JP3413117B2 - Image forming method and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming method and an image forming apparatus for forming an image with an element such as powder. Specifically, when a recorded image that needs to be stored for a long period of time is required, a recorded image with stable image retention can be obtained for a long period of time, and the image is temporarily retained on the recording medium as in the case of test printing. In the case of recording which is required to be performed only, the image forming method and apparatus can erase the image once recorded from the recording medium and enable reuse of the recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are various inkjet recording methods. For example, in the case of a continuous type in which ink droplets are continuously ejected into particles, a charge control type, a divergence control type, etc., and in the case of an on-demand type that ejects ink drops as necessary, a piezoelectric vibrating element The pressure control method in which ink droplets are ejected from the orifice by the mechanical vibration, the heat control method using a heating resistance element, and the like.

These ink jet recording methods are extremely excellent recording methods with little noise generation and capable of high speed printing and multicolor printing.

There is also a method of forming an image with powder by applying the above-mentioned ink jet recording method.

As one of the methods, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-216
As in the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 351, No. 351, an image is formed by ejecting a liquid having an adhesive property onto a medium by an inkjet method and attaching a powder colorant to the adhesive solution that has landed on the medium. There is a way to do it.

Another method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-216.
As in the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 453, a colorless resin-soluble liquid is ejected onto a medium by an inkjet method to form a pattern portion on the medium, and then the pattern portion is dissolved in the liquid. There is a method of forming an image by attaching a toner containing the obtained resin as a main component.

[0007]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional ink jet recording method, since recording is performed by the ink permeating the recording medium, the image on the recording medium once recorded cannot be erased. It was impossible or difficult. Therefore, it is impossible or difficult to reuse the recording medium.

Further, in the inventions disclosed in JP-A-9-216351 and JP-A-9-216453, the degree of adhesion cannot be adjusted, so that the powder adheres and the image is stable for a long period of time. It is not possible to record on the same medium the recording image portion having a holding property and the image portion where the image once recorded can be erased from the recording medium by adhering the powder with a detachable force. . In addition, it is impossible or difficult to reuse the recording medium.

In the present invention, in order to solve the above problems, when a recorded image to be stored for a long period of time is required, a recorded image having a stable image holding property for a long period of time can be obtained, and it is possible to perform a test print. In the case of recording that requires only temporarily holding an image on the recording medium, the recorded image can be erased from the recording medium and the recording medium can be reused. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming method that brings about a state where

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming method capable of forming a recorded image portion which is stored for a long period of time and an image portion which is temporarily held at desired positions on the same medium.

Further, like the so-called trial copy and trial print, the recorded image can be temporarily held on the recording medium, and thereafter, the recorded image can be erased by any means.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming method capable of promoting effective use of resources by enabling reuse of the recording medium.

[0012]

According to the present invention, which achieves the above-mentioned object, respective liquids exhibiting an adhesive force by mixing two or more kinds of liquids are respectively applied to places on a medium where an image is to be formed. An image forming method of forming an image on the medium by attaching an element body for forming an image to a location where the adhesiveness on the medium is developed, wherein a mixing ratio of each liquid on the medium The degree of the adhesive force is adjusted by changing, and the first image portion in which the element body is fixed on the medium with a predetermined adhesive force, and the element body is separated with an adhesive force weaker than the predetermined adhesive force. And a second image portion which is adhered as much as possible.

Further, according to the present invention, the applying means for applying each of the liquids, each of which has an adhesive force by mixing two or more kinds of liquids, to a portion of the medium where an image is to be formed, and the adhesive on the medium. An image forming apparatus having an adhesion means for adhering an element body for forming an image to a location where the property is expressed, and changing the mixing ratio of each liquid on the medium to increase the degree of the adhesive force. A first image portion having adjustment means for adjusting the element body fixed to the medium with a predetermined adhesive force; and a first image portion detachably attached with an adhesive force weaker than the predetermined adhesive force. It is characterized in that two image portions are formed.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below.

<Embodiment> First, as a first step, a process of forming a pattern portion (adhesive portion) is performed. The respective liquids that exhibit adhesive force by mixing the two types of liquids (the first liquid and the second liquid) are ejected onto the medium from the ejection heads of the liquid ejection method, and are mixed on the medium. At this time, since the predetermined adhesive force does not occur on the nozzle side, the nozzle is not clogged.

Here, in the first stage, the degree of the adhesive force is adjusted by changing the mixing ratio of the first liquid and the second liquid. In the case of adjusting to a predetermined adhesive force, when an element body for forming an image is attached to the adhesive portion, the element body is fixed on the medium, and a recorded image having stable image holding property for a long period of time can be obtained. On the other hand, when the adhesive force is adjusted to be weaker than the predetermined adhesive force, when the element body is attached to the adhesive portion, the element body can be detached, and the image once recorded can be erased from the medium.

As the liquid ejection method which can be used in the present invention, various conventionally known methods and apparatuses can be applied. For example, in the case of a continuous type in which droplets are continuously ejected into particles, it is applicable to a charge control type, a divergence control type, and the like. Further, in the on-demand type, it is applicable to a pressure control method in which droplets are ejected from the orifice by mechanical vibration of the piezoelectric vibrating element, a thermal control method using a heating resistance element, etc. It is not limited. Further, in the present embodiment example, the liquid is ejected from the ejection head of the liquid ejection device to form the pattern portion, but if the liquid can be applied to a desired position, it can be used as the liquid application means. it can.

Further, the adhesive force generating liquid that can be used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the liquid exhibits a predetermined adhesive force when two or more kinds of liquids are mixed. For example, as the first liquid, ethyl alcohol, acetone, toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl acetate,
A solvent such as n-hexane or a mixed solvent of these solvents, for example, polyolefin resin, styrene resin, U
A monomer solution such as a V-curing resin, a thermosetting resin, or an EB-curing resin is diluted and adjusted to have a viscosity of about 100 cP or less that can be discharged by a liquid discharging method, and the other liquid (second liquid) is used. Alternatively, a polymerization initiator diluted with a solvent can be used. Alternatively, a liquid obtained by appropriately diluting an anionic substance may be used as the first liquid, and a liquid obtained by appropriately diluting a cationic substance may be used as the second liquid.

Next, as a second step, a step of forming an image by the element body is performed. An image portion is formed by sprinkling and adhering the element body to the adhesive portion. Further, a fixing method or a fixing device used in a conventionally used copying machine or printer to increase the fixing property can be used. Examples of elements that can be used here include, but are not limited to, inorganic pigments, organic pigments, resin powders, metal powders, metal foils, ceramic powders, and glass beads.

The recording medium that can be used in the present invention is
Although not particularly limited, examples thereof include paper, a plastic film, an insulating-treated metal plate, and wood.

As described above, the first image portion to be stored for a long time and the second image portion to be temporarily stored can be formed at desired positions on the same medium. In addition, a plurality of types of element bodies may be used as the element bodies that form the respective image portions.

Next, processing of image data when forming an image by the above-mentioned image forming method will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.
Will be explained.

As an example, when forming an image as shown in FIG. 1B and FIG. 3B, the ruled line portion is stored for a long time.
A case where the first image portion is used and the second image portion that temporarily holds the printed portion is described.

First, the user creates image data of only ruled lines, designates that this is the first image portion for long-term storage, and saves it as image data. Next, create only the image data of the printed part, specify that this is the second image part that is temporarily stored, and save it as image data.
(Fig. 1 (a)).

By combining these two stored image data at the time of printing, it is possible to obtain a printed matter intended by the user. The image obtained here is an image as shown in FIG. In the image of FIG. 1B, the ruled line portion is the first image portion that is stored for a long time, and the printed portion is the second image portion that is temporarily held. When forming the first image portion, the mixed liquid is adjusted to a predetermined adhesive force, and when forming the second image portion, the image once recorded can be erased from the medium. So the adhesion is adjusted.

The method of combining the above two image data is as follows:
A method of holding data once on the printing device, combining and printing on the printing device, and first printing only the ruled line which is the first image part to be stored for a long time on the medium and then the ruled line There is a method of completing the printing by passing the printed medium only through the printing device again, and then printing the printing portion which is the second image portion temporarily held, but is not limited to these methods. Not a thing.

As described above, the first image portion for long-term storage and the second image portion for temporary storage are formed on the same medium. Since the printed portion formed by the above method is erasable, only the ruled lines remain by erasing the printed portion, and the medium can be reused. (Fig. 1 (c)).

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first image portion to be stored for a long period of time and the second image portion to be temporarily stored may be designated by different colors.

First, in step S201 of FIG.
The image data of the ruled line part and the image data of the printed part are created. At this time, the colors of the ruled line portion and the printed portion are changed. For example, the ruled line portion is red and the printed portion is black. Then, an image as shown in FIG. The printer driver shown below specifies the first image part to be stored for a long time when the created image data is red, and the second image part which is temporarily stored when the created image data is black. It is set.

Next, in step S202, only the data of the red ruled line portion in the image of FIG. 3 (a) formed in step S201 is extracted by the printer driver and transmitted to the printing device as the data of the image portion to be stored for a long time. It

Next, in step S203, only the data of the black print portion in the image of FIG. 3 (a) formed in step S201 is extracted by the printer driver and is temporarily stored in the printing device as the data of the image portion. Sent.

Then, by printing based on the transmitted image data, an image as shown in FIG. 3B is obtained. Further, since the printed portion is erasable, only the ruled line remains by erasing the printed portion, and the medium can be reused. (Fig. 3 (c)).

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an example of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes an on-demand type liquid ejection type ejection head that ejects a second liquid, 2
Is a liquid tank for supplying the second liquid to the ejection head 1, 30
Is a discharge head of an on-demand type liquid discharge system that discharges the first liquid, 31 is a liquid tank that supplies the first liquid to the discharge head 30, and 3 is an element body diffusion that diffuses the element body and discharges it from a hole below A chamber 4 is an element body tank for supplying an element body to the element body diffusion chamber 3, and a blower pipe 5 is a blower pipe which creates an air flow for diffusing the element body in the element body diffusion chamber 3.
Is an electrostatic drum that is applied with a high potential and holds static electricity,
7 is a blade for scraping the element body from the surface of the electrostatic drum 6, 8 is a collecting duct for collecting the element body scraped by the blade 7, and 9 is a collecting duct 8 for collecting the element body from the element body tank 4
The element body transfer pump 10 that recirculates to the substrate, 10 is an element body that forms an image, 11 is a recording medium, 12 is a pattern portion formed on the recording medium 11 by ejected liquid, and 13 is an element body on the pattern portion 12. 10 is an element image portion showing a state in which the recording medium 11 is adhered, 14 is an excessive element body scattered on a non-patterned portion on the recording medium 11, 20 is a conveyor belt for conveying the recording medium 11, 21 is a driven roller, and 22 is a driven roller. It is a driving roller.

Using the apparatus shown in FIG. 4, the first image portion to be stored for a long period of time and the second image portion to be temporarily stored by the method described above.
The image portion and the image portion can be respectively formed at desired positions on the same medium.

Hereinafter, FIG. 4 will be described.

First, as a first step, a step of mixing the first liquid and the second liquid to develop adhesiveness is performed. In this apparatus, the recording medium 11 moves in the direction of arrow B in the figure by the action of the drive roller 22.

When the recording medium 11 moves to a position facing the ejection head 30, the first liquid is ejected from the ejection head 30 at a timing synchronized with the movement of the conveyor belt 20, and the first liquid is ejected onto the recording medium. The pattern portion 12 made of liquid is formed. Here, the ejection port of the ejection head 30 is a so-called line type head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged in a line in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the recording medium, and ejects liquid simultaneously in the width direction of the recording medium 11. Is possible. When the recording of one row is completed, the transport belt 20 moves by the distance for one row, and thus the recording of the next row becomes possible. In this way, the recording is sequentially performed, and the first liquid is selectively ejected onto one surface of the recording medium 11 to form the pattern portion 12. Next, the second liquid is ejected from the ejection head 1. At this time, the first liquid and the second liquid are mixed by ejecting the second liquid to the same position where the first liquid is ejected.

When the formation of the pattern portion is completed, the step of forming the image portion by attaching the element body to the pattern portion is performed.
While the required amount of the element body 10 is sequentially sent from the element body tank 4 to the element body diffusion chamber 3 through the pipe, the gas is sent from the arrow A in FIG.
0 and gas form a two-layer flow and are jetted into the element body diffusion chamber 3. The element body 10 ejected into the element body diffusion chamber 3 diffuses uniformly in the element body diffusion chamber 3 and is gradually discharged to the outside from the hole below due to gravity and gas pressure. Since the conveyor belt 20 moves in synchronization with the timing at which the element body 10 is discharged, the element body 10 is sown on the conveyor belt 20 almost uniformly. Here, the element body 10 attached to the pattern portion 12 formed of the liquid is
It becomes the image portion 13. On the other hand, the surplus element body 14 sown on the non-pattern portion is merely retained on the recording medium 11 by gravity.

After the process of forming the image portion is completed, the process of removing the excess element body is performed. The recording medium 11 on which the image portion 13 is formed moves to a position facing the electrostatic drum 6 as the transport belt 20 moves. The electrostatic drum 6 is a drum-shaped structure which is applied with a high electric charge and whose circumferential surface is charged, and rotates in the direction of arrow C in FIG. Also,
The rotation speed is a speed synchronized with the conveyor belt 20. The electrostatic drum 6 is kept at a predetermined distance from the recording medium 11, and when the surplus element body 14 approaches the electrostatic drum 6, the surplus element body 14 is moved by the electrostatic force of the electrostatic drum 6. Adsorbed on the surface of. Here, the image section 13
Since the element body is fixed on the recording medium 11, it is not attracted by this electrostatic force. As described above, the surplus element bodies 14 are all attracted to the electrostatic drum 6, only the image portion 13 remains on the recording medium 11, and the image portion 13 is formed by the element bodies.

In this embodiment, the electrostatic force is used as the method for removing the excess element body, but the method is not limited to this, and it is possible to remove the excess element body by sucking the element body with a suction device. I wish I had it. Further, when the method of removing the element body by using the electrostatic force is used as in this embodiment, the element body needs to be charged, and therefore a unit for charging the element body is provided. Furthermore, the image section 1
A charge eliminating unit for removing the charge of the element body 3 which is still charged may be provided.

Although the excess element body is removed as described above, the recovered element body is reused. Therefore,
Next, the element body collecting process will be described. Electrostatic drum 6
The element body 10 adsorbed by is sequentially scraped by the blade 7 as the electrostatic drum 6 rotates, and is recovered in the recovery duct 8. The blade 7 is made of a flexible material and is fixedly installed in the recovery duct 8. Further, the recovery duct 8 is also installed at a predetermined distance from the electrostatic drum 6. The collected element body is returned to the element body tank 4 in the direction of arrow D shown in FIG. 1 through the pipe by the element body transfer pump 9. Although not shown, a filter for removing impurities mixed during the recovery process may be provided in the pipe connecting the recovery duct 8 and the element body tank 4. With this, the excessively sown element bodies can be collected, and the element bodies can be efficiently reused.

Example 1 First liquid, calcium chloride 5
% Aqueous solution was ejected from the ejection head of the liquid ejection system to a position on the medium where an image was to be formed (at this point, no tackiness was exhibited). Subsequently, the second liquid and a 10% aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol were ejected at the same position from an ejection head of a liquid ejection method. As a result, the first liquid and the second liquid are mixed on the medium, and a predetermined adhesiveness is developed.

After that, the toner was spread on the medium, so that the toner adhered to the adhesive portion and an image could be formed on the medium.

At that time, the mixing ratios of the first liquid and the second liquid were changed as shown in the following to change the tackiness of the mixed liquid. First liquid: second liquid = 1: 1, first liquid: second liquid = 2: 1, first liquid: second liquid = 10: 1. Then, the degree of fixing was >>. Under the condition (1), the toner adheres to the medium, and under the condition (2), the toner can be removed from the medium.

As a result, a standard paper or the like can be created by partially changing the fixing degree on the same medium. In other words, when forming the layout ruled line, when adjusting the adhesiveness of the mixed liquid to a predetermined adhesive force that allows the toner to adhere to the medium and making it the image part for long-term storage, and forming the part to be printed Is an image portion for temporarily holding by adjusting the adhesiveness of the mixed liquid to an adhesive force that allows the toner to be released, and when the printed portion is no longer needed, the printed portion is used as the recording medium. By deleting from the top, you can reuse the standard paper.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, the recorded image obtained on the medium is erased by adjusting the adhesive force of the mixed liquid so that the element body can be separated. Therefore, if recording is performed using the method of the present invention in the case of a test print or the like, it is possible to reuse the recording medium after the temporarily held recorded image is erased, It is possible to significantly reduce wasteful waste paper, and contribute to environmental problems such as waste disposal problems and resource depletion. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to form the above-described erasable and reusable recording medium when the recording image only needs to be held temporarily. On the other hand, when it is desired to store the recorded image for a long period of time, the adhesive force of the mixed liquid may be adjusted so that the element body forming the image is fixed on the medium. In this way, it is possible to easily obtain an image portion that is stored for a long period of time and an image portion that is temporarily held.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Discharge head 2 Liquid tank for the second liquid 3-element body diffusion chamber 4-element body tank 5 Blower pipe 6 electrostatic drum 7 blade 8 collection duct 9 element transfer pump 10 element body 11 Recording medium 12 patterns 13 Element image part 14 surplus element body 20 conveyor belt 21 Driven roller 22 Drive roller 30 ejection head 31 Liquid tank for the first liquid

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Koji Fukunaga 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Tetsuyo Ohashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Kiya Non-Incorporated (72) Inventor Keiichiro Tsukuda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Yoichi Omata 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (56) Reference JP-A-2-136242 (JP, A) JP-A-2-143894 (JP, A) JP-A-6-228478 (JP, A) JP-A-7-47756 (JP, A) JP-A-9-137107 (JP, A) JP-A-9-216351 (JP, A) JP-A-10-95158 (JP, A) JP-A-10-95165 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41M 5/00 B41J 2/01

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A liquid, which exhibits adhesive strength by mixing two or more kinds of liquids, is applied to each of the areas on the medium where an image is to be formed, and the adhesive on the medium exhibits the adhesiveness. An image forming method for forming an image on the medium by attaching an element body for forming an image, wherein the degree of the adhesive force is adjusted by changing a mixing ratio of the liquids on the medium, A first image portion in which the element body is fixed on the medium with a predetermined adhesive force and a second image portion in which the element body is detachably attached with an adhesive force weaker than the predetermined adhesive force are formed. An image forming method comprising: 2. The element body is at least one selected from the group consisting of inorganic pigments, organic pigments, resin powders, metal powders, metal foils, ceramic powders and glass beads. The image forming method described. 3. Adhesion means for applying each liquid exhibiting an adhesive force by mixing two or more kinds of liquids to a position on the medium where an image is to be formed, and an adhesive property on the medium. An image forming apparatus having an attachment means for attaching an element body for forming an image to a position, and adjusting means for adjusting the degree of the adhesive force by changing a mixing ratio of each liquid on a medium. A first image portion having the element body fixed on the medium with a predetermined adhesive force, and a second image portion having the element body detachably attached with an adhesive force weaker than the predetermined adhesive force. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises: 4. The adjusting means for adjusting the degree of the adhesive force by changing the mixing ratio of each liquid on the medium divides the image data into predetermined units, and the degree of the adhesive force is divided for each divided portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: 5. The applying unit includes a discharge port for discharging a liquid, and a thermal energy generating unit for generating a bubble due to heat in the liquid and discharging the liquid from the discharge port based on the generation of the bubble. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.