Recording Method

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ink jet textile printing methods face challenges in achieving good fastness and texture of the recorded matter while minimizing image distortion, particularly due to the use of binder resin particles.

Innovation Solution

A recording method that includes a color ink deposition step using an ink composition with a pigment, resin particles, and water, followed by a first treatment liquid deposition step with resin particles and water, and a second treatment liquid deposition step with a softening agent, ensuring the image region has varying ink deposition amounts and adequate treatment liquid deposition across the entire image region.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If binder resin particles are used in ink jet textile printing, then fastness and texture of the recorded matter are improved, but image distortion occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefastnessVSAvoidimage distortion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the ink by replacing binder resin particles with pigment particles as the primary coloring component. This parameter change eliminates the source of image distortion while maintaining fastness properties through the use of specifically selected pigments and surfactants that enable proper adhesion without requiring binder resins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a disposable approach by using pigment particles that do not require permanent binder resin attachment. The pigment particles can be applied and fixed through simple drying and heat treatment processes, eliminating the need for complex binder resin curing systems that cause image distortion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If binder resin particles are used in ink jet textile printing, then wet friction fastness is improved, but image distortion occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewet friction fastnessVSAvoidimage distortion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces surfactants as intermediary substances that facilitate adhesion between pigment particles and fabric without requiring binder resin particles. The surfactants act as mediators that enable wet friction fastness through surface tension reduction and improved wetting, eliminating the need for binder resins that cause image distortion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fastness mechanism by relying on pigment-fabric direct interaction enhanced by surfactants rather than binder resin-pigment-fabric multi-layer adhesion. This parameter change in the adhesion mechanism eliminates image distortion while maintaining wet friction fastness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If varying ink deposition amounts are used in different regions, then image quality is improved, but treatment liquid deposition must be increased to maintain uniformity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidtreatment liquid deposition amount

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allowing varying ink deposition amounts in different image regions to optimize image quality, while the treatment liquid (fixative solution) is applied uniformly across the entire printed area. This ensures that areas with higher pigment concentration receive adequate treatment without requiring excessive treatment liquid, as the fixative solution penetrates and binds pigment particles effectively regardless of local pigment density variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 method effectively reduces image distortion, enhances the fastness and texture of the recorded matter, and improves the wet friction fastness of the image, while maintaining the quality of the image.

Implementation Method 1

a color ink deposition step of depositing an ink composition containing a pigment, resin particles, and water onto a recording medium by an ink jet method

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLiquid deposition: Deposition (physical)

Implementation Method 2

a first treatment liquid deposition step of depositing a first treatment liquid composition containing resin particles and water onto the recording medium by an ink jet method

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLiquid deposition: Deposition (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS20250171955A1Recording Method

Publication Date: 2025.05.29 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A recording method includes a color ink deposition step of depositing an ink composition containing a pigment, resin particles, and water onto a recording medium by an ink jet method to form an image region, a first treatment liquid deposition step of depositing a first treatment liquid composition containing resin particles and water onto the recording medium by an ink jet method, and a second treatment liquid deposition step of depositing a second treatment liquid composition containing a softening agent onto the recording medium by an ink jet method, in which the image region has regions with different ink deposition amounts per unit area, the first treatment liquid deposition step and the second treatment liquid deposition step are carried out for at least the entire image region, and the deposition amount of the first treatment liquid composition is 12 mL/m2 or more.