JPH10157085A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To record almost without bleeding of ink for any recording sheet. SOLUTION: When ink 4 is adhered to a silicone member 10, ink viscosity increase is started from an interface between the member 10 and the ink 4 (A). Ink 4a near the interface is completely solidified, and an adhered ink layer surface 4 becomes a thickened state (B). At this stage, when it is brought into contact with a recording sheet 5, an ink layer surface 4b is enhanced in viscosity, and hence strong tack is generated at the sheet 5, and ink is transferred to the sheet 5 side (C). At this time, since the member 10 is an extremely weak bondability and adhesive property material, a solidified area 4a of the ink is completely released from the member 10. And, since the surface 4b in contact with the sheet 5 is high viscosity, it is not considerably impregnated into the sheet 5, thereby obtaining an ink image having extremely small bleeding.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, and more particularly, to a method of flying ink in accordance with an image signal and attaching flying ink droplets to the intermediate transfer body, and then removing the ink on the intermediate transfer body. The present invention relates to a recording device for transferring to recording paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With respect to an ink drop flying recording method using an intermediate transfer medium such as an offset type ink jet recording,
There are many known techniques, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,156.
However, most of the known techniques use a water-based ink, and there is a problem in cleaning ink remaining on an intermediate transfer medium after ink transfer to paper. Hereinafter, among these known techniques, those having similarities in structure to the present invention will be described.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-171076 discloses an oil-based ink in which colored charged particles are dispersed in an oil-based solvent.
Thereafter, a recording apparatus for removing an oily solvent on an intermediate transfer member and transferring the remaining colored particles to recording paper is disclosed.

[0004] Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-43053 discloses that
A recording apparatus is disclosed in which conductive oil-based ink is used and the conductive oil-based ink is caused to fly to an intermediate transfer member in accordance with an image signal by using electrostatic attraction.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-168451, a phase change ink is used as an ink, and an intermediate transfer member having a transfer surface coated with silicone oil or the like is used as an intermediate transfer member. There is disclosed a recording device for performing the above.

Further, US Pat. No. 5,099,256 discloses a recording apparatus using a film-like silicone polymer as an intermediate transfer member.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-171.
In the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 076, the solvent removing means on the intermediate transfer member is complicated (different from the present invention in that the ink composition is different and the ink curing phenomenon is not used).

In the invention described in JP-A-2-43053, it is necessary to clean the residual ink on the intermediate transfer member. The difference is that they are not used.)

In the invention described in JP-A-7-168451, the phase-change ink is a hot-melt ink, which needs to be heated to melt the ink at the time of ink flying, thereby increasing power consumption (the present invention). Are different from each other in that the ink composition is different and that the ink curing phenomenon is not used).

In the invention described in US Pat. No. 5,099,256, a film-like silicone polymer is used as an intermediate transfer, and it is necessary to remove residual ink after the transfer. Is different.)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a recording capable of performing recording with almost no ink bleeding on any recording paper.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, ink is jetted according to an image signal, and the flying ink droplets are attached to an intermediate transfer member, and then the ink on the intermediate transfer member is applied to a recording paper. In a recording apparatus for transferring, the ink contains a non-volatile solvent, and the intermediate transfer body has a silicone member formed on the surface thereof. Thus, it is possible to obtain high-quality printing without blurring of ink.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the silicone member on the surface of the intermediate transfer member is fine particles of silicone resin, and a means for forming the fine particles on the surface of the intermediate transfer member is provided. Thus, the reliability of ink transfer is improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a silicone member release layer is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer member, and means for forming a silicone member layer thereon is provided. In this case, the reliability of ink transfer is improved.

[0015] The invention of claim 4 is the invention of claim 1 or 2 or 3.
In the above, the intermediate transfer body is formed of a film-like substrate, and at a portion where the ink adhered on the intermediate transfer body is transferred to recording paper, the intermediate transfer body is pressed using a pressure roller having a minimum radius of curvature. In this case, the reliability of ink transfer is improved without increasing the size of the apparatus.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(Invention of Claim 1) FIG. 1 is a main part configuration diagram for explaining an embodiment of a recording apparatus according to the present invention.
The ink droplet 2 that has ejected from the ink flying means 1 once
It adheres to the intermediate transfer member 3. The viscosity of the ink 4 attached to the intermediate transfer member 3 increases, and when the ink 4 is transferred to the recording paper 5, the ink 4 is transferred 6 without bleeding onto the recording paper 5.

First, the present inventors have found that oil-based ink comes into contact with a silicone member, thereby rapidly increasing the viscosity of the ink.
Finally, they discovered a phenomenon in which the ink cured. The present invention utilizes this phenomenon.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual view of a main part for explaining the principle of operation of the present invention. As shown in FIG. Use), the silicone member 10 and the ink 4
The viscosity of the ink starts to increase from the interface with the ink. And FIG.
As shown in (B), the ink 4a near the interface is completely solidified, and the attached ink layer surface 4b is in a thickened state. At this stage, when the recording paper 5 is brought into contact with the recording paper 5 as shown in FIG. Transfer. At this time, the silicone member 10 has extremely
Since the material has low adhesiveness, the solidified area 4a of the ink is completely separated from the silicone member 10. Further, since the ink surface 4b in contact with the recording paper 5 has a high viscosity, the ink surface 4b does not penetrate much into the inside of the recording paper 5, and an ink image with extremely little bleeding can be obtained.

As described above, the present invention is characterized in that the ink used is oily and is composed of a resin, a solvent, and a coloring material composed of a dye or a pigment. From the viewpoint of the storage stability of the ink, the solvent is a nonvolatile solvent. And Further, a silicone member is formed near the surface of the intermediate transfer member. Therefore, the entire intermediate transfer member may be a silicone member, or a thin layer of a silicone member may be formed on the surface of another member. The silicone member may be in any form of a solid such as a resin or a liquid such as an oil.

The ink flying means may be any of means using a pressing force, an electrolytic attraction force, and a magnetic field attraction force, and includes all means for causing ink droplets to fly in a dot shape in accordance with an image signal. Also, the elasticity of the intermediate transfer member improves transferability to paper. The elasticity is preferably rubber elasticity of about 20 to 80 degrees. When the ink on the intermediate transfer member is completely cured, the tackiness to the paper is lost, so that the transferability decreases. Therefore, a timing for transferring the ink to paper before the ink is completely cured is required.

As the resin used for the ink, a phenol resin such as a rosin-modified phenol resin or an alkyd resin is suitable, and as the non-volatile solvent, a high-boiling aliphatic hydrocarbon is suitable. The viscosity of the ink is suitably about 1 to 100 centistokes. The silicone member is based on dimethylsiloxane and its modified type (amino-modified, alcohol-modified, etc.) and may be in any form of silicone resin, silicone rubber, or silicone oil.

(Example 1) Ink: Rosin-modified phenolic resin (Tamanol 353 Arakawa Chemical) + Black pigment + O Solvent H (Nippon Oil) Viscosity: 10 centistokes Ink flying means: Electrostatic suction system using multi-stylus electrode Intermediate transfer Body: room temperature curing type silicone rubber (rubber hardness 20) Recording paper: PPC paper

Under the above conditions, a voltage pulse was applied to the individual electrodes according to the image signal, a check pattern was printed on the intermediate transfer member, and after about two seconds, the ink on the transfer member was transferred to the recording paper. . An image dot having no blur was formed on the recording paper, and no ink remained on the intermediate transfer member.

(Invention of Claim 2) As described above, when the ink is completely cured on the intermediate transfer member, the transferability decreases. It is very difficult to control the timing of transfer before the ink is cured. Therefore, a device is devised so that transferability to paper is not deteriorated even if the ink is cured.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the second aspect of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3A, a silicone resin fine particle 11 having an ink curing function is used as a silicone member. 3 and the ink 4 is adhered to the surface. After the ink is attached, the ink is solidified by the silicone member. After the ink is solidified, the ink is brought into contact with the recording paper 5 as shown in FIG. At this time, even if the ink is solidified, the ink has some softness, and therefore, the ink penetrates into the fibers of the recording paper 5 by applying a contact pressure between the ink 4 and the recording paper 5. As a result, a strong tacking force is generated between the ink 4 and the recording paper 5, and the silicone member 11 only adheres to the surface of the intermediate transfer body 3, as shown in FIG. The silicone member 11 where the ink has adhered is detached from the intermediate transfer member 3. In this method, since the silicone member is detached from the intermediate transfer member after the transfer, it is necessary to provide a silicone particle forming means on the intermediate transfer member.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a specific example of the invention shown in FIG. 3. In the figure, reference numeral 12 denotes the above-described silicone particle forming means, and the silicone fine particle forming means 12 is provided after the ink is transferred to the paper 5. Is provided at a position before the attachment of a new ink droplet. As a forming means, a hollow cylinder filled with fine particles and having minute and innumerable communication holes, a blade holding fine particles, a brush, and the like are suitable. The particle size of the fine particles is 1 μm to 5 μm
m is appropriate. The thickness of the fine particle layer 11 is desirably from a single layer of fine particles to several layers.

(Example 2) Ink: Rosin-modified phenolic resin (Tamanol 353 Arakawa Chemical) + black pigment + O solvent H (Nippon Oil) Viscosity: 10 centistokes Ink flying means: pressurized on-demand type ink jet head Intermediate transfer member: Fluororubber (Viton Dupont hardness: 60 degrees) Silicone resin fine particles: 2 µm fine particles (Tospearl Toshiba Silicon) Fine particle coating means: Urethane rubber blade Set the blade angle so that the fine particles have a thickness of 10 µm or less Recording paper: PPC paper

Under the above conditions, a check pattern was printed on the intermediate transfer member in accordance with the image signal, and then after about 10 seconds, the ink was transferred to paper. An image dot with no blur was formed on the paper. Also, almost no ink remained on the intermediate transfer member.

(Invention of Claim 3) FIG. 5 is a principle diagram for explaining another method in which the transfer speed to paper is not reduced even if the ink is cured. As shown, the surface of the intermediate transfer member 3 is composed of a silicone member layer 13 and a release layer 14, and the ink 4 adheres to the surface.
As shown in FIG. 5B, after the ink adheres, the ink 4 is cured by the action of the silicone, and comes into contact with the paper 5 in this state. At this time, as described above, since the ink has a slight softness, the ink penetrates into the fibers of the paper 5 by applying a contact pressure between the ink 4 and the paper 5. As a result, a strong tacking force is generated between the ink 4 and the paper 5. Thereafter, when the paper is peeled off, as shown in FIG. 5 (C), since the release layer 14 is present between the silicone member layer 13 and the intermediate transfer body 3, the silicone member 13 is transferred to the paper 5 together. In this method, the silicone member layer 13 and a part of the release layer 14 are
Therefore, a means for forming a silicone member layer and a release layer on the intermediate transfer member 3 is required.

FIG. 6 is a structural view for explaining the specific example of the invention shown in FIG. 5. As the release layer material 14, a member which repels a silicone member and has an affinity for the surface of the intermediate transfer member 3 is used. desirable. For example, water or an aqueous solution of a water-soluble resin (polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone) is suitable. As the silicone member 13, silicone oil or silicone resin fine particles are desirable. Release layer forming means 1
5 is preferably a sponge roller impregnated with a liquid. The silicone member forming means 16 is preferably a sponge roller. If the release layer 14 is too thick, it is difficult to form the silicone member layer 13 thereon. Therefore, the release layer 14 is desirably as thin as possible, and a thickness of about 1 μm to 10 μm is appropriate.

(Example 3) Ink: Rosin-modified phenolic resin (Tamanol 353 Arakawa Chemical) + black pigment + O solvent H (Nippon Oil) Viscosity: 10 centistokes Ink flying means: pressure-on-demand type ink jet head Intermediate transfer member: Fluorine rubber (Viton Dupont hardness: 60 degrees) Release layer: City water + surfactant (0.5 wt%) Release layer forming means: Porous urethane roller impregnated with release layer coating liquid Release layer thickness is set to 10 μm Silicone layer forming means: Porous urethane roller impregnated with silicone oil Layer thickness set to 1 μm Recording paper: PPC paper

Under the above conditions, a check pattern was printed on the intermediate transfer member in accordance with the image signal, and then after about 10 seconds, the ink was transferred to paper. An image dot with no blur was formed on the paper. Also, almost no ink remained on the intermediate transfer member.

(Invention of Claim 4) The above two inventions which devise the surface of the intermediate transfer member so that the transferability to paper does not deteriorate even if the ink is cured require a layer forming means and the apparatus configuration is complicated. become. Therefore, a method of improving transferability without imparting an additional function to the intermediate transfer member will be described below.

FIG. 7 shows a concrete example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
Shows an enlarged view of the transcription site (A in FIG. 7). The intermediate transfer member 17 has a belt shape, and the belt itself or the vicinity of the surface is formed of a silicone member. The belt 17 is supported by a roller 18 having a minimum radius of curvature at a transfer portion with the paper 5. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, when the radius of curvature of the belt 17 is small, the peel angle between the cured ink layer 4 and the intermediate transfer belt 17 becomes large, and the ink layer 4 is easily peeled from the belt 17. Therefore, even if the ink is solidified, the paper 5
The ink adheres to. Radius of curvature is approximately 1mm
To 5 mm is desirable.

Example 4 Ink: Rosin-modified phenolic resin (Tamanol 353 Arakawa Chemical) + Black pigment + O Solvent H (Nippon Oil) Viscosity: 10 centistokes Ink flying means: Electrostatic suction system using multi-stylus electrode Intermediate transfer Body: 25 μm PET film coated with 1 μm room temperature-curable silicone rubber Roller diameter at transfer site: 5 mm Recording paper: PPC paper

Under the above conditions, a check pattern was printed on the intermediate transfer member in accordance with the image signal, and then, after about 10 seconds, the ink was transferred to paper. An image dot with no blur was formed on the paper. Also, no ink remained on the intermediate transfer member.

[0037]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus which flies ink in accordance with an image signal, deposits flying ink droplets on an intermediate transfer member, and then transfers the ink on the intermediate transfer member to recording paper. Wherein the ink contains a non-volatile solvent, and the intermediate transfer member has a silicone member formed on the surface thereof. High-quality printing without bleeding can be obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the silicone member on the surface of the intermediate transfer member is fine particles of a silicone resin, and a means for forming the fine particles on the surface of the intermediate transfer member is provided. This feature improves the reliability of ink transfer.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a silicone member release layer is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer member.
This is characterized by having a means for forming a silicone member layer thereon, thereby improving the reliability of ink transfer.

The invention of claim 4 is the invention of claim 1 or 2 or 3
In the above, the intermediate transfer body is formed of a film-like substrate, and at a portion where the ink adhered on the intermediate transfer body is transferred to recording paper, the intermediate transfer body is pressed using a pressure roller having a minimum radius of curvature. The reliability of ink transfer is improved without enlarging the apparatus configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main part configuration diagram for explaining an embodiment of a recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a main part for describing the operation principle of the invention of claim 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation principle of the invention of claim 2;

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram for explaining a specific example for carrying out the invention shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation principle of the invention according to claim 3;

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram for explaining a specific example for carrying out the invention shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a specific example of the invention of claim 4;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion A (transfer site) in FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... ink flying means, 2 ... ink drop, 3 ... intermediate transfer body,
4 ink, 5 recording paper, 6 recording ink, 7 platen, 10 silicone member, 11 silicone resin particles, 12 silicone fine particle layer forming means, 13 silicone member, 14 release layer, 15 release Layer forming means, 16
... silicone member forming means, 17 ... intermediate transfer belt, 1
8 ... Minimal curvature roller.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus which flies ink in response to an image signal, deposits flying ink droplets on an intermediate transfer body, and then transfers the ink on the intermediate transfer body to recording paper, wherein the ink is non-volatile. A recording apparatus comprising a solvent, wherein the intermediate transfer body has a silicone member formed on a surface thereof. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the silicone member on the surface of the intermediate transfer member is a fine particle of a silicone resin, and further comprising means for forming the fine particle on the surface of the intermediate transfer member. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for forming a silicone member release layer on the surface of the intermediate transfer member, and forming a silicone member layer thereon. 4. The intermediate transfer member according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate transfer member is formed of a film-like substrate, and the intermediate transfer member is a portion for transferring the ink adhered on the intermediate transfer member to recording paper. A recording apparatus for performing transfer by pressing with a pressure roller having a radius of curvature.