JP2008102314A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coloring apparatus increasing the efficiency of coloring treatment after printing for obtaining a printed fabric having high image density and having satisfactory feeling such as flexibility, to provide a printing device, and to provide a printing method. <P>SOLUTION: The printing device is provided with: a softening liquid having the property of softening a resin; a pretreatment means of feeding the softening liquid to a resin stuck to the body to be printed; and a coloring means of coloring dyes. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic printing method. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of printing a sheet-like material (hereinafter referred to as a fabric or the like in the present invention) such as a woven fabric, a knitted fabric, a nonwoven fabric or leather made of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or the like, or a blended fiber thereof by an electrophotographic method. In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement of a printing method by processing a fabric after printing.

  Conventional textile printing methods include screen printing methods, roller printing methods, rotary screen printing methods, thermal transfer printing methods, and recent inkjet printer printing methods. However, these printing methods have the following drawbacks.

  The screen printing method has the drawbacks that it takes time to manufacture the screen, takes up space for storing the screen, and the work is an intermittent process, so that the production speed of the printing is slow. On the other hand, the roller printing method with high production speed is difficult to handle because the process of engraving the pattern on the metal roll is complicated and the roller is heavy. The rotary screen printing method has the characteristics of the roller printing method and the screen printing method, and the rotary screen is lightweight and can be easily replaced.

  However, in any printing, it takes time to produce a screen for creating a new pattern, and roller engraving and adjustment of color paste are also required. For printing after printing, coloring of the dye is fixed by means such as steaming and dry heat treatment, and thereafter, there are various processes such as washing and drying. Since a long period of time is spent from design to printing fabric, and normal processing is forced to make predictions and prospective production, there are difficulties such as making and storing stock and bad stock. In particular, when fashion is diversified or individualized as in recent years, it is impossible to follow from the viewpoint of delivery, and disadvantages such as difficulty in profitability for processing a small variety of products are becoming problematic.

  Under these circumstances, a sheet printed with a sublimation dye was considered as a printing method with improved design of screens after design, roller engraving, adjustment of color paste, cleaning after printing, and drying process. This is a thermal transfer printing method in which a material is adhered to a fabric or the like, heated to sublimate the dye and dyed onto the fabric or the like, and the above-mentioned drawbacks and difficulties are considerably improved. However, the fibers that can be printed by this method are limited to pre-treated fabrics that can be dyed with polyester fibers or sublimation dyes, and the design change is limited to the master paper for transfer supplied by the printing maker. However, there are inefficiencies, transfer paper is uneconomical, and the processing process has the same difficulties as described above.

  Furthermore, in recent years, the printing industry has been increasingly required to shorten the delivery time in addition to the high-mix low-volume production, omitting the engraving plate making process, which is the biggest problem of the above-mentioned printing methods, and linked with the computer. Inkjet printers (see Patent Documents 1 and 2) were introduced in part. There is no need for engraving rolls or screens, production is possible immediately after receiving an order, the design and color can be changed easily, and the design can be stored and taken out more easily. Adopting this method has the disadvantage that it requires a large amount of funds and specialized skills and knowledge.

  On the other hand, a method of drawing a pattern using an electrophotographic copying machine that applies electrophotographic technology, that is, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum using an electrostatic copying machine, and toner containing colorant is electrostatically charged. In recent years, a method for carrying out copying and printing by transferring toner development to a fabric or the like at a transfer portion and thermally fusing and fixing the toner to the fabric or the like at a fixing portion has been developed and known. For example, a direct development printing method for fabrics by electronic printing (see Patent Document 3) is a method in which coloring is performed by steaming, and then washing and de-resining are performed using trichlene. As an electrostatic printing method (see Patent Documents 3 to 9), a method is proposed in which a dye is dyed on a cloth or the like by steam heat fixing, and then the binder resin in the toner is washed and removed with a solvent or the like. Solvents and the like lead to environmental pollution, and it is difficult to wash the binder resin. Further, although sublimation printing methods (see Patent Documents 10 to 14) using sublimable or vaporizable dyes are also known, these target fibers are polyester fibers, or compounds that can be dyed with sublimable dyes other than polyester fibers. In this case, it is necessary to perform the pretreatment process in advance, and there is a problem that the pretreatment is complicated and the target fibers are limited.

  At present, the electrophotographic system has obtained excellent electronic transfer printing when paper is used as a printed body, and is actually widely used industrially. However, when paper is used as a printed body, it is electronic. The fixing property of transfer printing is poor, and it is hardly put into practical use. That is, the toner conventionally used for electronic copying has extremely poor durability for consumption after being fixed on a cloth or the like, and the color depth and the sharpness are insufficient so that it cannot be put into practical use. In addition, the method of directly developing and printing toner on a cloth or the like by an electrophotographic method is difficult to develop a color by steaming and de-resining with a solvent such as trichlene, and the sublimation printing method is limited to target fibers. End up.

  Also, an electrophotographic printing method using a liquid toner has been devised. In this method, a liquid toner using a sublimation dye is developed by ion flow, a pattern is printed on a transfer material, and this is superimposed on a cloth or the like and transferred by sublimation heat (see Patent Documents 15 and 16). This method is a simple method with a natural touch and the like. However, in the case of color, there are drawbacks such as difficulty in producing a density superimposed on the second color and poor washing resistance. Further, the toner does not penetrate to the back surface of the fabric or the like, and it is necessary to perform double-side printing. In addition, the work is complicated, and there is a problem that paper (transfer material) that is no longer necessary after transfer onto a cloth or the like is wasted.

  On the other hand, the present applicant has proposed a printing method (see Patent Documents 17 and 18) in which an electrophotographic method using a liquid toner is used and a toner using a dye is directly transferred onto a cloth or the like. This method requires less transfer and simplifies the process because it requires a transfer material such as paper, which is a medium for transferring to a fabric or the like. Compared with the above sublimation thermal transfer method, it was possible to obtain a high-density printed fabric with good color development.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-195576 Japanese Patent No. 2995135 JP-A 51-56313 JP-A 52-18985 Japanese Patent Publication No.59-006959 Japanese Patent Publication No.59-020795 Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-009155 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 53-130385 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-213978 Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 58-036771 JP-A-56-30143 JP 58-87378 A Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 04-021598 JP 61-113299 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-73198 JP-A-10-239916 JP 2005-195636 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-23477

  However, in the above system, since the dye is printed as a toner on a cloth or the like, that is, the dye is wrapped in a resin for charging, the efficiency of transferring the dye from the resin in the toner to the cloth or the like is poor. On the other hand, there are problems such that the degree of color development is slightly inferior to that of various conventional textile printing methods, and the resin in the toner affects the texture. This is because in the electrophotographic system, since the toner needs to be charged, the toner needs a resin.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and is a color forming apparatus and a printing method for improving the color processing after printing in order to obtain a printed fabric having a high image density and good texture such as flexibility. An object is to provide an apparatus and a printing method.

  As a result of intensive studies, the present inventors have found that a softening liquid having the property of softening the resin, a pretreatment means for supplying the softening liquid to the resin adhering to the printed material, and a coloring means for coloring the dye And the present invention has been found to solve the above problems.

That is, the color developing device of the present invention is specifically characterized by the following technical means and methods.
(1) In a color developing device for coloring a printed material printed using a colorant containing a resin and a dye, a softening liquid having a property of softening the resin is attached to the resin adhering to the printed material. It is characterized by comprising pre-processing means for supplying and coloring means for coloring the dye.
(2) The softening liquid has a boiling point higher than a coloring temperature of the dye.
(3) The softening point of the resin is higher than the coloring temperature of the dye.
(4) The resin softening liquid has an affinity for the resin.
(5) The pretreatment means supplies the softening liquid to an adhesion surface side to which a resin of the printing object is adhered.
(6) The pretreatment means supplies the softening liquid in a non-contact manner with respect to the adhesion surface.
(7) The pretreatment means supplies the softening liquid in a foam form to the adhesion surface.
(8) A resin removing means for applying a physical force to the resin adhering to the printed body is provided.

The textile printing apparatus and textile printing method of the present invention are specifically characterized by the following technical means and methods.
(1) A printing apparatus comprising: a printing apparatus provided with a printing unit that prints on a printed material using a colorant including a resin and a dye; and the color developing apparatus.
(2) The printing apparatus, wherein the printing means is electrophotographic printing means using an electrophotographic system.
(3) The textile printing apparatus, wherein the colorant is a liquid developer containing a toner and a carrier liquid.
(4) The textile printing apparatus, wherein the softening liquid has an affinity for the carrier liquid.
(5) A printing process for printing on a printed material using a colorant containing a resin and a dye, and supplying a softening liquid having a property of softening the resin to the resin adhering to the printed material A textile printing method comprising a pretreatment step for pretreatment and a color development step for coloring a dye.
(6) A printing method characterized by printing a printed material in the order of a printing process, a pretreatment process, and a coloring process.

  According to the present invention, since the dye can be transferred to the cloth or the like before the color treatment, there is an excellent effect that the color can be developed with high efficiency.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

[Embodiment]
(Coloring device)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the color development apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail.
The color developing device of the present invention comprises a softening liquid having a property of softening a resin, a pretreatment means for supplying the softening liquid to a resin adhering to a fabric to be printed, and a coloring means for coloring a dye. It is equipped with.

(Pretreatment means)
The softening of the resin, which is a pretreatment in the present embodiment, will be described. In this embodiment, the resin softening process is performed after the printing process and before the coloring process. A resin softening device, which is a pretreatment means, applies a liquid having a property of softening a resin (hereinafter referred to as a softening liquid in the present invention) to a cloth or the like.

(Fabric etc.)
Any fabric structure can be used as the fabric, regardless of whether it is a woven fabric, a knitted fabric, a non-woven fabric, a braid, or the like, and a woven fabric is particularly preferable.

  As materials constituting the fabric and the like, various polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate, synthetic fibers such as polyethylene, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, vinylon, acrylic, nylon, and acetate, recycled fibers such as rayon, cotton, Examples thereof include cellulosic fibers such as hemp and animal fibers such as silk and wool, and these may be blended or woven.

(Softening solution)
As the softening agent used in the softening liquid, it has been found that fatty acid esters are excellent in solubility in the toner resin.
Specific examples of the aliphatic esters include diethyl succinate, diethyl adipate, diisobutyl adipate, diisopropyl adipate, diisodecyl adipate, diethyl sebacate, dibutyl sebacate and the like.

  In some cases, such as when the softener is too soluble in the resin, the softener is diluted. As the diluting liquid, silicone oils, olefinic solvents, paraffinic solvents, fluorinated solvents and the like are excellent, and in consideration of safety, a liquid having an LD50 of 3 g / kg or more is selected. Specifically, polydimethylsiloxane having a viscosity of about 1 to 10 mPa · s, tetramer or pentamer polymethylcyclosiloxane, and the like are suitable as silicone oils. As paraffin type, n-decane, n-dodecane, n-undecane and the like are suitable. Hydrofluoroethers are suitable as the fluorinated solvent.

  Although the softening solution can be prepared using the softening agent and the diluting solution, the softening agent may be used as the softening solution without diluting.

(Resin softening device)
In the resin softening device, the toner adhering to the cloth or the like is swollen and softened by applying a softening liquid to the cloth or the like after the printing, and further enters into the fibers constituting the cloth or the like. The dye in the toner (although there is a dye appearing on the surface of the resin lump) is encased in the resin and has a lump shape. Here, when the resin is swollen and softened by the softening liquid, the resin is further entangled with the fibers, and the shape is changed by softening from the lump, thereby increasing the chance that the dye appears on the surface, and the dye in the toner is increased. It becomes easy to move to fiber.

  In the conventional dye toner, it is considered that the toner resin dissolves and becomes entangled with the fiber, and the dye migrates to the fiber mainly during the coloring process using high-temperature steam. Softening and dye transfer have already occurred in the pre-treatment process (resin softening process) before high temperature treatment, and further promoted in high temperature steam, more dye migrates to the fiber, so it is more efficient It can be dyed and a printed fabric with a high color density is obtained.

  This resin softening process may be installed between the drying process and the coloring process, or may be installed between the printing process and the drying process. However, in the case of a liquid developer, the above drying step is necessary because the cloth or the like gets wet, but when the dry toner is used, the cloth or the like does not get wet and is omitted.

  At this time, if a softening liquid having a boiling point higher than the temperature during the subsequent color processing is selected, it does not volatilize until the temperature reaches the color processing temperature, so that the resin can be kept softened, from resin to fabric, etc. The dye transfer is efficiently performed. If the softening liquid is volatilized, the resin is cured, and transfer and coloring of the dye becomes disadvantageous. There is also an advantage that the softening liquid does not volatilize and does not affect the environment. When the softening liquid volatilizes, the number of steps such as recovery of volatile components increases, which is inefficient. Further, if it is volatilized in the atmosphere, it may adhere to the resin used in the apparatus or the resin product in the room where the apparatus is installed and re-liquefy to soften the resin. As an example of the softening liquid whose boiling point is higher than the temperature at the time of color development, dibutyl sebacate in Example 2 of the softening liquid described later has a boiling point of about 345 ° C.

  As the softening liquid, it is preferable to use a liquid having affinity for the resin of the toner containing the dye. Since the softening liquid has an affinity, the softening liquid easily penetrates into the resin of the toner, and the time for softening the resin can be shortened. Thereby, the opportunity to transfer dye more efficiently to the fibers constituting the fabric or the like can be provided, and the speed of the coloring process can be increased. Here, having affinity for the toner means that it has a property of adhering to the toner without being bounced. In addition, both the softening solutions of Examples 1 and 2 described later have an affinity for the resin used in the electrophotographic toner.

  When a softening solution is used, a toner whose softening point is higher than the temperature set in the color development step can be used. In the conventional toner, since the resin of the toner is dissolved and entangled with the fiber, it is considered that the dye is transferred to the fiber mainly during the coloring process using high-temperature steam. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the softening of the resin and the transfer of the dye have already occurred before the high temperature treatment. Therefore, it is not necessary to soften the toner resin by performing a high temperature treatment in the color developing step, and the temperature of the color developing step lower than the softening point of the toner resin can be set. When the softening point of the toner resin is higher than the color development temperature, there is an advantage that the selection range of the toner resin is widened and the stability is high and the storage stability is good.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a resin softening device provided in the color developing device of the present invention.
The softening liquid may be applied to the toner resin adhered to the cloth or the like by immersing the printed cloth or the like in the softening liquid. However, it is not always necessary for the toner to permeate the entire front and back of the fabric or the like, and the toner may be placed on only one surface to be used. In that case, if the softening liquid is applied only to the adhesion surface to which the resin such as the cloth is adhered, the amount of the softening liquid used is small, which is economical.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a softening liquid application portion of a resin softening device provided in the color developing device of the present invention.
When the cloth or the like 12 is immersed in the softening liquid, the toner before being softened may be separated from the cloth or the like 12 and scattered in the softening liquid. For example, as shown in FIG. The softening liquid is applied to the surface of 41a of the two rollers 41a and 41b facing each other that forms an electric field, and the cloth or the like 12 is passed between the two rollers 41a and 41b. A softening solution can be applied so as not to leave.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a softening liquid application portion by a spray method of the resin softening device provided in the color developing device of the present invention.
As shown in the figure, when applied non-contact to the toner placed on the fabric 12 using a method such as spraying a softening liquid, for example, when applied by contact such as applying with a roller, The toner does not adhere to the applying means and does not disturb the image. Since toner may be scattered by the momentum of the spray, it is necessary to adjust the spraying condition.

4 and 5 are schematic views showing a liquid application portion for applying a foam-like softening liquid in a resin softening device provided in the color development apparatus of the present invention.
As a foam softening liquid application method that does not disturb the toner placed on the surface of a fabric or the like, the methods shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are effective. As a method of applying the foam-like softening liquid, as shown in FIG. 4, a method of measuring and applying the foam amount by providing a gap between the two rollers 41a and 41b, or a pair of opposing faces as shown in FIG. It is preferable to use a roller 41a, 41b and another roller 41c facing the roller 41a to apply a pre-weighed form on the roller. When the foam softening liquid applied on the roller surface was transferred to the cloth 12 using the liquid application method shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, it was possible to apply the liquid uniformly without moving the toner.

(Coloring means)
The fabric or the like printed by the printing apparatus undergoes a coloring process (fixation) after passing through a drying process and a pretreatment process for applying a softening solution. Examples of coloring means include HT steaming, HP steaming, and thermosoling (thermosol method). HT steaming is a process using heated steam obtained by heating steam. For example, wet heat treatment is performed at about 175 ° C. for 8 minutes. HP steaming uses high-temperature and high-pressure steam, for example, wet heat treatment at about 130 ° C. for 30 minutes. Further, the thermosoling is performed, for example, at about 200 ° C. × 90 seconds. An appropriate coloring means is selected depending on the type of fabric or the like.

  The toner on the cloth or the like is fixed to the cloth or the like by the coloring means, and the dye in the toner moves to the cloth or the like.

  After the coloring process, the fabric and the like are washed with water, washed with hot water at 50 ° C. or less, and then washed with reduction. For example, the reduction cleaning is 1 to 5 in a mixture of 2 mL of 38 ° Baume caustic soda at 70 to 80 ° C. (caustic soda having a Baume degree of 38 ° which is a unit corresponding to specific gravity), 2 g of hydrosulfite and 1 g / L of a cleaning agent. It is something to immerse. Thereafter, it is further washed with hot water at 50 to 60 ° C., washed with water and dried.

  Further, as the final product, for example, a finishing agent such as an antistatic agent, a water repellent, or a functional agent may be added.

(Coloring agent)
Next, as an example of the colorant used in this embodiment, an example of a liquid developer is shown. The liquid developer refers to toner and carrier liquid.

  As the dye contained in the toner that can be used in the exemplary embodiment, a direct dye, an acid dye, or a basic dye (cationic dye) reactive dye is used. Examples of direct dyes include Direct Fast Yellow R, Direct Fast Yellow GC, Direct Fast Orange, Direct Sky Blue 5B, Direct Splat Red 3B, Coplantin Green G, Direct Fast Black D, and Acid Dyes. Brilliant Scarlet 3R, Acid Violet 5B, Alizarin Direct Blue A2G, Acid Cyanine 6B, Acid Cyanine Green G, Acid First Black VLG, and the like. Cationic dyes include Cationic Yellow 3G, Cationic Golden Yellow GL, Cationic Orange R Cationic Brilliant Red 4G, Cationic Blue 5G, etc., and reactive dyes include Reactive Orange 2R and Reactive Red 3B Reactive Blue 3G, Reactive Brilliant Blue R, Reactive Black B, and the like. 80% by weight or more of these dyes are present in a dispersed state in the carrier liquid.

  When these dyes are used, they are excellent in the reflection on the back surface of fabrics and the like and fastness to washing. Depending on the material of the fabric, etc., it is better to select the dye and the dyeing property and fastness to washing are better. For example, in the case of a fabric made of synthetic fibers such as polyester, acetate, polyethylene, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, vinylon, a disperse dye is used. Basic dyes in the case of acrylic, reactive dyes in the case of cellulosic fabrics such as cotton and hemp, direct dyes, direct dyes in fabrics such as nylon and rayon, and acidic fabrics such as silk and wool Each dye is desirable.

  Commercially available powder dyes have a dye purity of about 50% and often contain a large amount of salt and sodium sulfate, which adversely affects the resistance and chargeability of the solution. It is better to use a dye. In the present invention, the purity is desirably 80% or more.

  The carrier liquid used in the liquid developer of the present embodiment is preferably a high resistance and low dielectric constant material, such as isoparaffinic hydrocarbons and silicone oils. Isoparaffinic hydrocarbons include Isopar C, Isopar E, Isopar G, Isopar H, Isopar L, Isopar M, Isopar V (Exxon Chemical), etc. As the silicone oil, 1 to 10,000 mPas of KF96 (Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) Company), SH200, SH344 (Toray Dow Corning Co., Ltd.), TSF451 (GE Toshiba Silicone) and the like. Of these, saturated hydrocarbons having a boiling point of 130 ° C. or higher are good in terms of toner odor and safety. These solvents can be evaporated in the subsequent heating and steaming steps.

  Further, as the dispersing resin contained in the toner in the present exemplary embodiment, the vinyl monomer represented by the following general formula (1), the vinyl monomer represented by the general formula (2), and the remaining third component Examples thereof include a copolymer and a graft copolymer made of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of vinylpyridine, vinylpyrrolidone, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, styrene, divinylbenzene, and vinyltoluene.

(R1 represents H or CH3, R2 represents a C1-C4 alkyl group, and n represents an integer of 6-20.)
The copolymerization ratio of component (1) and component (2) is 60 to 95:40 to 5, preferably 70 to 90:30 to 10, and the third component is 0 to 5 of component (1). % Is preferred.

  By introducing these dyes, resins, and carrier liquids into a dispersing machine such as a ball mill, a kitty mill, a disk mill, and a pin mill, dispersing and kneading to prepare a concentrated toner, and dispersing this in the supporting liquid of the present invention A liquid developer having a particle size of about 0.1 to 3 μm can be obtained.

Next, as an example of the colorant used in the present invention, an example of a dry toner will be shown.
The dry toner is produced by melt-kneading a binder resin, a dye and, if necessary, a polarity control agent, pulverizing the kneaded product, and classifying it to an appropriate particle size.

  Here, as the binder resin, polystyrene, chloropolystyrene, poly-α-methylstyrene, styrene-chlorostyrene copolymer, styrene-propylene copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-vinyl chloride copolymer, Styrene-vinyl acetate copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, styrene-acrylic acid ester copolymer (styrene-methyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer) Polymer, styrene-octyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-phenyl acrylate copolymer, etc.), styrene-methacrylic acid ester copolymer (styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene) -Butyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-methacrylic Styrene resins (styrene or styrene-substituted single polymers or copolymers) such as acid phenyl copolymers, styrene-α-chloroacrylic acid methyl copolymers, styrene-acrylonitrile-acrylic acid ester copolymers, etc. ), Vinyl chloride resin, rosin modified maleic acid resin, phenol resin, epoxy resin, polyester resin, low molecular weight polyethylene, low molecular weight polypropylene, ionomer resin, polyurethane resin, ketone resin, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, xylene resin, polyvinyl And butyral and mixtures thereof.

  Among the binder resins for toner, polystyrene resin, styrene-acrylic copolymer resin, polyester resin, and phenol resin are preferably used.

  Preferred examples of the dye include those shown in the above-mentioned liquid developer.

  Examples of the polarity control agent include quaternary ammonium compounds and amino group-containing polymers for positive polarity, and salicylic acid metal salts for negative polarity.

  In addition, various plasticizers (dibutyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate, etc.) and resistance modifiers (tin oxide, lead oxide, antimony oxide, etc.) are added for the purpose of adjusting the thermal, electrical, physical properties, etc. of the toner. It is also possible to add an agent.

Furthermore, SiO ₂ , TiO ₂ , Al ₂ O ₃ , CeO, SiC, zinc stearate and the like, which are generally known as fluidity improvers, abrasives, or lubricants, may be used as fine particles for addition.

(Resin removal process)
FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a resin removal process applicable to the color forming apparatus of the present invention.
The fabric or the like to which the softening liquid is applied is then subjected to a color treatment by the method as described above. After the coloring process, the resin constituting the colorant such as the toner may remain attached to the cloth 12 as it is. However, since the texture may change due to the resin being attached, In order to obtain a texture that does not change as much as possible, it is desirable to remove the resin. The resin to which the softening solution is attached remains soft unless it is volatilized in the coloring process. The resin can be removed by scraping it off with a physical force such as the brush 42 as shown in the figure. There are a method in which the resin scraped off is sucked using a suction device 43 as shown in the figure, and a method in which the resin is scraped off again in a softening liquid bath and recovered. There is also a method of removing the resin before the coloring process, but the dye is transferred to the fiber to some extent by the softening of the resin by the softening liquid, but since the transfer of the dye from the toner resin to the fiber also occurs during the coloring process, A higher density printed fabric can be obtained by removing the resin after the color treatment. After removing the resin, it is washed as described above. This resin removal step may be installed, for example, between the coloring step and the cleaning step.

(Image forming device)
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an image forming apparatus) using a liquid developer which is a textile printing apparatus of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an image forming unit according to the textile printing apparatus of the present invention.
The outline of the image forming unit around the photosensitive drum 23 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 7, there is a uniform charging device 21 directly above the photosensitive drum 23 to charge the surface of the photosensitive drum. Charges other than the image portion are erased by partial lighting of the erase lamp 22. Then, the reflected light 8 from the original is imaged on the surface of the photosensitive drum 23 by an exposure device (not shown). As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 23. The developing device 2 includes two developing rollers, a first developing roller 9 and a second developing roller 10, and a reverse roller 11. A liquid developer 31 is contained in the developing tank 29, and the liquid developer 31 is conveyed to the developing device 2 and the cleaning device 16 by the pump 30. The liquid developer 31 sent to the developing device 2 is poured into the two developing rollers of the first developing roller 9 and the second developing roller 10. The two developing rollers rotate, and the liquid developer is supplied to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 23 by this rotation. Therefore, the toner in the liquid developer adheres on the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 23 by electrophotographic electrophoresis. Next, the reverse roller 11 installed with a smaller distance from the photoconductor than the developing roller removes excess carrier liquid and undeveloped toner from the liquid developer adhering to the surface of the photoconductor drum. Thereafter, the developer image formed on the photosensitive drum is transferred onto a cloth or the like by the transfer device 13. The residual liquid developer that has not been transferred is sucked by the foam roller 18 in the cleaning device 16, further squeezed from the foam roller 18 by the squeezing roller 17, and returned to the developing tank 29. Further, the remaining liquid developer is scraped off by a cleaning blade 19 for cleaning the photosensitive drum 23 cleanly. The liquid developer scraped off is also sucked by the foam roller 18.

  Next, an outline of the entire printing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. The cloth 12 or the like conveyed from a roll (not shown) passes through a guide for conveying the cloth or the like and hits the registration roller 3. Here, a timing is set so that the image on the photosensitive drum 23 is aligned with a predetermined position of the cloth or the like 12 conveyed to the registration roller 3, and a driving source (not shown) for driving the registration roller 3 is used by an electromagnetic clutch (not shown). Then, the driving force is transmitted to rotate the registration roller 3 to convey the fabric 12 or the like. Thereafter, the fabric 12 that has passed through the registration roller 3 is opposed to the photosensitive drum 23, and the photosensitive drum 23 and the fabric 12 move together to reach the position just above the transfer device 13. The developer image formed on the photosensitive drum 23 as described above is transferred and printed by the potential. Thereafter, the fabric 12 and the like are separated from the photosensitive drum 23. The separated fabric and the like are then conveyed to a coloring device (not shown) by a conveying device (not shown).

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a process flow in the textile printing apparatus of the present invention.
In the textile printing apparatus of the present invention, for example, after developing with a liquid developer in the above-described electrophotographic printing apparatus, a fabric or the like is conveyed to a resin softening apparatus by a conveying apparatus (not shown) through a drying process in a dryer. Is done. In the resin softening device, the resin component of the toner adhering to the cloth or the like is softened to promote the color development of the dye, and further, the color is developed by being transported to the steamer as the color development device. The colored fabric is conveyed to a finishing process (not shown) through a washing process. In the cleaning process, reduction cleaning, washing with water, and drying are sequentially performed to remove unnecessary resin components and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the resin softening step may be installed between the drying step (dryer) and the coloring step (steamer), and the printing step (electrophotographic printing apparatus) and the drying step ( It may be installed between the dryer and the dryer.

  The softening of the resin with the softening liquid is effective when a colorant containing a resin that can be softened with the softening liquid is used, but it is more efficient when used as a liquid developer as a colorant containing the resin. By applying a softening liquid to the fabric after printing, the toner adhering to the fabric etc. is softened and further penetrates into the fibers constituting the fabric etc., but the liquid developer depends on the fineness of the particle size and the liquid carrier. For example, as compared with dry toner, it is considered that most of the image is infiltrated into the fiber when the image visualized and developed by the developer is transferred onto a cloth or the like. Therefore, when the resin is softened by the softening liquid, the opportunity for the dye to transfer to the fiber is increased, and the dye can be transferred to the fiber more efficiently. In addition, since the particle size is fine, the softening liquid swells in each particle faster than that of the large particle size. For this reason, it can dye more efficiently and can obtain a high-density printed fabric.

  When a liquid developer is used, since the toner is dispersed in the carrier liquid, it is desirable to use a softening liquid having an affinity for the carrier liquid in order to efficiently attach the softening liquid to the toner. Here, having affinity for the carrier liquid means a property that does not separate even when mixed with the carrier liquid.

  By using a softening liquid having an affinity for the carrier liquid of the liquid developer, the softening liquid can easily penetrate into the carrier liquid and the time until the softening liquid reaches the resin particles of the toner can be shortened. The time for softening can be shortened. As a result, it is possible to increase the color development speed and to obtain a printed fabric having a high color density. Both Examples 1 and 2 of the softening liquid described later have an affinity for the carrier liquid.

  In the case of a liquid developer in which the carrier liquid is volatile, after the carrier liquid is volatilized through a drying process, the softening liquid can directly adhere to the toner without passing through the carrier liquid. There is an advantage that the toner image is hardly disturbed by entering between the fibers more than before drying.

[Example 1 of softening solution]
・ Diisobutyl adipate (softener, LD50 = 12.3 g / kg) 4 wt%
Dimethylsiloxane (1 mPa · s, solvent, LD50 = 15 g / kg) 96 wt%

Disperse and mix 0.4 kg of diisobutyl adipate in 9.6 kg of dimethylsiloxane at 3000 rpm with a homomixer over 20 minutes to prepare 10 kg of the softening solution 1. (Cool the temperature to 40 ° C or less)

[Example 2 of softening solution]
・ Dibutyl sebacate (softener, LD50 = 14.9 g / kg) 30 wt%
Dimethylsiloxane (1 mPa · s, solvent, LD50 = 15 g / kg) 70 wt%

Disperse and mix 3 kg of dibutyl sebacate in 7 kg of dimethylsiloxane at 3000 rpm in a homomixer for about 20 minutes to prepare 10 kg of softening liquid 2. (Cool the temperature to 40 ° C or less)

[Example 3 of softening solution]
Diluting solvent: Ion exchange water 70wt%
Softener: Diethoxyethyl succinate (Croda Croda DES) 10wt%
Thickener: Glycerin 5wt%
Foam enhancer: palm fatty acid diethanolamide (comicado DEA) 2wt%
Foaming agent: potassium palmitate 5 wt%
Potassium myristate 3wt%
Potassium stearate 2wt%
Dispersant: POE (20) lauryl sorbitan (Kao Leodol TW-S120V)
3wt%

  First, at the above component ratio, a softening agent was removed at a liquid temperature of 90 ° C. and mixed and stirred to prepare a solution. Next, a softening agent was mixed to prepare a softening solution stock solution (stock solution before forming) which is the softening solution 3 in which the softening agent was dissolved.

<Encapsulation in high-pressure sealed container>
95wt% liquid containing softener
Liquefied gas (LPG) 5wt%
The O / W emulsion liquid in which the liquefied gas was dispersed was prepared by mixing in a sealed container having an actuator part for opening to the atmosphere and a nozzle part at the above component ratio. (Softening solution 3 is dissolved in the fixing solution)

[Example 4 of softening solution]
Diluting solvent: Isopar H (made by ExxonMobil) 70 wt%
Softening agent: Diethoxyethyl succinate (Croda Croda DES) 15wt%
Thickener: Glycerin 5wt%
Foaming agent: diglycerin fatty acid monoester 10wt%

  An O / W emulsion liquid in which the liquefied gas was dispersed was prepared in the same manner as in Example 3 with the above component ratio. (Softening solution 4 is dissolved in fixing solution)

It is the schematic which shows the resin softening apparatus which concerns on the coloring device of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the softening liquid provision part of the resin softening apparatus which concerns on the coloring device of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the softening liquid provision part by the spray system of the resin softening apparatus which concerns on the coloring device of this invention. It is one schematic diagram which shows the liquid provision part which provides the foam-like softening liquid in the resin softening apparatus which concerns on the color development apparatus of this invention. It is the other schematic which shows the liquid provision part which provides the foam-like softening liquid in the resin softening apparatus which concerns on the color development apparatus of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the resin removal process applicable to the color development apparatus of this invention. It is the schematic of the image formation part which concerns on the textile printing apparatus of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the process flow in the textile printing apparatus of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Developing device 3 Registration roller 8 Reflected light 9 1st developing roller 10 2nd developing roller 11 Reverse roller 12 Fabric etc. 13 Transfer device 16 Cleaning device 18 Foam roller 21 Charging device 22 Erase lamp 23 Photosensitive drum 29 Developing tank 30 Pump 31 Liquid developer 41a, 41b, 41c Roller 42 Brush 43 Suction device

Claims (14)

In a color developing device for coloring a printed material printed using a colorant containing a resin and a dye,
A color forming apparatus comprising: pretreatment means for supplying a softening liquid having a property of softening the resin to the resin adhered to the printed material; and color forming means for coloring the dye.   The color developing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the softening liquid has a boiling point higher than a color development temperature of the dye.   The color developing device according to claim 1, wherein a softening point of the resin is higher than a color development temperature of the dye.   The color developing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the softening solution of the resin has an affinity for the resin.   5. The color development apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pretreatment unit supplies the softening liquid to an adhesion surface side on which a resin of the printed material is adhered.   The color developing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the pretreatment unit supplies the softening liquid in a non-contact manner to the adhesion surface.   The color developing device according to claim 5, wherein the pretreatment unit supplies the softening liquid in a foam state to the adhesion surface.   The color developing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a resin removing unit that applies a physical force to the resin adhering to the printed body.   It has a printing apparatus provided with the printing means which prints on a to-be-printed body using the coloring agent containing resin and dye, and the coloring apparatus of any one of Claim 1 thru | or 8 characterized by the above-mentioned. Textile printing equipment.   The printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the printing means is an electrophotographic printing means using an electrophotographic system.   The printing apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the colorant is a liquid developer containing a toner and a carrier liquid.   The printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the softening liquid has an affinity for the carrier liquid.   A printing process for printing on a printed material using a colorant containing a resin and a dye, and a pre-treatment by supplying a softening liquid having a property of softening the resin to the resin adhering to the printed material A textile printing method comprising a pretreatment step and a coloring step for coloring a dye. 14. The printing method according to claim 13, wherein the printing object is printed in the order of a printing process, a pretreatment process, and a coloring process.

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