Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Medium and processing means
Patent
1997-11-26
1999-12-07
Barlow, John
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Medium and processing means
347 17, 347 96, 347102, B41J 201
Patent
active
059971363
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording method and more particularly to a "color" ink jet recording method.
2. Background Art
Ink jet recording methods should generally satisfy the following requirements.
1) Realization of a high-quality image free from feathering or bleeding.
2) Rapid drying and fixation of ink composition.
3) High print density.
4) Stable ejection of an ink composition through a nozzle and an ink passage without clogging.
5) High storage stability and safety of an ink composition.
In particular, printing without feathering is more important in color image printing than in monochrome color printing. In the color printing, a plurality of color ink compositions are printed on an identical recording medium. In order to provide a color print free from an uneven color, the boundary of the colors should be clear. Thus, the spread and mixing of ink compositions at the boundary region thereof should be prevented.
The use of an ink composition having a high viscosity may be effective for preventing feathering or bleeding. The ejection and feeding of such an ink composition having a high viscosity, however, may require high energy, resulting in unsatisfactory efficiency.
Various proposals have been made in order to realize printing free from feathering or bleeding. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.288042/1987 discloses a method in which printing is carried out with heating a recording medium. This publication, however, does not disclose any ink composition containing a thermoplastic resin.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
We have now found that feathering or bleeding of a print can be satisfactorily prevented by depositing an ink composition containing a thermoplastic resin on a recording medium by ink jet recording and then heating the recording medium at a particular temperature or above.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording method which can prevent feathering or bleeding of a print.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording method which can develop a sharp color in addition to the prevention of feathering or bleeding.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus for carrying out the ink jet recording method of the present invention.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording method comprising the steps of:
ejecting a droplet of an ink composition comprising a colorant, a thermoplastic resin, and water, onto a recording medium to deposit the ink droplet on the recording medium, and
heating the recording medium with the ink droplet deposited thereon at the softening temperature of the thermoplastic resin or above so as to effectively inhibit feathering or bleeding of the ink.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provide an ink jet recording apparatus comprising:
a recording means for ejecting a droplet of an ink composition comprising water, a thermoplastic resin, a colorant, and a water-soluble organic solvent, onto a recording medium to deposit the ink composition onto the recording medium;
a heating means for heating the recording medium, with the ink droplet deposited thereon, to the softening point of the thermoplastic resin or above; and
a carrying means for carrying the recording medium to the recording means and the heating means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a graph showing an increase in viscosity of an ink composition on a recording medium, wherein curve (A) represents a change in viscosity of an ink composition containing a thermoplastic resin and curve (B) represents a change in viscosity of an ink composition not containing a thermoplastic resin;
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the size of an ink dot and the pitch of dots, wherein FIG. 2 (A) represents an ideal size of ink dots and FIG. 2 (B) represents a size of ink dots with a position error being taken into consideratio
REFERENCES:
patent: 5468173 (1995-11-01), Leenders et al.
patent: 5623296 (1997-04-01), Fujino et al.
patent: 5760811 (1998-06-01), Seto et al.
Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 012, No. 073 (M674), Mar. 8, 1988.
Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 017, No. 002, (M-1348), Jan. 5, 1993.
Fujisawa Kazutoshi
Kumagai Yoshie
Nakamura Hiroto
Tsukahara Michinari
Uehara Fumie
Annick Christina
Barlow John
Seiko Epson Corp
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