Inkjet printing method and apparatus

• US 20050140763A1
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (Corteva, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (Corteva, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jackson, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 7,682,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/100
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2114 Ejecting specialized liquids, e.g. transparent or processing liquids B41J2/211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 Line printing

Abstract

This invention pertains to a method of inkjet printing, in particular to a method of inkjet printing designed for high speed, high quality and high resolution. This invention also pertains to an apparatus to perform the inventive method.

Claims

1. A method of inkjet printing on a substrate, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals, said printer being equipped with a printhead array which is fixed in position;

(b) loading the printer with the substrate;

(c) loading the printer with an ink jet ink set comprising (i) a first colored dye ink comprising a first dye and a first vehicle, and (ii) a first fixer ink comprising a first fixing agent for said first colored dye ink and a second vehicle; and

(d) moving the substrate past the printhead array and printing on the substrate using the inkjet ink set in response to the digital data signals,

wherein the first dye ink and the first fixer ink are both applied, sequentially, to substantially the same location on the substrate so that the first fixer ink is applied over the first dye ink within a time interval of less than about 125 ms.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second vehicles are aqueous vehicles.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the ink set comprises at least two other colored dye inks, said at least two other colored inks comprising

(iii) a second colored dye ink comprising a second dye and a third vehicle, and

(iv) a third colored dye ink comprising a third dye and a fourth vehicle,

wherein each of the first, second and third colored dye inks are differently colored, and wherein said first, second and third colored dye inks, applied in any order and any combination, are overprinted with the first fixer ink within a time interval of less than about 125 ms.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first, second, third and fourth vehicles are aqueous vehicles.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the ink set further comprises a first colored pigment ink comprising a first pigment and a fifth vehicle, wherein the first colored pigment ink is underprinted with the first fixer ink within a time interval of no more than about 125 ms.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the ink set further comprises a first colored pigment ink comprising a first pigment and a fifth vehicle, and a second fixer ink comprising a second fixing agent for said first colored pigment ink and a sixth vehicle, wherein the first colored pigment ink is underprinted with the second fixer ink within a time interval of no more than about 125 ms.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the printhead array ejects droplets of ink having a volume in the range of about 1 to about 10 pL.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the printhead array ejects droplets of ink having a volume in the range of about 1 to about 5 pL.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the printhead array ejects droplets of ink having a volume in the range of about 1 to about 2 pL.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the time interval between the colored ink and the fixer ink is in the range of about 0.1 to about 50 ms.

11. An inkjet printer that prints in response to digital data signals, comprising:

(a) a printhead array which is fixed in position and which is equipped with a first series of nozzles in fluid connection with a first colored dye ink, and a second series of nozzles in fluid connection with a first fixer ink for fixing said first colored dye ink, said second series of nozzles being in a downfield position relative to said first series of the nozzles;

(b) a means for moving a substrate to be printed past the printhead array.

12. The inkjet printer of claim 11, wherein the printhead array further comprises a third series of nozzles in fluid connection with a first pigment ink, said second series of nozzles being in an upfield position relative to said third series of nozzles.

13. The inkjet printer of claim 11, wherein the printhead array further comprises a third series of nozzles in fluid connection with a first pigment ink, and a fourth series of nozzles in fluid connection with a second fixer ink for fixing said first pigment ink, said fourth series of nozzles being in an upfield position relative to said third series of the nozzles.