JP2019081322A - Recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To obtain a high quality recorded object by hindering movement of an ink image while making nonuniform image, which may be formed with ink on reaction liquid, less like to appear.SOLUTION: A recording apparatus comprises: reaction liquid application means that applies reaction liquid onto a discharge target medium; projection forming means that forms a plurality of projections on a surface of the reaction liquid; and ink application means that applies ink onto the reaction liquid on which the plurality of projections are formed, the ink containing solid contents that agglomerate by reacting with the reaction liquid. The projection forming means forms the plurality of projections by changing the shape of the surface of the reaction liquid applied to the discharge target medium by the reaction liquid application means, such that the surface of an ink application area of the discharge target medium is not exposed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus.

  As a printing method using an inkjet method, a method using a reaction liquid in which components of an ink containing a coloring material component are aggregated on a medium is known. Patent Document 1 discloses a method of forming an intermediate image by an inkjet method on a transfer body to which a reaction liquid for aggregating components in ink is applied, and transferring the intermediate image to a recording medium. In Patent Document 2, in order to suppress movement of the ink image formed on the reaction liquid, the pretreatment liquid is distributed by densely distributing the thin liquid droplet reaction liquid on the intermediate transfer member. It has been proposed to suppress the movement of the ink image above.

JP, 2009-45851, A JP, 2010-260287, A

  However, according to the inventor, in the method described in Patent Document 2, when the ink is applied onto the small droplet reaction liquid, the pattern of the small droplet distribution may be visually recognized as unevenness. I found that.

  An object of the present invention is to obtain a high-quality recorded matter by suppressing the movement of an ink image while making it difficult for unevenness to appear in an image formed by ink on a reaction liquid.

  In the present invention, a reaction liquid applying means for applying a reaction liquid on a medium to be discharged, a convex portion forming means for forming a plurality of convex portions on the surface of the reaction liquid, and a solid that coagulates by reacting with the reaction liquid And ink applying means for applying an ink containing a portion onto the reaction liquid in which the plurality of convex portions are formed, wherein the convex portion forming means includes an area for applying the ink of the medium to be discharged. The recording apparatus is characterized in that the plurality of convex portions are formed by changing the shape of the surface of the reaction liquid applied onto the medium to be discharged by the reaction liquid applying means so that the surface is not exposed.

  According to the recording apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to obtain high-quality recorded matter by suppressing the movement of the ink image while making it difficult for unevenness to appear in the image formed by the ink on the reaction liquid.

It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of a structure of the transfer type | mold inkjet recording device in embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of a structure of the direct drawing type inkjet recording device in embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the entire inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIGS. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a printer control unit in the transfer type inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a printer control unit in the direct drawing type ink jet printing apparatus shown in FIG. It is a graph showing the uneven state of the reaction liquid on the transfer body in an Example. It is a graph which shows the power spectral density of the pattern of the reaction liquid in an Example and a comparative example. It is a photograph of the solid image edge part on the transfer body in an Example. It is a schematic diagram which shows the mode on the transfer body of a comparison form. It is a schematic diagram which shows the mode on the transfer body of embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the mode on the transfer body of embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described by citing preferred embodiments.

  Hereinafter, an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, the ink is discharged onto the transfer body as the discharge receiving medium to form an ink image, and the ink image after the liquid removal from the ink image by the liquid removing member is transferred to the recording medium. There are an ink jet recording apparatus, and an ink jet recording apparatus which forms an ink image on a recording medium such as paper, cloth or the like as a medium to be discharged, and removes the liquid from the ink image by the liquid removing member on the recording medium. In the present invention, the former ink jet recording apparatus is hereinafter referred to as a transfer type ink jet recording apparatus for convenience, and the latter ink jet recording apparatus is hereinafter referred to as a direct drawing type ink jet recording apparatus for convenience.

  Each inkjet recording device will be described below.

(Transfer type inkjet recording device)
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of a schematic configuration of a transfer type inkjet recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. The recording apparatus is a sheet-fed ink jet recording apparatus that manufactures a recorded matter by transferring an ink image to a recording medium 108 via a transfer body 101. In the present embodiment, the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction respectively indicate the width direction (full length direction), the depth direction, and the height direction of the inkjet recording apparatus 100. The recording medium P is transported in the X direction. The Y direction is perpendicular to a plane including the X and Z axes, and is a direction passing through the drawing.

  The transfer type inkjet recording apparatus 100 according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a transfer body 101 supported by a support member 102 and a reaction liquid application device 103 for applying a reaction liquid which reacts with color ink onto the transfer body 101. An ink applying device 104 having an ink jet head for applying colored ink on the transfer body 101 to which the reaction liquid is applied and forming an ink image which is an image by the ink on the transfer body; It has a liquid removing device 105 for removing liquid components from the ink image, and a transfer pressing member 106 for transferring the ink image on the transfer body from which the liquid components have been removed onto a recording medium 108 such as paper. In addition, the transfer type inkjet recording apparatus 100 may have a transfer member cleaning member 109 for cleaning the surface of the transfer member 101 after being transferred, as necessary. As a matter of course, the transfer body 101, the reaction liquid applying apparatus 103, the inkjet head of the ink applying apparatus 104, the liquid removing apparatus 105, and the transfer body cleaning member 109 correspond to the recording medium 108 used in the Y direction. Has only a length.

  The transfer body 101 rotates in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1 around the rotation shaft 102 a of the support member 102. By the rotation of the support member 102, the transfer body 101 is moved and sequentially passes through the positions facing the respective devices around the support member 102. A reaction liquid application device 103 applies a reaction liquid and an ink application device 104 sequentially applies ink onto the moving transfer body 101, and an ink image is formed on the transfer body 101. The ink image formed on the transfer body 101 is moved by the movement of the transfer body 101 to a position in contact with the liquid removing member 105 a of the liquid removing device 105.

  The transfer body 101 and the liquid removing device 105 move in synchronization with the rotation of the transfer body 101. The ink image formed on the transfer body 101 passes through a state in contact with the moving liquid removing member 105a. During this time, the liquid removing member 105a removes the liquid component from the ink image on the transfer body. In this state of contact, it is particularly preferable that the liquid removing member 105a be pressed by the transfer body 101 with a predetermined pressing force in that the liquid removing member 105a effectively functions.

  If the removal of the liquid component is described from a different viewpoint, it can also be expressed as concentration of the ink constituting the image formed on the transfer body. To concentrate the ink means to decrease the liquid component contained in the ink and to increase the content ratio to the solid component such as the coloring material and the resin contained in the ink.

  The ink image after the liquid removal from which the liquid component has been removed is in a state where the ink is concentrated compared to the ink image before the liquid removal, and the recording medium conveyed by the recording medium conveyance device 107 by the transfer body 101 The transfer unit 111 is moved to the transfer unit 111 in contact with the transfer unit 108. While the ink image after liquid removal is in contact with the recording medium 108, the pressing member 106 presses the transfer body 101, whereby the ink image is transferred onto the recording medium 108. The transferred ink image transferred onto the recording medium 108 is an ink image before liquid removal and a reverse image of the ink image after liquid removal.

  In the present embodiment, the reaction liquid is applied onto the transfer body and then the ink is applied to form an image. Therefore, the reaction liquid does not react with the ink in the non-image area where the image by the ink is not formed. Remaining. In the present apparatus, the liquid removing member 105a contacts not only the image but also the unreacted reaction liquid, and also removes the liquid component of the reaction liquid.

  Therefore, although the above description is described and described as removing the liquid component from the image, it is not limited meaning of removing the liquid component only from the image, but at least the liquid component is removed from the image on the transfer body It is used in the meaning of being good.

  The liquid component is not particularly limited as long as it does not have a fixed shape, has fluidity, and has a substantially fixed volume.

  For example, water, an organic solvent and the like contained in the ink and the reaction liquid may be mentioned as the liquid component.

  The components of the transfer type inkjet recording apparatus of the present embodiment will be described below.

<Transcript body>
The transfer body 101 has a surface layer including an image forming surface. As a member of the surface layer, various materials such as resin, ceramic and the like can be appropriately used, but a material having a high compressive elastic modulus is preferable in terms of durability and the like. Specific examples thereof include acrylic resins, acrylic silicone resins, fluorine-containing resins, and condensates obtained by condensation of hydrolyzable organosilicon compounds. In order to improve the wettability, transferability and the like of the reaction solution, it may be subjected to surface treatment. As surface treatment, flame treatment, corona treatment, plasma treatment, polishing treatment, roughening treatment, active energy ray irradiation treatment, ozone treatment, surfactant treatment, silane coupling treatment, etc. may be mentioned. A plurality of these may be combined. Also, any surface shape can be provided on the surface layer.

  The transfer body preferably has a compressed layer having a function of absorbing pressure fluctuations. By providing the compression layer, the compression layer can absorb the deformation, disperse the fluctuation with respect to the local pressure fluctuation, and maintain good transferability even at high speed printing. Examples of the member of the compression layer include acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, acrylic rubber, chloroprene rubber, urethane rubber, silicone rubber and the like. At the time of molding of the rubber material, it is preferable to blend predetermined amounts of a vulcanizing agent, a vulcanization accelerator and the like, and further to blend a filler such as a foaming agent, hollow fine particles or sodium chloride as needed to make it porous. As a result, since the bubble portion is compressed with a volume change with respect to various pressure fluctuations, deformation in directions other than the compression direction is small, and more stable transferability and durability can be obtained. As the porous rubber material, there are a continuous pore structure in which each pore is continuous with each other, and an independent pore structure in which each pore is independent. In the present invention, any structure may be used, and these structures may be used in combination.

  Furthermore, the transfer body preferably has an elastic layer between the surface layer and the compression layer. As a member of the elastic layer, various materials such as resin, ceramic and the like can be appropriately used. Various elastomeric materials and rubber materials are preferably used in terms of processing characteristics and the like. Specifically, for example, fluorosilicone rubber, phenyl silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, chloroprene rubber, urethane rubber, nitrile rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, natural rubber, styrene rubber, isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, ethylene / propylene / butadiene copolymer, A nitrile butadiene rubber etc. are mentioned. In particular, silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber and phenylsilicone rubber are preferred in view of dimensional stability and durability because they have small compression set. Further, the change in elastic modulus with temperature is small, which is preferable from the viewpoint of transferability.

  Various adhesives or double-sided tapes may be used to fix and hold the layers between the layers constituting the transfer body (surface layer, elastic layer, compression layer). Moreover, you may provide the reinforcement layer with a high compression elastic modulus, in order to suppress lateral elongation at the time of mounting | wearing with an apparatus, and to maintain rigidity. Also, a woven fabric may be used as the reinforcing layer. The transfer body can be produced by arbitrarily combining each layer of the above-mentioned materials.

  The size of the transfer body can be freely selected according to the target print image size. The shape of the transfer body is not particularly limited, and specific examples thereof include a sheet shape, a roller shape, a belt shape, and an endless web shape.

<Supporting member>
The transfer body 101 is supported on a support member 102. Various adhesives and double-sided tapes may be used as a method of supporting the transfer body. Alternatively, the transfer member may be supported on the support member 102 using the setting member by attaching the setting member made of metal, ceramic, resin or the like to the transfer member.

  The supporting member 102 is required to have a certain degree of structural strength from the viewpoint of the conveyance accuracy and the durability. Metal, ceramic, resin or the like is preferably used as the material of the support member. Above all, aluminum, iron, stainless steel, acetal resin, epoxy resin, polyimide, and the like in order to reduce the inertia during operation and improve the control response, in addition to the rigidity and dimensional accuracy that can withstand the pressure during transfer. Polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, polyurethane, silica ceramics and alumina ceramics are preferably used. Moreover, it is also preferable to use combining these.

<Reaction liquid application device>
The inkjet recording apparatus of the present embodiment has a reaction liquid applying apparatus 103 for applying a reaction liquid to the transfer member 101. The reaction liquid deposition apparatus 103 of FIG. 1 is a gravure offset having a reaction liquid storage section 103a for storing a reaction liquid, and reaction liquid deposition members 103b and 103c for applying the reaction liquid in the reaction liquid storage section 103a onto the transfer body 101. The case of the roller is shown.

  The reaction liquid applying apparatus may be any apparatus which can apply the reaction liquid on the medium to be discharged without any gap, and various apparatuses conventionally known can be used as appropriate. Specifically, a gravure offset roller, an inkjet head, a die coating device (die coater), a blade coating device (blade coater) and the like can be mentioned. The application of the reaction liquid by the reaction liquid application apparatus may be performed before application of the ink or after application of the ink, as long as it can be mixed (reacted) with the ink on the medium to be ejected. Preferably, the reaction liquid is applied before the application of the ink. By applying the reaction liquid before the application of the ink, during ink jet image recording, bleeding that ink adjacently applied mixes with one another, and ink in which the earlier landed ink is attracted to the later landed ink It is also possible to suppress the ding.

<Reaction liquid convexity application device>
The ink jet recording apparatus of the present embodiment includes the reaction liquid convexity application device 1 which applies a convex portion to the surface layer of the reaction liquid layer after applying the reaction liquid by the reaction liquid application device. The reaction liquid convexity applying device 1 of FIG. 1 shows the case of a gravure roller. The gravure roller has a concave portion corresponding to the convex portion to be formed on the surface, and rotates in the same direction as the gravure offset roller 103 c of the reaction liquid applying apparatus 103. The reaction liquid convexity applying device 1 is not limited to the gravure roller as long as it is a means capable of forming a convex portion. While the convex portion is formed on the reaction liquid on the transfer body 101, the reaction liquid convexity applying device 1 pushes the reaction liquid under a pressure that the surface of the transfer body 101 is not exposed.

If the shape of the gravure roller is finer than the dot diameter of the ink ejected by the ink jet recording apparatus, it is possible to provide convex portions with a period finer than the dot diameter, and the effect of suppressing image movement is enhanced. It is. The application amount of the reaction liquid after forming the convex portion with the reaction liquid convexity application device is more preferably 1 g / m ² or less because the effect of suppressing the image movement is enhanced. Here, the application amount of the reaction solution can be determined in consideration of the weight after sufficient evaporation of water. After the reaction liquid is applied onto the transfer body by the reaction liquid applying apparatus, the reaction liquid is dried by a predetermined mechanism to enhance the shape maintenance, and then the convex part is formed on the reaction liquid by the reaction liquid convex applying apparatus, The convex shape is easily maintained until the subsequent application of ink, which is preferable.

  Next, the effect of the reaction liquid projecting apparatus will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  The state of the reaction liquid after the formation of the convex portion on the transfer body in the present embodiment is schematically shown in FIGS. 11 (a1) and (a2). Further, a state in which the ink is applied onto the reaction liquid is viewed from the surface of the transfer body is shown in FIG. FIG. 11A1 is a schematic cross-sectional view in the case where the cut surface perpendicular to the transfer body 101 is viewed through A-A 'in FIG. 11A2. In this schematic view, a portion where the concentration of the reaction solution is high is drawn thick, and a portion where light is thin is drawn thinly. As shown in FIG. 11A, the reaction liquid 2 covers the transfer body 101, and the transfer body 101 is not exposed. Therefore, the shape of the convex portion of the reaction liquid is not seen in the ink image formed by the ink.

  Patterns of other shapes of the reaction liquid on the transfer body in the present embodiment are shown in FIGS. 10 (a1) and (a2). Further, FIG. 10B is a schematic view of the state in which the ink is applied onto the reaction liquid of this pattern as viewed from the surface of the transfer body. FIG. 10 (a1) is a schematic cross-sectional view in the case where the cut surface perpendicular to the transfer body 101 is viewed through A-A 'of FIG. 10 (a2). When the method of the present embodiment is used, as shown in FIG. 10A, it is possible to apply so that the transfer body 101 is not exposed. Since the reaction liquid 2 is applied so that the transfer body 101 is not exposed, the pattern of the convex portion is less likely to appear as a latent image in the image. In addition, the convex portions of the reaction liquid are uniformly disposed uniformly, and the progress of the reaction of the ink 3 and the reaction liquid 2 becomes uniform regardless of the location, and the ink pattern is accurately formed in a desired shape. Preferred. The distance between the adjacent projections may be smaller than the maximum diameter of the ink dots, and may be regularly arranged at a constant pitch.

In the present embodiment, periodicity is one of the indicators as to whether the reaction solution is uniformly disposed. In order to evaluate the periodicity, the convex shape of the reaction liquid after coating of the reaction liquid is stored as data of the position (μm) and the height of the reaction liquid (μm), and frequency analysis is performed to obtain frequency (μm-1) and power. Obtain the relationship of spectral density (μm ³ ). If the peak of the obtained power spectrum density is at a position of 1 / (single dot diameter) or less and the power spectrum density is 1 or more, the periodic strength is sufficiently strong and the convex portions are uniformly provided. It can be said that it is preferable.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the state of the reaction liquid on the transfer body in the comparative embodiment and the appearance of the surface of the transfer body on which the ink is applied on the reaction liquid viewed from above. In the second comparative embodiment, the reaction liquid 2 in the form of small droplets is distributed on the transfer body, so that the movement of the image does not occur even if the ink 3 is applied in a rectangular shape (FIG. 9B). However, unlike in FIGS. 10 and 11, since the surface of the transfer body 101 is exposed, when the ink 3 is applied, the portion where the reaction liquid 2 exists under the ink 3 and the portion under the ink 3 Uneven density occurs at the location where the direct transfer member 101 exists. The reaction liquid 2 and the ink 3 react with each other, so that the pigment contained in the ink 3 is aggregated, but the pigment aggregation does not progress so much at the portion where the transfer body 101 is directly below the ink 3. The location where the reaction solution 2 is present and the density of the image are clearly different. Therefore, even if a solid image is drawn, the distribution of the reaction solution 2 is recognized as a latent image.

<Reaction liquid>
Hereinafter, each component which comprises the reaction liquid applied to this embodiment is demonstrated in detail.

(Reactant)
The reaction liquid is one which causes the component (resin, self-dispersion pigment, etc.) having an anionic group in the ink to coagulate by coming into contact with the ink, and contains a reaction agent. Examples of the reactive agent include polyvalent metal ions, cationic components such as cationic resins, and organic acids.

As polyvalent metal ions, for example, divalent metal ions such as Ca ²⁺ , Cu ²⁺ , Ni ²⁺ , Mg ²⁺ , Mg ²⁺ , Sr ²⁺ , Ba ²⁺ and Zn ²⁺ , Fe ³⁺ , Cr ³⁺ , Y ³⁺ and Al ^{3+ and the} like And trivalent metal ions of In order to cause the reaction solution to contain polyvalent metal ions, polyvalent metal salts (which may be hydrates) formed by combining polyvalent metal ions and anions can be used. As the anion, for example, Cl ⁻ , Br ⁻ , I ⁻ , ClO ⁻ , ClO ₂ ⁻ , ClO ₃ ⁻ , ClO ₄ ⁻ , ClO ₄ ⁻ , NO ₂ ⁻ , NO ₃ ⁻ , SO ₄ ²⁻ , CO ₃ ²⁻ , HCO _{3 ^{-, PO 4 3-, HPO 4}} 2-, and _H 2 PO ₄ ^- inorganic anions such _{^{as; HCOO -, (COO -)}} 2, COOH (COO -), CH 3 COO -, C 2 H 4 (COO - ^{_{) 2, C 6 H 5 COO}} -, C 6 H 4 (COO -) 2 and _CH 3 SO ₃ ^- may be mentioned organic anion such. When using a polyvalent metal ion as a reaction agent, the content (mass%) in terms of polyvalent metal salt in the reaction liquid is 1.00 mass% or more and 20.00 mass% or less based on the total mass of the reaction liquid Is preferred.

  The reaction liquid containing an organic acid has an acid form of the anionic group of the component present in the ink by having a buffering capacity in the acidic region (pH <7.0, preferably pH 2.0 to 5.0). It is to be aggregated. Examples of organic acids include formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, benzoic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, pyrrolecarboxylic acid, furancarboxylic acid, picolinic acid, nicotinic acid, thiophenecarboxylic acid, levulinic acid, coumaric acid, etc. Monocarboxylic acids and salts thereof; dicarboxylic acids such as oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, sebacic acid, phthalic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, and the like Examples thereof include salts and hydrogen salts; tricarboxylic acids such as citric acid and trimellitic acid and salts and hydrogen salts thereof; and tetracarboxylic acids such as pyromellitic acid and salts and hydrogen salts thereof. It is preferable that content (mass%) of the organic acid in a reaction liquid is 1.00 mass% or more and 50.00 mass% or less.

  Examples of the cationic resin include resins having a structure of primary to tertiary amines and resins having a structure of quaternary ammonium salts. Specifically, resins having structures such as vinylamine, allylamine, vinylimidazole, vinylpyridine, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, ethyleneimine, guanidine and the like can be mentioned. In order to enhance the solubility in the reaction solution, the cationic resin and the acidic compound can be used in combination, or the cationic resin can be subjected to quaternization treatment. When a cationic resin is used as a reaction agent, the content (% by mass) of the cationic resin in the reaction liquid is 1.00% by mass or more and 10.00% by mass or less based on the total mass of the reaction liquid preferable.

(Components other than reactive agent)
As components other than the reactive agent, the same ones as the aqueous medium, the other additives, etc. mentioned above as usable for the ink can be used.

<Ink application device>
The inkjet recording apparatus of the present embodiment has an ink applying apparatus 104 for applying ink to the transfer body 101. A layer of a reaction liquid having a plurality of convex portions on the side facing the ink application device has already been provided on the transfer body 101 by the reaction liquid application device 103 and the reaction liquid convex application device 1. The reaction liquid and the ink are mixed on the transfer body, an ink image is formed by the reaction liquid and the ink, and the liquid removing device 105 further removes the liquid component from the ink image.

<Ink application device>
In the present embodiment, an ink jet head is used as an ink application device for applying ink. The ink jet head includes, for example, a mode in which ink is generated by causing film boiling in the ink by an electro-thermal converter to form air bubbles, a mode in which ink is ejected by an electro-mechanical converter, and ink using electrostatics. The form etc. which are discharged are mentioned. In the present embodiment, a known inkjet head can be used. Among them, from the viewpoint of high speed and high density printing, one using an electro-thermal converter is preferably used. In drawing, an image signal is received, and a necessary amount of ink is given to each position.

  In the present embodiment, the inkjet head is a full line head extended in the Y direction, and the nozzles are arranged in a range that covers the width of the image recording area of the recording medium of the maximum size that can be used. The ink jet head has an ink discharge surface whose nozzle is opened on the lower surface (the transfer body 101 side), and the ink discharge surface faces the surface of the transfer body 101 with a minute gap (about several millimeters). .

The ink application amount can be expressed by the density value of the image data, the ink thickness, etc. In this embodiment, the mass of each ink dot is multiplied by the application number, and the average value divided by the printing area is the ink application amount (g / m ² ). The maximum ink application amount in the image area refers to the ink application amount applied in an area of at least 5 mm ² or more in the area used as information of the medium to be ejected from the viewpoint of removing the liquid component in the ink. Show.

  The ink application device 104 may have a plurality of ink jet heads in order to apply the color ink of each color onto the discharge medium. For example, in the case of forming each color image using yellow ink, magenta ink, cyan ink, and black ink, the ink application device has four ink jet heads for respectively discharging the above four types of ink onto the discharge receiving medium. And they are arranged to line up in the X direction.

  Further, the ink applying apparatus may include an ink jet head which does not contain a coloring material, or has a very low proportion even if it contains a substantially clear clear ink. The clear ink can be used to form an ink image together with the reaction liquid and the color ink. For example, this clear ink can be used to improve the gloss of the image. It is preferable to appropriately adjust the resin component to be blended and to control the discharge position of the clear ink so that the image after transfer exudes a sense of gloss. Since it is preferable that the clear ink be on the surface side rather than the color ink in the final recorded matter, in the transfer type recording apparatus, the clear ink is applied onto the transfer body 101 before the color ink. Therefore, in the moving direction of the transfer body 101 facing the ink application device 104, the inkjet head for the clear ink can be disposed upstream of the inkjet head for the color ink.

  In addition to glossing, it can be used to improve the transferability of an image from the transfer body 101 to a recording medium. For example, a clear ink can be used as a transferability improvement liquid to be provided on the transfer body 101 by containing a component that exhibits adhesiveness more than color ink and imparting it to the color ink. For example, in the moving direction of the transfer body 101 facing the ink application device 104, the inkjet head for clear ink for transferability improvement is disposed downstream of the inkjet head for color ink. Then, after the color ink is applied to the transfer body 101, the clear ink is applied on the transfer body after the color ink is applied, so that the clear ink exists on the outermost surface of the ink image. During transfer of the ink image to the recording medium at the transfer unit 111, the clear ink on the surface of the ink image adheres to the recording medium 108 with a certain degree of adhesion, whereby the ink image after liquid removal moves to the recording medium 108 It becomes easy to do.

<Ink>
Hereinafter, each component which comprises the ink applied to this embodiment is demonstrated in detail.

(Color material)
As a coloring material, a pigment and a dye can be used. The content of the colorant in the ink is preferably 0.5% by mass or more and 15.0% by mass or less, and is 1.0% by mass or more and 10.0% by mass or less based on the total mass of the ink. Is more preferred.

  Specific examples of the pigment include inorganic pigments such as carbon black and titanium oxide; organic pigments such as azo, phthalocyanine, quinacridone, isoindolinone, imidazolone, diketopyrrolopyrrole and dioxazine.

  As a dispersion method of the pigment, a resin dispersion pigment using a resin as a dispersant, a self-dispersion pigment in which a hydrophilic group is bonded to the particle surface of the pigment, or the like can be used. Further, a resin-bonded pigment in which an organic group containing a resin is chemically bonded to the particle surface of the pigment, or a microcapsule pigment in which the surface of the pigment particle is coated with a resin or the like can be used.

  As a resin dispersant for dispersing the pigment in the aqueous medium, it is preferable to use one capable of dispersing the pigment in the aqueous medium by the action of the anionic group. As the resin dispersant, preferably, a resin as described later, more preferably a water-soluble resin can be used. The content (% by mass) of the pigment is preferably 0.3 times or more and 10.0 times or less as a mass ratio (pigment / resin dispersant) to the content of the resin dispersant.

  As the self-dispersion pigment, one having an anionic group such as a carboxylic acid group, a sulfonic acid group or a phosphonic acid group bound to the particle surface of the pigment directly or through another atomic group (-R-) is used be able to. The anionic group may be either an acid type or a salt type, and in the case of a salt type, it may be either partially dissociated or all dissociated. Examples of the cation serving as a counter ion when the anionic group is in a salt form include alkali metal cations; ammonium; organic ammonium; and the like. Further, as specific examples of the other atomic group (-R-), a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms; an arylene group such as a phenylene group or a naphthylene group; a carbonyl group; an imino group; an amide group Sulfonyl group; ester group; ether group etc. can be mentioned. In addition, these groups may be combined.

  As a dye, it is preferable to use what has an anionic group. Specific examples of the dye include dyes such as azo, triphenylmethane, (aza) phthalocyanine, xanthene and anthrapyridone.

(resin)
The ink can contain a resin. The content (% by mass) of the resin in the ink is preferably 0.1% by mass or more and 20.0% by mass or less based on the total mass of the ink, and 0.5% by mass or more and 15.0% by mass or less It is further preferred that

  The resin may be added to the ink for reasons such as (i) to stabilize the dispersed state of the pigment, that is, to improve the various characteristics of the image to be recorded as (ii) the above-mentioned resin dispersant or its aid. it can. As a form of resin, a block copolymer, a random copolymer, a graft copolymer, and these combination etc. can be mentioned. Further, the resin may be in a state of being dissolved in an aqueous medium as a water-soluble resin, or may be in a state of being dispersed in an aqueous medium as resin particles. The resin particles do not have to contain the coloring material.

  In the present invention, the fact that the resin is water-soluble means that when the resin is neutralized with an alkali equivalent to the acid value, it does not form particles whose particle size can be measured by the dynamic light scattering method. Do. Whether or not the resin is water-soluble can be determined according to the method described below. First, a liquid (solid content of resin: 10% by mass) containing a resin neutralized with an alkali equivalent to an acid value (sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or the like) is prepared. Next, the prepared liquid is diluted 10 times (volume basis) with pure water to prepare a sample solution. And when the particle diameter of resin in a sample solution is measured by a dynamic light scattering method, when the particle | grains which have a particle diameter are not measured, it can be judged that the resin is water solubility. The measurement conditions at this time can be set as, for example, SetZero: 30 seconds, the number of measurements: 3 times, and the measurement time: 180 seconds. As a particle size distribution measuring apparatus, a particle size analyzer (for example, trade name “UPA-EX150” manufactured by Nikkiso Co., Ltd.) by a dynamic light scattering method can be used. Of course, the particle size distribution measuring apparatus to be used and the measuring conditions are not limited to the above.

  The acid value of the resin is preferably 100 mg KOH / g or more and 250 mg KOH / g or less in the case of a water-soluble resin, and preferably 5 mg KOH / g or more and 100 mg KOH / g or less in the case of resin particles. The weight average molecular weight of the resin is preferably 3,000 or more and 15,000 or less for a water-soluble resin, and preferably 1,000 or more and 2,000,000 or less for a resin particle. It is preferable that the volume average particle diameter measured by the dynamic light scattering method (measurement conditions are the same as that of the above) of a resin particle is 100 nm or more and 500 nm or less.

  As resin, acrylic resin, urethane resin, olefin resin etc. can be mentioned. Among them, acrylic resins and urethane resins are preferable.

  As an acrylic resin, what has a hydrophilic unit and a hydrophobic unit as a structural unit is preferable. Among them, a resin having a hydrophilic unit derived from (meth) acrylic acid and a hydrophobic unit derived from at least one of a monomer having an aromatic ring and a (meth) acrylic acid ester-based monomer is preferable. In particular, a resin having a hydrophilic unit derived from (meth) acrylic acid and a hydrophobic unit derived from at least one monomer of styrene and α-methylstyrene is preferable. These resins are likely to interact with the pigment, and can be suitably used as a resin dispersant for dispersing the pigment.

  The hydrophilic unit is a unit having a hydrophilic group such as an anionic group. The hydrophilic unit can be formed, for example, by polymerizing a hydrophilic monomer having a hydrophilic group. Specific examples of the hydrophilic monomer having a hydrophilic group include acid monomers having a carboxylic acid group such as (meth) acrylic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid and fumaric acid, and anions such as anhydrides and salts of these acidic monomers And the like. As a cation which comprises the salt of an acidic monomer, ions, such as lithium, sodium, potassium, ammonium, organic ammonium, can be mentioned. The hydrophobic unit is a unit having no hydrophilic group such as an anionic group. The hydrophobic unit can be formed, for example, by polymerizing a hydrophobic monomer having no hydrophilic group such as an anionic group. Specific examples of the hydrophobic monomer include monomers having an aromatic ring such as styrene, α-methylstyrene and benzyl (meth) acrylate; methyl (meth) acrylate, butyl (meth) acrylate and (meth) acrylic acid 2 -(Meth) acrylic acid ester type monomers, such as ethylhexyl, etc. can be mentioned.

  The urethane resin can be obtained, for example, by reacting a polyisocyanate and a polyol. Further, it may be one further reacted with a chain extender. As an olefin resin, polyethylene, a polypropylene, etc. can be mentioned, for example.

(Aqueous medium)
The ink can contain an aqueous medium which is water or a mixed solvent of water and a water-soluble organic solvent. As water, it is preferable to use deionized water or ion exchange water. The content (% by mass) of water in the aqueous ink is preferably 50.0% by mass or more and 95.0% by mass or less based on the total mass of the ink. The content (% by mass) of the water-soluble organic solvent in the aqueous ink is preferably 3.0% by mass or more and 50.0% by mass or less based on the total mass of the ink. As the water-soluble organic solvent, any of the alcohols, (poly) alkylene glycols, glycol ethers, nitrogen-containing compounds, sulfur-containing compounds and the like that can be used for ink jet inks can be used.

(Other additives)
In the ink, in addition to the above components, various kinds such as antifoaming agent, surfactant, pH adjusting agent, viscosity adjusting agent, rust preventing agent, preservative, mildew proofing agent, antioxidant, reduction inhibitor, etc. And additives of the following.

Liquid removal device
In the present embodiment, the liquid removing device 105 includes a liquid absorbing member 105 a and a pressing member 105 b for absorbing the liquid which presses the liquid absorbing member 105 a against the ink image on the transfer member 101. The shapes of the liquid absorbing member 105a and the pressing member 105b are not particularly limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the pressing member 105b has a cylindrical shape, the liquid absorbing member 105a has a belt shape, and the cylindrical pressing member 105b presses the belt shaped liquid absorbing member 105a against the transfer body 101. It may be a configuration. Further, the pressing member 105b has a cylindrical shape, and the liquid absorbing member 105a has a cylindrical shape formed on the circumferential surface of the cylindrical pressing member 105b, and the cylindrical pressing member 105b forms a cylindrical liquid absorbing member 105a. May be pressed against the transfer body.

  In the present embodiment, in consideration of the space and the like in the ink jet recording apparatus, the liquid absorbing member 105 a preferably has a belt shape.

  Further, the liquid absorbing device 105 having the belt-shaped liquid absorbing member 105a may have a stretching member for stretching the liquid absorbing member 105a. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 105c denotes a tension roller as a tension member. In FIG. 1, the pressing member 105 b is also a roller member that rotates in the same manner as the stretching roller, but is not limited thereto.

  In the liquid absorbing device 105, the liquid absorbing member 105a having the porous body is pressed against the ink image by the pressing member 105b and brought into contact with it, and the liquid absorbing member 105a absorbs the liquid component contained in the ink image and the liquid component is absorbed. Reduce.

  As a method of reducing the liquid component in the ink image, various methods conventionally used, such as a method of heating, a method of blowing low-humid air, a method of reducing pressure, etc., are not used. May be used. Further, in addition to the present method in which the liquid absorbing member is brought into contact, the liquid component may be further reduced by applying these methods to the ink image after the liquid removal from which the liquid component has been reduced.

<Liquid absorbing member>
In the present embodiment, at least a part of the liquid component is removed from the ink image before liquid absorption by bringing it into contact with the liquid absorbing member having a porous body to absorb it, and the content of the liquid component in the ink image is reduced. Let The surface of the liquid absorbing member in contact with the ink image is the first surface, and the porous body is disposed on the first surface. The liquid absorbing member having such a porous body moves in conjunction with the movement of the medium to be discharged, contacts with the ink image, and then re-contacts with another ink image before liquid absorption in a predetermined cycle. It is preferable to have a shape capable of liquid absorption. For example, shapes such as endless belts and drums may be mentioned.

(Porous body)
As the porous body of the liquid absorbent member according to the present embodiment, it is preferable to use one having an average pore diameter on the first surface side smaller than an average pore diameter on the second surface facing the first surface. In order to suppress adhesion of the coloring material in the ink to the porous body, the pore diameter is preferably small, and at least the average pore diameter of the porous body on the first surface side in contact with the image is 10 μm or less preferable. In the present embodiment, the average pore diameter refers to the average diameter on the surface of the first surface or the second surface, and is measured by a known means such as mercury intrusion, nitrogen adsorption, SEM image observation, etc. It is possible.

  In addition, it is preferable to reduce the thickness of the porous body in order to make the air permeability uniformly high. The air permeability can be indicated by a Gurley value defined in JIS P8117, and the Gurley value is preferably 10 seconds or less.

  However, when the porous body is made thinner, the volume necessary for absorbing the liquid component may not be sufficiently secured in some cases, so that the porous body can have a multilayer structure. In the liquid absorbing member, the layer in contact with the ink image may be a porous body, and the layer not in contact with the ink image may not be a porous body.

  In this manner, the liquid component is removed on the transfer body 101, and an ink image in which the liquid component is reduced is formed. The ink image after the liquid removal is then transferred onto the recording medium 108 at the transfer unit 111. The apparatus configuration and conditions at the time of transfer will be described.

<Pressing member for transfer>
In the present embodiment, the ink image after the liquid removal on the transfer body 101 is transferred onto the recording medium 108 conveyed by the recording medium conveyance device 107 by bringing the ink pressing member 106 into contact with the recording medium 108. By removing the liquid component contained in the ink image on the transfer body 101 and transferring it to the recording medium 108, it becomes possible to obtain a recorded image in which curling, cockling and the like are suppressed.

  The pressing member 106 is required to have a certain degree of structural strength from the viewpoint of conveyance accuracy and durability of the recording medium 108. As the material of the pressing member 106, metal, ceramic, resin or the like is preferably used. Above all, aluminum, iron, stainless steel, acetal resin, epoxy resin, polyimide, and the like in order to reduce the inertia during operation and improve the control response, in addition to the rigidity and dimensional accuracy that can withstand the pressure during transfer. Polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, polyurethane, silica ceramics and alumina ceramics are preferably used. Moreover, you may use combining these.

  The pressing time for the pressing member 106 to press the transfer body to transfer the ink image after removal of the liquid on the transfer body 101 to the recording medium 108 is not particularly limited, but the transfer is favorably performed and In order not to impair durability, it is preferable that they are 5 ms or more and 100 ms or less. The pressing time in the present embodiment indicates the time when the recording medium 108 and the transfer body 101 are in contact with each other, and a contact pressure distribution measuring device (“I-SCAN”, manufactured by Nitta Co., Ltd.) is used. The surface pressure was measured, and the length in the conveyance direction of the pressure area was divided by the conveyance speed to calculate a value.

Further, the pressure with which the pressing member 106 presses the transfer body 101 to transfer the ink image after the liquid removal on the transfer body 101 to the recording medium 108 is not particularly limited, but the transfer is favorably performed and transferred Do not compromise the durability of the body. For this purpose, the pressure is preferably 9.8 N / cm ² (1 kg / cm ² ) or more and 294.2 N / cm ² (30 kg / cm ² ) or less. The pressure in the present embodiment indicates the nip pressure between the recording medium 108 and the transfer body 101, and the surface pressure is measured using a surface pressure distribution measuring instrument, and the weight in the pressure area is divided by the area, The value is calculated.

  There is no particular limitation on the temperature when the pressing member 106 presses the transfer body 101 to transfer the ink image after the liquid removal on the transfer body 101 to the recording medium 108, but It is preferable to be above the glass transition point or above the softening point. In addition, it is preferable that heating be performed by using a second image on the transfer member 101, a heating unit that heats the transfer member 101, and the recording medium 108.

  The shape of the transfer means 106 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a roller shape.

<Recording medium and recording medium conveyance device>
In the present embodiment, the recording medium 108 is not particularly limited, and any known recording medium can be used. Examples of the recording medium include a long material wound in a roll shape, and a sheet-fed material cut into a predetermined size. Examples of the material include paper, plastic film, wood board, cardboard, metal film and the like.

  Further, in FIG. 1, the recording medium conveyance device 107 for conveying the recording medium 108 is constituted by the recording medium delivery roller 107a and the recording medium take-up roller 107b, but it is sufficient if the recording medium can be conveyed. It is not limited to

<Control system>
The transfer type inkjet recording apparatus in the present embodiment has a control system that controls each apparatus. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the entire transfer type ink jet printing apparatus shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a print data generation unit such as an external print server, 302 denotes an operation control unit such as an operation panel, 303 denotes a printer control unit for carrying out a printing process, and 304 denotes a printing medium for conveying printing media. A conveyance control unit 305 is an inkjet device for printing.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a printer control unit in the transfer type inkjet recording apparatus of FIG.

  A CPU 401 controls the entire printer, a ROM 402 stores a control program of the CPU 401, and a RAM 403 executes a program. An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 404 includes a network controller, a serial IF controller, a head data generation controller, a motor controller, and the like. A liquid removing member transport control unit 405 drives the liquid removing member transport motor 406, and is command-controlled from the ASIC 404 via the serial IF. Reference numeral 407 denotes a transfer body drive control unit for driving the transfer body drive motor 408, which is similarly command-controlled from the ASIC 404 via the serial IF. A head control unit 409 performs final discharge data generation, drive voltage generation, and the like of the inkjet device 305.

(Direct drawing type inkjet recording device)
As another embodiment in the present embodiment, there is a direct drawing type ink jet recording apparatus. In the direct writing type ink jet recording apparatus, the discharge receiving medium is a recording medium on which an image is to be formed.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an example of a schematic configuration of the direct drawing type inkjet recording apparatus 200 in the present embodiment. The direct drawing type ink jet recording apparatus does not have the transfer body 101, the support member 102, and the transfer body cleaning member 109 in comparison with the transfer type ink jet recording apparatus described above, and forms an image on the recording medium 208, It has the same means as the transfer type ink jet recording apparatus.

  Therefore, the ink image is formed by the reaction liquid applying device 203 for applying the reaction liquid to the recording medium 208, the ink applying device 204 for applying ink to the recording medium 208, and the liquid removing member 205a in contact with the ink image on the recording medium 208. The liquid removing apparatus 205 for removing the liquid component contained in the ink jet recording apparatus has the same configuration as that of the transfer type ink jet recording apparatus, and the description thereof will be omitted.

  In the direct drawing type ink jet printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the liquid removing apparatus 205 includes a liquid removing member 205 a and a pressing member 205 b for removing the liquid which presses the liquid removing member 205 a against the ink image on the recording medium 208. . The shapes of the liquid removing member 205a and the pressing member 205b are not particularly limited, and the same shapes as the liquid removing member and the pressing member usable in the transfer type inkjet recording apparatus can be used. In addition, the liquid removing device 205 may have a stretching member for stretching the liquid removing member. In FIG. 2, 205c, 205d, 205e, 205f, and 205g are tension rollers as tension members. The number of stretching rollers is not limited to five as shown in FIG. 4, and the necessary number may be arranged according to the design of the apparatus. Further, the ink application unit for applying ink to the recording medium 208 by the ink application device 204, and the liquid component removing unit for contacting the liquid removing member 205a with the ink image on the recording medium and removing the liquid component A recording medium support member (not shown) may be provided to support the recording medium from below.

<Recording medium conveying device>
In the direct drawing type ink jet recording apparatus of the present embodiment, the recording medium conveyance apparatus 207 is not particularly limited, and the conveying means in a known direct drawing type ink jet recording apparatus can be used. As an example, as shown in FIG. 2, there is a recording medium conveyance device having a recording medium delivery roller 207 a, a recording medium take-up roller 207 b, and recording medium conveyance rollers 207 c, 207 d, 207 e and 207 f.

<Control system>
The direct drawing type inkjet recording apparatus in the present embodiment has a control system that controls each apparatus. A block diagram showing a control system of the entire apparatus in the direct drawing type ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is as shown in FIG. 3 similarly to the transfer type ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a printer control unit in the direct drawing type ink jet printing apparatus of FIG. This embodiment is the same as the block diagram of the printer control unit in the transfer type ink jet recording apparatus in FIG. 4 except that the transfer member drive control unit 407 and the transfer member drive motor 408 are not provided.

  That is, reference numeral 501 denotes a CPU which controls the entire printer, 502 denotes a ROM for storing a control program of the CPU, and 503 denotes a RAM for executing the program. An ASIC 504 incorporates a network controller, a serial IF controller, a head data generation controller, a motor controller, and the like. Reference numeral 505 denotes a liquid removal member transport control unit for driving the liquid removal member transport motor 506, which is command-controlled by the ASIC 504 via a serial IF. Reference numeral 509 denotes a head control unit, which performs final discharge data generation, drive voltage generation, and the like of the inkjet device 305.

  Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in more detail using examples and comparative examples. The present invention is not limited at all by the following examples unless the gist is exceeded. In the following description of the examples, "part" is on a mass basis unless otherwise noted.

  In this example, recording was performed using the transfer type inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG.

The reaction liquid applied by the reaction liquid applying means 103 used the following composition.
Glutaric acid 21.0 parts Glycerin 5.0 parts Surfactant (product name: Megafac F 444, manufactured by DIC Corporation) 5.0 parts Ion-exchanged water balance balance The ink was prepared as follows.

<Preparation of pigment dispersion>
10 parts of carbon black (product name: Monac 1100, made by Cabot), resin aqueous solution (styrene-ethyl acrylate-acrylic acid copolymer, acid value 150, weight average molecular weight (Mw) 8,000, resin content 20 .15 parts of a 0 mass% aqueous solution neutralized with an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide) and 75 parts of pure water are mixed and charged in a batch-type vertical sand mill (manufactured by Imex), 200 parts of 0.3 mm diameter zirconia beads Dispersion treatment was carried out for 5 hours while being filled and cooled with water. The dispersion was centrifuged to remove coarse particles, to obtain a black pigment dispersion having a pigment content of 10.0% by mass.

<Preparation of Resin Particle Dispersion>
(Preparation of resin particle dispersion)
Twenty parts of ethyl methacrylate, 3 parts of 2,2'-azobis- (2-methylbutyronitrile), and 2 parts of n-hexadecane were mixed and stirred for 0.5 hours. This mixture is added dropwise to 75 parts of an 8% aqueous solution of styrene-butyl acrylate-acrylic acid copolymer (acid value: 130 mg KOH / g, weight average molecular weight (Mw): 7,000) and stirred for 0.5 hours did. Next, ultrasonic waves were irradiated for 3 hours with an ultrasonic irradiator. Subsequently, a polymerization reaction was performed at 80 ° C. for 4 hours in a nitrogen atmosphere, and after cooling at room temperature, filtration was performed to prepare a resin particle dispersion having a resin content of 25.0% by mass.

Preparation of Ink
The resin particle dispersion obtained as described above and the pigment dispersion were mixed with the following components. The balance of the ion exchange water is an amount such that the total of all the components constituting the ink is 100.0% by mass.
-Pigment dispersion (coloring material content is 10.0% by mass) 40.0% by mass
· Resin particle dispersion 20.0 mass%
-Glycerin 7.0% by mass
-Polyethylene glycol (number average molecular weight (Mn): 1,000) 3.0 mass%
-Surfactant: Acetylenol E100 (manufactured by Kawaken Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.) 0.5 mass%
-Ion-exchanged water remaining portion This was sufficiently stirred and dispersed, and then pressure filtration was performed using a micro filter (manufactured by Fujifilm Corporation) with a pore size of 3.0 μm to prepare a black ink.

The ink application unit 104 uses an electro-thermal conversion element and uses an inkjet head of a type that performs ink discharge in an on-demand method, and the ink application amount is 20 g / m ² .

The liquid absorbing member 105a is adjusted to have a speed equal to the moving speed of the transfer body 101 by the conveying rollers 105c, 105d, and 105e which convey the liquid absorbing member while stretching the liquid absorbing member. The recording medium 108 is conveyed by the recording medium delivery roller 107 a and the recording medium take-up roller 107 b so as to have a speed equal to the moving speed of the transfer member 101. In the present example, the conveyance speed was 0.5 m / s, and Aurora coat paper (manufactured by Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd .; basis weight 128 g / m ² ) was used as the recording medium 108.

  Next, the present invention will be described more specifically by showing examples.

(Example)
In the present embodiment, after the reaction liquid is applied by the reaction liquid application device 103 onto the transfer body 101, the surface of the reaction liquid is provided with irregularities by the reaction liquid convexity application device 1. In the present embodiment, a gravure offset roller was used as the reaction liquid application device 103. The cell capacity of the gravure roller was 150 lines.

The reaction liquid convexity imparting apparatus 1 imparted unevenness by rolling a gravure roller having a cell capacity of 800 lines on the coated reaction liquid layer. At this time, the nip pressure was 1 (kg / cm ² ). The graph of the result of digitizing the appearance of the surface asperity of the reaction liquid after the reaction liquid is convexed is shown in FIG. When periodicity analysis was performed on the graph of FIG. 6 and the correspondence relationship between the period and the periodicity intensity was examined, the periodicity intensity was extremely high at a position of 31 μm. Moreover, when the application amount of the reaction liquid after giving unevenness | corrugation with the reaction liquid convex deposition apparatus 1 is measured by a gravimetric method, it is 0.72 g / m < ² >, and the surface is rough with white interferometer Vertscan (made in a Ryohoshi system). When measured, Ra was 0.12 μm.

Next, the black ink was discharged by the ink application device 104, and a square image of 2 mm on a side was drawn. The ink application amount is 20 g / m ² as in the comparative example. Further, the ink dot diameter (maximum diameter) on the reaction liquid was 40 μm. The result of observing the end of the square image with a microscope after drawing is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the square shape is not broken, and the image quality is good.

The periodicity in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows a result of extracting a part of the concavo-convex shape data of the reaction solution of FIG. 6 and determining the PSD value (power spectral density (μm ³ )). In the present embodiment, there is a peak at a frequency of 0.032 μm ⁻¹ , and the PSD value is 1.32. The frequency of 0.032 μm ⁻¹ was 31.4 μm when converted to the length, and the period was shorter than the single dot diameter of 40 μm in this example.

(Comparative example)
The embodiment is the same as the embodiment except that the reaction liquid convexity applying device 1 is not used. Similar to the example, data of the concavo-convex shape was created, and the power spectral density was determined. The dashed line in FIG. 7 is the graph. There were no frequencies where the power spectral density exceeded 1.

Claims (11)

  A reaction liquid applying means for applying a reaction liquid onto a medium to be discharged, a convex portion forming means for forming a plurality of convex portions on the surface of the reaction liquid, and a solid content which is aggregated by reacting with the reaction liquid And ink applying means for applying ink onto the reaction liquid having the plurality of convex portions formed thereon, wherein the convex portion forming means does not expose the surface of the area to which the ink is applied of the medium to be discharged. As described above, the recording apparatus is characterized in that the plurality of convex portions are formed by changing the shape of the surface of the reaction liquid applied onto the medium to be discharged by the reaction liquid applying means.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of convex portions are uniformly disposed on a surface of the reaction liquid.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of convex portions have a regular arrangement.   The ink applying means is an ink jet head for discharging ink, and the maximum diameter of the convex portion in the direction along the surface of the medium to be discharged is the maximum diameter of ink dots formed on the medium to be discharged by the ink. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the recording apparatus is longer.   The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a distance between adjacent convex portions is longer than a maximum diameter of the ink dot.   The said convex part formation means includes a roller, The said convex part is formed by making the shape of the surface of the said roller follow the surface of the said reaction liquid. The recording device described in.   7. The discharge medium according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the medium to be discharged passes the position facing the convex portion forming means after passing the position facing the reaction liquid applying means. Recording device.   The heating apparatus includes a heating unit for heating the reaction liquid to dry the reaction liquid applied by the reaction liquid application unit, and the convex portion forming unit is configured to heat the convex portion to the reaction liquid dried by the heating by the heating unit. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the recording apparatus is formed. Providing means for providing a reaction liquid on a discharge receiving medium, and ink applying means for applying an ink containing a solid content which is coagulated by reacting with the reaction liquid, on the reaction liquid having the plurality of convex portions formed thereon And a recording device having
The provision means covers the surface of the discharge medium with the reaction liquid so that the surface of the region of the discharge medium to which the ink is applied is not exposed, and the surface of the reaction liquid on the side facing the ink application means. The reaction liquid is provided on the medium to be discharged such that the plurality of convex parts are provided, and the maximum diameter of each of the plurality of convex parts in the direction along the surface of the medium to be discharged is the A recording apparatus characterized in that it is longer than the maximum diameter of ink dots formed on a medium, and the distance between adjacent convex portions is longer than the maximum diameter of the ink dots.   10. The reaction liquid applying means applies the reaction liquid to the discharge receiving medium by applying the reaction liquid to the discharge receiving medium using a roller. The recording device described in. The image-receiving medium is a transfer body, and an image is recorded on the recording medium by transferring an ink image formed by discharging an ink onto the transfer body to the recording medium. 11. A recording apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 10.