JP5025341B2 - Manufacturing method of recorded matter - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a recorded matter. Specifically, the present invention relates to a recorded matter including a step of forming an ink image on an intermediate transfer member using an ink jet recording method, and a step of transferring the ink image formed on the transfer member to a desired recording medium. It relates to a method of manufacture.

  The ink jet recording method is a method of recording characters, images, and the like by directly ejecting liquid ink onto a recording medium such as paper, cloth, or plastic sheet. In addition to the advantages of the device, such as easy colorization and device miniaturization and low noise, this method is simple because the mechanism is simple. There is also an advantage in use that the printed matter can be easily obtained. Furthermore, recent products can output images equivalent to silver halide photographs in terms of image quality, and the speed has been increased, and they are used in a wide range of fields including homes and offices.

  A problem with inkjet recording is that the quality of the image differs depending on the recording medium used. This is because ink fixation in ink jet recording depends on penetration into the recording medium. In recent years, a demand for outputting a high-quality image at a high speed irrespective of a recording medium has been particularly strong from the industrial field, and has become a major problem in ink jet recording.

  For example, in a recording medium in which ink permeability is too high, a phenomenon called feathering in which ink bleeds along paper fibers may occur. In addition, the coloring agent sinks with the moisture of the ink, so that the color development may be deteriorated, or the front image may be seen through from the back. When ink permeability is low, a phenomenon called beading in which adjacent ink dots are attracted to each other, or a phenomenon called bleeding in which ink is mixed in a boundary portion of overlapping colors may occur. In addition, there may be a case where the ink does not dry forever, resulting in poor drying. These problems are caused by the high fluidity of ink for inkjet recording.

  Ink-jet recording ink ejection methods include continuous methods, on-demand methods that use electrothermal transducers (heating elements), electromechanical transducers (piezo elements), etc. Only ink of viscosity can be ejected. This is because the ink used in the ink jet recording method is required to have high fluidity in the ink jet head in order to satisfy the discharge suitability. On the other hand, as described above, low flow characteristics are required for the ink on the surface of the recording medium in order to prevent mixing with adjacent ink droplets or attracting ink droplets. As described above, in the case of the ink jet system, although ink with high fluidity is ejected onto a recording medium, the fluidity of the ink must be lowered on the recording medium, and conflicting characteristics are required.

  In order to satisfy these conflicting requirements for ink at the same time, an ink image is formed on the intermediate transfer member, the ink image formed on the transfer member is transferred to a desired recording medium, and the ink image is transferred to the desired recording medium. Has been proposed (Patent Documents 1 to 3, etc.). In this method, the ink ejected from the ink jet head is once adhered to the transfer body, and an ink image in a state where the fluidity of the ink is reduced to some extent is formed on the transfer body, and then the ink image is recorded from the transfer body. It is transferred to the medium.

US Pat. No. 4,538,156 US Pat. No. 5,099,256 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-92849 Japanese Patent No. 2916864 JP 2002-321350 A

  Therefore, in Patent Document 4 and Patent Document 5, a liquid that reacts with ink is applied on an intermediate transfer member, and when ink comes into contact therewith, the fluidity of the ink is controlled by the reaction of these two liquids. A proposed method has been proposed. When this method is used, it is said that “beading” and “bleeding” on the surface of the intermediate transfer member can be prevented and a good image can be formed.

  However, in this case, since the ink droplets are applied to the intermediate transfer member through the reaction liquid layer, the image quality greatly depends on the application state of the reaction liquid. In other words, when the reaction liquid is not properly formed on the intermediate transfer member, for example, when it is not formed as a thin film having a uniform thickness, landing deviation of the ink droplets or deformation of the dot shape occurs, and the intermediate transfer member is transferred to the intermediate transfer member. High-quality image formation, and thus high-quality image recording on the recording medium is hindered.

  The present invention reduces ink droplet landing deviation and dot shape deformation by appropriately forming a reaction liquid on an intermediate transfer member in intermediate transfer type image recording to which ink jet recording is applied. For the purpose. Accordingly, the present invention enables high-quality image formation on an intermediate transfer member and, consequently, high-quality image recording on a recording medium.

Therefore, the present invention is a method for producing a recorded matter in which an ink image is formed on a recording medium,
A step of applying a reaction liquid that reacts with ink on an intermediate transfer body having a pattern composed of a lyophilic part and a liquid repellent part on the surface ;
Forming an ink image on the intermediate transfer body by ejecting ink from an inkjet head to the intermediate transfer body in which the applied reaction liquid is present in the lyophilic portion ;
Transferring the ink image formed on the intermediate transfer member to the recording medium;
The reaction liquid dots present in the lyophilic portion are provided so as to be smaller than the ink dots for forming the ink image .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to form an ink image on which an ink droplet landing deviation and dot shape deformation are reduced on the intermediate transfer member. Then, by transferring this, it becomes possible to stably record high quality images on a wide range of recording media.

1. Embodiment of Image Recording Apparatus FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment. The image recording apparatus of this embodiment basically includes a process for forming an ink image on an intermediate transfer member and a process for transferring an ink image formed on the transfer member to a desired recording medium. The recording process included in is performed.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a cylindrical intermediate transfer member that is driven to rotate about an axis 1A in the direction of arrow F, and has a surface layer 2 on which a pattern composed of a lyophilic portion and a lyophobic portion is formed. is doing. Transfer is applied to the outer periphery of the intermediate transfer body 1, that is, to the portion facing the surface layer 2, a coating device 3 that applies a water-based reaction liquid 4, an ink jet head 5 that ejects ink to form an ink image, and a recording medium 9. A pressure roller 10 and the like are provided.

  That is, the intermediate transfer body 1 rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and the reaction solution 4 is first applied to the surface by the coating device 3. Here, since the reaction solution is aqueous, the applied reaction solution is held in a lyophilic portion on the surface of the intermediate transfer member. As a result, a constant amount of the reaction solution can always be present uniformly on the transfer body. Next, ink is ejected from the inkjet head 5 as, for example, droplets, and an ink image (mirror-inverted image) 6 is formed on the surface layer 2 of the intermediate transfer body 1. At this time, the ink undergoes an agglomeration reaction instantaneously upon contact with the reaction liquid, and the fluidity of the color material is reduced, so that the ink image is not disturbed. Then, the recording surface of the recording medium 9 is brought into contact with the image formed on the intermediate transfer body 1, and the image is transferred onto the recording medium 9 by applying pressure from the back surface side by the pressure roller 10.

  In the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, a water removal promoting device 7 in the form of a blower is disposed for the purpose of evaporating and removing water or solvent components in the ink constituting the image on the intermediate transfer body 1. Thus, prior to the transfer, the water content of the ink is reduced to the allowable amount of the recording medium. In addition, in the apparatus of illustration, the heating roller 10 which contacts and heats the back surface side of the intermediate transfer body 1 made into the hollow shape is used. However, any of these may be used.

  Further, in the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, the intermediate transfer member after the ink image is transferred to the recording medium 9 is washed by the next-stage cleaning unit 12 in preparation for receiving the next image for repeated use multiple times. Is done.

  When ink jet recording is performed after applying a reaction solution to the intermediate transfer member, the application state of the reaction solution on the intermediate transfer member greatly affects the final image quality. What is important here is the thickness of the reaction solution and its uniformity.

  This will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b). On the intermediate transfer body, the ink that has contacted the reaction liquid reacts instantaneously and the fluidity decreases. However, when the film thickness of the reaction liquid is thick, as shown in FIG. A fluid reaction liquid R layer remains between I and the intermediate transfer member 1. In this state, the position of the ink aggregate I easily shifts due to the impact of subsequent landing of ink droplets or the movement of the intermediate transfer member. Further, when the applied amount of the reaction liquid R, that is, the film thickness of the reaction liquid is not uniform, the dot diameter of the ink aggregate I becomes uneven due to the influence of the reaction intensity or the like, or the dot due to uneven landing resistance of the ink droplets. Positional displacement and shape deformation will occur. That is, as shown in FIG. 2B, the reaction is strong in the portion where the thickness of the reaction solution is thick, and the fluidity of the ink is instantaneously deprived and the dots do not spread, whereas in the portion where the reaction solution is thin, This is because the reaction is weak and the dots tend to spread.

  In general, in order to apply the reaction liquid thinly and uniformly, it is considered desirable to keep the surface of the intermediate transfer member easily wetted by the reaction liquid (lyophilic), but that alone is insufficient. When the entire surface of the intermediate transfer member has high wettability, the reaction solution easily moves and the reaction solution is easily biased. Such movement or bias of the reaction liquid becomes a factor that disturbs the ink image on the transfer body. In addition, when the entire surface of the intermediate transfer member is made lyophilic, the entire amount of the supplied reaction solution is received, so the applied amount depends on the accuracy of the coating apparatus, and in order to control this with high accuracy A complicated and expensive coating apparatus is required.

  Further, when a reaction solution is applied to the intermediate transfer body 1 that has been lyophilicized over the entire surface, the applied reaction solution uniformly spreads over a relatively wide area on the surface of the transfer body and has a relatively large area. A thin film of the reaction solution R is formed (see FIG. 18). However, when the ink I is applied onto the reaction liquid in such a state, the ink moves on the reaction liquid in a relatively wide range as shown in FIG. That is, the thin film surface of the reaction liquid is a free surface on which the ink can move freely, so that the ink can move in a relatively wide range as long as the thin film has a relatively large area. Therefore, in order to reduce the disturbance of the ink image due to such ink movement, it is necessary to limit the ink movement range on the reaction liquid to some extent.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, as described in detail below, the surface of the intermediate transfer member is lyophilic in an appropriate fine pattern so that the amount of the reaction liquid retained is constant for each pattern component, and the result As a result, a reaction liquid film having a uniform and preferable thickness is formed. Further, by forming the lyophilic part only on a part of the surface of the transfer body, not on the entire surface, the range in which the reaction liquid exists is limited (see FIG. 19), and thus the ink does not move more than necessary on the reaction liquid. (See FIG. 20).

2. Steps and Applicable Elements According to the Method of the Present Invention Next, the steps according to the present invention and elements applicable thereto will be described in detail. Further, this description is made while appropriately relating to the configuration of the apparatus of FIG.

  The apparatus configuration of FIG. 1 includes a step (a) of applying a reaction liquid onto an intermediate transfer body having a surface layer 2 on which a pattern composed of a lyophilic part and a lyophobic part is formed, and an ink image is formed by an inkjet head. Step (b) and a step (c) of transferring the ink image to the recording medium.

2.1 Step (a): Step of applying a reaction solution onto the intermediate transfer member
The intermediate transfer member or the support on the surface of the intermediate transfer member may be any material as long as the surface is at least in line contact with the recording medium. That is, according to the form of the image forming apparatus to be applied or the form of transfer to the recording medium, it may be in the form of a roller as described above, or may be in the form of a belt or sheet. For the surface 2, an elastic material such as rubber or plastic can be preferably used. When using a type A durometer (according to JIS K 6253), an effect can be obtained by using a material having a hardness in the range of 10 to 100 °, and most of the material in the range of 40 to 80 °. Can be used for recording paper.

Design of the lyophilic portion / liquid repellent portion pattern The degree of lyophobic and lyophilicity in the pattern on the surface of the intermediate transfer member is preferably optimized depending on the reaction solution used. What is important is that the reaction solution used is not held in the lyophobic part, but only in the lyophilic part, depending on the surface tension and viscosity of the reaction liquid used, the application means selected, application speed and pattern shape. The adaptation range changes. As a guide, the contact angle with the reaction solution used is 60 ° or less for the lyophilic part and 60 ° or more for the liquid repellent part. More preferably, the lyophilic part is 20 ° or less, and the lyophobic part is 80 ° or more.

  As described above, the reaction liquid is preferably present only in the lyophilic part, but there is no problem with the minute amount of the reaction liquid present in the liquid repellent part. That is, since the effect of the present invention can be obtained as long as the reaction liquids present in adjacent lyophilic parts do not contact each other, the reaction liquid can be allowed to exist in the liquid repellent part. As described above, the present invention includes not only the form in which the reaction liquid does not exist at all in the liquid repellent part, but also the form in which the reaction liquid exists somewhat in the liquid repellent part.

  Since the pattern composed of the lyophilic part and the lyophobic part is for controlling the application state of the reaction liquid, more important is the shape, width and pitch of the elements of the lyophilic part constituting the pattern of the lyophilic part. .

  3 (a) to (f), FIGS. 4 (a) to (e), FIGS. 5 (a) to (d), FIG. 6 (a) and FIG. The pattern of the lyophilic part will be described. In these drawings, the painted portion indicates the lyophilic portion, the hatched portion indicates the ink dot, and the other portion indicates the liquid repellent pattern element.

  The shape of the element of the lyophilic part is not limited as long as the above-described conditions are satisfied.

  FIGS. 3A to 3F show an example in which a lyophilic part pattern is composed of a plurality of lyophilic part elements isolated (scattered). Here, FIG. 5A shows a circular element with a diameter α of the lyophilic part, which is aligned in a two-dimensional direction. FIG. 2B shows a circular lyophilic element arranged in a staggered arrangement. FIG. 6C shows the distance (pitch) β between the centers of the lyophilic part elements larger than that in FIG. FIG. 4D shows the lyophilic part as a rectangle with one side α, which is aligned in a two-dimensional direction. FIGS. 5E and 5F show the lyophilic element having a triangular shape and a hexagonal shape, respectively.

  FIGS. 4A to 4E show examples in which the lyophilic part pattern is composed of continuous lyophilic part elements, and the lyophobic part elements are isolated (scattered). Here, (a) in the figure shows the circular liquid-repellent elements arranged in a two-dimensional direction, and (b) shows the circular liquid-repellent elements arranged in a staggered arrangement. It is. FIG. 4C is a view in which rectangular liquid repellent elements are arranged in a two-dimensional direction. In addition, FIGS. 4D and 4E show a liquid repellent element having a triangular shape and a hexagonal shape, respectively. In such a case, the width α of the lyophilic part element is equal to the shortest distance between the liquid repellent part elements.

  FIGS. 5A to 5D show both the lyophilic part element and the lyophobic part element in a continuous shape, and lyophilic part elements of various waveforms are illustrated.

  The shapes of these lyophilic part elements or liquid repellent part elements are merely examples, and other shapes, for example, those shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B may be used. Further, various shapes may be mixed, and the pattern interval may not be completely equal, but it is more effective to use a single pattern with equal intervals. 1 can discharge a plurality of colors of ink onto a single intermediate transfer body. However, when printing a plurality of colors using a plurality of intermediate transfer bodies, different patterns are used. May be.

  The width of the lyophilic part element indicates a diameter when a circle inscribed in the lyophilic part element is assumed (α in FIGS. 3A to 6B). Ink droplets applied from the inkjet head are spherical during flight and circular after landing, and thus are based on the inscribed circle. This criterion is the same whether it is an isolated pattern element or a continuous pattern element. Even if the area of the lyophilic part element is the same, the smaller the pattern width, the thinner and more uniform the reaction solution can be applied.

  The pitch of the lyophilic element (β in FIGS. 3A to 6B) corresponds to the pitch of the repetition period of an isolated pattern element. On the other hand, if it is a continuous pattern element, the distance from the inflection point to the inflection point is the pitch.

  The criteria for preferably selecting the width α and the pitch β of the element of the lyophilic part will be described with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B.

  The dimensional reference in the element of the lyophilic portion / liquid repellent portion is the maximum spread diameter α ′ of the ink droplet on the intermediate transfer member. In general, when an ink droplet lands on an intermediate transfer member, the dot diameter is enlarged by its kinetic energy. When the kinetic energy is completely consumed, the maximum spread diameter becomes α ′. When the surface of the transfer body is liquid repellent, the dot diameter contracts, and the ink droplet diameter at rest becomes smaller than α ′.

  In this example, it is premised that the ink comes into contact with the reaction liquid present in the lyophilic part, and the maximum pitch β of the lyophilic part for the contact between the reaction liquid on the lyophilic part and the ink droplets is always 2. × α ′ (2α ′ = β). However, in this case, when the ink landing point deviates from the design position, the inflection point of the pattern may not be captured. For this reason, it is more desirable to select the maximum pitch β to be not more than twice the maximum spread diameter, that is, 2 × α ′ or less (2α ′ ≧ β) in order to ensure that the reaction liquid and the ink come into contact with each other.

  On the other hand, when the width of the lyophilic part element exceeds the maximum spread diameter α ′ of the ink dots, the position of the ink droplet cannot be regulated by the reaction liquid present on the element of the lyophilic part. For this reason, the maximum width of the element of the lyophilic part may be selected so as to be α which is not more than the maximum spread diameter (α ≦ α ′). However, since the film thickness of the reaction liquid is proportional to the width of the lyophilic part element, the width α of the lyophilic part element is more preferably ½α 'or less from the viewpoint of obtaining a preferable film thickness of the reaction liquid.

  It should be noted that the desired effect can be obtained if either one of the pitch or the width of the lyophilic part element is selected so as to satisfy the above condition, but it is more desirable to design so as to satisfy both conditions.

Formation of a lyophilic part / liquid repellent part pattern When forming a pattern comprising a liquid repellent part and a lyophilic part on an intermediate transfer member, various methods are conceivable.

  Several sequential steps of pattern formation will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A to 8D to 15A to 15D. In these drawings, each left side portion is a schematic plan view, and the right side portion is a schematic cross-sectional view.

  8A to 8D show a state in which a printing plate 21 carrying a liquid repellent material 22 is brought into contact with the base material of the intermediate transfer member 1 formed of a lyophilic material or the base material of the surface layer 2 thereof. The process of forming the liquid repellent part 23 is shown.

  9A to 9D show a state in which a resist pattern 24 is formed on the base material of the intermediate transfer body 1 or its surface layer 2 that also exhibits lyophilicity by photolithography and a liquid repellent material 25 is applied. The process when the lift-off method which removes a resist pattern is employ | adopted is shown.

  10A to 10D show a liquid-repellent portion 23 by applying a liquid-repellent resist 26 to the intermediate transfer member 1 exhibiting lyophilicity or a base material of the surface layer 2 and performing patterning by exposure. The process of forming is shown.

  11 (a) to 11 (d), a mask 28 is disposed on a base material of the intermediate transfer body 1 or its surface layer 2 exhibiting lyophilicity, and a liquid-repellent element is applied to the non-mask-existing portion 30 by energy irradiation. By introducing, the liquid repellent part 23 is formed. Examples of energy irradiation means in this case include plasma irradiation and vapor deposition using a gas containing fluorine atoms.

  12A to 12D show a case where a liquid repellent coating film 30 is formed on a substrate of the intermediate transfer member 1 exhibiting lyophilicity or a surface layer 2 thereof, and then partially lysed by a laser processing apparatus 31. The process of forming the liquid repellent part 23 by exposing the liquid part is shown. When the liquid repellent portion is made of an organic resist, the liquid repellency can be further improved by plasma treatment using a gas containing fluorine atoms.

  Each of the above methods is the same when the lyophilic portion is formed on the base material of the intermediate transfer body 1 formed of a liquid repellent material or the base material of the surface layer 2 thereof.

  For example, in FIGS. 13A to 13D, a mask 28 is arranged on the base material of the intermediate transfer body 1 or its surface layer 2 formed of a liquid repellent material, and the lyophilic liquid is applied to the non-mask-existing portion 30 by energy irradiation. The lyophilic part 2 is formed by introducing a functional functional group. Examples of the energy irradiation means in this case include plasma processing using a gas containing oxygen atoms. As the liquid repellent substrate, silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, fluorosilicone rubber or the like is preferably used.

  14A to 14D are selected by the inkjet recording device 34 after forming the surface treatment portion 33 on the base material of the intermediate transfer member 1 exhibiting liquid repellency or its surface layer 2 by plasma irradiation or the like. In particular, a surfactant 35 is provided. And the lyophilic part 2 is formed by making lyophilicity other than surfactant provision part lose | disappear by making time pass. FIGS. 15A to 15D show the case where the surfactant 35 is applied by the printing plate 21 when the same steps as those shown in FIGS. 14A to 14D are adopted ( FIG. 15 (c)).

  In the above, the method for forming the lyophilic portion on the substrate exhibiting lyophilicity and the method for forming the lyophilic portion on the substrate exhibiting lyophobic properties have been exemplified. It is also possible to form both the liquid repellent part on the substrate. In addition, a material that becomes lyophilic by light, such as titanium oxide, can be mixed into the intermediate transfer member or a film can be formed on the surface, and can be made partially lyophilic by light irradiation.

  It should be noted that the height of the liquid part and the lyophilic part is desirably created so that there is no step between them, and ideally, the liquid repellent part and the lyophilic part form the same plane. This is because both the ink transfer property and the cleaning property are improved. On the contrary, there is a possibility that the ink receiving amount is lowered and the dot gain at the time of image transfer (a phenomenon in which the dot is largely crushed by the pressure at the time of transfer and the diameter is enlarged to reduce the resolution) is increased. However, these problems can be solved by applying an image fixing component, which will be described later, or applying a moisture removal promoting device 7 as shown in FIG. Further, providing a plurality of intermediate transfer members, for example, using different intermediate transfer members for each color is also a suitable countermeasure for the above problem.

  In order for the lyophobic part and the lyophilic part to be on the same plane, the lyophilic part and the lyophobic part are both formed on the substrate by appropriately combining the above methods, or as shown in FIG. Such a method can be adopted.

The reaction liquid is appropriately selected depending on the type of ink used for image formation. For example, it is effective to use a polymer flocculant for dye inks, and it is effective to use metal ions for pigment inks in which fine particles are dispersed. Further, when a metal ion is used in combination with a polymer flocculant as an image fixing component for the dye ink, a pigment having the same color as the dye is mixed in the ink, or the white or It is preferable to mix transparent fine particles.

Examples of the polymer flocculant that can be used as the reaction liquid include a cationic polymer flocculant, an anionic polymer flocculant, a nonionic polymer flocculant, and an amphoteric polymer flocculant. Examples of metal ions include divalent metal ions such as Ca ²⁺ , Cu ²⁺ , Ni ²⁺ , Mg ²⁺ and Zn ^2+, and trivalent metals such as Fe ³⁺ and Al ^3+. Ions. And when apply | coating the liquid containing these metal ions, applying as a metal salt aqueous solution is desirable. Examples of the anion of the metal salt include Cl ⁻ , NO ₃ ⁻ , SO ₄ ²⁻ , I ⁻ , Br ⁻ , ClO ₃ ⁻ , RCOO ⁻ (R is an alkyl group), and the like. In addition, a material having a reversal to the ink used can be used as the reaction liquid. For example, if the ink is anionic or alkaline, a cationic or acidic material that is the opposite of the ink can be used as the reaction liquid.

  The means for applying the reaction liquid is not particularly limited. However, since a preferable lyophilic part pattern is formed on the intermediate transfer member as described above, uniform and stable application can be achieved with an extremely simple application apparatus in the present invention. . In FIG. 1, a coating apparatus 3 in the form of a roll coater is illustrated as an example. The reaction liquid supplied from the coating roll is held only on the lyophilic part pattern on the intermediate transfer member (see FIG. 19). That is, in the case of application by the application roller, the reaction liquid contacts without distinction between the lyophilic part and the liquid repellent part, but the reaction liquid in the liquid repellent part is repelled and is not received. Therefore, most of the reaction liquid is present in the lyophilic portion as shown in FIG. 19 during image formation. The application amount by the application roller depends on the surface tension of the reaction liquid with respect to the pattern. However, if the application conditions are constant, the intermediate transfer body 1 automatically receives a certain amount of the reaction liquid according to the lyophilic pattern. Is done. In addition, since the fluidity of the reaction liquid can be suppressed by the fine lyophilic part pattern, uniform application with no deviation in the surface of the intermediate transfer body is possible.

  Other application forms include contact coating such as doctor coating, die coating, wire bar coating, and gravure roller, and non-contact coating such as spray coating and droplet application using an inkjet head. be able to. Although the range of application is limited, even if the coating is performed by spin coating, pulling up coating, coating with an air knife, etc., it can be used without problems in terms of characteristics. Moreover, you may use combining those application means suitably.

2.2 Step (b): Step of forming an ink image with an ink jet head There is no restriction on the ink jet recording method used. As energy used for ejecting ink, one using thermal energy (thermal jet method) or one using mechanical energy (piezo method) can be used. Further, not only the on-demand type but also a continuous type ink jet recording method can be appropriately selected and used. Further, as the form of the ink jet head, for example, with respect to the configuration of FIG. 1, an ink jet head in the form of a line head in which ink discharge ports are arranged in the axial direction of the intermediate transfer body 1 (direction orthogonal to the drawing) is used. It can be. Further, a head in which ejection openings are arranged in a predetermined range in the tangent or circumferential direction of the intermediate transfer body 1 may be used, and recording may be performed while scanning the head in the axial direction. In addition, the number of heads corresponding to the color of the ink used for image formation can be used.

  Also, there are no restrictions on the image to be recorded, and it can be used for all kinds of characters, illustrations, natural images, industrial patterns such as simple patterns and electronic circuits. When forming an image, ink may be ejected to form a mirror image in consideration of reversal of the image by transfer.

  The ink to be used is not particularly limited, but is not limited. In general, a water-based ink using a dye or a pigment is preferably used. In particular, the water-based pigment ink is suitable when a metal salt is used for the reaction liquid.

  The dye is not limited, and any commonly used dye can be used without any problem. For example, C.I. I Direct Blue 6, 8, 22, 34, 70, 71, 76, 78, 86, 142, 199, C.I. I Acid Blue 9, 22, 40, 59, 93, 102, 104, 117, 120, 167, 229, C.I. I Direct Red 1, 4, 17, 28, 83, 227, C.I. I Acid Red 1, 4, 8, 13, 14, 15, 18, 21, 26, 35, 37, 249, 257, 289, C.I. I Direct Yellow 12, 24, 26, 86, 98, 132, 142, C.I. I Acid Yellow 1, 3, 4, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 23, 25, 34, 44, 71, C.I. I Food Black 1, 2, C.I. I acid black 2, 7, 24, 26, 31, 52, 112, 118 and the like.

  The pigment is not limited, and any commonly used pigment can be used without any problem. For example, C.I. Pigment Blue 1, 2, 3, 15: 3, 16, 22, C.I. Pigment Red 5, 7, 12, 48 (Ca), 48 (Mn), 57 (Ca), 112, 122, C.I. I Pigment Yellow 1, 2, 3, 13, 16, 83, Carbon Black No 2300, 900, 33, 40, 52, MA7, 8, MCF88 (Mitsubishi Kasei), RAVEN 1255 (Colombia), REGAL 330R, 660R, MOGUL ( Cabot), Color Black FW1, FW18, S170, S150, Printex35 (Degussa), and the like.

  These pigments are not limited in form, and for example, any of self-dispersion type, resin dispersion type, microcapsule type and the like can be used. As the pigment dispersant used in this case, a water-soluble dispersion resin having a weight average molecular weight of about 1,000 to 15,000 can be preferably used. Specifically, for example, styrene and derivatives thereof, vinyl naphthalene and derivatives thereof, aliphatic alcohol esters of α, β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, acrylic acid and derivatives thereof, maleic acid and derivatives thereof, itaconic acid and derivatives thereof Examples thereof include block copolymers or random copolymers composed of derivatives, fumaric acid and derivatives thereof, and salts thereof.

  In order to improve the fastness of the finally formed image, a water-soluble resin or a water-soluble crosslinking agent can be added. The material used is not limited as long as it can coexist with the ink component. As the water-soluble resin, it is preferable to further add the above-described dispersion resin or the like. As the water-soluble crosslinking agent, slow-reactive oxazoline or carbodiimide is preferably used in terms of ink stability.

  The amount of the organic solvent in the ink is a factor that determines the ink ejection property and the drying property. Since the ink for transferring to the recording medium 9 is almost only the color material and the high boiling point organic solvent, it is designed to the optimum value. The organic solvent used is preferably a water-soluble material having a high boiling point and a low vapor pressure. Examples include polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, triethylene glycol, thiodiglycol, hexylene glycol, diethylene glycol, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, glycerin and the like. In addition, alcohols such as ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol can be added as components for adjusting viscosity, surface tension, and the like.

  The mixing ratio of the components constituting the ink is not limited, and can be appropriately adjusted within a dischargeable range based on the selected inkjet recording method, the discharge force of the head, the nozzle diameter, and the like. Generally, the colorant is 0.1 to 10%, the resin is 0.1 to 10%, the solvent is 5 to 40%, the surfactant is 0.1 to 5%, and the rest is pure water.

  The ink as described above is ejected by the ink jet head, and when it comes into contact with the reaction liquid on the intermediate transfer member, the fluidity is lowered. For this reason, bleeding and beading do not occur. In addition, since the reaction solution on the intermediate transfer member is thin and uniformly controlled, the image is not disturbed. Further, due to the effect of the liquid repellent portions arranged at regular intervals on the intermediate transfer member, the ink image on the intermediate transfer member is less likely to be displaced in the process up to transfer, and a high-quality image is maintained.

  Here, the manner in which ink is applied to the reaction liquid present on the lyophilic part pattern on the surface of the intermediate transfer member will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, the reaction liquid applied on the intermediate transfer member in the step (a) exists only on a part of the surface of the transfer member along the lyophilic part pattern of the intermediate transfer member as shown in FIG. . In the step (b), ink is applied to the reaction liquid in such a state (see FIG. 20), but the range of the reaction liquid is limited to a part of the surface of the transfer body. The ink movement range on the reaction liquid is limited. In particular, when the diameter of the ink dot is larger than the element width of the lyophilic portion, the ink dot is larger than the reaction liquid dot as shown in FIG. 20, so the comparison as shown in FIG. Ink movement does not occur in a wide range. In the case of FIG. 20, there is almost no free surface through which ink can move, and fine reaction liquid dots present in the lyophilic part function as an ink movement restricting part, so that ink movement can be reduced compared to the form of FIG. Accordingly, it is possible to form a high-quality image on the transfer body in which the disturbance of the ink image due to ink movement is reduced.

2.3 Step (c): Step of transferring the ink image on the intermediate transfer member onto the recording medium An image made of the ink concentrated on the intermediate transfer member is transferred to the recording medium. The recording medium 9 is brought into contact with the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member 1 by the pressure roller 10 and receives ink. Here, when the amount of applied ink on the intermediate transfer member is large, the image may be disturbed by the transfer pressure. In order to reduce this, it is desirable to reduce the moisture in the ink and reduce the volume before transfer. The ink occupies a large amount of moisture, and by reducing this, the volume is reduced to about 1/5 to 1/10. By doing so, it is possible to form a good image even on a recording medium with little or no absorption. Further, the ink (concentrated ink) whose viscosity is increased by removing moisture is excellent in transfer efficiency, and the ink remaining on the intermediate transfer member can be reduced. Furthermore, even when thin paper is used as a recording medium, it is possible to suppress paper waving due to water absorption.

  In order to reduce the volume, it is possible to secure the time for water evaporation by reducing the rotational speed of the intermediate transfer member 1. However, in consideration of the case where high-speed recording is required, it is effective to provide a moisture removal step by the moisture removal promoting device 7 and / or the heating roller 8 as in the configuration of FIG. Although the thing of the fan form was illustrated as the water | moisture-content removal acceleration | stimulation apparatus 7, the thing which contacts the back surface side of the intermediate transfer body 1 made into the hollow shape as the heating roller 8 was illustrated, but it does not restrict to these suitably The water removal means of the form can be used. For example, a heat source that emits heat rays may be used, or warm air may be blown to promote evaporation.

  In the configuration of FIG. 1, fastness and gloss can be instantly imparted by bringing a heat roller or the like into contact with the image recorded on the recording medium.

  In the configuration of FIG. 1, the cleaning unit 12 cleans the surface of the intermediate transfer body after image transfer, thereby removing dust such as paper dust and remaining ink. As the means for performing the cleaning, use a means for performing water cleaning or wiping while applying water in the form of a shower, direct cleaning such as contact with the water surface, or wiping such as bringing a wet Molton roller into contact with the surface. Is desirable. Of course, it is also effective to use these in combination. In some cases, it may be cleaned with a surfactant. Further, if necessary, it is also effective to immediately dry the surface of the intermediate transfer member by bringing a dry Molton roller or rubber wiper into contact with each other after cleaning or by blowing air. In order to improve the cleaning property at this time, it is preferable that the surface of the intermediate transfer body has less unevenness.

3. Examples Next, more specific examples and comparative examples of the present invention will be described. In the following description, “parts” and “%” are based on mass unless otherwise specified.

(3.1) Example 1
(A) Step of applying the reaction liquid onto the intermediate transfer member In this example, as the intermediate transfer member surface layer base material, a silicone rubber having a rubber hardness of 40 ° (KE12 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) on the surface of a 0.4 mm PET film. A material coated with a thickness of 0.3 mm was used. A regular pattern consisting of a lyophilic part and a liquid repellent part is formed on this surface.

  First, surface lyophilic treatment was performed on the surface of the intermediate transfer member surface layer base material using a parallel plate type atmospheric pressure plasma treatment apparatus (manufactured by Sekisui Chemical: APT-203), and then a 3% PVA aqueous solution (manufactured by Kuraray: 403). ) Was applied to the entire surface with a roll coater and dried.

  The surface was irradiated with an excimer laser spot to remove the portion of the PVA layer desired to be a lyophilic portion. In this example, a circle having a pitch of 20 μm and a diameter of 10 μm was regularly patterned (see FIG. 3A).

  Surface modification of the surface of the intermediate transfer member surface layer base material was performed again using the parallel plate type plasma processing apparatus under the following conditions.

(Surface modification conditions)
Gas used; flow rate: air; 1000 cc / min
N ₂ ; 6000 cc / min
Input voltage: 230V
Frequency: 10kHz
Processing speed: 200mm / min

  Next, the surface was washed with a 5% aqueous solution of a surfactant (silwet L77 manufactured by Nihon Unicar). At this time, the PVA layer which is a water-soluble film was dissolved and removed.

  When the intermediate transfer member surface layer base material thus manufactured was washed, only the portion to which the excimer laser was applied became a lyophilic part, and a desired lyophilic part / liquid repellent part pattern was obtained.

  This surface layer base material was wound around an aluminum drum as an intermediate transfer member support and fixed to an image forming apparatus.

  Subsequently, the reaction liquid of the following composition was apply | coated on the intermediate transfer body using the roll coater.

(Reaction solution composition)
CaCl ₂ · 2H ₂ O: 10%
Surfactant (Acetylenol EH manufactured by Kawaken Fine Chemicals): 1%
Diethylene glycol: 30%
Pure water: 59%

(B) Step of forming an ink image on the intermediate transfer body In the ink jet recording apparatus (nozzle arrangement density 1200 dpi, discharge amount 4.8 pl, drive frequency 12 kHz), mirror inversion is performed on the intermediate transfer body coated with the reaction liquid. A character image was formed. Here, inks having the following prescription (four color inks each containing a color pigment as a coloring material) were used.

(Ink formulation)
Each of the following pigments: 3 parts Black: Carbon black (Mitsubishi Chemical: MCF88)
Cyan: Pigment Blue 15
Magenta: Pigment Red 7
Yellow: Pigment Yellow 74
Styrene-acrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymer: 1 part (acid value 240, weight average molecular weight 5000)
Glycerin: 10 parts Ethylene glycol: 5 parts Surfactant: 1 part (manufactured by Kawaken Fine Chemicals: Acetylenol EH)
Ion exchange water: 80 parts

  At this time, beading and bleeding did not occur when the ink image was formed on the intermediate transfer member. Further, the ink landing diameter by this ink jet recording apparatus was about 40 μm.

(C) Transferring the ink image to the recording medium After removing the moisture of the ink image on the intermediate transfer body and reducing the fluidity, the recording medium (Nippon Paper Aurora Coat 40.5) was applied to the pressure roller. The image was transferred by contact. As a result, it was confirmed that a high-quality image was recorded on the recording medium. Further, there was almost no residual ink on the surface of the intermediate transfer member after transfer, and no adverse effect was observed even if the next image was received as it was.

3.2 Example 2
(A) Step of applying reaction solution onto intermediate transfer member In this example, as an intermediate transfer member surface layer base material, a silicone rubber having a rubber hardness of 60 ° (KE30 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) is applied to a 0.4 mm PET film surface. A material coated with a thickness of 0.3 mm was used. A regular pattern consisting of a lyophilic part and a liquid repellent part is formed on this surface.

  First, surface lyophilic treatment was performed on the surface of the intermediate transfer member surface layer base material using a parallel plate type atmospheric pressure plasma treatment apparatus (APT-203 manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.). Next, a positive photosensitive resist (Hoechst AZ-4903) was applied to a thickness of 0.3 μm, and exposed and developed by a predetermined photolithography technique to obtain a resist pattern. In this example, lines having a pitch of 50 μm and a line width of 10 μm were patterned in a lattice shape (see FIG. 4C).

  Surface modification of the surface of the intermediate transfer member surface layer base material was performed again using the parallel plate type plasma processing apparatus under the following conditions.

(Surface modification conditions)
Gas used; flow rate: air; 1000 cc / min
N ₂ ; 5000 cc / min
Input voltage: 260V
Frequency: 17.5kHz
Processing speed: 500mm / min

  Next, a 10% aqueous solution of a surfactant (Surflon S111 manufactured by Seimi Chemical) was coated on this surface.

  Next, this surface was irradiated with ultraviolet rays to decompose the resist, and then developed with an alkali. In the intermediate transfer member surface layer base material thus manufactured, only the resist pattern opening portion became a lyophilic portion, and a desired lyophilic portion / liquid repellent portion pattern was obtained.

  This surface layer base material was wound around an aluminum drum as an intermediate transfer member support and fixed to an image forming apparatus.

  Subsequently, the reaction liquid of the following composition was apply | coated on the intermediate transfer body using the roll coater.

(Reaction solution composition)
MgNO ₃ .6H ₂ O: 15%
Surfactant (Acetylenol EH manufactured by Kawaken Fine Chemicals): 1%
Diethylene glycol: 20%
Hexylene glycol: 10%
Pure water: 54%
(B) Step of forming an ink image on the intermediate transfer member In the ink jet recording apparatus (nozzle arrangement density 1200 dpi, discharge amount 4 pl, drive frequency 8 kHz), the mirror was inverted on the intermediate transfer member coated with the reaction liquid. A character image was formed. Here, inks having the following prescriptions (four color inks each containing a color pigment as a colorant) were used.

(Ink formulation)
Each of the following pigments: 5 parts Black: Carbon black (Mitsubishi Chemical: MCF88)
Cyan: Pigment Blue 15
Magenta: Pigment Red 7
Yellow: Pigment Yellow 74
Styrene-acrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymer: 1 part (acid value 240, weight average molecular weight 5000)
Glycerin: 10 parts Ethylene glycol: 5 parts Surfactant: 1 part (manufactured by Kawaken Fine Chemicals: Acetylenol EH)
Ion-exchanged water: 78 parts As a result, when the recorded image was formed on the intermediate transfer member, no character distortion occurred.

(C) Step of transferring the ink image to the recording medium When the ink image on the intermediate transfer member is brought into contact with the recording medium (Nippon Paper Aurora Coat 40.5) with a pressure roller, the image is transferred. High quality characters were recorded on the medium. Further, there was almost no residual ink on the surface of the intermediate transfer member after transfer, and no adverse effect was observed even if the next image was received as it was.

3.3 Comparative Example 1
In the case of using the same intermediate transfer member as that of Example 1, a silicone rubber that is irradiated with plasma on the entire surface, that is, in which a regular pattern consisting of a lyophilic portion and a lyophobic portion is not formed is used as the surface layer. Images were recorded by this method. As a result, distortion of minute characters was recognized, and the stability in the repeated image output was slightly unstable compared to Example 1.

3.4 Comparative Example 2
In Example 2, image recording was performed in the same manner using a whole surface untreated silicone rubber on which a regular pattern composed of a lyophilic part and a lyophobic part was not formed as a surface layer. As a result, the reaction solution could not be held at a desired position on the intermediate transfer member, the image was distorted by bleeding and beading, and the image on the recording medium after transfer was extremely poor.

4). Example of Control System and Control Procedure When the image recording apparatus of FIG. 1 is configured using the respective units employed in the above-described first and second embodiments, the control system can be configured as described below.

  FIG. 16 shows an example of a control system that can be configured corresponding to the image recording apparatus of FIG. In the image recording apparatus, reference numeral 101 denotes a CPU that forms a main control unit of the entire system, and controls each unit. A memory 103 includes a ROM that stores a basic program of the CPU 101 and a RAM that is used for temporary storage of various data, processing of image data, and other work. Reference numeral 105 denotes an interface for exchanging information such as data and commands with an image supply apparatus 110 which is an image data supply source that allows a host computer or other forms.

  Reference numeral 107 denotes a drive unit for rotationally driving the intermediate transfer member 1 in the above steps (a) to (c). Reference numeral 109 denotes a conveyance system for the recording medium 9, which includes a pressure roller 10 serving as a transfer unit, a driving unit for the fixing roller 11, and the like. Reference numeral 120 denotes a bus line which, in addition to the above-described units, connects, for example, the coating device 3, the inkjet head 5, the moisture removal promoting device 7, the heating roller 8, and the cleaning unit 12, and transmits a control signal of the CPU 101. In addition, a state detection sensor is provided in each part to be controlled, and the detection signal can be transmitted to the CPU 101 via the bus line 120.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of an image forming process procedure using such a control system.

  When image data is transmitted from the image supply device 110 and recording is instructed, first, the image data is subjected to required image processing for image formation by the inkjet head 5 (step S1). If the image supply device does not send data that has been mirror-inverted in advance, this inversion processing can be included in this image processing process.

  When the inkjet head 5 is ready for image formation, the intermediate transfer body 1 is rotated (step S3). Then, the coating device 3 and the ink jet recording head 5 related to the step (a) of applying the reaction liquid to the intermediate transfer member 1 or the step (b) of forming an image on the intermediate transfer member 1 are driven (step S5). As described above, the reaction solution applied on the intermediate transfer member in the step (a) exists along the lyophilic portion pattern of the intermediate transfer member as shown in FIG. In the step (b), ink is applied to the intermediate transfer member in such a state (see FIG. 20), but since the ink movement is regulated by the reaction liquid dots, the ink hardly moves from the landing position. Therefore, a high-quality ink image with little ink landing deviation is formed on the intermediate transfer member. Further, the water removal promotion device 7 and the heating roller 8, the recording medium transport system 109, and the cleaning unit 12 associated with the step (c) for transferring to the recording medium are driven (step S7). At this time, the respective parts are driven in synchronism so that the image formation is performed after the reaction liquid is applied and the position where the image formation is performed and the transfer position on the recording medium are aligned. If the ink jet head 5 is of a serial recording type, image formation is performed while alternately repeating main scanning of the ink jet head and a predetermined amount of rotation of the intermediate transfer body 1. Then, when the processing for the instructed amount of image data is finished, this procedure is finished.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) And (b) is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the importance of the state of the reaction liquid provided to an intermediate transfer body. (A) to (f) are various examples of the lyophilic part / liquid repellent part pattern formed on the intermediate transfer member, and an example in which the lyophilic part pattern is composed of lyophilic part elements that are isolated (scattered). It is explanatory drawing shown. (A)-(e) is various examples of the lyophilic part / liquid repellent part pattern formed in the intermediate transfer body, and is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which the lyophilic part pattern is composed of continuous lyophilic part elements. It is. (A)-(d) is various examples of the lyophilic part / liquid repellent part pattern formed in the intermediate transfer body, and is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which the lyophilic part and the liquid repellent part are composed of continuous elements. is there. (A) And (b) is explanatory drawing which shows two other examples of the lyophilic part / liquid repellent part pattern formed in an intermediate transfer body. (A) And (b) is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the design conditions of the lyophilic part pattern formed in an intermediate transfer body. (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the method for forming a lyophilic part / liquid repellent part pattern in an intermediate transfer body. (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the method for forming a lyophilic part / liquid repellent part pattern in an intermediate transfer body. (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the method for forming a lyophilic part / liquid repellent part pattern in an intermediate transfer body. (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the method for forming a lyophilic part / liquid repellent part pattern in an intermediate transfer body. (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the method for forming a lyophilic part / liquid repellent part pattern in an intermediate transfer body. (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the method for forming a lyophilic part / liquid repellent part pattern in an intermediate transfer body. (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the method for forming a lyophilic part / liquid repellent part pattern in an intermediate transfer body. (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the method for forming a lyophilic part / liquid repellent part pattern in an intermediate transfer body. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the control system which can be comprised corresponding to the image recording device of FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an image recording processing procedure using the control system of FIG. It is the figure which showed a mode that the ink moved on the thin film of a reaction liquid. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which a reaction solution exists on a lyophilic part pattern on the surface of an intermediate transfer member. It is the figure which showed a mode that the ink was provided on the reaction liquid which exists along a lyophilic part pattern.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Intermediate transfer body 2 Surface layer 3 Coating apparatus 5 Inkjet head 7 Moisture removal promotion apparatus 8 Heating roller 9 Recording medium 10 Pressure roller

Claims (7)

A method for producing a recorded matter in which an ink image is formed on a recording medium,
A step of applying a reaction liquid that reacts with ink on an intermediate transfer body having a pattern composed of a lyophilic part and a liquid repellent part on the surface;
Forming an ink image on the intermediate transfer body by ejecting ink from an inkjet head to the intermediate transfer body in which the applied reaction liquid is present in the lyophilic portion;
Transferring the ink image formed on the intermediate transfer member to the recording medium;
And a reaction liquid dot present in the lyophilic portion is applied to be smaller than an ink dot for forming the ink image.   The method for producing a recorded matter according to claim 1, wherein the width of the element of the lyophilic portion constituting the pattern is equal to or less than the diameter of the ink dot for forming the ink image.   The element of the lyophilic part constituting the pattern is formed at a pitch that is not more than twice the diameter of the ink dot for forming the ink image. Manufacturing method of recorded matter.   The method for producing a recorded matter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the material of the surface of the intermediate transfer member having a pattern composed of the lyophilic portion and the lyophobic portion is silicone rubber. .   The method for producing a recorded matter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lyophilic portion and the liquid repellent portion are formed so as to form the same plane.   6. The method for producing a recorded matter according to claim 1, wherein the ink is a water-based pigment ink.   The method for producing a recorded matter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the reaction solution is a liquid containing a metal salt.

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