Ink Jet Recording Gloss Control via Temperature Parameter Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink jet recording methods fail to achieve a large gloss difference between image areas while maintaining small unevenness in gloss, as they struggle to control the film forming temperatures of colored and transparent inks effectively during the fixing process.
Innovation Solution
An ink jet recording method that forms images using colored ink with a first resin and transparent ink with a second resin, where the fixing process involves heating and pressing with a fixing member at a temperature higher than the minimum film forming temperatures of both inks, followed by cooling and separating, with the separating temperature set between the film forming temperatures of the two inks to achieve a controlled gloss difference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the temperature during separation is set above the minimum film forming temperature of transparent ink to ensure proper curing, then the transparent ink achieves sufficient curing, but the colored ink becomes too hard to maintain softness during separation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the separation temperature to fall within a specific range: above the minimum film forming temperature of the transparent ink (to ensure curing) but below the minimum film forming temperature of the colored ink (to maintain softness). This temperature parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between achieving transparent ink curing and maintaining colored ink softness during separation.
2Illumination intensity
If a large gloss difference is generated between image areas, then the visual effect is enhanced, but the unevenness in gloss across the image increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different surface characteristics in different image areas through selective application of transparent and colored inks. The transparent ink areas develop high gloss when cured, while colored ink areas maintain lower gloss due to the softness control during separation. This local differentiation achieves large gloss difference between areas while the overall unevenness remains small due to precise temperature control throughout the process.
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 successfully generates a large gloss difference between image areas with minimal unevenness by ensuring the colored ink remains soft during separation and the transparent ink is sufficiently cured, maintaining the flatness of the image surface.
Implementation Method 1
heating and pressing the image with a fixing member
Implementation Method 2
heating and pressing the image with a fixing member
Implementation Method 3
separating the image that has been cooled from the fixing member, thereby fixing the image on the recording medium
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet recording method of the present invention includes a fixing step under the following condition (1) or (2) when on a recording medium, an image including an image part formed of colored ink and an image part formed of transparent ink is fixed:T1>MFT1>MFT2 and MFT1>T2>MFT2 (1)T1>MFT2>MFT1 and MFT2>T2>MFT1. (2)MFT1: Minimum film forming temperature of colored inkMFT2: Minimum film forming temperature of transparent inkT1: Temperature of fixing member when image is heated and pressedT2: Temperature of fixing member when image is separated from fixing member.