing at least a first curable material that is cured by a first stimulus from the outside and a water-absorbing component onto the intermediate transfer body. When,
An ink applying means for applying an aqueous ink containing a second curable material that is cured by a second stimulus from the outside to the curable solution layer;
Transfer means for bringing the curable solution layer provided with the ink into contact with a recording medium and transferring the curable solution layer from the intermediate transfer member to the recording medium;
First stimulus supply means for supplying the first stimulus for curing the first curable material of the curable solution layer;
Second stimulus supply means for supplying the second stimulus for curing the second curable material of the water-based ink;
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:   The second curable material that is cured by the second stimulus from the outside includes a curable polymer that is cured by the second stimulus from the outside, and a curable monomer or curable polymer that is cured by the second stimulus from the outside. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording apparatus is at least one selected from particles on the surface.   The first curable material is cured by the first stimulus supply unit after the second curable material is cured by the second stimulus supply unit. The image recording apparatus described in 1.

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