Aqueous Inkjet Recording With 27–38°C Radiant Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink jet recording methods face challenges in drying ink on non-absorbent recording media without clogging nozzles or compromising image quality, and require heating which complicates apparatus design.
Innovation Solution
A recording method involving a processing liquid with an aggregating agent is applied to the recording medium, followed by ink ejection and heating, using a heating mechanism that does not conductively heat the medium, maintaining a surface temperature between 27°C and 38°C.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the recording medium is heated to dry the ink, then the ink drying speed is improved, but the nozzle may be clogged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from high-temperature conductive heating to low-temperature (27-38°C) radiant heating, which dries the ink effectively without causing nozzle clogging. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by maintaining drying speed while eliminating the harmful high-temperature effect on nozzles
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical conductive heating system with a radiant heating mechanism that heats the recording medium without direct thermal contact. This substitution allows ink drying while avoiding the transmission of excessive heat to the nozzle, thus preventing clogging
2Reliability
If the recording medium is not heated, then the nozzle remains unclogged, but the ink drying speed is insufficient and image quality may be poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the heating temperature parameter to a specific range (27-38°C) that is sufficient for ink drying on non-absorbent media but low enough to prevent nozzle clogging. This precise parameter control resolves the contradiction between drying speed and nozzle protection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a processing liquid containing an aggregating agent as an intermediary substance that facilitates ink drying at lower temperatures. This intermediary enables effective drying without requiring high temperatures that would cause nozzle clogging
3Productivity
If a conductive heating device is added to the recording medium support, then the ink drying capability is improved, but the apparatus complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical conductive heating system with a simpler radiant heating mechanism. This substitution maintains ink drying capability while significantly reducing apparatus complexity and space requirements, as radiant heating does not require direct thermal contact or complex heating elements integrated into the support structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the heating function from the recording medium support structure itself, using a separate radiant heating mechanism instead. This separation simplifies the support structure and reduces overall apparatus complexity while maintaining effective ink drying capability
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
Effectively dries ink on non-absorbent media without nozzle clogging, ensuring high image quality and allowing for a simpler, more compact recording apparatus design.
Implementation Method 1
heating the transported recording medium at the heating mechanism... the recording medium supported by the recording medium support and to which the ink composition is attached has a surface temperature of 27° C. or higher and 38° C. or lower
Implementation Method 2
attaching a processing liquid containing an aggregating agent to a recording medium... effectively dries ink on non-absorbent media without nozzle clogging
Data Source
AI summary
A recording method includes attaching a processing liquid containing an aggregating agent to a recording medium; ejecting and attaching an ink composition from an ink jet head to the recording medium; transporting the recording medium after the attaching the processing liquid and the attaching the ink composition to a heating mechanism; and heating the transported recording medium at the heating mechanism, wherein the ink composition is an aqueous ink composition containing a coloring material, the ink composition is attached to the recording medium while the recording medium is supported by a recording medium support, the recording medium support is free of a device that conductively heats the recording medium supported by the recording medium support, the heating mechanism has a portion positioned in a space extending from an area of the recording medium supported by the recording medium support where the ink composition is attachable toward an opposite side from the ink jet head in a vertical direction, and the recording medium supported by the recording medium support and to which the ink composition is attached has a surface temperature of 27° C. or higher and 38° C. or lower.