Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-22
2001-06-19
Braun, Fred L (Department: 2852)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Fluid or fluid source handling means
C347S101000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247804
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1 Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus wherein a reaction solution and an ink composition are deposited onto a recording medium to conduct printing and also relates to a tank containing the reaction solution for use in the ink jet recording apparatus.
2 Background Art
An ink jet recording method is a printing method wherein droplets of an ink composition are ejected and deposited onto a recording medium such as paper. This method has a feature that an image having a high resolution and a high quality can be printed at a high speed with a relatively inexpensive apparatus. In general, the ink composition used in the ink jet recording comprises water as a main component and, added thereto, a colorant and a wetting agent, such as glycerin, for prevention of clogging and other purposes.
A new ink jet recording method has been recently proposed which comprises applying a polyvalent metal salt solution onto a recording medium and then applying an ink composition containing a dye having at least one carboxyl group (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 202328/1993).
Further, several other ink jet recording methods have also been proposed wherein two liquids, i.e., a polyvalent metal salt solution and an ink composition, are printed (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 63185/1989, 240557/1991, 240558/1991, 52868/1996, and 207424/1997).
The claimed advantage of the ink jet recording methods using the two liquids is that, upon printing of the polyvalent metal solution (hereinafter often referred to as “reaction solution”) and the ink composition onto a recording medium, the polyvalent metal salt combines mainly with a colorant to form an insoluble complex which can yield an image having water resistance and a high quality free from color bleeding.
The salt of a polyvalent metal, however, has low solubility in water. Therefore, use of a polyvalent metal salt solution after storage for a long period of time results in such an unfavorable phenomenon that a precipitate clogs a filter, inhibiting the reaction solution from being fed into a recording head, or otherwise the precipitate enters the recording head to unfavorably clog a fine nozzle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present inventor has now found that, in the ink jet recording apparatus wherein two liquids are printed to form an image, sealing of a solution containing a polyvalent metal salt into a reaction solution tank under reduced pressure can realize good printing, especially clogging-free, stable printing even after storage for a long period of time. The present invention has been made based on such finding.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus, capable of realizing good printing, wherein two liquids are printed, and a reaction solution tank used therefor.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus for depositing a reaction solution, containing a polyvalent metal salt, and an ink composition onto a recording medium to conduct printing, said ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a reaction solution tank containing the reaction solution; and an ink composition tank containing the ink composition, the reaction solution tank containing the reaction solution sealed therein under reduced pressure.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reaction solution tank, containing a reaction solution, for use in an ink jet recording apparatus for depositing a reaction solution, containing a polyvalent metal salt, and an ink composition onto a recording medium to conduct printing, the reaction solution tank containing the reaction solution sealed therein under reduced pressure.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4689642 (1987-08-01), Sugitani
patent: 4914453 (1990-04-01), Kanayama et al.
patent: 5156472 (1992-10-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 5552816 (1996-09-01), Oda et al.
patent: 5790158 (1998-08-01), Shinada et al.
patent: 5801737 (1998-09-01), Sato et al.
patent: 0534634 (1993-03-01), None
patent: 0738605 (1996-10-01), None
Braun Fred L
Ladas & Parry
Seiko Epson Corporation
LandOfFree
Ink jet recording apparatus with tank for reaction solution... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Ink jet recording apparatus with tank for reaction solution..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Ink jet recording apparatus with tank for reaction solution... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2513790