JP2014034154A - Recording method and recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a glossy high-quality image having no irregular shapes by including a device for spraying gas immediately before an active ray irradiation device for irradiating active ray curable ink on a recording medium with active rays and applying active rays in a dot height suppressed state, to perform printing with a smaller ink amount by achieving a thinner layer, and to provide a printing method and a printing device compact and capable of achieving low cost by using air blown from the irradiation device as warm air.SOLUTION: Active ray curable ink is discharged onto a conveyed recording medium 5, and air is sprayed immediately before active ray irradiation. As the active ray curable ink, active ray curable ink including room-temperature solid monomer and/or a hot melt resin which is liquid within the temperature range of at least 50 to 100°C is used.

Description

  The present invention relates to actinic ray curable ink, particularly ultraviolet (UV light) curable ink, and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an ink jet image forming apparatus.

  The present invention can perform high-quality image formation on a wide range of recording media regardless of whether the recording media are permeable or non-permeable. Examples include the field of printing on various papers, metals, cans, plastics, paper, wood materials, inorganic materials, painted plates, laminate plates, PET films, and the like.

In recent years, as a means for forming an image, a wide range of means such as a silver salt photograph, an electrophotographic system, a thermal transfer system, and an ink jet recording system have been provided. In particular, the ink jet recording method is simple and inexpensive and can be used for various printing fields such as plain paper printing, various types of printing such as photographic image quality printing, marking, and special printing such as color filters.
In addition, the inkjet recording method includes an aqueous inkjet method using a water-based ink mainly composed of water, a solvent-based inkjet method using an ink mainly composed of a quick-drying organic solvent, and irradiation with ultraviolet (UV) light after recording. There are an actinic ray curable ink jet method that cures by heating, a hot melt type method that uses a hot melt ink that is solid at room temperature, and the like.
The actinic light type ink jet method has attracted attention in recent years because it has a relatively low odor compared to the solvent type ink jet method, and can record on a recording medium having no quick drying and no ink absorbability. Photo-curable inks that do not contain solvents are superior in terms of environment such as VOC reduction. However, in printing on non-absorbent recording media, UV irradiation and curing are performed with the uneven shape of the landing dots remaining, and gloss is obtained. The printed image may have a poor feeling.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-105382 of Patent Document 1 discloses an undercoat liquid application process for applying an undercoat liquid onto a recording medium, an application surface condition improving process for improving the application surface condition of the applied undercoat liquid, By an ink jet recording technique comprising an undercoat liquid semi-curing step for semi-curing the undercoat liquid having an improved surface shape, and an image forming step for forming an image by discharging ink onto the surface of the semi-cured undercoat liquid, Although it is described that image uniformity between various recording media is high and high-quality image formation can be performed, there are problems such as a large number of processing steps and a large apparatus.

  In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-083566 of Patent Document 2 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-144759 of Patent Document 3, printing is performed by ejecting an actinic ray curable aqueous ink onto a recording medium from an ink jet recording head. By printing technology that is cured by irradiation and then dried, plain paper recording has good anti-feathering and low ink absorption. In addition, it is described that the type of the recording medium is detected by a gloss sensor, and an image having no gloss unevenness and maintaining image flatness is obtained. However, since an aqueous actinic ray curable ink is used, there are problems such as clogging caused by drying in the vicinity of the nozzles of the ink jet recording head and time required for drying water during high-speed printing. Further, after the ink is cured by irradiating with actinic rays, it has a drying means for blowing warm air to evaporate and remove moisture.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-306425 of Patent Document 4 discloses a method in which a curable ink is cured by active energy and then subjected to a fixing process by heating and pressing according to the type of recording medium used. It is described that even a recording medium can stabilize image quality by suppressing variations in gloss. However, in the case of the heat and pressure treatment, there are problems such that the pressure becomes uneven due to the image pattern and the image quality tends to be disturbed, and the heat and pressure treatment mechanism becomes large.

  In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-179136 of Patent Document 5 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-043435 of Patent Document 6, a liquid on the intermediate transfer member is irradiated with energy rays to form a polymer, and heated to form a recording medium. In the ink jet recording method for transfer, either the radically polymerizable group or the cationically polymerizable group of the ink is selectively polymerized and cured or transferred to a recording medium by heating and pressing at a temperature higher than the softening point of the monofunctional polymerizable compound. By doing so, it is said that an intermediate transfer type image forming method having adhesion to a recording medium and strength of an ink film and having safety can be provided. However, since the intermediate transfer member is used, there is a problem that the apparatus becomes large and the material is limited.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-137375 of Patent Document 7 is stable even under high environmental humidity conditions by providing a heat plate type heating means that heats a cationic polymerization type ultraviolet curable ink that has landed on a printing medium. It is described that curability can be obtained. However, there is no mention of smoothing the ink dots by the heating means, and naturally there is no mention of the specific contents of the smoothing.
Moreover, in the system of a combination of an anion reactive compound and a photobase generator, the reaction proceeds even with a weak base, and unlike the cationic system, corrosion is not a problem, but there is a problem that the reaction is very slow.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation.
The first object is to irradiate actinic rays in a state where the dot height is suppressed by providing a device that blows gas immediately before the actinic ray irradiating device that irradiates actinic ray curable ink on the recording medium. Thus, it is possible to obtain a high-quality printed image having no uneven shape and a glossy feeling, and to enable printing with a small amount of ink because it is a thin layer. Furthermore, since a room-temperature solid actinic ray curable ink is used, the ink heated and melted by the recording head is cooled in a short time immediately after landing on the recording medium, and changes to solid from the edge portion of the dot. For this reason, it is possible to obtain a high-quality printed image regardless of the type of recording medium. The term “room temperature solid” as used in the present invention means that the fluidity is poor at room temperature and looks like a solid or a paste-like semi-solid. Although it may be shown, it usually means liquefaction when heated to 50 ° C. or higher.
The second purpose is to propose a recording method that is compact and can be reduced in cost by using the exhausted air from the irradiation device as the warm air.
The third object is to provide a recording apparatus having the above recording method.

The above problems are solved by the “recording method” and “recording apparatus” described in the following (1) to (4) of the present invention.
(1) A recording unit provided with a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium, a heating unit for discharging actinic ray curable ink onto the recording medium conveyed by the conveying unit, and the recording medium by the recording head Using the actinic ray irradiating device that irradiates the actinic ray curable ink discharged onto the actinic ray irradiating device and a device that blows gas immediately before the actinic ray irradiating device, as the actinic ray curable ink, A recording method using an actinic ray curable ink containing a room temperature solid monomer or / and a hot melt resin which is liquid in a temperature range of at least 50 to 100 ° C.
(2) The recording method according to (1), wherein the gas blown immediately before the actinic ray irradiation device is warm air.
(3) The recording method according to (2), wherein the warm air is exhaust air from the actinic ray irradiation device.
(4) Conveying means for conveying the recording medium, a recording head for ejecting actinic ray curable ink onto the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means, and the recording head ejected onto the recording medium An actinic ray curable ink that irradiates actinic ray curable ink with an actinic ray and an apparatus that blows gas immediately before the actinic ray irradiating device, and an actinic ray curable ink that becomes solid at room temperature as the actinic ray curable ink A recording apparatus characterized by being used.

In the recording method of (1), an actinic ray is emitted in a state where the dot height is suppressed by providing a device for blowing gas immediately before the actinic ray irradiating device that irradiates actinic ray curable ink on the recording medium. By irradiating, a high-quality printed image with no unevenness and gloss can be obtained, and since it is a thin layer, printing can be performed with a small amount of ink.
In the recording method (2), by using warm air as the gas blown immediately before the actinic ray irradiation device, smoothness is improved and a recording method with higher gloss can be proposed.
In the recording method (3), since the warm air is discharged from the irradiator, it is possible to propose a recording method that is compact and can be reduced in cost.
In the recording apparatus of (4), by having the above-described recording method, a high-quality recorded matter can be obtained.

1 is an example of a schematic configuration diagram of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an example of the schematic block diagram of the other recording device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an example of the schematic block diagram of the other recording device which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

The recording method and recording apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an example of a schematic configuration diagram of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In the recording apparatus (1) of the present embodiment, the recording medium (5) is conveyed from the recording medium supply unit (2) to the recording medium stacker unit (4) via the recording medium conveying unit (3), and the recording head The actinic ray curable ink ejected by the section (6) lands on the recording medium (5). It should be noted that the operation of the entire printing apparatus and the data processing therefor are controlled by a control circuit (not shown) such as conveyance of the printing medium and driving for discharging ink from the printing head.
The actinic ray curable inks of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) discharged from the recording head (6) (here, the inkjet recording head) are applied to the recording medium (5). Printed. These recording heads (6) eject actinic ray curable ink using a pressure change that deforms a piezoelectric element provided in the liquid path.
The recording medium (5) on which the actinic ray curable ink has landed is transported by the recording medium transporting section (3), and is pressed by the wind pressure so that the landing dot height is lowered in the blower section (7). It hardens | cures with actinic light in the irradiation part (8) of a light irradiation apparatus. With this configuration, the ink is cured in a state where the dot height is low, and a high-quality printed image with small unevenness and glossiness can be obtained.

  FIG. 2 is an example of a schematic configuration diagram of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and four recording heads (6) respectively use yellow, magenta, cyan, and black actinic ray curable inks as recording media (5). To print. The recording apparatus (1) of the present embodiment conveys the recording medium (5) from the recording medium supply unit (2) to the recording medium stacker unit (4) via the recording medium conveyance unit (3) as in FIG. To do. The recording medium (5) on which the actinic ray curable ink has landed is transported by the recording medium transport section (3) and is pressed by the wind pressure so that the height of the landing dot is lowered in each air blowing section (7). Is cured at each irradiation part (8). With such a configuration, the ink is cured for each color, so that there is no blur between colors and a clear image can be obtained.

FIG. 3 is an example of a schematic configuration diagram of the recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and the exhausted air from the irradiation unit (8) is supplied to the blower unit (7) through the exhaust air supply path (9). It has a configuration.
The other structure is the same as that shown in FIG. 1, and is compact and can be reduced in cost as compared with the structure shown in FIG.

The recording medium (5) on which the actinic ray curable ink has landed is transported by the recording medium transporting section (3), and is pressed by the wind pressure so that the landing dot height is lowered in the blower section (7). It hardens | cures with actinic light in the irradiation part (8) of a light irradiation apparatus.
With this configuration, the ink is cured in a state where the dot height is low, and a high-quality printed image with small unevenness and glossiness can be obtained.

Since the actinic ray curable ink in the present invention is solid at room temperature (25 ° C.), it can be solidified from the edge portion of the dot immediately after landing on the recording medium to prevent color bleeding and has good adhesion to the substrate. On the other hand, if the ink is in a solidified state before irradiation with actinic light, the functional group of the polymerizable monomer contained in the ink becomes difficult to approach the reactable distance, and the reactivity may decrease. The ink is preferably in a semi-molten state where the ink is not at least completely solidified when irradiated with actinic rays.
The term “solid at room temperature” as used in the present invention means that it is liquid at room temperature and looks like a solid or a paste-like semi-solid in appearance, but becomes liquefied by heating.
The recording head (6) preferably has a heating means so that solid actinic ray curable ink can be ejected at room temperature (25 ° C.), and in order to prevent a decrease in reactivity of the actinic ray curable ink. .

The temperature of the recording head (6) is preferably 30 ° C. or more and 100 ° C. or less, more preferably 50 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less, although it depends on the ink used.
If it is less than 30 ° C., the ink ejection stability may be lowered, and if it exceeds 100 ° C., color bleeding may occur.
The wind speed of the gas blown to the ink from the air blowing section (7) is preferably 3 m / sec or more and 15 m / sec or less, preferably 5 m / sec or more and 10 m / sec or less, depending on the viscosity of the ink. Is more preferable. If it is less than 3 m / sec, the height of the landing dots may not be uniform and the gloss may be lowered, and if it exceeds 15 m / sec, the image may be distorted.

The heating time or the time for blowing the gas is preferably about 0.05 to 3 seconds, although it depends on the amount of air blown.
The gas blown from the blower section (7) is preferably warm air, and the temperature of the warm air is higher than the melting temperature of the ink (the melting point of the monomer or hot melt resin (or the lowered temperature if a melting point drop is indicated)). It is preferably 1 ° C. or higher and 10 ° C. or lower. By making the temperature of the hot air lower than the melting point of the room temperature solid monomer or hot melt resin, not only can the ink dots be deformed more than necessary when the hot air is blown, but also bleeding can be avoided. Can be sufficiently deformed, the dot height can be suppressed, and there can be obtained a high-quality printed image without glossiness and glossiness.
If it is lower than the melting temperature of the ink by more than 10 ° C., the ink dots are solidified, the reactivity of the ink is lowered, and the scratch resistance may be lowered.
Specifically, although it depends on the melting temperature of the ink to be used, it is preferably higher than 25 ° C. and lower than 90 ° C., and preferably 30 ° C. or higher and lower than 60 ° C.
The air blowing section (7) may be combined with a heat generating means (for example, a heating wire, a ceramic heater, etc.) to supply hot air, but as shown in FIG. 3, it is discharged from the irradiation section (8). It is preferable that the wind is supplied to the blower section (7) through the exhaust air supply path (9) because it is possible to reduce the size and cost.
Further, the blowing unit (7) and the heating unit are separately provided, for example, a heating unit such as a dielectric heating unit or a laser irradiation unit (not shown) is provided in the gas spraying area, and the blowing of gas from the blowing unit (7) is performed. The application and heating of the ink may be coordinated.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the recording medium transport section (3) has means for heating the recording medium (5).

The actinic ray curable ink in the present invention contains an actinic ray (particularly ultraviolet ray) curable monomer and a polymerization initiator (photoreaction initiator), and further includes a sensitizer, a stabilizer, a surfactant and the like as necessary. It contains other components. In the ink composition, a solvent component that does not contain additives (surfactants, polymerization inhibitors, etc.) and colorants (pigments, dyes, etc.) may be generally expressed as “vehicle”.
A room-temperature solid actinic ray curable ink can be prepared by using a room-temperature solid monomer in a vehicle or by adding a room-temperature solid component (for example, a hot-melt resin) to a room-temperature liquid monomer. Of course, a room temperature solid monomer and a hot melt resin can be used in combination.

[Room-temperature solid monomer]
As room temperature solid monomers, methoxypolyethylene glycol methacrylate, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl hexahydrophthalic acid, n-stearyl methacrylate, stearyl acrylate, ionic (meth) acrylate, 1-adamantyl acrylate, 1-adamantyl methacrylate, cyclohexane di Methacrylate, polyethylene glycol 1000 dimethacrylate, tris (acryloxyethyl) isocyanate, methoxypolyethylene glycol 1000 methacrylate, polyethylene glycol 1000 dimethacrylate, and the like. Specifically, light ester 041MA, light ester HO-HH, light ester S (manufactured by Kyoeisha Chemical Co., Ltd.), STA, GLBT, 1-AdA, 1-AdMA (manufactured by Osaka Organic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), CD586D, CD401, SR740 (Sartomer), TEICA (GX-8430), MPEM-1000, PEM-1000, BR-42M (GX-6094) (Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku), AM-230G, M-230G, S, 23G, Examples thereof include BPE-1300, DOD, A-DOD, A-1000 (manufactured by Shin-Nakamura Chemical Co., Ltd.).

Typical examples of the actinic ray curable ink mainly composed of a room temperature liquid monomer include “cationic polymerization type ink”, “anion polymerization type ink”, and “radical polymerization type ink”.
The cationic polymerization type ink contains a cationic reactive compound (cationic monomer) and a photoacid generator as a polymerization initiator.
The anionic polymerization type ink contains an anion reactive compound (anionic monomer) and a photobase generator as a polymerization initiator.
The radical polymerization type ink contains a radical reactive compound (radical monomer) and a photo radical initiator as a polymerization initiator.
Hereinafter, each of these inks will be described.

<Cationically-polymerized ink>
The acid generator applicable to the cationic polymerization type ink may be a compound that generates a substance that initiates polymerization by receiving energy rays such as ultraviolet rays, and an arylsulfonium salt or aryliodonium salt that is an onium salt may be used. It can be used suitably. Furthermore, if necessary, photosensitizers such as anthracene compounds such as N-vinylcarbazole, thioxanthone compounds, and 9,10-dibutoxyanthracene can be used in combination.
Examples of the epoxy compound used in the cationic polymerization type ink include bisphenol A type epoxy, bisphenol BA type epoxy, bisphenol F type epoxy, bisphenol AD type epoxy, phenol novolac type epoxy, cresol novolac type epoxy, alicyclic epoxy, and fluorene type epoxy. , Naphthalene type epoxy, glycidyl ester compound, glycidyl amine compound, heterocyclic epoxy, α-olefin epoxy and the like.
In particular, the alicyclic epoxy compound can be suitably applied to the cationic polymerization type ink composition of the present invention having a low viscosity and a high curing rate. For example, 3,4-epoxycyclohexenylmethyl-3 ′, 4′-epoxycyclohexenecarboxylate and its epsilon-caprolactone modification, bis- (3,4 epoxycyclohexylmethyl) adipate, 1,2: 8,9 diepoxy Limonene and vinylcyclohexene monooxide 1,2-epoxy-4-vinylcyclohexane can be preferably used.
The oxetane compound used in the cationic polymerization type ink may be appropriately selected according to the properties required for the ink. In particular, when the adhesion to the substrate is particularly important, 3-ethyl-3- (phenoxymethyl) Okitacene can be preferably used.
The cationic polymerization type ink can be mixed with a vinyl ether compound as required.
Examples of vinyl ethers that can be suitably added include 2-ethylhexyl vinyl ether, butanediol-1,4-divinyl ether, cyclohexanedimethanol monovinyl ether, diethylene glycol monovinyl ether, diethylene glycol monovinyl ether, diethylene glycol divinyl ether, dipropylene glycol divinyl ether, dodecyl vinyl ether, Ethyl vinyl ether, hexanediol divinyl ether, hydroxybutyl vinyl ether, hydroxyethyl vinyl ether, isobutyl vinyl ether, methyl vinyl ether, octadecyl vinyl ether, propyl vinyl ether, triethylene glycol divinyl ether, vinyl 4-hydroxybutyl ether, vinyl cyclohexyl ether Ether, vinyl propionate, vinyl carbazole, vinyl pyrrolidone.
The vehicle can be used by mixing at least one selected from these, or two or more. All of these have good wettability to a recording medium and have excellent adhesion to a wide variety of adherend materials.
Furthermore, water and a solvent may be added to reduce the viscosity and increase the speed. Any solvent may be used as long as it dissolves all the constituent components of the ink composition and evaporates quickly after printing. The solvent used for this purpose is preferably a ketone and / or alcohol as the main solvent. For example, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, etc. are used alone or as a mixed solvent with water. It is preferable to do this.
As the reactive component of the cationic polymerization type ink, propenyl ether and butenyl ether can be blended as necessary. For example, 1-dodecyl-1-propenyl ether, 1-dodecyl-1-butenyl ether, 1-butenoxymethyl-2-norbonene, 1-4-di (1-butenoxy) butane, 1,10-di (1-butenoxy) Decane, 1,4-di (1-butenoxymethyl) cyclohexane, diethylene glycol di (1-butenyl) ether, 1,2,3-tri (1-butenoxy) propane, propenyl ether propylene carbonate, and the like can be suitably applied.

<Anion polymerization type ink>
Base generators applicable to anionic polymerization type inks include primary amines or secondary amines such as o-nitrobenzyl carbamate, α, α-dimethylbenzyl carbamate, α-keto carbamate derivatives, N-hydroxyimido carbamate, etc. An ammonium salt of phenylglyoxylate, a benzhydryl ammonium salt, an N-benzophenone methyl-tri-N-alkyl ammonium borate, a borate of a quaternary α-ammonium acetophenone salt, a dithiocarbamate, a thiocyanate, and Other counter ions or salts composed of amine imide derivatives can be mentioned.
Specifically, ANC-101 (anisoin-N-cyclohexyl carbamate, NBC-101 (2-nitrobenzyl-N-cyclohexyl carbamate) manufactured by Midori Chemical Co., Ltd. is suitable.
In particular, ANC-101 has a small yellowishness when cured and is effective in clear ink.
Examples of the photoinitiator include triethanolamine, ethyl 2dimethylaminobenzoate, isoamyl 4dimethylaminobenzoate, and polymerizable tertiary amine. Moreover, since anionic polymerization has a slightly low reaction rate, it may be used in combination with a radical polymerization reaction.
The monomer is not particularly limited as long as it is an anion polymerizable monomer, and examples of the anion polymerizable monomer include epoxies.
It is also possible to use a monomer that is radically polymerizable and also has anionic polymerizability, such as (meth) acrylic acids, (meth) acrylamides, aromatic vinyls, compounds having an internal double bond (such as maleic acid). ) And the like. Two or more monomers may be used in combination.

<Radical polymerization ink>
As radical photopolymerization initiators, there are special groups such as benzoin ether, acetophenone, benzophenone, benzophenone, thioxanthone, acylphosphine oxide, methylphenylglyoxylate, benzoin alkyl ether, benzylmethyl ketal, 1- Hydroxy-cyclohexyl-phenyl-ketone (abbreviation α-hydroxy ketone), 1-hydroxy-cyclohexyl-phenyl-ketone (A), benzophenone (B) blend (abbreviation α-hydroxy ketone blend), 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1 -Phenyl-propan-1-one 2 (abbreviation α-hydroxyketone), pisopropyl αhydroxyisobutylphenone, 1,1 dichloroacetophenone, 2chlorothioxanthone, etc.
Specifically, BiCure 10, 30, 55 (manufactured by Stower), KAYACURE BP-100, KAYACURE BMS, KAYACURE DETX-S, KAYACURE CTX, KAYACURE 2-EAQ, KAYACURE DMBI, KAYACURE EPA (manufactured by KAYACURE EPA) , Irgacure 127, 184, 819, 907, 369, 379, 500, 2959, Darocur 1173, MBF, TPO (manufactured by BASF), countercure CTX, countercure BMS, countercure ITX, countercure PDO, countercure BEA, There are DMB (manufactured by Ward Brenkinsopp), Suncure IP, BTTP (manufactured by NOF Corporation) and the like. In addition, a photoinitiator-containing type photocurable resin may be used.

  The main component of the ink in the present invention is preferably various known radically polymerizable monomers that cause a polymerization reaction with an initiation species generated from a radical photopolymerization initiator or a base generator. Examples of the radical polymerizable monomer include (meth) acrylates, (meth) acrylamides, aromatic vinyls, compounds having an internal double bond (such as maleic acid), and the like. Hereinafter, monofunctional polymerizable compounds and polyfunctional polymerizable compounds will be exemplified in detail.

  Specific examples of monofunctional (meth) acrylates include hexyl (meth) acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth) acrylate, tert-octyl (meth) acrylate, isoamyl (meth) acrylate, decyl (meth) acrylate, isodecyl (meth) ) Acrylate, stearyl (meth) acrylate, isostearyl (meth) acrylate, cyclohexyl (meth) acrylate, 4-n-butylcyclohexyl (meth) acrylate, bornyl (meth) acrylate, isobornyl (meth) acrylate, benzyl (meth) acrylate 2-ethylhexyl diglycol (meth) acrylate, butoxyethyl (meth) acrylate, 2-chloroethyl (meth) acrylate, 4-bromobutyl (meth) acrylate, cyano Chill (meth) acrylate, butoxymethyl (meth) acrylate, 3-methoxybutyl (meth) acrylate, alkoxymethyl (meth) acrylate, alkoxyethyl (meth) acrylate, 2- (2-methoxyethoxy) ethyl (meth) acrylate, 2 -(2-butoxyethoxy) ethyl (meth) acrylate, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl (meth) acrylate, 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyl (meth) acrylate, 4-butylphenyl (meth) Acrylate, phenyl (meth) acrylate, 2,4,5-tetramethylphenyl (meth) acrylate, 4-chlorophenyl (meth) acrylate, phenoxymethyl (meth) acrylate, phenoxyethyl (meth) acrylate, glycidyl (meth) Chlorate, glycidyloxybutyl (meth) acrylate, glycidyloxyethyl (meth) acrylate, glycidyloxypropyl (meth) acrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl (meth) acrylate, hydroxyalkyl (meth) acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth) ) Acrylate, 3-hydroxypropyl (meth) acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl (meth) acrylate, 2-hydroxybutyl (meth) acrylate, 4-hydroxybutyl (meth) acrylate, dimethylaminoethyl (meth) acrylate, diethylaminoethyl ( (Meth) acrylate, dimethylaminopropyl (meth) acrylate, diethylaminopropyl (meth) acrylate, trimethoxysilylpropyl (meth) acrylate, trimethyl Rusilylpropyl (meth) acrylate, polyethylene oxide monomethyl ether (meth) acrylate, oligoethylene oxide monomethyl ether (meth) acrylate, polyethylene oxide (meth) acrylate, oligoethylene oxide (meth) acrylate, oligoethylene oxide monoalkyl ether (meth) acrylate, Polyethylene oxide monoalkyl ether (meth) acrylate, dipropylene glycol (meth) acrylate, polypropylene oxide monoalkyl ether (meth) acrylate, oligopropylene oxide monoalkyl ether (meth) acrylate, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl succinic acid, 2- Methacryloyloxyhexahydrophthalic acid, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl-2-hydride Xylpropyl phthalate, butoxydiethylene glycol (meth) acrylate, trifluoroethyl (meth) acrylate, perfluorooctylethyl (meth) acrylate, 2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl (meth) acrylate, EO-modified phenol (meth) acrylate, EO Examples thereof include modified cresol (meth) acrylate, EO-modified nonylphenol (meth) acrylate, PO-modified nonylphenol (meth) acrylate, EO-modified-2-ethylhexyl (meth) acrylate, and the like.

  Examples of monofunctional (meth) acrylamides that can be used in the radical polymerization type ink used in the present invention include (meth) acrylamide, N-methyl (meth) acrylamide, N-ethyl (meth) acrylamide, N-propyl (meth) ) Acrylamide, Nn-butyl (meth) acrylamide, Nt-butyl (meth) acrylamide, N-butoxymethyl (meth) acrylamide, N-isopropyl (meth) acrylamide, N-methylol (meth) acrylamide, N, N-dimethyl (meth) acrylamide, N, N-diethyl (meth) acrylamide, (meth) acryloylmorpholine, etc. are mentioned.

  Specific examples of the monofunctional aromatic vinyls that can be used in the radical heavy ink used in the present invention include styrene, methylstyrene, dimethylstyrene, trimethylstyrene, ethylstyrene, isopropylstyrene, chloromethylstyrene, methoxystyrene, and acetoxystyrene. , Chlorostyrene, dichlorostyrene, bromostyrene, vinyl benzoic acid methyl ester, 3-methylstyrene, 4-methylstyrene, 3-ethylstyrene, 4-ethylstyrene, 3-propylstyrene, 4-propylstyrene, 3-butyl Styrene, 4-butyl styrene, 3-hexyl styrene, 4-hexyl styrene, 3-octyl styrene, 4-octyl styrene, 3- (2-ethylhexyl) styrene, 4- (2-ethylhexyl) styrene, allyl styrene , Isopropenyl styrene, butenylstyrene, octenyl styrene, 4-t-butoxycarbonyl styrene, 4-methoxystyrene, and a 4-t-butoxystyrene.

  Specific examples of the bifunctional (meth) acrylate include 1,6-hexanediol di (meth) acrylate, 1,10-decanediol di (meth) acrylate, neopentyl glycol di (meth) acrylate, and 2,4-dimethyl. -1,5-pentanediol di (meth) acrylate, butylethylpropanediol (meth) acrylate, ethoxylated cyclohexanemethanol di (meth) acrylate, polyethylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, oligoethylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, Ethylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, 2-ethyl-2-butyl-butanediol di (meth) acrylate, hydroxypivalic acid neopentyl glycol di (meth) acrylate, EO-modified bisphenol A di (meth) acrylate Bisphenol F polyethoxydi (meth) acrylate, polypropylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, oligopropylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, 1,4-butanediol di (meth) acrylate, 2-ethyl-2-butylpropanediol di ( Examples include meth) acrylate, 1,9-nonanedi (meth) acrylate, propoxylated ethoxylated bisphenol A di (meth) acrylate, and tricyclodecane di (meth) acrylate.

Specific examples of trifunctional (meth) acrylates include trimethylolpropane tri (meth) acrylate, trimethylolethane tri (meth) acrylate, trimethylolpropane alkylene oxide-modified tri (meth) acrylate, pentaerythritol tri (meth) acrylate , Dipentaerythritol tri (meth) acrylate, trimethylolpropane tris ((meth) acryloyloxypropyl) ether, isocyanuric acid alkylene oxide modified tri (meth) acrylate, propionate dipentaerythritol tri (meth) acrylate, tris ((meta) ) Acryloyloxyethyl) isocyanurate, hydroxypivalaldehyde-modified dimethylolpropane tri (meth) acrylate, sorbitol tri (meth) Acrylate, propoxylated trimethylolpropane tri (meth) acrylate, and ethoxylated glycerin tri (meth) acrylate.
The vehicle can be used by mixing at least one selected from these, or two or more. You may add the oligomer and prepolymer which are excellent in the adhesiveness to a recording medium.

[Hot melt resin]
Further, by using a hot melt resin, high image quality and stable printability can be achieved.
Examples of the hot melt resin include fatty acid amide, polyester, polyvinyl acetate, silicone resin, coumarone resin, fatty acid ester, glyceride, and the like.

  Examples of the fatty acid amide include monoamide, bisamide, tetraamide, polyamide, and ester amide. The monoamide is used by mixing at least one selected from lauric acid amide, stearic acid amide, oleic acid amide, erucic acid amide, ricinoleic acid amide, palmitic acid amide, behenic acid amide, brassic acid amide and the like. be able to. N-substituted fatty acid amides may be used, N, N′-2-hydroxtearic acid amide, N, N′-ethylenebisoleic acid amide, N, N′-xylene bisstearic acid amide, stearic acid monomethylolamide N-oleyl stearic acid amide, N-stearyl stearic acid amide, N-oleyl palmitic acid amide, N-stearyl erucic acid amide, N, N′-dioleyl adipic acid amide, N, N′-dioleyl sebacic acid amide , N, N'-distearylisophthalic acid amide, 2-stearamide ethyl stearate, or the like can be used in combination.

  As the bisamide, N, N′-ethylenebisoleic acid amide, N, N′-xylene bisstearic acid amide, or the like is selected. As the tetraamide, UNIREZ 2224, UNIREZ 2970 (manufactured by Union Camp) can be used. Polyamide is SYLVAMID E-5 (manufactured by Arizona Chemical), DPX 335-10, DPX H-415, DPX 335-11, DPX 830, DPX 850, DPX 925, DPX 927, DPX 1160, DPX 1163, DPX 1175, DPX 1196, DPX 1358, Versamide 711, Versamide 725, Versamide 930, Versamide 940, Bar Salon 1117, Bar Salon 1138, Bar Salon 1300 (above, manufactured by Henkel), Tomide 391, Tomide 393, Tomide 394, Tomide 395, Tomide 397, tomide 509, tomide 535, tomide 558, tomide 560, tomide 1310, tomide 1396, tomide 90, tomide 92 (or more Fuji Kasei Kogyo Co., Ltd.), and the like can be used. The ester amide is typically a fatty acid ester amide such as stearic acid ester amide, and CPH-380N (manufactured by CP Hall), Kawaslip SA (manufactured by Kawaken Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.) and the like can be used.

  Moreover, KTR2150 (made by Kao Corporation) as polyester, AC401, AC540, AC580 (above, made by Allied Chemical Co.) as polyvinyl acetate, silicone SH6018 (made by Toray Silicone), silicone KR215, silicone KR216, silicone KR220 (made by Allied Chemical Co., Ltd.) As described above, Escron G-90 (manufactured by Nippon Steel Chemical Co., Ltd.) can be used as a coumarone resin.

As the fatty acid ester, a monohydric or polyhydric alcohol fatty acid ester is desirable. For example, sorbitan monopalmitate, sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan monobehenate, polyethylene glycol monostearate, polyethylene glycol distearate, propylene glycol monostearate, ethylene glycol distearate and the like are selected. Specifically, rheodol SP-S10, rheodol SP-S30, rheodol SA10, emazole P-10, emazole S-10, emazole S-20, emazole B, rheodol super SP-S10, emmanon 3299, emmanon 3299, exepar PE-MS (above, manufactured by Kao Corporation), UNISTAR M9766, UNISTAR M2222SL (above, manufactured by NOF Corporation) and the like can be used.
Furthermore, higher alcohol esters of higher fatty acids such as myricyl serotate, ceryl serotic acid, ceryl montanate, myricyl palmitate, myricyl stearate, cetyl palmitate, cetyl stearate and the like are selected.

As the glyceride, stearic acid monoglyceride, palmitic monoglyceride, oleic acid monoglyceride, behenic acid monoglyceride and the like are selected. Specifically, rheodol MS-50, rheodol MS-60, rheodol MS-165, rheodol Mo-60, and Exepearl G-MB (above, manufactured by Kao Corporation) are selected.
High molecular weight resins such as alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon resins, rosin resins, hydrocarbon resins, amide resins, acrylic and methacrylic polymers, styrene polymers, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, polyketones, etc. Can also be added.

  The weight ratio of the monomer or oligomer to the hot melt resin is preferably 99.9: 0.1 to 90:10. Thereby, high photopolymerizability can be achieved.

The colorant used in the present invention is preferably a pigment that is well dispersed in the vehicle and has excellent weather resistance. Although not particularly limited, for example, organic or inorganic pigments having the following numbers described in the color index can be used.
Examples of red or magenta pigments include Pigment Red 3, 5, 19, 22, 31, 38, 43, 48: 1, 48: 2, 48: 3, 48: 4, 48: 5, 49: 1, and 53: 1. 57: 1, 57: 2, 58: 4, 63: 1, 81, 81: 1, 81: 2, 81: 3, 81: 4, 88, 104, 108, 112, 122, 123, 144, 146 149, 166, 168, 169, 170, 177, 178, 179, 184, 185, 208, 216, 226, 257, Pigment Violet 3, 19, 23, 29, 30, 37, 50, 88, Pigment Orange 13 16, 20, 36, blue or cyan pigments include pigment blue 1, 15, 15: 1, 15: 2, 15: 3, 15: 4, 15: 6, 16, 1 -1, 22, 27, 28, 29, 36, 60, Pigment Green 7, 26, 36, 50 as a green pigment, Pigment Yellow 1, 3, 12, 13, 14, 17, 34 as a yellow pigment , 35, 37, 55, 74, 81, 83, 93, 94, 95, 97, 108, 109, 110, 128, 137, 138, 139, 150, 151, 153, 154, 155, 157, 166, 167 168, 180, 185, 193, Pigment Black 7, 28, 26, etc. can be used according to the purpose.
Specific product names include, for example, chromo fine yellow 2080, 5900, 5930, AF-1300, 2700L, chromo fine orange 3700L, 6730, chromo fine scarlet 6750, chromo fine magenta 6880, 6886, 6891N, 6790, 6887. , Chromofine Violet RE, Chromofine Red 6820, 6830, Chromofine Blue HS-3, 5187, 5108, 5197, 5085N, SR-5020, 5026, 5050, 4920, 4927, 4937, 4824, 4933GN-EP, 4940, 4973, 5205, 5208, 5214, 5221, 5000P, Chromofine Green 2GN, 2GO, 2G-550D, 5310, 5370, 6830, Black Mofine Black A-1103, Seika Fast Yellow 10GH, A-3, 2035, 2054, 2200, 2270, 2300, 2400 (B), 2500, 2600, ZAY-260, 2700 (B), 2770, Seika Fast Red 8040 , C405 (F), CA120, LR-116, 1531B, 8060R, 1547, ZAW-262, 1537B, GY, 4R-4016, 3820, 3891, ZA-215, Seika Fast Carmine 6B1476T-7, 1483LT, 3840, 3870 , Seika Fast Bordeaux 10B-430, Seica Light Rose R40, Seika Light Violet B800, 7805, Seika Fast Maroon 460N, Seika Fast Orange 900, 2900, Seika Light Blue C7 8, A612, cyanine blue 4933M, 4933GN-EP, 4940, 4973 (manufactured by Dainichi Seika Kogyo Co., Ltd.), KET Yellow 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 416, 424, KET Orange 501, KET Red 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 336, 337, 338, 346, KET Blue 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 111, 118, 124, KET Green 201 ( DIC), Colortex Yellow 301, 314, 315, 316, P-624, 314, U10GN, U3GN, UNN, UA-414, U263, Finecol Yellow T-13, T-05, Pigment Ye low 1705, Colortex Orange 202, Colortex Red 101, 103, 115, 116, D3B, P-625, 102, H-1024, 105C, UFN, UCN, UBN, U3BN, URN, UGN, UG276, U456, U457, 105C, USN , Colortex Maron 601, Colortex Brown B610N, Colortex violet 600, Pigment Red 122, Colortex Blue 516, 517, 518, 519, A818, P-908, 510, Coltex Green402, 403, Col70 , Lionol Blue FG7330, F G7350, FG7400G, FG7405G, ES, ESP-S (manufactured by Toyo Ink Manufacturing Co., Ltd.), Toner Magenta E02, Permanent RubinF6B, Toner Yellow HG, Permanent Yellow GG-02, Hostape Blue B2 , # 2400, # 2350, # 2200, # 1000, # 990, # 980, # 970, # 960, # 950, # 850, MCF88, # 750, # 650, MA600, MA7, MA8, MA11, MA100, MA100R , MA77, MA220, # 52, # 50, # 47, # 45, # 45L, # 40, # 33, # 32, # 30, # 25, # 20, # 10, # 5, # 44, CF9, ( Mitsubishi Chemical Co., Ltd.), and the like.

An appropriate amount of the pigment is 1 to 20 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the ink. If the amount is less than 0.1 parts by weight, the image quality is deteriorated. If the amount is more than 20 parts by weight, the ink viscosity characteristics are adversely affected.
In addition, two or more kinds of colorants can be mixed and used in a timely manner for color adjustment or the like.

In order to further develop functionality in the ink composition of the present invention, various sensitizers, light stabilizers, surface treatment agents, surfactants, viscosity reducing agents, antioxidants, anti-aging agents, crosslinking accelerators, Polymerization inhibitors, plasticizers, preservatives, pH adjusters, antifoaming agents, humectants, dispersants, dyes, and the like can be mixed.
In order to mix and disperse the vehicle, colorant and other components described above, a bead mill and a homogenizer are often used, but various well-known pulverizing or dispersing devices can be used without particular limitation.
These include high-speed rotating mills, roller mills, container drive media mills, media agitation mills, jet mills, etc., for example, high-speed dispersers, impeller dispersers, gate mixers, bead mills, sand mills, pearl mills, cobra mills, pin mills. , Molinex mill, stirring mill, universal mill, century mill, pressure mill, agitator mill, 2 roll extruder, 2 roll mill, 3 roll mill, niche mill, kneader, mixer, colloid mill, stone mill, caddy mill, planetary mill, There are ball mills, paddle mixers, attritors, flow jet mixers, slasher mills, peg mills, micro full dithers, clear mixes, rhino mills, pin bead mills and horizontal bead mills.

  EXAMPLES Next, although an Example demonstrates this invention concretely, it is not limited to a description example.

[Example 1]
As a vehicle, 20 parts by weight of polyethoxylated tetramethylol methane tetraacrylate (manufactured by Shin-Nakamura Chemical Co., ATM-35E), 50 parts by weight of acryloylmorpholine (manufactured by Kojin Co., Ltd., ACMO), 2-hydroxyethylacrylamide (manufactured by Kojin Co., Ltd., (HEAA) 20 parts by weight and polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (manufactured by Kyoeisha Chemical Co., Ltd., light ester 9EG) were mixed with a homogenizer (manufactured by Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd., HG30) until a homogeneous mixture was obtained.
Next, 10 parts by weight of Kawaslip SA (manufactured by Kawaken Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.) was added as a hot melt resin, and the hot stirrer was set at 80 ° C. and mixed until a homogeneous mixture was obtained.
Furthermore, 1 part by weight of carbon black (Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, # 5B) and 1 part by weight of a polar group-containing polymer dispersant (Nihon Lubrizol Corporation, Solsperse 32000) as a pigment dispersant with respect to 100 parts by weight of the mixed composition , 10 parts by weight of a polymerization initiator (Ciba Japan Co., Ltd., Irugacure 379) was mixed and dispersed until a homogeneous mixture was obtained, followed by filtration to remove impurities and the like to obtain a homogeneous room temperature solid black An ink composition was obtained. Using the GEN4 head manufactured by Ricoh Printing Systems Co., Ltd. as the recording head, the ink composition was applied onto white PET, and cured using SubZero 085 (using A bulb) manufactured by Inetegation Technology as a UV irradiator. It was. Resolution: 150 × 150 dpi, white PET was transported at a transport speed of 100 mm / sec. The blower was installed immediately before the UV irradiator after adjusting the compressed air so that the wind speed and temperature were 5 m / sec or higher and the temperature was about 40 ° C.
As a result of observing the state of dot flattening, a uniform dot shape was obtained with a dot height of about 3 μm.
In addition, as a result of performing solid printing at a resolution of 600 × 600 dpi by arranging four heads, a solid image having a uniform glossiness could be obtained.

[Comparative example]
As a vehicle, 100 parts by mass of acryloylmorpholine (manufactured by Kojin Co., Ltd., ACMO) and 10 parts by mass of radical photopolymerization initiator (manufactured by BASF, Lucirin TPO) are weighed. A mixture of 6 parts by weight (manufactured by BASF, MICROLITH Black-CK) and a dispersant (manufactured by Nihon Lubrizol, Solsperse 32000) was added to a dyno mill (manufactured by Shinmaru Enterprises, MULTI-LAB) and a homogenizer (Hitachi). HG30) manufactured by Koki Co., Ltd. was used to mix and disperse until a homogeneous mixture was obtained, followed by filtration to remove impurities and the like to obtain a homogeneous ink composition.
Using the GEN4 head manufactured by Ricoh Printing Systems Co., Ltd. as the recording head, the ink composition was applied onto white PET, and cured using SubZero 085 (using A bulb) manufactured by Inetegation Technology as a UV irradiator. It was. Resolution: 150 × 150 dpi, white PET was transported at a transport speed of 500 mm / sec. Air blowing was not performed. As a result of observing the state of the dots, a dot shape with a dot height of about 10 μm was obtained.
Further, as a result of performing solid printing at a resolution of 600 × 600 dpi by arranging four heads, a solid image with a low-quality image with no glossiness was obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording device 2 Recording medium supply part 3 Recording medium conveyance part 4 Recording medium stacker part 5 Recording medium 6 Recording head part 7 Blowing part 8 Irradiation part 9 Exhaust air supply path

JP 2008-105382 A JP 2007-083566 A JP 2007-144759 A JP 2004-306425 A JP 2008-179136 A JP 2008-043435 A JP 2002-137375 A

Claims (4)

  A recording head provided with a conveying means for conveying the recording medium, a heating means for discharging actinic ray curable ink onto the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means, and discharged onto the recording medium by the recording head The actinic ray curable ink that irradiates the actinic ray curable ink applied to the actinic ray curable ink and a device that blows gas immediately before the actinic ray irradiating device is used. An actinic ray curable ink comprising a room temperature solid monomer that is liquid in a temperature range of 100 ° C. and / or a hot melt resin.   The recording method according to claim 1, wherein the gas blown immediately before the actinic ray irradiation device is warm air.   The recording method according to claim 2, wherein the warm air is exhaust air from the actinic ray irradiation device.   Conveying means for conveying the recording medium, a recording head for ejecting actinic ray curable ink onto the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means, and actinic ray curing ejected onto the recording medium by the recording head An actinic ray irradiating device for irradiating actinic light to the active ink and a device for blowing a gas immediately before the actinic ray irradiating device, and using the actinic ray curable ink that becomes solid at room temperature as the actinic ray curable ink A recording apparatus.

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