Ink Jet Recording Ink Segmentation for Bleeding Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet recording methods, such as single-pass bi-directional recording, face challenges with bleeding and color unevenness when using black and color inks that react with each other, particularly on a variety of plain papers, leading to suboptimal image quality.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using a black ink containing a pigment, a black ink with a dye, and a reactive color ink that unstabilizes the dispersion state of the pigment, applying these inks in specific overlapping orders to the recording medium during bi-directional recording to reduce bleeding and color unevenness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If single-pass bi-directional recording is used to reduce recording time, then productivity is improved, but bleeding and color unevenness occur leading to degraded manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 1:
The black ink is segmented into two separate inks: black ink 1 containing pigment and black ink 2 containing dye. This segmentation allows each ink to serve a specific function - black ink 1 provides reaction capability with color inks to prevent bleeding, while black ink 2 ensures uniform color tone and density. The segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling high-speed bi-directional recording without sacrificing image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the black ink by introducing a dual-ink system with different coloring materials (pigment and dye). This parameter change enables the black ink to simultaneously achieve reaction capability for bleeding prevention and uniformity for color consistency, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and manufacturing precision.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If black ink and color ink are applied to overlap to reduce bleeding, then bleeding is reduced, but color unevenness occurs depending on application order
Solution Approach 1:
Black ink 1 containing pigment acts as an intermediary between the color ink and black ink 2. The pigment in black ink 1 reacts with the color ink to prevent bleeding, while black ink 2 containing dye provides uniform color tone. This intermediary mechanism resolves the contradiction by separating the bleeding prevention function from the color uniformity function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite ink system where black ink 1 (pigment-based) and black ink 2 (dye-based) work together. The composite material approach allows the system to achieve both bleeding reduction through chemical reaction and color uniformity through the complementary properties of pigment and dye.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If color inks are made highly permeable to improve fixability and reduce bleeding, then bleeding is reduced, but image density and character quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The black ink is segmented into two components with different permeability characteristics. Black ink 1 (pigment-based) has lower permeability to maintain image density and character quality, while black ink 2 (dye-based) has higher permeability to reduce bleeding. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by assigning different permeability roles to different ink components.
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 approach effectively minimizes bleeding and color unevenness, enabling high-quality image formation across different types of plain papers by controlling the interaction and permeability of the inks, thus enhancing image quality during high-speed recording processes.
Implementation Method 1
a reactive color ink capable of unstabilizing the dispersion state of the pigment in the black ink 1
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming method using a black ink containing a pigment, a black ink containing a dye, and a reactive color ink capable of unstabilizing the dispersion state of the pigment in the black ink, wherein the method includes one of the steps of, on at least part of a region to which the black ink is to be applied, applying the reactive color ink, the black ink, and the black ink in that order so as to overlap, thereby applying these inks to a recording medium; and applying the black ink, the black ink, and the reactive color ink in that order so as to overlap, thereby applying these inks to a recording medium.