JP2016020073A - Inkjet recording system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inkjet recording system capable of recording a security image having visibility varying due to variations of a viewpoint angle by using inkjet ink.SOLUTION: An inkjet recording system includes: an inkjet recording device; and a control section controlling the inkjet recording device. The control section performs control of recording a security image SI corresponding to an input image on a recording medium RM by performing control of forming a first brilliant image MIby a brilliant ink composition in a first image region A1 on the recording medium RM and of forming a second brilliant image MIby the brilliant ink composition in a second image region A2 adjacent to the first image region A1 in a recording mode for the security image SI.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet recording system.

  Patent Document 1 is an information carrier for forgery prevention in which visibility information changes to non-visibility information by changing the angle of the viewpoint to be observed, and either one of the information image region and the background image region is Forgery prevention formed with a concealing layer that conceals the substrate with a concealment ratio of 90 to 100% with glitter ink, and the other with a concealment layer that conceals the substrate with concealment ratio of 70 to 85% with glitter ink. An information carrier is disclosed.

JP 2001-121804 A

  The anti-counterfeit information carrier disclosed in Patent Document 1 is formed by offset printing or the like, and none is formed by a printer using inkjet ink.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following aspects or application examples.

  (1) One aspect of an ink jet recording system according to the present invention includes an ink jet recording apparatus and a control unit that controls the ink jet recording apparatus, and the ink jet recording apparatus includes a glitter ink composition including a glitter pigment, and A discharge head that discharges the glitter ink composition to a recording medium, and the control unit discharges the glitter ink composition discharged from the discharge head based on an input image input by a user. Controlling the discharge amount of the object, and forming a first glitter image by the glitter ink composition on the first image area on the recording medium in the security image recording mode, and forming the first image area on the first image area; By performing control to form a second glitter image with the glitter ink composition on the second image area in contact with the second image area, The Yuriti image performs control for recording on the recording medium.

  In such an ink jet recording system, when a security image corresponding to an input image is recorded on a recording medium, a first glittering image by the glittering ink composition is formed on the first image region on the recording medium, Security in which visibility is changed by changing the viewpoint angle using inkjet ink by performing control to form a second glitter image with the glitter ink composition on the second image area in contact with the first image area. Images can be recorded.

  (2) Further, in the ink jet recording system according to the present invention, the weight A of the glitter pigment per unit area in the glitter ink composition ejected to the first image area and the second image area are ejected. The weight B of the glitter pigment per unit area in the glitter ink composition may have the following relationship.

1.17 ≧ A / B ≧ 1.03
In such an ink jet recording system, it is possible to record a security image having a large change in visibility due to a change in viewpoint angle using an ink jet ink.

  (3) In the inkjet recording system according to the present invention, the first image area or the second image area may be an area corresponding to a character, a barcode, or a graphic in the input image.

  (4) Further, in the inkjet recording system according to the present invention, the control unit may be more effective than the glitter pigment for the first glitter image and the second glitter image in the security image recording mode. You may control to form the color image by the color ink composition containing the pigment with much visible light absorption amount.

  In such an ink jet recording system, a security image having a large change in visibility due to a change in viewpoint angle can be recorded by forming a color image on the first and second glitter images.

  (5) Further, in the ink jet recording system according to the present invention, the control unit applies a color material to at least one of the first glitter image and the second glitter image in the security image recording mode. You may control to form the clear image by the clear ink composition which does not contain substantially.

  In such an ink jet recording system, a clear image is formed on at least one of the first glitter image and the second glitter image, thereby recording a security image having a large change in visibility due to a change in viewpoint angle. Can do.

  (6) In the ink jet recording system according to the present invention, the control unit may include a color including a pigment that absorbs more visible light than the glitter pigment with respect to the clear image in the security image recording mode. You may perform control which forms the color image by an ink composition.

  In such an ink jet recording system, a clear image is formed on at least one of the first glitter image and the second glitter image, and a color image is formed on the clear image. It is possible to record a security image with a large change in property.

  (7) In the inkjet recording system according to the present invention, the control unit may perform a process of notifying the user of a warning when it is determined that the security property of the security image corresponding to the input image is low. Good.

  In such an ink jet recording system, it is possible to prevent a security image having low security (a change in visibility due to a change in viewpoint angle being small) from being recorded.

  (8) In the inkjet recording system according to the present invention, the control unit may perform control to change the color of the color image when it is determined that the security property of the security image corresponding to the input image is low. Good.

  In such an ink jet recording system, it is possible to record a security image having a large change in visibility due to a change in viewpoint angle.

(9) Moreover, in the inkjet recording system according to the present invention, the control unit is configured so that the L value of the image formed in the first image area is close to the L value of the image formed in the second image area. Control for changing the color of the color image may be performed.

  In such an ink jet recording system, it is possible to record a security image having a large change in visibility due to a change in viewpoint angle.

  (10) In the ink jet recording system according to the present invention, when the control unit determines that the security property of the security image corresponding to the input image is low, at least one of the first image region and the second image region. You may perform control which changes one area.

  In such an ink jet recording system, it is possible to record a security image having a large change in visibility due to a change in viewpoint angle.

  (11) Further, in the ink jet recording system according to the present invention, when the control unit determines that the security property of the security image corresponding to the input image is low, the control unit ejects the first image region or the second image region. Control for changing the amount of the glitter ink composition to be performed may be performed.

  In such an ink jet recording system, it is possible to record a security image having a large change in visibility due to a change in viewpoint angle.

  (12) In the inkjet recording system according to the present invention, the control unit displays a security image creation screen on a display unit, and records security image recording data created for the security image creation in the inkjet recording apparatus. It may be output.

  (13) In the ink jet recording system according to the present invention, when the security pattern image is input on the security image creation screen, the control unit has the second glitter property around the security pattern in the security pattern image. Image recording data may be arranged to generate security image recording data.

  In such an ink jet recording system, the user can easily create the security image recording data by automatically arranging the second glittering image recording data around the security pattern in the input security pattern image. A security image can be created.

It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the inkjet recording system of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an inkjet recording device typically. It is a figure explaining an example of the security image recorded by the inkjet recording system of this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the angle of the viewpoint which observes a security image. It is a figure explaining the other example of the security image recorded by the inkjet recording system of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process in the inkjet recording system of this embodiment.

1. Configuration FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the ink jet recording system of this embodiment.

  The inkjet recording system 1 includes an inkjet recording apparatus 10 (inkjet printer), a processing unit 100 (an example of a control unit of the present invention), an operation unit 110, a display unit 120, and a storage unit 130. In addition, the processing unit 100 and the inkjet recording apparatus 10 may be integrated, and a control unit provided in the inkjet recording apparatus 10 may be configured to execute the function of the processing unit 100.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 10 includes a glitter ink (metallic ink) composition containing a glitter pigment, and an ejection head that ejects the glitter ink composition onto a recording medium. In addition, the inkjet recording apparatus 10 further includes a color ink composition containing a pigment that absorbs more visible light than a glitter pigment, and a clear ink composition that does not substantially contain a colorant, and the ejection head has a glitter property. In addition to the ink composition, a color ink composition and a clear ink composition may be ejected.

  The operation unit 110 is for the user to input operation information, and outputs the input operation information to the processing unit 100. The function of the operation unit 110 can be realized by hardware such as a keyboard, a mouse, a button, and a touch panel.

  The display unit 120 displays an image generated by the processing unit 100, and its function can be realized by an LCD, a CRT, or the like.

  The storage unit 130 stores programs and various data for causing the computer to function as each unit of the processing unit 100, and also functions as a work area of the processing unit 100. The function can be realized by a hard disk, a RAM, or the like.

  The processing unit 100 is connected to the inkjet recording apparatus 10 via a signal cable or a network, and performs processing for controlling the inkjet recording apparatus 10. Further, the processing unit 100 performs a process of converting an input image (for example, image data output from an application program) into print data, and outputs the print data and the control signal to the ink jet recording apparatus 10. 10 is controlled to print an image. The processing unit 100 includes a mode selection unit 102 and a discharge amount control unit 104.

  The mode selection unit 102 selects one recording mode from a plurality of recording modes. The mode selection unit 102 may select a recording mode based on operation information from the operation unit 110, or may record based on an input image (for example, by determining whether the input image is a security image). A mode may be selected. The plurality of recording modes include a recording mode for printing a security image (recording on a recording medium).

  The ejection amount control unit 104 controls the ejection amount of the glitter ink composition ejected from the ejection head based on the input image and the recording mode selected by the mode selection unit 102, and controls the ink jet recording apparatus 10. Control is performed to print a security image or a non-security image corresponding to the input image (an image whose visibility does not change due to a change in viewpoint angle).

When the recording mode for the security image is selected, the ejection amount control unit 104 forms a first glitter image with the glitter ink composition on the first image area on the recording medium, and the first image area Control is performed to form a second glitter image by the glitter ink composition on the second image area in contact with the first image area. Here, the first image area refers to characters, barcodes,
An area corresponding to a figure or the like (information image), and the second image area is an area corresponding to a character background (background image) in the input image. The first image area may be an area corresponding to the background image in the input image, and the second image area may be an area corresponding to the information image in the input image.

  The ejection amount control unit 104 ejects the bright pigment weight A per unit area in the glittering ink composition ejected to the first image area and the second image area in the security image recording mode. The discharge of the glitter ink composition so that the weight B of the glitter pigment per unit area in the glitter ink composition satisfies the following relationship: 1.17 ≧ A / B ≧ 1.03 Control the amount.

  Further, the ejection amount control unit 104 may perform control to form a color image with the color ink composition on the first glitter image and the second glitter image in the security image recording mode. Further, the ejection amount control unit 104 may perform control to form a clear image with the clear ink composition on at least one of the first glitter image and the second glitter image in the security image recording mode. Good. Further, the ejection amount control unit 104 may perform control to form a color image on the clear image in the security image recording mode.

  Further, when the processing unit 100 determines that the security of the security image corresponding to the input image is low (the change in visibility due to the change in the viewpoint angle is small), the processing unit 100 notifies the user of a warning to that effect. (Processing for outputting an image indicating notification content to display unit 120, processing for outputting sound indicating notification content to speaker) may be performed. For example, when the color tone (color density) of characters or the like in the input image does not satisfy a predetermined condition, it may be determined that the security of the security image corresponding to the input image is low.

  The processing unit 100 may perform control to change the color of the color image formed in the first image region or the second image region when it is determined that the security property of the security image corresponding to the input image is low. . For example, the processing unit 100 performs control to change the color of the color image so that the L value (brightness) of the image formed in the first image area approaches the L value of the image formed in the second image area. May be. The processing unit 100 may perform control to change the area of at least one of the first image region and the second image region when it is determined that the security property of the security image corresponding to the input image is low. For example, when the size of characters or the like in the input image is a predetermined value or less, it is determined that the security performance of the security image corresponding to the input image is low, and the first image area and the second image area in the first mode The area may be increased. Further, when the processing unit 100 determines that the security property of the security image corresponding to the input image is low, the processing unit 100 performs control to change the amount of the glitter ink composition ejected to the first image region or the second image region. You may go.

  Further, the processing unit 100 causes the display unit 120 to display a security image creation screen for creating a security image, and prints the security image recording data (print data) created on the security image creation screen. May be output. Here, when a security pattern image (input image) is input on the security image creation screen, the processing unit 100 places the second pattern around the security pattern (characters, barcode, figure, etc. in the input image) in the security pattern image. The recording data of the security image may be generated by arranging recording data of the two glitter images (data for forming the second glitter image in the second image area).

  FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the ink jet recording apparatus 10.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 10 has a substantially box-like appearance, and a front cover 11 is provided in the approximate center of the front surface, and a plurality of operation buttons 15 are provided next to it. The front cover 11 is pivotally supported on the lower end side, and when the upper end side is tilted forward, an elongated discharge port 12 from which the recording paper 2 (recording medium) is discharged appears. A paper feed tray 13 is provided on the back side of the inkjet recording apparatus 10. When a recording sheet is set in the sheet feeding tray 13 and the operation button 15 is operated, the recording sheet 2 is sucked from the sheet feeding tray 13 and an image is recorded on the surface of the recording sheet 2 inside. The recording paper 2 is discharged from.

  An upper surface cover 14 is provided on the upper surface side of the inkjet recording apparatus 10. The upper surface cover 14 is pivotally supported on the back side. When the upper surface cover 14 is opened by lifting the front side, the internal state of the ink jet recording apparatus 10 is confirmed, or the ink jet recording apparatus 10 is repaired. It is possible to do.

  Inside the inkjet recording apparatus 10, a carriage 20 that forms ink dots on the recording paper 2 while reciprocating in the main scanning direction, a drive mechanism 30 that reciprocates the carriage 20, and the like are mounted. The carriage 20 is provided with a recording head 22 (ejection head) in which a plurality of ejection nozzles for ejecting ink toward the recording paper 2 is formed, a sub tank for temporarily storing ejected ink, and the like. .

  The ink discharged from the discharge nozzles formed on the recording head 22 is stored in a special container called an ink cartridge 40. The ink cartridge 40 is mounted on an ink supply device 50 provided at a position different from the carriage 20, and the ink in the ink cartridge 40 is supplied to the carriage 20 via the ink supply device 50 and the ink tube 60. Next to the ink supply device 50, an air pump unit 70 that is driven when ink in the ink cartridge 40 is supplied to the carriage 20 is provided.

  Note that the illustrated inkjet recording apparatus 10 can record an image using ink such as a glitter ink composition and a color ink composition, and the recording head 22 mounted on the carriage 20 has an ink recording medium. A discharge nozzle is provided for each type. The ink in the corresponding ink cartridge 40 is supplied to each discharge nozzle via an ink tube 60 provided for each type of ink. In the illustrated example, the ink cartridge 42 contains the glitter ink composition, and each of the four ink cartridges 44 contains the color ink compositions of four colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). ing. Further, an ink cartridge that contains the clear ink composition may be further provided.

  The drive mechanism 30 for reciprocating the carriage 20 includes a timing belt 32 having a plurality of tooth shapes formed therein, a drive motor 34 for driving the timing belt 32, and the like. A part of the timing belt 32 is fixed to the carriage 20. When the timing belt 32 is driven, the carriage 20 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction while being guided by a guide rail (not shown) extending in the main scanning direction. Is possible.

  Further, an area called a home position is provided at a position outside the recording area where the carriage 20 is moved in the main scanning direction, and a maintenance mechanism is installed at the home position to perform maintenance so that recording can be performed normally. Has been. The maintenance mechanism is a cap member that is pressed against a surface (nozzle surface) on which a discharge nozzle is formed on the bottom surface side (side facing the recording paper 2) of the recording head 22 to form a closed space so as to surround the discharge nozzle. 90, an elevating mechanism (not shown) for raising and lowering the cap member 90 to press against the nozzle surface of the recording head 22, and a closed space formed by pressing the cap member 90 against the nozzle surface of the recording head 22 in a negative pressure. For example, a suction pump (not shown).

  Furthermore, the entire operation of the inkjet recording apparatus 10 is controlled inside the inkjet recording apparatus 10 based on a paper feeding mechanism (not shown) for feeding the recording paper 2 and print data and control signals from the processing unit 100. A control unit 92 and the like are also mounted. The operation of reciprocating the carriage 20, the operation of feeding the recording paper 2, the operation of ejecting ink from the ejection nozzles, the operation of driving the maintenance mechanism so as to perform normal recording, etc. It is controlled by the unit 92.

2. Ink Hereinafter, components included in the glitter ink composition, color ink composition, and clear ink composition used in the ink jet recording system according to the present embodiment, and components that can be included, will be described for each ink composition.

2-1. Bright ink composition The bright ink composition contains a bright pigment. The glitter pigment is not particularly limited as long as it can exhibit glitter when attached to a medium, for example, aluminum, silver, gold, platinum, nickel, black, tin, zinc, indium, titanium, and One or two or more alloys (also referred to as metal pigments) selected from the group consisting of copper, and the like can be given.

  The glitter pigment may be subjected to a surface treatment for suppressing the reaction with water. The case where an aluminum pigment is used as an example of the glittering pigment that has been surface-treated in this manner will be described.

  As an aluminum pigment, what has a flat shape is mentioned, for example. The flat shape is, for example, a scale shape, a leaf shape, a plate shape, a film shape, or the like. The aluminum pigment may be coated with an inorganic oxide or the like. By covering, generation of bubbles in the ink may be suppressed in some cases. When the aluminum pigment has a flat plate shape, good metallic gloss is easily obtained when the ink adheres to the recording medium.

  The 50% average particle diameter R50 (hereinafter also simply referred to as “R50”) of the equivalent circle diameter of the aluminum pigment coated with the coating film obtained from the area of the projected image of the particles obtained by the particle image analyzer. It is preferably 0.25 μm or more and 3 μm or less, more preferably 0.5 μm or more and 2 μm or less, and further preferably 0.7 μm or more and 1.8 μm or less. When the average particle diameter R50 is in the above range, the precipitation of the aluminum pigment can be suppressed while maintaining the metallic gloss of the recorded image. In the present embodiment, the maximum value of the equivalent circle diameter of the aluminum pigment particles is preferably 3 μm or less. If the equivalent circle diameter of the largest particle is 3 μm or less, clogging in the nozzle opening and the ink flow path can be suppressed when used in an ink jet recording apparatus. The thickness of the aluminum pigment particles is 5 nm to 100 nm, preferably 5 nm to 70 nm, and more preferably 10 nm to 50 nm.

  Examples of the material of the coating film when the aluminum pigment has a coating film include, for example, alkoxysilane (for example, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS)), polysilazane, a compound derived from these compounds, a fluorine-based material, phosphorus A material containing a phosphoric acid material is preferable.

  The aluminum pigment may be supplied in the state of a dispersion. Examples of the components contained in the aluminum pigment dispersion include water, organic solvents, basic catalysts, surfactants, tertiary amines, and buffer solutions, which can be appropriately blended.

  The glitter ink composition can contain at least one of water and an organic solvent (described later) as a solvent. When the glitter ink composition contains water as a solvent, it is used as a so-called aqueous ink. On the other hand, when the glitter ink composition does not substantially contain water, it is used as a so-called non-aqueous ink.

  When the glitter ink composition contains water, ionic impurities such as ion-exchanged water, ultrafiltered water, reverse osmosis water, pure water such as distilled water, and ultrapure water were removed as much as possible. It is preferable to use one. Further, when water sterilized by ultraviolet irradiation or addition of hydrogen peroxide is used, generation of mold and bacteria can be prevented when the pigment dispersion and ink using the same are stored for a long period of time. When the glitter ink composition is a water-based ink, for example, the water content can be 50% by mass or more based on the total mass of the glitter ink composition.

  The glitter ink composition may contain an organic solvent. The glitter ink composition may contain a plurality of types of organic solvents. The organic solvent is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include 1,2-alkanediols, polyhydric alcohols, pyrrolidone derivatives, lactones, glycol ethers and the like.

  Examples of 1,2-alkanediols include 1,2-propanediol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-octanediol, and the like. . Since 1,2-alkanediols are excellent in the action of increasing the wettability of the ink with respect to the recording medium and uniformly wetting it, an image having excellent adhesion may be formed on the recording medium in some cases. When 1,2-alkanediols are contained, the content thereof can be 1% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less with respect to the total mass of the glittering ink composition.

  Examples of polyhydric alcohols include ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, trimethylolpropane, and glycerin. It is done. Polyhydric alcohols can be preferably used from the viewpoint of suppressing clogging, ejection failure, and the like by suppressing drying and solidification of ink on the nozzle surface of the recording head of the ink jet recording apparatus. When polyhydric alcohols are contained, the content can be 2% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less with respect to the total mass of the glitter ink composition.

  Examples of pyrrolidone derivatives include N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone, 2-pyrrolidone, N-butyl-2-pyrrolidone, and 5-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. Etc. The pyrrolidone derivative can act as a good solubilizer for the resin component. When the pyrrolidone derivative is contained, the content thereof can be 0.5% by mass or more and 10% by mass or less with respect to the total mass of the glittering ink composition.

In the present invention, “lactone” is a general term for cyclic compounds having an ester group (—CO—O—) in the ring. The lactone is not particularly limited as long as it is included in the above definition, but is preferably a lactone having 2 to 9 carbon atoms. Specific examples of such lactones include α-ethyl lactone, α-acetolactone, β-propiolactone, γ-butyrolactone, δ-valerolactone, ε-caprolactone, ζ-enantiolactone, η-caprolactone, γ-valerolactone, γ-heptalactone, γ-nonalactone, β-methyl-δ-valerolactone, 2-butyl-2-ethylpropiolactone, α, α-diethylpropiolactone, and the like. Of these, γ-butyrolactone is particularly preferred. When the recording medium is a film such as a vinyl chloride resin, the lactone can improve the adhesion by allowing the ink to penetrate into the recording medium. In particular, a lactone is preferably used when the glitter ink composition is a non-aqueous ink, and the content in this case is 5% by mass or more and 30% by mass or less with respect to the total mass of the glitter ink composition. can do.

  Examples of glycol ethers include ethylene glycol monoisobutyl ether, ethylene glycol monohexyl ether, ethylene glycol monoisohexyl ether, diethylene glycol monohexyl ether, triethylene glycol monohexyl ether, diethylene glycol monoisohexyl ether, triethylene glycol monoisopropyl ether. Hexyl ether, ethylene glycol monoisoheptyl ether, diethylene glycol monoisoheptyl ether, triethylene glycol monoisoheptyl ether, ethylene glycol monooctyl ether, ethylene glycol monoisooctyl ether, diethylene glycol monoisooctyl ether, triethylene glycol monoisooctyl ether , Ethile Glycol mono-2-ethylhexyl ether, diethylene glycol mono-2-ethylhexyl ether, triethylene glycol mono-2-ethylhexyl ether, diethylene glycol mono-2-ethylpentyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-2-ethylpentyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-2 -Ethylhexyl ether, diethylene glycol mono-2-ethylhexyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-2-methylpentyl ether, diethylene glycol mono-2-methylpentyl ether, propylene glycol monobutyl ether, dipropylene glycol monobutyl ether, tripropylene glycol monobutyl ether, propylene glycol Monopropyl ether, dipropylene glycol Propyl ether, and tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether, and the like. These can be used individually by 1 type or in mixture of 2 or more types. Glycol ethers can control the wettability and permeation rate of the ink to the recording medium. Therefore, a clear image with little shading unevenness can be recorded.

  When the glitter ink composition is used as a water-based ink, when the glycol ether is contained, the content thereof is 0.05% by mass or more and 6% by mass or less with respect to the total mass of the glitter ink composition. It can be. On the other hand, when the glitter ink composition is used as a non-aqueous ink, the content thereof can be 70% by mass or more and 90% by mass or less with respect to the total mass of the glitter ink composition.

  The glitter ink composition may contain a surfactant. The surfactant has a function of reducing surface tension and improving wettability with a recording medium. Among the surfactants, for example, acetylene glycol surfactants, silicone surfactants, and fluorine surfactants can be preferably used.

  Although it does not specifically limit as acetylene glycol type surfactant, For example, Surfynol 104,104E, 104H, 104A, 104BC, 104DPM, 104PA, 104PG-50,104S, 420,440,465,485, SE, SE- F, 504, 61, DF37, CT111, CT121, CT131, CT136, TG, GA, DF110D (all are trade names, manufactured by Air Products and Chemicals. Inc.), Olphin B, Y, P, A, STG, SPC , E1004, E1010, PD-001, PD-002W, PD-003, PD-004, EXP. 4001, EXP. 4036, EXP. 4051, AF-103, AF-104, AK-02, SK-14, AE-3 (all trade names, manufactured by Nissin Chemical Industry), acetylenol E00, E00P, E40, E100 (all trade names, river Ken Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.).

Although it does not specifically limit as a silicone type surfactant, A polysiloxane type compound is mentioned preferably. Although it does not specifically limit as the said polysiloxane type compound, For example, polyether modified organosiloxane is mentioned. Commercially available products of the polyether-modified organosiloxane include, for example, BYK-306, BYK-307, BYK-333, BYK-341, BYK-345, BYK-346, BYK-348 (above trade names, manufactured by BYK). KF-351A, KF-352A, KF-353, KF-354L, KF-355A, KF-615A, KF-945, KF-640, KF-642, KF-643, KF-6020, X-22-4515 , KF-6011, KF-6012, KF-6015, KF-6017 (above trade names, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.).

  As the fluorine-based surfactant, a fluorine-modified polymer is preferably used, and specific examples thereof include BYK-340 (manufactured by BYK Japan).

  When the surfactant is contained, the content thereof is preferably 0.1% by mass or more and 1.5% by mass or less with respect to the total mass of the glittering ink composition.

  The glitter ink composition may contain a resin, a thickener, a pH adjuster, an antiseptic / fungicide, a rust inhibitor, a chelating agent, and the like, if necessary.

  The resin can improve physical strength such as abrasion resistance of the recorded image. Such resins include acrylic resins, styrene acrylic resins, fluorene resins, urethane resins, polyolefin resins, rosin modified resins, terpene resins, polyester resins, polyamide resins, epoxy resins, vinyl chloride. Examples of the resin include known resins such as vinyl resins, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers and ethylene vinyl acetate resins, and polyolefin waxes. These resins can be used singly or in combination of two or more. Among the resins exemplified above, styrene acrylic resins, polyester resins, and polyolefin waxes can be preferably used.

  As the polyester-based resin, commercially available products can be used. For example, Eastek 1100, 1300, 1400 (above trade names, manufactured by Eastman Chemical Japan), Elitel KA-5034, KA-3556, KA-1449, KT-8803. KA-5071S, KZA-1449S, KT-8701, KT9204 (trade names, manufactured by Unitika Ltd.) and the like.

  Examples of the styrene acrylic resin include styrene-acrylic acid copolymer, styrene-methacrylic acid copolymer, styrene-methacrylic acid-acrylic ester copolymer, styrene-α-methylstyrene-acrylic acid copolymer, Examples thereof include styrene-α-methylstyrene-acrylic acid-acrylic ester copolymers. In addition, as a form of a copolymer, any form of a random copolymer, a block copolymer, an alternating copolymer, and a graft copolymer can be used. In addition, as styrene acrylic resin, you may utilize what is marketed. Examples of commercially available styrene acrylic resins include Joncrill 62J (BASF Japan Ltd.).

  The polyolefin wax is not particularly limited. For example, a wax produced from an olefin such as ethylene, propylene, butylene or a derivative thereof and a copolymer thereof, specifically, a polyethylene wax, a polypropylene wax, a polybutylene wax. Etc. Among these, polyethylene wax is preferable from the viewpoint of reducing the occurrence of cracks in the image. Polyolefin waxes can be used singly or in combination of two or more.

Examples of commercially available polyolefin waxes include “CHEMIPARL W4005” (manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., polyethylene wax, particle size 200-800 nm, ring and ball method softening point 110 ° C., penetration method hardness 3, solid content 40%), etc. The Chemipearl series is listed. In addition, AQUACER 513 (polyethylene wax, particle size 100 to 200 nm, melting point 130 ° C., solid content 30%), AQUACER 507, AQUACER 515, AQUACER 840 (above, manufactured by Big Chemie Japan Co., Ltd.), Hitech E-7025P, Hitech series such as Hitech E-2213, Hitech E-9460, Hitech E-9015, Hitech E-4A, Hitech E-5403P, Hitech E-8237 (manufactured by Toho Chemical Co., Ltd.), Nopcoat PEM-17 (San Nopco) Manufactured, polyethylene emulsion, particle size 40 nm) and the like. These are commercially available in the form of an aqueous emulsion in which polyolefin wax is dispersed in water by a conventional method.

  When the resin is contained, the content thereof (solid content conversion amount) is preferably 1% by mass or more and 10% by mass or less, and more preferably 1% by mass with respect to the total mass of the glitter ink composition. It is 7 mass% or less.

  The thickener is used for adjusting the viscosity of the ink. Examples of the thickener include polyvinyl alcohols, poly (meth) acrylic acids, polyethers, polyvinyl pyrrolidones, polyvinyl formals, proteins (for example, gelatin, casein, and glue), polysaccharides (for example, pullulan, Dextran, dextrin, cyclodextrin, carrageenan, pectin, glucomannan, sodium alginate, xanthan gum, arabic gum, locust bean gum, tragacanth gum, guar gum, tamarind gum, etc.), starches (eg starch, oxidized starch, carboxyl starch, dialdehyde starch) Etc.), cellulose or derivatives thereof (for example, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropyl) Pills methyl cellulose), alginates (e.g., sodium alginate, potassium alginate, ammonium alginate, etc.) alginates (e.g., propylene glycol alginate, etc.) and the like. In the case of containing a thickener, the content can be appropriately set according to the viscosity of the glitter ink composition, for example, 1% by mass or more with respect to the total mass of the glitter ink composition It can be 10 mass% or less.

  Examples of the pH adjuster include potassium dihydrogen phosphate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonia, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, triisopropanolamine, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, Examples thereof include sodium hydrogen carbonate.

  Examples of antiseptics and fungicides include sodium benzoate, sodium pentachlorophenol, 2-pyridinethiol-1-oxide sodium, sodium sorbate, sodium dehydroacetate, 1,2-dibenzisothiazoline-3-one Etc. Examples of commercially available products include Proxel XL2, Proxel GXL (above trade name, manufactured by Avicia), Denside CSA, NS-500W (above trade name, manufactured by Nagase ChemteX Corporation), and the like.

  Examples of the rust inhibitor include benzotriazole.

  Examples of the chelating agent include ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and salts thereof (such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid dihydrogen disodium salt).

2-2. Color ink composition A color ink composition is an ink that exhibits a color such as black, cyan, magenta, yellow, or black when adhered to a recording medium.

  The color ink composition contains color materials such as dyes and pigments. As the dye and the pigment, those described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0086690, US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0235870, International Publication No. 2011/027842, and the like can be suitably used. Of the dyes and pigments, it is more preferable to include a pigment. The pigment is preferably an organic pigment from the viewpoint of storage stability such as light resistance, weather resistance, and gas resistance.

  Specifically, the pigment is an insoluble azo pigment, condensed azo pigment, azo lake, chelate azo pigment or other azo pigment, phthalocyanine pigment, perylene and perinone pigment, anthraquinone pigment, quinacridone pigment, dioxane pigment, thioindigo pigment, isoindolinone pigment, Polycyclic pigments such as quinophthalone pigments, dye chelates, dye lakes, nitro pigments, nitroso pigments, aniline black, daylight fluorescent pigments, carbon black and the like are used. The above pigments can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  Examples of the dye include various dyes used for normal inkjet recording such as direct dyes, acid dyes, food dyes, basic dyes, reactive dyes, disperse dyes, vat dyes, soluble vat dyes, and reactive disperse dyes. Can be used.

  The content of the color material is preferably 1% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less, and more preferably 1% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less with respect to the total mass of the color ink composition.

  The color ink composition can contain at least one of water and an organic solvent as a solvent. When the color ink composition contains water as a solvent, it is used as a so-called aqueous ink. On the other hand, when the color ink composition does not substantially contain water, it is used as a so-called non-aqueous ink.

  When water is contained, it is preferable to use water from which ionic impurities have been removed as much as possible, such as pure water such as ion exchange water, ultrafiltration water, reverse osmosis water, and distilled water, and ultrapure water. . Further, when water sterilized by ultraviolet irradiation or addition of hydrogen peroxide is used, generation of mold and bacteria can be prevented when the pigment dispersion and ink using the same are stored for a long period of time.

  When the color ink composition is a water-based ink, for example, the water content can be 50% by mass or more based on the total mass of the color ink composition.

  The color ink composition may contain an organic solvent, a surfactant, a resin, a pH adjuster, an antiseptic / antifungal agent, a rust inhibitor, a chelating agent, and the like as necessary. Specific examples of these components and the range of the amount added when they are contained are the same as those shown for the glittering ink composition, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

2-3. Clear ink composition The clear ink composition is an ink having transparency that does not substantially contain a color material. In the present invention, “substantially free of A” means that it is not added in excess of an amount that sufficiently achieves the significance of adding A. Specific examples of “substantially free” include, for example, 1.0% by mass or more, preferably 0.5% by mass or less, more preferably 0.1% by mass or less, and still more preferably 0% by mass. 0.05% by mass or less, particularly preferably 0.01% by mass or less, more preferably 0.001% by mass or less.

The clear ink composition preferably contains a resin. Examples of resins included in the clear ink composition include urethane resins, ester resins, fluorene resins, acrylic resins, polyolefin resins, rosin-modified resins, terpene resins, polyamide resins, epoxy resins, and vinyl chloride. Resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene vinyl acetate resin, polyolefin wax and the like. Among these, urethane resin, ester resin, fluorene resin, and acrylic resin are preferable.

  Urethane resin is a polymer synthesized by reacting polyisocyanate and polyol. The synthesis of the urethane resin can be carried out by a known method.

  Examples of the polyisocyanate include chain aliphatic isocyanates such as tetramethylene diisocyanate, 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate, dodecamethylene diisocyanate, trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate, and lysine diisocyanate; 1,3-cyclohexylene diisocyanate, 1,4- Aliphatic isocyanates having a cyclic structure such as cyclohexylene diisocyanate, hydrogenated xylylene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, 3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate; 2,4 -Tolylene diisocyanate, 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate, m-phenylene diisocyanate, p-phenylene diisocyanate 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, 2,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, 2,2′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, 3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-biphenylene diisocyanate, 3,3′-dimethoxy-4 , 4′-biphenylene diisocyanate, 3,3′-dichloro-4,4′-biphenylene diisocyanate, 1,5-naphthalene diisocyanate, 1,5-tetrahydronaphthalene diisocyanate, xylylene diisocyanate, tetramethylxylylene diisocyanate, and other aromatics Isocyanates. When synthesizing a urethane resin, the above polyisocyanates may be used singly or in combination of two or more.

  Examples of the polyol include polyether polyol and polycarbonate polyol.

  Examples of the polyether polyol include polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, and polytetramethylene glycol.

  Examples of the polycarbonate polyol include diols such as 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, diethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, or polytetramethylene glycol, and phosgene. And a reaction product with a dialkyl carbonate such as dimethyl carbonate or a cyclic carbonate such as ethylene carbonate.

  When synthesizing a urethane resin, the above polyols may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  As the urethane resin, it is preferable to use a polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of −70 ° C. or higher and 80 ° C. or lower, more preferably −20 ° C. or higher and 80 ° C. or lower, and more preferably 0 ° C. or higher. It is particularly preferable to use a polymer of 70 ° C. or lower. A clear image with little stickiness can be formed when the glass transition temperature of the urethane-based resin is within the above-mentioned range, particularly not lower than the lower limit. In addition, since the glass transition temperature of the urethane-based resin is within the above range, particularly not exceeding the upper limit, the clear image is easily formed into a film, so that the brightness of the image is further hardly lowered.

The urethane resin is a solution type that exists in a state dissolved in a solvent contained in the clear ink composition or an emulsion type in which the urethane resin is dispersed in the form of particles in the clear ink composition. Things can be used. Among these, the urethane resin is preferably an emulsion type. Since the emulsion type urethane resin is in the form of particles, it is less likely to penetrate into the glitter image than the solution type urethane resin. Therefore, the glitter pigment in the image is less likely to be disturbed by the urethane resin, and an image having excellent glitter is easily obtained.

  Emulsion type resins can be classified into a self-emulsification type in which a hydrophilic group or the like is introduced into the resin and the resin is dispersed, and a forced emulsification type in which the resin is dispersed using an emulsifier such as a surfactant. Among these, the emulsion type urethane resin is preferably a self-emulsifying type in which a hydrophilic group is introduced into the urethane resin. The self-emulsifying emulsion type urethane resin can further improve the water resistance as compared with the forced emulsification type.

  Examples of the self-emulsifying emulsion type urethane resin include a urethane resin having a carboxyl group salt (for example, carboxylate salt) structure, a urethane resin having a carboxyl group, a urethane resin having a carbonate skeleton, and a sulfone group. A urethane resin is mentioned.

  Moreover, as a self-emulsifying emulsion type urethane resin, commercially available products can be used, for example, SF210 (trade name, manufactured by Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd.), WBR-2018 (trade name, Taisei Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.). Manufactured) and the like.

  When the urethane resin is used in an emulsion state, the average particle diameter of the urethane resin is preferably 10 nm or more and 135 nm or less, more preferably 10 nm or more and 110 nm or less, and particularly preferably 20 nm or more and 80 nm or less. preferable. The average particle diameter of the urethane-based resin is within the above range, particularly not lower than the lower limit value, so that the urethane-based resin enters the glitter image or passes through the glitter image and contacts the recording medium. Therefore, it is possible to coat the glitter image more satisfactorily. In addition, the average particle diameter of the urethane-based resin is within the above range, and in particular, does not exceed the upper limit, so that the film formed by the resin becomes flat and the generation of scattered light can be reduced, thereby further reducing the brightness of the image. It becomes difficult to do.

  The ester resin is a polymer obtained by polycondensation of a polyol and a polycarboxylic acid. The ester resin can be synthesized by a known method.

  Examples of the polyol include ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol and the like. When synthesizing an ester resin, the above polyols may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  Examples of the polycarboxylic acid include oxalic acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, citric acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, and adipic acid. When synthesizing an ester resin, the above polycarboxylic acids may be used singly or in combination of two or more.

  The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the ester resin is preferably −70 ° C. or higher and 80 ° C. or lower, more preferably −20 ° C. or higher and 80 ° C. or lower, and particularly preferably 0 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower. preferable. The reason why the glass transition temperature of the ester resin is preferably within the above range is the same as that of the urethane resin described above.

  The ester resin is a solution type that exists in a state dissolved in a solvent contained in the clear ink composition, or an emulsion type in which the ester resin is dispersed in the form of particles in the clear ink composition. Can be used. Among these, the ester resin is preferably an emulsion type. The reason why the emulsion type ester resin is preferable is the same as that of the urethane resin described above.

  As the emulsion type ester resin, either a forced emulsification type or a self emulsification type can be used, but for the same reason as the urethane resin, a self emulsification type is preferable.

  As the self-emulsifying emulsion-type ester resin, commercially available products can be used. For example, Eastek 1100, 1300 (above, trade name, manufactured by Eastman Chemical Japan), Elitel KZA-1449, KZA-3556 (above. , Trade name, manufactured by Unitika Ltd.) and the like.

  When the ester resin is used in an emulsion state, the average particle diameter of the ester resin is preferably 10 nm or more and 135 nm or less, more preferably 10 nm or more and 110 nm or less, and particularly preferably 20 nm or more and 80 nm or less. preferable. The reason why the average particle diameter of the ester resin is preferably within the above range is the same as that of the urethane resin described above.

  The fluorene-based resin can be obtained by reacting a polyol component containing a first diol containing a fluorene skeleton and a second diol having a hydrophilic group with a polyisocyanate component containing a polyisocyanate compound. The fluorene resin is preferable in that it can improve the light resistance and gas resistance of the image in addition to the function of improving the abrasion resistance while maintaining the glitter of the image.

  Examples of the first diol containing a fluorene skeleton include 9,9-bis (4- (hydroxymethoxy) phenyl) fluorene, 9,9-bis (4- (2-hydroxyethoxy) phenyl) fluorene, and 9,9. -Bis (4- (3-hydroxypropoxy) phenyl) fluorene, 9,9-bis (4- (4-hydroxybutoxy) phenyl) fluorene, 9,9-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) fluorene, 9,9- Bis (4-hydroxytoluyl) fluorene, 9,9-bis (hydroxyalkyl) fluorene, etc. are mentioned. In addition, as said 1st diol, you may use a commercial item, for example, bisphenoxyethanol fluorene, bisphenol fluorene, biscresol fluorene (above, a brand name, Osaka Gas Chemical Co., Ltd. product) etc. are mentioned.

  These first diols containing a fluorene skeleton may be used alone or in combination of two or more, preferably 9,9-bis (4- (2-hydroxyethoxy) phenyl) fluorene.

  Moreover, the 1st diol containing a fluorene skeleton can be mix | blended in the ratio of 40-60 mass% with respect to a fluorene-type resin, for example. When the content of the first diol containing a fluorene skeleton is in the above range, the abrasion resistance and transparency are improved.

  The second diol can have a hydrophilic group. Examples of the hydrophilic group include nonionic groups such as a polyoxyethylene group and ionic groups such as a carboxyl group, a sulfonyl group, a phosphate group, and a sulfobetaine group.

  Specific examples of the second diol having a carboxyl group include 2,2-dimethylolacetic acid, 2,2-dimethylollactic acid, 2,2-dimethylolpropionic acid (2,2-bis (hydroxymethyl) propionic acid), Examples include dihydroxycarboxylic acids such as 2,2-dimethylolbutanoic acid, 2,2-dimethylolbutyric acid, and 2,2-dimethylolvaleric acid; diaminocarboxylic acids such as lysine and arginine.

  Specific examples of the second diol having a sulfonyl group include N, N-bis (2-hydroxyethyl) -2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, 1,3-phenylenediamine-4,6-disulfonic acid, and diamino. Examples include butanesulfonic acid, 3,6-diamino-2-toluenesulfonic acid, and 2,4-diamino-5-toluenesulfonic acid.

  Specific examples of the second diol having a phosphate group include 2,3-dihydroxypropylphenyl phosphate.

  Specific examples of the second diol having a betaine structure-containing group include a sulfobetaine group-containing compound obtained by a reaction between a tertiary amine such as N-methyldiethanolamine and 1,3-propane sultone.

  Furthermore, examples of the second diol include alkylene oxide modified products in which an alkylene oxide such as ethylene oxide or propylene oxide is added to the second diol.

  These second diols may be used singly or in combination of two or more, preferably, a second diol having a carboxyl group, for example, 2,2-dimethylolpropionic acid.

  The 1st diol which has a hydrophilic group can be mix | blended in the ratio of 5-15 mass% with respect to a fluorene-type resin, for example. When the content of the first diol containing a fluorene skeleton is within the above range, the abrasion resistance and transparency are good.

  The second diol can be blended so that the acid value of the fluorene-based resin is 10 to 130 KOHmg / g, preferably 20 to 60 KOHmg / g.

  In addition, the fluorene-based resin can contain a polyol compound as necessary. The polyol compound is a compound having two or more hydroxyl groups, and examples thereof include a low molecular weight polyol and a high molecular weight polyol.

  The polyisocyanate compound is a compound having two or more isocyanate groups, preferably a compound having two isocyanate groups, for example, aliphatic polyisocyanate, alicyclic polyisocyanate, araliphatic polyisocyanate, aromatic polyisocyanate. Etc.

  Examples of the aliphatic polyisocyanate include hexamethylene diisocyanate and tetramethylene diisocyanate.

  Examples of the alicyclic polyisocyanate include isophorone diisocyanate (3-isocyanatomethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexyl isocyanate), 4,4′-, 2,4′- or 2,2′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate or The mixture etc. are mentioned.

  Examples of the araliphatic polyisocyanate include 1,3- or 1,4-xylylene diisocyanate or a mixture thereof, 1,3- or 1,4-bis (1-isocyanato-1-methylethyl) benzene or a mixture thereof. Etc.

  As aromatic polyisocyanates, for example, 4,4′-, 2,4′- or 2,2′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate or mixtures thereof, 2,4- or 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate or mixtures thereof, 4,4 Examples include '-toluidine diisocyanate and 1,5-naphthalene diisocyanate.

  In addition, the polyisocyanate compound is produced by reacting the above-mentioned various polyisocyanate compounds with a multimer (for example, dimer, trimer, etc.), for example, the above-mentioned various polyisocyanate compounds or their multimers with water. Modified by biuret modification, allophanate modified by reaction with alcohol or low molecular weight polyol as described above, oxadiazine trione modified by reaction with carbon dioxide, and further by reaction with low molecular weight polyol as described above Examples include modified polyols.

  These polyisocyanate compounds may be used alone or in combination of two or more, preferably alicyclic polyisocyanate, for example, isophorone diisocyanate.

  Then, a polyol component (that is, a first diol containing a fluorene skeleton, a second diol having a hydrophilic group, and a polyol compound if necessary) and a polyisocyanate component (that is, a polyisocyanate compound) are reacted. For example, a known method may be used. For example, the equivalent ratio of the isocyanate group of the polyisocyanate component to the droxy group of the polyol component (NCO / hydroxy group) can be blended at a ratio of 0.4 to 1.0, for example. The ratio is preferably 0.8 to 0.95. Therefore, it can mix | blend with the ratio of 30-45 mass% with respect to a fluorene-type resin, for example. When the content of the first diol containing a fluorene skeleton is in the above range, the fixing property and transparency are excellent.

  The fluorene resin can be used in the form of either a water-insoluble resin (emulsion) or a water-soluble resin, but is preferably used in the form of a water-soluble resin. Moreover, it is preferable that the weight average molecular weights of a fluorene-type resin are the range of 3000-20000, It is more preferable that it is 5000-15000, It is especially preferable that it is 6000-12000. Furthermore, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the fluorene resin is preferably 0 ° C. or higher, more preferably 0 ° C. or higher and 250 ° C. or lower, still more preferably 40 ° C. or higher and 250 ° C. or lower, and even more preferably 80 ° C. or higher and 250 ° C. It is 120 degrees C or less, Most preferably, it is 120 degrees C or less and 250 degrees C or less.

  Acrylic resin is a homopolymer of acrylic acid, acrylic acid ester, methacrylic acid or methacrylic acid ester; or these monomers and acrylonitrile, cyanoacrylate, acrylamide, olefin, styrene, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, vinyl alcohol. And copolymers with vinyl ether, vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl pyridine, vinyl carbazole, vinyl imidazole, vinylidene chloride and the like. The copolymer can be used in any form of a random copolymer, a block copolymer, an alternating copolymer, and a graft copolymer.

As the acrylic resin, for example, 3MF series 3MF-309S, 3MF-320S, 3MF-333, 3MF-407, 3MF-574, 3MF-587 manufactured by Taisei Fine Chemical Co., Ltd. Acrylic emulsion Boncoat 40- manufactured by DIC Corporation 41
8EF; ES-960MC manufactured by Takamatsu Yushi Co., Ltd .; EPG 1200 manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.

  A polyolefin wax may be added to the clear ink composition. One of the functions of the polyolefin wax is to increase the slipperiness of the formed film. Thereby, the abrasion resistance of the overcoat layer can be further improved.

  The polyolefin wax is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include waxes produced from olefins such as ethylene, propylene and butylene or derivatives thereof and copolymers thereof. Specific examples of the polyolefin wax include polyethylene wax, polypropylene wax, polybutylene wax, and paraffin wax. These polyolefin waxes can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  As the polyolefin wax, a commercially available product can be used. For example, Chemipearl series such as Chemipearl W4005 (polyethylene type) manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. Above, all polyethylene-based), 498, 537, 539 (all above, all paraffin-based) AQUACER series, Hitech E-7025P, Hitech E-2213, Hitech E-9460, Hitech E-9015, Hitech E-4A, Hitech series such as Hitech E-5403P, Hitech E-8237 (manufactured by Toho Chemical Co., Ltd.), Nopcoat PEM-17 (San Nopco, polyethylene emulsion, particle size 40 nm), and the like. These are commercially available in the form of an aqueous emulsion in which polyolefin wax is dispersed in water by a conventional method.

  When the polyolefin wax is contained, the content thereof is preferably 0.05% by mass or more and 2% by mass or less in terms of solid content with respect to the total mass of the clear ink composition, and 0.1% by mass The content is more preferably 1% by mass or less. When the content of the polyolefin wax is within the above range, the abrasion resistance may be further improved while maintaining the glitter of the image.

  If necessary, the clear ink composition may contain the water-soluble organic solvent, surfactant, pH adjuster, water, antiseptic / antifungal agent, rust inhibitor, chelating agent, etc. described in the glitter ink composition. It may be added.

3. Method Next, the method of this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The ink jet recording system of this embodiment has a recording mode for recording a security image.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a security image recorded by the ink jet recording system of the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the security in the recording mode for image, to form a white recording medium first glitter image MI ₁ by discharging glitter ink composition to a first image area A1 on the RM, the first contact with the image area A1 to form a (first surrounding image area A1) second glitter image MI ₂ by discharging glitter ink composition in the second image area A2. Thereby, the security image SI corresponding to the input image is recorded on the recording medium RM.

  One of the first image area A1 and the second image area A2 is an area corresponding to a character or the like (information image such as a character, a barcode, or a graphic) in the input image, and the other is a background of the information image (background Area corresponding to (image). In the example shown in FIG. 3, the area corresponding to the character is the first image area A1 and the area corresponding to the background is the second image area A2, but they may be interchanged.

  Here, in this embodiment, the discharge amount per unit area of the glitter ink composition in the first image region A1 is larger than the discharge amount per unit area of the glitter ink composition in the second image region A2. I try to increase. Specifically, the weight A of the glitter pigment per unit area in the glitter ink composition ejected to the first image area A1, and the unit in the glitter ink composition ejected to the second image area A2. The weight B of the glitter pigment per area satisfies the following relationship: 1.17 ≧ A / B ≧ 1.03.

The security image SI is an image in which the visibility of information images such as characters is changed by changing the angle of the viewpoint to be observed. That is, when the security image SI is observed when the light source LS and the viewpoint VP are in the positional relationship shown in FIG. 4A (when the viewpoint VP is in the diffused light region), the first glitter image MI _{1 is used.} Both the amount of reflected light reaching the viewpoint VP and the amount of reflected light reaching the viewpoint VP from the second glitter image MI ₂ are reduced, so that the ejection amount of the glitter ink composition and the second image area in the first image area A1 are reduced. Since it becomes easy to visually recognize the color tone difference (brightness / darkness difference) between the first glitter image MI ₁ and the second glitter image MI ₂ resulting from the difference from the discharge amount of the glitter ink composition in A2, characters and the like An information image can be visually recognized.

On the other hand, when the security image SI is observed when the light source LS and the viewpoint VP are in the positional relationship shown in FIG. 4B (when the viewpoint VP is in the regular reflection light region), the first glitter image MI ₁ is observed. Since the amount of reflected light reaching the viewpoint VP from the second and the amount of reflected light reaching the viewpoint VP from the second glitter image MI ₂ both increase, the color difference between the first glitter image MI ₁ and the second glitter image MI ₂ Since it becomes difficult to visually recognize (light / dark difference), it becomes impossible to visually recognize information images such as characters.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining another example of a security image recorded by the ink jet recording system of the present embodiment.

In the security image recording mode, as shown in FIG. 5A, a color image CI is formed by ejecting a color ink composition on each of the first glitter image MI ₁ and the second glitter image MI _2. Thus, the security image SI may be recorded on the recording medium RM. By forming the color image CI on the first glitter image MI ₁ and the second glitter image MI ₂ , it is possible to record a security image SI having a large change in visibility due to a change in viewpoint angle.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, a clear image CL is formed on each of the first glitter image MI ₁ and the second glitter image MI ₂ to form a clear image CL. SI may be recorded on the recording medium RM. Alternatively, the clear image CL may be formed by discharging the clear ink composition to one of the first glitter image MI ₁ and the second glitter image MI ₂ . By forming the clear image CL on at least one of the first glitter image MI ₁ and the second glitter image MI ₂ , it is possible to record a security image SI that has a large change in visibility due to a change in viewpoint angle. .

Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, a clear image CL is formed on the first glitter image MI ₁ and the second glitter image MI ₂ , and a color image CI is formed on the clear image CL. Thus, the security image SI may be recorded on the recording medium RM. The clear image CL may be formed on one of the first glitter image MI ₁ and the second glitter image MI ₂ , and the color image CI may be formed on the clear image CL. By forming the color image CI on the clear image CL, it is possible to record the security image SI that has a large change in visibility due to a change in viewpoint angle.

  The color of the color image CI in the security image SI shown in FIGS. 5A and 5C is a color corresponding to the color of characters or the like in the input image. In addition, it is desirable that the discharge amount per unit area of the color ink composition in the first image region A1 is equal to the discharge amount per unit area of the color ink composition in the second image region A2.

  Here, depending on the color tone of the color image CI in the first image area A1 and the second image area A2, a security image SI with low security (a small change in visibility due to a change in viewpoint angle) may be recorded. is there. For example, when the color of the color image CI is yellow, the difference between the L value of the image formed in the first image area A1 and the L value of the image formed in the second image area A2 becomes large. The change in visibility due to the change is reduced. On the other hand, for example, when the color of the color image CI is blue, the difference between the L value of the image formed in the first image area A1 and the L value of the image formed in the second image area A2 is small, so that the viewpoint A change in visibility due to a change in angle is increased. Therefore, when the color tone of the information image such as characters in the input image does not satisfy the predetermined condition, it is determined that the security image corresponding to the input image is low in security, and a notice is given to warn the user to that effect. You may go. Further, when it is determined that the security property of the security image is low, the difference between the L value of the image formed in the first image area A1 and the L value of the image formed in the second image area A2 is reduced. The color tone of the color image CI in at least one of the first image area A1 and the second image area A2 may be automatically corrected.

  Even when the area of the first image area A1 is small, a security image SI with low security may be recorded. Therefore, when the area of the information image such as characters in the input image is equal to or less than the predetermined position, whether the security image corresponding to the input image is judged to be low in security, and a notification is issued to warn the user to that effect. Alternatively, correction for increasing the areas of the first image area A1 and the second image area A2 may be performed. Further, when it is determined that the security of the security image corresponding to the input image is low, control is performed to change the amount of the glitter ink composition ejected to the first image area A1 or the second image area A2. The change in visibility due to the change in viewpoint angle may be increased.

4). Processing FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the ink jet recording system of this embodiment.

  First, the processing unit 100 acquires input image data to be printed (step S10). Next, the mode selection unit 102 selects a recording mode based on the operation information from the operation unit 110 (step S12).

Next, the processing unit 100 (discharge amount control unit 104) converts input image data into print data (recording data) based on the selected recording mode (step S14). That is, the RGB data of the input image is converted into CMYK data, further converted into dot generation rate data, and when the security image recording mode is selected, printing for printing a security image corresponding to the input image When data is generated and a recording mode for a non-security image is selected, print data for printing a non-security image corresponding to the input image is generated. Here, when the security image recording mode is selected, the processing unit 100 displays a security image creation screen on the display unit 120, displays an input image (security pattern image) on this screen, and inputs the input screen. The print data of the second glittering image may be automatically arranged around the character or the like (security pattern) to generate the print data of the security image. Further, when the security image recording mode is selected, the security property of the security image corresponding to the input image may be determined, and the determination result (warning or the like) may be displayed on the security image creation screen. In this case, the configuration may be such that the user can correct the character of the input image and the color tone of the surrounding color image (or the size of the character of the input image) according to the determination result. Accordingly, automatic correction may be performed and the result may be displayed.

  The print data converted in this way is output to the inkjet recording apparatus 10, and a security image or a non-security image is printed by the inkjet recording apparatus 10 (step S16).

5. Evaluation Result A security image was printed on a recording medium by the method of this embodiment, and the visibility was evaluated.

  As the glitter ink composition, 1.2% by mass of aluminum pigment, 0.5% by mass of urethane resin, 12% by mass of hexylene glycol, 28% by mass of propylene glycol, BYK-348 (manufactured by Big Chemie Japan Co., Ltd.) 0.4 An aluminum ink comprising mass%, triethanolamine 0.15 mass%, and water 57.75 mass% was used.

  Further, as a clear ink composition, fluorene 3% by mass, 1,2-hexanediol 5% by mass, propylene glycol 12% by mass, 2-pyrrolidone 4% by mass, tripropanolamine 0.5% by mass, AQUACER 515 (Big Chemie Japan) A clear ink comprising 1% by mass, manufactured by BYK-348 (produced by Big Chemie Japan Co., Ltd.), and 74% by mass of water was used.

  The glitter ink composition and the clear ink composition were mounted on an inkjet printer (trade name “PX-G930”, manufactured by Seiko Epson Corporation) as an ink set. Then, a security image composed of the glitter ink composition and the clear ink composition was formed (printed) on a recording medium (Epson genuine photographic paper <gloss>, manufactured by Seiko Epson Corporation). Specifically, a first glitter image composed of a glitter ink composition is formed in a first image area (area corresponding to characters), and a glitter ink composition is formed in a second image area (area corresponding to the background). A second glitter image was formed, and a clear image composed of a clear ink composition was formed on the second glitter image (the clear image may not be formed in some cases).

The weight A (mg / inch) of the glitter pigment per unit area in the glitter ink composition ejected to the first image area in the case where the clear image is not formed on the second glitter image and the case where the clear image is formed. ² ) and the visibility of the security image were evaluated while varying the weight B (mg / inch ² ) of the glitter pigment per unit area in the glitter ink composition discharged to the second image area. It should be noted that the ratio (A / B) of weight A to weight B was evaluated for each of 1.2, 1.15, 1.1, 1.05, and 1.02. When a clear image is formed on the second glitter image, the solid content of the resin per unit area in the clear ink composition ejected on the second glitter image is 0.20 mg / inch ² . .

  Table 1 shows the evaluation results when the clear image is not formed on the second glitter image, and Table 2 shows the evaluation results when the clear image is formed.

表１、表２において、「○」は、特定の視点角度（正反射光領域）でセキュリティー画像中の文字（第１画像領域に形成される画像）が視認できず、それ以外の視点角度（拡散光領域）で文字が視認できたことを示し、「×」は、視点角度の変化によって文字の視認性が変化しなかったことを示す。「×」と表記した表１でのＡ／Ｂ＝１．２、１．１５の場合及び表２でのＡ／Ｂ＝１．２の場合では、正反射光領域でも拡散光領域でも文字が視認でき、表１及び表２でのＡ／Ｂ＝１．０２の場合では、正反射光領域でも拡散光領域でも文字が視認できなかった。

In Tables 1 and 2, “◯” indicates that characters in the security image (image formed in the first image area) cannot be visually recognized at a specific viewpoint angle (regular reflection light area), and other viewpoint angles ( In the diffused light area), the character can be visually recognized, and “X” indicates that the visibility of the character has not changed due to the change in the viewpoint angle. In the case of A / B = 1.2 and 1.15 in Table 1 and “A” marked in “X” and in the case of A / B = 1.2 in Table 2, characters appear in both the regular reflection light region and the diffuse light region. In the case of A / B = 1.02 in Table 1 and Table 2, characters could not be visually recognized in both the regular reflection light region and the diffused light region.

  From Table 1, when a clear image is not formed on the second glitter image, when A / B = 1.05 to 1.11, characters cannot be visually recognized at a specific viewpoint angle, and the second glitter When a clear image is formed on a sex image, it can be seen that when A / B = 1.05 to 1.15, characters cannot be visually recognized at a specific viewpoint angle. It can also be seen that by forming a clear image on the second glitter image, the range of allowable A / B values is expanded (that is, the change in visibility due to a change in viewpoint angle is increased).

  In addition, a copy is made by copying a recording medium on which a security image is formed with a color copier under the condition that characters cannot be seen at the specific viewing angle described above, and the created copy becomes visible due to changes in the viewing angle. It was confirmed that it did not change (has an anti-counterfeiting effect).

  The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and appropriate modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 inkjet recording system, 2 recording paper, 10 inkjet recording apparatus, 11
Front cover, 12 Paper discharge port, 13 Paper feed tray, 14 Top cover, 15 Operation buttons, 20 Carriage, 22 Recording head, 30 Drive mechanism, 32 Timing belt, 34 Drive motor, 40 Ink cartridge, 50 Ink supply device, 60 Ink tube, 70 air pump unit, 90 cap member, 100 processing unit (control unit), 102 mode selection unit, 104 discharge amount control unit, 110 operation unit, 120 display unit, 130 storage unit

Claims (13)

An inkjet recording system including an inkjet recording apparatus and a control unit that controls the inkjet recording apparatus,
The ink jet recording apparatus comprises:
A glitter ink composition comprising a glitter pigment; and
An ejection head for ejecting the glitter ink composition to a recording medium,
The controller is
Based on the input image input by the user, the ejection amount of the glitter ink composition ejected from the ejection head is controlled, and in the security image recording mode, the first image area on the recording medium is controlled. Forming a first glitter image with the glitter ink composition, and performing control to form a second glitter image with the glitter ink composition on the second image area in contact with the first image area. An inkjet recording system that performs control to record a security image corresponding to the input image on the recording medium. The weight A of the glitter pigment per unit area in the glitter ink composition ejected to the first image area, and the unit per unit area in the glitter ink composition ejected to the second image area. The inkjet recording system according to claim 1, wherein the weight B of the glitter pigment has the following relationship.
1.17 ≧ A / B ≧ 1.03   The inkjet recording system according to claim 1, wherein the first image area or the second image area is an area corresponding to a character, a barcode, or a graphic in the input image. The controller is
In the security image recording mode, a color image is formed with a color ink composition containing a pigment having a larger amount of visible light absorption than the glitter pigment for the first glitter image and the second glitter image. The inkjet recording system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein control is performed. The controller is
In the security image recording mode, control is performed to form a clear image with a clear ink composition that does not substantially contain a color material, on at least one of the first glitter image and the second glitter image. The inkjet recording system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The controller is
The control for forming a color image with a color ink composition containing a pigment having a larger amount of visible light absorption than the glitter pigment is performed on the clear image in the security image recording mode. Inkjet recording system. The controller is
The inkjet recording system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein when it is determined that security of the security image corresponding to the input image is low, a process of notifying a warning to a user is performed. The controller is
The inkjet recording system according to claim 4 or 6, wherein control is performed to change the color of the color image when it is determined that the security of the security image corresponding to the input image is low. The controller is
The control of changing the color of the color image is performed so that the L value of the image formed in the first image area and the L value of the image formed in the second image area are close to each other. Inkjet recording system. The controller is
The control for changing at least one area of the first image area and the second image area is performed when it is determined that security of the security image corresponding to the input image is low. 2. An ink jet recording system according to item 1. The controller is
Control is performed to change the amount of the glitter ink composition ejected to the first image region or the second image region when it is determined that the security property of the security image corresponding to the input image is low. Item 11. The inkjet recording system according to any one of Items 1 to 10. The controller is
The inkjet recording according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a security image creation screen is displayed on a display unit, and recording data of the security image created for the security image creation is output to the inkjet recording apparatus. system. The controller is
When the security pattern image is input on the security image creation screen, the recording data of the second glittering image is arranged around the security pattern in the security pattern image to generate the recording data of the security image. Item 13. The inkjet recording system according to Item 12.

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