Active Light Curable Ink Thickening for High-Resolution Image Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming methods using inkjet technology face challenges in achieving high-resolution images at low cost while preventing deterioration of the intermediate transfer body and ensuring good transferability and fixability of ink to the recording medium.
Innovation Solution
An image forming method involving an active light curable ink is used, where the ink is provided on an intermediate transfer body, irradiated with first active light to thicken it, and then transferred to a recording medium, with a second active light irradiation step for complete curing, utilizing specific wavelength ranges to optimize transmittance and absorbance for effective ink fixation and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the amount of ink used for forming the image is reduced for cost reduction, then the masking ratio in the image is decreased, but unevenness tends to occur in the image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the ink by irradiating it with active light, transforming it from a liquid state to a gel state with increased viscosity. This parameter change allows the ink to maintain high masking ratio and image uniformity even when used in smaller quantities, thus resolving the contradiction between reducing ink consumption and maintaining image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition of the ink from liquid to gel state through active light irradiation. This phase transition increases the ink's viscosity and prevents excessive permeation into the recording medium, enabling cost-effective printing with reduced ink usage while maintaining high masking ratio and preventing image unevenness
2Quantity of substance
If the viscosity of ink is reduced in order to reduce permeation of the ink into the recording medium to facilitate spreading of the ink on the surface of the recording medium, then the ink is easily blurred, but it is difficult to form high-resolution images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by irradiating the ink with active light before the transfer step to increase its viscosity. This preliminary thickening prevents excessive permeation into the recording medium while maintaining the ink's ability to spread properly on the intermediate transfer body surface, thereby preventing blur and enabling high-resolution image formation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the viscosity parameter of the ink through active light irradiation, transforming it from a low-viscosity liquid to a high-viscosity gel. This parameter change allows the ink to resist permeation into the recording medium while maintaining adequate spreadability on the intermediate transfer body, thus resolving the contradiction between reducing permeation and maintaining image resolution
3Manufacturing precision
If active light is used to irradiate ink droplets to increase the viscosity of the ink droplets, then the ink droplets are thickened, but deterioration of the intermediate transfer body by active light occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively irradiating only the ink droplets with active light while avoiding irradiation of the intermediate transfer body. This is achieved by positioning the irradiation source to target specifically the ink on the intermediate transfer body surface, thereby thickening the ink locally without causing deterioration to the intermediate transfer body
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the intermediate transfer body as an intermediary that protects the underlying structure from active light while allowing the ink to be irradiated. The intermediate transfer body serves as a shield that receives minimal active light exposure, preventing its deterioration while still enabling effective ink thickening through selective irradiation
4Reliability
If ultraviolet rays are used to cure the water-based ink and the layer to be cured, then transferability and fixability are improved, but durability of the intermediate transfer body cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the curing process into two distinct stages: first curing the ink layer with active light to improve transferability, and then curing the intermediate transfer body layer separately to ensure durability. This segmentation allows optimization of each curing step independently, achieving both good transferability/fixability and intermediate transfer body durability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the irradiation parameters by using active light with specific wavelengths that differentiate between ink curing and intermediate transfer body curing. By controlling the wavelength, intensity, and duration of active light exposure, the patent achieves sufficient ink curing for transferability while limiting exposure to prevent intermediate transfer body deterioration
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method prevents intermediate transfer body deterioration, enhances ink transferability and fixability, and enables the production of high-resolution images, thereby extending the application of intermediate transfer type image forming methods and advancing the field.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating the active light curable ink provided on the surface of an intermediate transfer body with first active light
Implementation Method 2
a second active light irradiation step for complete curing
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming method includes: providing an active light curable ink on a surface of an intermediate transfer body; irradiating the active light curable ink provided on the surface of the intermediate transfer body with first active light; and transferring the active light curable ink to a recording medium, wherein the wavelength of the first active light is a wavelength that causes the transmittance of the intermediate transfer body to be 70% or more, and causes the absorbance of the active light curable ink to be 0.01 or more.