Inkjet printer, printing system, and method for producing printed matter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12036800-B2
Application number	US-202218049349-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 25, 2022
Priority date	Oct 29, 2021
Publication date	Jul 16, 2024
Grant date	Jul 16, 2024

Abstract

An inkjet printer for forming, on a base, an image layer and an adhesive layer on which foil is to be formed includes a first head, a second head, and processing circuitry. The first head discharges an ink for the image layer. The second head discharges inks for the adhesive layer including a first ink and a second ink. The second ink has a lower wet spreadability than a wet spreadability of the first ink. The processing circuitry controls the second head to form an image area included in the adhesive layer with the second ink in a case where a width of the image area is less than a threshold, and form the image area with the first ink in a case where the width of the image area is not less than the threshold.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An inkjet printer for forming, on a base, an image layer and an adhesive layer on which foil is to be formed, the inkjet printer comprising:
a first head configured to discharge an ink for the image layer;
a second head configured to discharge inks for the adhesive layer including a first ink and a second ink having a lower wet spreadability than a wet spreadability of the first ink; and
processing circuitry configured to control the second head to:
form an image area included in the adhesive layer with the second ink in a case where a width of the image area is less than a threshold; and
form the image area with the first ink in a case where the width of the image area is not less than the threshold.

2. The inkjet printer according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second head includes a third head configured to discharge the first ink and a fourth head configured to discharge the second ink.

3. The inkjet printer according to claim 1 ,
wherein the inks for the adhesive layer are discharged onto the image layer on the base, and the ink for the image layer is of one type.

4. The inkjet printer according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first ink is an ink whose contact angle between the first ink and a foundation of the adhesive layer is less than 90 degrees.

5. The inkjet printer according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second ink is an ink whose contact angle between the second ink and a foundation of the adhesive layer is 90 degrees or more.

6. A printing system comprising:
the inkjet printer according to claim 1 ; and
a foil transfer apparatus configured to transfer the foil onto the adhesive layer.

7. A method for producing a printed matter with an inkjet printer to form, on a base, an image layer and an adhesive layer on which foil is to be formed, the method comprising:
discharging an ink for the image layer from a first head of the inkjet printer;
discharging, from a second head, inks for the adhesive layer including a first ink and a second ink having a wet spreadability lower than a wet spreadability of the first ink; and
controlling the second head to form an image area included in the adhesive layer with the second ink in a case where a width of the image area is less than a threshold, and form the image area with the first ink in a case where the width of the image area is not less than the threshold.

Assignees

• Murate Hirohito
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Murate Hirohito

Classifications

• B41J2/2114

  Ejecting specialized liquids, e.g. transparent or processing liquids (B41J2/211 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B41F16/0006

  for printing from an inked or preprinted foil or band · CPC title

• B41J3/546

  Combination of different types, e.g. using a thermal transfer head and an inkjet print head · CPC title

• B41F19/007

  with selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet or thermal printers · CPC title

• B41M7/00

  After-treatment of prints, e.g. heating, irradiating, {setting of the ink, protection of the printed stock (pre-treatment or treatment during printing B41M5/0011; printers for treating or overcoating copy materials before, during or after printing B41J11/0015)} · CPC title