Discharge Treatment for Analog Printed Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for printing additional variable data on surfaces previously printed by analog methods, such as gravure or flexographic printing, face challenges with ink-jet printing due to hydrophobic properties of the analog ink components, leading to poor adhesion and hiding power, and often require additional layers or UV-curable inks that increase environmental concerns and reduce productivity.
Innovation Solution
A process involving discharge treatment of the image-bearing surface with specific conditions, followed by ink-jet printing using a water-based ink, enhances the surface's wettability and adhesion properties without the need for additional layers or environmentally harmful inks, allowing for high productivity and improved image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If analog printing is used to print characters or images on a recording medium, then productivity and cost efficiency are improved, but the image-bearing surface becomes hydrophobic due to polymer components in the analog printing ink, causing poor adhesion and hiding power for subsequent ink-jet printing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies discharge treatment (corona or plasma) to the image-bearing surface before ink-jet printing to modify the surface properties. This preliminary action introduces polar groups that increase surface energy and wettability, enabling water-based inks to adhere properly to the analog-printed surface without compromising the analog printing productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface energy parameters of the image-bearing surface through discharge treatment. By increasing the surface free energy from typically low values (making it hydrophobic) to higher values (making it hydrophilic), the surface becomes compatible with water-based inks while maintaining the original analog printing process
2Reliability
If additional layers or UV-curable inks are used to improve ink-jet printing adhesion on analog printed surfaces, then adhesion properties are improved, but environmental concerns increase and productivity decreases due to additional processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for additional adhesive layers or UV-curable ink systems by directly modifying the image-bearing surface properties through discharge treatment. This removes the extra processing steps and materials while maintaining improved adhesion for water-based inks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive UV-curable inks and additional adhesive layers with a simple, inexpensive discharge treatment process. The treatment creates a permanent surface modification that enables water-based inks to adhere without requiring costly alternative materials or processes
3Reliability
If UV-curable inks are used for ink-jet printing on analog printed surfaces, then adhesion properties are improved, but environmental impact increases due to harmful chemicals in UV-curable inks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the hydrophobic nature of analog printing surfaces, which is initially a harmful property preventing ink adhesion, into a beneficial property by applying discharge treatment. The treatment transforms the surface chemistry to be hydrophilic, enabling water-based (environmentally friendly) inks to adhere without requiring harmful UV-curable chemicals
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces environmentally harmful UV-curable inks with simple water-based inks. The discharge treatment creates a surface that is compatible with water-based inks, eliminating the need for toxic chemicals while maintaining or improving adhesion properties
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
The process achieves excellent hiding power and adhesion properties for ink-jet printed images on analog printed surfaces, maintaining high productivity and reducing environmental impact by using water-based inks, even at high printing speeds.
Implementation Method 1
subjecting an image-bearing surface of a printed recording medium 1' on which characters or images are formed by analog printing to discharge treatment under the following conditions to obtain a printed recording medium 1
Implementation Method 2
a surface free energy (wetting tension) of the image-bearing surface of the printed recording medium 1 obtained in the step 1
Implementation Method 3
enhances the surface's wettability and adhesion properties without the need for additional layers or environmentally harmful inks
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to [1] a process for producing a printed material, including step 1 of subjecting an image-bearing surface of a printed recording medium 1' on which characters or images are formed by analog printing to discharge treatment under specific conditions to obtain a printed recording medium 1, and step 2 of further forming characters or images on the image-bearing surface of the printed recording medium 1 by ink-jet printing using a water-based ink to obtain the printed material, [2] an ink-jet printing method including the step of ejecting a water-based ink onto a printed recording medium 1 by an ink-jetting method to form characters or images thereon, in which the printed recording medium 1 has an image-bearing surface on which characters or images are formed by analog printing, and the image-bearing surface is subjected to discharge treatment under the specific conditions, [3] a recording medium for ink-jet printing, including an image-bearing surface on which characters or images are formed by analog printing and which is subjected to discharge treatment, in which a surface free energy of the image-bearing surface after being subjected to the discharge treatment is not less than 30 mN/m, and [4] a printed material including an image-bearing surface on which characters or images are formed by analog printing and then on at least a part of which characters or images are further formed by ink-jet printing using a water-based ink, in which the image-bearing surface after forming the characters or images thereon by the analog printing is subjected to discharge treatment, and a surface free energy of the image-bearing surface after being subjected to the discharge treatment is not less than 30 mN/m.