Recording method and recording apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10052865-B2
Application number	US-201514918971-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 21, 2015
Priority date	Oct 23, 2014
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

A recording method includes: applying a reactant configured to thicken upon contact with ink to an intermediate transfer body; forming an intermediate image by applying ink to the intermediate transfer body; applying an auxiliary liquid containing a water-soluble polymer to the intermediate image to form an intermediate image layer; and transferring the intermediate image layer to a recording medium. At least one of the reactant, the ink, and the auxiliary liquid contains a certain compound. The reactant contains a surfactant different from this compound and having a cloud point. The temperature of the intermediate image layer at contact with the recording medium is equal to or higher than both the cloud point of the surfactant and the glass transition temperature of the water-soluble polymer, and that at release from the intermediate transfer body is lower than the glass transition temperature of the water-soluble polymer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A recording method comprising:
applying a reactant to an intermediate transfer body, the reactant configured to thicken upon contact with ink;
forming an intermediate image by applying ink to the intermediate transfer body carrying the reactant;
applying an auxiliary liquid to the intermediate image to form an intermediate image layer, the auxiliary liquid containing a water-soluble polymer; and
transferring the intermediate image layer to a recording medium;
in this order, wherein:
the auxiliary liquid contains a compound represented by formula (1);
the reactant contains a surfactant different from the compound represented by formula (1) and having a cloud point; and
during the transfer of the intermediate image layer, a temperature of the intermediate image layer at the time of contact with the recording medium is equal to or higher than both the cloud point of the surfactant and a glass transition temperature of the water-soluble polymer, and a temperature of the intermediate image layer at the time of release from the intermediate transfer body is lower than the glass transition temperature of the water-soluble polymer:

where “w” and “x” each independently represent a divalent organic group, “a” and “b” each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group, “n” and “l” are each independently 1 or more and 75 or less, and “n”+“l” is 2 or more and 150 or less, “m” is 1 or more and 60 or less, and “p” and “q” are each independently 0 or 1.

2. The recording method according to claim 1 , wherein a static contact angle between the reactant and the intermediate transfer body is 20° or less.

3. The recording method according to claim 1 , wherein during the transfer of the intermediate image layer, a difference between the temperature of the intermediate image layer at the time of contact with the recording medium and the glass transition temperature of the water-soluble polymer is 0° C. or more and 35° C. or less.

4. The recording method according to claim 1 , wherein a weight-average molecular weight of the water-soluble polymer is 2000 or more and 10000 or less.

5. The recording method according to claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is a component that allows uniform coating of the intermediate transfer body with the reactant.

6. The recording method according to claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is a fluorinated surfactant.

7. The recording method according to claim 1 , further comprising drying the intermediate image layer between the application of the auxiliary liquid and the transfer of the intermediate image layer.

8. A recording apparatus comprising:
a reactant applicator provided with a reactant and configured to apply the reactant to an intermediate transfer body, the reactant configured to thicken upon contact with ink;
an intermediate image formation unit provided with an ink and configured to form an intermediate image by applying the ink to the intermediate transfer body carrying the reactant;
an auxiliary liquid applicator provided with an auxiliary liquid and configured to apply the auxiliary liquid to the intermediate image to form an intermediate image layer, the auxiliary liquid containing a water-soluble polymer; and
a transfer unit configured to transfer the intermediate image layer to a recording medium, wherein:
the auxiliary liquid contains a compound represented by formula (1);
the reactant contains a surfactant different from the compound represented by formula (1) and having a cloud point; and
the transfer unit brings the intermediate image layer into contact with the recording medium when the intermediate image layer is at a temperature equal to or higher than both the cloud point of the surfactant and a glass transition temperature of the water-soluble polymer, and releases the intermediate image layer from the intermediate transfer body when the intermediate image layer is at a temperature of lower than the glass transition temperature of the water-soluble polymer:

where “w” and “x” each independently represent a divalent organic group, “a” and “b” each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group, “n” and “l” are each independently 1 or more and 75 or less, and “n”+“l” is 2 or more and 150 or less, “m” is 1 or more and 60 or less, and “p” and “q” are each independently 0 or 1.

9. The recording method according to claim 1 , wherein the cloud point of the surfactant is 40° C. or more and 100° C. or less.

10. The recording method according to claim 1 , wherein the glass transition temperature of the water-soluble polymer is 40° C. or more and 120° C. or less.

11. The recording method according to claim 1 , wherein the reactant contains a polyvalent metal ion or an organic acid.

12. The recording method according to claim 1 , wherein the ink contains a pigment.

13. The recording method according to claim 1 , wherein a content of the compound represented by the formula (1) in the auxiliary liquid is 1% by mass or more and 5% by mass or less of total mass of the auxiliary liquid.

14. The recording method according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary liquid is for leading to efficient transfer of the intermediate image to the recording medium.

15. The recording method according to claim 1 , wherein the content of the water-soluble polymer is 0.1% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less of total mass of the auxiliary liquid.

16. The recording method according to claim 13 , wherein the content of the water-soluble polymer is 0.1% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less of total mass of the auxiliary liquid.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Goto Ryohei

Classifications

• B41J2/01

  Ink jet · CPC title

• B41J2/0057 Primary

  where an intermediate transfer member receives the ink before transferring it on the printing material · CPC title

• B41J2002/012

  with intermediate transfer member · CPC title

• B41M5/0256 Primary

  the transferable ink pattern being obtained by means of a computer driven printer, e.g. an ink jet or laser printer, or by electrographic means · CPC title

• B41M5/0017

  Application of ink-fixing material, e.g. mordant, precipitating agent, on the substrate prior to printing, e.g. by ink-jet printing, coating or spraying · CPC title