JP2004237619A - Recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording method which enables the recording of a sharp and crisp image on a boundary part between an image area and a non-image area by suppressing bleeding of ink on the boundary part. <P>SOLUTION: A reactive liquid is imparted at least to a part of the periphery of the image area S1 to which the ink and the reactive liquid are to be imparted for the formation of the image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【０１００】
図１４（ｃ）、（ｄ）のように、画像の画像領域Ｓ１に隣接する非画像領域Ｓ２の少なくとも一部に反応液を付与することにより、にじみのない鮮明な画像が記録できた。これは、画像領域Ｓ１に隣接する非画像領域Ｓ２に付与された反応液の凝集効果によって、画像領域Ｓ１と非画像領域Ｓ２との画像境界部における着色インクのにじみが抑えられ、その着色インクが画像領域Ｓ１を越えずに、画像境界部がはっきりしたからである。
【０１０１】
（他の実施形態）
本発明において用いるインクは顔料インクのみに特定されず、染料インクであってもよい。また、反応液は、インク中の色材を凝固または凝集させるように反応して、画像の記録性を向上させるものであってもよい。また、反応液は、インクの付与よりも先に被記録媒体に付与する他、インクの付与後に被記録媒体に付与してもよい。また、インクを吐出可能な記録ヘッドおよび反応液を吐出可能な記録ヘッド（反応液吐出ヘッド）の構成は、上述した実施形態のみに特定されず、電気熱変換体を用いた吐出方式の他、ピエゾ素子などを種々の吐出方式のヘッドを用いることができる。また、インクおよび反応液を付与する手段は、それらを吐出可能なヘッドのみに特定されず、それらを被記録媒体に付与できるものであればよい。
【０１０２】
また、画像が予め選択された特定色からなる場合に、その画像が形成される画像領域に隣接する非画像領域の少なくとも一部に反応液を付与することにより、非画像領域に付与する反応液によって、画像領域から非画像領域への着色インクのにじみを抑えることができる。また、インクの付与に際しては、制御装置において、反応液と一色または複数色の着色インクによって画像が形成される披記録媒体上の画像領域を入力画像情報に基づいて定め、反応液付与手段によって、反応液の付与後に着色インクを画像領域に付与することができる。
【０１０３】
以下に、本発明の実施態様を列挙する。
［実施態様１］ インクと該インクに反応する反応液を被記録媒体に付与することによって画像を記録する記録方法において、
前記インクと前記反応液が付与されることによって画像が形成される画像領域の周囲の少なくとも一部に、前記反応液を付与することを特徴とする記録方法。
【０１０４】
［実施態様２］ 前記画像領域の周囲に位置する画素単位の複数領域の少なくとも一部に、前記反応液を付与することを特徴とする実施態様１に記載の記録方法。
【０１０５】
［実施態様３］ 前記画像領域に対しての前記反応液は、前記画像領域に対しての前記インクの付与前または付与後に付与することを特徴とする実施態様１または２に記載の記録方法。
【０１０６】
［実施態様４］ 前記画像領域の周囲の少なくとも一部に対しての前記反応液は、前記画像領域に対しての前記インクの付与前または付与後に付与することを特徴とする実施態様１から３のいずれかに記載の記録方法。
【０１０７】
［実施態様５］ 前記インクは、顔料粒子を含む顔料インクであり、
前記反応液は、前記顔料インクを凝集させる反応液である
ことを特徴とする実施態様１から４のいずれかに記載の記録方法。
【０１０８】
［実施態様６］ 前記被記録媒体に付与した前記インクと前記反応液を接触させる第１工程と、
前記インクと前記反応液が接触した界面で凝集膜を形成させる第２工程と、
分散状態にある前記顔料インクの顔料粒子を前記凝集膜上に凝集および／または堆積させるプロセスと、前記被記録媒体に対する前記反応液の浸透性を促進させるプロセスと、前記凝集膜を前記被記録媒体の表面に定着させるプロセスとをほぼ同時に進行させる第３工程と、
を含むことを特徴とする実施態様５に記載の記録方法。
【０１０９】
［実施態様７］ 前記インクは、該インクを吐出可能な記録ヘッドを用いて前記被記録媒体に付与することを特徴とする実施態様１から６のいずれかに記載の記録方法。
【０１１０】
［実施態様８］ 前記反応液は、該反応液を吐出可能な反応液用ヘッドを用いて前記被記録媒体に付与することを特徴とする実施態様１から７のいずれかに記載の記録方法。
【０１１１】
［実施態様９］ インクと該インクに反応する反応液を被記録媒体に付与することによって画像を記録する記録装置において、
前記インクと前記反応液が付与されることによって画像が形成される画像領域の周囲の少なくとも一部に、前記反応液を付与する手段を備えたことを特徴とする記録装置。
【０１１２】
［実施態様１０］ 前記手段は、前記画像領域の周囲に位置する画素単位の複数領域の少なくとも一部に、前記反応液を付与することを特徴とする実施態様９に記載の記録装置。
【０１１３】
［実施態様１１］ 前記手段は、前記画像領域に対しての前記インクの付与前または付与後に、前記画像領域に対して前記反応液を付与することを特徴とする実施態様９または１０に記載の記録装置。
【０１１４】
［実施態様１２］ 前記手段は、前記画像領域に対しての前記インクの付与前または付与後に、前記画像領域の周囲の少なくとも一部に対して前記反応液を付与することを特徴とする実施態様９から１１のいずれかに記載の記録装置。
【０１１５】
［実施態様１３］ 前記インクは、顔料粒子を含む顔料インクであり、
前記反応液は、前記顔料インクを凝集させる反応液である
ことを特徴とする実施態様９から１２のいずれかに記載の記録装置。
【０１１６】
［実施態様１４］ 前記インクは、該インクを吐出可能な記録ヘッドを用いて前記被記録媒体に付与することを特徴とする実施態様９から１３のいずれかに記載の記録装置。
【０１１７】
［実施態様１５］ 前記反応液は、該反応液を吐出可能な反応液用ヘッドを用いて前記被記録媒体に付与することを特徴とする実施態様９から１４のいずれかに記載の記録装置。
【０１１８】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、本発明は、インクと反応液が付与されることによって画像が形成される画像領域の周囲の少なくとも一部に、反応液を付与することにより、画像領域と非画像領域との間の境界部におけるインクのにじみを抑えて、その境界部がシャープできれのよい画像を記録することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明を適用可能なインクジェット記録装置の一例を示す概略斜視図である。
【図２】図１におけるインクジェトカートリッジの概略斜視図である。
【図３】図２における記録ヘッドの模式的概略斜視図である。
【図４】図３の記録ヘッドの吐出動作を経時的に説明するための図３中のＸ−Ｘ線に沿う断面図である。
【図５】図３の記録ヘッドの吐出動作を経時的に説明するための図３中のＸ−Ｘ線に沿う断面図である。
【図６】図３の記録ヘッドの吐出動作を経時的に説明するための図３中のＸ−Ｘ線に沿う断面図である。
【図７】図３の記録ヘッドの吐出動作を経時的に説明するための図３中のＸ−Ｘ線に沿う断面図である。
【図８】図３の記録ヘッドの吐出動作を経時的に説明するための図３中のＸ−Ｘ線に沿う断面図である。
【図９】図３の記録ヘッドの吐出動作を経時的に説明するための図３中のＸ−Ｘ線に沿う断面図である。
【図１０】図３の記録ヘッドの吐出動作を経時的に説明するための図３中のＸ−Ｘ線に沿う断面図である。
【図１１】図３の記録ヘッドの吐出動作を経時的に説明するための図３中のＸ−Ｘ線に沿う断面図である。
【図１２】（ａ）から（ｆ）は、インクと反応液による凝集プロセスを説明するための概念図である。
【図１３】画像領域と非画像領域との関係を説明するための概念図である。
【図１４】図１３の画像領域と非画像領域に対する記録例を説明するための概念図である。
【符号の説明】
１０ 被記録媒体
１０ａ 被記録媒体の印字表面
２０ 反応液
２１ 多価金属イオン
３０ 着色顔料インク
３１ 分散状態にある顔料粒子
３１ａ 電気的斥力を消失した顔料粒子
３１ｂ 凝集状態にある顔料粒子
３２ 浸透促進剤
８３２ 吐出口
９３１ 電気熱変換素子（ヒータ，インク吐出エネルギー発生素子）
９３３ インク供給口（開口部）
９３４ 基板
９３５ オリフィスプレート（吐出口プレート）
９３５ａ 吐出口面
９３６ インク流路壁
９４０ 吐出口部
１３３８ 液流路
１１４１ａ 頂部
１００ インクジェット記録ヘッド
１０１ 気泡
１００１ 液体タンク
１００６ 移動駆動部
１００８ ケーシング
１０１０ 記録部
１０１０ａ キャリッジ部材
１０１２ カートリッジ
１０１２Ｙ ，Ｍ ，Ｃ ，Ｂ，Ｓ インクジェットカートリッジ
１０１４ ガイド軸
１０１６ ベルト
１０１８ モータ
１０２０ 駆動部
１０２２ａ 、１０２２ｂ ローラユニット
１０２４ａ 、１０２４ｂ ローラユニット
１０２６ 回復ユニット
１０２６ａ 、１０２６ｂ プーリ
１０２８ 用紙
１０３０ 搬送装置
ＦＭ メニスカス後退方向
ＦＣ メニスカス後退方向と反対方向
Ｉ インク
Ｉａ 主液滴（液体）
Ｉｂ ，Ｉｃ インク（液体）
Ｉｄ 溝部に付着したインク（液体）
Ｉｅ 液流路内に残存しているインク（液体）
Ｐ 副走査方向
Ｒ１，Ｒ２ ベルトの回転方向
Ｓ（Ｓ１，Ｓ２） 主走査方向
Ｓ１ 画像領域
Ｓ２ 非画像領域[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a recording method for recording an image by applying ink and a reaction liquid to a recording medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the ink jet recording method, recording is performed by flying small droplets of a recording liquid (ink) and attaching the droplets to a recording material (recording medium) such as paper. Patent Literatures 1, 2, and 3 disclose a method of ejecting ink droplets by using an electrothermal converter as an ink ejection energy supply unit and applying thermal energy to the ink to generate bubbles. I have. According to such a recording method, a high-density multi-orifice of the recording head can be easily realized, and a high-resolution and high-quality image can be recorded at a high speed.
[0003]
A general ink used in the ink jet recording method contains water as a main component and a water-soluble high-boiling solvent such as glycol for the purpose of preventing drying and preventing clogging. When recording is performed on plain paper using such general ink, the ink permeates into the recording paper, resulting in insufficient image density. There is a possibility that the image density may be non-uniform, which may be caused by non-uniform distribution. In particular, when recording a color image, since the inks of a plurality of colors are successively superimposed before being fixed, the color bleeds at the boundary portion between the recording images of different colors, and the inks of the plurality of colors are mixed unevenly. (Hereinafter, referred to as “bleeding”), there is a possibility that a satisfactory image cannot be obtained.
[0004]
As one of means for improving bleeding, there is known a method in which a liquid (reaction liquid) for improving the printability of an image on a recording paper is attached prior to the ejection of the recording ink. For example, Patent Literature 4 proposes a method for preventing bleeding by utilizing the reaction between a polyvalent metal ion and a carboxyl group, and Patent Literature 5 discloses a method using a reaction between a pigment, a resin emulsion, and a polyvalent metal salt. Suggestions have been made to improve bleeding.
[0005]
As described above, the ink jet recording method of using the reaction liquid and the coloring ink and attaching the reaction liquid to the recording medium prior to the coloring ink includes an image forming area (image area) where an image is formed and an image forming area. There has been proposed a method of suppressing the colored ink in the image area from entering the non-image area (hereinafter, referred to as “bleeding”) in the boundary area between the formed area (non-image area). For example, Patent Literature 6 proposes a method of attaching a reaction liquid only to the outermost contour portion of an image.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-59911
[0007]
[Patent Document 2]
JP-B-61-59912
[0008]
[Patent Document 3]
JP-B-61-59914
[0009]
[Patent Document 4]
JP-A-5-202328
[0010]
[Patent Document 5]
JP-A-9-207424
[0011]
[Patent Document 6]
JP-A-9-240137
[0012]
[Patent Document 7]
Japanese Patent No. 2783647
[0013]
[Patent Document 8]
U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,129
[0014]
[Patent Document 9]
U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,796
[0015]
[Patent Document 10]
U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,359
[0016]
[Patent Document 11]
U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,262
[0017]
[Patent Document 12]
U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,124
[0018]
[Patent Document 13]
U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333
[0019]
[Patent Document 14]
U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600
[0020]
[Patent Document 15]
JP-A-59-123670
[0021]
[Patent Document 16]
JP-A-59-138461
[0022]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, as described above, bleeding of the colored ink cannot be sufficiently suppressed only by attaching the reaction liquid only to the outermost contour portion of the image. Further, there is a possibility that a difference occurs in the density of the image between the contour portion of the image and the inside of the image. As described above, in the related art, in the boundary region between the image region and the non-image region, the bleeding due to the colored ink cannot be effectively suppressed.
[0023]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording method capable of recording an image in which the boundary portion between the image area and the non-image area is sharp and the boundary portion between the image area and the non-image area can be sharply controlled. .
[0024]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The recording method of the present invention is a recording method of recording an image by applying ink and a reaction liquid that reacts with the ink to a recording medium, wherein an image is formed by applying the ink and the reaction liquid. The reaction liquid is applied to at least a part of the periphery of the image area.
[0025]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0026]
FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus as a liquid ejection apparatus to which the present invention can be applied. The recording apparatus of the present embodiment uses a liquid ejection head of an ejection method for communicating air bubbles with the atmosphere at the time of ink ejection, as described below, as an ink jet recording head.
[0027]
The recording apparatus in FIG. 1 includes a transport device 1030, a recording unit 1010, and a movement driving unit 1006. The conveyance device 1030 intermittently conveys a sheet 1028 as a recording material in the casing 1008 in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow P. The recording unit 1010 is reciprocated along the guide shaft 1014 in the main scanning direction of the arrow S (S1, S2) orthogonal to the direction of the arrow P. The movement driving unit 1006 is a driving unit for reciprocating the recording unit 1010.
[0028]
In the movement driving unit 1006, a belt 1016 is stretched substantially in parallel with the roller unit 1022a between pulleys 1026a and 1026b attached to rotating shafts that are opposed to each other with a predetermined interval. The belt 1016 is connected to a carriage member 1010a of the recording unit 1010, and is moved by a motor 1018 that rotates in a reversible manner.
[0029]
When the belt 1016 rotates in the direction of the arrow R1 due to the rotation of the motor 1018 in one direction, the carriage member 1010a of the recording unit 1010 is moved in the direction of the arrow S1 in FIG. When the belt 1016 rotates in the direction of arrow R2 due to the rotation of the motor 1018 in the other direction, the carriage member 1010a of the recording unit 1010 is moved in the direction of arrow S2. Further, a recovery unit 1026 is provided on one end side of the movement driving unit 1006 at a position to be a home position of the carriage member 1010a. The recovery unit 1026 performs a recovery process of the recording unit 1010, facing an ink ejection port of the recording unit 1010, as described later.
[0030]
The recording unit 1010 includes an ink jet cartridge (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a “cartridge”) 1012Y, 1012M, 1012C, 1012B, and 1012S detachably mounted on the carriage member 1010a. The main parts of the cartridges 1012Y, 1012M, 1012C, and 1012B are constituted by an ink jet recording head for discharging different inks and a tank containing those inks. The different inks are, for example, colored pigment inks containing yellow, magenta, cyan and black pigments. The main part of the cartridge 1012S is constituted by an ink jet recording head for discharging a reaction liquid and a tank containing the reaction liquid.
[0031]
FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the ink jet cartridge. In the following, each of the cartridges 1012Y, 1012M, 1012C, 1012B, and 1012S in FIG. 1 is referred to as a cartridge 1012, an ink jet recording head constituting them is referred to as an ink jet recording head 100, and a tank containing ink to be ejected and a reaction liquid. Will be described as a tank 1001.
[0032]
The ink jet recording head 100 has a large number of ejection ports 832 for ejecting a liquid such as a liquid composition, and the liquid is supplied from the tank 1001 through a liquid supply passage (not shown) to the common recording head 100 described later. It is led to the liquid chamber (see FIG. 3). The recording head 100 of the present embodiment is a liquid ejection head capable of ejecting ink and a reaction liquid. A head that ejects ink is also referred to as a recording head, and a head that ejects reaction liquid is also referred to as a reaction liquid ejection head. These heads are similarly configured. The cartridge 1012 shown in FIG. 2 is configured such that the recording head 100 and the liquid tank 1001 are integrally formed so that liquid can be supplied into the liquid tank 1001 from outside as necessary. However, a structure in which the tank 1001 is exchangeably connected to the recording head 100 may be adopted.
[0033]
Next, a specific example of such a recording head 100 will be described in more detail. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view schematically showing a main part of the recording head 100. In this figure, electrical wiring and the like for driving an electrothermal transducer described below are omitted.
[0034]
A substrate 934 made of glass, ceramics, plastic, metal, or the like is used for the recording head 100 of this example. The material of the substrate 934 is not essential to the present invention, and functions as a part of a liquid (ink and reaction liquid) flow path constituting member, and a liquid discharge energy generating element, a liquid flow path, and a discharge Any material can be used as long as it can function as a support for the material layer for forming the outlet, and is not particularly limited. In this example, a case where a Si substrate (wafer) is used as the substrate 934 will be described. As a method for forming the ink discharge ports on such a substrate 934, in addition to a forming method using a laser beam, for example, an orifice plate (discharge port plate) 935 described later is used as a photosensitive resin, and an MPA (Mirror Projection Liner) is used. And the like.
[0035]
In FIG. 3, a substrate 934 includes an electrothermal conversion element (hereinafter, also referred to as a “heater”) 931 as a liquid ejection energy generating element and an ink supply port 933 formed of a long groove-shaped through-hole as a common liquid chamber. Prepare. On both sides of the ink supply port 933 along the longitudinal direction, the heaters 931 are arranged in a line in a staggered manner. The interval between the heaters 931 is, for example, 300 dpi. The substrate 934 is provided with an ink flow path wall 936 for forming an ink flow path. Further, the ink flow path wall 936 is provided with a discharge port plate 935 in which discharge ports 832 are formed.
[0036]
In FIG. 3, the ink flow path wall 936 and the ejection port plate 935 are separate members. However, by forming the ink flow path wall 936 on the substrate 934 by, for example, a method such as spin coating, the ink flow path wall 936 and the ejection port plate 935 can be formed simultaneously as the same member. . Further, in this example, a water-repellent treatment is performed on the ejection port surface (upper surface) 935a side.
[0037]
The serial type printing apparatus of this example uses the print head 100 having such a configuration to perform printing at a resolution of, for example, 1200 dpi while scanning in the direction of arrow S (S1, S2) in FIG. In that case, the driving frequency of the recording head 100 is 10 kHz, and one ejection port 832 ejects the liquid (ink and reaction liquid) every 100 μs in the shortest time interval.
[0038]
Next, the operation of discharging the liquid (ink and reaction liquid) by the recording head 100 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 11 are XX cross-sectional views of the recording head 100 in FIG. 3. In these drawings, the end of the discharge port 940 in the thickness direction of the orifice plate is the top 1141a of the groove 1141. A plurality (for example, six) of the grooves 1141 are provided on the periphery of the discharge port 832 so as to be dispersed around the periphery of the discharge port 832 (see FIG. 3), and extend in the axial direction of the discharge port 832. Exist.
[0039]
FIG. 4 shows a state in which film-like bubbles are generated in the liquid (ink and reaction liquid) thereon due to the heat generated by the heater 931. FIG. 5 is about 1 μs after FIG. 4, and FIG. After about 2 μs, FIG. 7 shows about 3 μs after FIG. 4, FIG. 8 shows about 4 μs after FIG. 4, FIG. 9 shows about 5 μs after FIG. 4, FIG. 10 shows about 6 μs after FIG. Indicates a state after about 7 μs in FIG. In the following description, “fall”, “drop”, or “drop” does not mean a drop in the direction of gravity, and the movement in the direction of the heater 931 does not depend on the mounting direction of the recording head. Say.
[0040]
First, as shown in FIG. 4, when a heater 931 is energized based on a print signal or the like, the heater 931 generates heat, and bubbles are generated in the liquid (ink and reaction liquid) I in the liquid flow path 1338 on the heater 931. 101 is generated. During the subsequent 2 μs, the bubble 101 rapidly expands in volume as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and grows. The height of the bubble 101 at the maximum volume is higher than the discharge port surface 935a, but the pressure of the bubble 101 at that time is reduced from a fraction of the atmospheric pressure to a fraction of the atmospheric pressure.
[0041]
Next, at about 2 μs after the generation of the bubble 101, the volume of the bubble 101 starts to decrease from the maximum volume as shown in FIG. 7, and at the same time, the formation of the meniscus 102 also starts. The meniscus 102 retreats, that is, falls, in the direction of the heater 931 as shown in FIG.
[0042]
In the print head of the present example, since the plurality of grooves 1141 are provided in a dispersed state in the ejection port portion, when the meniscus 102 retreats, the recess 1141 Capillary force acts on the opposite direction FC. As a result, even if a slight variation in the state of the bubble 101 is recognized for some reason, the shapes of the meniscus 102 and the main droplet Ia when the meniscus 102 retreats are substantially symmetric with respect to the ejection port 832. It is corrected so that
[0043]
In the recording head of this example, since the falling speed of the meniscus 102 is faster than the contraction speed of the bubble 101, as shown in FIG. Communicate with atmosphere in the vicinity. At this time, the liquid near the central axis of the discharge port 832 falls toward the heater 931. This is because, even after the bubbles 101 are communicated with the atmosphere, the liquid pulled back to the heater 931 due to the negative pressure of the bubbles 101 before communicating with the atmosphere maintains the velocity in the direction toward the heater 931 due to inertia. .
[0044]
The liquid that has dropped toward the heater 931 reaches the surface of the heater 931 at about 5 μs after the generation of the bubble 101, as shown in FIG. 9, and then, as shown in FIG. Spread to cover the surface. The liquid spread so as to cover the surface of the heater 931 has a horizontal vector along the surface of the heater 931, but a vector that intersects the surface of the heater 931, for example, a vector in the vertical direction disappears, and the heater 931. The liquid above it, that is, the liquid that maintains the velocity vector in the ejection direction (upper in FIG. 10), is pulled downward.
[0045]
Thereafter, the liquid portion Ib between the liquid spread on the surface of the heater 931 and the upper liquid (main droplet) Ia becomes thinner. Then, at about 7 μs after the generation of the bubble 101, as shown in FIG. 11, the liquid portion Ib is cut at the center of the surface of the heater 931, and the main droplet Ia maintaining the velocity vector in the ejection direction and the heater 931. The liquid Ic spread on the surface of 931 is separated. The position of such separation is desirably inside the liquid flow path 1338, more preferably, at a position closer to the heater 931 than the discharge port 832.
[0046]
The main droplet Ia is ejected from the central portion of the ejection port 832 without being deviated in the ejection direction or the ejection direction is changed (ejection distortion), and lands at a predetermined position on the recording surface of the recording material. Further, the liquid Ic spread on the surface of the heater 931 does not fly as a satellite droplet following the main droplet Ia and stays on the surface of the heater 931 and is not discharged. As described above, since the ejection of the satellite droplets can be suppressed, the splash which is likely to be generated by the ejection of the satellite droplets is prevented, and the recording surface of the recording material is contaminated by the mist floating in a mist state. It can be reliably prevented. 8 to 11, Id represents the ink attached to the groove 1141 (ink in the groove), and Ie represents the ink remaining in the liquid flow path 1338.
[0047]
As described above, in the recording head of the present example, when the liquid is ejected at the stage where the volume of the bubble 101 that has grown to the maximum volume is reduced, the plurality of grooves 1141 that are dispersed with respect to the center of the ejection port 832 are mainly used. The ejection direction of the droplet Ia can be stabilized. As a result, it is possible to provide a recording head with high landing accuracy, which is free from deviation (ejection distortion) in the liquid ejection direction. Further, even if the recording head is driven at a high driving frequency, the liquid can be stably ejected while suppressing the influence of the foaming variation, so that high-speed and high-definition recording can be realized.
[0048]
Further, in the recording head of this example, in the stage of reducing the volume of the bubble, the bubble is started to communicate with the atmosphere to discharge the liquid, so that the mist generated when discharging the droplet by communicating the bubble with the atmosphere. Can be prevented. As a result, it is also possible to suppress the adhesion of the liquid droplets on the discharge port surface, which is a factor that causes the ink not to be suddenly discharged (so-called sudden non-discharge). The recording head that can be suitably used in the present invention is not limited to a recording head of an ejection method that allows bubbles to communicate with the atmosphere during ejection of a liquid as described above. For example, as described in Patent Literature 7, A so-called edge shooter type recording head may be used.
[0049]
The recording method of the present invention, among the ink jet recording methods, produces excellent effects particularly in an ink jet recording head or a recording apparatus in which droplets are ejected using thermal energy and recording is performed with the droplets. It is. For the representative configuration and principle, it is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in Patent Documents 8 and 9, for example.
[0050]
The method is applicable to both so-called on-demand type and continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, the electrothermal transducer disposed corresponding to the sheet holding the liquid or the liquid path has a rapid temperature exceeding the film boiling corresponding to the recorded information and corresponding to the recording information. By applying at least one drive signal that provides a rise, thermal energy can be generated in the electrothermal transducer to cause film boiling on the heat-acting surface of the liquid in the recording head. As described above, the on-demand type is particularly effective because bubbles can be formed in the liquid in one-to-one correspondence with the drive signal. Then, due to the growth and contraction of such bubbles, the liquid is discharged through the liquid discharge opening to form at least one droplet.
[0051]
When the drive signal is in a pulse shape, the growth and contraction of the bubbles are performed immediately and appropriately, so that it is more preferable to be able to achieve the ejection of the liquid with particularly excellent responsiveness. At that time, as the pulse-shaped drive signal, drive signals as described in Patent Documents 10 and 11 are suitable. Further, by adopting the conditions described in Patent Document 12 relating to the invention regarding the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface, it is possible to perform more excellent recording.
[0052]
As a recording head constituting an ink cartridge, a recording unit, and an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention can be applied, a combination of a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter as disclosed in each of the above-described specifications. In addition to (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path), one having a configuration in which the heat acting portion is disposed in a bent region as described in Patent Documents 13 and 14 is used. Is also preferred. In addition, as described in Patent Literature 15, for a plurality of electrothermal transducers, a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal transducer is employed, or as described in Patent Literature 16. As described above, it is also effective to adopt a configuration in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy corresponds to the discharge section.
[0053]
Further, a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the recording material in the maximum range in which the recording apparatus can perform recording can be used as the recording head. In such a case, a recording head having a configuration satisfying the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification or a configuration as one integrally formed recording head is used. Any of these may be used.
[0054]
Further, as the recording head, a replaceable chip-type recording head or a recording head which can be electrically connected to the apparatus main body or supplied with liquid from the apparatus main body by being mounted on the apparatus main body. It is also possible to use a cartridge type recording head in which a liquid tank is provided integrally with itself.
[0055]
Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the print head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like, as in the recovery unit 1026 in FIG. 1, in order to further stabilize the effects of the present invention. These means perform recovery processing for maintaining the performance of the recording head. More specifically, capping means for capping the recording head with a cap, cleaning means for wiping the discharge port surface of the recording head, discharge means for discharging liquid not contributing to image recording from the discharge ports of the recording head, recording Preheating means for preliminarily heating the liquid in the head, means for executing a preliminary ejection mode for ejecting a liquid that does not contribute to image printing from an ejection port of the recording head, and the like can be given. As the discharging means, a pressurizing means for discharging a liquid which does not contribute to image printing from the discharge port of the recording head by pressurizing the liquid in the recording head, or a negative pressure, for discharging an image from the discharge port of the recording head. Suction means for sucking and discharging liquid that does not contribute to recording can be used. The preheating means may preheat the ink by an electrothermal transducer for discharging a liquid contributing to image recording, a separate heating element, or a combination thereof.
[0056]
(About the aggregation process)
Next, the aggregation process using the reaction liquid and the color pigment ink in the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the basic concept of the aggregation process.
[0057]
FIG. 12A shows a first step of bringing the reaction liquid 20 into contact with the colored pigment ink 30 on or above the upper surface 10 a of the recording medium 10. The moment when the pigment ink 30 is applied and comes into contact with the reaction liquid 20 is shown. The method of applying the reaction liquid 20 is not particularly limited in the present invention, and for example, application by an ink jet method or application by a roller, which is a conventional technique, can be suitably used. In the first step of the present invention, in order to bring the reaction liquid 20 into contact with the colored pigment ink 30 on and above the upper surface 10a of the recording medium 10, the reaction liquid 20 applied to the recording medium 10 is used for recording. Before penetrating the medium 10, the colored pigment ink 30 needs to be applied. Therefore, if the reaction liquid 20 has low permeability to the recording medium 10, it is possible to secure a relatively long time until the colored pigment ink 30 is applied, and to set suitable recording conditions. . Low permeability of the reaction solution 20 to the recording medium 10 can be achieved by suppressing the amount of a surfactant or the like serving as a penetration enhancer.
[0058]
The following steps in FIGS. 12B and 12C are a second step of instantaneously forming the aggregated film 31b at the interface where the reaction liquid 20 and the color pigment ink 30 are in contact.
[0059]
This second step is a step of immediately forming the aggregated film 31b immediately after the first step, and is one of the features of the present invention. In order to form the aggregation film 31b, it is necessary to cause the reaction liquid 20 to react with the components contained in the color pigment ink 30 to cause aggregation. As a method therefor, a method of containing a polyvalent metal ion in the reaction solution 20 for coagulation, a method of using the acid precipitation phenomenon by making the reaction solution 20 low in pH, and a method of coagulation by containing a cationic organic substance These can be used alone or in combination. Here, an example using a method in which the polyvalent metal ion 21 having a high reaction rate is contained in the reaction solution 20 will be described.
[0060]
Since the polyvalent metal ions 21 in the reaction liquid 20 collide with carboxylate ions, sulfonate ions, phosphate ions, and the like in the color pigment ink 30, a reaction occurs. This is achieved by increasing the probability of their collision. That is, this is achieved by including the polyvalent metal ions 21 contained in the reaction liquid 20 more than the total charge concentration of the opposite polarity ions in the pigment ink 30 that reacts with the polyvalent metal ions 21. Here, the total charge concentration is defined as the number of polyvalent metal ions 21 per unit mass in the reaction liquid 20, and the carboxylic acid ion, sulfonic acid ion, phosphate ion, etc. per unit mass in the color pigment ink 30. It is defined by the number of opposite polarity ions. By using such a reaction liquid 20 and the color pigment ink 30, at the contact interface immediately after the contact between the reaction liquid 20 and the color pigment ink 30 as shown in FIG. Due to the impact colliding with 20, the constituent components of the colored pigment ink 30 and the reaction liquid 20 are mixed near the interface. Then, as shown in FIG. 12 (b), due to a high collision probability, carboxylic acid ions, sulfonic acid ions, phosphate ions, and the like in the colored pigment ink 30 are instantaneously bonded to the polyvalent metal ions 21 and dispersed. The pigment particles 31a in which the electric repulsion of the pigment particles 31 in the state is eliminated are formed. Then, as shown in FIG. 12C, the aggregated film 31b formed by the pigment particles 31a is rapidly formed by the van der Waals attractive force acting between the pigment particles 31a.
[0061]
The feature of the agglomerated film 31b thus formed instantaneously is that the agglomerated film of the pigment particles 31a is not a completely impermeable film. At least the solvent among the surfactant 32, the solvent in the small colored pigment ink 30, and the polyvalent metal ions 21 in the reaction liquid can be passed.
[0062]
Next, FIGS. 12D, 12E, and 12F show a process of aggregating and / or depositing the pigment particles 31 in a dispersed state in the colored pigment ink 30 on the agglomerated film 31b and the recording medium 10. 3 is a time series showing a third step in which a process of promoting the permeability of the reaction solution 20 to the recording medium 10 and a process of fixing the aggregated film 31b on the surface of the recording medium 10 proceed almost simultaneously.
[0063]
As shown in FIG. 12D, the pigment particles 31 in the dispersed state in the colored pigment ink 30 sequentially collide with the surplus polyvalent metal ions 21 in the reaction liquid 20 and react to lose the electric repulsion. Then, the pigment particles 31a are aggregated and / or deposited on the aggregated film 31b by Van der Waals force. In parallel with this, the penetration enhancer typified by the surfactant 32 contained in the color pigment ink 30 and the solvent diffuse into the reaction liquid 20 via the aggregation film 31b. Along with this diffusion, the reaction liquid 20 having a low permeability to the recording medium 10 increases the permeability to the recording medium 10 such as plain paper, and the solvent component and the coloring in the reaction liquid 20 are increased. The solvent component in the pigment ink 30 quickly permeates the recording medium 10.
[0064]
Such a diffusion of the penetration enhancer and a change in permeability of the reaction solution 20 are another feature of the present invention. FIG. 12E shows a state in which such a process has progressed. Finally, as shown in FIG. 12F, fixing is performed so that the aggregated film 31b covers the surface 10a of the recording medium 10. . By this third step, the mixed liquid component of the reaction liquid 20 and the color pigment ink 30 quickly permeates the recording medium 10 to achieve fast fixing, and is fixed so as to cover the surface 10a of the recording medium 10. High color developability can be achieved by the aggregates 31b made of the pigment particles 31a. As described above, fast fixing and high color development can be satisfied at the same time.
[0065]
(Reaction solution)
Next, the reaction solution that can be used in the present invention will be described.
[0066]
The most preferable example of the reactant contained in the reaction liquid usable in the present invention, that is, the reactant that reacts with the color pigment ink includes a polyvalent metal salt. The polyvalent metal salt is composed of a divalent or higher polyvalent metal ion and an anion bonded to the polyvalent metal ion. Specific examples of polyvalent metal ions include divalent metal ions such as Ca2 +, Cu2 +, Ni2 +, Mg2 +, and Zn2 +, and trivalent metal ions such as Fe3 + and Al3 +. Examples of the anion include Cl-, NO3-, and SO4-. In order to instantaneously react to form an aggregated film, the total charge concentration of the polyvalent metal ions in the reaction liquid is desirably at least twice the total charge concentration of the opposite polarity ions in the color pigment ink.
[0067]
Examples of the water-soluble organic solvent that can be used for the reaction solution include dimethylformamide, amides such as dimethylacetamide, ketones such as acetone, tetrahydrofuran, ethers such as dioxane, polyethylene glycol, polyalkylene glycols such as polypropylene glycol, Alkylene glycols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, thiodiglycol, hexylene glycol, diethylene glycol, ethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, triethylene glycol monomethyl Lower alkyl ethers of polyhydric alcohols such as ethers, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol Call, other monohydric alcohols such as isobutyl alcohol, glycerin, N- methyl-2-pyrrolidone, 1,3-dimethyl - imidazolidinone, triethanolamine, sulfolane, dimethyl monkey Hoki side, and the like. The content of the water-soluble organic solvent in the reaction solution used in the present invention is not particularly limited, but is preferably 5 to 60% by weight, more preferably 5 to 40% by weight based on the total weight of the reaction solution. .
[0068]
In addition, in addition to the examples described above, additives such as a viscosity adjuster, a pH adjuster, a preservative, and an antioxidant may be appropriately added to the reaction solution usable in the present invention, if necessary. However, care must be taken in selecting and adding a surfactant that functions as a penetration enhancer in order to suppress the permeability of the reaction solution to the recording medium. Further, the reaction liquid used in the present invention is more preferably colorless, but may be a light-colored liquid that does not change the color tone of each color ink when mixed with the ink on the recording medium. Furthermore, as a preferable range of various physical properties of the reaction solution used in the present invention, the viscosity around 25 ° C. is 1 to 30 cps. Is preferably adjusted to be within the range described above.
[0069]
(About pigment ink)
Next, the color pigment ink will be described.
[0070]
The pigment of the color pigment ink that can be used in the present invention is used in a weight ratio of 1 to 20% by weight, preferably 2 to 12% by weight based on the total weight of the color pigment ink. Specific examples of the pigment used in the present invention include carbon black as a black pigment. For example, carbon black produced by a furnace method or a channel method, having a primary particle diameter of 15 to 40 mμ (nm), a specific surface area of 50 to 300 m 2 / g by a BET method, a DBP oil absorption of 40 to 150 ml / 100 g, Those having characteristics such as a volatile content of 0.5 to 10% and a pH value of 2 to 9 can be preferably used. As a commercially available product having such characteristics, for example, 2300, no. 900, MCF88, No. 33, no. 40, no. 45, no. 52, MA7, MA8, No. 2200B (manufactured by Mitsubishi Kasei), RAVEN1255 (manufactured by Columbia), REGAL400R, REGAL330R, REGAL660R, MOGUL L (manufactured by Cabot), Color Black FW1, COLOR Black FW18, Color Black S170, ColorScrPB Printex U (above, manufactured by Degussa) and the like can be preferably used.
[0071]
Examples of the yellow pigment include C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 1, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 2, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 3, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 13, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 16, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 83 and the like. Examples of the magenta pigment include C.I. I. Pigment Red 5, C.I. I. Pigment Red 7, C.I. I. Pigment Red 12, C.I. I. Pigment Red 48 (Ca), C.I. I. Pigment Red 48 (Mn), C.I. I. Pigment Red 57 (Ca), C.I. I. Pigment Red 112, C.I. I. Pigment Red 122 and the like. Examples of the cyan pigment include C.I. I. Pigment Blue 1, C.I. I. Pigment Blue 2, C.I. I. Pigment Blue 3, C.I. I. Pigment Blue 153, C.I. I. Pigment Blue 16, C.I. I. Pigment Blue 22, C.I. I. Vat Blue 4, C. I. Vat Blue 6 and the like. The pigment used in the present invention is not limited to these. In addition to the above examples, newly manufactured pigments such as self-dispersed pigments can of course be used.
[0072]
The pigment dispersant may be any water-soluble resin, but preferably has a weight average molecular weight of 1,000 to 30,000, more preferably 3,000 to 15, Use in the range of 2,000. As such dispersants, specifically, for example, styrene, styrene derivatives, vinyl naphthalene, vinyl naphthalene derivatives, aliphatic alcohol esters of α, β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, acrylic acid, acrylic acid derivatives, At least two or more monomers selected from maleic acid, maleic acid derivatives, itaconic acid, itaconic acid derivatives, fumaric acid, fumaric acid derivatives, vinyl acetate, vinylpyrrolidone, acrylamide, and derivatives thereof; One is a block copolymer composed of a hydrophilic polymerizable monomer), a random copolymer, a graft copolymer, or a salt thereof. Alternatively, natural resins such as rosin, shellac and starch can also be preferably used. These resins are soluble in an aqueous solution in which a base is dissolved, and are alkali-soluble resins. The water-soluble resin used as the pigment dispersant is preferably contained in the range of 0.1 to 5% by weight based on the total weight of the color pigment ink.
[0073]
In particular, in the case of a color pigment ink containing the above-described pigment, it is preferable that the entire color pigment ink is adjusted to be neutral or alkaline. Use of such a colored pigment ink is preferable because the solubility of a water-soluble resin used as a pigment dispersant can be improved, and a colored pigment ink having more excellent long-term storage properties can be obtained. However, in this case, it is possible to cause corrosion of various members used in the ink jet recording apparatus. Examples of the pH adjuster used in this case include various organic amines such as diethanolamine and triethanolamine; inorganic alkali agents such as hydroxides of alkali metals such as sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide; Acids and mineral acids. Such a pigment and a water-soluble resin as a dispersant are dispersed or dissolved in an aqueous liquid medium.
[0074]
In the color pigment ink containing a pigment usable in the present invention, a suitable aqueous liquid medium is a mixed solvent of water and a water-soluble organic solvent, and the water is not general water containing various ions, but an ion. It is preferable to use exchanged water (deionized water).
[0075]
Examples of the water-soluble organic solvent used by being mixed with water include, for example, methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, n-propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, sec-butyl alcohol, tert-butyl alcohol, etc. Amides such as dimethylformamide and dimethylacetamide; ketones or ketoalcohols such as acetone and diacetone alcohol; ethers such as tetrahydrofuran and dioxane; polyalkylene glycols such as polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol; Ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, thiodiglycol, hexylene glycol, diethylene glycol Alkylene glycols having an alkylene group containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms such as coal; glycerin; polyalkylene glycols such as ethylene glycol monomethyl (or ethyl) ether, diethylene glycol methyl (or ethyl) ether, and triethylene glycol monomethyl (or ethyl) ether; Lower alkyl ethers of polyhydric alcohols; N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, 2-pyrrolidone, 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone and the like. Among these many water-soluble organic solvents, polyhydric alcohols such as diethylene glycol and lower alkyl ethers of polyhydric alcohols such as triethylene glycol monomethyl (or ethyl) ether are preferred.
[0076]
The content of such a water-soluble organic solvent in the color pigment ink is generally in the range of 3 to 50% by weight, more preferably in the range of 3 to 40% by weight based on the total weight of the color pigment ink. . Further, the content of water used is in the range of 10 to 90% by weight, preferably 30 to 80% by weight of the total weight of the color pigment ink.
[0077]
Further, in addition to the above-mentioned components, the coloring pigment ink usable in the present invention may further include a surfactant, an antifoaming agent, a preservative, and the like in order to obtain a coloring pigment ink having desired physical properties as required. Can be appropriately added. In particular, it is necessary to add an appropriate amount of a surfactant that functions as a penetration enhancer to play a role of promptly penetrating the reaction liquid and the liquid component of the color pigment ink into the recording medium. An example of the addition amount is 0.05 to 10% by weight, preferably 0.5 to 5% by weight. As the examples of the anionic surfactant, any of generally used ones such as a carboxylate type, a sulfate type, a sulfonate type and a phosphate type can be preferably used.
[0078]
As an example of a method for producing a colored pigment ink containing the above-described pigment, there is the following method. First, a pigment is added to an aqueous medium containing at least a water-soluble resin and water as a dispersing agent, and after mixing and stirring, dispersion is performed using a dispersing means described below, and centrifugation as necessary. Perform the treatment to obtain the desired dispersion. Next, a sizing agent and an additive component appropriately selected from those described above are added to the dispersion, and these are stirred to obtain a colored pigment ink used in the present invention.
[0079]
When the above-mentioned alkali-soluble resin is used as the dispersant, it is necessary to add a base to dissolve the resin. As such bases, organic amines such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, amine methylpropanol, and ammonia, and inorganic bases such as potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide can be preferably used.
[0080]
In addition, in a method for producing a pigment ink containing a pigment, it is effective to carry out premixing for 30 minutes or more before stirring and dispersing an aqueous medium containing the pigment. That is, such a premixing operation is preferable because the wettability of the pigment surface can be improved and the adsorption of the dispersant on the pigment surface can be promoted.
[0081]
The dispersing machine used in the above-mentioned pigment dispersion treatment may be any commonly used dispersing machine, and examples thereof include a ball mill, a roll mill, and a sand mill. Among them, a high-speed sand mill is preferably used. Examples thereof include a super mill, a sand grinder, a bead mill, an agitator mill, a Glen mill, a Dyno mill, a pearl mill, and a Kobol mill (all trade names).
[0082]
Further, in an ink jet recording method using a colored pigment ink containing a pigment, a pigment having an optimum particle size distribution is used in view of a demand for measures against clogging (clogging resistance) of an ink discharge port in a recording head. In that case, as a method of obtaining a pigment having a desired particle size distribution, reducing the size of the pulverization media of the disperser, increasing the filling rate of the pulverization media, increasing the processing time, and reducing the discharge speed And classification using a filter, a centrifugal separator, or the like after pulverization, and a method of combining these.
[0083]
(Specific examples of colored pigment inks)
Next, specific examples of the color pigment ink will be described. In the following description, parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise specified.
[0084]
First, as described below, colored pigment inks of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, each containing a pigment and an anionic compound, were obtained.
[0085]
<Preparation of pigment dispersion>
・ Styrene-acrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymer
(Acid value 240, weight average molecular weight = 5,000)
1.5 parts
・ Monoethanolamine 1.0 part
・ Diethylene glycol 5.0 parts
・ 81.5 parts of ion exchange water
[0086]
The above components are mixed and heated to 70 ° C. in a water bath to completely dissolve the resin component. To this solution, 10 parts of newly produced carbon black (MCF88, manufactured by Mitsubishi Kasei) and 1 part of isopropyl alcohol were added, and after premixing for 30 minutes, dispersion treatment was performed under the following conditions.
・ Dispersing machine Sand grinder (made by Igarashi Kikai)
・ Pulverizing media Zirconium beads, 1mm diameter
-Filling ratio of grinding media 50% (volume ratio)
・ Crushing time 3 hours
[0087]
Further, a centrifugal separation treatment (12,000 rpm, 20 minutes) was performed to remove coarse particles to obtain a pigment dispersion.
[0088]
<Preparation of colored pigment ink K>
Using the above dispersion, components having the following composition ratios were mixed to prepare an ink containing a pigment, which was used as a colored pigment ink. The surface tension at this time was 34 mN / m.
・ 30.0 parts of the above pigment dispersion
・ Glycerin 10.0 parts
・ Ethylene glycol 5.0 parts
・ N-methylpyrrolidone 5.0 parts
・ Ethyl alcohol 2.0 parts
・ Acetylenol EH (Kawaken Fine Chemical) 1.0 part
・ 47.0 parts of ion exchange water
[0089]
(Specific example of reaction solution)
Next, specific examples of the reaction solution will be described. In the following description, parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise specified.
[0090]
After mixing and dissolving the following components, the mixture is further filtered under pressure through a membrane filter having a pore size of 0.22 μm (trade name: Fluoropore Filter, manufactured by Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.) to obtain a reaction solution whose pH is adjusted to 3.8. Was.
[0091]
<Composition of reaction solution S>
・ Diethylene glycol 10.0 parts
・ Methyl alcohol 5.0 parts
・ 3.0 parts of magnesium nitrate
・ Acetylenol EH (manufactured by Kawaken Fine Chemical) 0.1 part
・ 81.9 parts of ion exchange water
[0092]
(About recording method)
Next, the ink jet recording system in the present invention will be described. In this example, the color pigment ink K and the reaction liquid S of the above specific example were used.
[0093]
In the ink jet recording method of this example, a first step of discharging a reaction liquid S onto a recording medium according to image information and a step of discharging a color pigment ink K onto the recording medium according to the image information are described. It consists of two stages. As the recording medium, for example, PB paper (manufactured by Canon) which is plain paper was used. In the following, as an example of image information, a case where a single-color image composed of 7 dots vertically and 7 dots horizontally will be described. A solid line in FIG. 13 indicates an image forming area (hereinafter, also referred to as “image area”) S1 on the recording medium on which the image (7 dots × 7 dots) is formed, and a dotted line in FIG. A region S2 adjacent to the image region S1 where no image is formed (hereinafter also referred to as a "non-image region") is shown. Hereinafter, the dots formed by the attachment of the ink are also referred to as “ink dots”, and the dots formed by the attachment of the reaction liquid are also referred to as “reaction liquid dots”.
[0094]
FIG. 14A shows a case where an image (7 dots × 7 dots) is printed by forming ink dots of 7 × 7 in the image area S1 without thinning out the ink by the ink discharged from the print head. As described above, a reaction liquid is previously attached to the recording area S1 to form 7 × 7 reaction liquid dots. In this case, 100% of all the ink dots are formed without being thinned, and a so-called solid pattern is recorded.
[0095]
FIG. 14B shows a case where the outermost contour portion of the image in FIG. 14A, that is, the ink dots forming the contour portion of the image area S1 are thinned out at a uniform rate of 50%. A reaction liquid is previously attached to the image area S1 to form a 7 × 7 reaction liquid dot.
[0096]
FIGS. 14C and 14D show the case where the reaction liquid is attached to the non-image area S2 adjacent to the image area S1. In the case of FIG. 14C, 100% of the reaction liquid dots are formed in the non-image area S2 adjacent to the image area S1, and a solid pattern of the reaction liquid is formed. In the case of FIG. 14D, the reaction liquid dots are formed in a non-image area S2 adjacent to the image area S1 at a ratio of 50%. In the cases of FIGS. 14C and 14D, the reaction liquid and the ink are attached to the image area S1 in the same manner as in FIG. 14A. The reaction liquid applied to the non-image area S2 adjacent to the image area S1 is applied before ink is applied.
[0097]
Images were recorded based on the image information by the recording methods shown in FIGS. 14A, 14B, 14C, and 14D. The recording head used in this example had a recording density of 1200 dpi, and the driving condition was a driving frequency of 15 kHz. The recording head has a discharge volume of 4 pl for each dot of the ink and the reaction liquid. The environmental conditions for such a recording test were unified to 25 ° C./55% RH.
[0098]
Then, the recorded matter on which an image was recorded by these recording methods was evaluated by the following evaluation methods and evaluation criteria. The results are shown in Table 1 below.
[0099]
[Table 1]

[0100]
As shown in FIGS. 14C and 14D, by applying the reaction liquid to at least a part of the non-image area S2 adjacent to the image area S1 of the image, a clear image without bleeding could be recorded. This is because, due to the coagulation effect of the reaction liquid applied to the non-image area S2 adjacent to the image area S1, the bleeding of the colored ink at the image boundary between the image area S1 and the non-image area S2 is suppressed. This is because the image boundary is clear without exceeding the image area S1.
[0101]
(Other embodiments)
The ink used in the present invention is not limited to the pigment ink alone, but may be a dye ink. Further, the reaction liquid may react so as to coagulate or coagulate the coloring material in the ink to improve image recording properties. The reaction liquid may be applied to the recording medium before applying the ink, or may be applied to the recording medium after applying the ink. Further, the configurations of the recording head capable of discharging ink and the recording head capable of discharging the reaction liquid (reaction liquid discharge head) are not limited to only the above-described embodiment, and other than the discharge method using the electrothermal converter, For the piezo element and the like, various ejection heads can be used. Further, the means for applying the ink and the reaction liquid is not limited to the head capable of ejecting them, but may be any means capable of applying them to the recording medium.
[0102]
When an image is formed of a specific color selected in advance, the reaction liquid is applied to the non-image area by applying the reaction liquid to at least a part of the non-image area adjacent to the image area where the image is formed. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the bleeding of the colored ink from the image area to the non-image area. Further, at the time of applying the ink, the control device determines an image area on the recording medium on which an image is formed by the reaction liquid and one or a plurality of color inks based on the input image information. After applying the reaction liquid, the colored ink can be applied to the image area.
[0103]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be listed.
[Embodiment 1] A recording method for recording an image by applying ink and a reaction liquid that reacts with the ink to a recording medium, comprising:
A recording method comprising: applying the reaction liquid to at least a part of an image area where an image is formed by applying the ink and the reaction liquid.
[0104]
[Embodiment 2] The recording method according to Embodiment 1, wherein the reaction liquid is applied to at least a part of a plurality of regions in pixel units located around the image region.
[0105]
[Embodiment 3] The recording method according to Embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the reaction liquid for the image area is applied before or after the ink is applied to the image area.
[0106]
Fourth Embodiment The first to third embodiments are characterized in that the reaction liquid is applied to at least a part of the periphery of the image area before or after the ink is applied to the image area. The recording method according to any one of the above.
[0107]
[Embodiment 5] The ink is a pigment ink containing pigment particles,
The reaction liquid is a reaction liquid that aggregates the pigment ink.
The recording method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 4, characterized in that:
[0108]
[Embodiment 6] A first step of bringing the ink applied to the recording medium into contact with the reaction liquid,
A second step of forming an aggregated film at the interface where the ink and the reaction solution have contacted;
A process of aggregating and / or depositing pigment particles of the pigment ink in a dispersed state on the aggregation film, a process of promoting the permeability of the reaction liquid to the recording medium, and a method of forming the aggregation film on the recording medium. A third step of proceeding almost simultaneously with the process of fixing on the surface of
The recording method according to embodiment 5, comprising:
[0109]
[Embodiment 7] The recording method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 6, wherein the ink is applied to the recording medium using a recording head capable of discharging the ink.
[0110]
Embodiment 8 The recording method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 7, wherein the reaction liquid is applied to the recording medium using a reaction liquid head capable of discharging the reaction liquid.
[0111]
Embodiment 9 In a recording apparatus that records an image by applying ink and a reaction liquid that reacts with the ink to a recording medium,
A recording apparatus comprising: means for applying the reaction liquid to at least a part of an image area where an image is formed by applying the ink and the reaction liquid.
[0112]
[Embodiment 10] The recording apparatus according to Embodiment 9, wherein the means applies the reaction liquid to at least a part of a plurality of pixel-unit regions located around the image region.
[0113]
[Embodiment 11] The embodiment 9 or 10, wherein the means applies the reaction liquid to the image area before or after the ink is applied to the image area. Recording device.
[0114]
[Embodiment 12] An embodiment characterized in that the means applies the reaction liquid to at least a part of the periphery of the image area before or after the application of the ink to the image area. 12. The recording device according to any one of 9 to 11.
[0115]
Embodiment 13 The ink is a pigment ink containing pigment particles,
The reaction liquid is a reaction liquid that aggregates the pigment ink.
13. The recording device according to any one of embodiments 9 to 12, wherein
[0116]
[Embodiment 14] The recording apparatus according to any one of Embodiments 9 to 13, wherein the ink is applied to the recording medium using a recording head capable of discharging the ink.
[0117]
[Embodiment 15] The recording apparatus according to any one of Embodiments 9 to 14, wherein the reaction liquid is applied to the recording medium by using a reaction liquid head capable of discharging the reaction liquid.
[0118]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention provides an image area and a non-image area by applying a reaction liquid to at least a part of an image area where an image is formed by applying an ink and a reaction liquid. , The bleeding of the ink at the boundary portion between the images can be suppressed, and the boundary portion can be sharply recorded and a good image can be recorded.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the ink jet cartridge in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the recording head in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 3 for explaining the discharging operation of the recording head in FIG. 3 over time.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 3 for explaining the discharging operation of the recording head in FIG. 3 over time.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 3 for explaining the ejection operation of the recording head in FIG. 3 over time.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 3 for explaining the discharge operation of the recording head in FIG. 3 over time.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 3 for explaining the ejection operation of the recording head in FIG. 3 over time.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 3 for explaining the discharge operation of the recording head in FIG. 3 over time.
FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 3 for explaining the ejection operation of the recording head of FIG. 3 over time.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 3 for explaining the discharging operation of the recording head in FIG. 3 over time.
FIGS. 12A to 12F are conceptual diagrams for explaining an aggregation process using an ink and a reaction liquid.
FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a relationship between an image area and a non-image area.
FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram for describing a recording example for an image area and a non-image area in FIG. 13;
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Recording medium
10a Printing surface of recording medium
20 Reaction liquid
21 Polyvalent metal ions
30 Color pigment ink
31 Pigment particles in a dispersed state
31a Pigment particles that have lost electrical repulsion
31b Pigment particles in aggregate state
32 penetration enhancer
832 outlet
931 Electrothermal conversion element (heater, ink ejection energy generation element)
933 Ink supply port (opening)
934 substrate
935 Orifice plate (discharge port plate)
935a Discharge port surface
936 Ink channel wall
940 discharge port
1338 Liquid flow path
1141a top
100 inkjet recording head
101 bubbles
1001 Liquid tank
1006 Movement drive unit
1008 Casing
1010 Recorder
1010a Carriage member
1012 cartridge
1012Y, M, C, B, S inkjet cartridge
1014 Guide shaft
1016 belt
1018 motor
1020 drive unit
1022a, 1022b Roller unit
1024a, 1024b roller unit
1026 Recovery unit
1026a, 1026b pulley
1028 paper
1030 Transport device
FM Meniscus retreat direction
FC Meniscus retreat direction and opposite direction
I ink
Ia Main droplet (liquid)
Ib, Ic Ink (liquid)
Id Ink (liquid) attached to the groove
Ink (liquid) remaining in the Ie liquid flow path
P Sub-scanning direction
R1, R2 Belt rotation direction
S (S1, S2) Main scanning direction
S1 image area
S2 Non-image area

Claims (1)

In a recording method of recording an image by applying ink and a reaction liquid that reacts with the ink to a recording medium,
A recording method comprising: applying the reaction liquid to at least a part of an image area where an image is formed by applying the ink and the reaction liquid.

Images