JP3801371B2 - Recording method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a recording method and apparatus using a droplet ejecting apparatus, and more specifically, a powder in which droplets ejected from a droplet ejecting apparatus according to an image signal are uniformly formed on an intermediate transfer member. The present invention relates to a so-called transfer-type recording method and apparatus for jetting upward to form a visible image on the intermediate transfer member and then transferring the visible image onto plain paper.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a method of recording an image according to an image signal by using a liquid containing a coloring material as droplets, such as an inkjet recording method, it is important to perform recording with little blurring on plain paper such as high-quality paper. It is a technical issue. In order to solve the problem, various proposals have been made in the past. Among them, a method of using an intermediate transfer member and increasing the viscosity of a liquid (ink) containing a coloring material and then transferring it to a recording paper Has been proposed.
[0003]
As such a method, for example, the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-89067 is a recording apparatus called an intermediate transfer type ink jet, and once forms an ink image on the intermediate transfer body, and the ink is preferred. When the viscosity is reached, the ink image is transferred to the recording paper to solve the ink bleeding on the plain paper as the recording paper.
[0004]
The present applicant has previously filed Japanese Patent Application No. 9-359208 as an invention for solving the drawbacks of the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-89067. In the present invention, a water-absorbing powder is applied on an intermediate transfer member, and when the ink image reaches the intermediate transfer member, the viscosity of the ink is increased by the powder. It is designed to solve ink bleeding.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the invention disclosed in the above Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-89067 is obtained by applying a surfactant to the intermediate transfer member in advance to increase the wettability. Considerable time is required. For this reason, the intermediate transfer body and the recording paper are blurred, and are not suitable for high-speed recording.In particular, in the case of a solid image, the bleeding is large. There was a limit to speeding up the blur.
[0006]
Further, in the invention filed as the above Japanese Patent Application No. 9-359208, a dedicated cleaning member such as a blade or a brush is required to clean unused powder remaining on the intermediate transfer member after transfer. Usually, since the area of the non-image portion (background portion) is larger than that of the image portion, the amount of powder used increases when the unused powder is cleaned. Further, if the powder is left unused for a long period of time, the powder on the intermediate transfer member absorbs moisture and thickens, and cleaning with a cleaning member such as a blade or a brush cannot be performed.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in a recording method in which an inkjet droplet is thickened and transferred using an intermediate transfer member, unused powder after transfer is reused, and powder The purpose of the present invention is to provide a recording method and apparatus capable of limiting the amount of use only to the amount used in the image area, and further capable of collecting only the deteriorated powder by absorbing the humidity in the air. It is.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the surface of the intermediate transfer member can be dissolved or swelled by ink droplets containing a coloring material, can increase the viscosity of the ink droplets, and can be peeled off from the intermediate transfer member. the powder, forming a layer of powder by preliminarily applying, and sprayed onto the layer of the powder of the intermediate transfer member a visible image formed on the intermediate transfer member in accordance with the ink droplet to the image signal , then the in the recording method of transferring a visible image on a recording sheet, the surface of the intermediate transfer member is formed of a material showing the adhesion to the powder, the ink droplets or air compared to the intermediate transfer member surface wherein in the cleaning member having a surface releasability is poor with respect to the powder viscosity increased by humidity, the powder only to the intermediate transfer member viscosity in contact with the surface after the transfer has risen intermediate Remove from the transcript Later, in which was characterized by applying the powder to the surface of the intermediate transfer body.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the cleaning member also serves as a transfer roller.
[0011]
The invention of claim 3 is the invention of claim 1 , wherein the powder removed from the intermediate transfer body is collected and stored in a collection container, and excess ink or discarded ink generated in the recording apparatus is guided to the collection container, The recovered powder is absorbed.
[0012]
In the invention of claim 4, the surface of the intermediate transfer member can be dissolved or swelled by ink droplets containing a coloring material, can increase the viscosity of the ink droplets, and can be peeled off from the intermediate transfer member. visible powder, previously the layer forming means for forming a layer of powder by applying, to said ink droplets to be jetted onto the layer of the powder of the intermediate transfer member in accordance with an image signal on the intermediate transfer member A recording apparatus comprising ink droplet applying means for forming an image and transfer means for transferring the visible image onto a recording paper, wherein the layer of powder forms the powder layer on the surface of the intermediate transfer member after, in a recording apparatus for applying the ink droplets onto the layer of the powder by the ink droplet application means, so as to form a material showing an adhesive property of the surface of the intermediate transfer member with respect to the powder, the intermediate On the surface of the transfer body Base has a cleaning member having a surface releasability is poor with respect to the powder the viscosity increased by humidity of the ink droplet or air, contacting said cleaning member to said intermediate transfer member surface after the transfer Then, after removing only the powder whose viscosity has been increased from the intermediate transfer body, the powder is applied by the layer forming means.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part for explaining one embodiment of a recording method and apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a set agent coating device, 2 is a set agent replenishing roller, 2a is a blade, and 3 is a set. Agent application roller, 3a is a blade, 6 is an intermediate transfer body device, 6a, 6b and 6c are rollers, 7 is an intermediate transfer body, 11 is a printing device, 16 is a paper feeding device, 17 is transfer paper (recording paper), 18 Is a registration roller, 21 is a transfer device, 22 is a transfer roller, 26 is a paper discharge device, 31 is a cleaning device, 32 is a cleaning roller, and 32a is a scraper.
[0014]
First, when a printing start signal is received, the set agent coating device 1 causes the set agent (powder that can be dissolved or swelled by the droplets and can increase the viscosity of the droplets and be peeled) to be transferred to the transfer body device 6. The transfer belt (intermediate transfer member) 7 is applied. The set agent is a water-absorbing powder such as an acrylic acid resin, an acrylic acid / methacrylic acid copolymer resin, a methacrylic acid resin, and starch, and has a particle size of about 0.5 to 20 μm.
[0015]
The set agent supply roller 2 and the application roller 3 are rotated by a driving force from a drive motor (not shown) provided in the set agent application device 1. A blade 2 a is in contact with the replenishing roller 2, thereby adjusting the replenishment amount of the set agent and making the set agent uniform on the replenishment roller 2. The replenishing roller 2 and the application roller 3 are in contact with each other, the set agent from the replenishment roller 2 moves to the application roller 3, and the set agent is uniformly applied to the application roller 3. Further, a blade 3 a is attached to the application roller 3, and the blade 3 a uniformizes the thin layer of the set agent on the application roller 3 and prevents the set agent from leaking from the set agent application device 1. Yes.
[0016]
The set agent application device 1 operates and the transfer body device 6 also operates, and the set agent is applied onto the intermediate transfer body 7 by the contact between the set agent application device 1 and the intermediate transfer body 7. The intermediate transfer member 7 is made of a material such as silicone rubber or fluororubber that easily adheres to the surface (powder (setting agent)), whereby a thin powder layer is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer member 7. The The transfer body device 6 includes an intermediate transfer body 7, three rollers 6a, 6b, and 6c, a drive motor (not shown), a position control encoder (not shown), its housing (not shown), and the like. And operates with the set agent applicator 1.
[0017]
When the set agent is applied to the intermediate transfer body 7 and the application portion of the set agent is moved to the position of the printing apparatus 11, the printing operation is started, and the printing apparatus 11 applies the set agent onto the intermediate transfer body 7. An image is printed. The printing apparatus 11 is an inkjet head that discharges aqueous ink. The water-based ink is absorbed by the water-absorbing set agent (powder) formed in a thin layer, and becomes a gel-like substance having an appropriate viscosity.
[0018]
The gel-like substance formed in the form of an image comes into contact with the transfer paper 17 in the transfer device 21, is pressurized, and completely transfers to the transfer paper 17. Since the surface of the intermediate transfer body 7 is a silicone or fluorine-based elastic body, the releasability is good with respect to the gel-like substance, and the gel-like substance hardly remains in the intermediate transfer body 7. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 11 is an example of a shuttle system, but the printing apparatus 11 may be configured by one or two or more line heads. When the printing mechanism is constituted by the line head, printing and transfer are continuously performed.
[0019]
During or after printing, the transfer paper 17 is sent out from the paper supply device 16 and sent to the registration roller 18 of the registration unit. The transfer paper 17 is sent out from the registration roller 18 in synchronization with the image formed on the intermediate transfer body 7, and the image on the intermediate transfer body 7 is transferred to the transfer paper 17 by the transfer roller 22 of the transfer device 21. The paper is discharged and stocked by the paper discharge device 26.
[0020]
In the intermediate transfer body 7 after the transfer, the release layer is exposed in the transferred image portion, but the thin layer of the set agent remains as it is in the portion not used in the image. For the next printing, it is necessary to regenerate the thin layer of the set agent on the intermediate transfer member 7, and at this time, the set agent coating apparatus is left with the set agent remaining on the intermediate transfer member 7 being placed. 1, the portion where the release layer is exposed as described above, that is, the sticky portion where the surface of the intermediate transfer body 7 is exposed can be covered with a thin layer of powder. The powder can be supplied to the formed part.
[0021]
When the apparatus is not used for a long time, the powder on the intermediate transfer member 7 may absorb the humidity in the air and increase the viscosity. Since such powder cannot be used for image formation as it is, it is necessary to remove only the powder whose viscosity has increased before use from the intermediate transfer body 7. The cleaning roller 32 is provided for that purpose, and the cleaning roller 32 is made of a material having smoothness such as a metal surface or a resin coat and not so high in releasability. By adhering the powder having increased viscosity to the cleaning roller 32, the powder (that is, powder having increased viscosity by absorbing the humidity in the air) can be removed from the intermediate transfer body 7. The removed powder is collected from the surface of the cleaning roller 32 by the scraper 32a. The intermediate transfer member 7 from which the deteriorated powder has been removed is reapplied with a thin layer of the set agent on the entire surface by the set agent applicator 1 for the next printing, and can be used for image formation again.
[0022]
FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the state of the set agent on the intermediate transfer member 7 of the recording method and apparatus shown in FIG. 1, in which 3 is a coating roller, 4 is a set agent, and 7 is an intermediate transfer member. 7a is an adhesive layer, and 12 is an ink droplet.
[0023]
FIG. 2A is a diagram for explaining a state in which the set agent 4 is applied to the intermediate transfer member 7, and the surface of the intermediate transfer member 7 is sticky to the set agent (powder) 4. For example, an adhesive layer 7 a such as silicone rubber or fluororubber is formed, and the set agent 4 is easily attached, so that a substantially single layer of the set agent 4 is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer body 7. The set agent 4 is a powder showing water absorption such as acrylic acid resin, acrylic acid / methacrylic acid copolymer resin, methacrylic acid resin, and starch, and has a particle size of about 0.5 to 20 μm.
[0024]
FIG. 2B is a diagram for explaining a state in which an image is written on the intermediate transfer body 7 by ink jet. When an image is recorded by ink jet, a portion of the ink droplet 12 is set to the set agent 4. As water absorbs and swells, the viscosity increases and stickiness comes out.
[0025]
FIG. 2C is a diagram for explaining the state of the intermediate transfer body 7 after the image (ink droplet 12) on the intermediate transfer body 7 is transferred to the transfer paper 17, and is transferred onto the intermediate transfer body 7. When the paper is overlapped, only the portion of the ink droplet 12 whose viscosity has increased is transferred to the transfer paper, and only the unused set agent 4 in the non-image area remains on the intermediate transfer body 7.
[0026]
FIG. 2D is a diagram for explaining a state in which the set agent is re-applied on the intermediate transfer body 7 after the image is transferred. On the intermediate transfer body 7 from which the set agent 4 has been lost due to image transfer. In addition, when the set agent 4 is reapplied by the set agent applicator 1 (applying roller 3) in the state as it is, the surface of the intermediate transfer member 7 is exposed as shown in FIG. The setting agent 4 adheres only to the portion. That is, in the portion covered with the set agent 4 on the intermediate transfer body 7, the adhesive layer 7a is not sticky by the silicone rubber. There is no adhesion.
[0027]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the main part for explaining another embodiment of the recording method and apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 3, 4 ′ is a set agent having an increased viscosity, and in FIG. 1 or FIG. The same reference numerals as those of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 or FIG.
[0028]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the set agent (deteriorated powder agent) 4 ′ whose viscosity has been increased by absorbing moisture in the air is removed from the intermediate transfer body 7 by the cleaning roller 32. The surface of the cleaning roller 32 is made of a material having smoothness such as a metal surface or a resin coat and not so high in releasability, whereby the powder 4 ′ having increased viscosity as described above. Are removed from the transfer body 7. The powder 4 ′ thus removed is recovered from the surface of the cleaning roller 32 by the scraper 32 a. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the cleaning roller 32 is used to remove the deteriorated powder, but the intermediate transfer member 7 from which the deteriorated powder 4 ′ has been removed is the next-stage coating apparatus 1. The thin layer of the set agent is regenerated on the entire surface and can be used again for image formation. This cleaning roller can also be used as the transfer roller 22. That is, by forming the surface of the transfer roller 22 on a surface that is less releasable than the surface of the intermediate transfer member 7, the surface of the transfer roller is brought into contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer member 7 without passing through the transfer paper. As a result, the same function as the cleaning roller 32 described above can be achieved.
[0029]
In order to prevent clogging due to ink drying or the like, the inkjet head needs to periodically perform recovery operations such as ink suction and nozzle discharge.In the prior art, the ink used at that time is It was discarded after being absorbed by felt or the like.
[0030]
The invention of claim 3 makes use of the fact that the set agent (deteriorated powder) 4 ′ recovered as shown in FIG. 3 can still sufficiently absorb moisture, and the recovered set agent 4 ′ is recovered in a container. Thus, the ink generated by the head recovery operation is absorbed and stored.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the surface of the intermediate transfer member can be dissolved or swelled by ink droplets containing a coloring material, can increase the viscosity of the ink droplets, and can be peeled off from the intermediate transfer member. the powder, forming a layer of powder by preliminarily applying, and sprayed onto the layer of the powder of the intermediate transfer member a visible image formed on the intermediate transfer member in accordance with the ink droplet to the image signal , then the in the recording method of transferring a visible image on a recording sheet, the surface of the intermediate transfer member is formed of a material showing the adhesion to the powder, the ink droplets or air compared to the intermediate transfer member surface wherein in the cleaning member having a surface releasability is poor with respect to the powder viscosity increased by humidity, the powder only to the intermediate transfer member viscosity in contact with the surface after the transfer has risen intermediate Remove from the transcript Later, since the powder was applied to the surface of the intermediate transfer member, by using a “cleaning member having a surface with inferior releasability with respect to the powder”, only the powder having an increased viscosity was used. Then, it can be used again for image formation by applying a set agent onto the intermediate transfer member.
In other words, when the device is not used for a long time, only the powder whose viscosity has been increased by absorbing the humidity in the air on the intermediate transfer member can be removed from the intermediate transfer member prior to use. There is a remarkable effect that can be minimized.
[0033]
According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, since the cleaning means also serves as a transfer roller, the structure can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.
[0034]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the powder removed from the intermediate transfer member is stored in a collection container, and surplus ink or discarded ink generated in a recording apparatus is guided to the collection container. Since the powder is absorbed, a dedicated unnecessary ink absorber is not required and the cost can be reduced.
[0035]
In the invention of claim 4, the surface of the intermediate transfer member can be dissolved or swelled by ink droplets containing a coloring material, can increase the viscosity of the ink droplets, and can be peeled off from the intermediate transfer member. visible powder, previously the layer forming means for forming a layer of powder by applying, to said ink droplets to be jetted onto the layer of the powder of the intermediate transfer member in accordance with an image signal on the intermediate transfer member A recording apparatus comprising ink droplet applying means for forming an image and transfer means for transferring the visible image onto a recording paper, wherein the layer of powder forms the powder layer on the surface of the intermediate transfer member after, in a recording apparatus for applying the ink droplets onto the layer of the powder by the ink droplet application means, so as to form a material showing an adhesive property of the surface of the intermediate transfer member with respect to the powder, the intermediate On the surface of the transfer body Base has a cleaning member having a surface releasability is poor with respect to the powder the viscosity increased by humidity of the ink droplet or air, contacting said cleaning member to said intermediate transfer member surface after the transfer After removing only the powder whose viscosity has been increased from the intermediate transfer member, the powder is applied by the layer forming means, so that “cleaning with a surface having inferior releasability with respect to the powder” By using the “member”, it is possible to remove only the powder having an increased viscosity, and then, after applying the set agent on the intermediate transfer member, it can be used again for image formation.
In other words, when the device is not used for a long time, only the powder whose viscosity has been increased by absorbing the humidity in the air on the intermediate transfer member can be removed from the intermediate transfer member prior to use. There is a remarkable effect that can be minimized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a main part configuration diagram for explaining an embodiment of a recording method and apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a state of a set agent on the intermediate transfer member 7 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a main part for explaining another embodiment of the recording method and apparatus according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Set agent coating device, 2 ... Supply roller, 2a ... Blade, 3 ... Application roller, 3a ... Blade, 4 ... Set agent, 4 '... Set agent with increased viscosity, 6 ... Transfer device, 6a, 6b, 6 ... roller, 7 ... intermediate transfer member, 7a ... adhesive layer, 11 ... printing device, 12 ... ink droplet, 16 ... paper feeding device, 17 ... transfer paper, 18 ... registration roller, 21 ... transfer device, 22 ... transfer Roller, 26 ... paper discharge device, 31 ... cleaning device, 32 ... cleaning roller, 32a ... scraper.

Claims (4)

Applying in advance to the surface of the intermediate transfer member a powder that can be dissolved or swelled by ink droplets containing a coloring material, can increase the viscosity of the ink droplets, and can be peeled off from the intermediate transfer member. by forming a layer of powder, the ink droplets visible image formed on the intermediate transfer member by spraying on the layer of the powder of the intermediate transfer member in accordance with an image signal, then the visible image the recording method of transferring the recording paper, the surface of the intermediate transfer member is formed of a material showing the adhesion to the powder, increasing the viscosity by the humidity of the intermediate transfer member the ink droplet or air than the surface a cleaning member having a surface releasability is poor with respect to the powder, only the powder in which the intermediate transfer member viscosity in contact with the surface is increased after transfer after removal from the intermediate transfer member, Intermediate transfer Recording method, comprising applying the powder to the surface of the body.   The recording method according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member also serves as a transfer roller.   2. The recording method according to claim 1, wherein the powder removed from the intermediate transfer member is collected and stored in a collection container, and surplus ink or discarded ink generated in the recording apparatus is guided to the collection container, and the collected powder is collected. A recording method characterized by absorbing the water. Applying in advance to the surface of the intermediate transfer body a powder that can be dissolved or swelled by ink droplets containing a coloring material, can increase the viscosity of the ink droplets, and can be peeled off from the intermediate transfer body. ink droplets to form a visible image and the layer forming means for forming a layer of powder, in the ink droplets and is sprayed onto the layer of the powder of the intermediate transfer member in accordance with an image signal on the intermediate transfer member by A recording apparatus comprising: an applying unit; and a transfer unit that transfers the visible image onto a recording sheet, wherein the layer forming unit forms the powder layer on the surface of the intermediate transfer member, and then the ink droplet application a recording apparatus for applying the ink droplets onto the layer of powder by means, so as to form a material showing an adhesive property of the surface of the intermediate transfer member with respect to the powder, the ink compared to the intermediate transfer member surface Droplet Other has a cleaning member having a surface releasability against the powder viscosity by humidity in the air rose poor, the in contact with the intermediate transfer member surface viscosity after transferring the cleaning member The recording apparatus, wherein only the raised powder is removed from the intermediate transfer member, and then the powder is applied by the layer forming means.

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