Drying equipment and printing equipment

Abstract

To provide a drier having a heating member for heating a heating object member while carrying the heating object member by coming into contact with the heating object member imparted with a liquid composition, the drier being capable of preventing a component derived from the liquid component from being copied onto the heating member from the heating object member, as well as, the drier being capable of feeding heat to substantially steadily maintain a temperature of the heating member which is subjected to lowering of the temperature of the heating member caused by contact of the heating object member with the heating member.SOLUTION: A drier comprises: a heating member contacting a heating object member imparted with a liquid component so as to heat, while carrying, the heating object member; and a temperature measuring member measuring a temperature of a region contacting the heating object member, of the heating member. The heating member has a surface layer contacting the heating object member. The surface layer has: a support layer having multiple recessed parts in a surface thereof and containing alumite sulfate; and fluorine resin attached to the recessed parts.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a drying device and a printing device. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Printing devices such as inkjet devices have a drying device that has a heating roller incorporating a heat source such as a halogen lamp in order to dry a recording medium on which ink or various treatment liquids have been applied.

[0003] As an example of such a drying device, Patent Document 1 discloses a recording medium heating device provided with a heating roller or the like that dries a recording medium coated with a pretreatment liquid. This recording medium heating device has a plurality of heating rollers each incorporating a heater lamp that serves as a heat source, and dries the recording medium by wrapping the recording medium around the plurality of heating rollers and heating it while transporting it.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a drying device that dries a recording medium by wrapping the recording medium around multiple heating rollers and transporting the recording medium, in which the configuration of the heat source of the upstream heating roller is different from the configuration of the heat source of the downstream heating roller, and the maximum current amount of the heat source of the upstream heating roller is greater than the maximum current amount of the heat source of the downstream heating roller, in order to achieve optimal heat supply. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in a drying device having a heating element that heats a heated element while transporting it by coming into contact with the heated element to which a liquid composition has been applied, there are problems such as components derived from the liquid composition being transferred from the heated element to the heating element, and it being difficult to supply heat so that the temperature of the heating element, which decreases due to contact between the heated element and the heating element, remains approximately constant. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention relates to a drying device having a heating element that comes into contact with a heated element to which a liquid composition has been applied, thereby heating the heated element while transporting the heated element, and a temperature measuring element that measures the temperature of an area of ​​the heating element that comes into contact with the heated element in a non-contact manner, wherein the heating element has a surface layer that comes into contact with the heated element, and the surface layer has a support layer that has a plurality of recesses on its surface and contains alumite sulfate, and a fluororesin that adheres to the recesses. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a drying device can be provided that suppresses the transfer of components derived from the liquid composition from the heated member to the heating member, and that makes it easy to supply heat so that the temperature of the heating member, which decreases when the heated member and the heating member come into contact, remains approximately constant. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a photograph showing an example of a cross section of a support layer having recesses. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a state in which a heated member and a heating member are in contact with each other, as viewed from the side where the heated member and the heating member are in contact with each other. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a state in which the heated member and the heating member are in contact with each other, as viewed from the side where the heated member and the heating member are not in contact with each other. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along dotted line D in FIGS. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a printing device that uses continuous paper. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[0010] <<Drying equipment>> The drying device of this embodiment is a device that dries a heated member to which a liquid composition has been applied by heating it. The drying device includes a heating member that comes into contact with the heated member to which the liquid composition has been applied, thereby heating the heated member while transporting it, and a temperature measuring member that measures the temperature of the region of the heating member that comes into contact with the heated member in a non-contact manner, and may include other members as necessary.

[0011] <Heating element> The heating member in the drying device is a member that heats the heated member while transporting it by coming into contact with the heated member to which the liquid composition has been applied, and is preferably a member that heats the heated member while transporting it by coming into contact with the surface of the heated member to which the liquid composition has been applied. The heating member has a base material, a surface layer that is provided on the base material and comes into contact with the heated member, and heating means that applies heat to the heated member via the surface layer.

[0012] -Surface layer- The surface layer of the heating member is a layer that comes into contact with the heated member, and has a support layer having a surface with multiple recesses and non-recesses, which are areas other than the recesses, and a fluororesin adhered to at least the recesses, and may have other components as necessary.

[0013] --Support layer-- The support layer is a layer containing alumite sulfate as a constituent material (i.e., alumite sulfate coating), and may contain other constituent materials as necessary. Here, "containing alumite sulfate" refers to the inclusion of a material derived from alumite sulfate treatment, which is a process of anodizing aluminum in an aqueous sulfuric acid solution. That is, a layer containing a material derived from alumite sulfate treatment is a layer that contains aluminum oxide and in which sulfur components are detected. Here, "detecting sulfur components" refers to, for example, obtaining data indicating the presence of sulfur components when sulfur component mapping is performed on a cross-section of the support layer. A specific example of a method for mapping sulfur components is to perform EDS elemental analysis (Phenom ProX, manufactured by PhenomWorld) on a cross-section of the support layer. A method for confirming that the layer contains alumite sulfate (in other words, a layer containing aluminum oxide and in which sulfur components are detected) is to obtain data showing the presence of sulfur components, aluminum components, and oxygen components in the same region when mapping the sulfur components, aluminum components, and oxygen components on a cross section of the support layer. Specifically, an EDS elemental analysis (Phenom ProX, manufactured by PhenomWorld) is performed on the cross section of the support layer to map the sulfur components, aluminum components, and oxygen components. By including alumite sulfate as a constituent material of the support layer in the surface layer, the emissivity of the surface layer can be improved compared to when an aluminum alloy or the like is used as a constituent material, which allows the temperature of the surface layer to be measured more accurately when a temperature measuring member (described later) is used as a detector capable of detecting infrared rays emitted from the surface layer.

[0014] As described above, the support layer is a layer containing alumite sulfate, which allows multiple recesses to be formed on the surface. The recesses are structures resulting from the alumite sulfate treatment, and it is preferable from a manufacturing perspective that no additional treatment is performed to form the recesses. Here, the recesses will be explained using FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a photograph showing an example of a cross section of a support layer having recesses. As shown in FIG. 1, the recesses represent hollow structures formed on the surface of the support layer. Also, as shown in FIG. 1, fluororesin F is attached to the recesses.

[0015] Here, the reason why it is preferable that the fluororesin is attached to the recessed portions will be explained. Generally, in a heating element with a high surface temperature, the fluororesin adhering to the surface softens, and when it comes into contact with the heated element, the fluororesin is more likely to be scraped off by the heated element, reducing its function of suppressing the transfer of components derived from the liquid composition from the heated element to the heating element. On the other hand, when a fluororesin is attached to the recess as in the present application, even if the surface temperature is high when the heated member comes into contact with the heated member, the fluororesin remains on the heating member side, thereby suppressing the transfer from the heated member. The temperature of the surface layer of the heating member is preferably 50°C or higher, more preferably 70°C or higher, even more preferably 100°C or higher, and particularly preferably 110°C or higher. When the temperature of the surface layer is 50°C or higher, the effect of suppressing the transfer from the heated member can be more effectively achieved. The temperature of the surface layer of the heating member is preferably 200°C or lower, and more preferably 150°C or lower.

[0016] The fluororesin supported by the support layer may or may not be attached to non-recessed areas of the support layer, as long as it is attached to the recessed areas of the support layer. In other words, the fluororesin may or may not be attached to non-recessed areas. However, the area where the fluororesin is present per unit area of ​​the recessed areas is preferably larger than the area where the fluororesin is present per unit area of ​​the non-recessed areas. Here, the area where the fluororesin is present refers to the area where the fluororesin is present in a planar image of the surface layer. The area where the fluororesin is present can be determined, for example, as follows. First, fluorine components are mapped on the surface layer of the heating member. A specific example of a method for mapping the fluorine components is EDS elemental analysis (Phenom ProX, manufactured by PhenomWorld). Next, using ProSuite software, the area where the fluororesin is present per unit area of ​​the recessed areas and the area where the fluororesin is present per unit area of ​​the non-recessed areas are calculated from the obtained data. Similarly, the area where the fluororesin is present per unit area of ​​the recessed areas and the area where the fluororesin is present per unit area of ​​the non-recessed areas are calculated at five arbitrary locations, and the average values ​​are calculated. The region where fluorine components exist refers to a region where the fluorine atom concentration is 1% or more.

[0017] The depth of the recesses in the support layer is preferably 0.2 μm or more and 2.0 μm or less, more preferably 0.4 μm or more and 1.9 μm or less, and even more preferably 1.1 μm or more and 1.6 μm or less. When the depth of the recesses is within the above range, it is possible to further prevent the fluororesin from being scraped off. In this application, the depth of the recesses represents the length of the longest perpendicular line drawn from a straight line connecting the endpoints of the recesses to the surface of the support layer, as shown by the arrows in Figure 1.

[0018] When the recesses in the support layer are viewed in plan, for example by photographing the recesses, they have a plurality of adhesion regions where the fluororesin is adhered and a plurality of non-adhesion regions where the fluororesin is not adhered (typically, regions where the support layer is exposed), and the area of ​​at least one of the non-adhesion regions is 0.01 μm2 More than 0.03μm 2 Preferably, the area of ​​the non-adhered regions is 0.01 μm or less. 2 More than 0.03μm 2 It is more preferable that the area of ​​the recess is 0.01 μm or less. 2 More than 0.03μm 2 By having at least one non-adhesion region that satisfies the following conditions, the area in which the heated member and the fluororesin are in vacuum-tight contact can be reduced, and the transfer of components derived from the liquid composition from the heated member to the heating member can be suppressed.

[0019] The area of ​​the non-adhesion region can be determined, for example, as follows. First, mapping of the aluminum component is performed in the recess. Specific methods for mapping the aluminum component include EDS elemental analysis (Phenom ProX, manufactured by PhenomWorld). Next, the area of ​​each non-adhesion region is calculated from the obtained data using ProSuite software. The measurement area used for calculation is, for example, 10 μm × 8 μm.

[0020] The area of ​​at least one of the non-adhered regions is reduced to 0.01 μm 2 More than 0.03μm 2The method described below is not particularly limited, but can be, for example, produced by immersing a member having a support layer formed thereon in a dispersion containing fluororesin particles to adhere the fluororesin to the support layer, and then polishing the surface of the member with a soft, nonwoven fabric with low water absorption. The nonwoven fabric is preferably one that does not leave any residual fibers on the surface of the member, such as a fluororesin fiber sheet. The above-mentioned area of ​​the non-adhesion region represents a relatively small area. This is because the fluororesin adhered to the recesses partially maintains the shape of the fluororesin particles as they were when manufactured, forming gap regions between multiple fluororesin particles, and the area of ​​these gap regions corresponds to the above-mentioned area. Therefore, for example, if the fluororesin particles are adhered by spraying a dispersion containing fluororesin particles instead of the above-mentioned immersion method, the non-adhesion region that satisfies the above-mentioned area is not formed. This is presumably because the dispersibility of the fluororesin particles is reduced during spraying compared to immersion. Furthermore, even if a post-treatment is performed to integrate the fluororesin particles adhered to the support layer to form a uniform layer of fluororesin, the non-adhesion region that satisfies the above-mentioned area is not formed.

[0021] The thickness of the support layer is preferably 25.0 μm or more and 35.0 μm or less. By having a thickness of 25.0 μm or more and 35.0 μm or less, variations in emissivity in the heating element are suppressed, and variations in measured values ​​by the temperature measurement element are also suppressed. The thickness of the support layer can be determined, for example, as follows. First, mapping of the sulfur component, aluminum component, and oxygen component is performed on the cross section of the heating element. Specific methods for mapping the sulfur component, aluminum component, and oxygen component include EDS elemental analysis (Phenom ProX, manufactured by PhenomWorld). Next, the region where all of the sulfur component, aluminum component, and oxygen component are detected is determined as the support layer, and the length of the perpendicular line drawn from the surface of the support layer toward the substrate is determined within the support layer. Similarly, the lengths of the perpendicular lines within the support layer are determined at any 10 locations, and their average value is used as the thickness of the support layer.

[0022] As described above, the support layer is preferably a layer containing sulfated aluminum oxide, because this improves hardness compared to layers containing aluminum oxide produced by processes other than sulfated aluminum oxide. This improves the hardness of the heating element having this support layer. Specifically, the Vickers hardness of the heating element is preferably 400 Hv or more and 500 Hv or less. A Vickers hardness of 400 Hv or more and 500 Hv or less of the heating element reduces wear of the uneven surface of the heating element, and the uneven surface provides a spacer effect that prevents detachment of fluororesin adhering to the recesses when the heating element comes into contact with the heated element. Note that Vickers hardness can be measured in accordance with the test method of JIS Z2244.

[0023] --Fluorine resin-- The fluororesin can improve the lubricity between the heating member and the heated member. As described above, the fluororesin may be attached to the recessed portions of the support layer, or may be attached to the non-recessed portions.

[0024] Examples of fluororesins include tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (PFA, melting point 300 to 310°C), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, melting point 330°C), tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer (FEP, melting point 250 to 280°C), ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE, melting point 260 to 270°C), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF, melting point 160 to 180°C), polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE, melting point 210°C), tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (EPE, melting point 290 to 300°C), and mixtures containing these polymers, with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) being preferred.

[0025] The proportion of the area where the fluororesin is present is preferably 15.0% or more and 30.0% or less of the area of ​​the surface layer. By making the proportion of the area where the fluororesin is present 15.0% or more, it is possible to further suppress the transfer of components derived from the liquid composition from the heated member to the heating member. Furthermore, by making the proportion of the area where the fluororesin is present 30.0% or less, it is possible to suppress the fluororesin from being crushed and becoming tacky due to long-term use of the heating member, thereby suppressing the transfer from the heated member. The proportion of the area where the fluororesin is present can be determined, for example, as follows: First, mapping of fluorine components is performed on the surface layer of the heating member. Specific methods for mapping fluorine components include EDS elemental analysis (Phenom ProX, manufactured by PhenomWorld). Next, using ProSuite software, the proportion of the area where the fluorine components are present is calculated from the obtained data. Similarly, the proportions of the area where the fluorine components are present are calculated at any five locations, and the average of these is taken as the proportion of the area where the fluororesin is present. The region where the fluorine components are present refers to a region where the fluorine atom concentration is 1% or more. The measurement area for calculation is, for example, 100 μm×100 μm.

[0026] -Base material- The substrate of the heating member is located on the side of the surface layer that does not come into contact with the heated member. Furthermore, during the manufacture of the heating member, it is preferable to form the support layer by treating the substrate with sulfuric acid anodizing. Therefore, the material constituting the substrate preferably contains aluminum. Furthermore, it is more preferable that the material constituting the substrate contains magnesium in addition to aluminum. When aluminum is treated with sulfuric acid anodizing, aluminum oxide grows in a columnar shape. However, by adding magnesium, the growth direction of the aluminum oxide can be disrupted, stress is generated within the aluminum oxide, and the surface of the support layer formed can have a more irregular shape. Furthermore, it is more preferable that the material constituting the substrate contains silicon in addition to aluminum. Similar to magnesium, by adding silicon, the growth direction of the aluminum oxide can be disrupted, stress is generated within the aluminum oxide, and the surface of the support layer formed can have a more irregular shape. As described above, by making the surface of the support layer to be formed more uneven, the uneven shape provides a spacer effect that prevents the fluororesin adhering to the recesses from detaching when the heating member and the heated member come into contact, and further prevents the transfer of components derived from the liquid composition from the heated member to the heating member.

[0027] The shape of the substrate is not particularly limited, but is preferably, for example, a long metal rod, and more preferably a roller-shaped body such as a columnar or cylindrical body with a circular cross section. By using such a substrate, the heating member can be used as a heating roller. When a roller-shaped substrate is used, the diameter of the circular cross section of the heating member is preferably 50 mm or more and 600 mm or less. A diameter of 50 mm or more reduces the pressure per unit area generated between the heating member and the heated member, thereby more effectively suppressing the transfer of components derived from the liquid composition from the heated member to the heating member. On the other hand, a diameter of 600 mm or less reduces excessive adhesion generated between the heating member and the heated member, thereby more effectively suppressing the transfer from the heated member.

[0028] -Heating means- The heating means in the heating member is a means for applying heat to the heated member through the surface layer. For example, when the shortest length from a predetermined position on the heating means to the surface layer is compared with the shortest length from the predetermined position on the heating means to the heated member, the shortest length from the predetermined position on the heating means to the surface layer is shorter. Therefore, for example, when the heating member is roller-shaped, the heating means is provided inside the roller-shaped base material and applies heat to the heated member through the base material and the surface layer. Specific examples of the heating means are not particularly limited, and various known means can be used, such as a heater and a means for generating hot air.

[0029] <Temperature measurement components> The temperature measuring member in the drying device is a member that measures the temperature of the region of the heating member that comes into contact with the heated member without contact. Specifically, the temperature measuring member has a function of receiving infrared light emitted from the heating member and converting it into temperature, for example. Because the temperature measuring member can detect the temperature of the heating member, even if the temperature of the heating member drops due to contact between the heated member and the heating member, the drying device can detect this temperature drop and perform feedback control to supply heat so that the temperature of the heating member remains approximately constant, for example.

[0030] The temperature measuring member measures the temperature at a temperature measuring position on the surface of the heating member. This temperature measuring position will be described with reference to Figs. 2 to 4. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a state in which a heated member and a heating member are in contact, viewed from the side where the heated member and the heating member are in contact. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a state in which a heated member and a heating member are in contact, viewed from the side where the heated member and the heating member are not in contact. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along dotted line D in Figs. 2 and 3.

[0031] 2 to 4, the heating member 4 conveys the heated member 7 in the conveying direction T by contacting the heated member 7 while rotating in the rotation direction R. At the same time, heat supplied by the heating means 12 is transferred to the heated member 7 via its surface layer to heat it. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the heating member 4 starts contacting the heated member 7 at a contact start position 7c, and stops contacting the heated member at a separation start position 7d, thereby starting separation. Furthermore, since the heating member 4 is in contact with the heated member 7 while rotating, it has a region 4a in contact with the heated member shown in FIG. 2 (a region along the rotation direction R from the contact start position 7c to the separation start position 7d shown in FIG. 4, which is a region that is currently in contact with the heated member 7) and a region 4b in contact with the heated member shown in FIG. 3 (a region along the rotation direction R from the separation start position 7d to the contact start position 7c shown in FIG. 4, which was in contact with the heated member 7 but is not in contact at the position shown in FIG. 4).

[0032] 3 and 4, a temperature measurement position 10 is located in the region 4b of the heating member 4 that is in contact with the heated member, and as shown in FIG. 4, a temperature measurement member 11 measures the temperature at the temperature measurement position 10 by receiving infrared light I emitted from the temperature measurement position 10. The presence of the temperature measurement position 10 in the region 4b of the heating member 4 that is in contact with the heated member can reduce the difference ΔT between the temperature measured by the temperature measurement member 11 and the actual temperature of the heating member 4, compared to when the temperature measurement position is located in a region of the heating member 4 that is not in contact with the heated member, and it becomes easier to supply heat so that the temperature of the heating member, which drops due to contact between the heated member and the heating member, remains approximately constant (in other words, the above feedback control can be performed more accurately).

[0033] 3, the temperature measurement position 10 is located between one end 7a and the other end 7b of the region 4b in contact with the heated member, and the length L in the orthogonal direction x perpendicular to the conveyance direction T of the heated member 7 from one end 7a of the region 4b in contact with the heated member to the temperature measurement position 10 is 10is preferably 30% to 70% of the length L in the orthogonal direction x from one end 7a to the other end 7b of the region 4b in contact with the heated member. By having the difference ΔT between the temperature measured by the temperature measuring member 11 and the actual temperature of the heating member 4 be smaller, it becomes easier to supply heat so that the temperature of the heating member 4, which decreases due to contact between the heated member and the heating member, becomes approximately constant (in other words, the above feedback control can be performed more accurately). Note that the one end 7a and the other end 7b of the region 4b in contact with the heated member are a boundary that continues along the conveyance direction T, and do not include the contact start position 7c and separation start position 7d shown in FIG. 4.

[0034] 4, it is preferable that the temperature measurement position 10 is closer to the separation start position 7d than to the contact start position 7c. By being closer to the separation start position 7d than to the contact start position 7c, the difference ΔT between the temperature measured by the temperature measurement member 11 and the actual temperature of the heating member 4 can be made smaller, making it easier to supply heat so that the temperature of the heating member, which drops when the heated member and the heating member come into contact, remains approximately constant (in other words, the above-mentioned feedback control can be performed more accurately). In the present disclosure, when the temperature measurement position 10 is closer to the separation start position 7d than to the contact start position 7c, the temperature measurement position 10 is said to be located "downstream," and when the temperature measurement position 10 is closer to the contact start position 7c than to the separation start position 7d, the temperature measurement position 10 is said to be located "upstream."

[0035] As shown in Fig. 4, the temperature measuring member 11 measures the temperature without contacting the heating member 4. In the case of a contact type, scratches may be generated on the surface of the heating member 4 as the heating member 4 transports the heated member 7 (as the heating member 4 rotates), but the occurrence of scratches can be suppressed by being a non-contact type.

[0036] <<Printing device>> The printing device of this embodiment has a liquid composition applying means that applies a liquid composition to a contacted member, a heating member that comes into contact with the heated member to which the liquid composition has been applied, thereby heating the heated member while transporting it, and a temperature measuring member that measures the temperature of the area of ​​the heating member that comes into contact with the heated member in a non-contact manner, and may also have other members as necessary. The printing apparatus will be described with reference to Figure 5. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a printing apparatus that uses continuous paper. The printing apparatus 100 shown in Figure 5 has a heated member supply means 1, a liquid composition application means 2, a heating member 4, and a heated member recovery means 6. The printing apparatus 100 also has a drying device 50, but the drying device 50 may be an integrated device with the printing apparatus 100 or a separate, independent device.

[0037] <Heated member supply means> The heated member supplying means 1 is driven to rotate, thereby supplying the heated member 7, which is stored in a roll shape, to a conveying path 8 within the printing apparatus 100. The conveying direction of the heated member 7 in the conveying path 8 is indicated by an arrow T. The means for supplying material to be heated 1 adjusts the rotational drive to transport the material to be heated 7 at a high speed of 50 m / min or more.

[0038] The heated member 7 is a sheet-like object to be heated that is continuous in the conveyance direction T of the printing device 100, and is specifically a recording medium such as continuous paper. Examples of continuous paper include rolled paper and continuous paper folded at predetermined intervals. The heated member 7 is conveyed along a conveyance path 8 between the heated member supply means 1 and the heated member recovery means 6. The length of the heated member 7 in the conveyance direction T is at least longer than the length of the conveyance path 8 for the heated member 7, which is provided between the heated member supply means 1 and the heated member recovery means 6. In this way, a large tension is applied to the heated member 7 between the heated member supply means 1 and the heated member recovery means 6, in order to use a heated member 7 that is continuous in the conveyance direction T of the printing device 100 and to convey the heated member 7 at high speed.

[0039] <Liquid composition application means> The liquid composition applying means 2 is an inkjet ejection head having a plurality of nozzle rows in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged, and is provided so that the direction of ink ejection from the nozzles faces the transport path 8 of the heated member 7. As a result, the liquid composition applying means 2 sequentially ejects ink of each color, magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (K), as liquid compositions onto the heated member 7. Note that the colors of the ejected ink are not limited to these, and may be white, gray, silver, gold, green, blue, orange, violet, or other colors. In the present embodiment, the liquid composition is described as an ink as an example, but other liquid compositions may also be used, such as ink, a pre-treatment liquid applied to aggregate coloring materials contained in the ink, a post-treatment liquid applied to protect the surface of the applied ink, and a liquid for forming an electric circuit in which inorganic particles such as metal particles are dispersed, or a liquid in which these are appropriately mixed or layered. In addition, in the present embodiment, the liquid composition is applied to the heated member 7 by an inkjet ejection head, but the liquid composition may be applied by other means. For example, various known means such as spin coating, spray coating, gravure roll coating, reverse roll coating, and bar coating can be used.

[0040] <Heating element> The heating member 4 is a columnar or cylindrical roller, and changes the conveying direction T of the member to be heated while conveying the member to be heated.

[0041] As described above, in the printing apparatus 100, the heated member supply means 1 transports the heated member 7 at 50 m / min or more. When transporting at such a high speed, as shown in FIG. 5 , when the transport direction of the heated member 7 is changed by the heating member 4, a large pressure is applied between the heating member 4 and the heated member 7. This makes it easier for the fluororesin to be scraped off toward the heated member over time, making it easier for components derived from the liquid composition to be transferred from the heated member to the heating member. However, when the fluororesin is attached to the recesses as in the present application, the fluororesin remains on the heating member side, thereby suppressing such transfer from the heated member.

[0042] As described above, the printing apparatus 100 conveys the heated member 7 continuously in the conveyance direction T of the printing apparatus 100, and therefore, a large tension is applied to the heated member 7 between the heated member supply means 1 and the heated member recovery means 6. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 5 , when the conveyance direction of the heated member 7 to which a large tension is applied is changed by the heating member 4, a large pressure is applied between the heating member 4 and the heated member 7. This makes it easier for the fluororesin to be scraped off toward the heated member over time, which makes it easier for components derived from the liquid composition to be transferred from the heated member to the heating member. However, when the fluororesin is attached to the recesses as in the present application, the fluororesin remains on the heating member side, thereby suppressing such transfer from the heated member.

[0043] <Heated member recovery means> The heated member recovery means 6 is driven to rotate, and thereby winds up the heated member 7 on which an image has been formed by applying the liquid composition, and stores it in a roll shape.

[0044] <<Print method>> The printing method of this embodiment includes a liquid composition application step of applying a liquid composition to a heated member, a heating step of contacting the heated member to which the liquid composition has been applied, thereby heating the heated member while transporting it, and a temperature measurement step of non-contactly measuring the temperature of the area of ​​the heating member that comes into contact with the heated member, and may include other steps as necessary.

[0045] <Liquid composition application step> The liquid composition application step is a step of applying a liquid composition such as ink to the heated member 7 supplied from the heated member supply means 1. As a result, a region where the liquid composition is applied is formed on the heated member 7.

[0046] <Heating process> The heating step is a step in which, after the liquid composition application step, the heating member 4 is brought into contact with the heated member 7 to which the liquid composition has been applied, thereby heating the heated member 7 while transporting it. Heating is preferably carried out to the extent that the heated member 7 does not feel sticky.

[0047] <Temperature measurement process> The temperature measuring step is a step of measuring the temperature of the region of the heating member 4 that is in contact with the heated member 7 in a non-contact manner, and is preferably carried out simultaneously with the heating step.

[0048] <<Liquid composition>> The liquid composition applied to the heated member is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include ink, a pretreatment liquid applied to aggregate coloring materials contained in the ink, a posttreatment liquid applied to protect the surface of the applied ink, and a liquid for forming an electric circuit or the like in which inorganic particles such as metal particles are dispersed. These can be used in any known composition as appropriate. Hereinafter, a case where ink is used as the liquid composition will be described as an example.

[0049] <Ink> The organic solvent, water, coloring material, resin, wax, additives, etc. used in the ink will be described below.

[0050] -Organic solvents- The organic solvent is not particularly limited, and any water-soluble organic solvent can be used, including, for example, polyhydric alcohols, ethers such as polyhydric alcohol alkyl ethers and polyhydric alcohol aryl ethers, nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds, amides, amines, and sulfur-containing compounds. Specific examples of polyhydric alcohols include ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2,3-butanediol, 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, triethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, 1,2-pentanediol, 1,3-pentanediol, and 1,4-pentanediol. Examples of suitable glycerol include 2,4-pentanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,3-hexanediol, 2,5-hexanediol, 1,5-hexanediol, glycerin, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol, ethyl-1,2,4-butanetriol, 1,2,3-butanetriol, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol, and petriol. Examples of polyhydric alcohol alkyl ethers include ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, tetraethylene glycol monomethyl ether, and propylene glycol monoethyl ether. Examples of polyhydric alcohol aryl ethers include ethylene glycol monophenyl ether and ethylene glycol monobenzyl ether. Examples of the nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound include 2-pyrrolidone, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-hydroxyethyl-2-pyrrolidone, 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone, ε-caprolactam, and γ-butyrolactone. Examples of amides include formamide, N-methylformamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, 3-methoxy-N,N-dimethylpropionamide, and 3-butoxy-N,N-dimethylpropionamide. Examples of the amines include monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethylamine. Examples of sulfur-containing compounds include dimethyl sulfoxide, sulfolane, and thiodiethanol. Other organic solvents include propylene carbonate and ethylene carbonate. It is preferable to use an organic solvent having a boiling point of 250° C. or less, since it not only functions as a wetting agent but also provides good drying properties.

[0051] As the organic solvent, polyol compounds having 8 or more carbon atoms and glycol ether compounds are also suitably used. Specific examples of polyol compounds having 8 or more carbon atoms include 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol and 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol. Specific examples of glycol ether compounds include polyhydric alcohol alkyl ethers such as ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, tetraethylene glycol monomethyl ether, and propylene glycol monoethyl ether; and polyhydric alcohol aryl ethers such as ethylene glycol monophenyl ether and ethylene glycol monobenzyl ether.

[0052] In particular, when a resin is used as the ink composition, N,N-dimethyl-β-butoxypropionamide, N,N-dimethyl-β-ethoxypropionamide, 3-ethyl-3-hydroxymethyloxetane, and propylene glycol monomethyl ether are preferred. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these, amide solvents such as 3-butoxy-N,N-dimethylpropionamide and 3-methoxy-N,N-dimethylpropionamide are particularly preferred, as they promote the film-forming properties of the resin and can exhibit high abrasion resistance.

[0053] The boiling point of the organic solvent is preferably 180°C or higher and 250°C or lower. If the boiling point is 180°C or higher, the evaporation rate during drying can be appropriately adjusted, sufficient leveling can be achieved, surface irregularities can be reduced, and gloss can be improved. Conversely, if the boiling point is higher than 250°C, the drying rate can be low and long drying times may be required. With the recent increase in printing speed, the time it takes for the ink to dry has become the rate-limiting factor, and it is necessary to shorten the drying time, so long drying times are not preferred.

[0054] The content of the organic solvent in the ink is not particularly limited and can be selected appropriately depending on the purpose. From the viewpoint of the drying property and ejection reliability of the ink, however, the content is preferably 10% by mass or more and 60% by mass or less, and more preferably 20% by mass or more and 60% by mass or less.

[0055] The content of the amide solvent in the ink is preferably 0.05% by mass or more and 10% by mass or less, and more preferably 0.1% by mass or more and 5% by mass or less.

[0056] -water- The water content in the ink is not particularly limited and can be selected appropriately depending on the purpose. From the viewpoint of the drying property and ejection reliability of the ink, however, it is preferably 10% by mass or more and 90% by mass or less, and more preferably 20% by mass or more and 60% by mass or less.

[0057] -Coloring materials- The coloring material is not particularly limited, and pigments and dyes can be used. The pigment may be an inorganic pigment or an organic pigment. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Mixed crystals may also be used as the pigment. Examples of pigments that can be used include black pigments, yellow pigments, magenta pigments, cyan pigments, white pigments, green pigments, orange pigments, glossy pigments such as gold and silver pigments, and metallic pigments. As inorganic pigments, titanium oxide, iron oxide, calcium carbonate, barium sulfate, aluminum hydroxide, barium yellow, cadmium red, chrome yellow, as well as carbon black produced by known methods such as the contact method, furnace method, and thermal method can be used. In addition, examples of organic pigments that can be used include azo pigments, polycyclic pigments (e.g., phthalocyanine pigments, perylene pigments, perinone pigments, anthraquinone pigments, quinacridone pigments, dioxazine pigments, indigo pigments, thioindigo pigments, isoindolinone pigments, and quinophthalone pigments), dye chelates (e.g., basic dye chelates and acid dye chelates), nitro pigments, nitroso pigments, and aniline black. Of these pigments, those with good affinity for the solvent are preferably used. In addition, resin hollow particles and inorganic hollow particles can also be used. Specific examples of pigments for black include carbon blacks (CI Pigment Black 7) such as furnace black, lamp black, acetylene black, and channel black, metals such as copper, iron (CI Pigment Black 11), and titanium oxide, and organic pigments such as aniline black (CI Pigment Black 1). In addition, for color, CI Pigment Yellow 1, 3, 12, 13, 14, 17, 24, 34, 35, 37, 42 (yellow iron oxide), 53, 55, 74, 81, 83, 95, 97, 98, 100, 101, 104, 108, 109, 110, 117, 120, 138, 150, 153, 155, 180, 185, 213, CI Pigment Orange 5, 13, 16, 17, 36, 43, 51, CI Pigment Red 1, 2, 3, 5, 17, 22, 23, 31, 38, 48:2 (Permanent Red 2B (Ca)), 48:3, 48:4, 49:1, 52:2, 53:1, 57:1 (Brilliant Carmine 6B), 60:1, 63:1, 63:2, 64:1, 81, 83, 88, 10 1 (Red Iron), 104, 105, 106, 108 (Cadmium Red), 112, 114, 122 (Quinacridone Magenta), 123, 146, 149, 166, 168, 170, 172, 177, 178, 179, 184, 185, 190, 193, 202, 207, 208, 209, 213, 219, 224, 254, 264, CI Pi CI Pigment Violet 1 (Rhodamine Lake), 3, 5:1, 16, 19, 23, 38; CI Pigment Blue 1, 2, 15 (Phthalocyanine Blue), 15:1, 15:2, 15:3, 15:4 (Phthalocyanine Blue), 16, 17:1, 56, 60, 63; CI Pigment Green 1, 4, 7, 8, 10, 17, 18, 36, etc. The dye is not particularly limited, and acid dyes, direct dyes, reactive dyes, and basic dyes can be used, and one type may be used alone, or two or more types may be used in combination. Dyes include, for example, CI Acid Yellow 17, 23, 42, 44, 79, 142, CI Acid Red 52, 80, 82, 249, 254, 289, CI Acid Blue 9, 45, 249, CI Acid Black 1, 2, 24, 94, CI Food Black 1, 2, CI Direct Yellow 1, 12, 24, 33, 50, 55, 58, 86, 132, 142, 144, 173, CI Direct Red 1, 4, 9, 80, 81, 225, 227, CI Direct Blue 1, 2, 15, 71, 86, 87, 98, 165, 199, 202, CI Directed Black 19, 38, 51, 71, 154, 168, 171, 195, CI Reactive Red 14, 32, 55, 79, 249, CI Reactive Black 3, 4, 35.

[0058] The content of the coloring material in the ink is preferably from 0.1% to 15% by mass, more preferably from 1% to 10% by mass, from the viewpoints of improving image density, good fixability, and ejection stability.

[0059] Methods for dispersing a pigment to obtain an ink include a method of introducing a hydrophilic functional group into a pigment to make it a self-dispersing pigment, a method of dispersing the pigment by coating the surface of the pigment with a resin, and a method of dispersing the pigment using a dispersant. As a method for introducing a hydrophilic functional group into a pigment to make it a self-dispersible pigment, for example, a method of adding a functional group such as a sulfone group or a carboxyl group to a pigment (e.g., carbon) to make it dispersible in water can be mentioned. One method for dispersing a pigment by coating its surface with a resin is to encapsulate the pigment in microcapsules to make it dispersible in water. This can also be called a resin-coated pigment. In this case, it is not necessary for all of the pigments blended into the ink to be coated with resin; uncoated or partially coated pigments may be dispersed in the ink. Examples of the method for dispersing using a dispersant include a method for dispersing using a known low molecular weight dispersant or a high molecular weight dispersant, such as a surfactant. As the dispersant, for example, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, nonionic surfactants, etc. can be used depending on the pigment. As the dispersant, RT-100 (nonionic surfactant) manufactured by Takemoto Yushi Co., Ltd. and sodium naphthalenesulfonate formalin condensate can also be suitably used. The dispersants may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0060] -Pigment dispersion- Ink can be obtained by mixing a pigment with water, an organic solvent, or other materials. Alternatively, ink can be produced by mixing a pigment with other materials such as water and a dispersant to form a pigment dispersion, and then mixing the resulting mixture with water, an organic solvent, or other materials. The pigment dispersion is obtained by mixing and dispersing water, pigment, pigment dispersant, and other components as required, and adjusting the particle size. Dispersion is preferably performed using a disperser. Although there are no particular restrictions on the particle size of the pigment in the pigment dispersion, the maximum frequency, calculated as the maximum number, is preferably 20 nm or more and 500 nm or less, and more preferably 20 nm or more and 150 nm or less, in order to improve the dispersion stability of the pigment and image quality such as ejection stability and image density. The particle size of the pigment can be measured using a particle size analyzer (Nanotrac Wave-UT151, manufactured by Microtrac Bell Co., Ltd.). The content of the pigment in the pigment dispersion is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. However, from the viewpoint of obtaining good ejection stability and increasing image density, the content is preferably 0.1% by mass or more and 50% by mass or less, and more preferably 0.1% by mass or more and 30% by mass or less. It is preferable to filter out coarse particles from the pigment dispersion using a filter, a centrifugal separator or the like, and degas the dispersion, if necessary.

[0061] -resin- The type of resin contained in the ink is not particularly limited and can be selected appropriately depending on the purpose. Examples include urethane resin, polyester resin, acrylic resin, vinyl acetate resin, styrene resin, butadiene resin, styrene-butadiene resin, vinyl chloride resin, acrylic styrene resin, and acrylic silicone resin. Resin particles made of these resins may also be used. The resin particles are dispersed in water as a dispersion medium to form a resin emulsion, which can be mixed with materials such as coloring materials and organic solvents to obtain an ink. The resin particles may be appropriately synthesized or commercially available. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more types of resin particles.

[0062] Among these, urethane resin particles have a high tackiness when images are formed by applying an ink containing the urethane resin particles, which deteriorates the blocking resistance. Therefore, it is preferable to use them in combination with other resin particles. However, the high tackiness of the urethane resin particles allows images to be formed firmly and improves fixability. Furthermore, urethane resin particles with a glass transition temperature (Tg) of -20°C or higher and 70°C or lower can provide images formed by applying an ink containing the urethane resin particles with a high tackiness and further improve fixability. Among the above resins, acrylic resin particles are widely used because they have excellent ejection stability and low cost. However, because they have poor abrasion resistance, it is preferable to use them in combination with elastic urethane resin particles.

[0063] The volume average particle size of the resin particles is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. However, from the viewpoint of obtaining good fixing properties and high image hardness, the volume average particle size is preferably 10 nm or more and 1,000 nm or less, more preferably 10 nm or more and 200 nm or less, and particularly preferably 10 nm or more and 100 nm or less. The volume average particle size can be measured, for example, using a particle size analyzer (Nanotrac Wave-UT151, manufactured by Microtrac Bell Co., Ltd.).

[0064] The resin content is not particularly limited and can be selected appropriately depending on the purpose. From the viewpoint of fixability and ink storage stability, however, the resin content is preferably 1% by mass or more and 30% by mass or less, and more preferably 5% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less, of the total amount of ink.

[0065] There are no particular restrictions on the particle size of the solid content in the ink, and it can be selected appropriately depending on the purpose. To improve image quality, such as ejection stability and image density, the maximum frequency of particle size of the solid content in the ink, calculated in terms of maximum number, is preferably 20 nm or more and 1000 nm or less, and more preferably 20 nm or more and 150 nm or less. The solid content includes resin particles, pigment particles, etc. The particle size can be measured using a particle size analyzer (Nanotrac Wave-UT151, manufactured by Microtrac Bell Co., Ltd.).

[0066] -wax- The inclusion of wax in the ink can improve abrasion resistance, and the use of wax in combination with a resin can improve gloss. Polyethylene wax is preferred as the wax. Commercially available polyethylene waxes can be used, including, for example, AQUACER 531 (manufactured by BYK Japan), POLYLON P502 (manufactured by Chukyo Yushi), AQUAPETR DP2502C (manufactured by Toyo ADL), and AQUAPETR DP2401 (manufactured by Toyo ADL). These waxes may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The polyethylene wax content is preferably 0.05% to 2% by mass, more preferably 0.05% to 0.5% by mass, based on the total amount of ink. A content of 0.05% to 2% by mass is effective in sufficiently improving abrasion resistance and gloss. Furthermore, a content of 0.45% by mass or less improves the storage stability and ejection stability of the ink, making it more suitable for use in inkjet printing.

[0067] -Additives- If necessary, surfactants, antifoaming agents, antiseptic and antifungal agents, antirust agents, pH adjusters, etc. may be added to the ink.

[0068] <<Heated member>> The heated member can be any recording medium without any particular restrictions, such as plain paper, glossy paper, special paper, or cloth, but is particularly suitable for use with low-permeability recording media (also called low-absorbency recording media). A low-permeability recording medium refers to a recording medium having a surface with low water permeability, absorbency, or adsorption, and includes materials that have many internal cavities but are not open to the outside. Examples of low-permeability recording media include coated paper used in commercial printing and recording media such as paperboard coated with recycled paper pulp in the middle and back layers. Low-permeability recording media have a stronger gripping force than recording media such as plain paper, and the fluororesin tends to be scraped off toward the heated member over time, making it more likely that components derived from the liquid composition will be transferred from the heated member to the heating member. However, when the fluororesin is attached to the recesses as in the present application, the fluororesin remains on the heating member side, thereby suppressing the transfer from the heated member.

[0069] <Low permeability recording medium> Examples of low-permeability recording media include recording media such as coated paper that have a support and a surface layer provided on at least one side of the support, and may further have other layers as necessary.

[0070] In a recording medium having a support and a surface layer, the amount of pure water transferred to the recording medium in a contact time of 100 ms measured with a dynamic scanning absorptivity meter was 2 mL / m 2 More than 35mL / m 2 Less than 2 mL / m is preferred 2 More than 10mL / m 2 The following is more preferred:

[0071] If the amount of ink and pure water transferred during a contact time of 100 ms is too small, beading may occur more easily, whereas if it is too large, the ink dot diameter after image formation may become smaller than the desired diameter.

[0072] The amount of pure water transferred to the recording medium during a contact time of 400 ms measured using a dynamic scanning absorptivity meter was 3 mL / m 2 More than 40mL / m 2 Less than 3 mL / m is preferred 2 More than 10mL / m 2 The following is more preferred:

[0073] If the amount of transferred pure water after a contact time of 400 ms is small, the drying property will be insufficient, and if it is too large, the gloss of the image area after drying may be reduced. The amount of transferred pure water to the recording medium after a contact time of 100 ms and 400 ms can both be measured on the side of the recording medium having the surface layer.

[0074] Here, the dynamic scanning absorptometer (DSA, Journal of the Japan Paper and Pulp Technology Association, Vol. 48, May 1994, pp. 88-92, Shigenori Kuga) is an instrument that can accurately measure the amount of liquid absorbed in an extremely short time. The dynamic scanning absorptometer automates measurements by directly reading the absorption rate from the movement of the meniscus in the capillary, scanning the sample in a disk shape with the absorption head in a spiral, automatically changing the scanning speed according to a preset pattern, and measuring the required number of points on one sample.

[0075] The liquid supply head for the paper sample is connected to the capillary via a Teflon tube, and the position of the meniscus in the capillary is automatically read by an optical sensor. Specifically, the amount of transferred pure water or ink can be measured using a dynamic scanning absorptivity meter (K350 series D type, manufactured by Kyowa Seiko Co., Ltd.).

[0076] The transfer amounts at contact times of 100 ms and 400 ms can be determined by interpolation from the measured values ​​of the transfer amounts at contact times close to each other.

[0077] -Support- The support is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. Examples include sheet-like materials such as paper mainly made of wood fibers and nonwoven fabric mainly made of wood fibers and synthetic fibers. The thickness of the support is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, but is preferably 50 μm to 300 μm. 2 ~290g / m 2 is preferred.

[0078] -Surface layer- The surface layer contains a pigment and a binder, and may further contain a surfactant and other components as required. The pigment may be an inorganic pigment or a combination of an inorganic pigment and an organic pigment. Examples of inorganic pigments include kaolin, talc, heavy calcium carbonate, light calcium carbonate, calcium sulfite, amorphous silica, titanium white, magnesium carbonate, titanium dioxide, aluminum hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, zinc hydroxide, and chlorite. The amount of inorganic pigment added is preferably 50 parts by mass or more per 100 parts by mass of binder. Examples of organic pigments include water-soluble dispersions of styrene-acrylic copolymer particles, styrene-butadiene copolymer particles, polystyrene particles, polyethylene particles, etc. The amount of organic pigment added is preferably 2 to 20 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of all pigments in the surface layer. It is preferable to use an aqueous resin as the binder. As the aqueous resin, at least one of a water-soluble resin and a water-dispersible resin can be suitably used. The water-soluble resin is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, and examples thereof include polyvinyl alcohol, cation-modified polyvinyl alcohol, acetal-modified polyvinyl alcohol, polyester, polyurethane, and polyester and polyurethane. The surfactant to be contained in the surface layer as needed is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, but any of anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and nonionic surfactants can be used. The method for forming the surface layer is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, and can be performed by impregnating or coating the support with a liquid that constitutes the surface layer. The amount of the liquid that constitutes the surface layer that is applied is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, and can be 0.5 g / m in terms of solid content. 2 ~20g / m 2 is preferred, and 1 g / m 2 ~15g / m 2 is more preferred. [Example]

[0079] Examples of the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to these examples in any way.

[0080] <Preparation example of black pigment dispersion> Carbon black (NIPEX160, manufactured by Degussa, BET specific surface area 150 m 2 20 g of a compound having a molecular weight of 1.001 / g, an average primary particle size of 20 nm, a pH of 4.0, and a DBP oil absorption of 620 g / 100 g, 20 mmol of a compound represented by the following structural formula (1), and 200 mL of ion-exchanged highly purified water were mixed in a Silverson mixer (6,000 rpm) at room temperature. If the pH of the resulting slurry was higher than 4, 20 mmol of nitric acid was added. After 30 minutes, sodium nitrite (20 mmol) dissolved in a small amount of highly purified ion-exchanged water was slowly added to the mixture. The mixture was then heated to 60°C with stirring and allowed to react for 1 hour. A modified pigment was produced in which a compound represented by the following structural formula (1) was added to carbon black. Next, the pH was adjusted to 10 with an aqueous NaOH solution, and after 30 minutes, a modified pigment dispersion was obtained. The dispersion containing the pigment bonded to at least one geminal bisphosphonic acid group or geminal bisphosphonic acid sodium salt and high-purity ion-exchange water were subjected to ultrafiltration using a dialysis membrane, and further ultrasonic dispersion was performed to obtain a self-dispersing black pigment dispersion having a bisphosphonic acid group as a hydrophilic functional group with a pigment solids concentration of 16% by mass.

[0081] [ka]

[0082] <Preparation example of liquid composition (ink)> 50.00 mass% black pigment dispersion (pigment solids concentration 16%), 2.22 mass% polyethylene wax AQUACER 531 (non-volatile content 45 mass%, manufactured by BYK Japan), 30.00 mass% 3-ethyl-3-hydroxymethyloxetane, 10.0 mass% propylene glycol monopropyl ether, 2.00 mass% silicone surfactant (TEGO Wet 270, manufactured by Tomoe Engineering Co., Ltd.), and ion-exchanged water (to make up the remaining amount) were mixed, stirred for 1 hour, and then filtered through a membrane filter with an average pore size of 1.2 μm to obtain a liquid composition (ink).

[0083] <Example of manufacturing a printing device> Example 1 The surface of an aluminum hollow roller substrate (A5052 manufactured by Misumi Corporation) with a diameter of 80 mm was subjected to anodization treatment (sulfuric acid anodization treatment) in a sulfuric acid aqueous solution. More specifically, electrodes were attached to the end of the hollow roller substrate, and the substrate was submerged in a 15 wt% sulfuric acid aqueous solution adjusted to 0°C. A metal rod was used as the anode, and a current of 1.0 A / dm 2 Electrolysis was performed for 0.5 hours at a current density of 1000 kJ / s to deposit a sulfate anodized aluminum coating (a layer containing aluminum oxide and detectable sulfur components), forming a 14 μm-thick support layer. The surface was thoroughly washed with pure water, immersed in a PTFE dispersion (Fluon, manufactured by AGC) diluted to a solids concentration of 10% or less, and then air-dried once. After air-drying, the hollow roller was rotated at a speed of 10 rpm and polished once by pressing and wiping with fluororesin fiber (Tomy Firec, manufactured by Tomoegawa Paper Co., Ltd.). Furthermore, a heating source consisting of a halogen heater was placed inside the hollow roller to create a heating element. Next, a radiation thermometer FT-H10 (manufactured by Keyence Corporation) was installed as a temperature measuring element to measure the temperature of the region of the heating element that was in contact with the heated element without contact, and a drying module (drying device) was prepared. At this time, the length (L) in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the heated element from one end of the region to the temperature measuring position was measured. 10 ) was 10% of the length (L) in the orthogonal direction from one end of the region to the other. The temperature measurement position where the temperature was measured using the radiation thermometer was closer (upstream) to the contact start position where the heated member starts to come into contact with the heating member than to the separation start position where the heated member starts to separate from the heating member. The halogen heater in the heating member was feedback controlled based on the temperature obtained by the radiation thermometer to keep the temperature of the heating member at a substantially constant value (140°C). A contact-type thermocouple (manufactured by Keyence Corporation) was installed in the center of the region to measure the actual temperature of the heating member for use in the evaluation of the temperature difference (ΔT) described below. Next, the drying module was incorporated into an inkjet printing system (RICOH Pro VC60000, manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) to prepare a printing apparatus of Example 1.

[0084] Examples 2 to 11 A printing apparatus was fabricated in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the installation position of the temperature measurement element, the type of substrate, the duration of the electrolytic treatment, the resin application method, the number of times the resin was applied, and the number of times the hollow roller was polished were changed as shown in Table 1 below. In Table 1, if the temperature measurement position is closer to the separation start position than the contact start position, the temperature measurement position is described as being located "downstream." If the temperature measurement position is closer to the contact start position than the separation start position, the temperature measurement position is described as being located "upstream." Also, in Table 1, "sulfuric acid," which indicates the type of electrolyte used in the electrolytic treatment, refers to an aqueous sulfuric acid solution. Also, in Table 1, the "spraying" described as the resin application method for Examples 8 to 11 refers to a method in which a dispersion obtained by diluting a PTFE dispersion (Fluon manufactured by AGC) to a solids concentration of 10% or less is sprayed onto a hollow roller rotating at a speed of 10 rpm using a two-fluid nozzle to form a coating film.

[0085] (Comparative Example 1) In Example 1, the installation position of the temperature measurement member, the type of substrate, the time of electrolysis treatment, the method of applying resin, the number of times the resin was applied, and the number of times the hollow roller was polished were changed as shown in Table 2 below, and further, the type of electrolyte used in the electrolysis treatment was changed from an aqueous sulfuric acid solution to an aqueous oxalic acid solution, except that a printing device was produced in the same manner as in Example 1. Note that in Table 2, "oxalic acid," which indicates the type of electrolyte used in the electrolysis treatment, refers to an aqueous oxalic acid solution.

[0086] (Comparative Example 2) A printing device was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that an aluminum hollow roller substrate (A5052 manufactured by Misumi Corporation) having a diameter of 80 mm was used as the heating member without any treatment.

[0087] (Comparative Example 3) In Example 1, a printing device was fabricated in the same manner as in Example 1, except that an aluminum hollow roller substrate (A5052 manufactured by Misumi Corporation) having a diameter of 80 mm was covered with a 30 μm thick PFA tube (manufactured by Gunze Co., Ltd.) and the PFA tube (manufactured by Gunze Co., Ltd.) was shrunk by heat treatment at 200°C to form the heating element.

[0088] Comparative Example 4 In Example 1, the length (L 10 A printing device was fabricated in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the length (L) of the heating element was changed to 110% of the length (L) in the perpendicular direction from one end of the region to the other end (in other words, the temperature measurement position was provided in an area of ​​the heating element that was not in contact with the heated element).

[0089] In addition, in the printing devices of Examples 1 to 11 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4, the components detected in the support layer of the heating member, the depth of the recesses in the support layer, the ratio of the area where the fluororesin is present to the area of ​​the surface layer, and the area of ​​0.01 μm 2 More than 0.03μm 2 The following Tables 1 and 2 show the presence or absence of non-adhered regions (regions in recesses where the fluororesin is not attached), the thickness of the support layer, and the Vickers hardness of the heating member.

[0090] In addition, when the area where the fluororesin exists per unit area of ​​the recessed portion in the surface layer of the heating member in the printing devices manufactured in Examples 1 to 11 was compared with the area where the fluororesin exists per unit area of ​​the non-recessed portion, it was found that the area where the fluororesin exists per unit area of ​​the recessed portion was larger.

[0091] Next, in the printing devices of Examples 1 to 11 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4, when heat was supplied so that the temperature of the heating element, which drops when the heated element and the heating element come into contact, remained approximately constant, the difference ΔT (hereinafter also referred to as temperature difference (ΔT)) between the temperature measured by a radiation thermometer as a temperature measuring element and the actual temperature measured by a contact thermocouple was calculated and evaluated according to the following method. In addition, in the printing devices prepared in Examples 1 to 11 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4, the degree to which components derived from the liquid composition were transferred from the heated member to the heating member (hereinafter also referred to as transferability) was determined and evaluated according to the following method.

[0092] [Evaluation of temperature difference (△T)] Using the printing devices prepared in Examples 1 to 11 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4, images were printed by applying the prepared liquid composition (ink) to a recording medium, which was a heated member. The recording medium used was roll paper Lumi Art Gloss 130 gsm (manufactured by Stora Enso, paper width 125 mm, low-permeability recording medium). The length of this roll paper in the transport direction was longer than the length of the transport path of the printing device. This roll paper was set in the printing device, and a solid image was printed on a 12 km length of roll paper at a speed of 50 m / min. The printing device supplied heat so that the temperature of the heating element, which decreases due to contact between the recording medium and the heating element, would remain approximately constant (140°C) based on the temperature measured by a radiation thermometer as a temperature measuring element. Next, during the printing of 12 km, the temperature at which the difference ΔT between the temperature (Tn) measured by the radiation thermometer as the temperature measurement element and the actual temperature (Tr) measured by the contact thermocouple was greatest was determined, and the results were evaluated according to the following criteria. The evaluation results are shown in Tables 1 and 2. (Evaluation criteria) A: △T is less than 5℃ B: △T is between 5℃ and 10℃ C: △T is 10℃ or more

[0093] [Evaluation of transferability] After the above-mentioned [Evaluation of temperature difference (ΔT)], the adhesion area of ​​the components derived from the liquid composition (ink) remaining on the surface of the heating element was determined and evaluated according to the following evaluation criteria. The evaluation results are shown in Tables 1 and 2. (Evaluation criteria) A+: Adhesion area is less than 1% A: Adhesion area is 1% or more but less than 5% B: Adhesion area is 5% or more but less than 10% C: Adhesion area is 10% or more

[0094] [Table 1]

[0095] [Table 2] [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 1 Heated member supply means 2. Liquid composition application means 4 Heating element 6. Heated material recovery means 7 Heated member 8 Transport Route 50 Drying equipment 100 Printing equipment [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0097] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6048239 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6579420

Claims

1. A drying device comprising: a heating element that contacts a heated element to which a liquid composition has been applied, thereby heating the heated element while transporting the heated element; and a temperature measuring element that measures the temperature of a region of the heating element that contacts the heated element in a non-contact manner, the heating member has a surface layer that contacts the heated member; the surface layer has a support layer having a plurality of recesses on its surface and containing alumite sulfate, and a fluororesin adhered to the recesses, The depth of the recess is 0.2 μm or more and 2.0 μm or less. A drying device characterized by:

2. The drying device described in claim 1, wherein the length in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the heated member from one end of the region to the temperature measurement position where the temperature is measured is 30% or more and 70% or less of the length in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the heated member from one end of the region to the other end.

3. The drying device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the temperature measurement position for measuring the temperature is closer to the separation start position where the heated element, which has been in contact with the heating element, starts to separate from the heating element than to the contact start position where the heated element starts to come into contact with the heating element.

4. 4. The drying device according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the area where the fluororesin is present to the area of ​​the surface layer is 15% or more and 30% or less.

5. the recessed portion has a plurality of adhesion regions, which are regions to which the fluororesin is adhered, and a plurality of non-adhesion regions, which are regions to which the fluororesin is not adhered; The area of ​​at least one of the non-adhered regions is 0.01 μm ２ More than 0.03 μm ２ 5. The drying device according to claim 1, wherein:

6. The drying device according to claim 1 , wherein the support layer has a thickness of 25.0 μm or more and 35.0 μm or less.

7. A drying device described in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the heating element is in the shape of a roller having a diameter of 50 mm or more and 600 mm or less.

8. the surface layer includes the support layer having the recesses and non-recessed areas on its surface, which are areas other than the recesses, and the fluororesin attached to the recesses and the non-recessed areas, The drying device according to claim 1 , wherein an area of ​​the recessed portion where the fluororesin is present per unit area is larger than an area of ​​the non-recessed portion where the fluororesin is present per unit area.

9. The drying device according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the surface layer is 50° C. or higher.

10. A printing apparatus comprising: a liquid composition applying means for applying a liquid composition to a heated member; a heating member that comes into contact with the heated member to which the liquid composition has been applied, thereby heating the heated member while transporting it; and a temperature measuring member that measures the temperature of a region of the heating member that comes into contact with the heated member in a non-contact manner, the heating member has a surface layer that contacts the heated member; the surface layer has a support layer having a plurality of recesses on its surface and containing alumite sulfate, and a fluororesin adhered to the recesses, The depth of the recess is 0.2 μm or more and 2.0 μm or less. A printing device characterized by:

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