Patent Application
20090066766
The present invention relates to an ink, an ink cartridge and an inkjet recording method, wherein ink fixation properties are good and also printing quality is good.
In recent years, regarding images by color inkjet printers, there has been almost no granular feeling created due to the use of photo ink and the miniaturization of flying droplets, and it has been becoming possible to obtain images which are even closer to photographs.
Also, further swiftness has been achieved by increasing the number of nozzles and augmenting the frequency of ink jets.
In this situation, as properties required for black ink, printing quality of documents to plain paper is required in addition to fixative properties, conservative properties and hues.
It has been reported that it is possible to procure both printing quality and fixative properties, by setting the absorption coefficient Ka to recording paper, measured in accordance with the Bristow method, in the range of 2-10 ml/m2·sec1/2 (refer to Japanese registered patent No. 2692963, for example).
However, the foregoing printers are serial head printers in which printing takes several tens of seconds per sheet; there is a problem of bad fixation as regards high-speed photographic printing printers such as line head printers.
Also, a method of reducing a droplet amount to obtain fixation in a short period of time can be thought about; in this case, however, the amount of ink per unit area decreases, and so sufficient concentration cannot be obtained, thereby causing printing quality to diminish.
The present invention is aimed at solving the above-mentioned problems, and providing an ink wherein ink fixation properties are good and also printing quality is good.
Also, the present invention is aimed at providing an ink cartridge for accommodating an ink wherein ink fixation properties are good and also printing quality is good.
Also, the present invention is aimed at providing an inkjet recording method wherein ink fixation properties are good and also printing quality is good.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned aims, an ink according to the present invention is designed to be an ink including a pigment, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent; wherein the absorption coefficient Ka to a recording medium is in the range of 9-84.2 ml/m2·sec1/2; and the aforesaid ink is used in a recording apparatus in which a nozzle is placed in a perpendicular direction to the conveyance direction of the aforesaid recording medium, and a head supporting this nozzle is fixed.
According to the foregoing ink, it is possible to improve absorption into a recording medium, and also to curb running on the recording medium.
An ink cartridge according to the present invention is an ink cartridge accommodating an ink; wherein the aforesaid ink cartridge is used in a recording apparatus in which a nozzle is placed in a perpendicular direction to the conveyance direction of a recording medium, and a head supporting this nozzle is fixed; and the aforesaid ink includes a pigment, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent, and the absorption coefficient Ka to the aforesaid recording medium is in the range of 9-84.2 ml/m2·sec1/2.
An inkjet recording method according to the present invention is an inkjet recording method in which an ink is jetted from a nozzle; wherein the aforesaid ink includes a pigment, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent, and the absorption coefficient Ka to a recording medium is in the range of 9-84.2 ml/m2·sec1/2; the aforesaid nozzle is placed in a perpendicular direction to the conveyance direction of the aforesaid recording medium; and a head supporting the aforesaid nozzle is fixed.
According to an inkjet recording method by the present invention, it is possible to improve absorption of an ink into a recording medium, and also to curb running of the ink on the recording medium; therefore, it is possible to perform high-quality recording.
The following explains the best mode for carrying out the invention, with respect to an ink, an ink cartridge and an inkjet recording method.
First of all, an ink is to be explained.
An ink according to the present invention is an ink including, a pigment, water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a surfactant and the like.
As the pigment, a carbon black, an organic pigment, an inorganic pigment or the like can be mentioned.
As the carbon black, a publicly known carbon black such as furnace black, acetylene black or channel black can be used. Also, a self-dispersion type carbon black is allowed to be used.
As for the amount of carbon black contained, if it is too small, the photographic printing concentration is low and so printing quality diminishes; meanwhile, if it is too large, there is an increase in viscosity, whereby the flight velocity of an ink lowers, and clogging in an ink nozzle is liable to arise; accordingly, it is desirable that the amount be 1-10 mass %, more desirably 3-7 mass %.
As for the amount of organic pigment contained, if it is too small, the photographic printing concentration is low and so printing quality diminishes; meanwhile, if it is too large, there is an increase in viscosity, whereby the flight velocity of an ink lowers, and clogging in the ink nozzle is liable to arise; accordingly, it is desirable that the amount be 1-10 mass %, more desirably 3-7 mass %.
As for the amount of inorganic pigment contained, if it is too small, the photographic printing concentration is low and so printing quality diminishes; meanwhile, if it is too large, there is an increase in viscosity, whereby the flight velocity of an ink lowers, and clogging in the ink nozzle is liable to arise; accordingly, it is desirable that the amount be 1-10 mass %, more desirably 3-7 mass %.
As the water-soluble organic solvent used in the ink according to the present invention, it is desirable that at least one kind amongst an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, a polyhydric alcohol and a polyhydric alcohol derivative be used.
As the aliphatic monohydric alcohol, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, n-propyl alcohol or the like is desirable. As the polyhydric alcohol, a glycol such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, butylene glycol, glycerol, hexylene glycol, polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol; or a derivative thereof is desirable in terms of preventing head clogging and the freezing of ink.
As the polyhydric alcohol derivative, a lower alkyl ether of any of the above-mentioned polyhydric alcohols, such as ethylene glycol dimethyl ether; a lower carboxylic acid ester of any of the above-mentioned polyhydric alcohols, such as ethylene glycol diacetate; or the like is desirable.
Also, a pyrrolidone such as 2-pyrrolidone or N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, or other water-soluble organic solvent used for inkjet printing is allowed to be used.
As for the amount of the foregoing water-soluble organic solvent contained, if it is too small, clogging in the ink nozzle is liable to arise; whereas if it is too large, there is a high-viscosity ink whereby the flight velocity of the ink lowers; accordingly, it is desirable that the amount be 1-40 mass %, more desirably 5-20 mass %.
As the surfactant, it is desirable that acetylene glycol be used; for example, OLFINE E1010 (Chemical Formula 1) produced by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. can be mentioned. Besides, an anionic surfactant such as a fatty acid salt, a higher alcohol sulfate, a liquid fatty oil sulfate or an alkyl aryl sulfonate; a nonionic surfactant such as a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, a polyoxyethylene alkyl ester or a polyoxyethylene sorbitan alkyl ester; or the like can be used.
As for the amount of the foregoing surfactant contained, if it is too small, permeation into a recording medium becomes slow and so fixation takes time; therefore, at the time of continuous photographic printing, transfer to the back side can arise, or the thing printed can be rubbed off with the fingers. Meanwhile, if it is too large, running arises and there is a decrease in concentration, so that letters/characters become difficult to see; accordingly, it is desirable that the amount be 0.1-3 mass %, more desirably 0.2-1.0 mass %.
Further, a defoaming agent, a preservative and a pH adjuster are allowed to be contained in an ink according to the present invention.
Regarding the defoaming agent, a standard defoaming agent which has the effect of curbing the occurrence of bubbles in an ink and enhancing the jetting stability of the ink can be used; for example, an aliphatic monohydric alcohol can be mentioned. It is desirable that the amount of the foregoing defoaming agent contained in the ink be 0.5-20 mass %, more desirably 1-10 mass %.
As the preservative, a chemical compound which has the effect of preventing decay of an ink and enhancing the conservative stability of the ink is used; specifically, sodium dehydroacetate, sodium sorbate, sodium benzoate, pentachlorophenol sodium or the like can be mentioned. It is desirable that the amount of the foregoing preservative contained in the ink be 0.01-5 mass %, more desirably 0.1-2 mass %.
As the pH adjuster, it is advisable to use a pH adjuster which removes effects on a material contiguous with an ink and protects a recording apparatus used, or a standard pH adjuster which has the effect of enhancing the conservative properties of the ink; accordingly, it is desirable to adjust the pH of an ink composition to the range of 7-10.
Also, as the pH adjuster, ammonia; an organic amine such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine or triethanolamine; an inorganic alkali agent exemplified by an alkali metal hydroxide such as sodium hydroxide or lithium hydroxide; an organic acid; a mineral acid; or the like can be mentioned.
As a production method of an ink, it is possible to employ a method in which an adjustment is made such that a pigment, water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a surfactant and the like are mixed together. Also, it is possible to employ a method in which an adjustment is made such that a dispersion liquid is produced at the beginning by mixing together a pigment, water, a dispersion agent and the like, then this dispersion liquid, water, a water-soluble organic solvent, an additive and the like are mixed together.
According to an examination of the present invention, the following meaning is provided, the greater the value of the absorption coefficient Ka to a recording medium is, the greater the permeation speed is. In conducting continuous photographic printing with a line head, if this absorption coefficient Ka is less than 9 ml/m2·sec1/2, a photographic print in a state of insufficient permeation is overlapped by a subsequent photographic print, so that letters/characters will be rubbed off, and transfer to the back will arise. Meanwhile, if this absorption coefficient Ka is greater than 84.2 ml/m2·sec1/2, then letters/characters will look blurred, thereby worsening printing quality. Accordingly, it is desirable that the absorption coefficient Ka be in the range of 9-84.2 ml/m2·sec1/2. Additionally, it is more desirable that the absorption coefficient Ka be in the range of 12.7-77 ml/m2·sec1/2.
The absorption coefficient Ka according to the present invention can be calculated, using a dynamic permeation testing machine in accordance with J. TAPPI No. 51-87. This method is referred to as the Bristow method.
First of all, a liquid of a known amount is completely absorbed into a paper 6 through a slit 7. On this occasion, the absorption time T is defined by the contact time shown by the equation below, in light of the slit width and the movement velocity of a specimen.
Absorption time T (ms)=slit width (mm)×1000/movement velocity (mm/s) of paper
Meanwhile, as the amount of liquid added to a head box is made Xμ1, and the length of a transfer trace left by the liquid until it finishes being transferred to a paper surface (trace length) is made Amm, the transfer amount V of the liquid is indicated by the following equation:
Transfer amount V (ml/m2) of liquid=X(μ1)×1000/A(mm)×slit length (mm)
Absorption characteristics can be known by the absorption time and the transfer amount of a liquid; if the transfer amount is plotted against the square root of the absorption time, there will generally be an absorption curve in
V=Vr+Ka(T−w)1/2
Ka is calculated from this equation.
Next, an ink cartridge is to be explained.
The printer apparatus 1 is a so-called line-type printer apparatus capable of high-speed jetting, in which images and letters/characters are printed by jetting ink or the like to a recording paper P running in a predetermined direction.
This printer apparatus 1 has an inkjet printer head cartridge (hereinafter written as a head cartridge) 3 installed in it.
The head cartridge 3 has a cartridge main body 21, and an ink cartridge 5 (described later) is installed in this cartridge main body 21.
This head cartridge 3 is installed from the upper surface side of a printer main body 4, namely in the direction of the arrow A in
The head cartridge 3 is provided with a jetting means whereby ink is jetted in the form of minute particles, and images, letters/characters and the like are recorded by spraying ink in a state of droplets to the main surface of an object such as the recording paper P. Regarding the head cartridge 3, ink-jetting openings (nozzles) are disposed roughly linearly in the widthwise direction of the recording paper P, namely in the direction of the arrow W in
As shown in
As shown in
The ink cartridge is not confined to the above-mentioned type of ink cartridge that is divided into sections according to inks. Besides, any kind of ink cartridge commonly used, including one in which a plurality of ink accommodating portions are formed as a single unit, can be employed.
Next, an inkjet recording method is to be explained.
In the ink-jetting head 27 is placed a head chip 53; and in the head chip 53 are disposed the nozzles 55a roughly linearly in the widthwise direction of a recording paper P, namely in the direction of the arrow W in
As shown in
The heat element 58 is placed on the board 54 facing the ink liquid chamber 57, and is electrically connected with a control circuit of this board 54. The nozzles 55a are circular minute holes made in the nozzle sheet 55, and are placed opposite the heat element 58.
In this head chip 53, the control circuit of the board 54 controls the heat element 58, supplying a pulse current to the heat element 58. Thus, the heat element 58 is rapidly heated. As a result of it, the ink 2 contiguous to the surface of the heat element 58 is rapidly heated, and the temperature of the ink 2 rises, exceeding a normal boiling point, and reaches a spontaneous nucleation temperature of approximately 330° C. This heating by the heat element 58 is short-time heating, so that the temperature gradient in the ink liquid chamber 57 becomes extremely steep, and all at once the ink 2 on the surface of the heat element 58 gets into a boiling state, hence a so-called film boiling state. After that, inside a bubble generated by the boiling, active boiling continues, and an ink bubble b grows as shown in
Then, as shown in
Then, an ink 2 which is equal in amount to the ink 2 jetted out from the nozzle 55a is supplied to the ink liquid chamber 57 from the ink flow path 52 by means of the capillary tube power of the nozzle 55a with which the original meniscus (the liquid level of the nozzle 55a) is restored; meanwhile, the ink bubble b contracts further because of the flow of this fresh ink 2, and later disappears.
It should be noted that although the above-mentioned head chip 53 employs an electrothermal conversion method in which an ink 2 is jetted out while heated by the heat element 58, a head chip 53 is allowed for example to employ an electromechanical conversion method in which droplets of an ink 2 are electromechanically jetted out by an electromechanical conversion element such as a piezoelectric element, apart from the foregoing method.
As a recording medium, plain paper can be used. Here, plain paper denotes copy paper internally filled with a sizing agent, commonly used in offices. As plain papers, fine-quality papers, recycled papers and color copy papers used for copying machines, such as My Paper and My Recycle Paper produced by Ricoh Co., Ltd. and P Paper and Green 100 produced by Xerox Corporation, can be mentioned.
It is desirable that the conveyance velocity of a recording medium at the time of photographic printing be in the range of 20-100 mm/s. If the conveyance velocity is less than 20 mm/s, the target-hitting accuracy of dots improves, but the time required for photographic printing lengthens. Meanwhile, if the conveyance velocity is greater than 100 mm/s, the time required for photographic printing shortens, but target-hitting accuracy lowers and letter/character quality therefore diminishes, which is not favorable.
It is desirable that the amount of ink jetted in photographic printing be in the range of 1-50 pl/dot. If the amount of ink jetted is less than 1 pl/dot, an apparatus for making droplets will have difficulty; further, droplets are subject to air resistance while flying, so that target-hitting accuracy diminishes. Meanwhile, if the amount of ink jetted is greater than 50 dl/dot, dots become conspicuous and so the quality of images worsens, which is not favorable.
Thus, according to the best mode for carrying out the present invention, there is an ink including a pigment, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent; wherein the absorption coefficient Ka to a recording medium is in the range of 9-84.2 ml/m2·sec1/2; and the aforesaid ink is used in a recording apparatus in which a nozzle is placed in a perpendicular direction to the conveyance direction of the aforesaid recording medium, and a head supporting this nozzle is fixed. Therefore, it is possible to improve absorption of an ink into a recording medium, and also to curb running of the ink on the recording medium. As a result of this, it is possible to provide an ink wherein ink fixation properties are good and also printing quality is good.
Also, according to the best mode for carrying out the present invention, an ink cartridge is used in a recording apparatus in which a nozzle is placed in a perpendicular direction to the conveyance direction of a recording medium, and a head supporting this nozzle is fixed; and the aforesaid ink includes a pigment, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent, and the absorption coefficient Ka to the aforesaid recording medium is in the range of 9-84.2 ml/m2·sec1/2. Therefore, the aforesaid ink cartridge accommodates an ink able to improve absorption into a recording medium and also to curb running on the recording medium. As a result of this, it is possible to provide an ink cartridge which accommodates an ink wherein ink fixation properties are good and also printing quality is good.
Also, according to the best mode for carrying out the present invention, there is an inkjet recording method in which an ink is jetted from a nozzle; wherein the aforesaid ink includes a pigment, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent, and the absorption coefficient Ka to a recording medium is in the range of 9-84.2 ml/m2·sec1/2; the aforesaid nozzle is placed in a perpendicular direction to the conveyance direction of the aforesaid recording medium; and a head supporting the aforesaid nozzle is fixed. Therefore, the aforesaid inkjet recording method makes it possible to conduct recording in which absorption of an ink into a recording medium is improved and also running of the ink on the recording medium is curbed. As a result of this, it is possible to provide an inkjet recording method wherein ink fixation properties are good and also printing quality is good.
It should be noted that the present invention is not confined to the above-mentioned best mode for carrying out the invention but able to employ various other structures without deviating from the gist of the present invention, of course.
Next, working examples concerning the present invention are to be explained concretely. But note that the present invention is not confined to these working examples.
After mixed together by means of agitation and irradiated with a supersonic wave of 1 kW for 30 minutes, the ingredients written below underwent pressure filtration with a fluoropore filter of 3.0 μm in pore size, and an ink was thus prepared. The ink composition of Working Example 1:
The characteristic evaluation written below was carried out, using the above-mentioned ink and a plain paper (P Paper produced by Xerox Corporation).
The absorption time T and the transfer amount V of a liquid were measured using a dynamic permeation testing machine (Type S, Toyo Seiki Seisaku-sho, LTD.), and the value of the absorption coefficient Ka was worked out in accordance with the Bristow method.
A line head printer (LPR-5000 produced by Sony Corporation) was used for an evaluation of ink fixation. An ink cartridge was filled with the ink, and an alphabet of MS 10 pt was printed with this line head printer. The conveyance velocity of the plain paper was 50 mm/s, and the amount of ink jetted was 20 pl/dot. Immediately after the printing, a Super Fine Paper (produced by SEIKO EPSON CORP.) was laid over a printed part, and a weight of 50 g/cm2 was put thereon; then one minute afterward, whether or not there was transfer of letters/characters to the Super Fine Paper was investigated. Symbols for the evaluation are as follows, with ◯ and Δ deemed good results.
On this occasion, Chinese characters ,
and
of MS
4-6 pt were printed with the above-mentioned printer, and the quality was classified into three grades that are A to C, according to how those characters ran. A and B are deemed good results.
A: Edges are sharp, and characters of 4 pt are legible
B: Characters of 4 pt are illegible, but characters of 5 or 6 pt are legible
C: Illegible regardless of the pt number
An ink was prepared in a similar manner to Working Example 1, according to the ink composition written below. The ink composition of Working Example 2:
A similar evaluation to the one in Working Example 1 was carried out, using a plain paper (My Paper produced by NBS Ricoh Co., Ltd.).
An ink was prepared in a similar manner to Working Example 1, according to the ink composition written below. The ink composition of Working Example 3:
A similar evaluation to the one in Working Example 1 was carried out, using a plain paper (My Paper produced by NBS Ricoh Co., Ltd.).
An ink was prepared in a similar manner to Working Example 1, according to the ink composition written below. The ink composition of Working Example 4:
A similar evaluation to the one in Working Example 1 was carried out, using a plain paper (My Paper produced by NBS Ricoh Co., Ltd.).
An ink was prepared in a similar manner to Working Example 1, according to the ink composition written below. The ink composition of Working Example 5:
A similar evaluation to the one in Working Example 1 was carried out, using a plain paper (My Paper produced by NBS Ricoh Co., Ltd.).
An ink was prepared in a similar manner to Working Example 1, according to the ink composition written below. The ink composition of Working Example 6:
A similar evaluation to the one in Working Example 1 was carried out, using a plain paper (My Paper produced by NBS Ricoh Co., Ltd.).
A similar evaluation to the one in Working Example 1 was carried out, except that the ink in Working Example 5 was used.
A similar evaluation to the one in Working Example 1 was carried out, except that the ink in Working Example 6 was used.
A similar evaluation to the one in Working Example 1 was carried out, except that a plain paper (My Paper produced by NBS Ricoh Co., Ltd.) was used.
An ink was prepared in a similar manner to Working Example 1, according to the ink composition written below. The ink composition of Comparative Example 2:
A similar evaluation to the one in Working Example 1 was carried out, using a plain paper (My Paper produced by NBS Ricoh Co., Ltd.).
Next, an evaluation result of ink fixation and character quality concerning Working Examples 1 to 8 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 is to be explained. The evaluation result is indicated in Table 1.
According to the result of Table 1, as regards Working Examples 1 to 8, ink fixation is ◯ or Δ, and character quality is A or B, hence a good result. The absorption coefficient Ka at that time is in the range of 9-84.2 ml/m2·sec1/2. As regards Working Examples 2 to 7, ink fixation is ◯, and character quality is A, hence an even better result. The absorption coefficient Ka at that time is in the range of 12.7-77 ml/m2·sec1/2.
If the Ka value is 4.5 ml/m2·sec1/2 as in Comparative Example 1, character quality is good, but ink fixation is bad as a result. Meanwhile, if the Ka value is 92.3 ml/m2·sec1/2 as in Comparative Example 2, ink fixation is good, but character quality is bad as a result.
In light of these results, in order to procure both character quality and ink fixation, it is desirable that the absorption coefficient Ka be in the range of 9-84.2 ml/m2·sec1/2, and it is more desirable that the absorption coefficient Ka be in the range of 12.7-77 ml/m2·sec1/2. It has been proved that: if the absorption coefficient Ka is less than 9 ml/m2·sec1/2, absorption of ink worsens and so fixation worsens; meanwhile, if the absorption coefficient Ka is greater than 84.2 ml/m2·sec1/2, ink runs on plain paper, and so character quality worsens.
As described above, an ink according to the present invention is an ink including a pigment, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent; wherein the absorption coefficient Ka to a recording medium is in the range of 9-84.2 ml/m2·sec1/2; and the aforesaid ink is used in a recording apparatus in which a nozzle is placed in a perpendicular direction to the conveyance direction of the aforesaid recording medium, and a head supporting this nozzle is fixed. Therefore, it has been made possible to provide an ink wherein ink fixation properties are good and also printing quality is good.
Also, the present invention incorporates an ink cartridge accommodating an ink; wherein the aforesaid ink cartridge is used in a recording apparatus in which a nozzle is placed in a perpendicular direction to the conveyance direction of a recording medium, and a head supporting this nozzle is fixed; and the aforesaid ink includes a pigment, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent, and the absorption coefficient Ka to the aforesaid recording medium is in the range of 9-84.2 ml/m2·sec1/2. Therefore, it has been made possible to provide an ink cartridge which accommodates an ink wherein ink fixation properties are good and also printing quality is good.
Also, the present invention incorporates an inkjet recording method in which an ink is jetted from a nozzle; wherein the aforesaid ink includes a pigment, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent, and the absorption coefficient Ka to a recording medium is in the range of 9-84.2 ml/m2·sec1/2; the aforesaid nozzle is placed in a perpendicular direction to the conveyance direction of the aforesaid recording medium; and a head supporting the aforesaid nozzle is fixed. Therefore, it has been made possible to provide an inkjet recording method wherein ink fixation properties are good and also printing quality is good.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-307267 | Oct 2004 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP05/19461 | 10/18/2005 | WO | 00 | 4/19/2007 |
