Method of forming image and apparatus of the same

• US 6,379,000 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1998
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Koitabashi, Noribumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah, Manish S
• Application Number:
  US09/217,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20020039130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 347/100, 347/95, 347/84, 347/96, 106/247, 106/31.58, 106/31.59, 106/31.89, 106/31.86
• US Class Current: 347/100
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/211 Mixing of inks, solvent or air prior to paper contact
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/32 characterised by colouring agents
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/40 Ink-sets specially adapted for multi-colour inkjet printing

Abstract

In ink-jet printing, in order to improve fixation without using a means such as a heater, etc. even in the case of using an ink with a slow penetration speed, black ink discharged from one head is made to be relatively low penetrative, while a processing solution, which is discharged from the other head and insolubilize dye of the above black ink, is made to be relatively high penetrative. When characters, etc. are printed on recording paper, the black ink and the processing solution thus coalesce on the recording paper, and the penetrability of the mixed solution becomes a given level or higher, and this permits to accelerate the penetration and fixation.

Claims

1. A method for forming an image on a printing medium comprising the step of:

forming an image by using different plural liquids;

wherein a concentration of a surface-active agent in at least one of said different plural liquids is less than the critical micell concentration of said surface-active agent in pure water, and a concentration of a surface-active agent in at least one other liquid of said different plural liquids is higher than the critical micell concentration of said surface-active agent in pure water; and

wherein a concentration of a surface-active agent in a liquid on a printing medium surface, said liquid being obtained in a manner such that at least one of said different plural liquids and at least one other liquid of said different plural liquids have coalesced on the printing medium surface to form an image, is the critical micell concentration of said surface-active agent in pure water or higher.

2. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 1, wherein said surface-active agent is ethylene oxide-2,4,7,9-tetramethyl-5-decine-4, and 7-diol, and said liquids in which the concentration of said surface-active agent is the critical micell concentration of said surface-active agents in pure water or higher, have a surface active agent content of 0.7% or higher in said liquids.

3. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said different plural liquids is an ink containing color material.

4. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 1, wherein said different plural liquids contain an ink having color material and a processing solution liquid that causes the color material in said ink to become insoluble, wherein said processing solution liquid is deposited onto the printing medium after at least one ink.

5. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 3, wherein said coalesced liquid contains said color materials comprising dyes.

6. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 3, wherein said coalesced liquid contains color materials comprising pigments.

7. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 3, wherein said coalesced liquid contains color materials comprising dyes and pigments.

8. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 6, wherein said coalesced liquid further contains a dispersing agent for dispersing said pigments.

9. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 6, wherein said pigments include a self-dispersing pigment.

33. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 1, further including a step of generating thermal energy using a printing head having one or more heating elements, wherein the thermal energy causes the liquids to film-boil, thus causing the liquids to be ejected.

10. A method for forming an image on a printing medium comprising the steps of:

forming an image by using an ink having color material and having a surface tension not less than 35 dyne/cm, and a processing solution that causes the color material in said ink to become insoluble and having a surface tension less than 35 dyne/cm; and

forming a coalesced liquid on a printing medium surface to form an image, by coalescing on a printing medium surface said ink and said processing solution, wherein said coalesced liquid has a surface tension less than 35 dyne/cm.

11. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 10, wherein said coalesced liquid contains color materials comprising dyes.

12. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 10, wherein said coalesced liquid contains color materials comprising pigments.

13. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 10, wherein said coalesced liquid contains color materials comprising dyes and pigments.

14. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 12, wherein said coalesced liquid further contains a dispersing agent for dispersing said pigments.

15. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 12, wherein said pigments include a self-dispersing pigment.

34. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 10, further including a step of generating thermal energy using a printing head having one or more heating elements, wherein the thermal energy causes the liquids to film-boil, thus causing the liquids to be ejected.

16. A method for forming an image on a printing medium comprising the step of:

forming an image by using different plural liquids;

wherein a Ka value of at least one of said different plural liquids is not less than 5 {ml/m²·

msec^½

}, and a Ka value of at least one other of said different plural liquids is less than 5 {ml/m²·

msec^½

};

wherein the Ka value of a penetration speed of a liquid on a printing medium surface, said liquid being obtained in such a manner that at least one of said different plural liquids and at least one other liquid of said different plural liquids have coalesced on the printing medium surface to form an image, is not less than 5 {ml/m²·

msec^½

}.

17. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 16, wherein each of said different plural liquids is an ink containing color material.

18. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 17, wherein said different plural liquids contain an ink having color material and a processing solution liquid that causes the color material in said ink to become soluble, wherein said processing solution liquid is deposited onto the printing medium after at least one ink.

19. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 17 wherein said coalesced liquid contains color materials comprising dyes.

20. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 17 wherein said coalesced liquid contains color materials comprising pigments.

21. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 17 wherein said coalesced liquid contains color materials comprising dyes and pigments.

22. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 20 wherein said coalesced liquid further contains a dispersing agent for dispersing said pigments.

23. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 20, wherein said pigments include a self-dispersing pigment.

35. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 16, further including a step of generating thermal energy using a printing head having one or more heating elements, wherein the thermal energy causes the liquids to film-boil, thus causing the liquids to be ejected.

24. A method for forming an image comprising the step of:

forming an image by adding at least one ink before adding a processing solution to insolubilize color materials in said ink;

wherein a concentration of a surface-active agent in at least one of said ink and said processing solution is less than the critical micell concentration of said surface-active agent in pure water, and a concentration of a surface-active agent in at least one other of said ink and said processing solution is higher than the critical micell concentration of said surface-active agent in pure water; and

wherein a concentration of the surface-active agent in a liquid, into which said at least one ink and said processing solution have coalesced on a surface of a printing medium to form an image, is not less than the critical micell concentration of said surface-active agent in pure water.

36. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 24, further including a step of generating thermal energy using a printing head having one or more heating elements, wherein the thermal energy causes the liquids to film-boil, thus causing the liquids to be ejected.

25. A method for forming an image comprising the step of:

forming an image by adding an ink before adding a processing solution to insolubilize color materials in said ink;

wherein the surface tension of said processing solution is less than 35 dyne/cm, and the surface tension of said ink is not less than 35 dyne/cm; and

wherein a surface tension of a liquid into which said ink and said processing solution have coalesced on a surface of a printing medium to form an image, is less than 35 dyne/cm.

37. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 25, further including a step of generating thermal energy using a printing head having one or more heating elements, wherein the thermal energy causes the liquids to film-boil, thus causing the liquids to be ejected.

26. A method for forming an image comprising the step of:

forming an image by adding at least one ink before adding a processing solution to insolubilize color materials in said ink;

wherein a Ka value of at least one of said ink and said processing solution is not less than 5 {ml/m²·

msec^½

}, and a Ka value of at least one other of said ink and said processing solution is less than 5 {ml/m²·

msec^½

},

wherein Ka value indicating a penetration speed of a liquid into which said at least one ink and said processing solution have coalesced on a surface of a printing medium to form an image, is not less than 5 {ml/m²·

msec^½

}.

38. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 26, further including a step of generating thermal energy using a printing head having one or more heating elements, wherein the thermal energy causes the liquids to film-boil, thus causing the liquids to be ejected.

27. A method for forming an image comprising the step of:

forming an image by adding at least one ink before adding a processing solution to insolubilize color materials in said ink and then, further adding at least another ink;

wherein a concentration of a surface-active agent in at least one of said ink and said processing solution is less than the critical micell concentration of said surface-active agent in pure water, and a concentration of a surface-active agent in at least one other of said ink and said processing solution is higher than the critical micell concentration of said surface-active agent in pure water; and

wherein a concentration of the surface-active agent in a liquid, into which said at least one ink and said processing solution have coalesced on a surface of a printing medium to form an image, is not less than the critical micell concentration of said surface-active agent in pure water.

39. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 27, further including a step of generating thermal energy using a printing head having one or more heating elements, wherein the thermal energy causes the liquids to film-boil, thus causing the liquids to be ejected.

28. A method for forming an image comprising the steps of:

adding a first ink comprising color materials and having a surface tension not less than 35 dyne/cm,

adding a processing solution to insolubilize color materials in said first ink, said processing solution having a surface tension less than 35 dyne/cm,

adding a second ink having a surface tension not less than 35 dyne/cm;

forming a coalesced liquid having a surface tension less than 35 dyne/cm on a surface of a printing medium, by coalescing said first ink, said processing solution and said second ink on said printing medium.

40. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 28, further including a step of generating thermal energy using a printing head having one or more heating elements, wherein the thermal energy causes the liquids to film-boil, thus causing the liquids to be ejected.

29. A method for forming an image comprising the step of:

forming an image by adding at least one ink before adding a processing solution to insolubilize color materials in said ink and then, further adding at least another ink;

wherein a Ka value of at least one of said ink and said processing solution is not less than 5 {ml/m²·

msec^½

}, and a Ka value of at least one other of said ink and said processing solution is less than 5 {ml/m²·

msec^½

};

wherein the Ka value of a penetration speed of a liquid into which said at least one ink and said processing solution have coalesced on a surface of a printing medium to form an image, is not less than 5 {ml/m²·

msec^½

}.

41. A method for forming an image as claimed in claim 29, further including a step of generating thermal energy using a printing head having one or more heating elements, wherein the thermal energy causes the liquids to film-boil, thus causing the liquids to be ejected.

30. An image forming apparatus comprising:

means for forming an image having discharging portions for discharging different plural liquids, wherein the liquids are discharged onto a printing medium from said discharging portions;

wherein a concentration of a surface-active agent in at least one of said different plural liquids is less than the critical micell concentration of said surface-active agent in pure water, and a concentration of a surface-active agent in at least one other liquid of said different plural liquids is higher than the critical micell concentration of said surface-active agent in pure water; and

wherein the concentration of the surface-active agent in the liquid, into which said different plural liquids have coalesced on the surface of the printing medium to form an image, is not less than the critical micell concentration of said surface-active agent in pure water.

42. An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 30, further comprising a printing head having one or more heating elements for generating thermal energy, wherein the thermal energy causes the liquids to film-boil, thus causing the liquids to be ejected.

31. An image forming apparatus comprising:

means for forming an image having discharging portions for discharging ink and processing solution, wherein said ink and said processing solution are discharged onto a printing medium from said discharging portions;

wherein the surface tension of said processing solution is less than 35 dyne/cm, and the surface tension of said ink is not less than 35 dyne/cm; and

wherein the surface tension of the liquid, into which said processing solution and said ink have coalesced on the surface of the printing medium to form an image, is less than 35 dyne/cm.

43. An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 31, further comprising a printing head having one or more heating elements for generating thermal energy, wherein the thermal energy causes the liquids to film-boil, thus causing the liquids to be ejected.

32. An image forming apparatus comprising:

means for forming an image having discharging portions for discharging different plural liquids, wherein the liquids are discharged onto a printing medium from said discharging portions;

wherein a Ka value of at least one of said different plural liquids is not less than 5 {ml/m²·

msec^½

}, and a Ka value of at least one other of said different plural liquids is less than 5 {ml/m²·

msec^½

};

wherein the Ka value of a penetration speed of a liquid on a printing medium surface, said liquid being obtained in such a manner that at least one of said different plural liquids and at least one other liquid of said different plural liquids and at least one other liquid of said different plural liquids having coalesced on the printing medium surface to form an image, is not less than 5 {ml/m²·

msec^½

}.

44. An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 32, further comprising a printing head having one or more heating elements for generating thermal energy, wherein the thermal energy causes the liquids to film-boil, thus causing the liquids to be ejected.