EP2730419A1 - Procédé d'impression - Google Patents

Procédé d'impression Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2730419A1
EP2730419A1 EP13191679.3A EP13191679A EP2730419A1 EP 2730419 A1 EP2730419 A1 EP 2730419A1 EP 13191679 A EP13191679 A EP 13191679A EP 2730419 A1 EP2730419 A1 EP 2730419A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
media
ink
recording medium
temperature
printhead
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP13191679.3A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
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EP2730419B1 (fr
Inventor
Hitoshi Arita
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mimaki Engineering Co Ltd
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Mimaki Engineering Co Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mimaki Engineering Co Ltd filed Critical Mimaki Engineering Co Ltd
Publication of EP2730419A1 publication Critical patent/EP2730419A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2730419B1 publication Critical patent/EP2730419B1/fr
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/0015—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing
    • B41J11/002—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
    • B41J11/0024—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using conduction means, e.g. by using a heated platen
    • B41J11/00244—Means for heating the copy materials before or during printing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/0015—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing
    • B41J11/002—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
    • B41J11/0024—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using conduction means, e.g. by using a heated platen
    • B41J11/00242—Controlling the temperature of the conduction means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for printing on a recording medium with an inkjet printer.
  • Inkjet printers are known that prevents bleeding of a printed image with a preheater provided to heat a recording medium prior to printing, and a post-heater provided to heat a recording medium immediately after the printing, as described in JP-A-62-144955 (published June 29, 1987 ), and German Patent No. DE10056703C2 (published November 21, 2002 ).
  • An inkjet printer provided with a preheater, a print heater, and a post-heater is also known, as described in JP-A-2010-30313 (published February 12, 2010 ).
  • FIG. 4 is a side cross sectional view schematically illustrating the structure of an inkjet printer of related art.
  • an inkjet printer 3 expels droplets of ink through an array of nozzles 12 formed at the bottom surface of a printhead 14, causing the ink droplets to strike the surface of media 30 in dots on a platen 20.
  • graphics and characters are printed as an array of ink dots on the surface of the media 30 by the inkjet printer 3.
  • the ink droplets that struck the surface of the media 30 in dots as above permeate over a wide area around the impact positions of the ink droplets. This is problematic as it causes bleeding or blur in the graphics and characters printed as an array of ink dots on the surface of the media 30.
  • the inkjet printer 3 is provided with a preheater 40 and a post-heater 50. As illustrated in FIG. 4 , the inkjet printer 3 uses the preheater 40 to heat the media 30 transported to a platen anterior portion 26, prior to printing. The post-heater 50 heats the media 30 immediately after the printing.
  • the preheater 40 preliminarily heats the media 30 prior to printing to keep the media 30 warm and quickly dry the ink droplets that strike the surface of the media 30, and prevent the ink droplets from permeating over a wide area around the impact positions.
  • the post-heater 50 quickly dries partially undried ink droplets remaining on the surface of the media 30, and prevents the ink droplets from permeating over a wide area around the impact positions. In this way, graphics and characters can be clearly printed as an array of ink dots on the surface of the media 30, without bleeding.
  • Inkjet printers generally use common water-soluble ink and lactate ink.
  • water-soluble ink and lactate ink are unsatisfactory in terms of environment and media characteristics.
  • Printers using water-soluble ink and lactate ink are thus not suited for printing graphics and characters on media for applications such as outdoor advertisement displays.
  • Latex ink a dispersion or an emulsion of binder resin in water or water-soluble solvent
  • latex ink has sufficient environment and media characteristics, and is preferable for printing graphics and characters on media in application such as outdoor advertisement displays.
  • latex ink has very high media diffusibility (wetting and spreading). Accordingly, the ink droplets that strike the media surface quickly diffuse over a wide area around the impact positions.
  • the ink dots of latex ink thus cannot be clearly fixed at the impact positions of the ink on the media surface, and an array of ink dots cannot be clearly printed as graphics and characters without causing bleeding.
  • the inkjet printer 3 as described in JP-A-62-144955 and German Patent No. DE10056703C2 is not provided with a print heater that heats the placed ink droplets on the media 30 on site at a position below the scan range of the printhead 14, specifically opposite the ink discharge face of the printhead 14.
  • the ink easily diffuses because the media 30 cannot have a sufficient surface temperature at the time when the ink strikes the media 30, even when the preheater 40 and the post-heater 50 heat the media 30 before and after the ink strikes the media 30.
  • the print heater can heat the ink droplets on site on the media 30 struck by the ink droplets, and can thus quickly dry the ink, and suppress diffusion of the ink on the media 30.
  • the print heater is provided opposite the ink discharge face of the printhead 14, the heat applied to the media 30 simultaneously solidifies the ink in the narrow diameter of the nozzles 12 in the printhead 14, and clogs the nozzles 12.
  • Various media are used for applications such as outdoor advertisement displays, including, for example, media that easily soften even under low-temperature heat (such as a vinyl chloride film), and media that do not easily soften even under high-temperature heat (such as a polyester film).
  • media that easily soften even under low-temperature heat such as a vinyl chloride film
  • media that do not easily soften even under high-temperature heat such as a polyester film
  • the heat applied to the media 30 by the preheater 40 and the post-heater 50 shown in FIG. 4 is set to a constant, relatively high temperature, and is not adjustable. This is problematic when material such as a vinyl chloride film is used for the media 30, because such a film softens under the high-temperature heat of the preheater 40 and the post-heater 50, and cannot be smoothly transported on the platen 20. Specifically, the inkjet printer 3 cannot accommodate different media.
  • the inkjet printer described in JP-A-2010-30313 is provided with a preheater, a print heater, and a post-heater, and separately controls and drives each heater.
  • a preheater As a solution to such a problem, the inkjet printer described in JP-A-2010-30313 is provided with a preheater, a print heater, and a post-heater, and separately controls and drives each heater.
  • use of the inkjet printer described in this publication is limited to solvent ink, and is not intended for various other inks.
  • the present invention has been made in view of these problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a printing method that enables an inkjet printer to clearly print with latex ink, without causing bleeding.
  • a printing method is a method for printing a recording medium with an inkjet printer that includes:
  • the inkjet printer is used to print the recording medium.
  • the driving means moves the printhead and the recording medium relative to each other to print the desired position of the recording medium.
  • the preliminary heating means heats the recording medium from the back side of the inked surface before the recording medium is positioned opposite the ink discharge face of the printhead.
  • the driver then transports the recording medium heated by the preliminary heater to the position opposite the ink discharge face of the printhead.
  • the heating means (heater) provided opposite the ink discharge face of the printhead heats the transported recording medium from the back opposite the inked surface.
  • the heater and the preliminary heater heat the recording medium in a manner that makes the surface temperature of the inked surface of the recording medium 40°C or more and 60°C or less.
  • the ink discharged from the printhead contains a solvent, a colorant, and a binder resin dispersed or emulsified in the solvent (hereinafter, such an ink is referred to as "latex ink”), and the binder resin has a surface minimum filming temperature of 0°C or less.
  • latex ink a binder resin dispersed or emulsified in the solvent
  • the ink has excellent characteristics, particularly environment and media characteristics.
  • Droplets of the latex ink expelled through the nozzles of the printhead can strike the surface of the recording medium heated by the preliminary heater and the heater to a surface temperature of 40°C or more and 60°C or less.
  • the ink droplets can thus quickly dry and fix without leaving time in the state of being fixed in dots at the impact positions, without diffusing over a wide area around the impact positions on the recording medium.
  • Clear graphics and characters can thus be printed in the form of an array of latex ink dots on the surface of the recording medium without bleeding.
  • the latex ink droplets that struck the surface of the recording medium can have a sufficient temperature under the transferred heat from the recording medium.
  • the recording medium will not be damaged by the applied heat, and can be smoothly transported onto the platen by the driver, even when a low heat-resistance film such as a vinyl chloride film is used as the recording medium.
  • the present invention is thus applicable to essentially any recording medium, from low heat-resistance recording medium to high heat-resistance recording medium.
  • the surface temperature range of 40°C to 60°C of the recording medium was found after the intensive studies conducted by the present inventor on the basis of the results of experiments in which graphics and characters were actually printed on the surface of various types of recording media with the latex ink using the inkjet printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
  • the binder resin contained in the latex ink used in the present invention has a core-shell structure configured from an interior core portion and a surface shell portion. Because the binder resin has a surface minimum filming temperature (MFT) of 0°C or less, the latex ink can quickly starts drying and fusing on the recording medium heated to a surface temperature of 40°C or more and 60°C or less.
  • MFT surface minimum filming temperature
  • the surface temperature of the recording medium is finally brought to 40°C or more and 60°C or less, a suitable temperature range for drying and fusing the latex ink, by the time the ink strikes the recording medium.
  • the surface of the recording medium can be brought to the desired temperature by the time the ink strikes the recording medium, even when the heating means alone fails to sufficiently heat the recording medium to an appropriate temperature because of such factors as the thickness of the recording medium, and the ambient temperature of the inkjet printer.
  • the heater is disposed at a position opposite the ink discharge face of the printhead, heating the surface of the recording medium to 40°C or more and 60°C or less with the heater alone causes the ink to solidify and clog the narrow diameter of the nozzles in the printhead under the generated heat of the heater.
  • the surface temperature of the recording medium is brought to 40°C or more and 60°C or less by the stepwise heating with the preliminary heater and the heater by the time the ink strikes the recording medium. For example, by heating the recording medium to a certain temperature in advance with the preliminary heater, the surface of the recording medium can be heated to the desired temperature without generating high temperature in the heater. The ink can thus be prevented from solidifying and clogging the nozzles in the printhead under the generated heat of the heater.
  • the present invention can realize high image quality and fixing stability for the printed graphics and characters even for recording media used in outdoor advertisement displays and industrial applications that require high environment and media characteristics.
  • the binder resin have different minimum filming temperatures for a surface portion and an interior portion.
  • the binder resin has different minimum filming temperatures for the surface and interior portions of the core-shell structure, drying and fusing can take place at different timings for the surface and interior portions of the binder resin, making it possible to provide separate functions.
  • the binder resin may be configured to dry and fuse on the surface first on the recording medium appropriately heated with the preliminary heater and the heater, before the interior dries and fuses under the heat of, for example, the drier that dries the recording medium struck by the ink.
  • the temperature used to dry the ink in inkjet printers of related art is typically set to about 80°C, whereas the actual drying temperature of the latex ink is believed to be about 50 to 60°C.
  • the minimum filming temperature of the binder resin be lower in the surface portion than in the interior portion.
  • the minimum filming temperature of the binder resin in the latex ink is higher inside the resin than on the surface, the high-temperature storage stability of the latex ink can be improved. Because of the lower minimum filming temperature, the surface of the binder resin quickly starts drying and fusing on the recording medium heated with the preliminary heater and the heater. In this way, the binder resin surface having a lower minimum filming temperature can be clearly fixed without causing dot bleeding at the impact positions even when the latex ink is used that has very high diffusibility (wetting and spreading) for the recording medium, and that tends to quickly diffuse over a wide area around the impact positions of the ink droplets.
  • the binding resin interior having a higher minimum filming temperature is then sufficiently dried and fused with, for example, the post-heater or the drier, and the latex ink that struck the recording medium can be sequentially dried, fused, and fixed in the direction of the transport of the recording medium.
  • the solvent be at least one of water and a hydrophilic solvent
  • the latex ink contain the solvent in 50 weight% or more of the total weight of the latex ink.
  • the impact of the ink on the environment can be relieved because of the high content of the water and/or hydrophilic solvent in the latex ink.
  • the heater and the preliminary heater be controlled to heat the recording medium at different temperatures.
  • the temperature of the recording medium can thus be accurately adjusted at the respective positions according to such factors as the type and thickness of the recording medium, and the ambient temperature of the printer. This makes it possible to more accurately adjust the surface temperature of the recording medium in a temperature range of 40°C to 60°C by the time the ink droplets expelled from the ink discharge face of the printhead strike the recording medium.
  • the preliminary heater heat the inked surface of the recording medium to a surface temperature of 30°C or more and 50°C and less, and that the heater heat the inked surface of the recording medium to a surface temperature of 40°C or more and 60°C or less.
  • the preliminary heater preliminarily heats the inked surface to a surface temperature of 30°C or more and 50°C or less before the recording medium is transported to the position opposite the ink discharge face of the printhead.
  • the heater then heats the inked surface of the recording medium to a surface temperature of 40°C or more and 60°C or less when the recording medium transported after the preliminary heating reaches the position opposite the ink discharge face of the printhead. This ensures that the recording medium is always sufficiently heated to a surface temperature of 40°C or more and 60°C or less by the time the ink droplets expelled through the nozzles of the printhead strike the recording medium.
  • the heater and the preliminary heater be controlled to heat the recording medium at the same temperature.
  • the temperature control can be simplified.
  • the recording medium be one selected from the group consisting of a vinyl chloride sheet, a PET sheet, a tarpaulin sheet, and coated paper neither of which is coated with coating material, and uncoated polypropylene resin, uncoated glass, uncoated metal, and molded products thereof.
  • high-quality graphics and characters can be printed with fixing stability, without bleeding, even when the recording medium is an all-purpose medium not coated with coating material or the like. Further, according to the foregoing configuration, it is possible to appropriately heat various types of recording media, including recording medium that soften under low temperature, and always allow such media to be smoothly transported. Specifically, no problem is posed in transporting different recording media, from low heat-resistance recording medium to high heat-resistance recording medium, and high-quality graphics and characters can be printed on such media with fixing stability, without bleeding.
  • the inkjet printer be adapted so that temperatures of the preliminary heater and the heater heating the recording medium are adjustably controlled with an operation panel provided for the printer, or with a printer-controlling host computer coupled to the printer.
  • the heating temperatures of the preliminary heater and the heater can be adjustably controlled with an operation panel provided for the printer, or with a printer-controlling host computer, according to such factors as the type and thickness of the recording medium, and the ambient temperature of the printer.
  • This makes it possible to always smoothly transport various types of recording media, for example, such as media that soften under low temperature, and print high image quality graphics and characters on such recording media with fixing stability, without bleeding.
  • the inkjet printer include a refresh mode unit that moves the printhead to a maintenance station, and causes the printhead to flush ink droplets through the nozzles to prevent the latex ink from solidifying and clogging the nozzles in the printhead.
  • the refresh mode unit can be used to move the printhead to the maintenance station, and cause the printhead to flush ink droplets through the nozzles during the printing of graphics and characters with the latex ink.
  • the latex ink can be prevented from solidifying and clogging the nozzles or other parts of the printhead.
  • empty dots describes the state where ink dots are absent in places ink dots are normally present), which might occur in part of the graphics and characters printed on the surface of the recording medium when the printhead is clogged.
  • the refresh mode unit provided in the inkjet printer move the printhead to the maintenance station at certain time intervals, and cause the printhead to flush ink droplets through the nozzles.
  • the refresh mode unit can be used to move the printhead to the maintenance station at certain time intervals, and cause the printhead to forcibly flush ink droplets through the nozzles during the printing of graphics and characters with the latex ink. Because the printhead is moved to the maintenance station with the refresh mode unit during the printing of graphics and characters with the latex ink, it is ensured that the latex ink does not solidify and clog the nozzles in the printhead as might occur when ink droplets are not flushed through the nozzles of the printhead.
  • the inkjet printer include a drier that dries the recording medium after the discharged ink droplets from the printhead strike the recording medium, and thereby dries the ink droplets adhering to the surface of the recording medium.
  • the partially undried ink droplets adhering to the surface of the recording medium can be completely dried with the drier.
  • the partially undried ink droplets adhering to the impact positions on the surface of the recording medium can be prevented from adhering to and contaminating other portions of the recording medium when the recording medium is wound into a roll or other form by, for example, the winder after the transport.
  • the printing method is a method for printing a recording medium with an inkjet printer.
  • the method includes heating the recording medium with the heater and the preliminary heater to make a surface temperature of the inked surface of the recording medium 40°C or more and 60°C or less; and printing the recording medium by causing the printhead to discharge an ink that contains a solvent, a colorant, and a binder resin, wherein the binder resin is dispersed or emulsified in the solvent, and has a surface minimum filming temperature of 0°C or less.
  • the method enables graphics and characters to be clearly printed without bleeding.
  • FIG. 1 is a side cross sectional view schematically illustrating the structure of the inkjet printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a front view schematically illustrating the structure of the inkjet printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
  • an inkjet printer 1 includes a printhead 14, a printing section 10, a transport section 60, a print heater (heater) 70, and a preheater (preliminary heater) 40.
  • the printing section 10 allows the printhead 14 to scan, and the transport section 60 transports media 30.
  • the printing section 10 and the transport section 60 serve as a driving unit (driver) that moves and positions the media 30 and the printhead 14 relative to each other.
  • the printhead 14 is structured to expel droplets of latex ink (described later) through nozzles 12 arranged on the lower face of the printhead 14, using a method such as the piezo method.
  • the printhead 14 is supported by a head driving belt 16 constituting the printing section 10 as shown in FIG. 2 in a manner capable of freely scanning the printhead in transverse direction.
  • the printing section 10 allows the printhead 14 to scan in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the media 30 above a platen 20, moving and positioning the printhead 14 relative to the media 30.
  • the transport section 60 is configured from a feed roller 62 and a pressure roller 64 provided on opposite sides on the both sides of the platen 20. With the media 30 placed between the feed roller 62 and the pressure roller 64, the feed roller 62 is rotated forward (direction of arrow in FIG. 1 ) to transport the media 30 forward on the platen 20.
  • the print heater 70 is provided at a position opposite the ink discharge face of the printhead 14, and heats the media 30 from the back side of the inked surface of the media 30 disposed opposite the ink discharge face of the printhead 14 by the transport section 60.
  • the print heater 70 is provided at a position opposite a platen central portion 22 with respect to the media 30.
  • the print heater 70 heats the media 30 from the back surface opposite the inked surface to be struck by ink droplets, after the media 30 are transported to the platen central portion 22.
  • the print heater 70 may have any structure that heats the media 30 by the transferred heat via the platen 20 to the media 30 transported to the platen central portion 22.
  • an electrical heater using a ceramic or nichrome wire may be used as the print heater 70.
  • the preheater 40 heats the media 30 from the back side of the inked surface before the media 30 are transported to the position opposite the ink discharge face of the printhead 14.
  • the preheater 40 is provided at a position opposite a platen posterior portion 24 with respect to the media 30.
  • the preheater 40 preliminarily heats the media 30 by heating the back surface opposite the inked surface to be struck by ink droplets, after the media 30 are transported to the platen posterior portion 24.
  • the preheater 40 may have any structure that preliminarily heats the media 30 by the transferred heat via the platen 20 to the media 30 transported to the platen posterior portion 24.
  • an electrical heater using a ceramic or nichrome wire may be used as the preheater 40.
  • the inkjet printer 1 may also include a temperature controller 80.
  • the temperature controller 80 controls the heating temperatures of the preheater 40 and the print heater 70 in a manner that makes the surface temperature of the inked surface of the media 30 40 to 60°C by the time the discharged ink from the printhead 14 strikes the media 30.
  • the temperature controller 80 may be configured from a combination of different components, such as a sensor that detects the generated heat temperatures of the preheater 40 and the print heater 70, and an electronic circuit that controls the generated heat temperatures.
  • the temperature controller 80 may be configured to independently control the heating temperatures of the preheater 40 and the print heater 70. Specifically, the temperature controller 80 may control the preheater 40 and the print heater 70 to have different heating temperatures. In this case, the temperature controller 80 can separately adjust the heating temperatures of the preheater 40 and the print heater 70 according to such factors as the type and thickness of the media 30, and the ambient temperature of the inkjet printer. This ensures that the surface temperature on the inked surface of the media 30 always falls in the desired temperature range of 40°C to 60°C by the accurate heating.
  • the temperature controller 80 may control the preheater 40 and the print heater 70 to have the same heating temperature. By using the same control for the temperatures of the preheater 40 and the print heater 70, the temperature control can be simplified.
  • the temperature controller 80 controls the preheater 40 to heat the media 30 and make the surface temperature of the inked surface 30°C or more and 50°C or less, and controls the print heater 70 to heat the media 30 and make the surface temperature of the inked surface 40°C or more and 60°C or less. This ensures that the surface temperature always sufficiently falls in the 40°C to 60°C range at the time when ink droplets strike the media 30.
  • the media 30 used in the inkjet printer 1 may be one selected from the group consisting of a vinyl chloride sheet, a PET sheet, a tarpaulin sheet, and coated paper neither of which is coated with coating material, and uncoated polypropylene resin, uncoated glass, uncoated metal, and molded products thereof.
  • the inkjet printer 1 can print high-quality graphics and characters with fixing stability, without bleeding, even when all-purpose media not coated with coating material or the like are used. Further, the inkjet printer 1 can appropriately heat various types of media, including media that soften under low temperature, and always allows such media to be smoothly transported. Specifically, the inkjet printer 1 does not pose any problem in transporting different media, from low heat-resistance media to high heat-resistance media, and can print high-quality graphics and characters on such media with fixing stability, without bleeding.
  • the inkjet printer 1 may also include a host computer 120.
  • the host computer 120 controls the heating performed by the preheater 40 and the print heater 70, and the temperature control performed by the temperature controller 80.
  • the host computer 120 also controls other print operations, including, for example, discharge of ink from the printhead 14, and transport of the media 30 by the transport section 60.
  • the host computer 120 may be an operation panel provided for the inkjet printer 1.
  • the inkjet printer 1 may also include an unwinder 90 and a winder 100.
  • the unwinder 90 is provided posterior to the platen 20 (in the opposite direction of the arrowhead in FIG. 1 ).
  • the unwinder 90 unwinds a roll of media 30, and sends the media 30 to the platen central portion 22.
  • the winder 100 is provided anterior to the platen 20 (the direction of the arrowhead in FIG. 1 ), and winds the media 30 into a roll after the media 30 are printed and sent forward past the platen anterior portion 26.
  • the inkjet printer 1 may include a refresh mode unit 140.
  • the refresh mode unit 140 moves the printhead 14 to a maintenance station 130, and flushes ink droplets through the nozzles 12 of the printhead 14 into a pan 110 or the like provided in the maintenance station 130.
  • the latex ink can be prevented from solidifying and clogging the nozzles 12.
  • the refresh mode unit 140 may move the printhead 14 to the maintenance station 130 and flush the ink during the printing of graphics and characters on the surface of the media 30 with the latex ink. Further, the refresh mode unit 140 may move the printhead 14 to the maintenance station 130 and flush the ink at certain time intervals during the printing of graphics and characters on the surface of the media 30 with the latex ink. This ensures that the latex ink does not solidify and clog the nozzles 12 in the printhead, which might occur when ink droplets are not flushed through the nozzles 12 of the printhead 14 during printing.
  • the refresh mode unit 140 may be configured from an electronic circuit or the like of the host computer 120 controlling the printer.
  • the inkjet printer 1 may be configured to further include a drier 150 as in the inkjet printer 2 shown in FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 3 is a side cross sectional view schematically illustrating the structure of an inkjet printer according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • the inkjet printer 2 includes the drier 150 that dries the ink droplets adhered to the surface of the media 30 transported to the platen anterior portion 26.
  • the drier 150 can dry the ink that remain partially undried on the surface of the media 30 struck by the ink discharged from the printhead 14. In this way, the partially undried ink droplets adhering to the surface of the media 30 wound into a roll from the platen anterior portion 26 by the winder 100 disposed in front thereof can be prevented from adhering to and contaminating other portions of the media 30.
  • the drier 150 may dry the ink droplets from the inked surface side of the media 30 as illustrated in FIG. 3 , or from the back side of the inked surface of the media 30.
  • the drier 150 may be realized by using, for example, a hot-air drier, an infrared drier, or a heater drier that uses a ceramic or nichrome wire, either alone or in combination.
  • the unwinder 90 unwinds a roll of the media 30 toward the platen posterior portion 24, and the transport section 60 transports the media 30 onto the platen posterior portion 24.
  • the media 30 transported onto the platen posterior portion 24 are then preliminarily heated by the preheater 40 from the back side of the inked surface.
  • the media 30 are transported onto the platen central portion 22 by the transport section 60.
  • the printing section 10 allows the printhead 14 to scan, and discharges the latex ink from the ink discharge face of the printhead 14 at the desired position.
  • the print heater 70 heats the media 30 from the back surface of the inked surface.
  • the temperature controller 80 controls the preheater 40 and the print heater 70 in such a manner that the surface temperature on the inked surface of the media 30 under the applied heat becomes 40°C or more and 60°C or less by the time the ink discharged from the printhead 14 strikes the media 30.
  • the ink droplets that struck the media 30 can thus quickly dry and fix without leaving time in the state of being fixed in dots at the impact positions, without diffusing over a wide area around the impact positions. Clear graphics and characters can thus be printed in the form of an array of ink dots on the surface of the media 30 without bleeding.
  • the latex ink droplets that struck the surface of the media 30 can have a sufficient temperature under the transferred heat from the media 30.
  • the recording medium will not be damaged by the applied heat, and can be smoothly transported onto the platen 20 by the transport section 60, even when a low heat-resistance film such as a vinyl chloride film is used as the recording medium.
  • the printing method according to the present embodiment is thus applicable to essentially any media 30, from low heat-resistance media 30 to high heat-resistance media 30.
  • the surface temperature range of 40°C to 60°C of the media 30 was found after the intensive studies conducted by the present inventor on the basis of the results of experiments in which graphics and characters were actually printed on the surface of various types of media 30 with the latex ink using the inkjet printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
  • the binder resin contained in the latex ink has a core-shell structure configured from an interior core portion and a surface shell portion. Because the binder resin has a surface minimum filming temperature (MFT) of 0°C or less, the latex ink can quickly starts drying and fusing on the media 30 heated to a surface temperature of 40°C or more and 60°C or less.
  • MFT surface minimum filming temperature
  • the surface temperature of the media 30 is finally brought to 40°C or more and 60°C or less, a suitable temperature range for drying and fusing the latex ink, by the time the ink strikes the media 30.
  • the surface of the media 30 can be brought to the desired temperature by the time the ink strikes the media 30, even when the print heater 70 alone fails to sufficiently heat the media 30 to an appropriate temperature at the platen central portion 22 because of such factors as the thickness of the media 30, and the ambient temperature of the inkjet printer 1.
  • the print heater 70 is disposed at the position opposite the ink discharge face of the printhead 14, heating the surface of the media 30 to 40°C or more and 60°C or less with the print heater 70 alone causes the ink to solidify and clog the narrow diameter of the nozzles in the printhead 14 under the generated heat of the print heater 70.
  • the surface temperature of the media 30 is brought to 40°C or more and 60°C or less by the stepwise heating with the preheater 40 and the print heater 70 by the time the ink strikes the media 30.
  • the surface of the media 30 can be brought to the desired temperature without generating high temperature in the print heater 70. The ink can thus be prevented from solidifying and clogging the nozzles in the printhead 14 under the generated heat of the print heater 70.
  • the media 30 with the graphics and characters printed on surface in the form of an array of latex ink dots are then transported from the platen central portion 22 to the platen anterior portion 26 by the transport section 60.
  • the winder 100 disposed anterior to the platen 20 then winds the media 30 into a roll, and the printing is finished.
  • the ink used in the printing method according to the present embodiment contains a solvent, a colorant, and a binder resin.
  • the binder resin is dispersed or emulsified in the solvent, and has a surface minimum filming temperature of 0°C or less.
  • Such an ink containing a solvent, a colorant, and a binder resin dispersed and emulsified in the solvent is called a latex ink.
  • the latex ink is an emulsion containing a solvent, a colorant, and a binder resin, the binder resin being dispersed or emulsified in the solvent.
  • the solvent contained in the latex ink is preferably at least one of water and a water-soluble organic solvent.
  • water-soluble organic solvent examples include polyalcohols such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, tripropylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, 2,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, glycerol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, 1,2,4-butanetriol, 1,2,3-butanetriol, 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, methylpentanetriol, and 3-methoxy-3-methyl-1-butanediol; polyalcohol alkyl ethers such as ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol,
  • water-soluble organic solvents are glycerine, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, tripropylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, 2,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,6-hexanediol, 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, polyethylene glycol, 1,2,4-butanetriol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, thiodiglycol, 2-pyrrolidone, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-hydroxyethyl-2-pyrrolidone, and 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone.
  • These water-soluble organic solvents have excellent solubility, and excel in preventing an expulsion characteristics failure due to moisture evaporation.
  • the latex ink may contain the water-soluble organic solvents either alone or in a combination of two or more kinds thereof.
  • the solvent content in the latex ink may be appropriately set according to such factors as the purpose of printing, and is preferably, for example, 50 weight% or more, more preferably 60 weight% or more, most preferably 70 weight% or more of the total amount of the latex ink.
  • the latex ink has a higher solvent content than the common aqueous inkjet ink, because the latex ink is generally recognized as an environmentally friendly eco-ink.
  • the colorant contained in the latex ink may be appropriately selected according to such factors as the purpose of printing.
  • the colorant include dyes such as water-soluble dye, oil-soluble dye, and dispersion dye, and pigments. From the standpoint of desirable adsorbability and enclosure, the colorant is preferably an oil-soluble dye or a dispersion dye. Pigments are preferably used from the standpoint of the lightfastness of the produced image.
  • the colorant is preferably one that easily dissolves in the water-soluble organic solvent.
  • the colorant is preferably one that dissolves in 2 g/L or more, more preferably 20 to 600 g/L in a ketone solvent.
  • the colorant content in the latex ink is preferably 10 to 200 weight parts, more preferably 25 to 150 weight parts with respect to 100 weight parts of the latex ink.
  • the colorant contained in the latex ink is polymer grafted.
  • polymer grafted colorants include polymer grafted colorants represented by Synthesis Example 1 (carbon black), Synthesis Example 2 (yellow pigment), Synthesis Example 3 (magenta pigment), and Synthesis Example 4 (cyan pigment) of Examples below.
  • the colorant contained in the latex ink is more preferably one that contains polymer.
  • Examples of such colorants containing polymer include polymer-containing colorants represented by Synthesis Example 5 (synthetic resin), Synthesis Example 6 (phthalocyanine), Synthesis Example 7 (quinacridone), Synthesis Example 8 (monoazo yellow pigment), and Synthesis Example 9 (carbon black) of Examples below.
  • a resin coated colorant also may preferably be used as the colorant contained in the latex ink.
  • the resin coated colorant is a polymer emulsion containing a water-insoluble or poorly water-soluble colorant in polymer fine particles.
  • containing a colorant means the state of the colorant being enclosed in the polymer fine particles, and/or the state of the colorant being adsorbed to the surfaces of polymer fine particles.
  • all the colorant mixed in the latex ink is enclosed in or adsorbed to the polymer fine particles, and the colorant may be dispersed in the emulsion to such an extent that it is not detrimental to the advantages of the present invention.
  • the colorant is not particularly limited, as long as it is water-insoluble or poorly water-soluble, and can be adsorbed to the polymer.
  • the colorant is water-insoluble or poorly water-soluble when 10 weight parts or more of the colorant does not dissolve in 100 weight parts of 20°C water.
  • the colorant is also deemed as water soluble when separation or sedimentation of the colorant is not observed in the surface layer or bottom layer of an aqueous solution by visual inspection under the same conditions.
  • the polymer used to form the polymer emulsion may be, for example, a vinyl polymer, a polyester polymer, or a polyurethane polymer. Vinyl polymers and polyester polymers are particularly preferred. Specific examples of such polymers include the polymers disclosed in JP-A-2000-53897 (Reference Literature 1), and JP-A-2001-139849 (Reference Literature 2).
  • the colorant used in the present invention is more preferably a pigment.
  • a dye also may be used for the resin coated colorant.
  • Some examples of such water-soluble dyes are presented below.
  • Preferably, water-soluble dyes having excellent water resistance and excellent lightfastness are used.
  • Carbon black as a black pigment represents an example of the pigment used as the colorant.
  • color pigments include anthraquinone, phthalocyanine blue, phthalocyanine green, diazo, monoazo, pyranthrone, perylene, heterocyclic yellow, quinacridone, and (thio)indigoid.
  • phthalocyanine blue include copper phthalocyanine blue, and derivatives thereof (pigment blue 15).
  • quinacridone include pigment orange 48, pigment orange 49, pigment red 122, pigment red 192, pigment red 202, pigment red 206, pigment red 207, pigment red 209, pigment violet 19, and pigment violet 42.
  • anthraquinone include pigment red 43, pigment red 194 (perinone red), pigment red 216 (brominated pyranthrone red), and pigment red 226 (pyranthrone red).
  • Representative examples of perylene include pigment red 123 (vermillion), pigment red 149 (scarlet), pigment red 179 (maroon), pigment red 190 (red), pigment violet, pigment red 189 (yellow shaded red), and pigment red 224.
  • Representative examples of thioindigoid include pigment red 86, pigment red 87, pigment red 88, pigment red 181, pigment red 198, pigment violet 36, and pigment violet 38.
  • Representative examples of heterocyclic yellow include pigment yellow 117, and pigment yellow 138.
  • the pigment contained in the latex ink may be a pigment that has at least one hydrophilic group attached to the pigment surface either directly or via some other atom group, and that can be stably dispersed without using a dispersant.
  • the pigment with the surface-introduced hydrophilic group is preferably an ionic pigment, preferably an anionic or cationic pigment.
  • anionic hydrophilic group examples include -COOM, -SO 3 M, -PO 3 HM, -PO 3 M 2 , -SO 2 NH 2 , and -SO 2 NHCOR (in the formulae, M represents a hydrogen atom, alkali metal, or ammonium or organic ammonium, and R represents alkyl of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, optionally substituted phenyl, or optionally substituted naphthyl). Pigments with the -COOM or -SO 3 M attached to the pigment surface are particularly preferred.
  • the method used to obtain an anionic pigment is not particularly limited, and may be performed by using, for example, a method in which the pigment is subjected to oxidation treatment with sodium hypochlorite, a method involving sulfonation, or a method involving reaction with a diazonium salt.
  • the hydrophilic group attached to the cationic color pigment surface may be, for example, a quaternary ammonium group. More preferably, pigments in which at least one of the quaternary ammonium groups below is attached to the pigment surface are used.
  • a pigment dispersion may be used in which the pigment is dispersed in the solvent using a dispersant.
  • Known dispersants used for preparation of pigment dispersions are preferably used.
  • examples include polymer dispersants such as polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, acrylic acid-acrylonitrile copolymer, vinyl acetate-acrylic acid ester copolymer, acrylic acid-acrylic acid alkyl ester copolymer, styrene-acrylic acid copolymer, styrene-methacrylic acid copolymer, styrene-acrylic acid-acrylic acid alkyl ester copolymer, styrene-methacrylic acid-acrylic acid alkyl ester copolymer, styrene- ⁇ -methylstyrene-acrylic acid copolymer, styrene- ⁇ -methylstyrene-acrylic acid copolymer-acrylic acid alkyl ester copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, vinylnaphthalene-maleic acid copo
  • the nonionic or anionic dispersants used to disperse the pigment may be appropriately selected according to the type of the pigment, or ink formulation.
  • the nonionic dispersants include polyoxyethylene alkyl ether (such as polyoxyethylene lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene myristyl ether, polyoxyethylene cetyl ether, polyoxyethylene stearyl ether, and polyoxyethylene oleyl ether), polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether (such as polyoxyethylene octyl phenyl ether, and polyoxyethylene nonyl phenyl ether), polyoxyethylene ⁇ naphthyl ether, polyoxyethylene ⁇ naphthyl ether, polyoxyethylene monostyryl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene distyryl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl naphthyl ether, polyoxyethylene monostyryl naphthyl ether, polyoxyethylene distyryl naphthyl ether, and polyoxyethylene
  • dispersants in which the polyoxyethylene of the foregoing dispersants is partially replaced with polyoxypropylene, and dispersants in which a compound having an aromatic ring, such as polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether, is condensed with a compound such as formalin.
  • the nonionic dispersant has an HLB of preferably 12 to 19.5, more preferably 13 to 19. With a nonionic dispersant having an HLB of 12 or more, the dispersant can have improved affinity for the dispersion medium, and dispersion stability improves. With a nonionic dispersant having an HLB of 19.5 or less, the dispersant is more easily adsorbed to the pigment, and dispersion stability improves. When more than one nonionic dispersant is used as a mixture, the HLB of the mixture may be adjusted to 12 or more and 19.5 or less.
  • anionic dispersants include polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether sulfate, polyoxyethylene monostyryl phenyl ether sulfate, polyoxyethylene distyryl phenyl ether sulfate, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether phosphate, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether phosphate, polyoxyethylene monostyryl phenyl ether phosphate, polyoxyethylene distyryl phenyl ether phosphate, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether carboxylate, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether carboxylate, polyoxyethylene monostyryl phenyl ether carboxylate, polyoxyethylene distyryl phenyl ether carboxylate, naphthalene sulfonate formalin condensation product, melamine sulfonate formalin condensation product, dialkyl sulfosuccinate, dialkyl sulfo
  • the dispersant is added in preferably 10 weight% or more and 50 weight% or less of the total pigment weight.
  • the pigment dispersion and the ink can maintain preservation stability, and the dispersion time can be reduced.
  • the dispersant is added in 50 weight% or less of the total pigment weight, ink viscosity can be lowered, and discharge stability can improve.
  • the polymer dispersants, the nonionic dispersants, and the anionic dispersants may be used either alone or in a combination of two or more kinds thereof as may be appropriately decided according to intended use.
  • acidic dyes and food dyes as the colorant contained in the latex ink include C.I. acid yellow 17, 23, 42, 44, 79, 142; C.I. acid red 1, 8, 13, 14, 18, 26, 27, 35, 37, 42, 52, 82, 87, 89, 92, 97, 106, 111, 114, 115, 134, 186, 249, 254, 289; C.I. acid blue 9, 29, 45, 92, 249; C.I. acid black 1, 2, 7, 24, 26, 94; C.I. food yellow 3, 4; C.I. food red 7, 9, 14; and C.I. food black 1, 2.
  • Examples of direct dyes include C.I. direct yellow 1, 12, 24, 26, 33, 44, 50, 86, 120, 132, 142, 144; C.I. direct red 1, 4, 9, 13, 17, 20, 28, 31, 39, 80, 81, 83, 89, 225, 227; C.I. direct orange 26, 29, 62, 102; C.I. direct blue 1, 2, 6, 15, 22, 25, 71, 76, 79, 86, 87, 90, 98, 163, 165, 199, 202; and C.I. direct black 19, 22, 32, 38, 51, 56, 71, 74, 75, 77, 154, 168, 171.
  • Examples of basic dye include C.I. basic yellow 1, 2, 11, 13, 14, 15, 19, 21, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 32, 36, 40, 41, 45, 49, 51, 53, 63, 64, 65, 67, 70, 73, 77, 87, 91; C.I. basic red 2, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 22, 23, 24, 27, 29, 35, 36, 38, 39, 46, 49, 51, 52, 54, 59, 68, 69, 70, 73, 78, 82, 102, 104, 109, 112; C.I.
  • reactive dyes examples include C.I. reactive black 3, 4, 7, 11, 12, 17; C.I. reactive yellow 1, 5, 11, 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 25, 40, 47, 51, 55, 65, 67; C.I. reactive red 1, 14, 17, 25, 26, 32, 37, 44, 46, 55, 60, 66, 74, 79, 96, 97; and C.I. reactive blue 1, 2, 7, 14, 15, 23, 32, 35, 38, 41, 63, 80, 95.
  • the pigments and dyes as the colorant contained in the latex ink may be appropriately selected according to such factors as the purpose of printing, and may be used either alone or in a combination of two or more kinds thereof.
  • the binder resin contained in the latex ink has a core-shell structure configured from a core portion (inside) and a shell portion (surface) covering the core portion.
  • the shell portion has a minimum filming temperature (MFT) of 0°C or less.
  • MFT minimum filming temperature
  • the binder resin may have different minimum filming temperatures for the shell portion and the core portion.
  • the binder resin may be configured to dry and fuse on the shell portion first on the media 30 appropriately heated by the preheater 40 and the print heater 70, before the core portion is dried and fused under the heat of, for example, the drier 150 that dries the recording medium struck by the ink.
  • the temperature used to dry the ink in inkjet printers of related art is typically set to about 80°C, whereas the actual drying temperature of the latex ink is believed to be about 50 to 60°C.
  • Another reason for having different minimum filming temperatures for the shell portion and the core portion of the binder resin is to further improve the preservation stability of the binder resin.
  • MFT minimum filming temperature
  • the latex ink according to the embodiment of the present invention containing the binder resin of such a configuration is also desirable in terms of reliability, print quality (such as bleeding), abrasion resistance, and discharge stability.
  • the ink immediately films after being discharged and striking the media 30, and can thus accommodate high-speed printing.
  • the MFT of the shell portion is not limited, as long as it is lower than the MFT of the core portion, and is preferably 0°C or less.
  • the shell portion with the MFT of 0°C or less (hereinafter, also referred to as "low MFT phase”) films at ordinary temperature, and can improve fixability of the placed ink.
  • the MFT of the low MFT phase is not limited, as long as it is 0°C or less. However, a temperature of -20°C or more and 0°C or less is preferred for improved effects.
  • the MFT of the core portion is not limited, as long as it is higher than the MFT of the shell portion, and is preferably 10°C or more.
  • the core portion with the MFT of 10°C or more helps to spread the binder resin particles on the media 30, and fix the pigment colorant over the recording medium.
  • the high MFT phase of 10°C or more is preferred, because it allows the binding of the paper fiber to automatically proceed without having the need to subject the image supporting medium on which an image is formed to processes such as heating and drying.
  • the MFT of the high MFT phase is thus preferably 10°C or more, and is further preferably 20°C or more for improved effects.
  • MFT minimum filming temperature
  • MFT is the value measured with an MFT measurement device such as a filming temperature tester (Imoto Machinery Co., Ltd.), and a TP-801 MFT tester (Tester Sangyo Co., Ltd.).
  • the measurement method specified by JIS K6828-1996 also may be used.
  • MFT can be adjusted, for example, by controlling the Tg (glass transition point) of the binder resin particles, more specifically by varying the proportion (added ratio) of the constituent monomer of the binder resin particles, when the binder resin particles are copolymer.
  • low MFT binder resin particles may be prepared by adding a filming auxiliary agent to high MFT binder resin particles.
  • the filming auxiliary agent is added, because it can lower the filming temperature, specifically the MFT of the binder resin particles.
  • binder resin examples include "polymer emulsion" particles.
  • polymer emulsion it means an emulsion in which a polymer is dispersed or emulsified as an independent phase in the presence of a surfactant in a solvent having an aqueous continuous phase.
  • the polymer emulsion is obtained by the emulsion polymerization of an ethylenic unsaturated monomer.
  • the polymer emulsion is preferably a vinyl polymer emulsion from the standpoint of dispersion stability.
  • the polymer in the polymer emulsion may be used alone or in a combination of two or more kinds thereof.
  • the polymer of the polymer emulsion preferably has the constituting unit represented by the following formula (1). -CH 2 -C(R 1 )(COO-R 2 -)- (1)
  • R 1 represents a hydrogen atom or methyl group.
  • R 2 represents optionally substituted arylalkyl group of 7 to 22, preferably 7 to 18, further preferably 7 to 12 carbon atoms, or aryl group of 6 to 22, preferably 6 to 18, further preferably 6 to 12 carbon atoms.
  • the substituents may contain a heteroatom. Examples of the heteroatom include a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom, and a sulfur atom.
  • R 2 examples include benzyl group, phenethyl group (phenylethyl group), phenoxyethyl group, diphenylmethyl group, and trityl group.
  • substituents include alkyl group, alkoxy group, or acyloxy group of preferably 1 to 9 carbon atoms, hydroxy group, ether group, ester group, and a nitro group.
  • the constituting unit represented by formula (1) is particularly preferably one derived from benzyl(meth)acrylate.
  • the constituting unit represented by formula (1) is preferably obtained by polymerizing the monomer represented by the following formula (1-1).
  • CH 2 CR 1 COOR 2 (1-1) (In the formula (1-1), R 1 and R 2 are the same as in formula (1) .)
  • a polymer having the constituting unit represented by formula (1) can be synthesized by polymerizing compounds such as phenyl (meth) acrylate, benzyl (meth) acrylate, 2-phenylethyl(meth)acrylate, phenoxyethyl(meth)acrylate, 1-naphthalyl acrylate, 2-naphthalyl (meth)acrylate, phthalimidemethyl(meth)acrylate, p-nitrophenyl(meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl(meth)acrylate, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl-2-hydroxypropylphthalate, and 2-acryloyloxyethyl phthalic acid.
  • Particularly preferred is benzyl(meth)acrylate.
  • the constituting unit derived from these (meth)acrylates may be used alone or in a combination of two or more kinds thereof.
  • (meth) acry means “acry”, “ (meth) acry”, or a mixture of these.
  • the binder resin contains (b) a macromonomer-derived constituting unit, (c) a hydrophobic monomer-derived constituting unit, (d) a hydroxyl group-containing monomer-derived constituting unit, and (e) an oxyalkylene group-containing monomer-derived constituting unit.
  • the binder resin more preferably contains (a) the salt forming group-containing monomer-derived constituting unit.
  • the salt forming group-containing monomer-derived constituting unit may be obtained by polymerizing a salt forming group-containing monomer. After polymerization, a salt forming group (anionic group or cationic group) may be introduced to the polymer chain.
  • a salt forming group anionic group or cationic group
  • the salt forming group include anionic groups such as a carboxyl group, a sulfonic acid group, and a phosphoric acid group; and cationic groups such as an amino group, and an ammonium group.
  • Examples of (a-1) anionic monomer include an unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer, an unsaturated sulfonic acid monomer, and an unsaturated phosphoric acid monomer.
  • Examples of the unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer include acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, citraconic acid, and 2-methacryloyloxymethyl succinic acid.
  • Examples of the unsaturated sulfonic acid monomer include styrene sulfonic acid, 2-acrylamide-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid, 3-sulfopropyl(meth)acrylic acid ester, and bis-(3-sulfopropyl)-itaconic acid ester.
  • Examples of the unsaturated phosphoric acid monomer include vinylphosphonic acid, vinylphosphate, bis(methacryloxyethyl) phosphate, diphenyl-2-acryloyloxyethyl phosphate, diphenyl-2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphate, and dibutyl-2-acryloyloxyethyl phosphate.
  • (a-1) anionic monomer is preferably an unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer, more preferably acrylic acid, or methacrylic acid.
  • Examples of (a-2) cationic monomer include unsaturated tertiary amine-containing vinyl monomer, and an unsaturated ammonium salt-containing vinyl monomer.
  • Examples of the unsaturated tertiary amine-containing monomer include N,N-dimethylaminoethyl(meth)acrylate, N,N-dimethylaminopropyl(meth)acrylate, N,N-diethylaminoethyl(meth)acrylate, N,N-dimethylaminopropyl(meth)acrylamide, vinylpyrrolidone, 2-vinylpyridine, 4-vinylpyridine, 2-methyl-6-vinylpyridine, and 5-ethyl-2-vinylpyridine.
  • Examples of the unsaturated ammonium salt-containing monomer include N,N-dimethylaminoethyl(meth)acrylate quaternary monomer, N,N-diethylaminoethyl(meth)acrylate quaternary monomer, and N,N-dimethylaminopropyl(meth)acrylate quaternary monomer.
  • the binder resin more preferably contains (b) macromonomer-derived constituting unit.
  • (b) Macromonomer-derived constituting unit is used to improve preservation stability and abrasion resistance, and may be obtained by polymerizing a macromonomer having a polymerizable functional group at one of the terminals.
  • (b) macromonomer are (b-1) styrene macromonomer having a polymerizable functional group at one of the terminals, (b-2) alkyl (meth)acrylate macromonomer having a polymerizable functional group at one of the terminals, and (b-3) silicone macromonomer having a polymerizable functional group at one of the terminals.
  • the polymerizable functional group present at one of the terminals is preferably an acryloyloxy group or a methacryloyloxy group, and the polymer having a macromonomer-derived constituting unit may be obtained by copolymerizing such monomers.
  • Examples of (b-1) styrene macromonomer having a polymerizable functional group at one of the terminals include a styrene homopolymer having a polymerizable functional group at one of the terminals, and a copolymer of styrene and other monomer with a polymerizable functional group attached to one of the terminals.
  • Examples of other monomer include (i) acrylonitrile, (ii) (meth)acrylic acid esters having alkyl group and 1 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and optionally hydroxyl group, and (iii) aromatic ring-containing monomers other than styrene.
  • (ii) (meth)acrylic acid esters examples include methyl(meth)acrylate, ethyl(meth)acrylate, (iso)propyl(meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl(meth)acrylate, (iso or tert-)butyl(meth)acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl(meth)acrylate, (iso)octyl(meth)acrylate, (iso)decyl(meth)acrylate, and (iso)stearyl(meth)acrylate.
  • aromatic ring-containing monomers other than styrene include vinyl monomers having an aromatic ring and 6 to 22 carbon atoms, such as ⁇ -methylstyrene, vinyl toluene, vinyl naphthalene, ethylvinylbenzene, 4-vinyl biphenyl, 1,1-diphenylethylene, benzyl(meth)acrylate, phenoxyethyl(meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropylacrylate, and 2-methacryloyloxyethyl-2-hydroxypropylphthalate.
  • vinyl monomers having an aromatic ring and 6 to 22 carbon atoms such as ⁇ -methylstyrene, vinyl toluene, vinyl naphthalene, ethylvinylbenzene, 4-vinyl biphenyl, 1,1-diphenylethylene, benzyl(meth)acrylate, phenoxyethyl(meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxy-3-phen
  • the content of the styrene-derived constituting unit in (b-1) styrene macromonomer is preferably 60 weight% or more, more preferably 70 weight% or more, particularly preferably 90 weight% or more.
  • Examples of commercially available products of (b-1) styrene macromonomer include AS-6, AS-6S, AN-6, AN-6S, HS-6, and HS-6S (Toagosei Co., Ltd.).
  • Examples of (b-2) alkyl (meth)acrylate macromonomer having a polymerizable functional group at one of the terminals include alkyl(meth)acrylate homopolymer having a polymerizable functional group at one of the terminals, and a copolymer of alkyl(meth)acrylate and other monomer with a polymerizable functional group attached to one of the terminals.
  • alkyl(meth)acrylate macromonomers of 1 to 8 carbon atoms including, for example, methylmethacrylate macromonomer, butylacrylate macromonomer, and isobutylmethacrylate macromonomer.
  • the number average molecular weight of (b) macromonomer is preferably 1,000 to 10,000, more preferably 2,000 to 8,000.
  • the number average molecular weight of the macromonomer is as measured by gel permeation chromatography using polystyrene as standard substance, and a solvent, for which tetrahydrofuran containing 50 mmol/L of acetic acid is used.
  • the binder resin more preferably contains (c) hydrophobic monomer-derived constituting unit.
  • Examples of (c-1) (meth)acrylate having alkyl of 1 to 22 carbon atoms include methyl(meth)acrylate, ethyl(meth)acrylate, (iso)propyl(meth)acrylate, (iso or tert-)butyl(meth)acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl(meth)acrylate, (iso)octyl(meth)acrylate, (iso)decyl(meth)acrylate, (iso)dodecyl(meth)acrylate, (iso)stearyl(meth)acrylate, and behenyl(meth)acrylate.
  • (c-2) aromatic group-containing monomer represented by the formula (3) is preferably at least one selected from styrene, vinyl naphthalene, ⁇ -methylstyrene, vinyl toluene, ethylvinylbenzene, 4-vinyl biphenyl, and 1,1-diphenylethylene. From the standpoint of abrasion resistance and preservation stability, styrene, ⁇ -methylstyrene, and vinyl toluene are more preferred.
  • the binder resin preferably contains (d) hydroxyl group-containing monomer-derived constituting unit.
  • hydroxyl group-containing monomer-derived constituting unit improves the dispersion stability of the binder resin, and quickly improves marker resistance upon printing.
  • Hydroxyl group-containing monomer-derived constituting unit may be obtained by polymerizing a hydroxyl group-containing monomer.
  • Preferred are 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, polyethylene glycol monomethacrylate, polyethylene glycol methacrylate 2-ethylhexyl ether, and polypropylene glycol methacrylate.
  • the binder resin preferably contains (e) oxyalkylene group-containing monomer-derived constituting unit.
  • Examples of (e) oxyalkylene group-containing monomer include the monomer represented by the following formula (4).
  • CH 2 C(R 5 )COO(R 6 O)pR 7 (4)
  • R 5 represents a hydrogen atom, or alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms
  • R 6 represents a bivalent hydrocarbon group of 1 to 30 carbon atoms with an optional heteroatom
  • R 7 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group of 1 to 30 carbon atoms with an optional heteroatom
  • p represents the average number of moles added, and is 1 to 60, preferably 1 to 30.
  • (e) Oxyalkylene group-containing monomer-derived constituting unit may be obtained by polymerizing the monomer represented by the formula (4).
  • Examples of the heteroatom optionally contained in R 6 or R 7 in formula (4) include a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom, a halogen atom, and a sulfur atom.
  • R 6 or R 7 include an aromatic group of 6 to 30 carbon atoms, a heterocyclic group of 3 to 30 carbon atoms, and alkylene group of 1 to 30 carbon atoms. These may be optionally substituted, and may be used in a combination of two or more kinds thereof.
  • substituents include an aromatic group, a heterocyclic group, alkyl group, a halogen atom, and an amino group.
  • R 6 examples include optionally substituted phenylene group of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, aliphatic alkylene group of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 20 carbon atoms, alkylene group of 7 to 30 carbon atoms having an aromatic ring, and alkylene group of 4 to 30 carbon atoms having a hetero ring.
  • Particularly preferred examples of the R 6 O group include oxyethylene group, oxy(iso)propylene group, oxytetramethylene group, oxyheptamethylene group, oxyhexamethylene group, and oxyalkylene group or oxyphenylene group of 2 to 7 carbon atoms formed by one or more of these oxyalkylene groups.
  • R 7 examples include phenyl group, aliphatic alkyl group of 1 to 30, preferably 1 to 20 carbon atoms, alkyl group of 7 to 30 carbon atoms having an aromatic ring, and alkyl group of 4 to 30 carbon atoms having a hetero ring. More preferred examples of R 7 include alkyl group of 1 to 12 carbon atoms such as methyl group, ethyl group, (iso)propyl group, (iso)butyl group, (iso)pentyl group, (iso)hexyl group, (iso)octyl group, (iso)decyl group, and (iso)dodecyl group, and phenyl group.
  • the binder resin contained in the latex ink contains the monomer represented by the formula (1-1), and preferably further contains the salt forming group-containing monomer (a) . More preferably, the binder resin further contains macromonomer (b). Most preferably, the binder resin further contains hydrophobic monomer (c).
  • the binder resin is obtained by copolymerizing a monomer mixture that contains at least one selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl group-containing monomer (d), and oxyalkylene group-containing monomer (e) (hereinafter, such a mixture will be referred to as "monomer mixture").
  • the content of the monomer represented by formula (1-1) in the monomer mixture, or the content of the constituting unit represented by the formula (1) in the polymer is preferably 10 to 80 weight%, further preferably 25 to 80 weight%, particularly preferably 25 to 75 weight%.
  • the content of (a) salt forming group-containing monomer in the monomer mixture is preferably 3 to 30 weight%, further preferably 5 to 25 weight%, particularly preferably 5 to 20 weight%.
  • the weight ratio of [constituting unit represented by formula (1) / (a) salt forming group-containing monomer-derived constituting unit] is preferably 10/1 to 1/1, further preferably 5/1 to 1/1.
  • the binder resin containing the silicone macromonomer or styrene macromonomer generally has excellent dispersion stability. Conceivably, this is due to reasons related to the molecular structure. Specifically, in contrast to the random orientation of the side chains which is more likely to occur in polymers polymerized from a simple monomer, the side chains are more likely to orient themselves in the same pattern in the case of the macromonomer.
  • the content of (b) macromonomer in the monomer mixture, or the content of the constituting unit derived from (b) macromonomer in the polymer is preferably 0 to 50 weight%, further preferably 5 to 35 weight%, particularly preferably 5 to 30 weight%.
  • (b) macromonomer is silicone macromonomer or styrene macromonomer
  • it is preferable that the content of (b) macromonomer is 30 weight% or less with respect to the total amount of the monomer mixture forming the binder resin.
  • a macromonomer content of 30 weight% or less is preferable, because the binder resin is required to have various functions other than dispersion stability, including, for example, ink filming, adhesion, abrasion resistance, glossiness, reactivity, and preservation stability, and each of these functions is dependent on the mixed monomer. Considering realizing these functions with other monomers, the macromonomer content is preferably 30 weight% or less.
  • the weight ratio of [constituting unit represented by formula (1) / (b) macromonomer-derived constituting unit] is preferably 10/1 to 1/1, further preferably 5/1 to 1/1.
  • the content of (c) hydrophobic monomer in the monomer mixture, or the content of the constituting unit derived from (c) hydrophobic monomer in the polymer is preferably 0 to 40 weight%, further preferably 0 to 20 weight%.
  • the content of (d) hydroxyl group-containing monomer in the monomer mixture, or the content of the constituting unit derived from (d) hydroxyl group-containing monomer in the polymer is preferably 0 to 40 weight%, further preferably 0 to 20 weight%.
  • the content of (e) oxyalkylene group-containing monomer in the monomer mixture, or the content of the constituting unit derived from (e) oxyalkylene group-containing monomer in the polymer is preferably 0 to 50 weight%, further preferably 10 to 40 weight%.
  • the salt forming group derived from the salt forming group-containing monomer is used after being neutralized with a neutralizing agent (described later).
  • the degree of neutralization of the salt forming group is preferably 10 to 200%, more preferably 20 to 150%, particularly preferably 50 to 150%.
  • the degree of neutralization may be determined by using the following equation, when the salt forming group is an anionic group.
  • the degree of neutralization may be determined by using the following equation, when the salt forming group is a cationic group. ⁇ Neutralizing agent weight g / equivalence of neutralizing agent / [ polymer amine number HCLmg / g ⁇ polymer weight g / 36.5 ⁇ 1000 ] ⁇ ⁇ 100
  • Acid number and amine number may be determined by calculation from the constituting unit of water-insoluble vinyl polymer. It is also possible to use a method that involves titration of a solution prepared by dissolving the polymer in a suitable solvent (for example, methyl ethyl ketone).
  • a suitable solvent for example, methyl ethyl ketone
  • the weight-average molecular weight of the binder resin is preferably 5,000 to 500,000, further preferably 10,000 to 400,000, particularly preferably 10,000 to 300,000.
  • the weight-average molecular weight of the binder resin is measured by gel chromatography, using polystyrene as standard substance, and a solvent, for which dimethylformamide containing 60 mmol/L of phosphoric acid and 50 mmol/L of lithium bromide is used.
  • the average particle diameter of the binder resin particles is preferably 0.16 ⁇ m or less as measured in the latex ink.
  • the content of the binder resin in the latex ink is preferably 8 to 20 weight%, more preferably 8 to 12 weight% in terms of a solid content with respect to the total amount of the latex ink.
  • the binder resin contains at least one water dispersible resin selected from the group consisting of aqueous polyester resin, aqueous polyurethane resin, aqueous acrylic resin, and aqueous vinyl chloride resin. This improves the dispersibility of the binder resin for water and water-soluble organic solvent.
  • binder resin products examples include Superflex 470 (NV 38%, Dai-Ichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd.) in the case of urethane dispersion, Superflex 126 (solid content 30%, Dai-Ichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd.) in the case of polyurethane dispersion, Elitel KA-5071S (solid content 30%, Unitika) in the case of polyester emulsion, and Joncryl 63 (solid content 30%, BASF) and styrene acrylic emulsion (solid content 46%, BASF) in the case of aqueous acrylic resin.
  • Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer products are in practical use, as represented by Solbin CL (Nissin Chemical Co., Ltd.).
  • the reactive surfactant with its one or more radically polymerizable unsaturated double bonds contained within the molecule, has excellent monomer emulsifiability, and is useful for the production of a water dispersion having excellent stability.
  • the reactive surfactant is preferably an anionic or nonionic surfactant having at least one hydrophobic group such as linear or branched alkyl group of 8 to 30, preferably 12 to 22 carbon atoms, and alkenyl group, and at least one hydrophilic group such as an ionic group, and an oxyalkylene group.
  • the reactive surfactant examples include Latemul S-120P, S-180A (Kao Corporation), and Eleminol JS-2 (Sanyokasei Co., Ltd.) in the case of sulfosuccinic acid ester surfactant, and Aqualon HS-10 and RN-20 (Dai-Ichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd.) in the case of alkyl phenol ether surfactant.
  • the D50 (the cumulative 50% value as calculated from the smaller particle side in the scattering intensity frequency distribution) of the emulsion polymerization polymer (core portion) obtained as above is preferably 500 nm or less, further preferably 300 nm or less, particularly preferably 100 nm or less.
  • the lower limit is preferably 10 nm or more, further preferably 20 nm or more.
  • 10 to 500 nm is preferable, 50 to 300 nm is further preferable, and 60 to 250 nm is particularly preferable.
  • the core portion is preferably 50 to 200 nm, because the shell portion should preferably be thinner than the core portion to meet the reactivity and deposition requirements.
  • the D90 (the cumulative 90% value as calculated from the smaller particle side in a scattering intensity frequency distribution) of the emulsion polymerization polymer is preferably 2,000 nm or less, further preferably 1,000 nm or less, particularly preferably 500 nm or less.
  • the lower limit is preferably 20 nm or more, further preferably 50 nm or more.
  • D50 and D90 may be measured by using a laser particle analysis system ELS-8000 (Otsuka Electronics Co., Ltd.).
  • the latex ink may further include a penetrant.
  • the penetrant include polyol, preferably polyol of 7 to 11 carbon atoms, further preferably 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol, and 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol.
  • the content of the penetrant in the latex ink is preferably 0.1 weight% to 20 weight%, more preferably 0.1 weight% to 10 weight%, further preferably 0.1 weight% to 7 weight%, particularly preferably 0.5 weight% to 10 weight%.
  • a penetrant content of 0.1 weight% or more increases permeability to the media 30, and suppresses contamination as might occur when the media 30 is rubbed against rollers during the transport, or when the ink adheres to the conveyer belt during the transport for printing. This makes it possible to accommodate faster printing. With a penetrant content of 20 weight% or less, the print dot diameter can be reduced, and the characters can have narrower widths, making it possible to improve the image resolution.
  • the weight mixture ratio of 2-ethyl-1, 3-hexanediol or 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol to the binder resin is preferably 1:1 to 1:5.
  • 2-Ethyl-1,3-hexanediol and 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol are oily substances with 8 weight% or less solubility to water. Accordingly, there is a limit to the mixed proportion in the binder resin.
  • the preferred mixed proportion is 1:1 to 1:5, preferably the same or greater proportion than the proportion of the binder resin.
  • the penetrant serves as a thickener. Because of the low solubility to water, the penetrant, when added in a content reaching the solubility limit, rapidly precipitates as an oily component as the moisture evaporates. The precipitation of the oily component promotes precipitation of components other than the colorant, such as the binder resin, in the latex ink, causing the ink to rapidly gel.
  • the latex ink also may contain additives such as a mildew-proofing agent, an anti-rusting agent, a pH adjuster, a wetting agent, a surfactant, a water-soluble ultraviolet absorber, and a water-soluble infrared absorber.
  • additives such as a mildew-proofing agent, an anti-rusting agent, a pH adjuster, a wetting agent, a surfactant, a water-soluble ultraviolet absorber, and a water-soluble infrared absorber.
  • the mildew-proofing agent examples include 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one.
  • the latex ink can have excellent mildew-proofing effect while ensuring reliability such as preservation stability, and discharge stability. The effect becomes particularly sufficient when combined with the wetting agent, even in contents traditionally considered difficult to suppress bacteria or mold generation.
  • the content of the 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one By limiting the content of the 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, it is possible to prevent phenomena such as particle aggregation, and ink thickening. The performance of the ink can thus last over extended time periods.
  • the content of this component as an active ingredient amount is preferably 0.01 to 0.04 weight parts of the total ink amount. A sufficient mildew-proofing effect can be obtained when the content is 0.01 weight parts or more. With a content of 0.04 weight parts of less, particle aggregation can be suppressed in long storage (for example, 2 years at room temperature, and 1 to 3 months at 50 to 60°C). It is also possible to solve the problem that the ink viscosity increases by 50% to 100% from the initial viscosity. This improves the long-term preservation stability. The initial print performance can thus last over extended time periods.
  • any material may be used as the pH adjuster, as long as the pH can be brought to 7 or more without having adverse effects on the prepared ink.
  • Examples of such material include amines (such as diethanolamine, and triethanolamine), hydroxides of alkali metal elements (such as lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, and potassium hydroxide), ammonium hydroxide, quaternary ammonium hydroxide, quaternary phosphonium hydroxide, carbonates of alkali metals (such as lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, and potassium carbonate), and aminopropanediol derivatives.
  • amines such as diethanolamine, and triethanolamine
  • hydroxides of alkali metal elements such as lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, and potassium hydroxide
  • ammonium hydroxide such as lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, and potassium hydroxide
  • ammonium hydroxide such as lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, and potassium hydroxide
  • ammonium hydroxide such as lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, and potassium hydroxide
  • ammonium hydroxide such as lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, and potassium
  • the aminopropanediol derivatives are water-soluble organic basic compounds, for example, such as 1-amino-2,3-propanediol, 1-methylamino-2,3-propanediol, 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, and 2-amino-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol. Particularly preferred examples include 2-amino-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol.
  • anti-rusting agent examples include acidic sulfite, sodium thiosulfate, ammonium thiodiglycolate, diisopropylammonium nitrite, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, and dicyclohexylammonium nitrite.
  • the surfactant examples include a polyalkylene glycol surfactant.
  • the polyalkylene glycol surfactant is an ethylene oxide adduct, and can remain effective even when a part of the ethylene oxide is substituted with alkylene oxide such as propylene oxide and butylene oxide to the extent that the water solubility is maintained. Percentage substitution is preferably 50% or less.
  • the HLB (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) of the polyalkylene glycol surfactant is preferably 13 to 19. Dispersibility can further improve when the HLB is adjusted to fall within this range.
  • the latex ink can be obtained by selecting the foregoing materials as the solvent, the colorant, and the binder resin, and by mixing these components.
  • the order of mixing the materials is not particularly limited.
  • the materials are mixed preferably at a temperature of 5 to 50°C.
  • the latex ink may further contain additives such as a wetting agent, a dispersant, a defoaming agent, a mildew-proofing agent, and a chelating agent, as required.
  • additives such as a wetting agent, a dispersant, a defoaming agent, a mildew-proofing agent, and a chelating agent, as required.
  • the method used to mix these components is not particularly limited.
  • the weight ratio of the binder resin to the colorant [binder resin/colorant] in the latex ink is preferably 1/10 to 10/1, further preferably 1/5 to 5/1, particularly preferably 1/3 to 3/1, most preferably 1/2 to 2/1.
  • the surface tension (20°C) of the latex ink is preferably 30 to 70 mN/m, further preferably 35 to 68 mN/m in terms of a water dispersion (colorant dispersion), and is preferably 25 to 50 mN/m, further preferably 27 to 45 mN/m in terms of an ink.
  • the viscosity (20°C) of the water dispersion at the solid content of 10 weight% is preferably 2 to 6 mPa ⁇ s, further preferably 2 to 5 mPa ⁇ s to provide a desirable ink viscosity.
  • the viscosity (20°C) of the latex ink is preferably 2 to 12 mPa ⁇ s, further preferably 2.5 to 10 mPa ⁇ s to maintain desirable dischargeability.
  • the pH of the latex ink is preferably 4 to 10.
  • the printing method according to the embodiment of the present invention is a method for printing the media 30 with the inkjet printer 1 that includes:
  • the inkjet printer 1 is used to print the media 30.
  • the driver moves the printhead 14 and the media 30 relative to each other to print the desired position of the media 30.
  • the preheater 40 heats the media 30 from the back side of the inked surface before the media 30 is positioned opposite the ink discharge face of the printhead 14.
  • the driver then transports the media 30 heated by the preheater 40 to the position opposite the ink discharge face of the printhead 14.
  • the print heater 70 provided opposite the ink discharge face of the printhead 14 heats the media 30 from the back side of the inked surface.
  • the print heater 70 and the preheater 40 heat the media 30 in a manner that makes the surface temperature of the inked surface of the media 30 40°C or more and 60°C or less.
  • the ink discharged from the printhead 14 contains a solvent, a colorant, and a binder resin dispersed or emulsified in the solvent, (hereinafter, such an ink is referred to as "latex ink”), and the binder resin has a surface minimum filming temperature of 0°C or less.
  • latex ink a binder resin dispersed or emulsified in the solvent
  • the ink has excellent characteristics, particularly environment and media characteristics.
  • Droplets of the latex ink expelled through the nozzles of the printhead 14 can strike the surface of the media 30 heated by the preheater 40 and the print heater 70 to a surface temperature of 40°C or more and 60°C or less.
  • the ink droplets can thus quickly dry and fix without leaving time in the state of being fixed in dots at the impact positions, without diffusing over a wide area around the impact positions on the media 30.
  • Clear graphics and characters can thus be printed in the form of an array of latex ink dots on the surface of the media 30 without bleeding.
  • the latex ink droplets that struck the surface of the media 30 can have a sufficient temperature under the transferred heat from the media 30.
  • the media 30 will not be damaged by the applied heat, and can be smoothly transported onto the platen by the driver, even when a low heat-resistance film such as a vinyl chloride film is used as the media 30.
  • the present invention is thus applicable to essentially any media 30, from low heat-resistance media 30 to high heat-resistance media 30.
  • the surface temperature range of 40°C to 60°C of the media 30 was found after the intensive studies conducted by the present inventor on the basis of the results of experiments in which graphics and characters were actually printed on the surface of various types of media 30 with the latex ink using the inkjet printer 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
  • the binder resin contained in the latex ink used in the present invention has a core-shell structure configured from an interior core portion and a surface shell portion. Because the binder resin has a surface minimum filming temperature (MFT) of 0°C or less, the latex ink can quickly starts drying and fusing on the media 30 heated to a surface temperature of 40°C or more and 60°C or less.
  • MFT surface minimum filming temperature
  • the surface temperature of the media 30 is finally brought to 40°C or more and 60°C or less, a suitable temperature range for drying and fusing the latex ink, by the time the ink strikes the media 30.
  • the surface of the media 30 can be brought to the desired temperature by the time the ink strikes the media 30, even when the print heater 70 alone fails to sufficiently heat the media 30 to an appropriate temperature because of such factors as the thickness of the media 30, and the ambient temperature of the inkjet printer 1.
  • the print heater 70 is disposed at a position opposite the ink discharge face of the printhead 14, heating the surface of the media 30 to 40°C or more and 60°C or less with the print heater 70 alone causes the ink to solidify and clog the narrow diameter of the nozzles in the printhead 14 under the generated heat of the print heater 70.
  • the surface temperature of the media 30 is brought to 40°C or more and 60°C or less by the stepwise heating with the preheater 40 and the print heater 70 by the time the ink strikes the media 30.
  • the surface of the media 30 can be heated to the desired temperature without generating high temperature in the print heater 70. The ink can thus be prevented from solidifying and clogging the nozzles in the printhead 14 under the generated heat of the print heater 70.
  • the present invention can realize high image quality and fixing stability for the printed graphics and characters even for media 30 used in outdoor advertisement displays and industrial applications that require high environment and media characteristics.
  • the binder resin has different minimum filming temperatures for a surface portion and an interior portion.
  • the binder resin may be configured to dry and fuse on the surface first on the media 30 appropriately heated with the preheater 40 and print heater 70, before the interior dries and fuses under the heat of, for example, the drier that dries the media 30 struck by the ink.
  • the temperature used to dry the ink in inkjet printers of related art is typically set to about 80°C, whereas the actual drying temperature of the latex ink is believed to be about 50 to 60°C.
  • the minimum filming temperature of the binder resin is lower in the surface portion than in the interior portion.
  • the minimum filming temperature of the binder resin in the latex ink is higher inside the resin than on the surface, the high-temperature storage stability of the latex ink can be improved. Because of the lower minimum filming temperature, the surface of the binder resin quickly starts drying and fusing on the media 30 heated with the preheater 40 and the print heater 70. In this way, the binder resin surface having a lower minimum filming temperature can be clearly fixed without causing dot bleeding at the impact positions even when the latex ink is used that has very high diffusibility (wetting and spreading) for the media 30, and that tends to quickly diffuse over a wide area around the impact positions of the ink droplets.
  • the binding resin interior having a higher minimum filming temperature is then sufficiently dried and fused with, for example, the post-heater or the drier, and the latex ink that struck the media 30 can be sequentially dried, fused, and fixed in the direction of the transport of the media 30.
  • the solvent is at least one of water and a hydrophilic solvent
  • the latex ink contains the solvent in 50 weight% or more of the total weight of the latex ink.
  • the impact of the ink on the environment can be relieved because of the high content of the water and/or hydrophilic solvent in the latex ink.
  • the print heater 70 and the preheater 40 are controlled to heat the media 30 at different temperatures.
  • the temperature of the media 30 can thus be accurately adjusted at the respective positions according to such factors as the type and thickness of the media 30, and the ambient temperature of the printer. This makes it possible to more accurately adjust the surface temperature of the media 30 in a temperature range of 40°C to 60°C by the time the ink droplets expelled from the ink discharge face of the printhead 14 strike the media 30.
  • the preheater 40 heats the inked surface of the media 30 to a surface temperature of 30°C or more and 50°C and less
  • the print heater 70 heats the inked surface of the media 30 to a surface temperature of 40°C or more and 60°C or less.
  • the preheater 40 preliminarily heats the inked surface to a surface temperature of 30°C or more and 50°C or less before the media 30 are transported to the position opposite the ink discharge face of the printhead 14.
  • the print heater 70 then heats the inked surface of the media 30 to a surface temperature of 40°C or more and 60°C or less when the media 30 transported after the preliminary heating reaches the position opposite the ink discharge face of the printhead 14. This ensures that the media 30 are always sufficiently heated to a surface temperature of 40°C or more and 60°C or less by the time the ink droplets expelled through the nozzles of the printhead 14 strike the media 30.
  • the print heater 70 and the preheater 40 are controlled to heat the media 30 at the same temperature.
  • the temperature control can be simplified.
  • the media 30 may be one selected from the group consisting of a vinyl chloride sheet, a PET sheet, a tarpaulin sheet, and coated paper neither of which is coated with coating material, and uncoated polypropylene resin, uncoated glass, uncoated metal, and molded products thereof.
  • high-quality graphics and characters can be printed with fixing stability, without bleeding, even when the media 30 are all-purpose media not coated with coating material or the like. Further, according to the foregoing configuration, it is possible to appropriately heat various types of media 30, including media 30 that soften under low temperature, and always allow such media to be smoothly transported. Specifically, no problem is posed in transporting different media 30, from low heat-resistance media 30 to high heat-resistance media 30, and high-quality graphics and characters can be printed on such media with fixing stability, without bleeding.
  • the inkjet printer 1 is adapted so that temperatures of the preheater 40 and the print heater 70 heating the media 30 are adjustably controlled with an operation panel provided for the printer, or with a printer-controlling host computer coupled to the printer.
  • the heating temperatures of the preheater 40 and the print heater 70 can be adjustably controlled with an operation panel provided for the printer, or with a printer-controlling host computer, according to such factors as the type and thickness of the media 30, and the ambient temperature of the printer.
  • This makes it possible to always smoothly transport various types of media 30, for example, such as media that soften under low temperature, and print high image quality graphics and characters on such media 30 with fixing stability, without bleeding.
  • the inkjet printer 1 includes a refresh mode unit that moves the printhead 14 to a maintenance station, and causes the printhead 14 to flush ink droplets through the nozzles to prevent the latex ink from solidifying and clogging the nozzles in the printhead 14.
  • the refresh mode unit can be used to move the printhead 14 to the maintenance station, and cause the printhead 14 to flush ink droplets through the nozzles during the printing of graphics and characters with the latex ink.
  • the latex ink can be prevented from solidifying and clogging the nozzles or other parts of the printhead 14.
  • empty dots describes the state where ink dots are absent in places ink dots are normally present), which might occur in part of the graphics and characters printed on the surface of the media 30 when the printhead 14 is clogged.
  • the refresh mode unit provided in the inkjet printer 1 moves the printhead 14 to the maintenance station at certain time intervals, and causes the printhead 14 to flush ink droplets through the nozzles.
  • the refresh mode unit can be used to move the printhead 14 to the maintenance station at certain time intervals, and cause the printhead 14 to forcibly flush ink droplets through the nozzles during the printing of graphics and characters with the latex ink. Because the printhead 14 is moved to the maintenance station with the refresh mode unit during the printing of graphics and characters with the latex ink, it is ensured that the latex ink does not solidify and clog the nozzles in the printhead 14 as might occur when ink droplets are not flushed through the nozzles of the printhead 14.
  • the inkjet printer 1 includes a drier that dries the media 30 after the discharged ink droplets from the printhead 14 strike the media 30, and thereby dries the ink droplets adhering to the surface of the media 30.
  • the partially undried ink droplets adhering to the surface of the media 30 can be completely dried with the drier.
  • the partially undried ink droplets adhering to the impact positions on the surface of the media 30 can be prevented from adhering to and contaminating other portions of the media 30 when the media 30 are wound into a roll or other form by, for example, the winder after the transport.
  • C.I. pigment cyan 15:3 150 g
  • SOLSPERSE 43000 polymer-type dispersant, Lubrizol; 3.0 %
  • SOLSPERSE 44000 polymer-type dispersant, Lubrizol; 3.0%
  • distilled water 738 g
  • Dimethylquinacridone pigment dispersion (M-1) was obtained by using the same procedures used in Production Example 1, except that C.I. pigment cyan 15:3 was changed to C.I. pigment red 122, and that SOLSPERSE 43000 and SOLSPERSE 44000 were both used in 3.38%.
  • Monoazo Yellow Pigment Dispersion (Y-1) was obtained by using the same procedures used in Production Example 1, except that C.I. pigment cyan 15: 3 was changed to C.I. pigment yellow 74, and that SOLSPERSE 43000 and SOLSPERSE 44000 were both used in 1.3%.
  • Carbon black pigment dispersion (B-1) was obtained by using the same procedures used in Production Example 1, except that C.I. pigment cyan 15:3 was changed to C. carbon black, and that SOLSPERSE 43000 and SOLSPERSE 44000 were both used in 2.3%.
  • a surface modified cyan pigment was prepared by using the same procedures used in Synthesis Example 2, except that C.I. pigment cyan 15:3 was used instead of C.I. pigment yellow 128.
  • the surface modified colored pigment was easily dispersed in the aqueous vehicle by being stirred, and desalted and concentrated through an ultrafiltration membrane to obtain cyan pigment dispersion (C-2) having a pigment concentration of 15%.
  • a surface modified magenta pigment was prepared by using the same procedures used in Synthesis Example 1, except that pigment red 122 was used instead of C.I. pigment yellow 128. As in Synthesis Example 2, the surface modified colored pigment was easily dispersed in the aqueous vehicle by being stirred, and desalted and concentrated through an ultrafiltration membrane to obtain magenta pigment dispersion (M-2) having a pigment concentration of 15%.
  • C.I. pigment yellow 128 used as a yellow pigment was subjected to a low-temperature plasma treatment to produce a carboxylic acid group-introduced pigment.
  • a dispersion of the pigment in ion-exchange water was desalted and concentrated through an ultrafiltration membrane to obtain yellow pigment dispersion (Y-2) having a pigment concentration of 15%.
  • a carbon black (90 g) having a CTAB specific surface area of 150 m 2 /g, and a DBP oil absorption of 100 ml/100 g was added to a 2.5 N sodium sulfate solution (3,000 ml). The mixture was stirred at a temperature of 60°C and a rotation speed of 300 rpm to allow reaction to proceed for 10 hours as an oxidation treatment. The reaction mixture was filtered, and the separated carbon black was neutralized with a sodium hydroxide solution, and filtered by ultrafiltration. The resulting carbon black (B-2) was water washed, dried, and dispersed in deionized water in such a way that the content is 20 weight%.
  • Magenta-colored polymer fine particle dispersion (M-3) was obtained by using the same procedures used in Synthesis Examples 5 and 6, except that the phthalocyanine pigment was changed to pigment red 122.
  • Yellow polymer fine particle dispersion (Y-3) was obtained by using the same procedures used in Synthesis Examples 5 and 6, except that the phthalocyanine pigment was changed to pigment yellow 74.
  • Black polymer fine particle dispersion (B-3) was obtained by using the same procedures used in Synthesis Examples 5 and 6, except that the phthalocyanine pigment was changed to carbon black.
  • a mixed solution of methyl methacrylate (150 g), 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (100 g), acrylic acid (20 g), vinyltriethoxysilane (20 g), Aqualon RN-20 (10 g), potassium persulfate (4 g), and deionized water (398.3 g) was dropped into the flask for 2.5 hours while stirring the mixture.
  • the mixture was aged under heat at 80°C for 3 hours, cooled, and brought to pH 7 to 8 with potassium hydroxide.
  • the resin had an average particle diameter of 130 nm as measured by using a microtrack UPA.
  • the minimum filming temperature (MFT) was 10°C.
  • a mixed solution of methyl methacrylate (150 g), 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (100 g), acrylic acid (20 g), hexyltrimethoxysilane (40 g), Aqualon RN-20 (10 g), potassium persulfate (4 g), and deionized water (398.3 g) was dropped into the flask for 3 hours while stirring the mixture.
  • the mixture was aged under heat at 80°C for 3 hours, cooled, and brought to pH 7 to 8 with potassium hydroxide.
  • the resin had an average particle diameter of 148 nm as measured by using a microtrack UPA.
  • the minimum filming temperature (MFT) was 10°C.
  • butyl acrylate (30 g), methyl methacrylate (40 g), butyl methacrylate (19 g), a vinylsilanetriol potassium salt (10 g), and 3-methacryloxypropyl methyldimethoxysilane (1 g) were dropped into the flask for 3 hours while stirring the mixture.
  • the polymerization reaction mixture was brought to pH 7 with an ammonia aqueous solution for polymerization.
  • the resin had an average particle diameter of 160 nm as measured by using a microtrack UPA.
  • the minimum filming temperature (MFT) was 15°C.
  • a glass reaction vessel equipped with a stirrer, a thermometer, reflux condenser, and a nitrogen conduit was charged with ion-exchange water (100 g), an ether sulfate type reactive surfactant (reactive surfactant Latemul PD-104, active ingredient 20%; Kao Corporation; 8 g) as a reactive surfactant, and potassium persulfate (0.24g). After nitrogen displacement, the temperature was brought to 70°C in a hot-water bath.
  • MFT minimum filming temperature
  • the obtained water-insoluble emulsion had an average particle diameter of 200 nm, and a solid content (active ingredient content) of 45%.
  • the minimum filming temperature (MFT) of the shell portion was -10°C.
  • the obtained emulsion (P-15) had an average particle diameter of 200 nm.
  • the solid content (active ingredient content) of the water-insoluble emulsion solution was 45%.
  • the minimum filming temperature (MFT) of the shell portion
  • the obtained emulsion (P-16) had an average particle diameter of 200 nm, and a solid content (active ingredient content) of 45%.
  • the minimum filming temperature (MFT) of the shell portion was -13°C.
  • the obtained emulsion (P-17) had an average particle diameter of 200 nm, and a solid content (active ingredient content) of 45%.
  • the minimum filming temperature (MFT) of the shell portion was 0°C.
  • a water dispersion containing emulsion (P-18) was obtained by using the same procedures used in Synthesis Example 15, except that the monomer composition was changed to (c) benzylmethacrylate/ (a) vinylpyrrolidone/ (b) styrene macromer (AS-6; Toagosei Co., Ltd.)/(e) polyethylene glycol methacrylate 2-ethylhexyl ether (NKester EH-4G; Shin-Nakamura Chemical Co., Ltd.).
  • the obtained emulsion (P-18) had an average particle diameter of 200 nm, and a solid content (active ingredient content) of 45%.
  • the minimum filming temperature (MFT) of the shell portion was 0°C.
  • the obtained emulsion (P-19) had an average particle diameter of 215 nm, and a solid content (active ingredient content) of 45%.
  • the minimum filming temperature (MFT) of the shell portion was 30°C.
  • the obtained emulsion (P-20) had an average particle diameter of 230 nm, and a solid content (active ingredient content) of 45%.
  • the minimum filming temperature (MFT) of the shell portion was 25°C.
  • the obtained emulsion (P-21) had an average particle diameter of 95 nm, and a solid content (active ingredient content) of 45%.
  • the minimum filming temperature (MFT) of the shell portion was 30°C.
  • Particle diameter was measured using a laser particle analysis system ELS-8000 (Cumulant Analyzer; Otsuka Electronics Co., Ltd.) under the following settings.
  • Incident light-detector angle 90°
  • Dispersion solvent refractive index 1.333 Production Examples of Latex Ink
  • a latex ink was produced by mixing components such as water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a colorant, a binder resin, a wetting agent, and a surfactant.
  • Binder resin (P-13) solid content 45%: 10 wt% 3-Methyl-1,3-butanediol: 15 wt% Glycerine: 15 wt%
  • Magenta pigment dispersion (M-1) of Production Example 2 6 wt% (solid content)
  • Binder resin (P-14) solid content 45%): 10 wt%
  • Triethylene glycol isobutyl ether 2 wt%
  • Glycerine 20 wt%
  • Binder resin (P-15) (solid content 45%): 10 wt% 1,3-Butanediol: 20 wt% Glycerine: 20 wt% 2-Pyrrolidone: 1 wt%
  • Polyalkylene glycol surfactant (Adeka): 1 wt% 2,2,4-Trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol: 2 wt% Total 100% with ion-exchange water
  • Carbon black pigment dispersion (B-1) of Production Example 4 9 wt% (solid content) Binder resin (P-16) (solid content 45%): 10 wt% 3-Methyl-1,3-butanediol: 20 wt% Glycerine: 15 wt% 2-Pyrrolidone: 2 wt% Polyalkylene glycol surfactant (Adeka): 1 wt% 2-Ethyl-1,3-hexanediol: 2 wt% Total 100% with ion-exchange water
  • a latex ink was produced by preparing the same composition except that the cyan pigment dispersion (C-1) was changed to (C-2), and that the binder resin (P-13) was changed to (P-17).
  • a latex ink was produced by preparing the same composition except that the yellow pigment dispersion (Y-1) was changed to (Y-2), and that the binder resin (P-15) was changed to (P-13).
  • a latex ink was produced by preparing the same composition except that the carbon black pigment dispersion (B-1) was changed to (B-2), and that the binder resin (P-16) was changed to (P-14).
  • a latex ink was produced by preparing the same composition except that the cyan pigment dispersion (C-1) was changed to (C-3), and that the binder resin (P-13) was changed to (P-15).
  • a latex ink was produced by preparing the same composition except that the magenta pigment dispersion (M-1) was changed to (M-3), and that the binder resin (P-14) was changed to (P-16).
  • a latex ink was produced by preparing the same composition except that the yellow pigment dispersion (Y-1) was changed to (Y-3), and that the binder resin (P-15) was changed to (P-17).
  • a latex ink was produced by preparing the same composition except that the carbon black pigment dispersion (B-1) was changed to (B-3), and that the binder resin (P-16) was changed to (P-18).
  • a latex ink was produced by preparing the same composition except that cyan pigment dispersion (C-1) and binder resin (P-19) were used.
  • a latex ink was produced by preparing the same composition except that magenta pigment dispersion (M-1) and binder resin (P-20) were used.
  • a latex ink was produced by preparing the same composition except that yellow pigment dispersion (Y-1) and binder resin (P-21) were used.
  • a latex ink was produced by preparing the same composition except that carbon black pigment dispersion (B-1) and binder resin (P-21) were used.
  • Table 1 presents the combination of ink color material and binder resin for each Production Example.
  • Table 2 presents the physical properties of each ink.
  • Table 1 Production Example Dispersion Binder resin Production Example Dispersion Binder resin 1-1 C-1 P-13 3-1 C-3 P-15 1-2 M-1 P-14 3-2 M-3 P-16 1-3 Y-1 P-15 3-3 Y-3 P-17 1-4 B-1 P-16 3-4 B-3 P-18 2-1 C-2 P-17 4-1 C-1 P-19 2-2 M-2 P-18 4-2 M-1 P-20 2-3 Y-2 P-13 4-3 Y-1 P-21 2-4 B-2 P-14 4-4 B-1 P-21 Table 2 Production Example Surface tension (mN/m) Viscosity (mPa ⁇ s) Production Example Surface tension (mN/m) Viscosity (mPa ⁇ s) 1-1 25.6 9.11 3-1 27.9 9.00 1-2 27.4 8.98 3-2 26.5 9.01 1-3 26.1 8.76 3-3 27.4 8.78 1-4 27.3 8.56 3-4 28.3 8.94 2-1 26.4 8.74 4
  • Example 3 Ink Cyan Magenta Yellow Black Example 1 1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4 Example 2 2-1 2-2 2-3 2-4 Example 3 3-1 3-2 3-3 3-4 Comparative Example 1 4-1 4-2 4-3 4-4
  • the image characteristics of the print image were evaluated with respect to feathering, color bleed, beading, image density, and gloss.
  • the image was also evaluated for abrasion resistance as a measure of image reliability. The results are presented in Table 5.
  • optical density in magenta solid image portions was measured for each Example and Comparative Example using X-Rite 932, and the results were evaluated according to the following criteria.
  • Density of color material adhered to cotton cloth was less than 0.05 Good: Density of color material adhered to cotton cloth was 0.05 or more and less than 0.1 Poor: Density of color material adhered to cotton cloth was 0.1 or more
  • the inks of Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Example 1 were used to print graphics and characters on surfaces of various media using the inkjet printer 1, and the results were assessed in view of the foregoing test results.
  • the inkjet printer was used in an ordinary temperature room at a room temperature of about 15 to 20°C.
  • the media heating temperature of the preheater is the temperature on the surface of the media transported to the platen posterior portion and heated by the preheater.
  • the media heating temperature of the print heater is the temperature on the surface of the media heated by the print heater and struck by the ink droplets expelled from the printhead after being transported to the platen central portion.
  • the image quality represents the result of the comprehensive evaluation of the image characteristics (feathering, color bleed, beading, image density, and gloss) in scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is the highest score.
  • "OFF" means that the preheater or the print heater is turned off, and not heating the media.
  • MacMarc: 9829-00 (product name) was used as media.
  • Table 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 Media heating temperature of preheater OFF 35°C 40°C 45°C 45°C OFF Media heating temperature of print heater OFF 35°C 40°C 45°C OFF 45°C Media heating temperature of post-heater OFF 45°C 45°C 45°C 45°C Image quality 4 6 6 6 6 6
  • Transparent PVC Film P-245RC LINTEC (product name) was used as media.
  • Table 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 Media heating temperature of preheater OFF 35°C 40°C 45°C 45°C OFF Media heating temperature of print heater OFF 35°C 40°C 45°C OFF 45°C Media heating temperature of post-heater OFF 45°C 45°C 45°C 45°C Image quality 4 7 7 8 6 7
  • PVC Viewcal 880C LINTEC (product name) was used as media.
  • Table 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 Media heating temperature of preheater OFF 35°C 40°C 45°C 45°C OFF Media heating temperature of print heater OFF 35°C 40°C 45°C OFF 45°C Media heating temperature of post-heater OFF 45°C 45°C 45°C OFF 45°C Image quality 4 5 5 6 4 6
  • MacMarc: 9829-00 (product name) was used as media.
  • Table 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 Media heating temperature of print heater OFF 35°C 40°C 45°C OFF 45°C Media heating temperature of post-heater OFF 45°C 45°C 45°C 45°C Image quality 2 5 4 4 3 4
  • the results from using the inks of Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Example 1 confirmed that the image quality of graphics and characters printed on media surface improves when the latex ink containing a binder resin having a surface minimum filming temperature of 0°C or less is used in the printing method that preliminarily heats the media with the preheater before printing graphics and characters, and that uses the print heater to heat the media to be struck by the ink droplets expelled from the printhead.
  • the printing method according to the embodiment of the present invention is preferable for printing high-image-quality graphics and characters on media surface with fixing stability in applications such as in outdoor advertisement displays required to satisfy environment and media characteristics.
  • the printing method according to the embodiment of the present invention is also preferable for printing graphics and characters on media surface in industrial applications where abrasion resistance is required.

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  • Inks, Pencil-Leads, Or Crayons (AREA)
  • Ink Jet Recording Methods And Recording Media Thereof (AREA)
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DE102014111465A1 (de) * 2014-08-12 2016-02-18 Océ Printing Systems GmbH & Co. KG Sensorlose Funktionsüberwachung der Trocknung durch Plausibilitätsüberwachung der Leistungsaufnahme
CN108472966B (zh) * 2015-12-22 2020-05-01 精工爱普生株式会社 液体喷出装置
EP3219767B1 (fr) * 2015-03-20 2021-11-03 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Assortiment d'encre et procede d'enregistrement a jet d'encre
US11407235B2 (en) * 2018-06-25 2022-08-09 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Vinyl substrate printing
EP3363644B1 (fr) * 2017-02-21 2023-05-03 Seiko Epson Corporation Procédé d'enregistrement et appareil d'enregistrement

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JP2014198466A (ja) * 2013-03-13 2014-10-23 株式会社リコー インクジェット方式で塗布するインクジェット用水性インクセットを用いた画像形成方法、及びインクジェット記録装置
JP6547346B2 (ja) * 2015-03-17 2019-07-24 株式会社リコー 画像形成装置、画像形成方法及び画像形成プログラム
JP6682857B2 (ja) * 2015-12-28 2020-04-15 花王株式会社 水系インク
JP2018202743A (ja) * 2017-06-05 2018-12-27 セイコーエプソン株式会社 印刷装置
JP2019018451A (ja) * 2017-07-18 2019-02-07 株式会社ミマキエンジニアリング 印刷装置及び印刷方法
JP7094491B2 (ja) * 2018-03-19 2022-07-04 セイコーエプソン株式会社 記録方法

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DE102014111465A1 (de) * 2014-08-12 2016-02-18 Océ Printing Systems GmbH & Co. KG Sensorlose Funktionsüberwachung der Trocknung durch Plausibilitätsüberwachung der Leistungsaufnahme
US9375952B2 (en) 2014-08-12 2016-06-28 Océ Printing Systems GmbH & Co. KG Sensorless function monitoring of drying via plausibility monitoring of power consumption
EP3219767B1 (fr) * 2015-03-20 2021-11-03 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Assortiment d'encre et procede d'enregistrement a jet d'encre
CN108472966B (zh) * 2015-12-22 2020-05-01 精工爱普生株式会社 液体喷出装置
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EP3363644B1 (fr) * 2017-02-21 2023-05-03 Seiko Epson Corporation Procédé d'enregistrement et appareil d'enregistrement
US11407235B2 (en) * 2018-06-25 2022-08-09 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Vinyl substrate printing

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