JPH11291478A - Ink jet transfer recorder and recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate disturbance of image due to collection between dots of dye ink on an intermediate transfer body or occurrence of scatter due to overlapped hitting and to suppress permeation of dye ink into a recording medium paper layer while preventing dry up, smear and strike through of image. SOLUTION: Dye ink is ejected to an intermediate transfer body according to a recording signal and the dye ink held on the intermediate transfer body is transferred to a recording medium. In such an ink jet transfer recording method, the dye ink is ejected to an intermediate transfer body having a porous intermediate transfer layer for absorbing and discharging the dye ink apparently and after the dye ink held on the intermediate transfer body is concentrated by thermally evaporating moisture, the recording medium is pressed against the intermediate transfer layer to transfer the dye ink from the intermediate transfer layer to the recording medium thus fixing a recording image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink-jet transfer type recording method and a recording apparatus, and more particularly, to a method of eliminating an image disturbance due to a collection of dye inks between dots on an intermediate transfer member, and an overprinting method. The present invention relates to an ink jet transfer type recording method and a recording apparatus which eliminate spatter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, ink-jet recording systems have rapidly become widespread in recent years because of their advantages such as small size, low cost, low running cost and low noise. Ink-jet printers capable of printing on plain paper have also been introduced to the market. ing. However, when ink is printed directly on plain paper from the ejection device, the ink penetrates into the paper layer and satisfies all characteristics such as image density, image clarity, image drying, image bleeding, and image strikethrough. It is difficult to make it happen. Therefore, a method for solving the above-mentioned problems by using an ink jet recording method in which the ink held on the intermediate transfer body is transferred onto a recording medium after ejecting the ink onto the intermediate transfer body to obtain a recorded image has been considered. JP-A-62-22849 and JP-A-Hei.
No. 226336 discloses that ink ejected from an ink jet head is attached to an intermediate transfer body, water in the ink is evaporated and concentrated by a heating element, and then the intermediate transfer body is brought into pressure contact with a recording medium. By transferring the ink to the recording medium and fixing the recorded image, it is possible to suppress the penetration of the ink into the paper layer, and to improve the drying property of the image.
It is disclosed that problems such as image bleeding and image strikethrough are solved. However, since the ink droplets that form the dots gather and form a sphere from the time when the ink is ejected onto the intermediate transfer member until the recording image is fixed on the recording medium, the dots become larger and the resolution decreases, There is a disadvantage that an image is not formed at an appropriate position, and when inks of different hues adjacent to each other are printed, ink droplets are gathered on the intermediate transfer member, and the boundary between colors is blurred. Furthermore, when the same color ink or different ink is overprinted,
Since the first ink droplet is ejected on the surface of the intermediate transfer member, when the next ink droplet is ejected on the previously ejected ink droplet, the ink droplet is repelled and spatters are generated, and the image is sharp. However, there is a drawback that is reduced.

JP-A-5-200999 discloses a material layer provided on an intermediate transfer member, which absorbs and swells in a low temperature range, undergoes a phase transition in a high temperature range, releases water, and contracts, and has a mesh layer having a diameter smaller than that of the pigment. By absorbing and filtering only the water in the pigment ink to leave the color material on the surface, a method of transferring the color material to the recording medium by pressing the intermediate transfer body against the recording medium is disclosed, This method utilizes the absorption of moisture in the intermediate transfer member and cannot be used for dye ink. Further, since the layer on the intermediate transfer member swells and shrinks, there is a problem that the dimensional stability of the transferred image is poor. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-17030 discloses that the surface roughness of an intermediate transfer member is set to a maximum height of 1 μm to 25 μm to prevent aggregation of ink droplets forming dots. Even if the surface of the intermediate transfer member is made uneven by the method, if the concave portion is smaller than the ink droplet, the ink droplet cannot completely enter the concave portion, and there is a problem that the image is disturbed due to the aggregation of the protruding ink droplets. Further, when the concave portion is large, there is a problem that many ink droplets enter one concave portion, and eventually the image is disturbed due to the aggregation of the ink. In addition, when ink of the same color or different inks is overprinted, the ink droplet ejected first is still on the surface of the intermediate transfer member, so that the ink droplet ejected next is over the ink droplet ejected earlier. In this case, there is a problem that spatter is generated due to repelling and the sharpness of an image is deteriorated.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve such a problem, and to reduce image disturbance due to aggregation of dye ink between dots on an intermediate transfer member in an ink jet transfer recording system. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet transfer type recording method and a recording apparatus which eliminates the occurrence of spatter due to overstrike. Another object of the present invention is to suppress the penetration of the dye ink into the paper layer when the dye ink on the intermediate transfer member is transferred to a recording medium,
An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet transfer type recording method and a recording apparatus which are excellent in drying property of an image, prevention of image bleeding, and prevention of strike-through of an image.

[0005]

According to the present invention, first, a dye ink is ejected onto an intermediate transfer member in accordance with a recording signal, and the dye ink held on the intermediate transfer member is transferred onto a recording medium. In an ink-jet transfer type recording method for obtaining a recorded image, a dye ink is jetted onto an intermediate transfer member having an intermediate transfer layer which is porous and can absorb and discharge a dye ink, and then a recording medium is pressed against the intermediate transfer layer to press the intermediate transfer layer. An ink-jet transfer type recording method is provided, in which a dye image held in a transfer layer is transferred to a recording medium to fix a recorded image.

Secondly, in an ink jet transfer type recording method for jetting a dye ink onto an intermediate transfer member in accordance with a recording signal and transferring the dye ink held on the intermediate transfer member to a recording medium to obtain a recorded image, The dye ink is jetted onto an intermediate transfer member having an intermediate transfer layer capable of apparently absorbing and discharging the dye ink, and then the dye ink held in the intermediate transfer layer is heated to evaporate water and concentrated, and then the intermediate ink is concentrated. An ink-jet transfer type recording method is provided, in which a recording medium is pressed against a transfer layer to transfer a dye ink of an intermediate transfer layer to the recording medium to fix a recorded image.

Third, in an ink-jet transfer type recording apparatus for ejecting dye ink to an intermediate transfer member in accordance with a recording signal and transferring the dye ink held on the intermediate transfer member to a recording medium to obtain a recorded image, The transfer body is porous and has an intermediate transfer layer capable of apparently absorbing and discharging the dye ink. Further, a heating means for heating the intermediate transfer layer, and a recording medium pressed against the intermediate transfer layer to apply the dye ink of the intermediate transfer layer And a fixing unit for transferring the image onto a recording medium to fix a recorded image.

Fourth, there is provided an ink jet transfer type recording apparatus according to the above third ink jet transfer type recording apparatus, wherein the intermediate transfer layer is made of a material which does not adsorb the dye ink.

Fifth, there is provided an ink jet transfer type recording apparatus according to the third or fourth ink jet transfer type recording apparatus, wherein the intermediate transfer layer is made of a water-repellent material.

Sixth, in the above-mentioned third, fourth or fifth ink-jet transfer type recording apparatus, the intermediate transfer layer has a large number of holes having a hole diameter of 0.3 μm to 100 μm. A recording device is provided.

Seventh, in the above-mentioned third, fourth, fifth or sixth ink jet transfer type recording apparatus, the intermediate transfer layer has such a thickness that the porous portion can sufficiently absorb the amount of dye ink jetted in solid printing. An inkjet transfer type recording apparatus characterized by having:

Eighth, in the above-mentioned third, fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh ink jet transfer type recording apparatus, it is preferable that the contact angle between the dye ink and the intermediate transfer layer is 10 ° to 90 °. An ink jet transfer type recording apparatus is provided.

In the above-described ink jet transfer type recording method and recording apparatus of the present invention, by using an intermediate transfer member having an intermediate transfer layer capable of absorbing and discharging the dye ink apparently, the ink discharged onto the intermediate transfer member is used. The dye ink is quickly absorbed into the pores of the intermediate transfer layer. Therefore, the ink droplets forming the dots do not aggregate with each other, and the dye ink is quickly absorbed into the pores of the intermediate transfer layer even when printing inks of different hues adjacent to each other. The ink droplets do not aggregate. As a result, it is possible to prevent the image from being disturbed due to the aggregation between the dots of the dye ink.

Further, when ink of the same color or different inks is overprinted, the ink droplets ejected earlier are quickly absorbed into the pores of the intermediate transfer layer, so that the ink droplets ejected next are transferred to the intermediate transfer layer. When droplets are deposited on the layer, repulsion due to collision with previously ejected ink droplets does not occur, and generation of spatter can be prevented.

Further, the heating unit for heating the intermediate transfer layer heats the dye ink held in the intermediate transfer layer to evaporate and concentrate the water, and then presses the recording medium against the intermediate transfer layer to cause the dye in the intermediate transfer layer to be pressed. By transferring the ink to the recording medium and fixing the recorded image, it is possible to suppress the penetration of the dye ink into the recording medium paper layer, improve the drying property of the image, and also to cause image bleeding and image strikethrough. Can be prevented.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing one example of the ink-jet transfer type recording apparatus of the present invention. The ink jet transfer type recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a transfer drum (intermediate transfer body) 1 driven to rotate by a gear (not shown), a heater (heating means) 2 disposed in the transfer drum for heating the transfer drum, An ink jet recording head 3 for ejecting dye ink to an intermediate transfer member in accordance with a recording signal; and a dye ink image formed on the transfer drum 1 by ejection from the recording head 3 is transferred to a recording medium 5 to fix the recorded image. And a fixing roller (fixing unit) 4. The transfer drum (intermediate transfer body) 1 is composed of a cylindrical support 1A and an intermediate transfer layer 1B formed on the surface thereof and capable of absorbing and discharging a porous dye ink apparently.

The intermediate transfer layer 1B quickly absorbs the dye ink adhering to the surface into the pores, heats the dye ink held in the intermediate transfer layer 1B by the heater 2, evaporates water, concentrates the ink, and fixes the ink. It has a function of bringing the transfer drum 1 and the recording medium 5 into close contact with each other and transferring the dye ink image formed on the intermediate transfer layer 1B to the surface of the recording medium 5 by the mechanical pressure of the roller 4.

The intermediate transfer layer 1B can be formed by using a fluorine resin, a silicone resin, a Teflon resin, a metal such as stainless steel, polyethylene, polystyrene, or the like. Further, if the cylindrical support 1A is a material having the properties of the intermediate transfer layer 1B, the transfer drum (intermediate transfer body) 1 can be formed using only that material.

The intermediate transfer layer is preferably made of a material which does not adsorb the dye ink, whereby contamination of the intermediate transfer layer by the dye ink can be prevented, and recording of the dye ink held on the intermediate transfer layer can be prevented. The transfer rate to the medium can be improved. When the dye ink is an aqueous dye ink, the intermediate transfer layer is preferably made of a water-repellent material, whereby contamination of the intermediate transfer layer by the dye ink can be prevented. The transfer rate of the held dye ink to the recording medium can be improved.

The intermediate transfer layer is made of the above-mentioned material.
It is preferable to have a large number of pores in the range of 3 μm to 100 μm, so that the dye ink adhering to the surface of the intermediate transfer layer can be apparently absorbed and discharged. On the other hand, if the hole diameter of the intermediate transfer layer is smaller than 0.3 μm, the dye ink droplets will not be quickly absorbed into the holes of the intermediate transfer layer, and the protruding ink droplets will be aggregated to cause disturbance of the image. If it is larger, adjacent ink droplets will be absorbed by the same hole, and it will be difficult to form dots with each ink droplet, and the resolution will be reduced.

Further, it is preferable that the intermediate transfer layer has such a thickness that the porous portion can sufficiently absorb the amount of the dye ink jetted in solid printing. In the case of color recording, the thickness of the intermediate transfer layer must be set in consideration of the fact that dye inks of two or more colors are applied to the same portion of the intermediate transfer layer. If the thickness of the intermediate transfer layer is smaller than the above, the ink that cannot be absorbed when the solid printing is performed protrudes from the porous portion, and the ink droplets are aggregated to cause image disturbance.

In order to improve the transferability of the dye ink from the intermediate transfer layer 1B of the transfer drum 1 to the recording medium, it is desirable that the cylindrical support 1A be made of an elastic material.
Rubber materials such as silicon rubber, fluorine rubber, urethane rubber, NR natural rubber, SBR, NBR, nitrile rubber, CR chloroprene, HR butyl rubber, EPDM ethylene propylene rubber, and hypalone can be used. In addition, a cleaning unit (not shown) for cleaning the dye ink remaining on the intermediate transfer layer 1B that has not been completely transferred to the recording medium may be provided between the fixing roller 4 and the recording head 3.

The recording head 3 discharges dye ink as droplets and attaches the droplets to the surface of the transfer drum 1.
It can be formed separately or integrally by the number of ink colors. The method of the recording head may be any conventionally known method. For example, a pressure is applied to the ink by an electric pulse using a piezoelectric material, and the ink is ejected as droplets from the nozzles provided on the recording head 3 onto the transfer drum 1 and adheres. An ink jet recording head of a type in which bubbles are generated in the ink using an ink jet recording head or a heating element of a type that causes the ink to be ejected as droplets to the transfer drum 1 by the pressure.

As the dye ink used in the ink jet transfer type recording method and recording apparatus of the present invention, an aqueous ink containing water and a colorant soluble in water is preferable. One or more colorants can be used as needed,
As a coloring agent, for example, as a water-soluble dye, an acid dye, a direct dye, a basic dye in a color index,
Dyes classified into reactive dyes and food dyes and having excellent water resistance and light resistance are preferred.

Specific examples of these dyes include C.I. I. Acid Black 1,
2, 7, 24, 26, 94, C.I. I. Acid Yellow 17, 23, 42, 44, 79, 142, C.I. I. Acid Blue 9, 29, 45, 92, 249, C.I. I. Acid Red 1, 8, 13, 14, 18, 26, 27,
35, 37, 42, 52, 82, 87, 89, 92, 9
7, 106, 111, 114, 115, 134, 18
6, 249, 254, 289, C.I. I. Food black 1, 2, C.I. I. Food yellow 3, 4, C.I. I. Food red 7, 9, 14, C.I. I. Direct Black 19, 22, 32, 38, 51, 5
6, 71, 74, 75, 77, 154, (168), 1
71, C.I. I. Direct Yellow 1, 12, 24, 2
6, 33, 44, 50, 86, 120, 132, 14
2, 144, C.I. I. Direct Blue 1, 2, 6, 1
5, 22, 25, 71, 76, 79, 86, 87, 9
0, 98, 163, 165, 199, 202, C.I. I.
Direct Red 1, 4, 9, 13, 17, 20, 2,
8, 31, 39, 80, 81, 83, 89, 225, 2
27, C.I. I. Direct orange 26, 29, 62,
102, basic dyes such as C.I. I. Basic Black 2, 8, C.I. I. Basic Yellow 1, 2, 11,
13, 14, 15, 19, 21, 23, 24, 25, 2
8, 29, 32, 36, 40, 41, 45, 49, 5,
1, 53, 63, 64, 65, 67, 70, 73, 7
7, 87, 91, C.I. I. Basic Blue 1, 3,
5, 7, 9, 21, 22, 26, 35, 41, 45, 4,
7, 54, 62, 65, 66, 67, 69, 75, 7
7, 78, 89, 92, 93, 105, 117, 12
0, 122, 124, 129, 137, 141, 14
7, 155, C.I. I. Basic Red 2, 12, 1
3, 14, 15, 18, 22, 23, 24, 27, 2
9, 35, 36, 38, 39, 46, 49, 51, 5,
2, 54, 59, 68, 69, 70, 73, 78, 8
2, 102, 104, 109 and 112, as reactive dyes, C.I. I. Reactive Black 3, 4, 7, 11,
12, 17, C.I. I. Reactive Yellow 1, 5, 1
1, 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 25, 40, 4,
7, 51, 55, 65, 67, C.I. I. Reactive Blue 1, 2, 7, 14, 15, 23, 32, 35, 3
8, 41, 63, 80, 95, C.I. I. Reactive Red 1, 14, 17, 25, 26, 32, 37, 44,
46, 55, 60, 66, 74, 79, 96, 97 and the like can be used.

The contact angle between the dye ink and the intermediate transfer layer is preferably 10 ° to 90 °. This contact angle is 9
When the angle is larger than 0 °, the wettability of the dye ink and the intermediate transfer layer is poor, and the dye ink discharged to the intermediate transfer member does not enter the pores of the intermediate transfer layer and is not sufficiently absorbed. If the angle is smaller than 10 °, when the recording medium is pressed against the intermediate transfer layer and the dye ink image is transferred to the recording medium and fixed, the dye ink and the dye ink that has entered the porous portion due to the wettability of the intermediate transfer layer are too good. In some cases, it is not transferred to the recording medium and remains in the porous portion.

The contact angle between the dye ink and the intermediate transfer layer can be adjusted by adding various additives to the dye ink. One example is the addition of a water-soluble organic solvent. Further, depending on the purpose, such as prevention of drying of the dye ink and improvement of the dissolution stability, the above water-soluble organic solvent may be used alone or in combination of two or more, thereby adjusting the contact angle between the dye ink and the intermediate transfer layer. can do.

Examples of the water-soluble organic solvent include ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, glycerin, 1,2,6-hexane. Triol,
Polyhydric alcohols such as 1,2,4-butanetriol, 1,2,3-butanetriol and petriol, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether,
Polyhydric alcohol alkyl ethers such as diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, tetraethylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monophenyl ether,
Polyhydric alcohol aryl ethers such as ethylene glycol monobenzyl ether, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-hydroxyethyl-2-pyrrolidone, 2-pyrrolidone, 1,3-dimethylimidazolidinone, ε-caprolactam, etc. Nitrogen heterocyclic compound, formamide, N
Amides such as -methylformamide, N, N-dimethylformamide, amines such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, monoethylamine, diethylamine and triethylamine; sulfur-containing compounds such as dimethylsulfoxide, sulfolane and thiodiethanol; Propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate,
γ-butyrolactone and the like.

In the dye ink of the present invention, the contact angle between the dye ink and the intermediate transfer layer can be adjusted to 10 ° to 90 °. One or more additives may be added. Examples of the penetrant include anionic surfactants such as higher alcohol sulfates and sulfonates of naphthalene derivatives, cationic surfactants such as quaternary ammonium salts, amphoteric surfactants such as imidazoline derivatives, and polyoxyethylene. Nonionic surfactants such as alkyl ethers, polyethylene propylene block polymers, sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, and ethylene oxide additives of acetylene alcohol are exemplified.

The pH adjuster may be any as long as it can adjust the pH without adversely affecting the ink to be prepared. Preferably, the pH is adjusted to 7 or higher. Examples thereof include amines such as diethanolamine and triethanolamine, hydroxides of alkali metal elements such as sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, quaternary ammonium hydroxide, and quaternary phosphonium water. Oxides, carbonates of alkali metals such as lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate and the like can be mentioned.

Examples of the rust preventive include acid sulfite, sodium thiosulfate, ammonium thiodiglycolate, diisopropylammonium nitrite, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, dicyclohexylammonium nitrite and the like. Examples of preservatives and fungicides include sodium dehydroate, sodium sorbate, sodium 2-pyridinethiol-1-oxide, sodium benzoate, sodium pentachlorophenol and the like. Examples of the anti-clogging agent include urea derivatives such as urea and hydroxyethyl urea. In addition, a water-soluble ultraviolet absorber and a water-soluble infrared absorber can be added according to the purpose.

[0032]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below with reference to examples.

Example 1 Black dye (PRO-JET FAST B, manufactured by Zenega Corporation)
LACK2) 3.0% by weight, 2.0% by weight of 2-pyrrolidone, 3% by weight of diethylene glycol and glycerin 1
% By weight was dissolved in distilled water to prepare a black dye ink.
In the preparation of the black dye ink, a yellow dye (manufactured by Daiwa; DY86), a magenta dye (manufactured by Hoechst; RR180 / AR52), and a cyan dye (manufactured by Zenega; PRO-JET CYAN1 DB) are used instead of the black dye.
199), except that yellow dye ink, magenta dye ink and cyan dye ink were prepared.

Next, in the ink-jet transfer type recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a porous polytetrafluoroethylene having a large number of holes having a diameter of 1.0 μm is adhered to a cylindrical support made of silicon rubber to form an intermediate transfer layer. Transfer drum with a diameter of 3
Ink-jet transfer type recording apparatus having a recording head having a nozzle of 3 μm and 360 dpi, a heater arranged in a transfer drum, and a fixing roller for transferring a dye ink image formed on an intermediate transfer layer to a recording medium and fixing the recorded image. The above dye ink is ejected from the recording head to adhere the dye ink to the intermediate transfer layer, and then the dye ink held in the intermediate transfer layer is heated to evaporate water and concentrated, and then the intermediate transfer layer is recorded. Medium (My paper paper, N
(Manufactured by BS Corporation) at a linear pressure of 8 kg / cm to transfer the dye ink of the intermediate transfer layer to a recording medium.

As a result, the image is not disturbed by the aggregation of the dye inks on the recording medium due to the aggregation of the dots, and furthermore, when ink of the same color or different ink is overprinted, repelling due to collision of droplets can be prevented. No generation of spatter was observed. In addition, the dye ink did not penetrate into the paper layer of the recording medium, the image dried well, and a color image free from image bleeding and image bleeding was obtained.

The solid printing of the black dye ink was performed, and the density of the image transferred to the recording medium was measured with a densitometer (RD-914, manufactured by Macbeth Co., Ltd.). The transfer rate of the dye ink from the layer to the recording medium was also good. Further, after performing solid printing for 10 hours and transferring the dye ink from the intermediate transfer layer to the recording medium, the intermediate transfer layer was applied to the recording medium (My Paper paper, manufactured by NBS) without printing. When pressed at 8 kg / cm, no dye ink was transferred to the recording medium, and it was confirmed that the intermediate transfer layer was not contaminated by the dye ink even when the intermediate transfer layer was repeatedly used.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing another example of the ink jet transfer type recording apparatus of the present invention. The heater 2 in the ink jet transfer type recording apparatus of FIG.
It is arranged outside. Except that this inkjet transfer type recording apparatus was used, the dye ink adhered to the intermediate transfer layer, the dye ink held in the intermediate transfer layer was heated, and the recording medium (my paper paper) (Manufactured by NBS), and the same evaluation as in Example 1 was performed. As a result, good results were obtained as in Example 1.

Example 3 FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view schematically showing still another example of the ink-jet transfer type recording apparatus of the present invention, which has a porous structure having a large number of pores having a pore diameter of 1.0 μm as an intermediate transfer layer. A line-type ink jet recording head that uses a transfer belt 6 made of polytetrafluoroethylene and stretches it between a pair of transport rollers 7 and discharges black, yellow, magenta, and cyan dye inks around the transfer belt 6 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D
The fixing roller 4 and the heater 2 are arranged on the rotation rear side of these recording heads.

Using this ink jet transfer type recording apparatus, the black dye ink, yellow dye ink, magenta dye ink and cyan dye ink prepared in Example 1 are used as line type ink jet recording heads 8A, 8B, 8
C and 8D, the dye inks are sequentially ejected and adhere to the transfer belt 6 in order, and then the dye ink held on the transfer belt 6 is heated to evaporate water to concentrate the ink. Paper paper, manufactured by NBS) at a linear pressure of 10 kg / cm and the dye ink on the transfer belt 6 was transferred to a recording medium to fix a color image.
There was no disturbance of the image, no generation of spatter, no permeation into the paper layer, good drying of the image, and a color image free of image bleeding and image strike-through.

When the solid printing of the black dye ink was performed and the density of the image transferred to the recording medium was measured with a densitometer (RD-914, manufactured by Macbeth), an image having a density of 1.4 was obtained. The transfer rate of the dye ink from the layer to the recording medium was also good. Further, after performing solid printing for 10 hours and transferring the dye ink from the transfer belt to the recording medium, the transfer belt was applied to the recording medium (my paper paper, manufactured by NBS) at a linear pressure of 10 kg / min without performing printing. When the recording medium was pressed, the transfer of the dye ink was not performed on the recording medium, and it was confirmed that the transfer belt was not contaminated by the dye ink even when the transfer belt was repeatedly used.

[0041]

According to the present invention, in the ink jet transfer type recording system, the intermediate transfer member having a porous intermediate transfer layer capable of absorbing and discharging the dye ink apparently is used as the intermediate transfer member. The dye ink discharged on the transfer body is quickly absorbed into the pores of the intermediate transfer layer,
As a result, the ink droplets forming the dots do not aggregate with each other, which can prevent image disturbance due to the aggregation of the dye inks between the dots on the intermediate transfer layer, and can also overlap the same color ink or different inks. When the ink droplets are ejected, the previously ejected ink droplets are quickly absorbed into the porosity of the intermediate transfer layer, so that the ink droplets ejected first when the next ejected ink droplets land on the intermediate transfer layer are ejected. Flicking due to collision with the droplet does not occur, and generation of spatter can be prevented.

Further, according to the present invention, the heating unit for heating the intermediate transfer layer heats the dye ink held in the intermediate transfer layer to evaporate and concentrate water, and then presses the recording medium against the intermediate transfer layer. By transferring the dye ink of the intermediate transfer layer to the recording medium and fixing the recorded image, it is possible to suppress the penetration of the dye ink into the paper layer of the recording medium, improve the drying property of the image, It is possible to prevent strikethrough of an image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view schematically showing one example of an ink jet transfer type recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing another example of the ink jet transfer type recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view schematically showing still another example of the ink jet transfer type recording apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 transfer drum 1A cylindrical support 1B intermediate transfer layer 2 heater 3 ink jet recording head 4 fixing roller 5 recording medium 6 transfer belt 7 transport roller 8A to D line type ink jet recording head

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tetsuya Kaneko 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Tomoko Sekine 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside the company Ricoh

Claims (8)

[Claims] An ink jet transfer type recording method for jetting a dye ink onto an intermediate transfer member in accordance with a recording signal and transferring the dye ink held on the intermediate transfer member onto a recording medium to obtain a recording image. The dye ink is jetted onto an intermediate transfer member having an intermediate transfer layer that can absorb and discharge the dye ink apparently, and then the recording medium is pressed against the intermediate transfer layer to transfer the dye ink held on the intermediate transfer layer to the recording medium. An ink-jet transfer type recording method, wherein the recording image is fixed by heating. 2. An ink-jet transfer type recording method in which a dye ink is jetted to an intermediate transfer member in accordance with a recording signal and the dye ink held on the intermediate transfer member is transferred to a recording medium to obtain a recording image. The dye ink is jetted onto an intermediate transfer member having an intermediate transfer layer capable of apparently absorbing and discharging the dye ink, and then the dye ink held in the intermediate transfer layer is heated to evaporate water and concentrated, and then concentrated. An ink-jet transfer type recording method, wherein a recording medium is pressed against the recording medium to transfer the dye ink of the intermediate transfer layer to the recording medium to fix a recorded image. 3. An ink jet transfer type recording apparatus for ejecting dye ink to an intermediate transfer member in accordance with a recording signal and transferring the dye ink held on the intermediate transfer member to a recording medium to obtain a recording image. A heating means for heating the intermediate transfer layer, the recording medium being pressed against the intermediate transfer layer, and the dye ink of the intermediate transfer layer being heated. And a fixing unit for fixing the recording image by transferring the image to a recording medium. 4. The ink-jet transfer type recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate transfer layer is made of a material that does not absorb dye ink. 5. The ink-jet transfer recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate transfer layer is made of a water-repellent material. 6. The intermediate transfer layer having a pore size of 0.3 μm to 100 μm.
6. The ink-jet transfer type recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the apparatus has a large number of holes in a range of m. 7. The ink-jet transfer type recording according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate transfer layer has a thickness capable of sufficiently absorbing the amount of the dye ink jetted in solid printing by the porous portion. apparatus. 8. The contact angle between the dye ink and the intermediate transfer layer is 1
The angle is between 0 ° and 90 °.
8. The ink-jet transfer type recording apparatus according to 5, 6 or 7.