JP2000141713A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent lowering of image quality which may be caused by clogging in a nozzle due to a mixture mist of a treatment liquid and an ink. SOLUTION: There is disclosed an ink jet recorder wherein a plurality of recording heads are arranged in a main scanning direction and inks of a plurality of colors and a treatment liquid for improving a recording property of the ink are ejected to form an image by moving the recording heads in the main scanning direction. A relative distance between the recording head 102 for ejecting the treatment liquid and the recording head 104 for ejecting the cyan ink which tends to create a mixture mist by being reacted with the treatment liquid is made to be maximum. The recording head 105 for ejecting the magenta ink which secondarily tends to create a mixture mist is disposed with a relative distance to the recording head 102 which is shorter than the above. The relative distance of the recording head 103 for ejecting the yellow ink is further shorter than the above. The recording head 101 for ejecting the black ink is disposed at a position right next to the recording head 102.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for forming an image by ejecting ink droplets on a recording medium.

The present invention can be applied to all ink jet recording apparatuses using a recording medium such as paper, cloth, nonwoven fabric, OHP paper, and the like. Specific examples of applicable equipment include printers, copiers, and facsimile machines. Office equipment and the like can be mentioned.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, paper, cloth, plastic sheet, O
2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium (hereinafter, referred to as a medium) such as an HP sheet can perform a high-density and high-speed recording operation. Therefore, an output unit of an information processing system, for example, a copying machine or a facsimile machine It is used and commercialized as a printer as an output device such as an electronic typewriter, a word processor, a workstation, or a handy or portable printer provided in a personal computer, a host computer, an optical disk device, a video device, and the like. I have.

Further, recently, a printer device capable of forming a full-color image using a recording head having a plurality of color inks used for recording has been put to practical use. In such a printer, four types of recording heads and ink tanks corresponding to three primary colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), or four colors including black (B) are mounted. are doing.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-63185 discloses a technique in which a colorless ink for insolubilizing a dye is deposited on recording paper by an ink jet recording head. According to this method, since the dot diameter formed by the colorless ink droplets is larger than the dot diameter formed by the image recording ink, the landing positions of the image recording ink and the colorless ink are shifted from each other. In this case, desired characteristics can be satisfied.

Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-195823, a color printing in one pass is made possible by applying a colorless precursor material (liquid) to the surface of a printing medium prior to ink jet printing. .

[0007]

Therefore, by insolubilizing the dye in the ink using the above-mentioned unemployed ink, there is a possibility that the bleeding of the ink between the colors can be prevented when applied to color recording. is there. The applicant of the present application has already disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-023833 a solution to the above-mentioned problem, realizing recording at a low running cost by minimizing the ink consumption while using ink for insolubilizing the dye, and printing on plain paper. Even shows better water resistance than before,
Further, an ink jet recording method capable of obtaining a high-density image has been proposed.

However, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus using the above-mentioned ink for insolubilizing the ink (hereinafter referred to as a processing liquid), the recording ink or the recording ink is provided near the nozzle array of the recording head for discharging the recording ink or the processing liquid. When a mixture with the processing liquid (hereinafter, a mixed mist) adheres, the processing liquid and the ink come into contact with each other and react with each other to form a fixed substance, which may cause a discharge failure. In particular, in the case of a print head having a long life, if the fixed matter cannot be completely removed, even a small amount of the fixed matter significantly deteriorates the water repellency of the recording head,
Further, it is easy to generate a fixed substance.

[0009] On the other hand, there has not been known an ink ejection recovery method which effectively prevents the generation of mixed mist in or around the nozzle or effectively removes the mixed mist.

Further, as a means for removing mixed mist due to mixing of the ink and the processing liquid, a recovery process such as wiping, wiping, preliminary ejection, or suction is performed at appropriate intervals to always provide high-quality recording. May be performed, but if the frequency of such recovery processing increases, the recording speed decreases. In addition, if the frequency of the recovery process is determined based on the ink having the highest cohesion in accordance with the occurrence rate of the mixed mist affected by the composition of the ink, the recovery process for the nozzle array that ejects the ink having the lower cohesion is redundant. It will be something.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example. By arranging a nozzle array for ejecting ink which is liable to cause a mixture mist away from a nozzle for ejecting a processing liquid, a mixture mist near the nozzle is provided. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus in which adhesion of ink is prevented.

Another object of the present invention is to discharge a recording ink droplet onto a processing liquid discharged onto a recording medium to record a high-quality image, and to reduce the recording operation without lowering the recording operation.
An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus in which a time interval until ink that easily causes mixed mist is discharged onto a processing liquid is lengthened.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention has the following arrangement. That is, an ink jet recording apparatus that forms an image by causing a recording head to relatively scan with respect to a recording medium, wherein the recording head includes a plurality of ink ejection units corresponding to a plurality of color inks and recording using the ink. Liquid ejecting sections for ejecting liquid for improving the liquid ejecting property are arranged side by side in the scanning direction, and the relative distance between the liquid ejecting section and each of the plurality of ink ejecting sections is determined by each of the ink ejecting sections. It is determined according to the type of ink to be used.

Further, the relative distance is determined according to the cohesiveness of the liquid and the ink, and the relative distance to an ink ejecting unit that ejects ink having a higher cohesiveness with the liquid is increased. It is characterized by being arranged in.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, an inkjet recording apparatus in which a plurality of recording heads are mounted on a carriage and the carriage is scanned to record an image on a recording medium, wherein a first recording head of the plurality of recording heads has a recording property of ink. A recording head for discharging a processing liquid for improvement, and the other plurality of second recording heads are recording heads for discharging ink for use in recording, and are discharged by the first recording head. Recording means for discharging and recording one of the treatment liquid and the ink droplets discharged by the second recording head onto a recording medium so that at least a part thereof overlaps the other before the other; The interval between each of the other second recording heads is determined according to the type of ink held by each of the other recording heads.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a schematic configuration of a recording head of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. A recording head 101 for discharging a black ink, a recording head 102 for discharging a processing liquid, and a black ink are used. A print head 103 for discharging, a print head 104 for projecting cyan ink, a print head 105 for projecting magenta ink, and a print head 106 for projecting yellow ink are provided. Here, the recording head 101
Is the ink ejected before the processing liquid, and the black ink of the recording head 102 is the ink that is ejected onto the processing liquid to form an image.

FIGS. 2A to 2D are views for explaining an example of a process for ejecting a processing liquid and recording ink to each recording pixel.

FIG. 2A shows, for example, in a 2 × 2 pixel, a processing liquid is ejected by a recording head 102, cyan ink is applied by a recording head 104, and magenta ink is applied by a recording head 105. This shows the result of recording by discharging. This FIG. 2 (a)
First, as shown in FIG. 2B, the processing liquid is discharged by the recording head 102 in order to obtain the image of FIG. Then Figure 2
As shown in FIG. 2C, the recording head 104 ejects cyan ink on the same pixel, and finally, as shown in FIG. 2D, the same pixel as that shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C. The recording head 105 ejects magenta ink thereon. Thus, the recording process of the image using the processing liquid and the cyan and magenta inks is completed.

FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (d) show the case where a recording liquid is formed from a processing liquid and a recording ink, from when the processing liquid adheres to the recording medium until the ink is applied to the recording medium. It is a figure explaining the difference of generation of the mixed mist by the difference of time.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams when the processing liquid 301 lands on the recording medium 300 such as paper and the ink droplet 302 lands without much time.
In this case, since the permeation of the processing liquid 301 into the recording medium 300 is not yet sufficient, a large amount of the processing liquid remains on the recording medium 300 (FIG. 3A). When the ink droplet 302 lands on the processing liquid 301 in this state, the processing liquid 301 remaining on the recording medium 300 and the ink droplet 30 that has landed later
2 and a large amount of mist is generated (see FIG. 3).
(B)).

On the other hand, FIGS. 3C and 3D show the processing liquid 30.
1 lands on the recording medium 300 and the recording medium 300
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram when an ink droplet 302 lands after penetrating into the ink. In this case, since the treatment liquid 301 has penetrated the recording medium 300 to some extent, the treatment liquid 301 remaining on the recording medium 300 is reduced (FIG. 3).
(C)). In this state, the ink droplets 3
When 02 is landed, the generation of mixed mist between the processing liquid 301 remaining on the recording medium 300 and the ink droplet 302 that has landed later is greatly suppressed (FIG. 3D).

According to the present inventor, the ink droplet 3
When the liquid 02 and the processing liquid 301 come into contact with each other on the discharge port surface (also referred to as a face surface) of each recording head to cause a reaction, ink is fixed on the discharge port surface, and as a result, the ink is discharged from the discharge port. It has been found that the ejection direction of ink droplets is distorted to cause image deterioration, and that ink ejection is clogged or the like, resulting in non-ejection of ink, which greatly affects the reliability of an ink jet printer. This largely depends on the cohesiveness of the reaction between the treatment liquid 301 and the ink droplet 302.

It is also possible to discharge the ink droplets after the processing liquid 301 is fixed on the recording medium. However, in this case, the recording time cannot be reduced, and the size of the apparatus can be reduced. It will hinder you.

The embodiment of the present invention has been made by paying attention to the above points, and the position of the recording head (nozzles for ejecting ink of each color) is changed according to the type of ink. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to secure highly reliable image recording for a long period of time.

Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to specific embodiments.

[First Embodiment] First, a first embodiment will be described.

First, the components of the ink and the processing liquid used in the first embodiment will be described. (Black ink) Glycerin 7.5 parts by weight Thiodiglycol 7.5 parts by weight Urea 7.5 parts by weight IJA260 (10% aqueous solution) 9.5 parts by weight Project Fast Black2 (10% aqueous solution) 36.5 parts by weight Daiwa Yellow 330EP 0.27 parts by weight Direct Blue 199 (10% aqueous solution) 7.2 parts by weight Isopropyl alcohol 4 parts by weight Water 18.86 parts by weight Ammonium sulfate 0.45 parts by weight NaOH 0.72 parts by weight (yellow ink) Glycerin 7.5 Parts by weight Thiodiglycol 7.5 parts by weight Urea 7.5 parts by weight IJA260 (10% aqueous solution) 9.5 parts by weight Project Fast Yellow2 (10% aqueous solution) 43.48 parts by weight Water 17.55 parts by weight Acetyleneol EH 1 part by weight triethanolamine 0.74 parts by weight 4N-lithium hydroxide 1.88 parts by weight ammonium sulfate 0.25 parts by weight isopropyl alcohol Coal 4 parts by weight (magenta ink) Glycerin 7.5 parts by weight Thiodiglycol 7.5 parts by weight Urea 7.5 parts by weight Project Fast Magent2 (10% aqueous solution) 45 parts by weight Ammonium sulfate 0.27 parts by weight Water 26.35 parts by weight Parts acetylenol EH 0.1 parts by weight 10% -LiOH 0.92 parts by weight triethanolamine 0.86 parts by weight isopropyl alcohol 4 parts by weight (cyan ink) glycerin 7.5 parts by weight thiodiglycol 7.5 parts by weight urea 7 5.5 parts by weight Dlrect Blue 199 (10% aqueous solution) 28 parts by weight Acetylenol EH 0.1 parts by weight Water 45.4 parts by weight Isopropyl alcohol 4 parts by weight (treatment liquid) Glycerin 7 parts by weight Diethylene glycol 5 parts by weight PAA-1L-15B (15% aqueous solution) 24 parts by weight Acetic acid 3.51 parts by weight Benzalkonium chloride 1.92 Parts by weight TEGMB 0.95 parts by weight Water 57.62 parts by weight Here, the higher the cohesiveness of the ink and the processing liquid, the more mixed mist is generated, and this mixed mist adversely affects the recording nozzle. Examining the cohesiveness of the cyan ink, the cohesiveness of the cyan ink is higher than that of the other inks. The black ink, the yellow ink, the magenta ink, and the cyan ink were listed in ascending order of cohesion with the processing liquid. In the ink used in the first embodiment, the pH greatly contributes to the cohesiveness between the treatment liquid and the ink. Here, the pH of the black ink is about “10.
5 ", the pH of the yellow ink is about" 10.0 ", the pH of the magenta ink is about" 9.5 ", the pH of the cyan ink is about" 9.0 ", and the pH of the processing liquid is about" 7.5 ". ".

Therefore, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the recording head 104 for discharging the cyan ink having the highest cohesiveness with the processing liquid is changed from the recording head 102 for discharging the processing liquid. It is arranged at the farthest position, in other words, at the position where the ink droplets are discharged onto the processing liquid at the longest time interval after the processing liquid is discharged. Next, the recording head 105 for ejecting the magenta ink having high cohesion with the processing liquid is changed from the recording head 102 for ejecting the processing liquid to the recording head 104.
To the next closest position. Next, the recording head 106 for discharging yellow ink having high cohesion with the processing liquid
Is disposed at a position next to the recording head 105 from the recording head 102 for discharging the processing liquid. Finally, the print heads 101 and 102 for ejecting the black ink having the lowest cohesiveness with the processing liquid are arranged at positions closest to the print head 102 for ejecting the processing liquid.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a schematic configuration of an example (ink jet printer) of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printer includes a recording head 102 for discharging a processing liquid, recording heads 101 and 103 for discharging black ink, a recording head 106 for projecting yellow ink, It has a recording head 105 for ejecting magenta ink and a recording head 104 for ejecting cyan ink. The carriage 2 on which these recording heads are mounted, and for sending an electric signal from the printer body to the recording head. , A cap unit 4 having recovery means, a paper feed tray 8 for feeding a recording member (recording paper or the like) 7, and the like.

The cap unit 4 includes cap members 501, 502, 503, 504 and 504 corresponding to the recording heads 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 and 106.
505, 506, a member such as rubber, and the like, and a wiper grade 602 corresponding to the recording head 102, and wiper blades 601, 603, 10 corresponding to the recording heads 101, 103, 106, 105, and 104, respectively.
6, 105, and 104.

In the printer having such a configuration, the recording heads 101, 102, 103, 106, 10
5, 104 are serially scanned in a direction (main scanning direction) B substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction A of the recording member 7, and recording is performed with a width corresponding to the number of nozzles of the recording head. When printing (band) for one scan is completed, the printing medium 7 is intermittently conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by a feed amount substantially equal to the printing width (band width).

Here, the recording heads 101, 102, 10
Each of 3, 106, 105, and 104 has 256 nozzles at a density of 600 nozzles per inch (600 dpi), and about 20 ng of the processing liquid or ink is ejected from each nozzle. Accordingly, the recording density in the sub-scanning direction is 600 dpi (dot / inch), and accordingly, the recording density in the main scanning direction is also recorded at 600 dpi.

Here, the interval between the recording heads is 1 inch. Therefore, the recording head 10 that discharges the processing liquid
The distance between the recording head 103 for ejecting black ink, the recording head 106 for ejecting yellow ink, the recording head 105 for ejecting magenta ink, and the recording head 104 for ejecting cyan ink is 1 each.
[Inch], 2 [inch], 3 [inch], and 4 [inch]
It is. Then, the moving speed of the main scanning of the carriage 2 is set to 1
Assuming that 5.0 [inch / sec], the time from the discharge of the processing liquid to the discharge of the black ink is about 0.07.
[Second], about 0.13 until yellow ink is ejected
[Seconds], about 0.20 before magenta ink is ejected
[Sec], and about 0.2 until cyan ink is ejected
7 [seconds]. At this time, the degree of adhesion of the mixed mist was uniformly small in all the recording heads regardless of the difference in the cohesiveness of the ink.

With such a configuration, it is possible to minimize the generation of the mist of the mixture of the cyan ink having a high cohesiveness and the processing liquid, and it is possible to secure a highly reliable recording operation for a long time.

In the first embodiment, each nozzle row is provided on an independent print head. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of nozzle rows may be provided on one print head. The same idea can be applied when arranging.

With such a configuration, it is possible to minimize the generation of the mist of the mixture of the processing liquid and the ink, regardless of the form of the recording head, and to secure a highly reliable recording operation for a long time.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the second embodiment, the arrangement of the nozzles for discharging the ink is changed by changing the composition of the cyan ink to be used.

The components of the ink and the processing liquid used in the second embodiment are shown below. (Black ink) Glycerin 7.5 parts by weight Thiodiglycol 7.5 parts by weight Urea 7.5 parts by weight IJA260 (10% aqueous solution) 9.5 parts by weight Project Fast Black2 (10% aqueous solution) 36.5 parts by weight Daiwa Yellow 330EP 0.27 parts by weight Direct Blue 199 (10% aqueous solution) 7.2 parts by weight Isopropyl alcohol 4 parts by weight Water 18.86 parts by weight Ammonium sulfate 0.45 parts by weight NaOH 0.72 parts by weight (yellow ink) Glycerin 7.5 Parts by weight Thiodiglycol 7.5 parts by weight Urea 7.5 parts by weight IJA260 (10% aqueous solution) 9.5 parts by weight Project Fast Yellow2 (10% aqueous solution) 43.48 parts by weight Water 17.55 parts by weight Acetyleneol EH 1 part by weight triethanolamine 0.74 parts by weight 4N-lithium hydroxide 1.88 parts by weight ammonium sulfate 0.25 parts by weight isopropyl alcohol Coal 4 parts by weight (magenta ink) glycerin 7.5 parts by weight thiodiglycol 7.5 parts by weight urea 7.5 parts by weight Project Fast Magenta2 (10% aqueous solution) 45 parts by weight ammonium sulfate 0.27 parts by weight water 26.35 parts by weight Parts acetylenol EH 0.1 parts by weight 10% -LiOH 0.92 parts by weight triethanolamine 0.86 parts by weight isopropyl alcohol 4 parts by weight (cyan ink) glycerin 7.5 parts by weight thiodiglycol 7.5 parts by weight urea 7 5.5 parts by weight Project Fast Cyan2 (10% aqueous solution) 28 parts by weight Acetylene EH 0.1 parts by weight Water 43.1 parts by weight Isopropyl alcohol 4 parts by weight 10% -LiOH 2.0 parts by weight Ammonium sulfate 0.3 parts by weight (treatment) Liquid) glycerin 7 parts by weight diethylene glycol 5 parts by weight PAA-1L-15B (15% aqueous solution) 24 weight Parts Acetic acid 3.51 parts by weight Benzalkonium chloride 1.92 parts by weight TEGMB 0.95 parts by weight Water 57.62 parts by weight Here, the higher the cohesiveness of the ink and the treatment liquid, the more easily a mist mixture is generated. Mist adversely affects the recording nozzle. Here, when listed in ascending order of cohesion with the processing liquid, black ink, cyan ink, yellow ink,
The order was magenta ink. However, the pH of the cyan ink is about 9.0, and the pH of the black ink is about 1
0.5, the pH of the magenta ink is about 9.5, the pH of the yellow ink is about 10.0, the pH of the processing liquid is about 7.5, and the cohesiveness between the processing liquid and the ink is the pH of the ink. It can be seen that they are not uniquely determined only by this.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a black ink recording head is arranged in the order of the type of ink having the lowest cohesiveness with the processing liquid, that is, in the order closer to the recording head 102 which discharges the processing liquid. 101, 103, a recording head 104 for cyan ink, a recording head 106 for yellow ink, and a recording head 105 for magenta ink. These recording heads 101, 102, 103, 10
Each of 4, 106 and 105 has 256 nozzles at a density of 600 nozzles per inch, and about 20 ng of the processing liquid or ink droplet is discharged from each nozzle by one ink discharge. Therefore, the recording density in the sub-scanning direction is 6
00 dpi, and the recording density in the main scanning direction is also recorded at 600 dpi accordingly.

Here, the interval between the recording heads is 1 [inch].
It is. Therefore, the recording head 102 that discharges the processing liquid
The distance between the recording head 103 for ejecting black ink, the recording head 104 for ejecting cyan ink, the recording head 106 for ejecting yellow ink, and the recording head 105 for ejecting the farthest magenta ink is 1 inch. ], 2 [inch], 3 [inch], and 4 [inch]. Here, assuming that the moving speed of the carriage 2 in the main scanning direction is 15.0 [inch / sec], the recording head 1
It takes about 0.07 [sec] from the ejection of the processing liquid from 02 to the ejection of the black ink, and about 0.13 [sec] from the ejection of the cyan ink by the recording head 104. Further, it takes about 0.20 [second] until the recording head 106 discharges the yellow ink, and about 0.20 [second] until the recording head 105 discharges the magenta ink.
It takes 7 seconds. At this time, the degree of adhesion of the mixed mist was uniformly small in all the recording heads regardless of the difference in the cohesiveness of the ink.

With such a configuration, it is possible to minimize the generation of mixed mist of the highly cohesive ink and the processing liquid, and to secure a highly reliable recording operation for a long time.

Although the second embodiment has a configuration in which an independent recording head is provided for each nozzle row, a configuration in which one recording head has an arbitrary plurality of nozzle rows may be employed.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment, the ink composition used and the number of recording heads used are different.

First, the components of the ink and the processing liquid used in the third embodiment will be described. (Black ink) Glycerin 7.5 parts by weight Thiodiglycol 7.5 parts by weight Urea 7.5 parts by weight IJA260 (10% aqueous solution) 9.5 parts by weight Project Fast Black2 (10% aqueous solution) 36.5 parts by weight Daiwa Yellow 330EP 0.27 parts by weight Direct Blue 199 (10% aqueous solution) 7.2 parts by weight Isopropyl alcohol 4 parts by weight Water 19.22 parts by weight Ammonium sulfate 0.45 parts by weight NaOH 0.36 parts by weight (yellow ink) Glycerin 7.5 Parts by weight thiodiglycol 7.5 parts by weight urea 7.5 parts by weight IJA260 (10% aqueous solution) 9.5 parts by weight Project Fast Yellow2 (10% aqueous solution) 43.48 parts by weight water 19.68 parts by weight acetylenol EH 1 part by weight triethanolamine 0.74 parts by weight isopropyl alcohol 4 parts by weight (magenta ink) glycerin 7.5 parts by weight thio Diglycol 7.5 parts by weight Urea 7.5 parts by weight Project Fast Magenta2 (10% aqueous solution) 45 parts by weight Ammonium sulfate 0.27 parts by weight Water 27.27 parts by weight Acetylenol EH 0.1 parts by weight Triethanolamine 0.86 parts by weight Parts isopropyl alcohol 4 parts by weight (cyan ink) glycerin 7.5 parts by weight thiodiglycol 7.5 parts by weight urea 7.5 parts by weight Direct Blue 199 (10% aqueous solution) 28 parts by weight acetylenol EH 0.1 parts by weight water 43 2.1 parts by weight Isopropyl alcohol 4 parts by weight 10% -LiOH 2.0 parts by weight Ammonium sulfate 0.3 parts by weight (treatment liquid) Glycerin 7 parts by weight Diethylene glycol 5 parts by weight PAA-1L-15B (15% aqueous solution) 24 parts by weight acetic acid 3.51 parts by weight benzalkonium chloride 1.92 parts by weight TEGMB 0.95 parts by weight water 57. 2 parts by weight Here, easily mixed mist generating higher cohesion of the ink and the treatment liquid, the mixed mist adversely affects the printing nozzle. Therefore, the cohesiveness of the ink and the processing liquid is examined, and when the cohesiveness with the processing liquid is listed in ascending order, cyan ink,
The order was black ink, yellow ink, and magenta ink. In the ink used in the third embodiment, the pH greatly contributes to the cohesiveness between the processing liquid and the ink. Here, the pH of the cyan ink is about 10.0, the pH of the black ink is about 10, and the pH of the yellow ink is about 9.
0, the pH of the magenta ink is about 8.0, and the pH of the treatment liquid is about 7.6.

Therefore, in the third embodiment, the recording heads are arranged as shown in FIG. That is, the print head 105 for ejecting the magenta ink having the highest cohesiveness with the processing liquid is positioned farthest from the print head 102 for ejecting the processing liquid, in other words, the longest time since the processing liquid is ejected. It is arranged at a position where ink is ejected at intervals. Next, the recording head 106 for discharging the yellow ink having high cohesion with the processing liquid is connected to the recording head 10.
After 5, the print head 102 is disposed. Next, the recording head 101 for ejecting the black ink having high cohesion with the processing liquid is disposed next to the recording head 102 next to the recording head 104. Finally, the recording head 10 for discharging the cyan ink having the lowest cohesiveness with the processing liquid
4 is disposed at a position closest to the recording head 102 for discharging the processing liquid.

The third embodiment differs from the ink jet recording apparatuses of the first and second embodiments in that only one recording head 101 for discharging black ink is provided.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a schematic configuration of an example (ink jet printer) of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the third embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6, this printer has a recording head 102 for ejecting a processing liquid, a recording head 104 for ejecting cyan ink, a recording head 101 for ejecting black ink, and a yellow recording head. It has a recording head 106 for ejecting ink and a recording head 105 for ejecting magenta ink, and a carriage 2 on which these are mounted, and a flexible unit for sending electric signals from the printer body to these recording heads. A cable 3, a cap unit 4 having recovery means,
It has a paper feed tray 8 for feeding the recording member 7 and the like.
Further, the cap unit 4 includes the recording heads 102, 10
4, 101, 106, and 105, cap members 502, 504, 501, 506, and 505, a wiper blade 602 corresponding to the recording head 102, and a recording head 104, 101, 10
Wiper blade 60 corresponding to each of 6, 105
4,601,606,605.

The ink-jet printer having such a configuration includes the recording heads 102, 104, 101, 10
6 and 105 are serially scanned in a direction (main scanning direction) B substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction A of the recording member 7 to perform recording with a width corresponding to the number of nozzles of each recording head. And 1
When the late recording is completed, the recording material 7 is intermittently conveyed by a feed amount equal to the recording width (band width).

Here, the recording heads 102, 104, 10
Each of the nozzles 1, 106, and 105 has 256 nozzles at a density of 600 nozzles per inch, and about 20 ng of the processing liquid or ink is ejected from each nozzle by one ink ejection. Therefore, the recording density in the sub-scanning direction is 600
and the recording density in the main scanning direction is also 60
It is configured to be 0 dpi.

Here, the interval between the recording heads is 1 inch. Therefore, the recording head 1 that discharges the processing liquid
02, a recording head 104 that discharges cyan ink, a recording head 101 that discharges black ink, a recording head 106 that discharges yellow ink, and a recording head 105 that discharges magenta ink are each 1
[Inch], 2 [inch], 3 [inch], and 4 [inch]
It is. Here, the main scanning speed of the carriage 2 is set to 1
Assuming that 5.0 [inch / sec], the time from the ejection of the processing liquid from the recording head 102 to the ejection of the cyan ink from the recording head 104 is about 0.07 [sec], and the black ink from the recording head 101 Until about 0.1 is discharged.
13 seconds, about 0.20 seconds until the yellow ink is ejected from the print head 106, and the print head 105
About 0.27 [sec] until magenta ink is ejected from
It is. At this time, the degree of adhesion of the mixed mist was uniformly small in all the recording heads regardless of the difference in the cohesiveness of the ink.

With such a configuration, it is possible to minimize the generation of the mist of the mixture of the highly cohesive ink and the processing liquid, and it is possible to secure a highly reliable recording operation for a long period of time.

In the third embodiment, an independent recording head is provided for each nozzle row. However, the present invention can be applied to a configuration in which one recording head has an arbitrary plurality of nozzles.

By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to minimize the generation of the mist of the mixture of the processing liquid and the ink irrespective of the difference in the cohesiveness, and a highly reliable recording operation can be secured for a long time. .

Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine) comprising one device Device).

Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
Or MPU) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) Performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The case where the CPU of the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing.

The present invention includes a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for performing ink ejection, particularly in an ink jet recording system. The printing apparatus of the type that causes a change in the state of the ink has been described.
High definition can be achieved.

The typical structure and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type.
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding the nucleate boiling to an electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path holding the Since thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer and film boiling occurs on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed. It is valid. By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, A configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting surface is arranged in a bent region, is also included in the present invention. In addition, for multiple electrothermal transducers,
JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which a common slot is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter, and JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy corresponds to a discharge portion. It is good also as composition based on -138461 gazette.

Further, as a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length is determined by combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification. This may be either a configuration satisfying the above requirements or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally.

In addition, the recording head is replaceable with a print head of a replaceable chip type, which can be electrically connected to the main body of the apparatus or supplied with ink from the main body of the apparatus, or integrated with the recording head itself. Alternatively, a cartridge type recording head provided with an ink tank may be used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the printhead, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like provided as components of the printing apparatus of the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. . If these are specifically mentioned, capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, preheating means using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof, and printing Performing a preliminary ejection mode for performing another ejection is also effective for performing stable printing.

In the embodiment of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid. However, an ink which solidifies at room temperature or lower, or an ink which softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. Or, in the ink jet system, the temperature of the ink itself is controlled within the range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in the stable ejection range. What is necessary is for the ink to be in a liquid state at the time of application.

In addition, in order to positively prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy as energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state,
Alternatively, in order to prevent evaporation of the ink, an ink which solidifies in a standing state and liquefies by heating may be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start to solidify when reaching the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used. In such a case, as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, the ink is held in a liquid state or a solid state in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. It is good also as a form which opposes an electrothermal transducer. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition to the above, the recording apparatus according to the present invention may be provided not only as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer but also integrally or separately provided, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a transmission / reception apparatus. It may take the form of a facsimile machine having functions.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the aggregation of the mixed mist adhering to the recording head can be minimized, and the recording reliability can be kept high.

Further, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the recording speed due to a recording operation, a recovery operation such as wiping or suctioning.

[0076]

As described above, according to the present invention, by disposing the nozzle row for ejecting the ink that easily causes the mixing mist away from the nozzle for ejecting the processing liquid, the mixing mist can be brought close to the nozzle. There is an effect that adhesion can be prevented.

Further, according to the present invention, a high-quality image is recorded by discharging recording ink droplets onto the processing liquid discharged onto the recording medium, and the recording operation is not reduced.
There is an effect that the time interval until the ink that easily causes the mixed mist is discharged onto the processing liquid can be lengthened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of a recording head according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the provision of recording dots in the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the rebound of small droplets caused by ejecting ink droplets on a processing liquid.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an ink jet printer equipped with the recording head according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of a recording head according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of a recording head according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an ink jet printer equipped with the recording head according to the third embodiment.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C056 EA05 EA11 EA14 EE17 FA03 FA10 HA07 HA42 2C057 AF27 AF72 AG14 AG46 AH01 AN01 BA03 BA13

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus that forms an image by causing a recording head to scan relative to a recording medium, wherein the recording head includes a plurality of ink ejection units corresponding to a plurality of color inks, A liquid ejecting unit for ejecting a liquid for improving the recording performance with ink is arranged in the scanning direction, and a relative distance between the liquid ejecting unit and each of the plurality of ink ejecting units is determined by the ink ejecting unit. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized in that the ink jet recording apparatus is determined according to the type of ink ejected by the unit. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the relative distance is determined according to the cohesion between the liquid and the ink. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is arranged so that the relative distance between the ink jetting section and the ink jetting section for jetting the ink having higher cohesiveness with the liquid becomes longer. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the relative distance is determined according to a pH of the ink. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the relative distance between the ink discharge units for discharging the ink having a lower pH is longer. 6. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head ejects ink by using thermal energy, and includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink. Item 6. An ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 5. 7. An ink jet recording apparatus which mounts a plurality of recording heads on a carriage and scans the carriage to record an image on a recording medium, wherein a first recording head among the plurality of recording heads is made of ink. A plurality of second recording heads for ejecting ink for use in recording, wherein the plurality of second recording heads are recording heads for ejecting a processing liquid for improving recording properties; The discharged processing liquid and the second
Recording means for discharging and recording on a recording medium one of the ink droplets discharged by the recording head so that at least a part thereof overlaps the other before the other, and the first recording head and the other second recording An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an interval between each of the heads is determined according to a type of ink held by each of the other recording heads. 8. The printing head according to claim 1, wherein the printing head uses thermal energy to eject ink, and includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink. Item 8. An ink jet recording apparatus according to item 7.