JP2014223753A - Transfer type inkjet recording method, process liquid used for the same, and set of the process liquid and ink - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a transfer type inkjet recording method, by which an intermediate image with high picture qualities can be formed by forming a process liquid layer in a uniform coating state without cissing on a water-repellent intermediate transfer body even under a condition of fast conveyance of the intermediate transfer body, and a finished image with high picture qualities can be formed by transferring the intermediate image in a good state.SOLUTION: A process liquid is prepared into the following aqueous liquid, which is to be used in combination with an aqueous ink for transfer type inkjet recording using an intermediate transfer body and which is flattened on the intermediate transfer body to form a process liquid layer prior to forming an intermediate image with the aqueous ink. The aqueous liquid comprises an ink viscosity increasing component to increase the viscosity of the aqueous ink, water-insoluble resin particles, and a side-chain type polyether-modified siloxane compound having a specific molecular structure and has a hydrogen ion concentration (pH) of 6 or less. The viscosity of the liquid upon flattening is controlled to 1000 cP or more under the condition of shear speed of 100 to 400/s.

Description

  The present invention relates to a transfer type ink jet recording method, a treatment liquid used therefor, and a set of the treatment liquid and ink.

  As one of printing methods, there is a recording method (transfer type ink jet recording method) in which an intermediate image is formed on an intermediate transfer member by an ink jet recording method, and the intermediate image is transferred to a recording medium to form a final image. Various studies have been made so far regarding a recording method using this transfer type inkjet recording method, that is, an inkjet recording method. In particular, by applying a two-liquid aggregation method that uses water-based ink and a treatment liquid for forming aggregates in the water-based ink to the transfer-type inkjet recording method, it is possible to perform bleeding and beading of intermediate images on the intermediate transfer body. It is known that problems such as ding can be suppressed.

  In such a two-liquid aggregation type transfer type inkjet recording method, in order to improve the performance (transferability) of transferring an intermediate image onto a recording medium, the intermediate transfer member has a property of easily peeling an ink image on the surface ( It is desirable to have releasability. In order to satisfy such required performance, the intermediate image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member is made of a water-repellent material (silicone rubber, fluororubber, etc.) having a low surface tension.

  On the other hand, from the viewpoint of obtaining good image quality, it is desirable to apply the treatment liquid on the water-repellent intermediate transfer member in a thin and uniform state without repelling. This is because the non-uniformity of the application state of the processing liquid is reflected as in-plane variation in the image quality of the intermediate image formed by the two-liquid aggregation reaction, leading to a decrease in image quality.

  Therefore, in order to achieve both the image quality and the transferability of the intermediate image, it is important that the processing liquid can form a uniform application state without repelling on the water-repellent transfer body. In this regard, for example, in Patent Document 1, by adding a specific fluorine-based anionic surfactant to the processing liquid, the wettability of the intermediate transfer member by the processing liquid is increased, the coating state is made uniform, and the image quality is improved. I am trying.

JP 2009-234219 A

  As a result of the study by the present inventors, in the method of improving the wettability of the water-repellent intermediate transfer body to the processing liquid by adding a surfactant to the processing liquid in the two-liquid aggregation type transfer type inkjet recording method, the intermediate transfer There was a case where it was not possible to sufficiently cope with the printing method for carrying the body at high speed. For example, when such a two-liquid aggregation type transfer type inkjet recording method is applied to a printing method in which an intermediate transfer member is conveyed at a speed of several m / s, the following problems may occur. It was.

  When processing liquid is applied to the intermediate transfer body under high-speed transport of the intermediate transfer body, the transport speed is fast, so even processing within the very short time from the process liquid coating process to the image forming process is free of repellency. It is necessary to form a liquid application state. Therefore, in the method of adding wettability to the processing liquid to the intermediate transfer body by adding a surfactant to the processing liquid, depending on the conveyance speed of the intermediate transfer body, the gas-liquid interface consisting of the processing liquid and the intermediate transfer body In some cases, the orientation of the surfactant in the treatment liquid is not in time. In such a case, image formation is performed in a state where repellency is generated in the processing liquid applied on the intermediate transfer member.

  Therefore, in the transfer type ink jet recording method of the two-liquid aggregation method, when the intermediate transfer member is transported at high speed, the application state of the treatment liquid without repelling is realized on the water-repellent intermediate transfer member, and the obtained intermediate image is obtained. It has become clear that it is not always easy to obtain good transferability.

  On the other hand, there is a method of forming a coating state temporarily free of repellency on a water-repellent intermediate transfer member by applying a highly viscous treatment liquid with a roller. However, this method also has the following problems under the high-speed conveyance condition of the intermediate transfer member.

  Since a high shear rate is generated between the intermediate transfer member and the roller according to the conveyance speed of the intermediate transfer member, when the thixotropy of the high-viscosity liquid is high, the viscosity decreases at the shear rate, and the expectation In some cases, the applied state cannot be obtained. Under high-speed transport conditions of the intermediate transfer member, the nip time between the intermediate transfer member and the roller becomes extremely short according to the conveyance speed of the intermediate transfer member. An uncoated state can be obtained. However, in such a method, the uniformity (leveling property) of the application state of the treatment liquid may be remarkably deteriorated.

  An object of the present invention is to form an intermediate image with high image quality by forming a processing liquid layer in a uniform coating state without repellency on a water-repellent intermediate transfer member even under conditions of high-speed conveyance of the intermediate transfer member. It is an object of the present invention to provide a transfer type ink jet recording method that enables the above. A further object of the present invention is to provide a transfer type ink jet recording method capable of forming a final image with high image quality by transferring an intermediate image satisfactorily. A further object of the present invention is to provide a treatment liquid used in such a transfer type ink jet recording method and a set of the treatment liquid and ink.

The above problems are solved by the present invention described below. That is, the transfer type ink jet recording method according to the present invention includes:
A treatment liquid layer forming step for forming a treatment liquid layer by flattening a treatment liquid for causing an increase in viscosity of a water-based ink containing a colorant component on the intermediate transfer body, and a treatment liquid for the intermediate transfer body A transfer type ink jet comprising an intermediate image forming step of forming an intermediate image by applying the water-based ink to the layer forming surface by an ink jet recording method, and a transfer step of transferring the intermediate image on the intermediate transfer member to a recording medium A recording method,
The contact angle of the intermediate transfer member with respect to water is 40 degrees or more,
The treatment liquid contains at least an ink thickening component, water-insoluble resin particles, and a side chain polyether-modified siloxane compound represented by the following general formula (1), and the hydrogen ion concentration (pH) is 6 or less. An aqueous liquid of
The minimum film-forming temperature of the water-insoluble resin particles is equal to or lower than the surface temperature of the intermediate transfer member in the processing liquid layer forming step, and the viscosity of the processing liquid layer is 1000 cP or higher under a shear rate of 100 to 400 / s. It is characterized by.

(R ^{1 to} R ⁴ and R ^{6 to} R ¹¹ are each independently hydrogen or a monovalent organic group, R ⁵ is a divalent organic group, x, y and a are each independently an integer of 1 or more. , Z and b each independently represent an integer of 0 or more.)
The processing liquid according to the present invention is used in combination with water-based ink for transfer type inkjet recording using an intermediate transfer body, and is processed by being flattened on the intermediate transfer body before forming an intermediate image with the water-based ink. A treatment liquid for forming a liquid layer,
It contains an ink thickening component for causing an increase in viscosity of the water-based ink, water-insoluble resin particles, and a side chain polyether-modified siloxane compound represented by the general formula (1), and a hydrogen ion concentration ( pH) is an aqueous liquid having a pH of 6 or less,
The viscosity at the time of the flattening is 1000 cP or more under a shear rate of 100 to 400 / s,
It is the processing liquid characterized by this.

The set of the treatment liquid and the ink for transfer type ink jet recording according to the present invention comprises a water-based ink for forming an intermediate image on the intermediate transfer member in the transfer type ink-jet recording, and the viscosity of the water-based ink in contact with the water-based ink. A set for transfer-type inkjet recording with a processing liquid that causes an increase,
The treatment liquid is a treatment liquid having the above-described configuration, and is a set of a water-based ink for transfer type inkjet recording and a treatment liquid.

  According to the present invention, an intermediate image with high image quality can be formed by forming the processing liquid on the intermediate transfer body in a uniform coating state on the processing liquid layer even under high-speed conveyance conditions of the intermediate transfer body. . According to the present invention, a final image with high image quality can be formed by transferring an intermediate image from an intermediate transfer member to a recording medium.

It is a figure which shows an example of the image recording apparatus using the process liquid of this invention.

  By containing a specific siloxane compound, the processing liquid according to the present invention expresses high wettability with respect to the water-repellent intermediate transfer member, and at the time of forming a processing liquid layer for forming an intermediate image, a shear rate of 100 to It has a high viscosity even under 400 / s conditions. By uniformly flattening a processing liquid that can have a high viscosity even under such a high shear rate condition with a roller or the like when forming the processing liquid layer, even under high-speed transport conditions, there is no repellency and uniformity. Applicability of the treatment liquid can be ensured. In addition, by achieving the viscosity of the treatment liquid by utilizing the film-forming phenomenon of specific water-insoluble resin particles, it is possible to express excellent performance with respect to ink thickening and transfer properties required in the subsequent process. Is.

  It is important that the viscosity of the processing liquid when the processing liquid layer is formed by flattening the processing liquid on the intermediate transfer member is at least 1000 cP or more, that is, 1000 cP or more under a shear rate of 100 to 400 / s. It is. When the viscosity is less than 1000 cP, the processing liquid layer may be repelled depending on the conveyance speed of the intermediate transfer member. The viscosity of the treatment liquid when forming the treatment liquid layer is more preferably 2000 cP or more, and most preferably 3000 cP or more.

  The “viscosity of the processing liquid layer” in the present invention can be determined by extracting the processing liquid from the processing liquid layer on the intermediate transfer member and measuring the viscosity using the extracted processing liquid as a sample. An E-type viscometer can be used for measuring the viscosity of the treatment liquid. Specifically, the viscosity value of the sample at a specified shear rate (100 to 400 / s) is measured by varying the rotational speed of the cone rotor of the E type viscometer.

  The outline of the printing method using the transfer type inkjet recording method according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

  First, a treatment liquid for causing an increase in viscosity of the aqueous ink for forming an intermediate image is applied to the surface of the intermediate transfer member.

<Intermediate transfer member>
The intermediate transfer member in the present invention serves as a base material for holding the treatment liquid and water-based ink and forming an intermediate image. The intermediate transfer member has a surface having a contact angle with water of 40 degrees or more in order to improve transferability by improving the releasability of the intermediate image. The contact angle with water is preferably 40 ° or more and less than 120 °, and more preferably 40 ° or more and 105 ° or less, in order to further improve the effect of suppressing the repellency of the treatment solution on the intermediate transfer member during the formation of the treatment solution layer. This is true.

  The intermediate transfer member only needs to have mechanical strength for handling the intermediate transfer member and transmitting necessary force. The intermediate transfer member is made of the same material and has such mechanical strength. The structure including the member and the surface layer member suitable for forming the intermediate image can be appropriately selected. Moreover, about a supporting member and a surface layer member, it can also be comprised from the respectively independent several member.

  Examples of the shape of the intermediate transfer member include a sheet shape, a roller shape, a drum shape, a belt shape, and an endless web shape.

  If an intermediate transfer member having a drum-like or belt-like endless web structure is used, the same intermediate transfer member can be used continuously and repeatedly, which is a very suitable structure in terms of productivity. Further, the size of the intermediate transfer member can be freely selected according to the target print image size.

  The support member of the intermediate transfer member is required to have a structural strength required from the viewpoint of conveyance accuracy and durability. The material is preferably metal, ceramic, resin or the like. In addition, the composite material using these 2 or more types can also be used as the material for forming the support member. Among these, aluminum, iron, stainless steel, and acetal are required because of the characteristics required to improve control responsiveness by reducing inertia during operation, as well as rigidity and dimensional accuracy that can withstand pressure during intermediate image transfer. Resins, epoxy resins, polyimides, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, polyurethane, silica ceramics, and alumina ceramics are particularly preferably used. Moreover, it is also preferable to use these in combination.

  The surface of the surface layer member of the intermediate transfer member is used as an intermediate image forming surface and has a certain degree of elasticity to transfer the image by pressing the intermediate image onto a recording medium such as paper (or a printing medium). Is desirable. For example, when paper is used as the printing material, the surface layer member preferably has a durometer type A (JIS K6253 compliant) hardness in the range of 10 to 100 °, particularly 20 to 60 °. A range is more preferable.

  As materials for the surface layer member, various materials such as polymers, ceramics, and metals can be used as appropriate, but various rubber materials and elastomer materials are preferably used in view of the above characteristics and processing characteristics. For example, polybutadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, chloroprene rubber, silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, urethane rubber, styrene elastomer, olefin elastomer, vinyl chloride elastomer, ester elastomer, amide elastomer, etc. Is preferred. In addition, polyether, polyester, polystyrene, polycarbonate, siloxane compound, perfluorocarbon compound and the like can also be suitably used. These materials can be used in combination of two or more as required.

  Moreover, the thing formed by laminating | stacking the several layer which consists of a different material as a surface layer member is also suitable. For example, an endless belt-shaped urethane rubber coated with silicone rubber, a sheet of silicone rubber laminated on a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film, a laminated material in which a polysiloxane compound is formed on a urethane rubber sheet, etc. are suitable. Used for. Examples of the polysiloxane compound include a siloxane compound composed of a condensate using a hydrolyzable organosilicon compound as a raw material. Further, a sheet in which a woven fabric such as cotton cloth, polyester, rayon or the like is used as a base cloth and a rubber material such as nitrile butadiene rubber or urethane rubber is impregnated therewith can be suitably used.

  The surface layer member can be used after an appropriate surface treatment. Examples include flame treatment, corona treatment, plasma treatment, polishing treatment, roughening treatment, active energy ray (UV, IR, RF, etc.) irradiation treatment, ozone treatment, surfactant treatment, and silane coupling treatment. It is also preferable to apply a combination of these.

  In particular, siloxane compounds such as silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, phenyl silicone rubber, and condensates made from hydrolyzable organosilicon compounds are very suitable as surface layer members in terms of wettability and transferability to a recording medium. Can be used.

  Various adhesives and double-sided tapes for fixing and holding these members may be present between the surface layer member and the support member.

  Further, in order to suppress the fluidity of the intermediate image on the intermediate transfer member, an arbitrary surface roughness can be imparted. At this time, the average surface roughness Ra is preferably about 0.01 to 3 μm, but is not limited thereto.

<Processing liquid>
The treatment liquid in the present invention is an aqueous liquid containing water, an ink thickening component, a side chain polyether-modified siloxane compound represented by the following general formula (1), and water-insoluble resin particles.

(R ^{1 to} R ⁴ and R ^{6 to} R ¹¹ are each independently hydrogen or a monovalent organic group, R ⁵ is a divalent organic group, x, y and a are each independently an integer of 1 or more. , Z and b each independently represent an integer of 0 or more.)
(Ink viscosity increasing component)
The increase in viscosity of water-based ink means that a chemical reaction and / or physical adsorption occurs when an ink viscosity-increasing component comes into contact with a water-based ink containing a coloring material component, a resin component, and the like. An increase occurs. This thickening of the water-based ink includes not only the case where an increase in the viscosity of the entire water-based ink is observed, but also the case where the viscosity is locally increased by agglomeration of a part of the ink composition such as a coloring material. This thickening component has the effect of reducing bleeding and beading during image formation by reducing the fluidity of at least one part of the aqueous ink on the intermediate transfer member. As this ink thickening component, from polyvalent metal ions, organic acids, cationic polymers, porous fine particles, etc., which are known as components capable of exerting the above-mentioned effects in combination with water-based ink for ink jet recording, It can be suitably selected according to the composition of the aqueous ink to be used. Of these, polyvalent metal ions and organic acids are particularly preferred. It is also preferable to include a plurality of types of ink thickening components.

  The content of the ink thickening component is preferably 5% by mass or more with respect to the total mass of the treatment liquid.

Examples of metal ions that can be used as the ink thickening component include divalent metal ions such as Ca ²⁺ , Cu ²⁺ , Ni ²⁺ , Mg ²⁺ , Sr ²⁺ , Ba ^2+, and Zn ^2+. And trivalent metal ions such as Fe ³⁺ , Cr ³⁺ , Y ³⁺ and Al ³⁺ .

  Examples of organic acids that can be used as the ink thickening component include oxalic acid, polyacrylic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, glycolic acid, malonic acid, malic acid, maleic acid, ascorbic acid, levulinic acid, succinic acid, Glutaric acid, glutamic acid, fumaric acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, pyrone carboxylic acid, pyrrole carboxylic acid, furan carboxylic acid, pyridine carboxylic acid, coumaric acid, thiophene carboxylic acid, nicotinic acid, oxysuccinic acid, dioxysuccinic acid Etc.

(Side-chain polyether-modified siloxane compound)
The side chain polyether-modified siloxane compound contained in the treatment liquid has a chemical structure represented by the general formula (1).

In the general formula (1), (C ₂ H ₄ O) represents an ethylene oxide unit, and (C ₃ H ₆ O) represents a propylene oxide unit. The ethylene oxide unit and the propylene oxide unit may exist in any state such as a random form or a block form in the same molecule. Here, that each unit exists in a random state means that ethylene oxide units and propylene oxide units are irregularly arranged. In addition, the presence of each unit in a block state means that each block is composed of several units as described above, and the blocks configured in this way are regularly arranged. Yes.

The monovalent hydrocarbon group as R ^{1 to} R ⁴ and R ^{6 to} R ¹¹ is preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, more preferably an ethyl group or a propyl group, A methyl group is particularly preferred.

The divalent organic group as R ⁵ is preferably an alkylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, more preferably an ethylene group, a propylene group, a butylene group, or the like.

  x is preferably an integer of 1 to 500, more preferably 1 to 100, and particularly preferably 1 to 10. y is preferably an integer of 1 to 100, more preferably 1 to 50. z is preferably an integer of 0 to 500, more preferably 0 to 100, and particularly preferably 0 to 10. a is preferably an integer of 1 to 500, more preferably 1 to 100. b is preferably an integer of 0 to 500, more preferably 0 to 100.

  The weight average molecular weight of the compound represented by the general formula (1) is preferably 100,000 or less, and more preferably 10,000 or less, in order to more effectively obtain wettability by the treatment liquid in the intermediate transfer member. The lower limit of the weight average molecular weight is preferably 500. In addition, the said weight average molecular weight is a weight average molecular weight of polystyrene conversion in the molecular weight distribution measured by gel permeation chromatography. Since the compound represented by the general formula (1) used in the present invention is usually a mixture of compounds having various different molecular weights, the molecular weight is obtained as an average molecular weight.

  The concentration of the compound represented by the general formula (1) in the treatment liquid is preferably 0.1% by mass or more and 90.0% by mass or less with respect to the total mass of the treatment liquid. According to this added concentration range, in addition to the effect obtained by adding the compound represented by the general formula (1), the amount of the ink thickening component added is increased so that the intermediate image is increased by increasing the viscosity of the aqueous ink. The image quality and transferability can be improved. The addition concentration is more preferably 0.5% by mass or more and 80.0% by mass or less, more preferably 3.0% by mass or more and 75.0% by mass or less, and more preferably 10.5% by mass or more and 70.0% by mass or less. Further preferred.

  Furthermore, it is more preferable that the amount of the compound represented by the general formula (1) is 10% by mass or more with respect to the amount of the ink thickening component, and the concentration in the processing liquid is kept high. This is for further effectively suppressing repellency of the processing liquid on the intermediate transfer body even when water or the like contained in the processing liquid volatilizes after the processing liquid is applied to the intermediate transfer body. When the amount of water in the processing liquid decreases, the compound represented by the general formula (1) to the gas-liquid interface composed of the intermediate transfer member and the processing liquid becomes difficult to be oriented. By maintaining a high concentration of the compound represented in the treatment liquid, the compound represented by the general formula (1) can be curablely supplied to the gas-liquid interface.

  The compound represented by the general formula (1) may be dissolved or dispersed in the treatment liquid.

  Specific examples of the compound represented by the general formula (1) include, for example, BYK347, BYK348, BYK349, BYK331, BYK307 (trade name; manufactured by Big Chemie Japan).

  The viscosity of the treatment liquid according to the present invention is preferably in the range of 1 cP to 1000 cP.

  The hydrogen ion concentration (pH) of the treatment liquid according to the present invention is 6 or less. More preferably, it is 4 or less. This is because the treatment liquid exhibits specific wettability with respect to the intermediate transfer member at pH 6 or lower. On the other hand, when the pH of the treatment liquid is larger than 6, not only the thickening effect on the water-based ink is lowered, but also the wettability with respect to the intermediate transfer member may be significantly lowered. However, when the pH of the treatment liquid is less than 1, depending on the material of the coating apparatus that applies the treatment liquid to the intermediate transfer member, the pH may be 1 or more.

  Further, it has been clarified that the compound represented by the general formula (1) also exhibits an effect of improving the performance (transferability) of transferring an intermediate image to a recording medium. In particular, under the condition of high-speed conveyance of the intermediate transfer member, the transfer is dramatically achieved by the addition of the compound represented by the general formula (1), compared to the case where the compound represented by the general formula (1) is not added to the treatment liquid. Improves. Specifically, under the condition where the conveyance speed of the intermediate transfer member is 1 to 10 m / s, when the compound represented by the general formula (1) is not added to the processing liquid, the type of intermediate image pattern and the transfer time The pressure may cause a problem of remaining on the transfer body. On the other hand, when the treatment liquid containing the compound represented by the general formula (1) is used, excellent transferability is exhibited even at the same transport speed. This effect of improving transferability is considered to be due to the action of a siloxane skeleton that enhances the peeling performance of the compound represented by the general formula (1).

(Water-insoluble resin particles)
It is important that the water-insoluble resin particles have a function of causing a film forming phenomenon at a temperature at which the treatment liquid layer is formed. By forming the water-insoluble resin particles during the formation of the treatment liquid layer, the treatment liquid layer can develop a high viscosity even under a high shear rate, and the repelling of the treatment liquid on the intermediate transfer member can be prevented. I can do it. In addition, since the resin particles in the processing liquid layer existing at the gas-liquid interface between the intermediate transfer body and the processing liquid form a film, the high transferability by promoting the peelability between the intermediate transfer body and the intermediate image, and the final It also plays a role in obtaining high scratchability in images. Therefore, as the water-insoluble resin particles, those having a minimum film forming temperature equal to or lower than the surface temperature of the intermediate transfer body when forming the treatment liquid layer on the intermediate transfer body are selected and used.

  The water-insoluble resin particles are preferably cationic resin particles containing one or more amino groups. Furthermore, the cationic resin particles are preferably cationic resin particles containing a polyurethane resin having an amine value in the range of 0.5 mmol / g to 3.0 mmol / g. Furthermore, among the cationic water-insoluble resin particles, those made of a polyurethane resin having at least one amino group are preferable from the viewpoint of thickening the aqueous ink at the time of forming the intermediate image and transferability of the intermediate image.

  As the amino group of the polyurethane resin (independently in the case where there are a plurality of amino groups), a primary to tertiary amine or a structure in which these are quaternized can be used without particular limitation. Tertiary amines or their quaternized structures are preferred. By selecting a tertiary amine or this quaternized structure as an amino group, the nucleophilic addition reaction in other components contained in the treatment liquid can be effectively suppressed to improve the storage stability of the treatment liquid. Can do.

  The number average molecular weight of the polyurethane resin having at least one amino group is preferably from 10,000 to 100,000, more preferably from 30,000 to 900,000, and most preferably from 50,000 to 800,000 from the viewpoint of viscosity characteristics during film formation. By setting the number average molecular weight to 10,000 or more, sufficient viscosity due to film formation can be effectively obtained.

  The amount of water-insoluble resin particles added to the treatment liquid is preferably 1% by mass to 90% by mass with respect to the total mass of the treatment liquid. By setting this addition amount range, in addition to the effect of adding water-insoluble resin particles, a sufficient addition amount of the ink thickening component can be ensured, and the thickening action of the water-based ink can be obtained more effectively. Image quality and transferability can be improved. The amount added is more preferably 5% by mass to 70% by mass, and most preferably 10% by mass to 50% by mass.

  The treatment liquid contains water, and may further contain an organic solvent as necessary. The water used in this case is preferably water deionized by ion exchange or the like. Moreover, as an organic solvent, what can obtain the target effect from the well-known organic solvent can be selected, and the 1 type (s) or 2 or more types can be used in combination.

  Further, various resins can be added to the treatment liquid according to the present invention. By adding an appropriate resin, it is possible to enhance the transferability to the recording medium at the time of transfer or to increase the mechanical strength of the final image. The material used is not particularly limited as long as it can coexist with the ink thickening component.

<Processing liquid layer forming step>
In the processing liquid layer forming step for forming an intermediate image in the present invention, the processing liquid applied before forming the intermediate image on the intermediate image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member forms a layer, and the layer of the processing liquid has a layer thickness. A processing liquid layer having a predetermined thickness is obtained through a flattening process that regulates and makes uniform. In the present invention, it is important to temporarily flatten the layer of the processing liquid on the intermediate image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member when the processing liquid layer is formed. In the flattening of the processing liquid, the processing liquid is applied on the intermediate image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member as a layer or a lump that is thicker than the target processing liquid layer, and is flattened by a flattening means. Can be done. By this flattening, the thickness of the treatment liquid layer can be regulated and uniformized to a target layer thickness. The flattening means smoothes or spreads the layer or lump of the processing solution applied on the intermediate image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member, thereby reducing the thickness of these layers to the desired thickness. What can obtain the treatment liquid layer is used. As flattening means, rollers, bars and blades that regulate the thickness of the coating layer used in various methods such as the bar coater method, blade coater method and roll coater method used in coating film forming technology An application layer thickness regulating means such as From the viewpoint of high-speed compatibility when the intermediate image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member is conveyed at high speed, a method of flattening using a roller as the flattening means is preferable. As the type of roller, any conventionally used roller such as a rubber roller or SUS (stainless steel) roller can be suitably used, but a rubber roller is preferably used for the purpose of reducing damage to the intermediate transfer member. It is done. Furthermore, it is also very suitable to combine several methods.

  The temperature at the time of forming the processing liquid layer is not particularly limited, but the temperature on the intermediate image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member is in the range of 0 to 100 ° C. in order to obtain the target viscosity of the processing liquid at the time of forming the processing liquid layer. It is preferable that When the temperature is 0 ° C. or lower, condensation may occur depending on the application environment of the processing liquid, which may affect the image performance.

  Further, the flattening of the processing liquid layer on the intermediate image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member when forming the processing liquid layer is performed simultaneously with the application of the processing liquid to the intermediate image forming surface or a method of performing flattening. The treatment may be performed after applying the treatment liquid on the intermediate transfer member in advance by a different method. As a method of applying the treatment liquid in advance as a layer or a lump before flattening, various conventionally known methods can be appropriately used. Examples include die coating, blade coating, a technique using a gravure roller, a technique using an offset roller, and spray coating. Moreover, the method of providing using an inkjet device is also suitable. Furthermore, it is possible to combine several methods.

  Further, the image quality of the intermediate image may be improved when the thickness of the treatment liquid layer formed on the intermediate image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member is smaller. Therefore, a drying process may be added in which the moisture or solvent contained in the intermediate transfer member is dried before drawing and the treatment liquid layer is thinned.

  Since the treatment liquid according to the present invention has the above-mentioned composition, the viscosity suitable for the formation of the treatment liquid layer is processed even in a state in which the treatment liquid layer is subjected to the shearing stress when performing the planarization treatment. Can be obtained in liquid. The processing liquid according to the present invention can maintain a viscosity of 1000 cP or higher even under a shear rate of 100 to 400 / s, and forms a processing liquid layer by moving the intermediate image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member at high speed. It can respond suitably also to a case. The upper limit of the viscosity of the treatment liquid layer is preferably set to about 30000P.

  When forming the processing liquid layer while transporting the intermediate image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member, the transport speed of the intermediate image forming surface takes into account the effective processing time for final image production and processing liquid layer flattening. Then, 1 cm / s or more and 10 m / s or less are preferable. The flattening processing time is a time during which the layer thickness of the processing liquid layer applied on the intermediate image forming surface is regulated, and corresponds to a nip time when flattening using a roller. .

  Subsequently, aqueous ink is applied to the treatment liquid layer provided on the intermediate image-shaped surface of the intermediate transfer member by using an ink jet apparatus to form an intermediate image. Here, an image formed on the intermediate transfer body and finally transferred to the recording medium is referred to as an “intermediate image” for convenience.

<Drawing>
Examples of the ink ejection method in the ink jet apparatus applied to the present invention include the following methods.
A method in which ink is ejected by forming a bubble by causing film boiling in the ink by an electro-thermal converter.
A method in which ink is ejected by an electro-mechanical converter.
-A method of discharging ink using static electricity.

  The configuration of the ink jet apparatus used for forming the intermediate image is not particularly limited as long as the intermediate image can be formed using the ink according to the present invention. In particular, from the viewpoint of performing high-density printing at high speed, an apparatus that employs an ink ejection method using an electro-thermal converter is preferably used.

  Moreover, there is no restriction | limiting in particular also about the operation | movement form of the ink discharge head in an inkjet apparatus. A so-called shuttle-type inkjet head that forms an intermediate image while scanning the head perpendicular to the direction of travel of the intermediate transfer member, or substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the intermediate transfer member (that is, substantially parallel to the axial direction in the case of a drum shape) In other words, an ink jet head in the form of a so-called line head in which ink discharge ports are arranged in a line can be used.

<Transfer type ink jet recording ink>
Each component that can be used in the ink of the present invention will be described.
[Color material ingredients]
The water-based ink in the present invention can be used as a color material component by dissolving and / or dispersing one or a combination of two or more selected from pigments such as known dyes, carbon black, and organic pigments. Among these, various pigments are suitable because they have characteristics of printed matter durability and quality.
[Pigment]
It does not specifically limit as a pigment which can be used for this invention, A well-known inorganic pigment and organic pigment can be used. Specifically, C.I. I. A pigment represented by a (color index) number can be used. Moreover, it is also preferable to use carbon black as a black pigment. The content of the pigment in the ink is preferably 0.5% by mass or more and 15.0% by mass or less, and preferably 1.0% by mass or more and 10.0% by mass or less with respect to the total mass of the ink. More preferred.

[Pigment dispersant]
The water-based ink can contain a dispersant for dispersing the pigment. Any dispersant can be used as long as it is used for inkjet. For example, one or more known dispersants for inkjet can be used in combination.

  In particular, in the present invention, it is preferable to use a water-soluble dispersant having both a hydrophilic part and a hydrophobic part in the structure. In particular, a pigment dispersant made of a resin obtained by copolymerizing at least a hydrophilic monomer and a hydrophobic monomer is preferably used. There is no restriction | limiting in particular about each monomer used here, It can select and use from the well-known monomer for dispersing agents. Specifically, examples of the hydrophobic monomer include styrene, styrene derivatives, alkyl (meth) acrylate, benzyl (meth) acrylate, and the like, and one or more of these can be used in combination. Examples of the hydrophilic monomer include acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, and the like, and one or more of these can be used in combination.

  The acid value of the dispersant is preferably 50 mgKOH / g or more and 550 mgKOH / g or less. Moreover, it is preferable that the weight average molecular weights of a dispersing agent are 1000 or more and 50000 or less. In addition, it is preferable that it is the range of 1: 0.1 to 1: 3 as a ratio (mass standard) of a pigment and a dispersing agent.

  In addition, it is also preferable in the present invention to use a so-called self-dispersing pigment that can be dispersed in an aqueous medium contained in an aqueous ink without using a dispersant.

[Resin fine particles]
The water-based ink in the present invention can be used by containing various fine particles in addition to the pigment. These fine particles are not involved in the coloring of the water-based ink, and can be added to the ink for the purpose of improving image quality and fixability. The constituent material of the fine particles is not particularly limited, but among them, resin fine particles are preferable in order to further improve image quality and fixability. The fine particles can be obtained by making the material for fine particle production into fine particles without adding coloring materials such as dyes and pigments.

  The material of the resin fine particles that can be used in the present invention is not particularly limited, and a known resin can be appropriately used. Specifically, homopolymers such as polyolefin, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyester, polyether, polyurea, polyamide, polyvinyl alcohol, poly (meth) acrylic acid and its salt, poly (meth) acrylate alkyl, polydiene, or the like The copolymer which combined two or more is mentioned. The mass average molecular weight of the resin constituting the resin fine particles is preferably in the range of 1,000 or more and 2,000,000 or less. Further, the amount of the resin fine particles in the ink is preferably 1% by mass or more and 50% by mass or less, more preferably 2% by mass or more and 40% by mass or less with respect to the total mass of the ink.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable to use as a resin fine particle dispersion in which resin fine particles are dispersed in a liquid. A dispersion method is not particularly limited, but a so-called self-dispersing resin fine particle dispersion in which a monomer having a dissociable group is homopolymerized or a resin obtained by copolymerizing a plurality of types is preferably used. Here, examples of the dissociable group include a carboxyl group, a sulfonic acid group, and a phosphoric acid group. Examples of the monomer having the dissociable group include acrylic acid and methacrylic acid. One or more of these can be used. Combinations can be used. A so-called emulsified dispersion type resin fine particle dispersion in which resin fine particles are dispersed with an emulsifier can also be suitably used in the present invention. As the emulsifier here, a known surfactant is preferably used regardless of low molecular weight or high molecular weight. The surfactant is preferably nonionic or has the same charge as the resin fine particles.

  The resin fine particle dispersion that can be used in the present invention preferably has a dispersed particle size of 10 nm or more and 1000 nm or less, and more preferably 100 nm or more and 500 nm or less.

  It is also preferable to add various additives for stabilization when preparing the resin fine particle dispersion. For example, n-hexadecane, dodecyl methacrylate, stearyl methacrylate, chlorobenzene, dodecyl mercaptan, olive oil, blue dye (Blue 70), polymethyl methacrylate, and the like are preferable. One or a combination of two or more of these can be used.

[Surfactant]
The water-based ink that can be used in the present invention may contain a surfactant. Specific examples of the surfactant include acetylenol EH (manufactured by Kawaken Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.). The amount of the surfactant in the ink is preferably 0.01% by mass or more and 5.0% by mass or less with respect to the total mass of the ink.
[Water and water-soluble organic solvents]
The water-based ink used in the present invention contains water as a solvent and can further contain a water-soluble organic solvent. The water is preferably water deionized by ion exchange or the like. The water content in the aqueous ink is preferably 30% by mass or more and 97% by mass or less with respect to the total mass of the ink.

  The type of the water-soluble organic solvent is not particularly limited, and any known organic solvent that is used as a component of water-based ink for ink jet recording can be used. Specific examples include glycerin, diethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and 2-pyrrolidone. The content of the water-soluble organic solvent in the water-based ink is preferably 3% by mass or more and 70% by mass or less with respect to the total mass of the water-based ink.

[Other additives]
In addition to the above components, the water-based ink that can be used in the present invention, if necessary, is a pH adjuster, a rust inhibitor, a preservative, an antifungal agent, an antioxidant, a reduction agent, a water-soluble resin, and a neutralization thereof. You may contain various additives, such as an agent and a viscosity modifier.

<Set of treatment liquid and ink>
These sets for ink-jet recording can be constituted by using the water-based ink for ink-jet recording and the treatment liquid having the above structure.

<Transfer>
After the intermediate image is formed on the treatment liquid layer on the intermediate image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member, the intermediate image is transferred by pressure-bonding the recording medium to the intermediate transfer member, thereby obtaining a final image printed matter. As the recording medium (printed material), not only paper used in general printing but also cloth, plastic, film and other printing media, recording media, and the like can be used.

There is no particular limitation on the method for pressure-bonding the intermediate transfer member and the recording medium, but it is preferable to apply pressure from both sides of the intermediate transfer member and the recording medium using a pressure roller because an image is efficiently transferred and formed. It is also preferable to apply pressure in multiple stages since it may be effective in reducing transfer defects.
The transfer speed in the transfer process is preferably 1 cm / s or more and 10 m / s or less. When the conveyance speed is 1 cm / s or less, the production of the final image may be accompanied by a decrease. When the conveyance speed is 10 m / s or more, the transfer pressure application time is too short. It may not be fully expressed.

<Moisture removal>
If the liquid content in the intermediate image is excessive, excess liquid may overflow or overflow in the transfer process, which may cause image disturbance or transfer failure. In order to cope with such a case, it is also preferable to provide a step of reducing the liquid content from the intermediate image formed by the ink jet apparatus. Any of various methods can be suitably applied as a method for removing moisture. For example, a method using heating, a method of blowing low-humidity air, a method of reducing pressure, a method of bringing an absorber into contact with each other, and a method combining these are preferably used. It is also possible to remove moisture by natural drying.

<Cleaning>
Although the image formation is completed as described above, the intermediate transfer member may be repeatedly used continuously from the viewpoint of productivity. In this case, it is preferable to clean and regenerate the surface before the next image formation. Any of various methods can be suitably applied as the means for performing the cleaning regeneration. For example, a method of applying a cleaning liquid in a shower form, a method of wiping a wet Molton roller against the surface, a method of contacting the surface of the cleaning liquid, a method of scraping with a wiper blade, a method of applying various energy, etc. are all suitable. Used for. Of course, a method of combining a plurality of these is also suitable.

<Fixing>
As an additional step, the recording medium on which the post-transfer image recording has been performed may be pressed with a roller to improve the fixing property between the recording medium and the image. It is also preferable to heat the recording medium because the fixability may be improved. Of course, you may perform these simultaneously using a heating roller.

<Transfer type ink jet recording apparatus>
An example of an apparatus that can be used in the transfer type ink jet recording method according to the present invention is shown in FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a transfer type ink jet recording apparatus using a drum type intermediate transfer member as a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the drum type intermediate transfer member.

  This apparatus has a roller type coating device 14, an ink jet device 15, a blower device 16, a heater 17 and a pressurization along the rotation direction indicated by an arrow about the central axis 13 of the drum type intermediate transfer member. The roller 19 and the cleaning unit 20 are arranged in order. Furthermore, you may provide the moisture removal means 21, such as a heating apparatus for the moisture removal in a process liquid layer, as needed. The drum-type intermediate transfer member has a configuration in which a surface layer member 11 constituting an intermediate image forming surface is provided on the outer peripheral surface of a drum-shaped support member 12. The support member 12 is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow about the shaft 13, and each device arranged in the periphery operates in synchronization with the rotation.

  Image formation in this apparatus can be performed as follows.

  The drum-type intermediate transfer member is rotated at the target peripheral speed so that the moving speed (conveyance speed) of the intermediate image forming surface can be obtained around the central axis 13. The processing liquid in the storage tank 22 is applied to the intermediate image forming surface on the surface of the surface layer member 11 by the roller type coating device 14. The processing liquid applied to the intermediate image forming surface is supplied to a nip portion composed of the roller of the roller type coating device 14 and the intermediate image forming surface, and is flattened by roller pressure to a thickness regulated by the width of the nip portion. The The flattened layer of the processing liquid becomes a processing liquid layer by being sent out from the nip portion toward the recording area by the ink jet apparatus. In this way, the treatment liquid layer forming step is performed.

  When the processing liquid layer moves to the recording processing area by the ink jet device 15 as the drum-type intermediate transfer member rotates, a desired intermediate image (mirror-inverted image) is formed on the processing liquid layer. . The water-based ink that has landed on the treatment liquid layer is increased in viscosity by the action of the ink viscosity increasing component contained in the treatment liquid layer. By increasing the viscosity of the water-based ink, problems such as bleedering and beading can be suppressed. In this way, the intermediate image forming process is performed.

  Along with the rotation of the intermediate transfer member, the portion where the intermediate image is formed on the intermediate image forming surface of the surface layer member 11 moves to the area where the blower device 16 is arranged, and the intermediate image is displayed by blowing from the blower device 16. A drying process for reducing the volatile liquid content in the ink constituting the ink is performed. Furthermore, the drying process can be performed more effectively by heating from the back side of the intermediate transfer member with the heater 17. As a result, the intermediate image is dried, and image disturbance during transfer is suppressed.

  When the intermediate image formed on the intermediate image forming surface of the intermediate transfer body has moved to the position where the pressure roller 19 is disposed, the intermediate image and the recording medium 18 are sandwiched between the support member 12 and the pressure roller 19. By applying pressure, an efficient intermediate image transfer process is performed.

  Further, since the intermediate image forming surface of the intermediate transfer body after the intermediate image is transferred to the recording medium 18 is repeatedly used for the next image formation, it is cleaned by the cleaning unit 20.

  Next, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples and comparative examples of the transfer type ink jet recording method according to the present invention. The present invention is not limited by the following examples unless it exceeds the gist. In the text, “parts” and “%” are based on mass unless otherwise specified.

(Transfer type inkjet recording device)
Images formed by transfer ink jet recording were evaluated using the apparatus shown in FIG. In the following examples and comparative examples, in addition to rigidity and dimensional accuracy that can withstand pressurization during transfer, characteristics required for reducing rotational inertia and improving control response, etc. This cylindrical drum was used as the support member 12 for the intermediate transfer member.

  Further, the surface layer member shown in Table 1 was used as the surface layer member 11 of the intermediate transfer member. The outermost layer of the surface layer member of the intermediate transfer member 1 is made of a siloxane compound. That is, the surface member of the intermediate transfer member 1 is a product in which a siloxane compound surface layer is formed by a condensate using a hydrolyzable organosilicon compound as a raw material on the silicone rubber layer provided on the outer peripheral surface of the support member by the following method. It is. Glycidoxypropyltriethoxysilane and methyltriethoxysilane are mixed at a molar ratio of 3.5: 6.5, heated under reflux for 24 hours or more in an aqueous solvent using hydrochloric acid as a catalyst, and a hydrolyzable condensate solution is obtained. Obtained. The hydrolyzable condensate solution was diluted to 10 to 20 wt% with methyl isobutyl ketone, and 5 wt% of photocationic polymerization initiator SP150 (manufactured by ADEKA) was added to the solid content to obtain a coating solution. Next, using this coating solution, a film was formed on the silicone rubber layer provided on the outer peripheral surface of the support member by spin coating. As a pretreatment of the silicone rubber layer, the surface was subjected to a plasma treatment to improve the coating property of the coating solution and the adhesion to the silicone rubber layer. Next, exposure was performed by irradiating with a UV lamp, heating was performed at 120 ° C. for 2 hours, and the spin coat layer was cured to form a surface layer of a cured product. At this time, the film thickness of the surface layer of the cured product was about 0.7 μm.

  In accordance with the above method, a sample for contact angle measurement in which a silicone rubber layer on a flat support member was coated with a layer made of a cured product of a siloxane compound was prepared, and the contact angle was measured by a conventional method. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Adjustment of processing solution)
A treatment liquid was prepared by mixing the components shown in Table 4 using the surfactant shown in Table 2 and the water-insoluble resin particles shown in Table 3.

(Treatment liquid application)
The processing liquid stored in the tank 22 of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is applied to the surface of the intermediate image forming surface of the surface layer member 11 of the intermediate transfer member by the roller type coating device 14 under the conditions shown in Table 5 below. The coating layer thickness was regulated to a predetermined thickness so that the coating amount was m ² , and a treatment liquid layer was formed.

  In Table 5, the coating roller rotation speed and the intermediate transfer member conveyance speed indicate peripheral speeds. The intermediate transfer member temperature indicates the surface temperature of the surface layer member 11.

  Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4 were made using the treatment liquids shown in Table 4 as the treatment liquid. Table 6 shows the types of treatment liquids used in each Example and each Comparative Example and the viscosity of the treatment liquid layer formed with each treatment liquid. Here, the viscosity of the treatment liquid layer is the viscosity of the treatment liquid obtained by partially extracting the treatment liquid layer formed on the intermediate transfer member from the portion between the formation of the treatment liquid layer and the ink landing. It was determined by measuring at a temperature equal to the surface temperature of the intermediate transfer member using a meter (TV22 viscometer, cone plate type, manufactured by Toki Sangyo Co., Ltd.).

(Preparation of intermediate image))
An aqueous image forming ink was ejected from the ink jet device 15 onto the surface of the intermediate transfer member to which the treatment liquid was applied, thereby forming an intermediate image (mirror-inverted image) on the intermediate transfer member. As the ink jet head of the ink jet device 15, an ink jet head in which discharge ports for discharging ink by an on-demand method using an electrothermal conversion element are arranged in a line substantially parallel to the shaft 13 of the intermediate transfer drum is used. did.

As the water-based ink, those prepared by the following procedures were used.
(Preparation of black pigment dispersion)
Carbon black (product name: Monac 1100, manufactured by Cabot) 10 parts, pigment dispersant aqueous solution (styrene-ethyl acrylate-acrylic acid copolymer <acid value 150, weight average molecular weight 8,000>; solid content 20%; (Neutralized with potassium hydroxide) 15 parts and 75 parts of pure water are mixed, charged into a batch type vertical sand mill (made by IMEX), filled with 200 parts of 0.3 mm diameter zirconia beads, and cooled with water. Time dispersion processing was performed. The dispersion was centrifuged to remove coarse particles, and a black pigment dispersion having a pigment concentration of about 10% was obtained.
(Preparation of cyan pigment dispersion)
10 parts of carbon black used in the preparation of the black pigment dispersion was added to C.I. I. A cyan pigment dispersion was prepared in the same manner as in the preparation of the black pigment dispersion except that Pigment Blue 15: 3 and 10 parts were used.
(Preparation of resin fine particle dispersion)
18 parts of ethyl methacrylate, 2 parts of 2,2′-azobis- (2-methylbutyronitrile) and 2 parts of n-hexadecane were mixed and stirred for 0.5 hour. This mixture was added dropwise to 78 parts of a 6% aqueous solution of NIKKOL BC20 (manufactured by Nikko Chemicals), an emulsifier, and stirred for 0.5 hours. Next, the ultrasonic wave was irradiated for 3 hours with the ultrasonic irradiation machine. Subsequently, a polymerization reaction was performed in a nitrogen atmosphere at 80 ° C. for 4 hours, and after cooling at room temperature, filtration was performed to obtain a resin fine particle dispersion having a concentration of about 20%. The obtained resin fine particles had a mass average molecular weight of about 1,200,000 and a dispersed particle size of about 150 nm.
(Preparation of ink)
Black ink and cyan ink having the composition shown in Table 7 below were prepared. Specifically, the components shown in Table 7 below were mixed and sufficiently stirred, and then these inks were prepared by pressure filtration with a microfilter (manufactured by Fuji Film) having a pore size of 3.0 μm.

(Fixing of intermediate image, transfer and cleaning of intermediate transfer member)
The intermediate image formed on the intermediate transfer member was blown from the blower 16 and further heated from the back side of the surface layer member 11 by the heater 17, so that the intermediate image was dried and fixed. As a result, the volatile liquid component in the water-based ink constituting the intermediate image evaporates and image disturbance during transfer is suppressed. Then, the intermediate image was efficiently transferred to the printing medium 18 by pressurizing the intermediate image and the printing medium 18 with the support member 12 and the pressure roller 19. The transfer pressure application time was 5 msec (conveyance speed 2.0 m / sec and roller nip length 10 mm), and printing paper (trade name: Kinryo, 127.9 g / m ² , manufactured by Mitsubishi Paper Industries) was used as the substrate 18.

  In the above image formation, a long and roll sheet is used as the printing medium, and a system in which the printing medium is sequentially fed from the roll to the transfer roller in synchronization with the rotation of the intermediate transfer body is employed. You may use the sheet | seat sheet | seat cut by the regular shape as a body.

  Furthermore, in order to repeatedly use the surface of the intermediate transfer member after the intermediate image has been transferred to the printing medium for the next image formation, a Molton roller that is always wetted by ion-exchanged water in the cleaning unit 20 is provided on this surface. Washing was performed with intermittent contact.

<Image evaluation>
In the applying step in the recording method, a treatment liquid layer was formed on the intermediate transfer member in a range of 50 mm × 50 mm. The coating shape of the formed treatment liquid layer was evaluated according to the following criteria.
<Applicability: Application shape of treatment liquid layer>
The coating shape of the treatment liquid layer on the intermediate transfer member was observed with an optical microscope and evaluated according to the following criteria.
A: Of the applied area, the exposed area of the surface of the intermediate transfer member due to repelling is 0% or more and less than 3%.
B: Of the applied area, the exposed area of the surface of the intermediate transfer member due to repelling is 3% or more and less than 10%.
C: Of the applied area, the exposed area of the surface of the intermediate transfer member due to repelling is 10% or more and less than 50%.
D: Of the applied area, the exposed area of the surface of the intermediate transfer member due to repelling is 50% or more.
<Applicability: Leveling property>
The thickness of six different treatment liquid layers on the intermediate transfer member was measured, and the in-plane unevenness was evaluated according to the following criteria.
A: The standard deviation of the film thickness is less than 20% of the average film thickness.
B: The standard deviation of the film thickness is 20% or more and less than 50 of the average film thickness.
C: The standard deviation of the film thickness is 50% or more and less than 100% of the average film thickness.

In the intermediate image forming step in the recording method, a solid image of 2 cm × 2 cm of black ink is formed on the intermediate transfer member, and immediately after that, 2 cm of cyan ink is placed so as to be adjacent to the three sides of the solid portion. A solid image of a square of 2 cm was formed. This was created for all colors of Duty 10%, 100% and 350%, and the image characteristics of the obtained intermediate image, the transferability to the printing medium, and the image characteristics of the final image formed on the printing medium were determined. The evaluation was based on the following criteria.
<Image characteristics of intermediate image: In-plane density unevenness of solid image>
The in-plane density unevenness of the intermediate image (solid image 100% Duty) after the intermediate image forming process is measured by measuring the optical density (OD) of about 40,000 points for each 0.1 mm square using a plane spectrophotometer. Evaluation was made according to the following criteria.
A: O.I. D. The number of measured values corresponding to the range from “average value of all measured values−0.2” to “average value of all measured values + 0.2” is 80% or more and 100% or less.
B: O.D. D. The number of measured values corresponding to the range from “average value of all measured values−0.2” to “average value of all measured values + 0.2” is 70% or more and less than 80%.
C: O.I. D. The total number of measured values corresponding to the range from “average value of all measured values−0.2” to “average value of all measured values + 0.2” is 60% or more and less than 70%.
D: O.D. D. The total number of measured values corresponding to the range from “average value of all measured values−0.2” to “average value of all measured values + 0.2” is less than 60%.
<Image characteristics of intermediate image: bleeding>
The boundary portion of the obtained solid printing was observed, and the degree of bleeding generated between the inks was evaluated by the bleeding area ratio with respect to the solid image area.
The evaluation criteria were as follows.
A: Bleeding area ratio is less than 0.1%.
B: Bleeding area ratio is less than 1.0%.
C: Bleeding area ratio is 1.0% or more.

<Transferability: Ink remaining area ratio on intermediate transfer member>
The intermediate transfer body after the transfer process was observed with an optical microscope, and the ink remaining area ratio of each intermediate image was evaluated according to the following criteria. The case where all the ink is transferred to the printing medium and no intermediate image remains is the remaining area ratio of 100%.
A: The remaining area ratio of the ink on the intermediate transfer member is 0% or more and less than 10%.
B: The remaining area ratio of the ink on the intermediate transfer member is 10% or more and less than 20%.
C: Table 8 below shows the evaluation results in which the residual area ratio of the ink on the intermediate transfer member is 20% or more.

  In Examples 1 to 3 which are the transfer type ink jet recording methods of the present invention, all of coating properties, image characteristics of intermediate images, and transfer properties were good. Therefore, it goes without saying that the image characteristics of the final image are also good. On the other hand, in the transfer type inkjet recording methods of Comparative Examples 1 to 3, the coating properties and the image characteristics of the intermediate image were not good. In Comparative Example 4, the coatability was good, but the image characteristics and transferability of the intermediate image were not good.

Claims (9)

A treatment liquid layer forming step for forming a treatment liquid layer by flattening a treatment liquid for causing an increase in viscosity of a water-based ink containing a colorant component on the intermediate transfer body, and a treatment liquid for the intermediate transfer body A transfer type ink jet comprising an intermediate image forming step of forming an intermediate image by applying the water-based ink to the layer forming surface by an ink jet recording method, and a transfer step of transferring the intermediate image on the intermediate transfer member to a recording medium A recording method,
The contact angle of the intermediate transfer member with respect to water is 40 degrees or more,
The treatment liquid contains at least an ink thickening component, water-insoluble resin particles, and a side chain polyether-modified siloxane compound represented by the following general formula (1), and the hydrogen ion concentration (pH) is 6 or less. An aqueous liquid of
The minimum film-forming temperature of the water-insoluble resin particles is equal to or lower than the surface temperature of the intermediate transfer member in the processing liquid layer forming step, and the viscosity of the processing liquid layer is 1000 cP or higher under a shear rate of 100 to 400 / s. A transfer type inkjet recording method characterized by the above.

(R ^{1 to} R ⁴ and R ^{6 to} R ¹¹ are each independently hydrogen or a monovalent organic group, R ⁵ is a divalent organic group, x, y and a are each independently an integer of 1 or more. , Z and b each independently represent an integer of 0 or more.)   2. The transfer ink jet recording method according to claim 1, wherein the water-insoluble resin particles are cationic resin particles containing at least one amino group.   The transfer type ink jet recording method, wherein the cationic resin particles are made of a polyurethane resin having an amine value in a range of 0.5 mmol / g to 3.0 mmol / g. A process for forming a treatment liquid layer by using in combination with a water-based ink for transfer-type ink jet recording using an intermediate transfer body and flattening the intermediate transfer body before forming an intermediate image with the water-based ink. Liquid,
It contains an ink thickening component for causing an increase in viscosity of the water-based ink, water-insoluble resin particles, and a side chain polyether-modified siloxane compound represented by the following general formula (1), and a hydrogen ion concentration ( pH) is an aqueous liquid having a pH of 6 or less,
The viscosity at the time of the planarization is 1000 cP or more under a shear rate of 100 to 400 / s,
A processing solution characterized by that.

(R ^{1 to} R ⁴ and R ^{6 to} R ¹¹ are each independently hydrogen or a monovalent organic group, R ⁵ is a divalent organic group, x, y and a are each independently an integer of 1 or more. , Z and b each independently represent an integer of 0 or more.)   The processing liquid according to claim 4, wherein the minimum film-forming temperature of the water-insoluble resin particles is equal to or lower than the surface temperature of the intermediate image forming surface when the processing liquid layer is formed.   The processing liquid according to claim 4 or 5, wherein a contact angle of the intermediate image forming surface with water is 40 degrees or more.   The treatment liquid according to claim 4, wherein the water-insoluble resin particles are cationic resin particles containing one or more amino groups.   The treatment liquid according to claim 7, wherein the cationic resin particles include a polyurethane resin having an amine value in a range of 0.5 mmol / g to 3.0 mmol / g. A set for transfer-type inkjet recording of an aqueous ink for forming an intermediate image on an intermediate transfer body in transfer-type inkjet recording, and a treatment liquid that comes into contact with the aqueous ink and causes a viscosity increase of the aqueous ink,
A set of a transfer-type inkjet recording water-based ink and a treatment liquid, wherein the treatment liquid is the treatment liquid according to any one of claims 4 to 8.

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