JPH0872230A - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] An object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet recording apparatus equipped with a mechanism capable of selectively ejecting a treatment liquid as needed. [Structure] When water resistance is not required, for example, a transparent sheet such as PET may be attached after printing is completed, printing for confirmation by the user after data creation (trial printing), OH
When printing on a recording material having an ink receiving layer already applied on a base material such as a P sheet or a so-called coated paper, the user does not need water resistance provided on the panel operation unit 7. By selecting the key 701, the MPU 601 and the RO are connected via the input / output port 604 of the control unit 6.
The inkjet recording head for ejecting the treatment liquid in the recording head unit 8 is controlled by the treatment according to M602 so that the treatment liquid is not ejected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus capable of obtaining a high quality image on a recording material,
More specifically, the present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus that ejects a liquid that insolubilizes the ink onto a recording material prior to ejecting the ink.

The term "recording" includes the application of ink (printing) to all ink supports such as cloth, thread, paper, and sheet material that receive ink, and the present invention includes paper, cloth, non-woven fabric, It can be applied to all devices using recording materials such as OHP sheets, and specific applicable devices include office equipment such as printers, copiers, and facsimiles, and mass production equipment.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Ink jet recording methods are widely used in printers, copying machines and the like because of their advantages such as low noise, low running cost, easy downsizing of apparatus and easy colorization.

According to such an ink jet recording method, it is possible to obtain an image on a recording material, which is so-called plain paper. However, since the water resistance of the image is insufficient, it is not possible to achieve both a high-density image with no feathering and a high-quality image with no intercolor bleeding, especially when a color image is obtained. , The color image quality was remarkably deteriorated.

In order to improve the water resistance of an image, an ink in which a coloring material contained in the ink has water resistance has been put into practical use in recent years. However, even with such an ink, its water resistance is still insufficient, and since it is an ink that is difficult to dissolve in water after drying in principle, the nozzles of the recording head are easily clogged, and it is necessary to prevent this. There are drawbacks such as complicating the structure of the recording device.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 56-84992 discloses
A method of previously coating a material for fixing a dye on a recording paper as a recording material is disclosed. However, according to this method, it is necessary to use a specific recording paper, and in order to apply the material for fixing the dye in advance, it is inevitable that the apparatus becomes large in size and the cost is increased. However, it is difficult to stably apply the fixing material with a predetermined film thickness.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-63185 discloses
A technique is disclosed in which a colorless ink (treatment liquid) that insolubilizes a dye is attached to a recording paper by an inkjet recording head. In this way, the solution that insolubilizes the dye (treatment liquid)
When ejecting with an inkjet recording head,
There is a drawback that the image is deteriorated by applying the treatment liquid to the recording paper which is already coated with the ink receiving layer on the base material such as P sheet or so-called coated paper.

When it is not necessary to fix the dye in the ink during recording or when trial printing is performed, a colorless ink that insolubilizes the dye is adhered onto the recording paper by the ink jet recording head. The disadvantage is that the colorless ink that insolubilizes the dye is consumed unnecessarily.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above technical problems and to provide an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a mechanism capable of selectively ejecting a treatment liquid as needed. To do.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 insolubilizes the first ink jet head for recording an image on a recording material by ejecting ink. An ink jet recording apparatus using a second ink jet head for ejecting a treatment liquid onto a recording material, comprising means for controlling whether or not the treatment liquid is ejected from a nozzle of the second ink jet head. And

Here, the invention according to claim 2 is the same as claim 1.
In the inkjet recording apparatus described above, the control unit may control ejection from the second inkjet head according to a user's selection.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first aspect, the control means ejects the treatment liquid when the ejection of the treatment liquid is unnecessary depending on the type of recording material. The ejection from the second inkjet head may be controlled.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects,
The surface tension of the treatment liquid may be lower than the surface tension of the ink.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects,
The treatment liquid may include a low molecular component and a high molecular component of a cationic substance, and the ink may include an anionic dye.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects,
The treatment liquid may include a cationic substance having a low molecular component and a high molecular component, and the ink may include an anionic compound and a pigment.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects,
The inkjet head may include an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy for film boiling the ink, as an element that generates energy used for ejecting ink.

[0017]

In the present invention, the control means allows the user to select the discharge of the processing liquid by himself so that the colorless ink that insolubilizes the dye is not unnecessarily consumed. Further, in the present invention, a colorless ink that insolubilizes the dye is set in advance in the apparatus itself so as not to be used for a recording material that does not require a colorless ink, or a colorless ink that insolubilizes the dye when test printing is performed. By setting the device itself so as not to consume ink unnecessarily, it is possible to reduce each printing cost.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIGS. 1 to 13 show an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.
1 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a printer unit in an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a carriage of the printer unit shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an enlarged configuration of the carriage shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a recording head mountable on the carriage shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and an ink tank detachably mountable to the recording head. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a fixing member for electrically connecting the contact portion of the recording head portion to the main body side, and FIG. 6 is a carriage of the printer portion and its position detecting means. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the positioning structure between the carriage of the printer unit and the head base of the recording head unit, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the positioning structure shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic side view showing a fixing means for achieving the above, FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view showing a fixing member for electrically connecting the contact portion of the recording head portion and the main body side, and FIG. 10 is an FPC holder. FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a fitted state of a print head portion and a print head portion, FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view showing a print head portion and an ink tank portion mounted on a carriage portion, and FIG. 12 is an inkjet printing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a block diagram for explaining a control system in one embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

First, the overall construction of the ink jet recording apparatus will be outlined with reference to FIG.

The printer unit shown in FIG. 1 comprises a paper feed unit 1, a carriage unit 2, a purge unit 3, a casing unit 4 and a recording head unit 8.
And an ink tank portion 9 are generally configured.

The paper feeding unit 1 includes a platen roller 106,
The pinch roller 10 for pressing the recording material that has been conveyed onto the platen roller 106 to prevent the recording material from floating and to reliably convey the recording material to the carriage unit 2 side.
7 and 7. The platen roller 106 is a paper feed motor (not shown) via a transmission roller gear 108 and a transmission roller idler gear (not shown) transmission mechanism.
And is rotated by receiving the driving force of the motor.

The carriage unit 2 includes a carriage base 201 on which the recording head unit 8 and the ink tank unit 9 are mounted,
A head lever 202 for holding the recording head unit 8 mounted on the carriage base 201 is roughly configured. The carriage base 201 is axially supported between both side walls of the substantially U-shaped chassis 101, and a longitudinal direction (hereinafter, also referred to as a main scanning direction) of a guide shaft 102 and a support shaft 103 arranged in parallel with each other. The carriage base 201 is rotatably supported by the shafts 102 and 103 at the same time. Carriage motor 104
Is fixed to one end of the central back plate of the chassis 101, and is connected via a pair of pulleys 1041 and a timing belt 105 stretched between the pulleys 1041. When the carriage motor 104 rotates forward and backward, the carriage base 201 can be reciprocated via the pulley 1041 and the timing belt 105. Further, the HP sensor (not shown) fixed to the chassis 101 can confirm the position of the carriage unit 2 in the main scanning direction. For example, it is possible to confirm whether or not the carriage unit 2 is stopped at the home position, which is a predetermined position outside the recording area during non-recording.

The purging unit 3 is mounted on the housing 4 below the home position, and the ejection port of the recording head unit 8 is blocked by dust or the like to cause defective or impossible ink ejection. In this case, the unit is provided with a mechanism for eliminating the blockage of the ejection port by sucking the waste ink from the recording head unit 8 stopped at the home position and returning to a good ink ejection state.

A waste ink tank 40 for accumulating the waste ink sucked in the purge section 3 is provided in the casing section 4.
1 is provided.

Next, the structure of the recording head portion 8 will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

The recording head unit 8 in the present embodiment is mainly used for color printing, so that black (Bk), cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and a colorless ink (CL) that insolubilizes the dye are used. ) (Hereinafter referred to as treatment liquid)
Is a multi-head in which five ink jet recording heads for ejecting are integrated. The recording head unit 8 is detachably mounted on the carriage unit 2 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and is replaced with a new inkjet recording head at the time when the inkjet recording head becomes defective due to its life or for some reason. can do.

The recording head unit 8 has a casing-shaped head base 801 and a contact portion 802 for making electrical contact with a wiring portion on the recording apparatus main body side formed on the upper surface of the head base 801. An ink supply unit 803 for receiving the ink supply in the ink tank unit 9 formed on one side surface 801 is generally configured. The ink supply unit 803 is provided corresponding to each inkjet recording head. The ink tank portion 9 is for supplying ink and treatment liquid to the five ink jet recording heads of the recording head portion 8, and is detachably attached to the carriage portion 2.

In this embodiment, the timing belt 1 for transmitting the driving force of the carriage motor 104 by the carriage unit 2 on which the recording head unit 8 and the ink tank unit 9 are mounted.
05 slides with respect to the guide shaft 102 and the support shaft 103 which are connected to a part of 05 and arranged in parallel with each other, and reciprocates in the main scanning direction. The drive force of the carriage unit 2 causes the print head unit 8 to move to the print head unit 8.
Platen roller 10 arranged to face the discharge forming surface of
The recording medium (recording medium) fed from a medium feeding device (not shown) is reciprocated over the entire width of the recording medium 6 to eject ink onto the recording medium for recording.

Next, the structure of the carriage in this embodiment will be described in detail.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, black (Bk), cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and a colorless ink (insoluble in the dye ( It is possible to mount five inkjet recording heads each capable of ejecting CL) (hereinafter referred to as processing liquid) and five ink tank portions 9 for supplying each ink and processing liquid to each inkjet recording head.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of head lever shafts 2023a (only one is shown) provided on the lower portions of both side walls of the substantially U-shaped head lever 202 and a substantially L-shaped carriage base 201. The head lever 202 is fitted around a pair of head lever bearings 2017a and 2017b provided on the upper end, and the head lever 202 is rotatable around the head lever shaft 2023a. As shown in FIG. 2, arrow a
By rotating the head lever 202 in the direction to open it, the recording head unit 8 can be easily attached and detached. This opening can be maintained by fitting a pair of head lever positioning bosses (not shown) for positioning and fixing the head lever 202 into the pair of head lever positioning holes 2018 of the carriage base 201, as shown in FIG. It is like this.

A head tension spring 209 and a head tension 210 are mounted in a pair of recesses 208 on both side walls of the head lever 202.
As shown in FIG. 8, 10 is locked by the claw of the recess 208 against the biasing force of the head tension spring 209. Therefore, the recording head unit 8 is attached to the carriage base 20.
1 and the head lever 202 is rotated, the head tension 210 causes the biasing force of the head tension spring 209 to move the slopes of the pair of head tension receiving portions 8010a (only one is shown) of the head base 201 in the direction of arrow D. Press to. In addition, a pair of head lever fixing bosses 20
24a (only one of which is shown) engages with the pair of head lever fixing portions 2012a (only one of which is shown). In this way, the recording head unit 8 is fixed to the carriage base 201 and the head lever 202.

Conversely, when the head lever 202 is rotated to remove the recording head portion from the carriage base 201, as shown in FIG. 3, a pair of head lever release portions 2027a (only one of which is shown) is pushed. As a result, the pair of head lever fixing bosses 2024a (only one of which is shown) are opened to the outside, and the pair of head lever fixing portions 20
Disengage with 12a (only one shown). As a result, the head lever 2020 can be rotated.

As shown in FIG. 3, the carriage base 20
A plurality of carriage ink tank guide rib portions 2011 for guiding and holding the lower surface of the ink tank when the ink tank portion 9 is mounted is provided on the inner surface of 1.
Further, the ink tank portion 9 is provided on the inner surface of the head lever 202.
Head lever ink tank guide ribs 20 for guiding and holding the upper surface of the ink tank when mounting
21 is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the carriage flexible cable 207 is for supplying an image signal and a drive signal to the recording head unit 8. The contact portion a of the carriage flexible cable 207 is an FPC.
A pair of contact positioning bosses 2031 of the holder 203
a and 2031b are positioned by the rubber pad 206, and together with the rubber pad 206 on the FPC holder 203,
It is locked (clip) by the FPC retainer 208.

The head hook 205 is the FPC holder 203.
Are rotatable by being fitted to a pair of shafts 2032a (only one of which is shown) provided on both sides of the shaft. The head hook 205 is pressed to the inside of the FPC holder 203 by the FPC spring 204.
033a (only one shown) and head lever 202
The FPC holder shaft 2022a (only one of which is shown) can be fitted and rotated. The image signal and the drive signal supplied through the carriage flexible cable 207 are supplied to the recording head unit 8 through the contact unit 802, and printing is performed.

As shown in FIG. 6, the timing belt 10
A part of 5 is fixed to a belt stopper 211 fixed to the carriage base 201. The carriage flexible cable 207 is a carriage PCB213 and C.
Carriage base 20 by R PCB cover 214
It is fixed at 1. The linear encoder 212 is a position detection sensor for controlling the position of the carriage unit 2, and is fixed to the carriage base 201.

By attaching a head lever label 220 to the head lever 202, the head lever label 220 indicating the details of the work method for mounting the recording head section 8 and the ink tank section 9 on the carriage section 2 can be used by the user. Alternatively, the contents of the above-described working method are described in the head lever 2
02 may be stamped.

As shown in FIG. 7, the carriage base 20
Five bosses for positioning the recording head portion 8 are provided on the surface 1. Positioning in the direction of arrow A is performed by trapezoidal bosses 2013a and 2013 on the carriage base 201.
b and 2013c are brought into contact with cylindrical bosses 8011a, 8011b and 8011c on the head base 801, respectively. Positioning in the direction of arrow B is performed by the boss 2013d on the carriage base 201.
And 2013e into the groove 8011d of the head base 801.
And 8011e. Boss 2013
The widths a of d and 2013e are the grooves 8011d and 801.
It is determined in consideration of the width a'of 1e. For positioning in the direction of arrow C, the upper portions of the curved portions of the bosses 2013d and 2013e on the carriage base 201 are placed on the head base 801.
Groove 8011d and 8011e, respectively.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view showing a state in which the recording head portion 8 is fixed to the carriage base 201 by the head lever 202. As shown in FIG. 8, the recording head unit 8
In order to position the recording head 8, the head tension 210 urged in the direction of arrow D by the pair of head tension springs 209 attached to the both side walls of the head lever 202 presses the head tension receiving portion 8010a of the recording head portion 8, and as a result, The recording head unit 8 is a carriage base 20.
1 at a predetermined position.

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view showing the recording head portion 8 fixed by the head lever 202.

Positioning is performed by fitting the contact positioning bosses 2031a and 2031b of the FPC holder 202 into the contact positioning holes 8021a and 8021b of the recording head portion 8, respectively. The fitting by the contact positioning bosses 2031a and 2031b also serves as the positioning of the rubber pad 206 and the carriage flexible cable 207. Head hook 205
Is adapted to engage with the head hook receiving portions 8012a and 8012b of the recording head portion 8. At the time of this engagement, the rubber pad 206 is compressed, and by pressing the carriage flexible cable 207,
The carriage flexible cable 207 and the recording head unit 8 can be electrically connected. When the head lever 202 is rotated, the release claw 2026a of the head lever 202 is released.
And 2026b rotate the head hook 205 in the direction of arrow F in the figure, and the head hook receiving portion 80 of the recording head portion 8 is moved.
12a and 8012b disengage and disengage. Further, by removing the contact point between the carriage flexible cable 207 and the recording head unit 8, the power supplied from the main body side to the recording head unit 8 can be cut off.

FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional view showing the recording head portion 8 fitted with the FPC holder 203.

The FPC holder 203 is an FPC of the head lever 202 that fits with the FPC holder bearing portion 2033.
It is rotatable about the holder shaft 2022, and its fitting portion has some play. FPC holder 2
The contact positioning boss 2031 of FIG.
As shown in 0, it has a shape obtained by obliquely cutting a cylindrical shape, and the FPC holder 203 can rotate around the FPC holder shaft 2022 and can be smoothly fitted into the contact positioning hole 8021.

In this embodiment, the FPC holder 203 is a separate member from the head lever 202, and has play as described above, so that the recording head unit 8 is electrically connected to the main body side even if the recording head 8 is electrically connected. It has a structure that does not hinder the positioning of the portion 8 on the carriage base 201.

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing the recording head portion 8 and the ink tank portion 9 mounted on the carriage portion 2.

The ink tank portion 9 has two chambers inside, and has an absorber 902 disposed in the front chamber and a raw ink 903 accommodated in the rear chamber as viewed from the supply port 9011. This is a so-called half-life type ink tank. When the ink tank unit 9 is attached to the recording head unit 8,
The ink supply unit 803 of the recording head unit 8 crushes a part of the absorber 902 of the ink tank unit 9 so that the arrow I
Although the ink tank portion 9 is pressed in the direction, the stopper 2015a of the carriage base 201 prevents the ink tank portion 9 from moving in the direction of the arrow I and is fixed on the carriage base 201. The ink 903 absorbed in the absorber 902 is supplied to the inkjet recording head via the ink supply unit 803.

The ink tank portion 9 is a carriage base 20.
The guide portion 2015b having a circular cross section of 1 is slidably attached to the recording head portion 8 by sliding along the curved surface portion. To remove the ink tank section 9, use the arrow J
It can be easily attached and detached by pushing up the handle 9015 in the direction. Waste ink from the ink supply unit 803 of the recording head unit 8 and the supply port 9011 of the ink tank unit 9 is supplied to the purge unit 3 and the like below through the waste ink unit 2016 of the carriage base 201.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of an embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

A panel operation unit 7 including a power key and the like is provided on the upper surface of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.
Further, a key 701 for selecting various functions in the inkjet recording apparatus is provided.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram for explaining a control system in an embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

In the recording operation of this ink jet recording apparatus, an MPU 601 for controlling the entire apparatus while transmitting and receiving signals to and from each section of the recording apparatus, a ROM 602 storing a recording operation and a processing procedure, and a recording data buffer. And a control unit 6 including a RAM 603 and an input / output port 604 used as a work area for processing by the MPU 601 or the like. That is, a signal from the control unit 6 is supplied to the drive circuits 606, 607 and 608 via the input / output port 604, and the drive circuits 606, 607 and 608 respectively drive the carriage motor 104, the paper feed motor 100 and the recording head unit 8. To drive. Further, the print data is received from the computer as the host device via the interface circuit 605. The recording device is controlled by operating keys 701 provided on the panel operation unit 7. The linear encoder 212 as the position detecting sensor is the position detecting means of the carriage unit 2 as described above.

Water resistance can be secured by ejecting the dye color ink immediately after the treatment liquid is ejected. However, when water resistance is not required, for example, a transparent sheet such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is attached after printing is completed, or printing (trial printing) for confirmation by the user after creating data (text, image), OHP A "water-proof" key provided by the user on the panel operation unit 7 when a user prints on a recording material having an ink receiving layer already applied on a base material such as a sheet or so-called coated paper. By selecting 701, M via the input / output port 604 of the control unit 6
The recording head unit 8 is processed by the PU 601 and the ROM 602.
The inkjet recording head for ejecting the treatment liquid therein is controlled so as not to eject the treatment liquid.

In the above-mentioned example, the user himself selected so as not to eject the processing liquid, but instead of the user,
By providing the driver of the computer as the host device with means for selecting "no need for water resistance", the MPU 601 and the ROM 602 are connected via the interface circuit 605 and the input / output port 604 of the control unit 6.
It is also possible to control the ink jet recording head for ejecting the treatment liquid in the recording head portion 8 by the processing according to (4) so that the treatment liquid is not ejected.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the user selects the key 701 provided on the panel operation section 7 which does not require water resistance, so that the treatment liquid is not discharged. In the example, the processing liquid is not discharged by selecting the key 701 provided on the panel operation unit 7 for trial printing such as draft printing (speed priority printing method such as thinning printing).

In the above example, the user selects the test print key 701 provided on the panel operation unit 7 so that the treatment liquid is not ejected. However, the test print is performed by the driver of the computer as the host device. Interface circuit 60 by providing means for selecting
5 and the I / O port 604 of the controller 6
It is also possible to control the inkjet recording head for ejecting the treatment liquid in the recording head unit 8 by the processing by 601 and the ROM 602 so that the treatment liquid is not ejected.

(Embodiment 3) In this embodiment, an image is deteriorated by applying a treatment liquid to a recording material having an ink receiving layer already applied on a base material such as an OHP sheet or coated paper. In order to solve the inconvenience, in an inkjet recording apparatus having a function of allowing a user to select a recording material or a function of detecting the recording material, the recording material selection means and the control are performed. The ROM 602 and the MPU 601 which store the print control means of the unit 6 control whether or not the processing liquid is ejected depending on the selected recording material, so that the user's direct selection work can be eliminated.

The treatment liquid for making the dye of the ink suitable for use in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention insoluble can be obtained as follows, for example. That is, after mixing and dissolving the following components, the pore size is 0.2
After pressure filtration with a 2 μm membrane filter (trade name: Fluoropore filter, manufactured by Sumitomo Electric), p with NaOH
By adjusting H to 4.8, the treatment liquid Al can be obtained.

[Component of Al] Low molecular weight component of cationic compound Stearyl trimethyl ammonium chloride 2.0 parts (trade name; Electrostopper QE, manufactured by Kao) High molecular component of cationic compound Polyamine sulfone (average molecular weight: 5000) 3 0.0 parts (trade name; PAS-92, manufactured by Nitto Boseki Co., Ltd.) Thiodiglycol 10 parts Water balance Also, the following can be mentioned as preferable examples of the ink which is insolubilized by mixing with the treatment liquid.

That is, the following components were mixed, and the mixture was filtered under pressure with a membrane filter (trade name: chloropore filter, manufactured by Sumitomo Electric Industries) having a pore size of 0.22 μm, and the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black inks Y were used.
1, M1, C1, K1 can be obtained.

Y1 C. I. Direct Yellow 142 2 parts Thiodiglycol 10 parts Acetylenol EH 0.05 parts Water balance M1 Dye I. Acid Red-289; C1 dye having the same composition as Y1 except that 2.5 parts was used. I. Acid Blue 9; Same composition as Y1 except that 2.5 parts was used. I. Food Black 2; Same composition as Y1 except that 3 parts were replaced. In the mixing of the treatment liquid and the ink shown above,
In the present invention, the treatment liquid and the ink are mixed on the recording material or at the position where the ink has penetrated into the recording material, and as a result, the low molecular weight of the cationic substances contained in the treatment liquid as the first step of the reaction. The component and the water-soluble dye having an anionic group used in the ink associate with each other by ionic interaction, and instantaneously separate from the solution phase.

Next, in the second step of the reaction, the above-mentioned association of the dye and the low molecular weight cationic substance is adsorbed by the polymer component contained in the treatment liquid. The size of the aggregate is further increased, making it difficult for the aggregate to enter the gaps between the fibers of the recording material, and as a result, only the liquid portion that has undergone solid-liquid separation penetrates into the recording paper, achieving both print quality and fixability. To be done. At the same time, since the aggregate formed by the low molecular weight component of the cationic substance, the anionic dye and the cationic substance generated by the mechanism as described above has a high viscosity and does not move with the movement of the liquid medium, Even if adjacent ink dots are formed of different color inks as in image formation, they do not mix with each other and bleeding does not occur. Further, the above-mentioned aggregates are essentially water-insoluble, and the water resistance of the formed image is perfect. Further, it also has the effect of improving the light fastness of the image formed by the shielding effect of the polymer.

In practicing the present invention, it is not necessary to use a cationic polymer substance having a large molecular weight or a polyvalent metal salt as in the prior art, or even if it is necessary, the present invention can be used. Since it is only necessary to supplementarily use it to further improve the effect, the amount used can be minimized. As a result, the reduction of the color developability of the dye, which is a problem when trying to obtain the water resistance effect using the conventional cationic polymer substance or polyvalent metal salt, is eliminated. Can be listed as the effect of.

The recording material used for carrying out the present invention is not particularly limited, and so-called plain paper such as conventionally used copy paper and bond paper can be preferably used. Of course, coated paper and OHP specially made for inkjet printing
A transparent film for use can also be preferably used, and general high-quality paper and glossy paper can also be preferably used.

Further, in carrying out the present invention, the ink to be used is not particularly limited to the dye ink, and a pigment ink in which a pigment is dispersed may be used, and the treatment liquid to be used is one which causes the pigment to aggregate. Can be used. The following may be mentioned as an example of the pigment ink that causes aggregation by mixing with the above-mentioned treatment liquid A1. That is, as described below, it is possible to obtain yellow, magenta, cyan, and black color inks Y2, M2, C2, and K2 each containing a pigment and an anionic compound.

Black ink K2 Anionic polymer P-1 (styrene-methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate, acid value 400, weight average molecular weight 6,0)
00, an aqueous solution with a solid content of 20%, a neutralizing agent: potassium hydroxide) was used as a dispersant, and the following materials were charged into a batch type vertical sand mill (made by AIMEX) and 1 mm diameter glass beads were filled as a medium. The dispersion treatment was performed for 3 hours while cooling with water. The viscosity after dispersion was 9 cps and the pH was 10.0. This dispersion was centrifuged to remove coarse particles, to prepare a carbon black dispersion having a weight average particle diameter of 100 nm.

(Composition of carbon black dispersion) -P-1 aqueous solution (solid content 20%) 40 parts-Carbon black Mogul L (manufactured by Cablack) 24 parts-Glycerin 15 parts-Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether 0.5 parts- Isopropyl alcohol 3 parts water 135 parts Next, the dispersion obtained above was sufficiently dispersed to obtain a black ink K2 for ink jet containing a pigment. The solid content of the final preparation was about 10%.

Yellow ink Y2 Anionic polymer P-2 (styrene-acrylic acid-methyl methacrylate, acid value 280, weight average molecular weight 1
1,000%, an aqueous solution with a solid content of 20%, a neutralizing agent: diethanolamine) was used as a dispersant, and the following materials were used to carry out a dispersion treatment in the same manner as in the production of the black ink K2. A 103 nm yellow color dispersion was prepared.

(Composition of yellow dispersion) P-2 aqueous solution (solid content 20%) 35 parts C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 180 24 parts (Novapalm Yellow PH-G, manufactured by Hoechst) -Triethylene glycol 10 parts-Diethylene glycol 10 parts-Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether 1.0 part-Isopropyl alcohol 0.5 parts-Water 135 parts Obtained as above The yellow dispersion was sufficiently diffused to obtain an inkjet yellow ink Y2 containing a pigment. The solid content of the final preparation was about 10%.

Cyan Ink C2 Using the anionic polymer P-1 used in the preparation of the black ink K2 as a dispersant, the following materials were used, and the same dispersion treatment as in the case of the carbon black dispersion described above was performed. Then, a cyan color dispersion having a weight average particle diameter of 120 nm was produced.

(Composition of cyan color dispersion) P-1 aqueous solution (solid content 20%) 30 parts C.I. I. Pigment Blue 15: 3 24 parts (Fast Gemble-FGF, Dainippon Ink and Chemicals) ・ Glycerin 15 parts ・ Diethylene glycol-monobutyl ether 0.5 parts ・ Isopropyl alcohol 3 parts ・ Water 135 parts Cyan color obtained above The dispersion was sufficiently stirred to obtain a pigment-containing cyan ink C2 for inkjet. The solid content of the final preparation was about 9.6%.

Magenta Ink M2 The anionic polymer P-1 used in the preparation of the black ink K2 was used as a dispersant, and the following materials were used to carry out the same dispersion treatment as in the case of the carbon black dispersion described above. Then, a magenta color dispersion having a weight average particle diameter of 115 nm was produced.

(Composition of magenta color dispersion) P-1 aqueous solution (solid content 20%) 20 parts C.I. I. Pigment Red 122 (Dainippon Ink and Chemicals Inc.) 24 parts-Glycerin 15 parts-Isopropyl alcohol 3 parts-Water 135 parts Magenta ink for ink jet containing a pigment by sufficiently diffusing the magenta color dispersion obtained above. M2
I got The solid content of the final preparation was about 9.2%.

(Others) The present invention is provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink, particularly in the ink jet recording system. The present invention brings about excellent effects in a recording head and a recording apparatus of the type in which the state of ink is changed by the heat energy. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding its typical structure and principle, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
It can be applied to any of the continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to the sheet holding the liquid (ink) or the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recording information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter, and film boiling is caused on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal in a one-to-one correspondence
It is effective because bubbles can be formed inside. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape because bubbles can be immediately and appropriately grown and contracted, so that liquid (ink) ejection with excellent responsiveness can be achieved. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the discharge port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications (straight liquid passage or right-angled liquid passage). US Pat. No. 4,558,333, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
The structure using the specification of No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration corresponding to the ejection portion is disclosed in JP-A-59-138461. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be surely and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as in the above example, the recording head fixed to the main body of the apparatus or the electrical connection to the main body of the apparatus or the ink from the main body of the apparatus by being mounted on the main body of the apparatus. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself is used.

Further, as the constitution of the recording apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable to add the ejection recovery means of the recording head, the auxiliary auxiliary means and the like because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, heating is performed by using a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressure or suction unit for the recording head, an electrothermal converter or a heating element other than this, or a combination thereof. Examples thereof include a preliminary heating unit for performing the discharge and a preliminary discharge unit for performing discharge different from the recording.

Regarding the type and number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single-color ink, or a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities are supported. A plurality of pieces may be provided. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but it may be either the recording head is integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. The present invention is also extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of full-color recording modes by color mixing.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and that softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. Or, in the inkjet system, it is common to control the temperature of the ink itself within the range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is within the stable ejection range. Sometimes, a liquid ink may be used. In addition, the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as the energy of the state change from the solid state of the ink to the liquid state, or in order to prevent the evaporation of the ink, it is solidified and heated in the standing state. You may use the ink liquefied by. In any case, by applying heat energy such as ink that is liquefied by applying heat energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected or that begins to solidify when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention can be applied to the case where an ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time is used. In this case, the ink is
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent No. 1260, it may be configured to face the electrothermal converter in a state of being held as a liquid or a solid in the concave portion or the through hole of the porous sheet. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, in addition to the one used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmitting / receiving function are provided. It may be a form or the like.

[0084]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In an ink jet recording apparatus that forms an image by ejecting ink and treatment liquid onto a recording material, the recording material can be selected by the user so as not to consume the treatment liquid unnecessarily, or the recording material does not require the treatment liquid. By setting the device itself so that it will not be used, or by setting the device itself so that it will not unnecessarily consume the processing liquid when performing trial printing, it is possible to reduce printing costs and inkjet recording with low running costs. A device can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a printer unit in an embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a carriage of the printer unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an enlarged configuration of the carriage shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a recording head mountable on the carriage shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and an ink tank detachably mountable to the recording head.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a fixing member for electrically connecting the contact portion of the recording head portion and the main body side.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a carriage of the printer unit and a position detecting means for the carriage.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a positioning structure of a carriage of a printer unit and a head base of a recording head unit.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view showing fixing means for ensuring the positioning structure shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a fixing member for electrically connecting the contact portion of the recording head portion and the main body side.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a fitted state of an FPC holder and a recording head unit.

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing a recording head unit and an ink tank unit mounted on a carriage unit.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of an embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram for explaining a control system in an embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Paper Feeding Part 2 Carriage Part 3 Purging Part 4 Lower Case 6 Control Part 7 Panel Part 8 Recording Head 9 Ink Tank 101 Chassis 102 Guide Shaft 103 Support Shaft 104 Carriage Motor 105 Timing Belt 110 Paper Feed Motor 201 Carriage Base 202 Head Lever 203 FPC holder 204 FPC spring 205 Head hook 206 Rubber pad 207 Carriage flex 208 FPC retainer 209 Head tension spring 210 Head tension 211 Belt stopper 212 Linear encoder 213 Carriage PCB 214 CR CR PCB cover 215 Absorber 216 Absorber 217 Switching lever 218 Support shaft 219 Guide spring 220 head lever level 221 carriage label 70 Key

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus using a first ink jet head that ejects ink to record an image on a recording material, and a second ink jet head that ejects a treatment liquid that insolubilizes the ink onto the recording material. At
An inkjet recording apparatus comprising means for controlling whether or not the treatment liquid is ejected from a nozzle of the second inkjet head. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls ejection from the second ink jet head according to user selection. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit ejects the processing liquid when the ejection of the processing liquid is unnecessary depending on the type of recording material. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized by controlling ejection from a head. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surface tension of the treatment liquid is lower than the surface tension of the ink. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the treatment liquid contains a low molecular component and a high molecular component of a cationic substance, and the ink contains an anionic dye. An inkjet recording device characterized by the above. 6. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the treatment liquid contains a low molecular component and a high molecular component of a cationic substance, and the ink contains an anionic compound and a pigment. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the ink jet head is a device for generating energy used for ejecting ink, and heat for film boiling the ink. An ink jet recording apparatus having an electrothermal converter that generates energy.