JP2001293900A - Method and apparatus for imaging, and imaging ink - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To (1) enhance image quality while increasing the imaging speed as compared with a conventional ink jet system, (2) to prevent lowering of image quality incident to diffusion of color ink or Refill of ink pump in Pre-mix system, (3) to eliminate the need of high resolution pump for ejecting color ink, and (4) to facilitate use of multifunction ink. SOLUTION: Number of inks previously quantized at a constant density is controlled pixel by pixel based on an image signal and controlled number of quantized ink is transferred to an image receptor thus forming an image. Quantized ink is microcapsulated and the number of microcapsules is preferably controlled. The quantity of ink contained in one quantized ink (microcapsule) corresponds to a constant gradation, e.g. one gradation. The quantized ink may be toner. In this case, the quantity of one toner corresponds to a constant gradation, (e.g. one gradation). The toner may develop a color at a constant gradation when it is mixed with (touches) other ink, e.g. carrier ink.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming method and apparatus for forming an image by controlling the density for each pixel based on an image signal, and an image forming ink.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Printers for forming an image by transferring ink to an image receptor such as printing paper are known. For example, in the ink jet method, ink droplets are made to adhere (apply) to print paper by causing ink droplets to fly from ink discharge nozzles based on image signals.
Form an image.

In this ink jet system, the density and color can be expressed in multiple gradations by using a plurality of types of inks and inks having different densities. Further, by changing the number of ink droplets to be ejected, changing the amount of ink droplets, or changing the application area (area gradation), the density and color can be expressed in multiple gradations.

[0004]

In such a conventional ink jet system, when a plurality of ink droplets are applied to one pixel to control the density and the color in multiple gradations, it is difficult to form an image. The required time (printing time) becomes long, and printing at high speed becomes difficult. Also, it is difficult to increase the pixel density, which is a constraint when improving the image quality.

On the other hand, when changing the amount of ink droplet, the flying speed of the ink droplet changes depending on the amount of ink droplet. For this reason, there is a problem that image quality deteriorates.

Therefore, the applicant has proposed a pre-mixing method (referred to as a pre-mixing method) instead of such a conventional ink jet method. In this method, a plurality of inks are mixed in advance to form a recording liquid having a concentration corresponding to an image signal, and the recording liquid is transferred to an image receptor. In this case, a method in which the recording liquid is caused to fly as an ink droplet to the image receptor by an ink jet method, and a method in which the recording liquid is transferred to the image receptor as a continuous flow (continuous coating method) have been considered (Japanese Patent Application No. 11-110). 351008, 11-35109
etc).

In the pre-mix system, for example, a predetermined amount of colored ink corresponding to an image signal is mixed with a carrier ink (transparent liquid, clear liquid) that does not substantially form an image after image formation to thereby obtain a predetermined density. Obtain the recording liquid. However, this method has the following problems.

That is, since the colored ink is always in contact with the carrier ink at the position where it merges with the carrier ink,
Even when the colored ink is not ejected, the colored ink is diffused into the carrier ink. For this reason, there is a problem that the colored ink adds color to the background of the image (adds a background color).

Immediately after the colored ink is discharged into the carrier ink, the discharged pump of the colored ink needs to refill the new colored ink. Absent. For this reason, the carrier ink is sucked back into the pump together with the colored ink, and a backflow of the carrier ink occurs. As a result, there may be a problem that the density gradation at the time of discharging the next colored ink becomes inaccurate and the image quality deteriorates.

If the number of density gradations is further increased (for example, 51
(2 gradations), the discharge amount of the colored ink must be controlled with extremely high precision. However, it is extremely difficult to produce such a pump, and it is difficult to achieve a desired resolution. Further, a multifunctional ink such as a high-density ink is suitable for the colored ink used here. However, such an ink generally has high corrosiveness, and there is a restriction on a material used for an image recording head or the like. For this reason, there may be a problem that it is difficult to use high-performance ink.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and (1) the image forming speed is increased and the image quality is improved as compared with the conventional ink jet system.
-Due to the diffusion of colored ink and the refilling of the ink pump, etc.
It is a first object of the present invention to provide an image forming method capable of (3) requiring no high resolution for a colored ink discharge pump and (4) facilitating the use of multifunctional ink.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus used directly for carrying out the method. It is a third object of the present invention to provide an image forming ink used directly for carrying out this method.

[0013]

According to the present invention, a first object is to control the number of inks quantized in advance at a constant density for each pixel based on an image signal, and to control the controlled number of the quantized inks in an image. An image forming method is characterized in that an image is formed by transferring the image to a receptor.

It is desirable that the quantized ink be microencapsulated, and the number of microcapsules be controlled. The amount of ink contained in one quantized ink (microcapsule) may be a certain gradation, for example, one gradation. The quantized ink may be a toner. In this case, one toner has an amount corresponding to a predetermined gradation (for example, one gradation). When the toner is mixed (contacted) with another ink such as a carrier ink, the toner may be colored at a certain gradation.

The microcapsules can be transferred directly from the image recording head to the image receptor, in which case a voltage is applied between the microcapsules and the image receptor and the microcapsules are pulled by electrostatic attraction. Can be transferred to

In this case, it is necessary to break the microcapsules and discharge them after discharging the microcapsules toward the image receptor. For example, it may be broken during the transfer to the image receiver, or may be broken after being transferred to the image receiver. The method of breaking depends on the type of microcapsule. The microcapsules may be destroyed by using heat or light (such as ultraviolet rays) or by applying pressure.

The microcapsules can also be mixed with the carrier ink that does not ultimately form an image and transported with the carrier ink to the image receiver. In this case, the carrier ink may be transferred by an inkjet method or may be transferred as a continuous flow (continuous coating method).

It is necessary that the microcapsules are finally broken to develop the color of the ink therein. When the microcapsules are directly transferred to the image receptor without being mixed with the carrier ink, the microcapsules attached to the image receptor can be broken.

When the carrier ink containing the microcapsules is transferred to the image receptor, the microcapsules can be destroyed immediately before being mixed with the carrier ink to elute the ink into the carrier ink. For example, by making the microcapsules destructible by heating, and controlling the heating area of the heater provided in the passage of the microcapsules based on the image signal, it is possible to control the number of capsules, and thus the density gradation.

When the microcapsules are mixed in the carrier ink, the microcapsules may be broken after being mixed in the carrier ink. In this case, it may be broken before reaching the image receptor, or may be broken after attaching to the image receptor. The method of breaking the capsule depends on the properties of the microcapsule. A heater or a light source may be used for microcapsules that can be broken by heat or light (such as ultraviolet light). For a microcapsule that can be broken by pressure, a pressure roller may be rolled on the image receptor.

According to the present invention, a color image can be formed. For example, inks of a plurality of colors quantized at different densities for different colors may be prepared, and the number of quantized inks may be controlled for each pixel based on an image signal.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which forms an image by controlling the density for each pixel based on an image signal, and supplies ink quantized at a constant density. Quantized ink supply means, an image recording head for supplying the ink supplied from the quantized ink supply means to an image receptor, and image recording for transferring the ink supplied from the quantized ink supply means to the image receptor A head, ejection number measuring means for controlling the number of quantized inks transferred from the image recording head to the image receptor, and calculating the number of quantized inks ejected for one pixel based on the image signal And an arithmetic control unit for controlling the number-of-discharges measuring means.

A third object of the present invention is an image forming ink used in the image forming method according to claim 2, wherein the image forming ink is quantized at a predetermined density and microencapsulated. , Is achieved.

[0024]

The ink is quantized at a constant density, and the number of the quantized ink is controlled for each pixel based on the image signal. For example, if the ink quantized at one density gradation is used, the density of n gradations can be represented by n quantized inks. That is, one pixel can be represented by one or more quantized inks.

One or more quantized inks are transferred to the image receptor either directly or mixed with carrier ink. When the quantized ink is microencapsulated, the color is developed by destroying the microcapsules during or after transfer to the image receptor. When the microcapsules are mixed with the carrier ink, the microcapsules may be destroyed immediately before being mixed into the carrier ink. As a result, a multi-tone image can be formed on the image receptor.

[0026]

1 to 3 are conceptual views of one embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment microencapsulates the quantized ink and transfers the microcapsules directly to the image receiver.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes an image recording head, which has a substantially vertical capsule passage 12 and a capsule measuring means 14 provided near the lower end of the capsule passage 12 as a discharge number measuring means. Reference numeral 16 denotes a capsule supply unit as a quantization ink supply unit, and supplies the microcapsules 18 from the storage unit 20 to the capsule passage 12.

In this embodiment, the storage section 20 has a hopper shape, and the microcapsules 18 stored therein are sent to the capsule passage 12 by the capsule supply means 16.
The capsule supply means 16 is configured to control the amount of movement of the microcapsule 18 by applying, for example, ultrasonic vibration or surface acoustic waves to the supply path of the microcapsule 18 and controlling their amplitude, frequency, and the like. Can be.

The capsule supply means 16 may control a liquid flow such as a water flow mixed with microcapsules. For example, the flow of capsules can be controlled by mixing charged microcapsules in an insulating fluid and controlling the electric field applied to the fluid path.
The capsule supply means 16 may be a valve for opening and closing the liquid flow path.

The capsule weighing means 14 is provided in the capsule passage 1.
2 can be configured with a valve that opens and closes the lower part (capsule discharge port 12a). This valve can be configured by, for example, a device that is driven using a piezoelectric element or an electrostatic force. In this case, the number of microcapsules 18 that pass can be measured by controlling the number of opening / closing of the valve by the number of driving pulses or controlling the opening / closing time.

The capsule measuring means 14 may measure the number of microcapsules to be discharged based on a change in an electric field (electric field). For example, the number of passages can be controlled by mixing charged microcapsules in an insulating fluid and changing the electric field applied to the fluid. In this case, the number of capsules that have passed can be measured by detecting a change in the electric field, that is, a change in the impedance of the liquid.

The microcapsules 18 can be manufactured by a known method, for example, an interfacial polymerization method, a coacervation method, an in-situ polymerization method, or the like. The interfacial polymerization method is a method in which a monomer is dissolved in two immiscible solvents and a microcapsule is prepared using a synthetic polymerization reaction in which a polymer is synthesized at an interface between the two liquids.

In the coacervation method (phase separation method), fine droplets of a concentrated solution of a polymer are separated from the solution by a change in the environment of the polymer solution (temperature drop, addition of a poor solvent, addition of another polymer, etc.). This is a method that utilizes a phenomenon (coacervation). In the in-suti polymerization method, when a monomer and a catalyst are melted in one of two phases that are not mixed with each other, the monomer causes a polymerization reaction at an interface to form a uniform film on the surface of the core material. It takes advantage of the properties that can be used.

The microcapsules 18 used for image formation preferably have a diameter of 0.01 to 10 μm. The microcapsules 18 contain, for example, ink for one density gradation. In this case, if one pixel is recorded by the n capsules 18, the density of the n-th gradation can be obtained. Reference numeral 22 denotes an arithmetic control unit. The calculation control unit 22 calculates the number of capsules supplied to one pixel based on the image signal, and controls the capsule weighing unit 14 and the capsule supply unit 16.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a print sheet as an image receptor. The print paper 24 is conveyed in the horizontal direction close to the lower surface of the image recording head 10. Image recording head 1
The measured microcapsules 18 are ejected from a capsule ejection port 12a serving as a quantization ink ejection port located at the lower end of the 0 capsule passage 12. The discharged microcapsules 18 are directly transferred to and adhere to the printing paper 24. Since the number of microcapsules 18 discharged from the capsule passage 12 is controlled by the image signal, the number of microcapsules 18 corresponding to the density of the image signal adheres to one pixel on the print paper 24. I do.

In order to smoothly transfer the microcapsules 18 discharged from the capsule passage 12 to the printing paper 24, it is necessary to apply a voltage between the microcapsules 18 and the printing paper and use the electrostatic attraction. Good. FIG.
Reference numeral 26 denotes a DC power supply for applying this voltage. The number of ejections of the microcapsules 18 can be controlled with higher accuracy by cooperating the on / off of the power supply 26 and the capsule weighing means 14.

The microcapsules 18 thus transferred to the printing paper 24 are broken on the printing paper 24. Reference numeral 28 denotes an ultraviolet lamp as a capsule breaking means. In this case, the microcapsules 18 can be broken by ultraviolet irradiation. The ink flows out due to the destruction of the microcapsules 18, and an image (pixel) having a density corresponding to the image signal is formed on the print paper 24.

2 and 3 show another embodiment of the capsule breaking means 28. FIG. The capsule breaking means 28A of FIG. 2 is formed by a heater. In this case, the microcapsules 18A can be broken by heat. The capsule breaking means 28B shown in FIG. 3 is formed by a pressure roller (for example, preferably about 30 kg / cm ² ). In this case, the microcapsules 18B can be broken by pressure. It is preferable to add a cleaner (not shown) for removing the attached ink to the pressure roller.

[0039]

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing another embodiment of the image recording head. The image recording head 10C is capable of recording a color image.

Different colors, such as cyan C, magenta M,
An ink (colored ink) quantized at a constant density is prepared for each of the four colors of yellow Y and black K. These inks are microencapsulated. These microcapsules 18C, 18M, 18Y, 18K
Are supplied to four capsule passages 12C, 12M, 12Y, and 12K formed in the image recording head 10C. And microcapsules 18C, 18M, 18Y, 18 of each color
The number of K ejections is controlled in the same manner as in the embodiment shown in FIG.

As a result, the microcapsules 18C, M, Y, and K of different colors are successively adhered to the print sheet 24 in a number based on the image signal in accordance with the movement in the transport direction. Thereafter, the capsules 18C, M, Y, and K are destroyed by appropriate capsule destroying means (not shown) such as an ultraviolet lamp, a heater, and a pressure roller, and pixels having colors and densities corresponding to image signals are recorded.

Instead of using inks of different colors, it is also possible to use a plurality of inks of the same color but different densities. In this case, the density gradation can be controlled with higher accuracy.

[0043]

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing another embodiment. This embodiment is of a pre-mix system in which a quantized ink (colored ink) is mixed into a carrier ink and transferred to an image receiver by an inkjet system.

The image recording head 10D has an ink flow path 30
(Having a diameter of several tens of microns) is formed, and a carrier ink 32, that is, a transparent ink that does not substantially form an image after image formation, is supplied thereto at a constant pressure. The carrier ink 32 is supplied from a carrier ink tank 34 by a constant pressure pump 36. The final ink ejection port 38 to which the ink flow path 30 communicates faces the print paper 24.

The capsule passage 12 joins the ink flow path 30 at a substantially right angle.
Is provided. Microcapsules 18 are supplied to the capsule passage 12. The microcapsules 18 are supplied from the supply tank 40 by the capsule supply means 16. Capsule weighing means 14 and capsule supply means 16
Can have the same configuration as the capsule weighing means 14 and the capsule supply means 16 in FIG.

The ink flow path 30 has a final ink discharge port 3
At a position close to 8, a heater 42 is provided as an ink droplet discharging means. The heater 42 causes the ink in the ink flow path 30 to boil and discharges a predetermined amount of ink droplets 44 from the final ink discharge port 36. The ink droplet 44 flies and adheres to the print paper 24. The ink droplets 44 include the microcapsules 18 and the carrier ink 32 measured by the capsule measuring means 14 based on the image signal.

The ink droplets 44 adhere to the printing paper 24 and move together with the printing paper 24, and are irradiated with ultraviolet rays by an ultraviolet lamp 46. As a result, the microcapsules 18 are destroyed, and pixels having a density corresponding to the image signal are formed.

The carrier ink 32 used in the pre-mix system needs to have appropriate viscosity and surface tension in order to form a good image. Micro capsule 18
And the viscosity (viscosity) of the carrier ink 32 is 2.2 to 40 cP (centipoise, 1 poise is 1 dyn · s / cm ² = ¹ gcm ⁻¹ s ⁻¹ = 10 ⁻¹ Ns /
it is in the range of m ² and is). Especially 2.5 to 30
A cP range is preferred. If the viscosity is 40 cP or more, it becomes difficult to discharge, which is not preferable.

The surface tension of the carrier ink 32 is 15 to 60 dyne / cm with the microcapsules 18 included.
It is good to do. Particularly, 20 to 55 dyne / cm is preferable. In addition, if it is 15 dyne / cm or less, liquid dripping occurs, which is not preferable.

[0050]

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing another embodiment. This embodiment is of the pre-mix system as in FIG. 5, but differs from that of FIG. 5 in that the ink is transferred to the print paper 24 by the continuous application system.

That is, the final ink ejection port 38E of the image forming head 10E is opposed to the print paper 24 in close proximity,
The continuous ejection ink 48 ejected from the final ink ejection port 38E is transferred (applied) to the printing paper 24. The printing paper 24 to which the ink 48 has been transferred in this way moves, and the microcapsules 18 contained in the ink 48 are destroyed by the ultraviolet lamp 46 to develop color. In FIG. 6, the same portions as those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0052]

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing another embodiment of the capsule measuring means. In the capsule measuring means 14F of the image recording head 10F, the microcapsules 18 are destroyed immediately before being mixed into the carrier ink 32.

The capsule supply means 1 is provided in the capsule passage 12.
6, a heater 50 extending along the capsule passage 12 is provided at a position close to the junction with the ink flow path 30. The heating area of the heater 50 changes based on the image signal. This heating area 50
“a” is set so as to extend toward the capsule passage 12 from the capsule discharge port 12 a side, which is the junction with the ink flow path 30.

The microcapsules 18 used here can be broken by heating, and the microcapsules 18 located in the heating area 50a of the heater 50 are broken.
The broken ink 18a of the microcapsules 18 becomes liquid and mixes with the carrier ink 32, and flows to the final ink ejection port 38 together with the carrier ink 32. This ink is ejected as ink droplets 44F by the heater 42 as an ink droplet ejection means. Ink drop 44
F adheres to the print paper 24, dries, and displays the image density of one pixel.

[0055]

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing another embodiment of the capsule measuring means. Each of the capsule weighing means 14, 14E, and 14F shown in each of the above-described embodiments has a variable throttle (14, 14) near the discharge port of the microcapsule 18.
E) or a fixed aperture (14F). This FIG.
Capsule weighing means 18G of the image recording head 10G shown in FIG.
Is provided with a water-repellent region 52 instead of the diaphragm.

The water-repellent region 52 may be any as long as it has a function of repelling the microcapsules 18 and imparting resistance when the microcapsules 18 pass therethrough. For example, a water-repellent region 52 is formed by forming a film of Au or a film of Si or the like on the inner surface near the junction (capsule ejection port 12a) where the capsule passage 12 merges with the ink flow path 30. be able to.

For the treatment of the water-repellent region 52, a process generally used for micromachining can be used. For example, sputtering, CVD, ion beam assisted CVD, electrostatic powder coating, spin coating, a method of applying a solvent-drying type water-repellent agent, heating and ablating the coating film by laser irradiation can be used. The water-repellent region 52 can also be formed by performing nickel electrolytic plating containing fluorine fine particles.

If such a water-repellent region 52 is provided, a separate means for measuring the microcapsules 18 is required. As the capsule measuring means 14G used here, for example, a heater for heating the capsule passage 12 can be used. In this case, the microcapsules 18 have a property of not being destroyed by heating, and the microcapsules 18 are mixed with a liquid (eg, water) and transferred together with the liquid.

The capsule measuring means 14G can discharge the microcapsules 18 into the ink flow path 30 by overcoming the resistance of the water-repellent region 52 by boiling the liquid mixed with the microcapsules 18. Here, the number of ejections of the capsule 18 can be controlled by changing the amount of heating (temperature, time and number of times) by the heater.

Instead of the capsule measuring means 14G using such a heater, the microcapsules 18 are formed by electrostatic attraction.
Capsule weighing means 14H of a type that draws out into the ink flow path 30 is also possible. In this case, the electrode 5 is provided on the inner surface on the ink passage 30 side facing the water repellent region 52 of the capsule passage 12.
4 is formed. Then, a voltage is applied between the electrode 54 and the microcapsule 18. 56 is a battery.

In this case, an insulating ink is used as the carrier ink 32. Electrode 54 and microcapsule 18
If the voltage applied between the microcapsules 18 is intermittently pulsed, the number of microcapsules 18 corresponding to the number of pulses is drawn out to the electrode 54 side, and can be mixed into the carrier ink 32.

The microcapsules 18 calculated by the capsule measuring means 14G and 14H are stored in the carrier ink 32.
At the same time, the ink is guided to the final ink discharge port 38, and is transferred to print paper by an ink jet system (see FIG. 5) or a continuous coating system (see FIG. 6).

[0063]

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing another embodiment. The image recording head 10I used in this embodiment is capable of forming a color image as in the embodiment of FIG. 4 described above, and differs from that of FIG. 4 in that a carrier ink 32 is used. .

That is, microcapsules 18C, 18M, and 18 of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, respectively.
Y and 18K are the respective capsule passages 12C and 12C.
M, 12Y, and 12K supply the ink to the common ink flow path 30. The carrier ink 32 is supplied to the ink flow path 30 at a constant pressure, and the microcapsules 18C, 18M,
The number of ejections of 18Y and 18K is controlled by an image signal, and is sequentially added to a portion of the carrier ink 32 corresponding to the same pixel.

Therefore, from the final ink ejection port 38, 1
The carrier ink 32 containing the color and the number of microcapsules required to form a pixel is sequentially discharged. The ejected ink is transferred to the printing paper 24 by a continuous coating method shown in FIG. 9 or an ink jet method (not shown). Then the microcapsules 18C, M, Y, K
Is colored by being destroyed by an appropriate capsule breaking means. In this embodiment, instead of the microcapsules 18C, M, Y, and K of different colors, microcapsules having the same color and different densities may be used. In this case, a more accurate density display can be performed.

[0066]

The invention of claims 1 to 13 is as described above.
Since the number of inks quantized at a constant density is controlled for each pixel based on an image signal, and an image is formed by transferring the controlled number of quantized inks to an image receiver, When an image is formed while controlling the density of one pixel, the image forming speed can be increased as compared with the ink-jet method to enable high-speed printing, and the image quality can be greatly improved.

According to the present invention, as compared with the pre-mix system of the prior art, the quality of the image is improved due to the diffusion of the colored ink, the difference in viscosity or flow resistance between different inks, the change in density due to the refill of the ink pump, and the like. Deterioration is improved, and image quality can be improved.

Further, in the pre-mix system proposed previously, it is extremely difficult to control the ejection amount of the colored ink with high accuracy.
In particular, it is considered that a high-resolution pump is required to enable control of the minute discharge amount. However, according to the present invention, it is only necessary to control the number of quantized inks, so that such a high-resolution ink pump is not required, and the production becomes easy. Furthermore, since the quantized ink is used, it is possible to enclose the ink in, for example, a microcapsule. In this case, it is possible to use a special multifunctional ink having a strong corrosive property.

According to the fourteenth to twenty-fourth aspects of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus directly used for carrying out the method of the present invention. According to the twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus directly used for carrying out the method of the present invention. According to the twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming ink directly used for carrying out the method of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing another embodiment of the capsule breaking means.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a capsule breaking means.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing another embodiment of the capsule discharge number measuring means.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing another embodiment of the capsule discharge number measuring means.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F, 10G, 10
I Image recording head 12, 12C, 12M, 12Y, 12K Capsule passage 12a Quantized ink discharge port (capsule discharge port) 14, 14F, 14G, 14H Discharge number measuring means (capsule discharging number measuring means) 16 Quantized ink supply means (Capsule supply means) 18, 18A, 18B, 18C, 18M, 18Y, 18
K Microcapsule 22 Control unit 28, 28A, 28B, 46 Capsule breaking means 30 Ink flow path 32 Carrier ink 38, 38E Final ink discharge port 42 Ink drop discharging means (heater) 44, 44F Ink drop 50 Capsule breaking means (heater)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) B41J 3/04 103X F-term (Reference) 2C056 EA01 EA06 EB03 EB06 EC06 EC21 EC29 EC43 ED07 EE18 FA03 FC02 FD07 FD13 2C057 AF02 AF39 AH07 AH11 AH13 AL03 AL40 AM03 AM14 AP23 AP52 AP53 AP57 AP60 CA07 2C162 AE12 AE14 AE25 AE33 AE73 AE76 AE89 CA40 2H086 BA04 BA51 4J039 BD03 EA15 EA16 EA17 EA19 EA42 GA24

Claims (25)

[Claims] 1. An image is formed by controlling the number of inks pre-quantized at a constant density for each pixel based on an image signal, and transferring the controlled number of the quantized inks to an image receiver. An image forming method comprising: 2. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the quantized ink is microencapsulated. 3. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the amount of ink contained in one quantized ink is set to a predetermined constant gradation. 4. The image forming method according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined gradation is one density gradation. 5. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the quantized ink is a toner. 6. The image forming method according to claim 2, wherein the microcapsules are directly transferred to an image receiver. 7. The image forming method according to claim 2, wherein the microcapsules are broken during transfer to the image receptor or after being transferred to the image receptor. 8. The microcapsules are mixed with a carrier ink which does not substantially form an image after image formation, and transferred to an image receptor together with the carrier ink.
Any one of the image forming methods. 9. The image forming method according to claim 8, wherein the carrier ink into which the microcapsules are mixed is jetted as droplets onto the image receptor by an ink jet method. 10. The image forming method according to claim 8, wherein the carrier ink mixed with the microcapsules is transferred to the image receiver as a continuous liquid stream. 11. The image forming method according to claim 9, wherein the microcapsules are destroyed immediately before being mixed into the carrier ink. 12. The microcapsules are destroyed by heating, and the number of microcapsules to be destroyed is controlled by controlling a heating area of a heater provided in a passage of the microcapsules based on an image signal.
Image forming method. 13. A color image is formed by controlling the number of inks of a plurality of colors quantized at different densities for different colors for each pixel based on an image signal.
2. The image forming method according to any one of 2. 14. An image forming apparatus for forming an image by controlling the density of each pixel based on an image signal, wherein said quantized ink supply means supplies ink quantized at a constant density; An image recording head for supplying the ink supplied from the quantized ink supply unit to the image receptor; an image recording head for transferring the ink supplied from the quantized ink supply unit to the image receptor; and an image from the image recording head. A discharge number measuring means for controlling the number of quantized inks to be transferred to the receiver; and controlling the discharge number measuring means by calculating the number of quantized inks discharged for one pixel based on the image signal. An image forming apparatus comprising: an arithmetic control unit. 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the quantized ink is microencapsulated. 16. An image recording head having a quantized ink discharge port opened to face an image receptor, and the quantized ink discharged from the quantized ink discharge port is directly transferred to the image receptor. 14 or 15 image forming apparatus. 17. An image recording head, wherein an ink flow path for guiding a carrier ink which does not substantially form an image after image formation to a final ink discharge port is formed, and the quantized ink is supplied from the quantized ink discharge port to this ink. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink is ejected into the flow path and transferred to the image receptor together with the carrier ink.
4 or 15 image forming apparatus. 18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the image recording head includes an ink droplet discharging means for causing the carrier ink mixed with the quantized ink to fly as droplets from the final ink discharging port to the image receptor. 19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the image recording head transfers the carrier ink mixed with the quantized ink from the final ink ejection port to the image receptor as a continuous flow. 20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the quantized ink is microencapsulated, and the apparatus further comprises a capsule breaking means for breaking the microcapsules and mixing the ink into the carrier ink.
An image forming apparatus according to any one of 7 to 19. 21. The microcapsule can be broken by heating, and the capsule breaking means is formed by a heater provided in a capsule passage for guiding the microcapsule to a capsule discharge port, and controls a heating area of the heater based on an image signal. 21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the number of microcapsules to be destroyed is controlled. 22. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the quantized ink is microencapsulated, and a capsule breaking means is provided downstream of a capsule discharge port for discharging the microcapsules into an ink flow path. 23. The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the capsule breaking means is provided in a conveyance path of the image receptor. 24. The method according to claim 1, wherein the quantized ink or the carrier ink containing the ink is transferred from the image recording head to the final image receiver via the intermediate image receiver.
An image forming apparatus according to any one of 4 to 23. 25. An image forming ink used in the image forming method according to claim 2, wherein the image forming ink is quantized at a predetermined density and microencapsulated.