JP3658196B2 - Recording method - Google Patents

Description

【００６１】
上記の表１は、「上乗せ系インク」、「半浸透性インク」、「高浸透性インク」のそれぞれについて、Ｋａ値、アセチレノール含有量（％），表面張力（ｄｙｎｅ／ｃｍ）を示している。記録媒体である記録紙に対する各インクの浸透性は、Ｋａ値が大きいものほど高くなる。つまり、表面張力が小さいものほど高くなる。
【００６２】
表１におけるＫａ値は、前述の如くブリストウ法による液体の動的浸透性試験装置Ｓ（東洋精機製作所製）を用いて測定したものである。実験には、前述のキヤノン株式会社のＰＢ用紙を記録紙として用いた。また、前述のキヤノン株式会社のＰＰＣ用紙に対しても、同様の結果を得ることができた。
【００６３】
ここで、「半浸透性インク」として規定される系のインクはアセチレノール含有割合が０．２〜０．７％である。
【００６４】
ここで、界面活性剤をある液体に含有させる場合の条件として、その液体における界面活性剤の臨界ミセル濃度（ＣＭＣ）があることが知られている。この臨界ミセル濃度とは、界面活性剤の溶液の濃度が上昇してゆき急激に数十分子が会合してミセルを形成するようになるときの濃度である。上述したインクに浸透性調製のため含有されるアセチレノールは界面活性剤の一種であり、このアセチレノールにおいても同様に液体に応じて臨界ミセル濃度が存在する。
【００６５】
図１９は水に対するアセチレノールの含有割合を調整した場合の表面張力との関係を示す特性図である。ミセルを形成するようになると表面張力が低下しなくなるので、同図から、水に対するアセチレノールの臨界ミセル濃度（ＣＭＣ）は約０．７％であることがわかる。
【００６６】
同図が示す臨界ミセル濃度と前述の表１を対応させると、表１に規定され、本願発明の後述の実施の形態で使用される「半浸透性インク」は、水におけるアセチレノールの臨界ミセル濃度（ＣＭＣ）よりも少ない割合でアセチレノールを含有するインクであることがわかる。
【００６７】
さて、本出願人らは、インクによる記録後に処理液を吐出する構成で検討した。特に、Ｂｋインクの後に処理液を吐出，印字し、その後、シアン（Ｃ），マゼンタ（Ｍ），イエロー（Ｙ）のカラーインク３色を印字する構成で検討した。
【００６８】
ところで、Ｂｋのインクは文字、線画を中心に用いられることから、記録紙に対する浸透性が低いものをＢｋインクとして用いることが有効であることが知られている。このような構成で、単純にＢｋインクによる記録後に処理液を吐出する検討を行なったが、記録紙の表面で黒の色材の不溶化が生じ、結果的に不溶化された色材が記録紙の表面に残留し、耐擦過性や耐上書性が好ましくなかった。
【００６９】
吐出時間差と耐擦過性の関係は、吐出時間差を長くするほど、耐擦過性が良好となることがわかる。特に、黒インクを上乗せ系とし、処理液を浸透系としたとき、Ｂｋインクを吐出してから処理液を吐出するまでの吐出時間差を約１秒以上とした場合には、フェザリングの発生も極めて少なくなる。
【００７０】
Ｂｋインクを上乗せ系とした場合に、吐出されたＢｋインクが記録紙中に浸透していない状態で浸透系の処理液を吐出すると、通常はＢｋインクと処理液が混合されることで反応液ができ、この反応液の浸透性がＢｋインクの浸透性よりも高くなるため、フェザリングが発生しやすくなる。しかしながら、上記のようにＢｋインクを吐出してから処理液を吐出するまでの吐出時間差を約１秒以上と長くすると、Ｂｋインクが記録紙中にほぼ浸透を完了した状態で処理液が吐出されるので反応液ができにくい。このため、上乗せ系のＢｋインクのフェザリングが無い状態で処理液によって色材が不溶化され、フェザリングの発生を抑えることができ、かつ、耐擦過性についても良好な結果が得られることになる。
【００７１】
ところで、吐出されたＢｋインクに対してヒータの作用により温度上昇させて、Ｂｋインクの記録紙中への浸透が完了するまでの時間を短縮することができる。これにより、Ｂｋインクを吐出してから処理液を吐出するまでの吐出時間差を、短く設定することができる。
【００７２】
ここでＢｋインクの組成としては、ヒータの作用による温度上昇によって浸透性が高くなるように、例えばジエチレングリコール（ＤＥＧ）を５％から２０％程度含有させることが好ましい。
【００７３】
また、浸透性を高めたＢｋインクを用いた場合、Ｂｋインクを吐出してから処理液を吐出するまでの吐出時間差を短くした方が画像品位の良好性を高めることができる。これは、記録紙中に浸透するＢｋインクのフェザリングが発生する前に処理液を吐出して反応させることでフェザリングの発生を抑えることができ、Ｂｋインクが記録紙中の深い範囲に浸透する前に処理液と反応させることによりＢｋインクが記録紙中の浅い範囲に浸透した状態でＢｋインクを不溶化させることでＯＤ値を高くすることができるからである。
【００７４】
しかしながら、この場合、画像品位に関係するフェザリングやＯＤ値と、耐擦過性との関係はトレードオフの関係となってしまう。よって、画像品位と耐擦過性の双方が満足され得る適当な範囲に限定される。
【００７５】
そこで、吐出されたＢｋインクに対してヒータによる熱を作用させることにより、Ｂｋインクが記録紙中の深い範囲まで浸透するのを抑えることができるとともに、フェザリングの発生を抑えることができるため、前記の適当は時間範囲を拡げることができ、前述の各種特性について良好な結果を得ることができる。
【００７６】
各実施の形態の説明
以下、図面を参照しながら本発明の各実施の形態について詳細に説明する。
【００７７】
（第１実施の形態）
図１は第１実施の形態に係るフルラインタイプの記録装置の概略構成を示す側面図である。この記録装置１は、記録紙の搬送方向（矢印Ａ方向）に沿って所定位置に配置された複数のフルラインタイプのインクジェット記録ヘッドよりインクを吐出して記録を行うインクジェット記録方式を採用するものであり、後述する図２の制御回路に制御されて動作する。
【００７８】
記録ヘッド群１０１ｇの各記録ヘッド１０１Ｂｋ，１０１Ｓ，１０１Ｃ，１０１Ｍ，１０１Ｙは、Ａ方向および図中縦方向の双方に垂直な記録紙の幅方向の所定領域、好ましくはその幅方向の全領域に対して記録可能に構成される。各記録ヘッドは、当該幅方向と略同一方向にノズルを配列されている。
【００７９】
記録紙１０３は、搬送用モータにより駆動される一対のレジストローラ１１４の回転によってＡ方向に搬送され、一対のガイド板１１５により案内されて先端レジ合わせされて搬送ベルト１１１上に搬送される。エンドレスベルトである搬送ベルト１１１は２個のローラ１１２，１１３により保持されており、その上側の垂直方向の位置をプラテン１０４により規制されている。両ローラ１１２，１１３の少なくとも一方が回転駆動されることで、記録紙１０３が搬送される。このローラは不図示のモータ等の駆動源によって回転駆動され、記録紙１０３を矢印Ａ方向に搬送する方向に回転駆動される。搬送ベルト１１１上を搬送されて記録ヘッド群１０１ｇによって記録が行われた記録紙１０３は、ストッカ１１６上へ排出される。
【００８０】
記録ヘッド群１０１ｇの各記録ヘッドは、黒インク用記録ヘッド１０１Ｂｋ，処理液を吐出する処理液用ヘッド１０１Ｓ，カラーインク用各記録ヘッド（シアンヘッド１０１Ｃ，マゼンタヘッド１０１Ｍ，イエローヘッド１０１Ｙ）が、記録紙１０３の搬送方向Ａに沿って図示の通りに配置されている。そして、各記録ヘッドにより各色のインクと処理液を吐出することで多色のカラー記録が可能に構成される。
【００８１】
ここで使用する処理液の組成は以下に示す通りである。
【００８２】
［処理液］
グリセリン ７部
ジエチレングリコール ５部
アセチレノール ＥＨ α２
（川研ケミカル製）
ポリアリルアミン ４部
塩化ベンザルコニウム ０．５部
トリエチレングリコールモノブチルエーテル ３部
水 残部
上記組成において、アセチレノールの含有割合は各実施の形態毎に調製して実施した。
【００８３】
本実施の形態においては、処理液用ヘッド１０１Ｓとカラーインク用ヘッドとの間にヒータ１０２を設け、記録動作中は常時発熱するように通電制御している。本実施の形態のヒータ１０２はハロゲンランプヒータであり、記録紙１０３に吐出した黒インクをその記録面側から加熱する。本実施の形態では、処理液用ヘッド１０１Ｓとカラーインク用ヘッドとの間に設けるヒータ１０２の数を一個としているが、ヒータ一個の発熱量によって複数のヒータを配置して所望の発熱量を得る構成であってもよい。ここでヒータの目的は定着性向上にある。
【００８４】
黒インク用ヘッド１０１Ｂｋと処理液用ヘッド１０１Ｓとは、所定間隔Ｄｉ離れて配置されており、この所定間隔と記録紙１０３の搬送速度に応じて黒インクを吐出してから処理液を吐出するまでの吐出時間差が決まる。つまり、黒インクを吐出してドットを形成した後にこのドットに処理液を重ねて吐出するまでの吐出時間差を約１秒に設定して所望の特性の画像を形成するには、黒インク用ヘッド１０１Ｂｋと処理液用ヘッド１０１Ｓとの間隔Ｄｉが上記のように装置設計上決められている場合は、記録紙１０３の搬送速度を制御し、吐出時間差が所望の値となるように調整すればよい。また、搬送速度が決定している場合はその搬送速度に応じて黒インク用ヘッド１０１Ｂｋと処理液用ヘッド１０１Ｓとの間隔を決定して、各記録ヘッドの配置を設計すればよい。
【００８５】
図２はフルラインタイプの記録装置１の制御回路のブロック図である。
【００８６】
システムコントローラ２０１の内部には、マイクロプロセッサをはじめ、装置の制御プログラムや本発明の記録方法のプログラムが記憶されている記憶媒体（ＲＯＭ），マイクロプロセッサが処理を行う際に使用する記憶媒体（ＲＡＭ）等が配置されている。システムコントローラ２０１は、装置全体を制御する。モータ２０４はドライバ２０２からの速度、移動距離などの情報を受け取り動作し、図１の矢印Ａ方向に記録紙等のシート状記録媒体を搬送させる。
【００８７】
ホストコンピュータ２０６は、本実施の形態の記録装置１に対して記録すべき情報を転送するための装置である。受信バッファ２０７は、ホストコンピュータ２０６からのデータを一時的に格納し、システムコントローラ２０１からのデータが読み込まれるまでデータを蓄積しておく。フレームメモリ２０８は、印字すべきデータをイメージデータに展開するためのメモリであり、印字に必要な分のメモリサイズを有している。本実施の形態では、フレームメモリ２０８は記録紙１枚分を記憶可能なものとして説明するが、本発明ではフレームメモリの容量は限定されるものでない。
【００８８】
バッファ２０９Ｓ，２０９Ｐは、印字すべきデータを一時的に記憶し、記録ヘッドのノズル数により記憶容量は変化する。印字制御部２１０は、記録ヘッドをシステムコントローラ２０１からの指令により適切に制御するためのもので、印字速度、印字データ数等を制御するととも、さらには処理液を吐出させるためのデータも作成する。ドライバ２１１は、処理液を吐出させるための記録ヘッド部２１２Ｓと画像記録用のインクを吐出させるための記録ヘッド部２１２Ｐを駆動するためのものであり、印字制御部２１０からの信号により制御される。
【００８９】
まず、ホストコンピュータ２０６から画像データが受信バッファ２０７に転送されて一時的に格納される。次に、格納されている画像データはシステムコントローラ２０１によって読み出されてバッファ２０９Ｓ，２０９Ｐに展開される。システムコントローラ２０１は、ヒータ１０２への通電を制御する。また、紙詰まり、インク切れ、用紙切れ等を異常センサ２２２からの各種検知信号により検知することができる。
【００９０】
印字制御部２１０は、バッファ２０９Ｓ，２０９Ｐに展開された画像データを基にして処理液を吐出させるための処理液用データの作成を行う。そして、各バッファ２０９Ｓ，２０９Ｐ内の画像データおよび処理液用データに基づいて記録ヘッドの吐出動作を制御する。
【００９１】
本実施の形態における記録プロセスと、記録紙１０３の記録紙面上および記録紙面内部のインクおよびドットの状態を、図３および図４を参照して説明する。
【００９２】
尚、本実施の形態では、黒インクとして、表１の上乗せ系の特性を有するインクを使用した。また、処理液はある程度浸透性を高めたものとし、アセチレノール含有割合は約０．４〜１．０％とした。
【００９３】
まず、黒インク用ヘッド１０１Ｂｋにより黒インク滴３０が吐出される（図３（ａ））。
【００９４】
黒インク滴３０ａは記録紙面上に付着し、次の処理液用ヘッド１０１Ｓによる処理液滴が吐出されるまでの間に、記録紙内部の破線で示した範囲まで白抜き矢印のように浸透する（図３（ｂ））。
【００９５】
本実施の形態では、黒インクを吐出してから処理液が吐出されるまでの吐出時間差が約１秒となるように前述の通り構成した。この間に、黒インク用ヘッド１０１Ｂｋから吐出された黒インク滴３０ａの大部分が記録紙１０３中へ浸透する。
【００９６】
次に、記録紙１０３が搬送されて黒インク吐出から約１秒経過すると、ある程度浸透性を高めた処理液（記録性向上液）滴３５を、黒インク用ヘッド１０１Ｂｋによりインクを吐出して形成されたドット３０ｂ上に重ねて吐出する（図３（ｃ））。この時点は、急速膨潤開始点ｔｓを超えた状態を示している。この処理液滴３５により、黒インク中の染料と処理液が反応し、染料が記録紙１０３内部で不溶化することになる。
【００９７】
その後、黒インクによるドット３０ｂと、そのドット３０ｂに重ねて吐出された処理液滴３５ａがヒータ１０２により加熱される（図３（ｄ））ことにより、黒インクおよび処理液中に含まれる溶剤の水分の蒸発が促進され、反応速度及び定義性が向上する（図３（ｅ））。尚、ここで処理液のアセチレノール含有量を０．７％以上にすれば特にヒータによる加熱は必要ないが、加熱によって、反応液皮膜の強度が向上する。また、処理液のアセチレノール含有量が０．７％以下でも熱によって実質的に超浸透と同様な効果がある。
【００９８】
以上のように、黒インク滴３０を吐出し、黒インクが記録紙内部に浸透するように上記ｔｓ以上のある程度の時間差（ここでは、約１秒）をおいてから処理液滴３５を重ねて吐出する記録プロセスにより、記録紙内部でインクを不溶化させることができる。
【００９９】
このように本実施の形態によれば、記録紙１０３内部に浸透した状態でインクを不溶化させることにより、耐水性の向上はもとより、耐擦過性、耐上書き性においても向上させることができる。
【０１００】
また、図４は、図３（ｄ）で示した工程の後に、黒インク滴３０によるドット３０ｂに隣接してカラーインク滴４０が吐出されるときの記録紙１０３の記録紙面上および記録紙面内部のインクおよびドットの状態を示す図である。
【０１０１】
図４（ａ）は、記録紙１０３上の先に吐出した黒インク滴３０によるドット３０ｂの近傍にカラーインク滴４０を吐出する状態を示す。
【０１０２】
図４（ｂ）は、先に吐出した黒インク滴３０によるドット３０ｂに隣接する位置にカラーインク滴４０が吐出されて記録紙１０３の表面にカラーインク滴４０ａが付着した状態を示す。
【０１０３】
図４（ｃ）は、黒インク滴３０によるドット３０ｂに隣接する位置にカラーインクが浸透してカラーのドット４０ｂを形成した状態を示す。
【０１０４】
ここで、カラーインク用ヘッド（１０１Ｃ，１０１Ｍ，１０１Ｙ）により吐出されるインクは、前述の高浸透性インクであり、記録紙１０３への浸透速度が高く、隣接する位置に他の色のインクが吐出されてもにじみが生じにくい特性を持つ。先に吐出される黒インク滴３０は、このカラーインクに比べて浸透性が低い上乗せ系である。このため、他のカラーインク滴が隣接する位置に吐出されるとにじみが発生しやすい特性を持つが、前述のように黒インク滴３０によるドット３０ｂに対して処理液滴３５ｂを重ね打ちして必要に応じてヒータ１０２による加熱を行ったため、記録紙１０３内部で不溶化している。
【０１０５】
従って、図４（ｂ）に示したように、黒インク滴３０によるドット３０ｂに隣接する位置にカラーインク滴４０ａが吐出されたとしても、カラーインクとのにじみが生じないため、図４（ｃ）に示すように黒インク滴３０によるドット３０ｂとカラーインク滴４０ａによるドット４０ｂが隣接した状態においても、異色のドット３０ｂと４０ｂがにじむことなく、異色間の境界部分をシャープな画像として記録することができる。
【０１０６】
また、カラーに対して処理液を前もって吐出しておくことにより、カラーに対して耐水性を付与することが可能となる。
【０１０７】
（第１実施の形態の変形例）
図１に示した構成の黒インク用ヘッド１０１Ｂｋと処理液用ヘッド１０１Ｓとの間に発熱量の少ないヒータをさらに追加して設け、黒インク用ヘッド１０１Ｂｋから吐出されるインクの記録紙１０３に対する浸透を促進させるようにしてもよい。
【０１０８】
また、前述の上乗せ系よりも浸透性が若干高くなるようにアセチルノール含有割合を０．３％に調製した黒インクを用いることにより、記録紙１０３への黒インクの浸透を促進させるようにしてもよい。
【０１０９】
このように、吐出された黒インクを加熱する工程を実行するか、黒インク自体の組成を比較的浸透の速いものとして記録プロセスを実行すると実効的な前記ｔｓを短かくできるため、吐出時間差を１秒以内に短縮しても良好な画像を形成することができるので、黒インク用ヘッド１０１Ｂｋと処理液用ヘッド１０１Ｓとの間隔を狭くすることができ、装置の小型化にも有利である。また、黒インク用ヘッド１０１Ｂｋと処理液用ヘッド１０１Ｓとの間隔が設計上決められている装置においては、記録紙１０３の搬送速度を高速化することができる。その際の搬送速度は、記録ヘッドが正常にインクを吐出することができる記録速度も考慮して決められることはいうまでもない。
【０１１０】
さらに、処理液用のヘッド１０１Ｓを、カラーインク用ヘッド１０１Ｃ，１０１Ｍ，１０１Ｙより記録紙１０３の搬送方向Ａの下流側にも追加して設け、カラーインクによるドットに対しても処理液を吐出する構成としてもよく、この構成により、カラーインクによる画像に対しても耐水性を向上させることができる。
【０１１１】
（第２実施の形態）
図５はシリアルタイプの記録装置５の構成を示す概略斜視図である。
【０１１２】
記録媒体である記録紙１０３は、給紙部１０５から挿入されて印字部１２６を経て排紙される。本実施の形態では、一般に広く用いられる安価な普通紙を記録紙１０３として用いている。印字部１２６にはキャリッジ１０７に搭載された記録ヘッド１０１が設けられ、記録ヘッド１０１は図６に示すモータ６０４によってガイドレール１０９に沿って往復移動可能に構成される。記録ヘッド１０１は、黒インクを吐出する黒吐出部１０８Ｂｋ，処理液を吐出する処理液吐出部１０８Ｓ，および、それぞれカラーインクを吐出する吐出部であるシアン吐出部１０８Ｃ，マゼンタ吐出部１０８Ｍ，イエロー吐出部１０８Ｙを有している。
【０１１３】
各吐出部には不図示のインクタンクからインクが供給され、各吐出部のノズル毎に設けられている吐出用電気熱変換体（ヒータ）に駆動信号が供給される。これにより、インクに熱エネルギを印加して熱エネルギによってインク中に気泡を発生させ、発泡時の圧力を利用してインクの吐出が行われる。つまり、いわゆるバブルジェット方式を採用したインク吐出を行っている。各吐出部の吐出口は、記録紙１０３の搬送方向Ｘとほぼ同方向、つまり、記録ヘッド１０１の移動方向とほぼ垂直方向に配列されている。
【０１１４】
また、各吐出部に対向する位置の、キャリッジ１０７の移動範囲の全域にわたってヒータ１０２が設けられている。本実施の形態においては、ヒータ１０２は記録紙１０３の記録面の反対側から記録紙１０３に密着して加熱を行うよう構成されており、このヒータ１０２には、接触する面の加熱に適したセラミックヒータを用いることができる。
【０１１５】
また、記録ヘッド１０１は３６０ｄｐｉの解像度で記録可能に構成されており、また、各電気熱変換体の駆動周波数は７．２ｋＨｚに設定され、キャリッジ１０７は、その走査範囲を約１．５秒間に一往復するように構成されている。
【０１１６】
図６はシリアルタイプの記録装置５の制御回路のブロック図である。同図において、図２中の構成要素と同一のものには同一符号を付し、その説明を省略する。
【０１１７】
図６のモータ６０４はドライバ６０２からの速度、移動距離などの情報を受け取り動作し、主走査方向（スキャン方向）に記録ヘッドを駆動する。モータ６０５はドライバ６０２からの速度、移動距離などの情報を受け取り動作し、副走査方向（搬送方向）に記録紙等のシート状記録媒体を搬送させる。
【０１１８】
図７は、図５および図６に示したシリアルタイプの記録装置による記録プロセスを説明する説明図であり、記録部１２６を上から見た状態を模式的に示している。
【０１１９】
図７において、キャリッジ１０７は、ヒータ１０２上に密着してＹ方向に搬送される記録紙１０３の上方を搬送方向Ｙとほぼ垂直なＸ方向に往復移動する。キャリッジ１０７に搭載された黒吐出部１０８Ｂｋ，処理液吐出部１０８Ｓ，カラー吐出部（１０８Ｃ，１０８Ｍ，１０８Ｙ）の吐出口（図中、ドットで示す）は、記録紙１０３に対してインク、処理液を吐出する向きに開口している。また、ヒータ１０２は記録動作中は発熱しており、処理液吐出部１０８Ｓおよびカラー吐出部１０８Ｃ，１０８Ｍ，１０８Ｙにより吐出が行われる領域に対向する位置に設けられている。
【０１２０】
各吐出部は、一回の走査により記録紙１０３の搬送方向Ｙに沿って幅ｄの記録が可能なように吐出口が配列されている。また、黒吐出部１０８Ｂｋによるインクの吐出と処理液吐出部１０８Ｓによる処理液の吐出に時間差を設けるため、黒吐出部１０８Ｂｋと処理液吐出部１０８Ｓとは、記録幅ｄの距離だけ搬送方向に沿ってずれた位置に配置されている。この吐出時間差は、前記ｔｓに対して大きくすることで黒インクが記録紙の厚さ方向の所定範囲への浸透をほぼ完了する時間であることは前述した通りである。このように構成することにより、記録紙１０３の所定位置に対する黒吐出部１０８Ｂｋのインクの吐出と処理液吐出部１０８Ｓによる処理液の吐出が、キャリッジ１０７の一走査分（走査周期は１．５秒とした）ずれて、上記した所定の時間差で行われることになる。すなわち本実施の形態の構成は、第１実施の形態のフルラインタイプの記録装置による記録プロセスとほぼ同様の記録プロセスを実施するシリアルタイプの記録装置を実現するものである。
【０１２１】
上記構成の装置による記録プロセスでは、初めの走査で黒吐出部１０８Ｂｋによって黒インクを吐出する。黒インクを吐出される領域はヒータ１０２の位置よりも上流側であり、ヒータ１０２によって加熱されていない。その後、黒インクが記録紙１０３内部に浸透するようにある程度の時間をおいてから記録幅ｄだけ搬送し、ヒータ１０２上の同一の領域に対する次の走査を行うことで、処理液吐出部１０８Ｓによって黒インクで形成されたドットに処理液滴を重ねて吐出する。さらにヒータ１０２の発熱によって黒インクおよび処理液中に含まれる溶剤の水分の蒸発を促進するので、定着性が向上し、かつ記録紙１０３内部でインク中の色材を不溶化させることができる。
【０１２２】
このように本実施の形態のシリアルタイプの記録装置では、黒インクを吐出し、黒インクが記録紙内部に浸透するようにある程度の時間をおいてから処理液滴を重ねて吐出して記録紙１０３内部に浸透した状態でインクを不溶化させ、ヒータによって黒インクおよび処理液中に含まれる溶剤の水分の蒸発が促進され、定着性が向上し、かつ記録紙１０３内部に浸透した状態でインクを不溶化させることができ、耐水性の向上はもとより、耐擦過性、耐上書き性においても向上させることができる。
【０１２３】
また、本実施の形態の構成によれば、カラーインクを吐出する吐出部（１０８Ｃ，１０８Ｍ，１０８Ｙ）によって吐出が行われる領域の記録紙１０３の裏側にヒータ１０２が設けられているため、カラーインクの定着性を向上させることもできる。
【０１２４】
（第３実施の形態）
図８は第３実施の形態に係るフルラインタイプの記録装置の概略構成を示す側面図である。同図において、図１中の構成要素と同一のものには同一符号を付し、その説明を省略する。
【０１２５】
図８の記録装置は、図１の記録装置１の黒インク用ヘッド１０１Ｂｋと処理液用のヘッド１０１Ｓとの間にヒータ８０ａ，８０ｂを追加した構成であり、黒インクは前述の半浸透系の特性を有するインクを使用した。処理液は黒インクよりも浸透性が高い特性のものを使用した。これにより、黒インク吐出後にヒータ８０ａ，８０ｂで加熱を行うことで、黒インクの浸透を記録紙１０３内部の表面から浅い位置に抑え、記録濃度を高めることができる。また、この状態でヘッド１０１Ｓにより処理液を吐出するため、黒インクの浸透を記録紙１０３内部の表面から浅い位置に抑えた状態で不溶化することができる。
【０１２６】
以下に、図８の構成の記録装置による記録プロセスと、記録紙１０３の記録紙面上および記録紙１０３面内部のインクおよびドットの状態について、図９を参照して説明する。
【０１２７】
まず、黒インク用ヘッド１０１Ｂｋにより黒インク滴３０が吐出される（図９（ａ））。黒インク滴３０ａは記録紙面上に付着し、記録紙１０３内部へ白抜き矢印で示すように浸透する（図９（ｂ））。
【０１２８】
黒インク滴３０を吐出してから記録紙１０３がヘッド１０１Ｓ位置まで搬送される間に、記録紙１０３に形成されたドット３０ｂはヒータ８０ａ，８０ｂにより加熱され、この間の水分の蒸発が促進され、定着性が向上し、かつ記録紙１０３の内部へのインクの浸透が抑えられる（図９（ｃ））。よって、記録紙１０３の表面にインクが殆ど残らず、記録紙１０３の表面から浅い位置までインクが浸透した図９（ｃ）の状態となってから、処理液が重ねて吐出されることとなる。
【０１２９】
さらに記録紙１０３が搬送されると、処理液用のヘッド１０１Ｓによって、黒インク用ヘッド１０１Ｂｋによりインクを吐出して形成したドット３０ｂ上に処理液滴３５を重ねて吐出する（図９（ｄ））。
【０１３０】
重ね打ちされて表面に付着した処理液滴３５ｂが白抜き矢印で示すように浸透することにより、黒インク中の染料と処理液が反応する（図９（ｅ））。この結果、染料が記録紙１０３内部で不溶化することになる（図９（ｆ））。
【０１３１】
この反応は記録紙１０３の表層内部で起こるため、この反応によって不溶化した反応物は、図９（ｆ）に示すように記録紙１０３の表面上には殆ど残らない。
【０１３２】
また、この反応によって、先に吐出された黒インクの記録紙１０３内部への浸透を一層抑えることができ、黒インクによる画像濃度をさらに向上させることができる。
【０１３３】
以上のように本実施の形態によれば、半浸透性の黒インクを吐出した後にヒータ８０ａ，８０ｂによる加熱を行うことで黒インクが記録紙１０３内部へ浸透するのを抑えることができ、また、この状態で処理液を重ねて吐出することによって、記録紙１０３内部で黒インクの不溶化を生じさせることができる。記録紙１０３内部に浸透した状態で黒インクを不溶化させることにより、耐水性の向上はもとより、耐擦過性、耐上書き性をも向上させることができる。また、黒インクが記録紙１０３内部の深い範囲に浸透するのを抑えることができるため、黒インクによる画像の濃度を向上させることができ、シャープな文字・線画等の画像を記録することができる。
【０１３４】
また、上記構成において、処理液を黒インクよりも浸透性が高い特性のものとしたことより、処理液は黒インクの浸透速度よりも速く記録紙１０３内部へ浸透して黒インクと反応することができ、黒インクの記録紙１０３内部への浸透をより抑えることができる。また、黒インクの色材の不溶化によって分離された溶媒は記録紙１０３に対して速く浸透するため、定着性を向上させることもできる。
【０１３５】
（第３実施の形態の変形例）
図１０は第３実施の形態の変形例に係るフルラインタイプの記録装置の概略構成を示す側面図である。同図において、図８中の構成要素と同一のものには同一符号を付し、その説明を省略する。
【０１３６】
図１０の記録装置は、処理液用のヘッド１０１Ｓとカラー（Ｃ）インク用ヘッド１０１Ｃとの間にヒータ８０ｃを追加した点のみ、図８の記録装置と相違する構成である。この構成により、処理液吐出後にもヒータ８０ｃによる加熱を行うようにしたものである。
【０１３７】
以下に、図１０の構成の記録装置による記録プロセスと、記録紙１０３の記録紙面上および記録紙１０３面内部のインクおよびドットの状態について、図１１を参照して説明する。上記した装置構成の相違により、図１１（ａ）〜（ｄ）に示す記録プロセスは、図９（ａ）〜（ｄ）に示したものと同様であり、この工程についての詳細な説明は省略する。
【０１３８】
黒インク滴３０を吐出した後にヒータによる加熱を行い、続いてドット３０ｂに処理液滴３５が重ねて吐出される（図１１（ａ）〜（ｄ））。
【０１３９】
処理液が吐出されて記録紙１０３がさらに搬送されると、ヒータ８０ｃによる加熱が行われる（図１１（ｅ））。これにより、黒インクによるドット３０ｂと、このドット３０ｂに重ねて吐出された処理液滴３５ｂが加熱され、黒インクおよび処理液中に含まれる溶剤の水分の蒸発が促進される（図１１（ｆ））。また、溶媒中の水分が蒸発されることにより、溶媒の浸透とともに不溶化された色材が流れていくのを防止することができるため、一種のフェザリングを防ぐことができ、黒インクによる文字・線画の画像品位を一層向上させることができる。
【０１４０】
上記図８および図１０に示した構成において、黒インクによるドット３０ｂに隣接してカラーのドット（不図示）が印字されても、第１実施の形態の構成と同様に、黒のインクの色材は記録紙１０３内部で不溶化されているため、黒とカラー間のにじみは発生しない。
【０１４１】
（第４実施の形態）
本実施の形態に係る記録装置の全体構成は図５に示したもと同様であり、記録部（１２６）を上から見た状態を図１２に模式的に示している。図１２の記録装置は、第３実施の形態のフルラインタイプの記録装置による記録プロセスとほぼ同様の記録プロセスをシリアルタイプにより実施するものである。
【０１４２】
前述した第２実施の形態のシリアルタイプの構成では、黒吐出部１０８Ｂｋと処理液吐出部１０８Ｓとを、記録幅ｄの距離だけ搬送方向Ｙに沿ってずれた位置に配置した。
【０１４３】
これに対して図１２の本実施の形態に係るシリアルタイプ記録装置では、黒吐出部１０８Ｂｋにより黒インクを吐出してからヒータ１０２によって所定量の加熱を行い、その後、処理液とカラーインクを順次吐出する。各ヘッドを搭載したキャリッジ１０７で走査する領域に対応する位置にヒータ１０２が記録紙裏面に密着して配設されており、黒吐出部１０８Ｂｋと処理液吐出部１０８Ｓとの吐出が行われる領域を一致させている。そして、全ヘッドでの走査を二回に分け時間差をつけて行うことで、黒インク中の色材の不溶化が記録紙表面で起きないようにしている。
【０１４４】
すなわち、まず１回目の記録走査で黒吐出部１０８Ｂｋによる記録を行う。そのまま記録紙１０３の搬送は行わずに所定時間経過してから、２回目の記録走査で処理液吐出部１０８Ｓによる処理液の吐出と、カラーの吐出部（１０８Ｃ，１０８Ｍ，１０８Ｙ）による各カラーインク（シアン、マゼンタ、イエロー）の吐出を行う。同一領域に対して上記２回の走査を行うと記録幅ｄ分のピッチだけ記録紙１０３を搬送し、同様の分割走査を繰り返し実行する。なお、ヒータ１０２は記録動作中は常時発熱しているが、走査を二回に分け時間差をつけて行うことで、第３実施の形態と同様の効果が得られる所望の加熱を行うことができる。
【０１４５】
なお、本実施の形態においては、キャリッジ１０７の搬送方向（図中Ｘ方向）における黒インク吐出部１０８Ｂｋと処理液吐出部１０８Ｓ（およびその他のカラーの吐出部１０８Ｃ，１０８Ｍ，１０８Ｙ）の配置順序は特に規定されるものではない。つまり、記録部（１２６）を上から見た図１３に示すように、キャリッジ１０７に、図中の左側からＸ方向にカラー吐出部１０８Ｙ，１０８Ｍ，１０８Ｃ，黒吐出部１０８Ｂｋ，処理液吐出部１０８Ｓの順序で配置する構成であってもよく、１回目の記録走査で黒吐出部１０８Ｂｋによる記録を行い、２回目の記録走査で処理液吐出部１０８Ｓとカラーの各吐出部による処理液と各カラーインクの吐出を行えばよい。
【０１４６】
（第５実施の形態）
本実施の形態に係る記録装置の全体構成は図５に示したものと同様のシリアルタイプの構成であり、記録部（１２６）を上から見た状態を図１４に模式的に示している。
【０１４７】
本実施の形態は、黒画像を２回の走査により分割記録するもので、１回目の記録走査で形成した黒画像を２回目の記録走査で補間して記録することで、黒画像全体の記録が完了する。２回の走査は、上記した各実施の形態と同様に所定の時間差で行う。他の画像は、１回の走査で全体の記録が完了する。
【０１４８】
図１４において、図７に示したものと同じ構成要素については同じ符号を付し、その説明を省略する。ただし、図１４の黒吐出部１１８Ｂｋは他の吐出部（処理液吐出部１０８Ｓと各カラー吐出部１０８Ｃ，１０８Ｍ，１０８Ｙ）の記録幅ｄの２倍の記録幅２ｄに記録可能に吐出口を配列されている。
【０１４９】
すなわち図１４において、各吐出部は、記録紙１０３の搬送方向Ｙに沿ってそれぞれ吐出口が配列されている。処理液吐出部１０８Ｓとカラー吐出部（１０８Ｃ，１０８Ｍ，１０８Ｙ）は、ヒータ１０２の配設位置に対応する位置に幅ｄの記録が可能なように吐出口がＹ方向に配列されているが、黒吐出部１１８Ｂｋはその２倍の幅の記録が可能なように２ｄの距離にわたり吐出口が配列されている。黒吐出部１１８Ｂｋによる１回目の記録走査における吐出で記録が行われる領域は、他の吐出部の吐出で記録される領域に対して、記録幅ｄの分のピッチだけ搬送方向の上流側にずれている。
【０１５０】
キャリッジ１０７のＸ方向の走査毎に記録紙１０３はＹ方向へ記録幅ｄに相当する距離だけ搬送され、キャリッジ１０７の一走査による記録動作と記録紙１０３の搬送動作とが繰り返されて、記録紙１０３のほぼ全面に対する記録が行われる。
【０１５１】
前述のように黒吐出部１１８Ｂｋの記録幅２ｄは他の吐出部による記録幅ｄよりも広いため、黒吐出部１１８Ｂｋは所定の記録領域に対して２回走査されることになる。黒吐出部１１８Ｂｋによる記録は、所定の領域に対して２回の走査で画像が完成されるように、各走査においては間引いた画像の記録を行う。
【０１５２】
例えば、黒吐出部１１８Ｂｋの記録幅２ｄを記録紙搬送方向Ｙの上流側（図中上側）と下流側（図中下側）に分けて走査する。１回目のキャリッジ１０７の走査では黒吐出部１１８Ｂｋの上流側の吐出口を用い、ヒータ２により加熱されていない状態で間引いた黒画像を記録する。そして、記録幅ｄに相当する分のピッチだけ記録紙１０３をＹ方向に搬送する。続く２回目のキャリッジ１０７の走査では黒吐出部１１８Ｂｋの下流側の吐出口を用い、１回目に上流側で記録した領域内の間引かれた部分の画像を記録し、２回の記録が互いに相補的となるように黒吐出部１１８Ｂｋによる分割吐出を行う。
【０１５３】
このようにすることで、黒吐出部１１８Ｂｋにより記録される画像が２回の走査で相補的となって黒画像が完成するように記録が行われ、１回の走査において吐出する黒インクの量を少なくすることができる。この相補的とする間引きパターンとしては、千鳥、逆千鳥パターン（チェッカーパターンともいう）がある。
【０１５４】
上記のようにして記録走査を行うことにより、黒吐出部１１８Ｂｋの上流側の吐出口で記録された領域に対して、次の走査時に、黒吐出部１１８Ｂｋの下流側の吐出口による記録と、処理液吐出部１０８Ｓによる処理液の吐出、カラー吐出部１０８Ｃ，１０８Ｍ，１０８Ｙによるカラーインクの吐出とともに、ヒータ１０２による加熱が行われることになる。
【０１５５】
このように本実施の形態によれば、黒吐出部１１８Ｂｋによる１回の走査における黒インクの吐出量が抑えられ、１回の走査で画像を記録する場合に比ベ、隣接した位置に吐出される他のインクを極力少なくすることができる。特に、前述の千鳥、逆千鳥パターンで間引いて記録を行った場合、図中のＸ方向およびＹ方向に隣接する位置に吐出されることがなくなる。この結果、多数のインクが互いに隣接した位置に吐出される場合に生じるインクの溢れやインクの流れ出しが発生しなくなり、黒画像の境界をさらに高品位に記録することができるようになる。
【０１５６】
また、黒吐出部１１８Ｂｋの下流側（図中下側）の吐出口による黒インクの吐出と、処理液吐出部１０８ｓによる処理液の吐出との吐出時間差は、第２実施の形態の構成に比ベて短くなっている。しかし、先に黒吐出部１１８Ｂｋの上流側（図中上側）の吐出口により吐出された黒インクは、次の走査時には記録紙１０３内部へ浸透した状態となっており、先に黒インクが浸透している位置の近くにインクを吐出した場合は後のインクの浸透が促進される。このため、続けて処理液を吐出したとしてもインクはほぼ記録紙１０３中へ浸透した状態となっており、これにより、記録紙１０３内部の比較的浅い位置でインクの色材を不溶化させることができる。
【０１５７】
なお、上記した各実施の形態ではヒータ１０２は常時動作するものとして説明してきたが、例えば紙詰まり等の異常を異常センサ２２２により検知すると通電を停止して発熱を中止するようにシステムコントローラ２０１が制御する構成とすることも考えられる（図２，図６参照）。
【０１５８】
（その他）
なお、本発明は、特にインクジェット記録方式の中でも、インク吐出を行わせるために利用されるエネルギとして熱エネルギを発生する手段（例えば電気熱変換体やレーザ光等）を備え、前記熱エネルギによりインクの状態変化を生起させる方式の記録ヘッド、記録装置において優れた効果をもたらすものである。かかる方式によれば記録の高密度化、高精細化が達成できるからである。
【０１５９】
その代表的な構成や原理については、例えば、米国特許第４７２３１２９号明細書、同第４７４０７９６号明細書に開示されている基本的な原理を用いて行うものが好ましい。この方式は所謂オンデマンド型、コンティニュアス型のいずれにも適用可能であるが、特に、オンデマンド型の場合には、液体（インク）が保持されているシートや液路に対応して配置されている電気熱変換体に、記録情報に対応していて核沸騰を越える急速な温度上昇を与える少なくとも１つの駆動信号を印加することによって、電気熱変換体に熱エネルギを発生せしめ、記録ヘッドの熱作用面に膜沸騰を生じさせて、結果的にこの駆動信号に一対一で対応した液体（インク）内の気泡を形成できるので有効である。この気泡の成長、収縮により吐出用開口を介して液体（インク）を吐出させて、少なくとも１つの滴を形成する。この駆動信号をパルス形状とすると、即時適切に気泡の成長収縮が行われるので、特に応答性に優れた液体（インク）の吐出が達成でき、より好ましい。このパルス形状の駆動信号としては、米国特許第４４６３３５９号明細書、同第４３４５２６２号明細書に記載されているようなものが適している。なお、上記熱作用面の温度上昇率に関する発明の米国特許第４３１３１２４号明細書に記載されている条件を採用すると、さらに優れた記録を行うことができる。
【０１６０】
記録ヘッドの構成としては、上述の各明細書に開示されているような吐出口、液路、電気熱変換体の組合せ構成（直線状液流路または直角液流路）の他に熱作用部が屈曲する領域に配置されている構成を開示する米国特許第４５５８３３３号明細書、米国特許第４４５９６００号明細書を用いた構成も本発明に含まれるものである。加えて、複数の電気熱変換体に対して、共通するスリットを電気熱変換体の吐出部とする構成を開示する特開昭５９−１２３６７０号公報や熱エネルギの圧力波を吸収する開孔を吐出部に対応させる構成を開示する特開昭５９−１３８４６１号公報に基いた構成としても本発明の効果は有効である。すなわち、記録ヘッドの形態がどのようなものであっても、本発明によれば記録を確実に効率よく行うことができるようになるからである。
【０１６１】
さらに、記録装置が記録できる記録媒体の最大幅に対応した長さを有するフルラインタイプの記録ヘッドに対しても本発明は有効に適用できる。そのような記録ヘッドとしては、複数記録ヘッドの組合せによってその長さを満たす構成や、一体的に形成された１個の記録ヘッドとしての構成のいずれでもよい。
【０１６２】
加えて、上例のようなシリアルタイプのものでも、装置本体に固定された記録ヘッド、あるいは装置本体に装着されることで装置本体との電気的な接続や装置本体からのインクの供給が可能になる交換自在のチップタイプの記録ヘッド、あるいは記録ヘッド自体に一体的にインクタンクが設けられたカートリッジタイプの記録ヘッドを用いた場合にも本発明は有効である。
【０１６３】
また、本発明の記録装置の構成として、記録ヘッドの吐出回復手段、予備的な補助手段等を付加することは本発明の効果を一層安定できるので、好ましいものである。これらを具体的に挙げれば、記録ヘッドに対してのキャッピング手段、クリーニング手段、加圧或は吸引手段、電気熱変換体或はこれとは別の加熱素子或はこれらの組み合わせを用いて加熱を行う予備加熱手段、記録とは別の吐出を行なう予備吐出手段を挙げることができる。
【０１６４】
また、搭載される記録ヘッドの種類ないし個数についても、例えば単色のインクに対応して１個のみが設けられたものの他、記録色や濃度を異にする複数のインクに対応して複数個数設けられるものであってもよい。すなわち、例えば記録装置の記録モードとしては黒色等の主流色のみの記録モードだけではなく、記録ヘッドを一体的に構成するか複数個の組み合わせによるかいずれでもよいが、異なる色の複色カラー、または混色によるフルカラーの各記録モードの少なくとも一つを備えた装置にも本発明は極めて有効である。
【０１６５】
さらに加えて、本発明インクジェット記録装置の形態としては、コンピュータ等の情報処理機器の画像出力端末として用いられるものの他、リーダ等と組合せた複写装置、さらには送受信機能を有するファクシミリ装置の形態を採るもの等であってもよい。
【０１６６】
以上示したそれぞれ処理液（液体組成物）とインクとの混合において、本発明では、上述した処理液とインクが記録媒体上あるいは記録媒体に浸透した位置で混合する結果、反応の第１段階として処理液中に含まれているカチオン性物質の内、低分子量の成分またはカチオン性オリゴマーとインクに使用しているアニオン性基を有する水溶性染料または顔料インクに使用しているアニオン性化合物とがイオン的相互作用により会合を起こし、瞬間的に溶液相から分離を起こす。この結果顔料インクにおいては分散破壊が起こり、顔料の凝集体ができる。
【０１６７】
次に、反応の第２段階として、上述した染料と低分子カチオン性物質またはカチオン性オリゴマーとの会合体または顔料の凝集体が処理液中に含まれる高分子成分により吸着されるために、会合で生じた染料の凝集体または顔料の凝集体のサイズがさらに大きくなり、記録媒体の繊維間の隙間に入り込みにくくなり、その結果として固液分離した液体部分のみが記録紙中にしみこむことにより、プリント品位と定着性との両立が達成される。同時に上述したようなメカニズムにより生成したカチオン物質の低分子成分またはカチオン性オリゴマーとアニオン性染料とカチオン性物質とで形成される凝集体または顔料の凝集体は粘性が大きくなり、液媒体の動きとともに移動することがないので、フルカラーの画像形成時のように隣接したインクドットが異色のインクで形成されていたとしても互いに混じり合うようなことはなく、ブリーデイング（にじみ）も起こらない。また、上記凝集体は本質的に水不溶性であり形成された画像の耐水性は完全なものとなる。また、ポリマーの遮蔽効果により形成された画像の耐光堅牢性も向上するという効果も有する。
【０１６８】
本明細書において使用される不溶化または凝集として、その一例は前記第１段階のみの現象であり、他の例は第１段階と第２段階の両方を含んだ現象である。
【０１６９】
また、本発明の実施にあたっては、従来技術のように分子量の大きいカチオン性高分子物質や多価の金属塩を使用する必要がないか、あるいは使用する必要があっても本発明の効果をさらに向上させるために補助的に使用するだけで良いので、その使用量を最小限に抑えることができる。その結果として、従来のカチオン性高分子物質や多価金属塩を使用して耐水化効果を得ようとした場合の問題点であった染料の発色性の低下がなくなるということを本発明の別の効果として挙げることができる。
【０１７０】
なお、本発明を実施するにあたって使用する記録媒体については特に制限されるものではなく、従来から使用されているコピー用紙、ボンド紙等のいわゆる普通紙を好適に用いることができる。もちろんインクジェットプリント用に特別に作製したコート紙やＯＨＰ用透明フィルムも好適に使用でき、また、一般の上質紙や光沢紙も好適に使用可能である。
【０１７１】
また本発明方法は、複数の機器から構成されるシステムに適用しても、１つの機器からなる装置に適用しても良い。また、本発明方法はシステム或いは装置にプログラムを供給することによって達成される場合にも適用できることは言うまでもない。この場合、本発明方法を達成するためのソフトウエアによって表されるプログラムを格納した記憶媒体をシステム或いは装置に読み出すことによって、そのシステム或いは装置が、本発明方法の効果を享受することが可能になる。
【０１７２】
【発明の効果】
以上説明してきたように、本発明によれば、記録媒体に対してインクを吐出し、記録媒体のほぼ当該インクが吐出された位置へ処理液を吐出して記録を行うときに、吐出されたインクが記録媒体表面からその厚さ方向の所定範囲に浸透すると処理液を吐出するようにして処理液と反応させるので、インク中の色材を所定範囲で不溶化させることができ、記録媒体の表面で不溶化が起こらないので、インクにより記録された画像品位の向上を達成しつつ、印字直後の耐水性、耐擦過性、耐上書き性の向上を図ることができる効果が得られる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】第１実施の形態に係るフルラインタイプの記録装置の概略構成を示す側面図である。
【図２】第１実施の形態に係るフルラインタイプの記録装置の制御回路のブロック図である。
【図３】第１実施の形態における記録プロセスと記録紙面上および記録紙面内部のインクおよびドットの状態を説明する説明図である。
【図４】第１実施の形態における記録プロセスと記録紙面上および記録紙面内部のインクおよびドットの状態を説明する説明図である。
【図５】第２実施の形態に係るシリアルタイプの記録装置の構成を示す概略斜視図である。
【図６】第２実施の形態に係るシリアルタイプの記録装置の制御回路のブロック図である。
【図７】第２実施の形態に係るシリアルタイプの記録装置による記録プロセスを説明するための装置要部の模式的な平面図である。
【図８】第３実施の形態に係るフルラインタイプの記録装置の概略構成を示す側面図である。
【図９】第３実施の形態に係るフルラインタイプの記録装置による記録プロセスを説明する説明図である。
【図１０】第３実施の形態の変形例に係るフルラインタイプの記録装置の概略構成を示す側面図である。
【図１１】第３実施の形態の変形例に係るフルラインタイプの記録装置による記録プロセスを説明する説明図である。
【図１２】第４実施の形態に係るシリアルタイプの記録装置の要部を模式的に示す平面図である。
【図１３】第４実施の形態に係るシリアルタイプの記録装置の変形例の要部を模式的に示す平面図である。
【図１４】第５実施の形態に係るシリアルタイプの記録装置の要部を模式的に示す平面図である。
【図１５】インクの記録紙への浸透状態のヒータの有無による違いを説明する説明図である。
【図１６】実験により求めたインク中のアセチレノールの含有割合に対する比例係数Ｋａの値を示す図である。
【図１７】インクの浸透量と経過時間との関係を示す特性図である。
【図１８】顔料インクを用いた場合のインクのアセチレノール含有割合の違いに応じた印字実験結果の画像状態を示す図である。
【図１９】水に対するアセチレノールの含有割合を調整した場合の表面張力との関係を示す特性図である。
【図２０】インクが記録媒体内の所定範囲の深さ方向に浸透した状態で処理液をインクに対して吐出させインク中の色材を紙内部で反応させ不溶化させるメカニズムを説明するための図である。
【図２１】インクの浸透速度を示す説明図である。
【図２２】インクのアセチレノール含有量に対するｔｗ，ｔｓの関係を示す図である。
【符号の説明】
１０ インク滴
１０ａ，１０ｂ，１０ｃ インク滴
１０１ 記録ヘッド
１０１ｇ 記録ヘッド群
１０１Ｂｋ，１０１Ｓ，１０１Ｃ，１０１Ｍ，１０１Ｙ 記録ヘッド
１０２ ヒータ
１０３ 記録紙
１０４ プラテン
１０５ 給紙部
１０７ キャリッジ
１０８Ｂｋ，１０８Ｓ，１０８Ｃ，１０８Ｍ，１０８Ｙ，１１８Ｂｋ 吐出部
１０９ ガイドレール
１１１ 搬送ベルト
１１２，１１３ ローラ
１１４ レジストローラ
１１５ ガイド板
１１６ ストッカ
１２６ 印字部
２０１ システムコントローラ
２０２，２１１，６０２，６０３ ドライバ
２０４，２０５，６０５ モータ
２０６ ホストコンピュータ
２０７ 受信バッファ
２０８ フレームメモリ
２０９Ｓ，２０９Ｐ バッファ
２１０ 印字制御部
２１２Ｓ，２１２Ｐ 記録ヘッド部
２２２ 異常センサ[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a recording method, and more particularly to a recording method for performing recording by ejecting a processing liquid and image recording ink.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the field of ink jet recording, it is preferable that the ink containing the dye is generally fastened to the recording medium. Here, it is different from fixing by penetration of liquid.
[0003]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-128862 discloses a technique for fixing a coloring material to a medium by applying an oily treatment liquid to an image area formed with a dye ink before or after ink application, thereby improving water resistance. Known in the publication. As a product that has been put into practical use as of August 1997, water resistance has been improved by applying a cationic treatment liquid to a recording medium and applying an anionic dye in a state where the treatment liquid is present on the surface of the recording medium. The product is on sale.
[0004]
On the other hand, the applicant of the present application (Canon Co., Ltd.) filed Japanese Patent Application No. 8-204618 (published on Feb. 17, 1998) filed in Japan on August 2, 1996 prior to the filing of the present application: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-44394. In other words, the ink surface on the medium surface is treated by reacting immediately with a cationic processing liquid to the so-called “superimposed” ink that is partially impregnated on the surface of the recording medium. The invention which makes a reaction product with a liquid is proposed.
[0005]
However, in the technique for applying the treatment liquid after applying the ink, there is no published patent having internal knowledge about the recording medium.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When recording is performed by ejecting ink following the treatment liquid, it is possible to improve the water resistance and the goodness against bleeding between different colors as described above, but the color material in the ink on the surface of the recording paper Since insolubilization occurs, a block layer is formed on the surface of the recording paper by the insolubilized coloring material, and ink permeation into the recording paper is suppressed.
[0007]
As a result, the insolubilized colorant tends to remain on the surface of the recording paper, resulting in scratch resistance and resistance when the recorded image is overwritten with another writing instrument such as a line marker (hereinafter referred to as “overwrite resistance”). In terms of the “characteristic”, good results were not obtained. That is, if the recording paper on which the image has been recorded is rubbed, the color material on the surface may be dropped to deteriorate the quality of the recorded image, or blur may occur when overwritten.
[0008]
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and while achieving improvement in water resistance of Bk, reduction in bleeding of Bk and color, and improvement in image quality of Bk, water resistance and resistance to water immediately after printing are achieved. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording method capable of achieving improvement in scratch resistance and overwrite resistance.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Before describing the means for solving the problems, an outline of the invention will be described below.
[0010]
In the present invention, a treatment liquid that reacts and fixes an ink coloring material penetrates into fibers in a recording medium and starts to swell (for example, changed after a swelling start time ts or using a heater, etc.) And hereinafter referred to as swelling ink), and more preferably, with respect to the Ka value, which is the substantial permeation coefficient of the ink itself, the characteristics of the treatment liquid and after the treatment liquid is applied. Includes heat treatment and the like.
[0011]
More specifically, first, as the first step, (1) Ka ≦ 3 (ml · m^-2・ Msec^-1/2) Is preferably applied to the super-penetrating (Ka ≧ 5) treatment liquid.
[0012]
(2) For ink having penetrability dependent on temperature and Ka ≦ 1, after applying ink to the medium, heat is applied by a heater, and then a penetrating treatment liquid of semi-permeability or higher is applied. Form is preferred.
[0013]
(3) In an ink having a permeability of at least half penetration of Ka> 1, after the ink is applied to the medium, heat is applied by a heater to apply a treatment liquid having permeability higher than the latter half of permeability. .
[0014]
As a more preferable form, the second step is a form in which heat is further applied by a heater after the first step. In this case, the treatment liquid may be semi-permeable. This is for the purpose of promoting penetration as a treatment liquid by the heater and improving adhesion by promoting evaporation. Furthermore, a super-penetrating treatment solution may be used. In this case, it is for further improving the fixing property and enhancing the coating by promoting evaporation. By performing the second step, there is a more preferable effect than the case where the process is completed only by the first step.
[0015]
  The present invention for solving the above problemsDefined by the Bristow ActKa value is 3 (ml · m^-2・ Msec^-1/2) The following inkFor recording mediaDischarge,The dischargedAgainst inkA component that reacts with the colorant in the ink and a nonionic surfactant; andKa value is 5 (ml · m^-2・ Msec^-1/2) Apply the above treatment liquidTo record on the recording medium.A recording method,SaidAfter the ink has landed on the recording medium,LandedAfter elapse of the rapid swelling start point ts after penetrating the ink into the recording mediumSaidTreatment liquidSaidApply to inkBy insolubilizing the coloring material in the ink at least inside the recording mediumIt is characterized by doing.
[0018]
  Also,The Ka value specified by the Bristow Act is 1 (ml · m ^-2 ・ Msec ^-1/2 ) A recording method for recording on a recording medium using an ink having the following and a treatment liquid having a Ka value of 5 or more and containing a nonionic surfactant, and containing a color material having polarity After the ink is landed on the recording medium, after the rapid swelling start point ts after the landed ink has penetrated the recording medium, the processing liquid having a component having a polarity opposite to that of the coloring material is recorded on the recording medium. By applying to the ink that has landed on the medium, at least the coloring material in the ink is insolubilized by the treatment liquid inside the recording medium.A recording method is provided.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Before describing the embodiments of the present invention in detail, the technical idea of the present invention will be described below although it has already been described in the outline of the above-mentioned invention.
[0020]
In the present invention, a treatment liquid that reacts and fixes an ink coloring material penetrates into fibers in a recording medium and starts to swell (for example, changed after a swelling start time ts or using a heater, etc.) And hereinafter referred to as swelling ink), and more preferably, with respect to the Ka value, which is the substantial permeation coefficient of the ink itself, the characteristics of the treatment liquid and after the treatment liquid is applied. Includes heat treatment and the like.
[0021]
More specifically, first, as the first step, (1) Ka ≦ 3 (ml · m^-2・ Msec^-1/2) Is preferably applied to the super-penetrating (Ka ≧ 5) treatment liquid.
[0022]
(2) For an ink with penetrability that is temperature-dependent and Ka ≦ 1, after applying ink to the medium, heat is applied by a heater, and then a penetrating treatment liquid that is more than semi-permeable is applied. Form is preferred.
[0023]
(3) In an ink having a penetrability equal to or higher than semi-penetration of Ka> 1, after the ink is applied to the medium, heat is applied by a heater so that a treatment liquid having a permeability equal to or higher than the latter half is applied. .
[0024]
In a more preferred form, the second step is a form in which heat is further applied by a heater after the first step. In this case, the treatment liquid may be semi-permeable. This is for the purpose of promoting penetration as a treatment liquid by the heater and improving adhesion by promoting evaporation. Furthermore, a super-penetrating treatment solution may be used. In this case, it is for further improving the fixing property and enhancing the coating by promoting evaporation. By performing the second step, there is a more preferable effect than the case where the process is completed only by the first step.
[0025]
In the present invention, ink is printed on a recording medium, and then the treatment liquid is ejected onto the ink in a state where the ink has permeated in a depth direction within a predetermined range in the recording medium. Medium) By reacting inside and insolubilizing, an image having good scratchability and good image quality is obtained. In the following, although it is inferred according to the mechanism of the phenomenon, refer to FIG. While explaining.
[0026]
First, FIG. 20A shows a state where ink droplets are flying toward the paper.
[0027]
FIG. 20B shows a state where ink droplets have landed on the paper. At this time, the ink becomes a cylindrical shape having a diameter about twice the diameter of the ink droplet on the paper due to the collision.
[0028]
FIG. 20C shows a state in which ink is adsorbed and swollen on the paper fiber at the paper surface.
[0029]
FIG. 20D shows a state in which the ink has permeated into the paper and the processing liquid S is flying toward the ink.
[0030]
FIG. 20 (e) shows a state in which the treatment liquid adheres to the ink and the paper surface that has permeated the ink, and then the ink and the treatment liquid start to react in the adhering and mixing portion. .
[0031]
FIG. 20F shows a state in which the treatment liquid has caught up and reacted with the ink that has penetrated into the paper. As a result, the color material in the ink is insolubilized inside the paper after the processing, and the ink hardly penetrates in the depth direction of the paper.
[0032]
FIG. 20G shows a state in which the color material in the ink has been insolubilized by the treatment liquid and the permeation has been completed.
[0033]
Thus, although not much remains on the surface of the paper, many colorants are trapped in an insolubilized state within 20 μm from the surface of the paper, resulting in a high OD value and good scratching properties.
[0034]
On the other hand, when the processing liquid is not discharged, the OD value is not so high because the color material is not trapped on the paper surface as in (e ′), (f ′), and (g ′).
[0035]
On the other hand, when the treatment liquid is ejected in a state where ink penetration has been completed to some extent, the color material has not yet remained on the surface, so that too much like (e ″), (f ″), (g ″). OD value should not be high.
[0036]
Next, the composition, permeability and penetration speed of the ink will be described. An example of ink components used in the present embodiment is shown below.
[0037]
[Yellow (Y) ink]
C. I. Direct Yellow 86 3 parts
Glycerin 5 parts
Diethylene glycol 5 parts
Acetylenol EH 1 part
(Manufactured by Kawaken Chemical)
Water balance
[Magenta (M) ink]
C. I. Acid Red 289 3 parts
Glycerin 5 parts
Diethylene glycol 5 parts
Acetylenol EH 1 part
(Manufactured by Kawaken Chemical)
Water balance
[Cyan (C) ink]
C. I. Direct Blue 199 3 parts
Glycerin 5 parts
Diethylene glycol 5 parts
Acetylenol EH 1 part
(Manufactured by Kawaken Chemical)
Water balance
[Black (Bk) ink]
C. I. Direct black 3 parts
Glycerin 5 parts
Diethylene glycol 5 parts
Urea 5 parts
Acetylenol EH α1
(Manufactured by Kawaken Chemical)
Water balance
Each ink of the above composition consists of dye or pigment, water, glycerin, diethylene glycol, urea, etc. as a solvent, acetylenol EH which is a nonionic surfactant (acetylene is a trade name of Kawaken Fine Chemical Co., Ltd., acetylene glycol) To which ethylene oxide is added, and ethylene oxide-2,4,7,9-tetramethyl-5-decyne-4,7-diol (ethylene-2,4,7,9-tetramethyl-5-decyne) -4,7-diol) For the sake of convenience, acetylenol or acetylenol EH is mixed in this specification), and for CMY color inks, 1% acetylinol EH is added to penetrate. Improves sex. For the Bk ink, the content ratio α1 of acetylenol EH in the above components was prepared, and the following experiment was conducted.
[0038]
1m ink permeability²The ink permeation amount V (unit: milliliter / m) at the time t after the ink droplet is ejected is represented by the per ink amount V.²= Μm) is known to be expressed by the Bristow equation as shown below.
[0039]
    V = Vr + Ka (t−tw)^1/2
        HoweverT> Tw
  Immediately after the ink droplets are dropped on the surface of the recording paper, the ink droplets are mostly absorbed by the uneven portion of the surface (rough portion of the surface of the recording paper) and hardly penetrate into the inside of the recording paper. . The time in the meantime is tw (wet time), and the amount of absorption in the concavo-convex portion is Vr. When the elapsed time after the ink droplet is dropped exceeds tw, the penetration amount V increases by an amount proportional to the half power of the excess time (t-tw). Basically, Ka is a proportional coefficient of this increase, and shows a value corresponding to the penetration rate.
[0040]
FIG. 17 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the ink penetration amount and the elapsed time, and is 64 g / m.²3 shows the results of an experiment conducted using a recording paper having a thickness of about 80 μm and a porosity of about 50%.
[0041]
In FIG. 17A, the horizontal axis is the half power of elapsed time t (msec).^1/2In FIG. 17B, the horizontal axis is the elapsed time t (msec). Moreover, in both figures, the vertical axis | shaft is penetration amount V (micrometer), and has each shown the curve in case an acetylenol content rate is 0%, 0.35%, and 1%.
[0042]
As is apparent from both figures, it can be said that the greater the acetylenol content, the greater the amount of ink penetrating with respect to the elapsed time and the higher the penetrability. The graph shown in FIG. 17 shows that the wet time tw becomes shorter as the content of acetylenol is larger, and that the permeability is higher as the content of acetylenol is larger even when the content does not reach tw.
[0043]
In addition, in the case of an ink in which acetylenol is not mixed (content ratio is 0%), the permeability is low, and the ink has properties as an overlay ink specified later. Further, when acetylenol is mixed at a content rate of 1%, it has a property of penetrating into the recording paper 103 in a short time, and has a property as a highly penetrating ink specified later. An ink in which acetylenol is mixed at a content ratio of 0.35% has a property as a semi-permeable ink intermediate between the two.
[0044]
The above will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0045]
When ink with relatively low permeability is printed, the ink is adsorbed and swelled on the paper fibers after the landing on the paper until the wetness of the surface of the sized paper is increased, and then between the fibers. Infiltration by capillary action also begins.
[0046]
Here, so-called plain paper used in office machines such as copying machines contains a sizing agent to prevent bleeding, so that the penetration does not start and there is a so-called wet time (tw: wet time).
[0047]
Even when penetration begins, the above-mentioned sizing agent does not improve the wettability of the ink with respect to the paper, so that the so-called overlay ink penetrates relatively slowly, and at some point this time it swells into the paper fibers themselves. To go. The time at this time is about 400 to 500 msec for the extra ink. Let this time be ts.
[0048]
Here, when a surfactant such as acetylenol is incorporated into the ink, the wettability of the ink with respect to the paper is improved, so that the wetting time becomes faster and the swelling speed (adsorption of the ink to the paper fibers) is also increased. Get faster. Then, the permeation speed of the next step is also increased, and thereafter, with this permeation, the paper fibers rapidly swell. Then, as the amount of acetylenol increases, tw and ts become shorter and 1% is almost zero. Here, tw and ts approach each other as the amount of acetylenol increases from around 0.2 to 0.3% of the amount of acetylenol. These relationships are shown in FIG. 22 as the relationship between tw and ts for acetylenol.
[0049]
By the way, what was expressed as the permeation speed ka described above is the inclination of the liquid absorption after ts.
[0050]
As described above, when ts is passed, rapid swelling starts, and the ink on the surface of the paper also rapidly enters the inside of the paper, so that the fixing of the ink proceeds.
[0051]
Here, when ink droplets have landed on the paper and only ts has elapsed and thereafter the treatment liquid is landed on the ink so as to overlap, a considerable portion of the ink including the edge portion penetrates into the paper. However, the reaction starts from the part in contact with the ink in a state where a part may remain, and the reaction gradually proceeds to the ink side in the paper.
[0052]
Here, when the amount of acetylenol in the treatment liquid is set to about 1%, tw is almost 0 msec, so that permeation starts immediately after landing. And since the penetration speed is fast, the treatment liquid penetrates while reacting in the ink faster than the penetration of the ink, and the penetration of the ink is stopped at a shallow position on the paper surface as compared with the case where the treatment liquid is not attached. Can do. As a result, a large amount of color material can be kept near the surface of the paper, so that the density can be increased.
[0053]
Here, even if a part of the ink remains on the paper surface immediately before the treatment liquid adheres to the ink, the edge portion of the ink dot does not remain at least on the paper surface. However, the so-called feathering hardly occurs. Ink remaining on a part of the surface also penetrates into the paper together while reacting because the treatment liquid penetrates quickly. As described above, since the color material on the paper surface is very small, the scratching property is also good.
[0054]
Here, if the amount of acetylenol is more than 0.3% in order to increase the permeability of the ink, feathering starts suddenly depending on the type of paper after ts, so 0.3% (weight%) or less is preferable. . Further, if it exceeds 0.3%, the permeation rate is high, and even if the permeation rate of the treatment liquid is increased as described above, it is not easy to ensure the color material near the surface of the paper. 3% or less is preferable.
[0055]
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the value of the proportionality coefficient Ka with respect to the content ratio of acetylenol in the ink obtained by experiment.
[0056]
The Ka value was measured using a liquid dynamic permeability test apparatus S (manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho) by the Bristow method. In this experiment, Canon PB paper was used as recording paper. This PB paper is a recording paper that can be used for both copying machines and LBPs using an electrophotographic system and printers using an ink jet recording system.
[0057]
Similar results were obtained for PPC paper, which is an electrophotographic paper manufactured by Canon Inc.
[0058]
The curve shown in FIG. 16 is a curve in which the Ka value (vertical axis) increases as the acetylenol content ratio (horizontal axis) increases, and the proportionality coefficient Ka is determined by the acetylenol content ratio. For this reason, the penetration speed of the ink is substantially determined by the content of acetylenol. A line segment that intersects the curve and is parallel to the vertical axis indicates the range of variation in the measurement result.
[0059]
Next, Table 1 shows the components and characteristics of the “superposition ink”, “semi-permeable ink”, and “highly permeable ink” used in the following embodiments of the present invention.
[0060]
[Table 1]

[0061]
Table 1 above shows the Ka value, the acetylenol content (%), and the surface tension (dyne / cm) for each of “superposition ink”, “semi-permeable ink”, and “highly permeable ink”. . The permeability of each ink with respect to recording paper as a recording medium increases as the Ka value increases. That is, the smaller the surface tension, the higher.
[0062]
The Ka values in Table 1 were measured using the liquid dynamic permeability test apparatus S (manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho) using the Bristow method as described above. In the experiment, the aforementioned PB paper from Canon Inc. was used as the recording paper. Similar results were obtained for the above-mentioned PPC paper from Canon Inc.
[0063]
Here, the ink of the system defined as “semi-permeable ink” has an acetylenol content of 0.2 to 0.7%.
[0064]
Here, it is known that there is a critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the surfactant in the liquid as a condition for containing the surfactant in the liquid. The critical micelle concentration is the concentration at which the concentration of the surfactant solution increases and tens of thousands of children rapidly associate to form micelles. Acetylenol contained in the ink described above for penetrability preparation is a kind of surfactant, and this acetylenol also has a critical micelle concentration corresponding to the liquid.
[0065]
FIG. 19 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship with the surface tension when the content ratio of acetylenol to water is adjusted. Since the surface tension does not decrease when micelles are formed, it can be seen from the figure that the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of acetylenol with respect to water is about 0.7%.
[0066]
When the critical micelle concentration shown in the figure corresponds to the above-mentioned Table 1, the “semi-permeable ink” defined in Table 1 and used in the following embodiments of the present invention is the critical micelle concentration of acetylenol in water. It can be seen that the ink contains acetylenol in a smaller proportion than (CMC).
[0067]
Now, the applicants have studied a configuration in which the treatment liquid is ejected after recording with ink. In particular, a configuration was examined in which the treatment liquid was ejected and printed after the Bk ink, and thereafter three color inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) were printed.
[0068]
By the way, since Bk ink is mainly used for characters and line drawings, it is known that it is effective to use a Bk ink having low permeability to recording paper. With such a configuration, a study was made to simply discharge the treatment liquid after recording with Bk ink. However, insolubilization of the black color material occurred on the surface of the recording paper, and as a result, the insolubilized color material became the insolubility of the recording paper. Residual on the surface, scratch resistance and overwriting resistance were not preferable.
[0069]
The relationship between the discharge time difference and the scratch resistance shows that the longer the discharge time difference, the better the scratch resistance. In particular, when black ink is added and the treatment liquid is a permeation system, feathering may occur if the difference in discharge time from discharge of Bk ink to discharge of the treatment liquid is about 1 second or more. Extremely less.
[0070]
When the Bk ink is used as a superposition system, if the penetrating treatment liquid is ejected in a state where the ejected Bk ink does not penetrate into the recording paper, the reaction liquid is usually mixed with the Bk ink and the treatment liquid. Since the permeability of the reaction solution is higher than the permeability of the Bk ink, feathering is likely to occur. However, if the difference in the discharge time from the discharge of the Bk ink to the discharge of the processing liquid is increased to about 1 second or more as described above, the processing liquid is discharged in a state where the Bk ink has almost completely penetrated into the recording paper. Therefore, it is difficult to make a reaction solution. For this reason, the coloring material is insolubilized by the processing liquid in the absence of the additive Bk ink feathering, the occurrence of feathering can be suppressed, and good results with respect to scratch resistance can be obtained. .
[0071]
By the way, it is possible to increase the temperature of the ejected Bk ink by the action of the heater and shorten the time until the penetration of the Bk ink into the recording paper is completed. Thereby, the discharge time difference from the discharge of the Bk ink to the discharge of the processing liquid can be set short.
[0072]
Here, as the composition of the Bk ink, it is preferable to contain, for example, about 5% to 20% of diethylene glycol (DEG) so that the permeability is increased by the temperature rise due to the action of the heater.
[0073]
In addition, when Bk ink with improved permeability is used, it is possible to improve the image quality by shortening the discharge time difference from discharging the Bk ink to discharging the processing liquid. This is because it is possible to suppress the occurrence of feathering by ejecting and reacting the processing liquid before the feathering of the Bk ink penetrating into the recording paper occurs, and the Bk ink penetrates into a deep area in the recording paper. This is because the OD value can be increased by making the Bk ink insoluble in a state where the Bk ink has permeated into a shallow area in the recording paper by reacting with the treatment liquid before the treatment.
[0074]
However, in this case, the relationship between the feathering or OD value related to the image quality and the scratch resistance is a trade-off relationship. Therefore, it is limited to an appropriate range where both image quality and scratch resistance can be satisfied.
[0075]
Therefore, by applying heat from the heater to the discharged Bk ink, it is possible to suppress the penetration of the Bk ink to a deep range in the recording paper and to suppress the occurrence of feathering. The appropriate time range can be expanded, and good results can be obtained for the various characteristics described above.
[0076]
Description of each embodiment
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0077]
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a full-line type recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. The recording apparatus 1 employs an ink jet recording method in which recording is performed by discharging ink from a plurality of full line type ink jet recording heads arranged at predetermined positions along a recording paper conveyance direction (arrow A direction). The operation is controlled by the control circuit of FIG.
[0078]
Each of the recording heads 101Bk, 101S, 101C, 101M, and 101Y of the recording head group 101g has a predetermined area in the width direction of the recording sheet perpendicular to both the A direction and the vertical direction in the drawing, preferably the entire area in the width direction. And can be recorded. In each recording head, nozzles are arranged in the substantially same direction as the width direction.
[0079]
The recording paper 103 is conveyed in the A direction by the rotation of a pair of registration rollers 114 driven by a conveying motor, guided by a pair of guide plates 115, aligned at the leading edge, and conveyed onto the conveying belt 111. The conveying belt 111 as an endless belt is held by two rollers 112 and 113, and the vertical position on the upper side thereof is regulated by the platen 104. The recording paper 103 is conveyed by at least one of the rollers 112 and 113 being driven to rotate. This roller is rotationally driven by a driving source such as a motor (not shown), and is rotationally driven in the direction of transporting the recording paper 103 in the direction of arrow A. The recording paper 103 conveyed on the conveying belt 111 and recorded by the recording head group 101g is discharged onto the stocker 116.
[0080]
Each recording head of the recording head group 101g includes a black ink recording head 101Bk, a processing liquid head 101S that discharges the processing liquid, and each recording head for color ink (cyan head 101C, magenta head 101M, yellow head 101Y). Arranged as shown in the drawing direction A along the paper 103. Then, each color recording head discharges ink of each color and processing liquid, thereby enabling multicolor recording.
[0081]
The composition of the treatment liquid used here is as shown below.
[0082]
[Treatment solution]
Glycerin 7 parts
Diethylene glycol 5 parts
Acetylenol EH α2
(Manufactured by Kawaken Chemical)
4 parts of polyallylamine
Benzalkonium chloride 0.5 parts
3 parts of triethylene glycol monobutyl ether
Water balance
In the said composition, the content rate of acetylenol prepared and implemented for every embodiment.
[0083]
In the present embodiment, a heater 102 is provided between the processing liquid head 101S and the color ink head, and energization control is performed so as to always generate heat during the recording operation. The heater 102 of this embodiment is a halogen lamp heater, and heats black ink discharged onto the recording paper 103 from the recording surface side. In the present embodiment, the number of heaters 102 provided between the processing liquid head 101S and the color ink head is one, but a plurality of heaters are arranged according to the heat generation amount of one heater to obtain a desired heat generation amount. It may be a configuration. Here, the purpose of the heater is to improve fixability.
[0084]
The black ink head 101 </ b> Bk and the processing liquid head 101 </ b> S are arranged at a predetermined interval Di, and from discharging black ink to discharging the processing liquid according to the predetermined interval and the conveyance speed of the recording paper 103. The discharge time difference is determined. In other words, a black ink head is used to form an image having a desired characteristic by setting the discharge time difference from when black ink is discharged to forming a dot to when the processing liquid is overlapped and discharged to about 1 second. When the distance Di between 101Bk and the processing liquid head 101S is determined in the apparatus design as described above, the conveyance speed of the recording paper 103 may be controlled and adjusted so that the ejection time difference becomes a desired value. . If the transport speed is determined, the interval between the black ink head 101Bk and the processing liquid head 101S may be determined in accordance with the transport speed to design the arrangement of the recording heads.
[0085]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the full line type recording apparatus 1.
[0086]
The system controller 201 includes a microprocessor, a storage medium (ROM) that stores a control program for the apparatus and a recording method program of the present invention, and a storage medium (RAM that is used when the microprocessor performs processing). ) Etc. are arranged. A system controller 201 controls the entire apparatus. The motor 204 receives and operates information such as speed and moving distance from the driver 202, and transports a sheet-like recording medium such as recording paper in the direction of arrow A in FIG.
[0087]
The host computer 206 is a device for transferring information to be recorded to the recording device 1 of the present embodiment. The reception buffer 207 temporarily stores data from the host computer 206 and accumulates data until the data from the system controller 201 is read. The frame memory 208 is a memory for expanding data to be printed into image data, and has a memory size necessary for printing. In the present embodiment, the frame memory 208 is described as being capable of storing one sheet of recording paper, but the capacity of the frame memory is not limited in the present invention.
[0088]
The buffers 209S and 209P temporarily store data to be printed, and the storage capacity varies depending on the number of nozzles of the recording head. The print control unit 210 is for appropriately controlling the recording head according to a command from the system controller 201. The print control unit 210 controls the print speed, the number of print data, and the like, and also creates data for discharging the processing liquid. . The driver 211 drives the recording head unit 212S for discharging the processing liquid and the recording head unit 212P for discharging the ink for image recording, and is controlled by a signal from the print control unit 210. .
[0089]
First, image data is transferred from the host computer 206 to the reception buffer 207 and temporarily stored. Next, the stored image data is read by the system controller 201 and developed in the buffers 209S and 209P. The system controller 201 controls energization to the heater 102. Further, paper jam, ink out, paper out, etc. can be detected by various detection signals from the abnormality sensor 222.
[0090]
The print control unit 210 creates processing liquid data for discharging the processing liquid based on the image data developed in the buffers 209S and 209P. Then, the ejection operation of the recording head is controlled based on the image data and processing liquid data in the buffers 209S and 209P.
[0091]
The recording process in this embodiment and the state of ink and dots on the recording paper surface of the recording paper 103 and inside the recording paper surface will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0092]
In this embodiment, an ink having an overlay characteristic shown in Table 1 is used as the black ink. Further, the treatment liquid had a certain degree of permeability, and the acetylenol content was about 0.4 to 1.0%.
[0093]
First, the black ink droplet 30 is ejected by the black ink head 101Bk (FIG. 3A).
[0094]
The black ink droplet 30a adheres to the surface of the recording paper, and penetrates as indicated by the white arrow to the range indicated by the broken line inside the recording paper until the processing droplet by the next processing liquid head 101S is discharged. (FIG. 3B).
[0095]
In this embodiment, the configuration is as described above so that the discharge time difference from the discharge of the black ink to the discharge of the treatment liquid is about 1 second. During this time, most of the black ink droplets 30 a ejected from the black ink head 101 Bk penetrate into the recording paper 103.
[0096]
Next, when the recording paper 103 is conveyed and about 1 second has elapsed from the black ink ejection, a treatment liquid (recordability improving liquid) droplet 35 with a certain degree of increase in permeability is formed by ejecting the ink with the black ink head 101Bk. Then, the ink is discharged on the dots 30b (FIG. 3C). This time point shows a state in which the rapid swelling start point ts has been exceeded. The treated liquid droplet 35 causes the dye in black ink to react with the treatment liquid, so that the dye is insolubilized inside the recording paper 103.
[0097]
Thereafter, the dots 30b made of black ink and the treatment liquid droplets 35a ejected on the dots 30b are heated by the heater 102 (FIG. 3D), whereby the solvent contained in the black ink and the treatment liquid is changed. The evaporation of moisture is promoted, and the reaction rate and definition are improved (FIG. 3 (e)). Here, if the acetylenol content of the treatment liquid is set to 0.7% or more, heating with a heater is not necessary, but the strength of the reaction liquid film is improved by heating. Further, even if the acetylenol content of the treatment liquid is 0.7% or less, the effect is substantially the same as that of super-penetration by heat.
[0098]
As described above, the black ink droplet 30 is ejected, and the processing droplet 35 is overlapped after a certain time difference (about 1 second in this case) equal to or more than the above ts so that the black ink penetrates into the recording paper. The ink can be insolubilized inside the recording paper by the discharging recording process.
[0099]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the ink is insolubilized while penetrating into the recording paper 103, so that not only the water resistance is improved but also the scratch resistance and the overwrite resistance can be improved.
[0100]
4 shows the recording paper surface of the recording paper 103 and the inside of the recording paper surface when the color ink droplets 40 are ejected adjacent to the dots 30b by the black ink droplets 30 after the process shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the state of the ink and dot.
[0101]
FIG. 4A shows a state in which the color ink droplet 40 is ejected in the vicinity of the dot 30 b due to the black ink droplet 30 ejected earlier on the recording paper 103.
[0102]
FIG. 4B shows a state in which the color ink droplet 40 is ejected to the position adjacent to the dot 30 b by the previously ejected black ink droplet 30 and the color ink droplet 40 a adheres to the surface of the recording paper 103.
[0103]
FIG. 4C shows a state in which the color ink penetrates into a position adjacent to the dot 30b by the black ink droplet 30 to form the color dot 40b.
[0104]
Here, the ink ejected by the color ink heads (101C, 101M, 101Y) is the above-described highly permeable ink, has a high penetration speed into the recording paper 103, and other color inks are adjacent to each other. It has the characteristic that bleeding does not easily occur even when discharged. The black ink droplet 30 ejected first is an addition system having a lower permeability than this color ink. For this reason, there is a characteristic that bleeding tends to occur when other color ink droplets are ejected to adjacent positions. However, as described above, the treatment droplet 35b is overlaid on the dot 30b formed by the black ink droplet 30. Since heating by the heater 102 was performed as necessary, the recording paper 103 was insolubilized.
[0105]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4B, even if the color ink droplet 40a is ejected at a position adjacent to the dot 30b by the black ink droplet 30, no bleeding occurs with the color ink. ), Even in the state where the dot 30b by the black ink droplet 30 and the dot 40b by the color ink droplet 40a are adjacent to each other, the boundary portion between the different colors is recorded as a sharp image without blurring the different color dots 30b and 40b. be able to.
[0106]
In addition, it is possible to impart water resistance to the color by discharging the treatment liquid in advance to the color.
[0107]
(Modification of the first embodiment)
A heater with a small amount of heat generation is additionally provided between the black ink head 101Bk and the treatment liquid head 101S having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 so that the ink discharged from the black ink head 101Bk permeates the recording paper 103. May be promoted.
[0108]
Further, by using black ink whose acetylanol content is adjusted to 0.3% so that the permeability is slightly higher than the above-described overlay system, penetration of the black ink into the recording paper 103 is promoted. Also good.
[0109]
As described above, when the process of heating the ejected black ink is executed, or when the recording process is executed with the composition of the black ink itself having relatively high penetration, the effective ts can be shortened. Even if it shortens within 1 second, a good image can be formed. Therefore, the interval between the black ink head 101Bk and the processing liquid head 101S can be narrowed, which is advantageous for downsizing of the apparatus. Further, in an apparatus in which the distance between the black ink head 101Bk and the processing liquid head 101S is determined by design, the conveyance speed of the recording paper 103 can be increased. Needless to say, the transport speed at that time is determined in consideration of the recording speed at which the recording head can normally eject ink.
[0110]
Further, a processing liquid head 101S is additionally provided downstream of the color ink heads 101C, 101M, and 101Y in the conveyance direction A of the recording paper 103, and the processing liquid is also discharged to the dots of color ink. It is good also as a structure, By this structure, water resistance can be improved also with respect to the image by a color ink.
[0111]
(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the serial type recording apparatus 5.
[0112]
A recording sheet 103 as a recording medium is inserted from the sheet feeding unit 105 and discharged through the printing unit 126. In this embodiment, an inexpensive plain paper that is generally used widely is used as the recording paper 103. The printing unit 126 is provided with a recording head 101 mounted on a carriage 107, and the recording head 101 is configured to be reciprocally movable along the guide rail 109 by a motor 604 shown in FIG. The recording head 101 includes a black discharge unit 108Bk that discharges black ink, a processing liquid discharge unit 108S that discharges processing liquid, and a cyan discharge unit 108C, a magenta discharge unit 108M, and a yellow discharge unit that discharge color inks, respectively. Part 108Y.
[0113]
Ink is supplied from an ink tank (not shown) to each discharge unit, and a drive signal is supplied to a discharge electrothermal transducer (heater) provided for each nozzle of each discharge unit. As a result, thermal energy is applied to the ink, bubbles are generated in the ink by the thermal energy, and ink is ejected using the pressure at the time of foaming. That is, ink ejection employing a so-called bubble jet method is performed. The ejection ports of the ejection units are arranged in substantially the same direction as the conveyance direction X of the recording paper 103, that is, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the recording head 101.
[0114]
In addition, a heater 102 is provided over the entire moving range of the carriage 107 at a position facing each discharge unit. In the present embodiment, the heater 102 is configured to heat the recording paper 103 from the side opposite to the recording surface of the recording paper 103, and is suitable for heating the contacting surface. A ceramic heater can be used.
[0115]
The recording head 101 is configured to be able to record at a resolution of 360 dpi, the drive frequency of each electrothermal transducer is set to 7.2 kHz, and the carriage 107 has a scanning range of about 1.5 seconds. It is configured to reciprocate once.
[0116]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the serial type recording apparatus 5. In the figure, the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
[0117]
A motor 604 shown in FIG. 6 operates by receiving information such as speed and moving distance from the driver 602, and drives the recording head in the main scanning direction (scanning direction). The motor 605 receives information such as the speed and moving distance from the driver 602 and operates to convey a sheet-like recording medium such as recording paper in the sub-scanning direction (conveying direction).
[0118]
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a recording process by the serial type recording apparatus shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and schematically shows a state in which the recording unit 126 is viewed from above.
[0119]
In FIG. 7, the carriage 107 reciprocates in the X direction substantially perpendicular to the conveyance direction Y above the recording paper 103 conveyed in the Y direction in close contact with the heater 102. The discharge ports (indicated by dots in the drawing) of the black discharge unit 108Bk, the processing liquid discharge unit 108S, and the color discharge units (108C, 108M, and 108Y) mounted on the carriage 107 are ink and processing liquid for the recording paper 103. Is opened in the direction of discharging. Further, the heater 102 generates heat during the recording operation, and is provided at a position facing the area where the processing liquid discharge unit 108S and the color discharge units 108C, 108M, and 108Y perform discharge.
[0120]
In each ejection unit, ejection ports are arranged so that printing with a width d can be performed along the conveyance direction Y of the recording paper 103 by one scanning. Further, in order to provide a time difference between the ejection of ink by the black ejection unit 108Bk and the ejection of the processing liquid by the processing liquid ejection unit 108S, the black ejection unit 108Bk and the processing liquid ejection unit 108S are along the transport direction by a distance of the recording width d. It is arranged at a position shifted. As described above, the discharge time difference is increased with respect to ts to complete the penetration of the black ink into the predetermined range in the thickness direction of the recording paper. With this configuration, the ejection of the ink from the black ejection unit 108Bk to the predetermined position of the recording paper 103 and the ejection of the processing liquid by the processing liquid ejection unit 108S are performed for one scan of the carriage 107 (the scanning cycle is 1.5 seconds). And the above-described predetermined time difference is performed. That is, the configuration of the present embodiment realizes a serial type recording apparatus that performs a recording process substantially the same as the recording process by the full line type recording apparatus of the first embodiment.
[0121]
In the recording process by the apparatus having the above configuration, black ink is ejected by the black ejection unit 108Bk in the first scan. The area where black ink is ejected is upstream of the position of the heater 102 and is not heated by the heater 102. Thereafter, after a certain amount of time is passed so that the black ink penetrates into the recording paper 103, the recording liquid is conveyed by the recording width d, and the same region on the heater 102 is scanned, so that the processing liquid ejection unit 108S performs the next scanning. The process droplets are superposed on the dots formed with black ink and discharged. Further, the heat generation of the heater 102 promotes the evaporation of the water content of the solvent contained in the black ink and the processing liquid, so that the fixability is improved and the color material in the ink can be insolubilized inside the recording paper 103.
[0122]
As described above, in the serial type recording apparatus of the present embodiment, the black ink is ejected, and after a certain amount of time is passed so that the black ink penetrates into the recording paper, the processing liquid droplets are ejected in an overlapping manner. The ink is insolubilized while penetrating into the inside of the ink jet 103, the evaporation of the moisture of the solvent contained in the black ink and the processing liquid is promoted by the heater, the fixing property is improved, and the ink is penetrated into the inside of the recording paper 103. It can be insolubilized, and it can be improved not only in water resistance but also in scratch resistance and overwrite resistance.
[0123]
Further, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, the heater 102 is provided on the back side of the recording paper 103 in the area where the discharge is performed by the discharge units (108C, 108M, and 108Y) that discharge the color ink. It is also possible to improve the fixing property.
[0124]
(Third embodiment)
FIG. 8 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a full-line type recording apparatus according to the third embodiment. In the figure, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
[0125]
The recording apparatus of FIG. 8 has a configuration in which heaters 80a and 80b are added between the black ink head 101Bk and the processing liquid head 101S of the recording apparatus 1 of FIG. Ink having properties was used. A treatment liquid having a property of higher permeability than black ink was used. Thus, by heating with the heaters 80a and 80b after the black ink is discharged, the penetration of the black ink can be suppressed at a shallow position from the surface inside the recording paper 103, and the recording density can be increased. Further, since the processing liquid is ejected by the head 101S in this state, it is possible to insolubilize in a state where the penetration of the black ink is suppressed to a shallow position from the surface inside the recording paper 103.
[0126]
Hereinafter, the recording process by the recording apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 8 and the states of ink and dots on the recording paper surface of the recording paper 103 and in the recording paper 103 surface will be described with reference to FIG.
[0127]
First, the black ink droplet 30 is ejected by the black ink head 101Bk (FIG. 9A). The black ink droplet 30a adheres to the surface of the recording paper and penetrates into the recording paper 103 as indicated by the white arrow (FIG. 9B).
[0128]
While the recording paper 103 is conveyed to the head 101S position after the black ink droplet 30 is discharged, the dots 30b formed on the recording paper 103 are heated by the heaters 80a and 80b, and the evaporation of moisture during this time is promoted. Fixability is improved, and ink permeation into the recording paper 103 is suppressed (FIG. 9C). Therefore, almost no ink remains on the surface of the recording paper 103, and after the ink has penetrated from the surface of the recording paper 103 to a shallow position, the processing liquid is superposed and discharged. .
[0129]
When the recording paper 103 is further conveyed, the processing liquid 35 is superposed on the dots 30b formed by discharging the ink with the black ink head 101Bk by the processing liquid head 101S (FIG. 9D). ).
[0130]
The treatment droplet 35b that has been struck and adhered to the surface penetrates as indicated by the white arrow, whereby the dye in the black ink reacts with the treatment liquid (FIG. 9E). As a result, the dye is insolubilized inside the recording paper 103 (FIG. 9 (f)).
[0131]
Since this reaction occurs inside the surface layer of the recording paper 103, the reaction product insolubilized by this reaction hardly remains on the surface of the recording paper 103 as shown in FIG.
[0132]
Further, this reaction can further suppress the penetration of the black ink ejected first into the recording paper 103, and the image density of the black ink can be further improved.
[0133]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress the black ink from penetrating into the recording paper 103 by heating with the heaters 80a and 80b after discharging the semipermeable black ink. In this state, the black ink can be insolubilized inside the recording paper 103 by overlappingly discharging the treatment liquid. By insolubilizing the black ink while penetrating into the recording paper 103, not only the water resistance but also the scratch resistance and the overwrite resistance can be improved. Further, since the black ink can be prevented from penetrating into the deep area inside the recording paper 103, the density of the image by the black ink can be improved, and an image such as a sharp character / line image can be recorded. .
[0134]
Further, in the above configuration, since the treatment liquid has a property of higher permeability than the black ink, the treatment liquid penetrates into the recording paper 103 faster than the penetration speed of the black ink and reacts with the black ink. And the penetration of black ink into the recording paper 103 can be further suppressed. Further, since the solvent separated by the insolubilization of the color material of the black ink penetrates the recording paper 103 quickly, the fixability can also be improved.
[0135]
(Modification of the third embodiment)
FIG. 10 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a full-line type recording apparatus according to a modification of the third embodiment. In the figure, the same components as those in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
[0136]
The recording apparatus of FIG. 10 is different from the recording apparatus of FIG. 8 only in that a heater 80c is added between the processing liquid head 101S and the color (C) ink head 101C. With this configuration, heating by the heater 80c is performed even after the processing liquid is discharged.
[0137]
Hereinafter, the recording process by the recording apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 10 and the states of ink and dots on the recording paper surface of the recording paper 103 and inside the recording paper 103 surface will be described with reference to FIG. Due to the difference in apparatus configuration described above, the recording process shown in FIGS. 11A to 11D is the same as that shown in FIGS. 9A to 9D, and detailed description of this process is omitted. To do.
[0138]
After the black ink droplet 30 is ejected, heating by the heater is performed, and subsequently, the treatment droplet 35 is ejected while being superimposed on the dot 30b (FIGS. 11A to 11D).
[0139]
When the processing liquid is discharged and the recording paper 103 is further conveyed, heating by the heater 80c is performed (FIG. 11E). As a result, the dots 30b made of black ink and the treatment liquid droplets 35b ejected over the dots 30b are heated, and the evaporation of the moisture of the solvent contained in the black ink and the treatment liquid is promoted (FIG. 11 (f) )). In addition, by evaporating the water in the solvent, it is possible to prevent the insolubilized coloring material from flowing along with the penetration of the solvent, so it is possible to prevent a kind of feathering, The image quality of the line drawing can be further improved.
[0140]
8 and 10, even if a color dot (not shown) is printed adjacent to the black ink dot 30b, the color of the black ink is the same as in the first embodiment. Since the material is insolubilized inside the recording paper 103, no blur occurs between black and color.
[0141]
(Fourth embodiment)
The overall configuration of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. 5, and the state of the recording unit (126) viewed from above is schematically shown in FIG. The recording apparatus of FIG. 12 performs a recording process substantially the same as the recording process by the full line type recording apparatus of the third embodiment by a serial type.
[0142]
In the serial type configuration of the second embodiment described above, the black ejection unit 108Bk and the treatment liquid ejection unit 108S are arranged at positions shifted along the transport direction Y by the distance of the recording width d.
[0143]
On the other hand, in the serial type recording apparatus according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 12, black ink is ejected by the black ejection unit 108Bk, a predetermined amount of heating is performed by the heater 102, and then the processing liquid and the color ink are sequentially applied. Discharge. The heater 102 is disposed in close contact with the back surface of the recording paper at a position corresponding to the area scanned by the carriage 107 on which each head is mounted, and the area where the black ejection unit 108Bk and the processing liquid ejection unit 108S are ejected is defined. Match. Then, scanning with all the heads is performed in two steps with a time difference, so that insolubilization of the color material in the black ink does not occur on the surface of the recording paper.
[0144]
That is, printing is first performed by the black ejection unit 108Bk in the first printing scan. The recording paper 103 is not transported as it is, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the processing liquid ejection by the processing liquid ejection section 108S and the color inks by the color ejection sections (108C, 108M, 108Y) in the second recording scan. (Cyan, magenta, yellow) is discharged. When the above-described two scans are performed on the same area, the recording paper 103 is conveyed by a pitch corresponding to the recording width d, and the same divided scanning is repeatedly executed. The heater 102 always generates heat during the recording operation, but by performing the scanning in two steps with a time difference, it is possible to perform desired heating with the same effect as in the third embodiment. .
[0145]
In this embodiment, the arrangement order of the black ink discharge unit 108Bk and the treatment liquid discharge unit 108S (and other color discharge units 108C, 108M, and 108Y) in the conveyance direction (X direction in the drawing) of the carriage 107 is as follows. It is not specified in particular. That is, as shown in FIG. 13 when the recording unit (126) is viewed from above, the color ejection units 108Y, 108M, and 108C, the black ejection unit 108Bk, and the processing liquid ejection unit 108S are arranged on the carriage 107 in the X direction from the left side in the drawing. The black discharge unit 108Bk performs recording in the first recording scan, and the processing liquid and each color by the processing liquid discharge unit 108S and the color ejection units in the second recording scan. Ink discharge may be performed.
[0146]
(Fifth embodiment)
The overall configuration of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment is a serial type configuration similar to that shown in FIG. 5, and the state of the recording unit (126) viewed from above is schematically shown in FIG.
[0147]
In this embodiment, a black image is divided and recorded by two scans, and the black image formed by the first recording scan is recorded by interpolating and recording by the second recording scan. Is completed. The two scans are performed with a predetermined time difference as in the above-described embodiments. Other images are completely recorded in one scan.
[0148]
14, the same components as those shown in FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. However, the black discharge portion 118Bk in FIG. 14 is arranged with discharge ports so that printing can be performed with a recording width 2d that is twice the recording width d of the other discharge portions (the treatment liquid discharge portion 108S and the color discharge portions 108C, 108M, and 108Y). Has been.
[0149]
That is, in FIG. 14, the discharge ports are arranged in the discharge units along the conveyance direction Y of the recording paper 103. In the treatment liquid ejection unit 108S and the color ejection units (108C, 108M, 108Y), the ejection ports are arranged in the Y direction so that the width d can be recorded at the position corresponding to the arrangement position of the heater 102. In the black discharge portion 118Bk, the discharge ports are arranged over a distance of 2d so that recording can be performed with a width twice that of the black discharge portion 118Bk. The area where the recording is performed by the ejection in the first recording scan by the black ejection unit 118Bk is shifted to the upstream side in the transport direction by the pitch corresponding to the recording width d with respect to the area recorded by the ejection of the other ejection units. ing.
[0150]
Each time the carriage 107 is scanned in the X direction, the recording paper 103 is transported in the Y direction by a distance corresponding to the recording width d, and the recording operation by one scanning of the carriage 107 and the transporting operation of the recording paper 103 are repeated. Recording is performed on almost the entire surface 103.
[0151]
As described above, since the recording width 2d of the black ejection portion 118Bk is wider than the recording width d of the other ejection portions, the black ejection portion 118Bk is scanned twice with respect to a predetermined recording area. In the recording by the black ejection unit 118Bk, a thinned image is recorded in each scan so that the image is completed in two scans for a predetermined region.
[0152]
For example, the recording width 2d of the black discharge unit 118Bk is scanned separately on the upstream side (upper side in the figure) and the downstream side (lower side in the figure) of the recording paper conveyance direction Y. In the first scan of the carriage 107, a black image thinned out without being heated by the heater 2 is recorded using the discharge port on the upstream side of the black discharge portion 118Bk. Then, the recording paper 103 is conveyed in the Y direction by a pitch corresponding to the recording width d. In the subsequent second scan of the carriage 107, the discharge port on the downstream side of the black discharge unit 118Bk is used to record the image of the thinned portion in the area recorded on the upstream side for the first time, and the two recordings are mutually performed. Division discharge is performed by the black discharge unit 118Bk so as to be complementary.
[0153]
In this way, recording is performed such that the image recorded by the black ejection unit 118Bk is complementary in two scans to complete a black image, and the amount of black ink ejected in one scan Can be reduced. As complementary thinning patterns, there are a zigzag pattern and an inverted zigzag pattern (also referred to as a checker pattern).
[0154]
By performing the recording scan as described above, with respect to the area recorded at the discharge port on the upstream side of the black discharge portion 118Bk, at the next scan, recording by the discharge port on the downstream side of the black discharge portion 118Bk, Heating by the heater 102 is performed together with the discharge of the treatment liquid by the treatment liquid discharge unit 108S and the discharge of the color ink by the color discharge units 108C, 108M, and 108Y.
[0155]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the black ink discharge amount in one scan by the black discharge unit 118Bk is suppressed, and the black ink is discharged to an adjacent position as compared with the case of recording an image in one scan. Other inks can be reduced as much as possible. In particular, when recording is performed with the above-described zigzag and reverse zigzag patterns thinned out, the ink is not ejected to positions adjacent to each other in the X and Y directions in the figure. As a result, ink overflow and ink flow that occur when a large number of inks are ejected to positions adjacent to each other do not occur, and the black image boundary can be recorded with higher quality.
[0156]
Further, the discharge time difference between the discharge of the black ink from the discharge port on the downstream side (the lower side in the drawing) of the black discharge unit 118Bk and the discharge of the processing liquid from the processing liquid discharge unit 108s is compared with the configuration of the second embodiment. It has become shorter. However, the black ink previously ejected from the ejection port on the upstream side (upper side in the drawing) of the black ejection portion 118Bk has permeated into the recording paper 103 during the next scanning, and the black ink has permeated first. When ink is ejected in the vicinity of the current position, penetration of the subsequent ink is promoted. For this reason, even if the processing liquid is continuously discharged, the ink is substantially infiltrated into the recording paper 103, and thereby the ink coloring material can be insolubilized at a relatively shallow position inside the recording paper 103. it can.
[0157]
In each of the above-described embodiments, the heater 102 has been described as always operating. However, when an abnormality such as a paper jam is detected by the abnormality sensor 222, the system controller 201 stops the heating and stops the heat generation. It is also possible to adopt a configuration for controlling (see FIGS. 2 and 6).
[0158]
(Other)
The present invention includes means (for example, an electrothermal converter, a laser beam, etc.) that generates thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink, particularly in the ink jet recording system, and the ink is generated by the thermal energy. In the recording head and the recording apparatus of the type that causes the state change, excellent effects are brought about. This is because such a system can achieve higher recording density and higher definition.
[0159]
As its typical configuration and principle, for example, those performed using the basic principle disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740,796 are preferable. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it is arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path holding the liquid (ink). By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling to the electrothermal transducer, the thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and the recording head This is effective because film boiling occurs on the heat acting surface of the liquid, and as a result, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to the drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed. By the growth and contraction of the bubbles, liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable that the drive signal has a pulse shape, since the bubble growth and contraction is performed immediately and appropriately, and thus it is possible to achieve discharge of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness. As this pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further excellent recording can be performed by employing the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface.
[0160]
As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination configuration (straight liquid channel or right-angle liquid channel) of the discharge port, the liquid channel, and the electrothermal transducer as disclosed in each of the above-mentioned specifications, the heat acting part The configurations using US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose a configuration in which the lens is disposed in the bent region, are also included in the present invention. In addition, for a plurality of electrothermal transducers, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 59-123670 that discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal transducer or an aperture that absorbs pressure waves of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-138461 which discloses a configuration corresponding to the discharge unit. That is, whatever the form of the recording head is, according to the present invention, recording can be performed reliably and efficiently.
[0161]
Furthermore, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus. As such a recording head, either a configuration satisfying the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally may be used.
[0162]
In addition, even the serial type as shown in the above example can be connected to the main body of the recording head or attached to the main body of the device so that electrical connection with the main body of the device and ink supply from the main body are possible. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip type recording head or a cartridge type recording head in which an ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself is used.
[0163]
In addition, it is preferable to add a recording head ejection recovery means, a preliminary auxiliary means, and the like as the configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention, since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, heating is performed using a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressurizing or suction unit, an electrothermal transducer, a heating element different from this, or a combination thereof. Examples thereof include a preliminary heating unit for performing the discharge and a preliminary discharge unit for performing discharge different from the recording.
[0164]
Also, regarding the type or number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, a plurality of recording heads are provided corresponding to a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities, in addition to one provided corresponding to a single color ink. May be used. That is, for example, as a recording mode of the recording apparatus, not only a recording mode of only a mainstream color such as black, but also a recording head may be configured integrally or by a combination of a plurality of different colors, Alternatively, the present invention is extremely effective for an apparatus having at least one of full-color recording modes by color mixing.
[0165]
In addition, the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention may be used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function. It may be a thing.
[0166]
In the mixing of the treatment liquid (liquid composition) and the ink as described above, in the present invention, the treatment liquid and the ink described above are mixed on the recording medium or at a position where the ink penetrates the recording medium. Among the cationic substances contained in the treatment liquid, there are low molecular weight components or cationic oligomers and water-soluble dyes having an anionic group used in the ink or anionic compounds used in the pigment ink. The association is caused by ionic interaction, and instantaneously separates from the solution phase. As a result, dispersion failure occurs in the pigment ink, and a pigment aggregate is formed.
[0167]
Next, as the second stage of the reaction, the association of the above-mentioned dye and the low molecular weight cationic substance or cationic oligomer or the aggregate of the pigment is adsorbed by the polymer component contained in the treatment liquid. The size of the dye aggregate or the pigment aggregate generated in the above is further increased, making it difficult to enter the gaps between the fibers of the recording medium, and as a result, only the liquid part separated into solid and liquid is soaked into the recording paper, Compatibility between print quality and fixability is achieved. At the same time, aggregates or pigment aggregates formed from low molecular weight components of cationic substances or cationic oligomers, anionic dyes and cationic substances generated by the mechanism as described above become thicker and move with the movement of the liquid medium. Since they do not move, even when adjacent ink dots are formed of different colors as in the formation of a full-color image, they do not mix with each other and bleeding does not occur. The aggregate is essentially water-insoluble, and the formed image has perfect water resistance. In addition, the light fastness of the image formed by the polymer shielding effect is also improved.
[0168]
As insolubilization or aggregation used in this specification, an example is a phenomenon of only the first stage, and another example is a phenomenon including both the first stage and the second stage.
[0169]
In carrying out the present invention, it is not necessary to use a cationic polymer substance having a large molecular weight or a polyvalent metal salt as in the prior art, or the effect of the present invention is further improved even if it is necessary to use it. Since it is only necessary to use it supplementarily to improve it, the amount of use can be minimized. As a result, the present invention eliminates the deterioration of the color developability of the dye, which has been a problem when trying to obtain a water resistance effect using a conventional cationic polymer substance or a polyvalent metal salt. Can be cited as an effect.
[0170]
The recording medium used for carrying out the present invention is not particularly limited, and so-called plain papers such as copy papers and bond papers conventionally used can be suitably used. Of course, a coated paper specially prepared for ink-jet printing and a transparent film for OHP can also be suitably used, and general high-quality paper and glossy paper can also be suitably used.
[0171]
Further, the method of the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Needless to say, the method of the present invention can also be applied to a case where the method is achieved by supplying a program to a system or apparatus. In this case, by reading out a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the method of the present invention to the system or device, the system or device can enjoy the effects of the method of the present invention. Become.
[0172]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, ink is ejected to the recording medium, and the recording liquid is ejected when recording is performed by ejecting the treatment liquid almost to the position where the ink is ejected. When the ink permeates from the surface of the recording medium into a predetermined range in the thickness direction, the processing liquid is discharged and reacted with the processing liquid, so that the coloring material in the ink can be insolubilized within the predetermined range, and the surface of the recording medium Therefore, the effect of improving the water resistance, scratch resistance, and overwrite resistance immediately after printing can be obtained while improving the quality of the image recorded with the ink.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a full-line type recording apparatus according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the full line type recording apparatus according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a recording process and states of ink and dots on the recording paper surface and inside the recording paper surface in the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a recording process and states of ink and dots on the recording paper surface and inside the recording paper surface in the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a configuration of a serial type recording apparatus according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control circuit of a serial type recording apparatus according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a main part of the apparatus for explaining a recording process by a serial type recording apparatus according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating a schematic configuration of a full-line type recording apparatus according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a recording process by a full line type recording apparatus according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating a schematic configuration of a full-line type recording apparatus according to a modification of the third embodiment.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a recording process performed by a full line type recording apparatus according to a modification of the third embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a plan view schematically showing a main part of a serial type recording apparatus according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a plan view schematically showing the main part of a modification of the serial type recording apparatus according to the fourth embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a plan view schematically showing the main part of a serial type recording apparatus according to a fifth embodiment.
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a difference in the state of ink permeation into a recording sheet depending on the presence or absence of a heater.
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a value of a proportionality coefficient Ka with respect to a content ratio of acetylenol in ink determined by an experiment.
FIG. 17 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the ink penetration amount and the elapsed time.
FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an image state of a printing experiment result according to a difference in the acetylenol content ratio of the ink when using pigment ink.
FIG. 19 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship with the surface tension when the content ratio of acetylenol to water is adjusted.
FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining a mechanism in which a treatment liquid is ejected to ink in a state where the ink has permeated in a depth direction within a predetermined range in the recording medium, and a coloring material in the ink reacts in the paper to make it insoluble. It is.
FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing the penetration speed of ink.
FIG. 22 is a graph showing the relationship between tw and ts with respect to the acetylenol content of ink.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Ink drops
10a, 10b, 10c Ink droplet
101 Recording head
101g Recording head group
101Bk, 101S, 101C, 101M, 101Y Recording head
102 Heater
103 Recording paper
104 platen
105 Paper feeder
107 Carriage
108Bk, 108S, 108C, 108M, 108Y, 118Bk Discharge unit
109 guide rail
111 Conveyor belt
112, 113 Roller
114 Registration Roller
115 Guide plate
116 Stocker
126 Printing section
201 System controller
202, 211, 602, 603 driver
204, 205, 605 Motor
206 Host computer
207 Receive buffer
208 frame memory
209S, 209P buffer
210 Print controller
212S, 212P recording head
222 Abnormal sensor

Claims (8)

An ink having a Ka value defined by the Bristow method of 3 (ml · m ⁻² · msec ^−1/2 ) or less is ejected to a recording medium , and the coloring material in the ink is ejected from the ejected ink. The recording is performed on the recording medium by applying a treatment liquid containing a component that reacts with the nonionic surfactant and the Ka value of 5 (ml · m ⁻² · msec ^−1/2 ) or more. A method,
After the ink landed on the recording medium, by applying the treatment liquid to the ink after a lapse of the rapid swelling starting point ts after penetration of the ink into the recording medium that the landing, at least within a recording medium A recording method comprising insolubilizing a color material in ink . The recording method according to claim 1, wherein a concentration of the nonionic surfactant in the treatment liquid is equal to or higher than a critical micelle concentration with respect to pure water of the nonionic surfactant . Scanning means for scanning the recording medium with a first head for ejecting black ink as the ink and a second head for ejecting the processing liquid;
Using a conveying means for conveying the recording medium,
The first head and the second head are arranged shifted along the conveyance direction of the recording medium,
2. The recording method according to claim 1, wherein the treatment liquid is ejected by the second head in a scan after one scan than the scan in which the black ink is ejected by the first head . The recording method according to claim 1 , wherein heat is applied to a reaction product of the ink and the processing liquid after the process of applying the processing liquid. It said ink comprises a pigment, wherein the treatment liquid recording method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a component for aggregating the pigment in the ink. The ink is black ink, after application of the treatment liquid, the recording method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized that you grant color ink. Using an ink having a Ka value defined by the Bristow method of 1 (ml · m ⁻² · msec ^−1/2 ) or less and a treatment liquid having a Ka value of 5 or more and containing a nonionic surfactant A recording method for recording on a recording medium,
After the ink containing the color material having polarity is landed on the recording medium, after the rapid swelling start point ts after the landed ink has penetrated the recording medium, the ink having the opposite polarity to the color material is passed. the treatment liquid by giving the ink landed on the recording medium, characterized Rukoto insolubilized by at least a recording medium inside the treatment liquid coloring material in the ink record method comprising the components. The recording method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in Rukoto for discharging the ink and the treatment liquid to the recording medium cause bubbles by the action of thermal energy to the ink and the treatment liquid.

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