JP5040766B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus.

  There is an ink jet recording method in which an image or data using ink is recorded. The principle of the ink jet recording method is that liquid or molten solid ink is ejected (applied) from a nozzle, slit, porous film or the like, and recording is performed on paper, cloth, film or the like. As for the method for ejecting ink, the so-called charge control method in which ink is ejected using electrostatic attraction, the so-called drop-on-demand method (pressure pulse method) in which ink is ejected using the vibration pressure of a piezo element. Various methods have been proposed, such as a so-called thermal ink jet method, in which ink is ejected using pressure generated by the formation and growth of bubbles due to high heat. By these methods, extremely high-definition images and data are Records can be obtained.

  In order to perform high-quality recording on various recording media such as penetrating media and non-penetrating media, recording methods using ink, including this ink jet recording method, are recorded on an intermediate transfer member and then transferred to the recording medium. A method has been proposed.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, for the purpose of preventing ink flow and color mixing in an image layer, an ultraviolet curable ink is ejected to form an image layer on the image receptor, and a nip between the recording medium and the image layer on the image receptor is formed. Inkjet printing apparatus in which image forming layer is applied with sufficient pressure to irradiate the image layer with ultraviolet light, and an image receiving body or a housing for ultraviolet light supply apparatus is provided between the ultraviolet ray supply apparatus and the image layer Is disclosed.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, for the purpose of reducing the amount of ink used, UV curable ink is applied to an intermediate transfer medium, the intermediate transfer medium is pressed to transfer the UV curable ink to the final substrate, and UV curing is performed. An inkjet image forming method for irradiating ultraviolet rays onto a mold ink is disclosed, wherein the UV curable ink dot diameter on the final substrate is larger than the UV curable ink dot diameter on the intermediate transfer medium. ing.

  Further, Patent Document 3 discloses that before the flying ink droplets are transferred to the intermediate transfer member, a liquid is attached to the surface of the intermediate transfer member, the ink is attached onto the liquid, and then the ink on the intermediate transfer member. The recording method is characterized in that the toner is transferred onto the printing medium together with the liquid.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-152945 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-15241 JP-A-2001-212956

  An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus having high transfer efficiency of a curable solution layer from an intermediate transfer member to a recording medium, suppressing deterioration of the intermediate transfer member, and excellent in image fixability. .

The above problem is solved by the following means. That is,
The invention according to claim 1
An intermediate transfer member;
A curable solution layer forming means for forming a curable solution layer by supplying a curable solution containing at least a curable material that is cured by an external stimulus on the intermediate transfer body;
The curable solution layer formed on the intermediate transfer member is brought into contact with a recording medium and then peeled off from the intermediate transfer member, whereby the curable solution layer is transferred from the intermediate transfer member to the recording medium. Transcription means;
First stimulus supply means for supplying the stimulus for curing the curable solution layer to the curable solution layer immediately before and during contact between the curable solution layer and the recording medium; ,
Second stimulus supply means for supplying the stimulus for curing the curable solution layer to the curable solution layer after being peeled from the intermediate transfer body,
The amount of stimulus that the first stimulus supply means supplies to the curable solution layer before the curable solution layer is peeled from the intermediate transfer member is equal to or greater than the transfer stimulus amount, and more than the fixing stimulus amount. Less
The total amount of the first stimulus supplying means and the second stimulus supply means stimulus supplied to the curable solution layer state, and are said fixing stimulating amount or more,
The first stimulus supply unit and the second stimulus supply unit are ultraviolet irradiation devices that irradiate the curable solution layer with light containing ultraviolet rays,
The ratio of the integrated irradiation intensity (I _1C ) in the curing wavelength region to the integrated irradiation intensity (I _1T ) in the wavelength region of 250 to 500 nm of the light including ultraviolet rays irradiated to the curable solution layer by the first stimulus supply unit ( I _1C / I _1T ) is the integrated irradiation in the curing wavelength region with respect to the integrated irradiation intensity (I _2T ) in the wavelength region of 250 nm to 500 nm of the light including the ultraviolet rays irradiated to the curable solution layer by the second stimulus supply unit. The recording apparatus is characterized by being larger than a ratio (I _2C / I _2T ) of intensity (I _2C ) .

The invention according to claim 2
The curable solution layer forming means is an image receiving layer forming means for supplying an ink receiving curable solution containing at least the curable material onto the intermediate transfer body to form an image receiving layer.
An ink applying means for applying ink to the image receiving layer formed on the intermediate transfer member;
Said transfer means, said image-receiving layer in which the ink is applied, by peeling from the intermediate transfer member after contacting the recording medium, to transfer the image-receiving layer in the recording medium from the intermediate transfer member The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus is a recording apparatus.

The invention according to claim 3
3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first stimulus supply unit is an ultraviolet light emitting diode.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, the transfer efficiency of the curable solution layer from the intermediate transfer member to the recording medium is high, the deterioration of the intermediate transfer member is suppressed, and the image fixing property is excellent. .

  According to the invention of claim 2, there is an effect that a high-quality image is formed on various recording media regardless of the non-penetrable medium and the permeable medium.

According to the third aspect of the invention, there is an effect that the deterioration of the intermediate transfer member is further suppressed.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is provided to the member which has the substantially same function throughout all the drawings, and the overlapping description may be abbreviate | omitted.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a recording apparatus according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the recording apparatus 101 according to the first embodiment is, for example, around the endless belt-like intermediate transfer belt 10 (intermediate transfer body), upstream in the moving direction (arrow direction) of the intermediate transfer belt 10. Solution supply device 12 (curable solution layer forming means) for supplying image receiving layer 12B (curable solution layer) by supplying ink receiving curable solution 12A (curable solution) onto intermediate transfer belt 10 in this order from the side. An ink jet recording head 14 (ink applying means) that forms an image T by applying ink droplets 14A to the image receiving layer 12B formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10, and contacts the image receiving layer 12B on which the image T is formed with the recording medium P The image receiving layer 12B on which the image T is formed by applying pressure is transferred onto the recording medium P, and the image receiving layer 1 remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 is transferred. A cleaning device 20 for removing residues and adhered foreign substances (paper dust of the recording medium P, etc.) or the like of B is arranged.

On the inner side of the intermediate transfer belt 10, an ultraviolet irradiation device 18 (the first ultraviolet irradiation device 18) that irradiates the image receiving layer 12 B with light containing ultraviolet rays (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “ultraviolet rays”) while the image receiving layer 12 B and the recording medium P are in contact. 1 stimulus supply means) is provided. In other words, the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 is installed facing the area where the image receiving layer 12B is in contact with the recording medium P.
Further, further on the downstream side in the traveling direction of the recording medium P than the ultraviolet irradiation device 18, the ultraviolet irradiation device 28 for fixing the image receiving layer 12B to the recording medium P by further curing the image receiving layer 12B transferred to the recording medium P. (Second stimulus supply means) is arranged.

  The intermediate transfer belt 10 is supported and disposed so as to rotate while applying tension from the inner peripheral surface side by, for example, three support rolls 10A to 10C and a pressure roll 16B (transfer device 16). Further, the intermediate transfer belt 10 has a width (length in the axial direction) equal to or greater than the width of the recording medium P.

  Examples of the material of the intermediate transfer belt 10 include various resins (for example, polyimide, polyamideimide, polyester, polyurethane, polyamide, polyethersulfone, fluorine resin, etc.) and various rubbers (for example, nitrile rubber, ethylene propylene). Rubber, chloroprene rubber, isoprene rubber, styrene rubber, butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, urethane rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, acrylic rubber, silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, etc.), and metal materials such as stainless steel . The intermediate transfer belt 10 may have a single layer configuration or a stacked configuration.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 is provided inside the intermediate transfer belt 10, ultraviolet rays and the like are irradiated to the image receiving layer 12 </ b> B after passing through the intermediate transfer belt 10. Therefore, it is desirable that the intermediate transfer belt 10 has a high ultraviolet ray permeability and high durability against ultraviolet rays in order to efficiently irradiate the image receiving layer 12B with ultraviolet rays and suppress the generation of reaction heat. Specifically, for example, it is desirable that the ultraviolet transmittance of the intermediate transfer belt 10 is 70% or more. When the ultraviolet transmittance of the intermediate transfer belt 10 is in the above range, the ultraviolet energy necessary for the curing reaction of the image receiving layer 12B is efficiently supplied to the image receiving layer 12B, and the intermediate transfer belt 10 absorbs ultraviolet rays. The generation of heat due to is suppressed.
Specific examples of the material for forming the intermediate transfer belt 10 include ETFE (ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer), polyimide film, polyolefin film, and the like.

In the present embodiment, it is desirable that the surface free energy (γ _T ) of the intermediate transfer belt 10 on the surface in contact with the image receiving layer 12B is low. In particular, the surface free energy (γ _T ) is preferably lower than the surface free energy (γ _P ) of the recording medium P on the surface in contact with the image receiving layer 12B, and more preferably a condition that satisfies the following expression.
Formula: γ _P −γ _T > 10

The value of the surface free energy can be obtained by the following method, for example.
Specifically, the contact angle meter CAM-200 (manufactured by KSV) was used, and the calculation was performed by the program calculation of the internal organs of the apparatus using the Zisman method.

The intermediate transfer belt 10 may be provided with a surface release layer on the surface in contact with the image receiving layer 12B in order to lower the value of the surface free energy (γ _T ).
Examples of the material used for the surface release layer include fluorine-based resin materials. Specifically, for example, fluorine resin, fluorine-modified urethane and silicone resin, copolymerized fluorine rubber, fluorine resin-copolymerized vinyl ether, Powder paint or resin tube such as PFA (tetrafluoroethylene perfluoroalkoxy resin), FEP (tetrafluoroethylene / hexafluoropropylene copolymer paint), PTFE (tetrafluoroethylene) paint, PTFE-dispersed urethane paint, Furthermore, an ETFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) tube, PVdF (polyvinylidene fluoride), a PHV (polytetrafluorovinylidene) resin material, etc. are mentioned.
Among these, it is desirable to use a material that is highly permeable to the above stimuli. Moreover, when using the material with low permeability | transmittance with respect to the said stimulus, it is desirable to make the film thickness of a surface release layer thin.

  The solution supply device 12, for example, places the curable solution 12 </ b> A in the intermediate transfer belt 10 in a housing 12 </ b> C that houses a curable solution 12 </ b> A for ink image reception (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as “curable solution 12 </ b> A”). And a blade 12E that defines the thickness of the image receiving layer 12B formed by the supplied curable solution 12A.

  The solution supply device 12 may be configured such that the supply roller 12 </ b> D continuously contacts the intermediate transfer belt 10 or is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 10. Further, the solution supply device 12 may supply the curable solution 12A to the housing 12C from an independent solution supply system (not shown) so that the supply of the curable solution 12A is not interrupted. Details of the curable solution 12A will be described later.

  The solution supply device 12 is not limited to the above-described configuration, and a known supply method (coating method: for example, bar coater coating, spray coating, ink jet coating, air knife coating, blade coating, roll coating) An apparatus using a method such as application) is applied.

  The inkjet recording head 14 includes, for example, a recording head 14K for applying black ink, a recording head 14C for applying cyan ink, and a magenta ink from the upstream side in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 10. The recording head 14 </ b> M and the recording head 14 </ b> Y for applying the yellow ink are configured to include recording heads of respective colors. Of course, the configuration of the recording head 14 is not limited to the above-described configuration. For example, the recording head 14 may be configured by only the recording head 14K, or may be configured by only the recording head 14C, the recording head 14M, and the recording head 14Y.

  Each recording head 14 has a distance between the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the nozzle surface of the recording head 14 on the non-bending region of the intermediate transfer belt 10 that is rotated and supported by tension, for example, 0.7 to 1. 5 mm is arranged.

Each recording head 14 is preferably a line type ink jet recording head having a width equal to or greater than the width of the recording medium P, but a conventional scanning ink jet recording head may be used.
The ink application method of each recording head 14 is not limited as long as it can apply ink, such as a piezoelectric element driving type and a heating element driving type. Details of the ink will be described later.

The transfer device 16 is configured as follows. Specifically, for example, the intermediate transfer belt 10 is stretched by the pressure roll 16B and the support roll 10C to form a non-bending region. In the non-bending region of the intermediate transfer belt 10, a support 22 for supporting the recording medium P is provided at a position facing the pressure roll 16B and the support roll 10C. The pressure roll 16 </ b> A is disposed at a position facing the pressure roll 16 </ b> B of the intermediate transfer belt 10 and contacts the recording medium P through an opening (not shown) provided in the support 22.
That is, a position where the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the recording medium P are sandwiched by the support roll 10C and the support 22 from a position where the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the recording medium P are sandwiched by the pressure rolls 16A and 16B (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “contact start position”). In the transfer region up to (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “peeling position”), the image receiving layer 12B is in contact with both the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the recording medium P.

The ultraviolet irradiation device 18 is provided inside the intermediate transfer belt 10 and irradiates the image receiving layer 12B in contact with both the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the recording medium P through the intermediate transfer belt 10 in the transfer region with ultraviolet rays or the like. To do.
The ultraviolet irradiation device 28 is provided outside the intermediate transfer belt 10 at a position facing the surface of the recording medium P on which the image receiving layer 12B is formed, and directly applies ultraviolet light etc. to the image receiving layer 12B peeled off from the intermediate transfer belt 10. Irradiate.

  Here, examples of the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 and the ultraviolet irradiation device 28 include a metal halide lamp, a high-pressure mercury lamp, an ultrahigh-pressure mercury lamp, a deep ultraviolet lamp, a lamp that uses a microwave to excite a mercury lamp from the outside without an electrode, an ultraviolet laser, and xenon. A lamp, UV-LED (ultraviolet light emitting diode), or the like is applied. Desirable ultraviolet irradiation apparatus and ultraviolet irradiation conditions will be described later.

  As the recording medium P, a permeation medium (for example, plain paper, coated paper, etc.) and a non-penetration medium (for example, art paper, resin film, etc.) are applied. The recording medium P is not limited to these, and includes other industrial products such as semiconductor substrates.

  Hereinafter, an image recording process of the recording apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  In the recording apparatus 101 according to this embodiment, the intermediate transfer belt 10 is rotationally driven. First, the solution supply device 12 supplies the curable solution 12A to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 to form the image receiving layer 12B.

  Here, the layer thickness (average film thickness) of the image receiving layer 12B is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 μm or more and 50 μm or less, and more preferably 3 μm or more and 20 μm or less from the viewpoint of achieving both image formability and transferability.

  Further, for example, if the thickness of the image receiving layer 12B is set so that the ink droplet 14A does not reach the lowermost layer of the image receiving layer 12B, the region where the ink droplet 14A exists in the image receiving layer 12B is exposed after the transfer to the recording medium P. The region where the ink droplets 14A are not present functions as a protective layer after curing.

  Next, an ink droplet 14 </ b> A is applied by the inkjet recording head 14, and the ink droplet 14 </ b> A is applied to the image receiving layer 12 </ b> B supplied on the intermediate transfer belt 10. The ink jet recording head 14 applies ink droplets 14A to predetermined positions on the image receiving layer 12B based on predetermined image information.

  At this time, the application of the ink droplets 14A by the ink jet recording head 14 is performed on a non-bent region in the intermediate transfer belt 10 which is rotated and supported by tension. That is, the ink droplets 14A are applied to the image receiving layer 12B in a state where the belt surface is not bent.

  Next, the recording medium P and the intermediate transfer belt 10 are sandwiched between the pressure rolls 16A and 16B of the transfer device 16, and pressure is applied. At this time, the image receiving layer 12B on the intermediate transfer belt 10 contacts the recording medium P (contact start position). Thereafter, the image receiving layer 12B is kept in contact with both the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the recording medium P until the position (peeling position) sandwiched between the support roll 10C and the support 22.

  Here, the pressure applied to the image receiving layer 12B by the pressure rolls 16A and 16B is preferably in the range of 0.001 MPa to 2 MPa from the viewpoint of improving transfer efficiency and suppressing image disturbance.

  Next, the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 irradiates the image receiving layer 12B in contact with (in contact with) both the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the recording medium P with ultraviolet rays or the like transmitted through the intermediate transfer belt 10. The image receiving layer 12B is cured. Specifically, after the image receiving layer 12B on the intermediate transfer belt 10 comes into contact with the recording medium P (after passing through the contact start position), irradiation with ultraviolet rays or the like is started, and the image receiving layer 12B is peeled off from the intermediate transfer belt 10. Irradiation with ultraviolet rays or the like is terminated before being performed (before reaching the peeling position).

  Next, the image receiving layer 12B is peeled from the intermediate transfer belt 10 at the peeling position, whereby a curable resin layer (image layer) including the image T by the ink droplets 14A is formed on the recording medium P.

  Next, the image receiving layer 12B on the recording medium P peeled off from the intermediate transfer belt 10 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays or the like directly on the surface that is not in contact with the recording medium P by the ultraviolet irradiation device 28, and is further cured to record. Fix to medium P.

On the other hand, the image receiving layer 12 </ b> B remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 after the image receiving layer 12 </ b> B is transferred to the recording medium P is removed by the cleaning device 20.
Then, the curable solution 12A is again supplied onto the intermediate transfer belt 10 by the solution supply device 12 to form the image receiving layer 12B, and the image recording process is repeated.

  As described above, the recording apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment performs image recording.

  In the present embodiment, the amount of ultraviolet rays or the like irradiated to the image receiving layer 12B by the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “first ultraviolet irradiation amount”) is not less than the “transfer stimulus amount”, and , Less than “fixation stimulus”. The total of the amount of ultraviolet rays and the like irradiated to the image receiving layer 12B by the ultraviolet irradiation device 28 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “second ultraviolet irradiation amount”) and the first ultraviolet irradiation amount is not less than the “fixing stimulus amount”. It is. Therefore, the efficiency of the image receiving layer 12B transferring from the intermediate transfer belt 10 to the recording medium P is increased, the deterioration of the intermediate transfer belt 10 is suppressed, and the image fixability is improved.

Here, in the present embodiment, the “transfer stimulus amount” is the minimum irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays or the like necessary to cure the image receiving layer 12B to such an extent that the image receiving layer 12B is easily peeled from the intermediate transfer belt 10 at the peeling position ( Stimulation supply amount). Specifically, the “transfer stimulation amount” is an irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays or the like necessary for the curing rate of the image receiving layer 12B to be 10%.
In the present embodiment, the “fixing stimulus amount” means a minimum irradiation amount such as ultraviolet rays necessary for the image receiving layer 12B to be completely cured. Specifically, the “fixing stimulus amount” is an irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays or the like necessary for the curing rate of the image receiving layer 12B to be 80%.

As described above, the curing rate of the image receiving layer 12B irradiated with the first ultraviolet ray or the like is 10% or more and less than 80%, preferably 10% or more and less than 70%, and more preferably 10% or more and less than 60%. .
As described above, the curing rate of the image receiving layer 12B irradiated with ultraviolet rays or the like of the first ultraviolet irradiation amount or the second ultraviolet irradiation amount is 80% or more, and preferably 85% or more and 100% or less.

  Here, the curing rate of the image receiving layer 12B is the degree of progress of the curing reaction in the image receiving layer 12B, and is specifically measured as follows. Specifically, it was calculated from the rate of change of the peak intensity of the IR spectrum using a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) apparatus.

Desired value of the first amount of UV irradiation, the integrated intensity for example, 10 mJ / cm ² or more 5000 mJ / cm less than ² is preferred, 10 mJ / cm ² or more 1000 mJ / cm less than ² is more preferable.
As for the sum of the first ultraviolet irradiation amount and the second amount of ultraviolet irradiation, desired numerical value depends like the thickness of the ultraviolet-curable material type and the image receiving layer 12B, for example, 20 mJ / cm ² or more 10000 mJ / cm less than ² Is preferable, and more preferably 50 mJ / cm ² or more and less than 4000 mJ / cm ² .

In the present embodiment, the reason why the above effect is obtained is as follows.
While the image receiving layer 12B on the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the recording medium P are in contact with each other, the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 irradiates the image receiving layer 12B with ultraviolet rays or the like exceeding the transfer stimulus amount, so that the transfer efficiency of the image receiving layer 12B is improved. .
That is, the image receiving layer 12B on the intermediate transfer belt 10 comes into contact with the recording medium P at the contact start position in a liquid state before being irradiated with ultraviolet rays or the like. , And the curing reaction proceeds, so that it firmly adheres to the recording medium P. Further, the image receiving layer 12B irradiated with ultraviolet rays or the like exceeding the transfer stimulus amount has sufficiently increased the internal cohesive force and the adhesiveness of the surface of the image receiving layer 12B has been lowered, so that it peels off from the intermediate transfer belt 10 at the peeling position. It has become easier. Therefore, when the image receiving layer 12B is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 10 to the recording medium P, liquid separation of the image receiving layer 12B (that is, the image receiving layer 12B is separated and the image receiving layer 12B is separated into both the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the recording medium P). The transfer efficiency of the image receiving layer 12 </ b> B is improved by suppressing (partially peeling off while being partly adhered).

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as described above, the image receiving layer 12B is irradiated with ultraviolet rays or the like while the image receiving layer 12B is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 10. For this reason, the intermediate transfer belt 10 may deteriorate due to the absorption of ultraviolet rays by the intermediate transfer belt 10, or the intermediate transfer belt 10 may deteriorate due to the reaction heat generated by the curing reaction of the image receiving layer 12B.
However, in this embodiment, since the first ultraviolet irradiation amount is smaller than the fixing stimulus amount, the deterioration of the intermediate transfer belt 10 is suppressed.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the image receiving layer 12B peeled off from the intermediate transfer belt 10 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays or the like by the ultraviolet irradiation device 28, so that the total of the first ultraviolet irradiation amount and the second ultraviolet irradiation amount is the fixing stimulus amount. Because of the above, the image fixability is also improved.

In the present embodiment, a spectrum in a wavelength region of 250 nm to 500 nm such as ultraviolet rays irradiated to the image receiving layer 12B by the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “first ultraviolet spectrum”), and the ultraviolet irradiation device 28. spectrum (hereinafter also referred to as "second ultraviolet spectrum") in 250nm from 500nm wavelength region such as ultraviolet image-receiving layer 12B is irradiated by the relationship between satisfies the following conditions.
Specifically, in the first ultraviolet spectrum, the integrated irradiation intensity in the entire wavelength region from 250 nm to 500 nm is “I _1T ”, the integrated irradiation intensity in the curing wavelength region is “I _1C ”, and in the second ultraviolet spectrum, from 250 nm When the integrated irradiation intensity in the entire wavelength region of 500 nm is “I _2T ” and the integrated irradiation intensity in the curing wavelength region is “I _2C ”, the value of “I _1C / I _1T ” is greater than the value of “I _2C / I _2T ”. satisfy the condition that is also large.

Here, the “curing wavelength region” means a region of a wavelength used for the curing reaction of the image receiving layer 12B, and is determined by, for example, the type of polymerization initiator contained in the image receiving layer 12B.
Specifically, for example, when Irgacure 651 (manufactured by Ciba Japan Co., Ltd.) is used as the ultraviolet polymerization initiator as described above, the “curing wavelength region” is 310 nm to 370 nm. In other words, the cumulative irradiation intensity in the curing wavelength region means a value obtained by integrating the ultraviolet intensities in the wavelength region of 310 nm to 370 nm among the ultraviolet rays irradiated on the image receiving layer 12B.
Further, as described above, for example, when a high-pressure mercury lamp is used as the ultraviolet irradiation device 18, the “I _1C / I _1T ” value is 0.48, and when a metal halide lamp is used as the ultraviolet irradiation device 28, the above “ The value of “I _2C / I _2T ” was 0.35.

The large “I _1C / I _1T ” value in the first ultraviolet spectrum means that the irradiation intensity of ultraviolet rays other than the curing wavelength region from 250 nm to 500 nm is small. Ultraviolet rays and the like other than the curing wavelength region are easily converted into thermal energy because energy is not used for the curing reaction even when the image receiving layer 12B is irradiated. Therefore, the deterioration of the intermediate transfer belt 10 due to heat is suppressed by making the “I _1C / I _1T ” value larger than the “I _2C / I _2T ” value.

On the other hand, in irradiation of the image receiving layer 12B with ultraviolet rays or the like by the ultraviolet irradiation device 28, irradiation is performed after the image receiving layer 12B is peeled off from the intermediate transfer belt 10. Therefore, even when the “I _2C / I _2T ” value is small and heat generation due to irradiation with ultraviolet rays or the like is large, the intermediate transfer belt 10 is not affected by the heat, and the intermediate transfer belt 10 is deteriorated by heat. Does not occur.

Specifically, the “I _1C / I _1T ” value is preferably 0.30 or more, and more preferably 0.40 or more, for example. The “I _2C / I _2T ” value is preferably, for example, 0.05 or more and 0.70 or less, and more preferably 0.05 or more and 0.60 or less.

  Furthermore, it is desirable that the second ultraviolet spectrum is broad. The ultraviolet rays and the like irradiated to the image receiving layer 12B are attenuated in intensity due to absorption of ultraviolet rays and the like by ink or the like, and may not easily reach the surface of the image receiving layer 12B in contact with the recording medium P. However, when the second ultraviolet spectrum is broad, ultraviolet rays and the like irradiated by the ultraviolet irradiation device 28 include those of various wavelengths, and therefore ultraviolet rays and the like of wavelengths that are difficult to be absorbed by ink or the like are recorded on the recording medium P of the image receiving layer 12B. Reach the surface in contact with the contact, improving the fixability.

The first ultraviolet spectrum and the second ultraviolet spectrum can satisfy the above conditions by appropriately selecting the types of the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 and the ultraviolet irradiation device 28.
Specifically, examples of the desirable ultraviolet irradiation device 18 include a high-pressure mercury lamp and a UV-LED. Using the above apparatus as the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus 18 is also preferable in that the recording apparatus 101 can be miniaturized.
In particular, it is more desirable to use a UV-LED as the ultraviolet irradiation device 18. As a result, the first ultraviolet spectrum becomes very sharp, so the type of the UV polymerization initiator is selected according to the peak wavelength of the emission spectrum of the UV-LED, or the peak wavelength matches the type of the UV polymerization initiator. By selecting a UV-LED or the like, the “I _1C / I _1T ” value becomes a larger value.
Moreover, as a desirable ultraviolet irradiation apparatus 28, a metal halide lamp etc. are mentioned, for example.

  Further, the first ultraviolet spectrum and the second ultraviolet spectrum can be obtained by arranging an appropriate filter between the ultraviolet irradiation device (one or both of the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 and the ultraviolet irradiation device 28) and the image receiving layer 12B. The above conditions can be satisfied. Furthermore, you may make it a 1st ultraviolet spectrum and a 2nd ultraviolet spectrum satisfy | fill the said conditions by combining suitable selection of the kind of ultraviolet irradiation device 18 and the ultraviolet irradiation device 28, and arrangement | positioning of a filter.

In the present embodiment, as described above, since the ink droplets 14A are applied to the image receiving layer 12B, high-quality image formation is possible regardless of whether the recording medium P is permeable or non-permeable. Done.
In the present embodiment, as described above, the ink droplets 14 </ b> A are applied to the image receiving layer 12 </ b> B formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10 and transferred to the recording medium P by the transfer device 16. Therefore, for example, if the thickness of the image receiving layer 12B is set so that the ink droplets 14A do not reach the lowermost layer of the image receiving layer 12B, the region where the ink droplets 14A exist in the image receiving layer 12B is exposed after transfer to the recording medium P. The region where the ink droplets 14A are not present functions as a protective layer after curing. Therefore, there is no step between the image printing portion and the non-printing portion, and the image durability is improved.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 is disposed on the inner side of the intermediate transfer belt 10, and ultraviolet rays or the like pass through the intermediate transfer belt 10 and then are irradiated onto the image receiving layer 12 </ b> B. Therefore, in the image receiving layer 12B, the side that is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 10 has a relatively high irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays or the like compared to the side that is in contact with the recording medium P, so the degree of progress of the curing reaction is also high. Become. Therefore, the image receiving layer 12B is not easily peeled off from the recording medium P but is easily peeled off from the intermediate transfer belt 10, and the transfer efficiency from the intermediate transfer belt 10 to the recording medium P is further improved.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as described above, the image receiving layer 12B formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10 is provided with ink droplets 14A, and the image receiving layer 12B is irradiated with ultraviolet rays or the like transmitted through the intermediate transfer belt 10. Therefore, for example, if the thickness of the image receiving layer 12B is set so that the ink droplets 14A do not reach the lowermost layer of the image receiving layer 12B, the amount of the ink droplets 14A contained on the side of the image receiving layer 12B in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 10 is small. Become. Therefore, inhibition of curing of the image receiving layer 12B due to the ink droplets 14A absorbing ultraviolet rays or the like is suppressed. That is, since the transfer stimulus amount is reduced, the deterioration of the intermediate transfer belt 10 is further suppressed by keeping the first ultraviolet ray irradiation amount low.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, in the irradiation of ultraviolet rays or the like by the ultraviolet irradiation device 18, since the ultraviolet rays or the like are irradiated to the image receiving layer 12B after passing through the intermediate transfer belt 10, the apparatus configuration can be simplified. Is done. That is, for example, when irradiating ultraviolet rays from the outside of the intermediate transfer belt 10, the image receiving layer 12B and the recording medium P are not subject to restrictions such as the need to use an ultraviolet transmissive material for the support 22 and the recording medium P. Irradiation of ultraviolet rays during the contact is easily realized.

  Further, as described above, in the present embodiment, since the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 is disposed inside the intermediate transfer belt 10, space is saved as compared with the case where the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 is disposed outside the intermediate transfer belt 10. It becomes.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, in the irradiation with ultraviolet rays or the like by the ultraviolet irradiation device 18, the image receiving layer 12B starts irradiation with ultraviolet rays after passing the contact start position and before the arrival of the peeling position, the ultraviolet rays or the like. Has ended. However, the configuration is not limited to the above as long as the ultraviolet irradiation by the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 is performed immediately before and during the contact between the image receiving layer 12B and the recording medium P.

  Specifically, for example, the ultraviolet irradiation by the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 may be started simultaneously with the image receiving layer 12B passing through the contact start position, and the ultraviolet irradiation by the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 before passing through the contact start position. You may have started. Further, for example, the ultraviolet irradiation by the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 may be terminated at the same time when the image receiving layer 12B reaches the peeling position, or the ultraviolet irradiation by the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 may be terminated after passing through the peeling position. . Further, the ultraviolet irradiation may be resumed after the ultraviolet irradiation is temporarily stopped during the period from the start to the end of the ultraviolet irradiation by the ultraviolet irradiation device 18. Further, before the image receiving layer 12B passes through the contact start position, the ultraviolet irradiation by the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 may be started and terminated (that is, the ultraviolet irradiation may be performed only immediately before the contact).

  In the embodiment in which the ultraviolet irradiation by the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 is terminated after the image receiving layer 12B has passed the peeling position, the image receiving layer 12B is peeled off after the ultraviolet irradiation to the image receiving layer 12B by the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 is started. The amount of ultraviolet rays irradiated to the image receiving layer 12B by the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 before reaching the curable solution layer (before the curable solution layer is peeled off from the intermediate transfer member) is defined as “first ultraviolet irradiation amount”. . That is, after the image receiving layer 12B passes through the peeling position, the amount of ultraviolet rays irradiated by the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 is not included in the “first ultraviolet irradiation amount” but included in the “second ultraviolet irradiation amount”. It becomes.

  The “ultraviolet irradiation just before contact” is a condition that the image receiving layer 12B reaches the contact start position (position where the image receiving layer 12B contacts the recording medium P) while maintaining the liquid state. It means starting the irradiation of the image receiving layer 12B with ultraviolet rays before reaching. That is, when the image receiving layer 12B is cured and no longer in a liquid state at the contact start position by irradiating the ultraviolet ray before the image receiving layer 12B reaches the contact start position, it is not “ultraviolet irradiation immediately before contact”.

  Further, “ultraviolet irradiation only just before contact” is a condition that the image receiving layer 12B reaches the contact start position while maintaining the liquid state, and before the image receiving layer 12B reaches the contact start position, the ultraviolet light applied to the image receiving layer 12B. Say to start and end irradiation. That is, after starting and ending the ultraviolet irradiation just before the contact, the image receiving layer 12B reaches the contact start position while maintaining the liquid state, and then the curing reaction further proceeds without supplying the stimulus, and the image receiving layer 12B is cured. It is the form which reaches | attains a peeling position in the state which became easy to peel.

  Specifically, “ultraviolet irradiation immediately before contact” specifically refers to, for example, when a radical curable material is used as the curable material, the image receiving layer 12B is brought to the contact start position after the ultraviolet irradiation to the image receiving layer 12B is started. Say that the time to reach is less than 5 seconds. Further, when a cationic curable material is used as the curable material, “ultraviolet irradiation just before contact” means, for example, from the start of ultraviolet irradiation to the image receiving layer 12B until the image receiving layer 12B reaches the contact start position. The time is 10 seconds or less.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 is disposed inside the intermediate transfer belt 10, and ultraviolet rays and the like are transmitted to the image receiving layer 12 </ b> B after passing through the intermediate transfer belt 10. I can't. Specifically, for example, the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 is disposed outside the intermediate transfer belt 10 and does not pass through the intermediate transfer belt 10 but directly (or after passing through the support 22 and the recording medium P). The image receiving layer 12B on the belt 10 may be irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

  Further, for example, there may be a form in which the ultraviolet ray transmitted through the intermediate transfer belt 10 is irradiated to the image receiving layer 12 </ b> B while the main body of the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 is disposed outside the intermediate transfer belt 10. Specifically, for example, the main body of the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 is disposed outside the intermediate transfer belt 10, and ultraviolet light is guided from the main body of the ultraviolet irradiation device to the inside of the intermediate transfer belt 10 using, for example, an optical fiber, etc. For example, the image receiving layer 12 </ b> B may be irradiated with ultraviolet light after passing through 10.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the ultraviolet irradiation device 28 directly irradiates the image receiving layer 12B with ultraviolet rays or the like. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and ultraviolet rays that have passed through the recording medium P or the like are applied to the image receiving layer 12B. The form to irradiate may be sufficient.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 and the ultraviolet irradiation device 28 are used as the first stimulus supply unit and the second stimulus supply unit, respectively, but are not limited thereto.
The types of the first stimulus supply unit and the second stimulus supply unit are selected according to the type of curable material contained in the curable solution 12A to be applied. Specifically, for example, when an ultraviolet curable material that is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays is applied, as the first stimulus supply unit and the second stimulus supply unit, as in the present embodiment, the curable solution 12A ( An ultraviolet irradiation device 18 and an ultraviolet irradiation device 28 that irradiate ultraviolet rays are applied to the image receiving layer 12B) formed thereby. When an electron beam curable material that is cured by electron beam irradiation is applied, the first stimulus supply means and the second stimulus supply means are applied to the curable solution 12A (the image receiving layer 12B formed thereby). An electron beam irradiation apparatus that irradiates an electron beam is applied. In addition, when a thermosetting material that is cured by applying heat is applied, the first stimulus supply unit and the second stimulus supply unit are configured to apply heat to the curable solution 12A (the image receiving layer 12B formed thereby). Apply the heat application device to apply.

  As the electron beam irradiation device, for example, there are a scanning type / curtain type, etc. The curtain type draws thermoelectrons generated in the filament by a grid in a vacuum chamber and further accelerates at once by a high voltage (for example, 70 to 300 kV). It is a device that emits an electron current, passes through the window foil, and emits it to the atmosphere side. The wavelength of an electron beam is generally smaller than 1 nm and has a large energy and ranges up to several MeV, but energy of several tens to several hundreds keV is applied when the wavelength of the electron beam is on the order of pm.

  Moreover, as a heat provision apparatus, a halogen lamp, a ceramic heater, a nichrome wire heater, a microwave heating, an infrared lamp etc. are applied, for example. As the heat applying device, an electromagnetic induction heating device can also be applied.

In the present embodiment, a release agent coating apparatus that supplies a release agent to the intermediate transfer belt 10 before forming the image receiving layer 12B to form a release agent layer may be further provided.
By further providing a release agent coating device, it becomes easy to set the surface free energy (γ _T ) of the intermediate transfer belt 10 on the surface with which the image receiving layer 12B is in contact with the recording medium P more easily. The transfer efficiency of the image receiving layer 12B is improved.
Further, with the above-described configuration, the stability with time is improved and the cleaning property of the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 is improved while being hardly affected by the change in the surface state of the intermediate transfer belt 10 with time.
Here, the “surface free energy (γ _T )” in the embodiment provided with the release agent coating apparatus as in the above configuration is the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 on which the release agent layer is formed, which is in contact with the image receiving layer 12B. Means the surface free energy.

  As a release agent coating apparatus, a known coating method (for example, bar coater coating, spray coating, ink jet coating, air knife coating, blade coating, roll coating, etc.) is used. The device is applied. Specifically, for example, the thickness of the release agent layer formed by the supply roller that supplies the release agent to the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the supplied release agent in the housing that stores the release agent. Examples thereof include a blade that defines and a heating means that heats and melts the release agent.

  Specific examples of the release agent include silicone oil, fluorine oil, hydrocarbon / polyalkylene glycol, fatty acid ester, phenyl ether, phosphate ester, etc. Among these, silicone oil, fluorine oil Oil and polyalkylene glycol are preferred.

Examples of the silicone oil include straight silicone oil and modified silicone oil.
Examples of the straight silicone oil include dimethyl silicone oil and methyl hydrogen silicone oil.
Examples of the modified silicone oil include methylstyryl-modified oil, alkyl-modified oil, higher fatty acid ester-modified oil, fluorine-modified oil, and amino-modified oil.

  Examples of the polyalkylene glycol include polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymer, and polybutylene glycol. Among these, polypropylene glycol and polyethylene glycol are preferable.

  In the present embodiment, a full color image is recorded on the recording medium P by selectively applying ink droplets 14A from the inkjet recording heads 14 of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan based on the image data. However, the present invention is not limited to recording characters and images on a recording medium. That is, the apparatus according to the present invention can also be applied to industrially used droplet application (jetting) apparatuses, a method for forming an image by transfer using a plate, an image forming method by screen printing, and the like.

Second Embodiment
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a recording apparatus according to the second embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the recording apparatus 102 according to the second embodiment has a configuration in which an intermediate transfer drum 26 is disposed instead of the intermediate transfer belt 10 in the first embodiment.

The intermediate transfer drum 26 may have a single-layer configuration or a multi-layer configuration. Examples of the multilayer structure include a structure having a cylindrical substrate and a surface layer coated on the surface of the substrate. The intermediate transfer drum 26 has a width (length in the axial direction) equal to or greater than the width of the recording medium P.
Examples of the material of the cylindrical base include aluminum, stainless steel (SUS), copper, and glass.
Examples of the material for the surface layer include various resins [for example, polyimide, polyamideimide, polyester, polyurethane, polyamide, polyethersulfone, fluorine resin, etc.], various rubbers (for example, nitrile rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, Chloroprene rubber, isoprene rubber, styrene rubber, butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, urethane rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, acrylic rubber, silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, etc.). The surface layer may have a single layer structure or a stacked structure.

  Also in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, since the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 is provided inside the intermediate transfer drum 26, the ultraviolet light or the like is irradiated to the image receiving layer 12B after passing through the intermediate transfer drum 26. The Therefore, from the viewpoint of efficiently irradiating the image receiving layer 12B with ultraviolet rays, it is desirable that the intermediate transfer drum 26 has high ultraviolet transmittance. Further, from the viewpoint of durability of the intermediate transfer drum 26, it is desirable that the intermediate transfer drum 26 has high ultraviolet durability.

  Specifically, for example, from the viewpoint of energy efficiency and heat generation suppression, the ultraviolet transmittance of the intermediate transfer drum 26 is desirably 70% or more. Specifically, the configuration of such an intermediate transfer drum 26 is preferably, for example, one made of quartz glass, or one having a fluororesin surface layer formed on a quartz glass cylindrical substrate.

Also in this embodiment, it is desirable that the surface free energy (γ _T ) of the intermediate transfer drum 26 on the surface in contact with the image receiving layer 12B is low, and in particular, the surface free energy (γ of the recording medium P on the surface in contact with the image receiving layer 12B. _P is more preferably lower than _{P 1, and} more preferably a condition that satisfies the following formula.
Formula: γ _P −γ _T > 10

From the viewpoint of reducing the value of the surface free energy (γ _T ), a preferable material for the surface layer of the intermediate transfer drum 26 is, for example, the surface release layer of the intermediate transfer belt 10 in the first embodiment. The thing similar to a material is mentioned.

  Each recording head 14 is disposed such that the distance between the surface of the intermediate transfer drum 26 and the nozzle surface of the head is, for example, about 0.3 to 0.7 mm. Each recording head 14 is disposed, for example, such that its longitudinal direction intersects (preferably orthogonally intersects) the rotational direction of the intermediate transfer drum.

  The transfer device 16 includes a pressure roll 16 </ b> A disposed so as to be pressed against the intermediate transfer drum 26.

  In the recording apparatus 102 according to this embodiment, the ink droplets 14 </ b> A are applied by the inkjet recording head 14, and the ink droplets 14 </ b> A are applied to the image receiving layer 12 </ b> B formed on the intermediate transfer drum 26.

  At this time, the application of the ink droplets 14A by the ink jet recording head 14 is performed on the intermediate transfer drum 26 which is a rigid body. That is, the ink droplets 14A are applied to the image receiving layer 12B in a state where the drum surface is not bent.

Next, the image receiving layer 12 </ b> B to which the ink droplet 14 </ b> A has been applied comes into contact with the recording medium P by receiving pressure from the pressure roll 16 </ b> A of the transfer device 16. Then, at the position where the image receiving layer 12B comes into contact with the recording medium P (contact start position), the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 starts irradiating the image receiving layer 12B in contact with both the intermediate transfer drum 26 and the recording medium P with ultraviolet rays and the like. .
Thereafter, the image receiving layer 12B is peeled off from the intermediate transfer drum 26, and thereafter, irradiation of the image receiving layer 12B with ultraviolet rays or the like is completed.

  Next, the image receiving layer 12B on the recording medium P, which has been peeled off from the intermediate transfer drum 26 and has been irradiated with ultraviolet rays or the like by the ultraviolet irradiation device 18, is further irradiated with ultraviolet rays or the like by the ultraviolet irradiation device 28 and further cured, thereby being recorded. Fix to P.

  In this embodiment, the image receiving layer 12B is irradiated by the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 after the ultraviolet irradiation to the image receiving layer 12B by the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 is started and before the image receiving layer 12B reaches the peeling position. The amount of ultraviolet rays or the like is the “first ultraviolet irradiation amount”. Further, the total of the amount of ultraviolet rays etc. irradiated to the image receiving layer 12B by the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 after the image receiving layer 12B has passed the peeling position and the amount of ultraviolet rays etc. irradiated to the image receiving layer 12B by the ultraviolet irradiation device 28. Is the “second ultraviolet irradiation amount”.

  Since other than these are the same as in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  In the recording apparatus of the present embodiment, the intermediate transfer drum 26 is used as an intermediate transfer member. However, as in the recording apparatus of the first embodiment, the transfer efficiency of the image receiving layer 12B from the intermediate transfer drum 26 to the recording medium P is high. In addition to the improvement, the deterioration of the intermediate transfer drum 26 is suppressed, and the image fixability is improved. The specific action is the same as that of the first embodiment using the intermediate transfer belt 10 as an intermediate transfer member.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the image receiving layer 12B starts irradiation with ultraviolet rays or the like by the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 at the contact start position, and ends irradiation with ultraviolet rays or the like by the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 after passing through the peeling position. However, it is not limited to the above form. The concrete form which can be taken is the same as that of the said 1st Embodiment.
In the present embodiment, as described above, ultraviolet rays and the like are irradiated during and after the contact between the image receiving layer 12B and the recording medium P. However, at least any time immediately before and during the contact between the image receiving layer 12B and the recording medium P. On the other hand, the form is not limited to the above as long as ultraviolet rays are irradiated.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 is disposed inside the intermediate transfer drum 26, and ultraviolet rays or the like pass through the intermediate transfer drum 26 and then irradiate the image receiving layer 12B. I can't. A specific form that can be taken is the same as that in the first embodiment using the intermediate transfer belt 10 as an intermediate transfer member.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the ultraviolet irradiation device 18 and the ultraviolet irradiation device 28 are used as the first stimulus supply unit and the second stimulus supply unit, respectively, but are not limited thereto. A specific form that can be taken is the same as that in the first embodiment using the intermediate transfer belt 10 as an intermediate transfer member.

  In the present embodiment, a release agent coating apparatus may also be provided that supplies a release agent to the intermediate transfer drum 26 before forming the image receiving layer 12B to form a release agent layer. A specific form that can be taken is the same as that in the first embodiment using the intermediate transfer belt 10 as an intermediate transfer member.

<Third Embodiment>
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a recording apparatus according to the third embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the recording apparatus 103 according to the third embodiment does not use the solution supply unit 12 in the first embodiment, and instead of the inkjet recording head 14, ink of ultraviolet curable ink (curable solution). This is a form using an ink jet recording head 30 (curable solution layer forming means) that directly supplies droplets 30A to the intermediate transfer belt 10 to form an ink layer 30B (curable solution layer).

  The ink jet recording head 30 can be the same as the ink jet recording head 14 in the first embodiment.

  In the recording apparatus 103 according to the present embodiment, ink droplets 30A ejected from the inkjet recording head 30 are directly applied onto the intermediate transfer belt 10 to form an ink layer 30B (that is, an image T).

  Next, as in the first embodiment, the ink layer 30 </ b> B is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 10 to the recording medium P by the transfer device 16. That is, the recording medium P and the intermediate transfer belt 10 are sandwiched between the pressure rolls 16A and 16B of the transfer device 16 to apply pressure. At this time, the ink layer 30B on the intermediate transfer belt 10 contacts the recording medium P (contact start position). Thereafter, the ink layer 30B is maintained in contact with both the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the recording medium P up to a position (peeling position) sandwiched between the support roll 10C and the support 22.

  Here, the pressure applied to the ink layer 30 </ b> B by the pressure rolls 16 </ b> A and 16 </ b> B is preferably in the range of 0.001 MPa to 2 MPa from the viewpoint of improving transfer efficiency and suppressing image disturbance.

  Next, the ultraviolet ray irradiation device 18 irradiates the ink layer 30 </ b> B in contact with (in contact with) both the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the recording medium P with ultraviolet rays or the like that have passed through the intermediate transfer belt 10. The ink layer 30B is cured. Then, the ink layer 30 </ b> B irradiated with ultraviolet rays or the like greater than the transfer stimulus amount is peeled from the intermediate transfer belt 10 at the peeling position.

  The ink layer 30B on the recording medium P peeled off from the intermediate transfer belt 10 is fixed to the recording medium P by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays or the like directly on the surface not in contact with the recording medium P by the ultraviolet irradiation device 28 and further cured. To do.

On the other hand, the cleaning device 20 removes the residue and foreign matter of the ink layer 30B remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 after the ink layer 30B is transferred to the recording medium P.
Then, ink droplets 30A are supplied again onto the intermediate transfer belt 10 by the ink jet recording head 30 to form the ink layer 30B, and the image recording process is repeated.

  Since other than these are the same as in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  In the recording apparatus of the present embodiment, ultraviolet curable ink is used as the curable solution. However, as in the recording apparatus of the first embodiment, the transfer efficiency of the ink layer 30B from the intermediate transfer belt 10 to the recording medium P is high. In addition, the deterioration of the intermediate transfer belt 10 is suppressed, and the image fixability is improved. The specific action is the same as that of the first embodiment using the curable solution 12A as the curable solution.

  In the present embodiment, a full color image is recorded on the recording medium P by selectively applying ink droplets 30A based on image data from the inkjet recording heads 30 of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan. However, the present invention is not limited to recording characters and images on a recording medium. That is, the apparatus according to the present invention can also be applied to industrially used droplet application (jetting) apparatuses, a method for forming an image by transfer using a plate, an image forming method by screen printing, and the like.

  Hereinafter, the details of the materials used in the above embodiment (specifically, the curable solution 12A, the ink contained in the ink droplet 14A, and the ultraviolet curable ink contained in the ink droplet 30A) will be described.

First, the curable solution 12A used in the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described.
The curable solution 12A includes at least a curable material that is cured by an external stimulus (energy). Here, the “curable material curable by external stimulus (energy)” contained in the curable solution 12A means a material that is cured by an external stimulus and becomes a “curable resin”. Specific examples include curable monomers, curable macromers, curable oligomers, and curable prepolymers.

  Examples of the curable material include an ultraviolet curable material, an electron beam curable material, and a thermosetting material. UV curable materials are most desirable because they are easy to cure, have a faster cure speed and are easier to handle than others. The electron beam curable material does not require a polymerization initiator, and it is easy to control the coloration of the cured layer. Thermoset materials are cured without the need for extensive equipment. In addition, a curable material is not restricted to these, For example, the curable material hardened | cured with moisture, oxygen, etc. can also be applied.

  Examples of the “ultraviolet curable resin” obtained by curing the ultraviolet curable material include acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, urethane resin, polyester resin, maleimide resin, epoxy resin, oxetane resin, polyether resin, and polyvinyl ether resin. Etc. The curable solution 12A contains at least one of an ultraviolet curable monomer, an ultraviolet curable macromer, an ultraviolet curable oligomer, and an ultraviolet curable prepolymer. The curable solution 12A desirably contains an ultraviolet polymerization initiator for causing the ultraviolet curing reaction to proceed. Furthermore, the curable solution 12A may contain a reaction aid, a polymerization accelerator, and the like for further proceeding the polymerization reaction as necessary.

  Here, examples of the ultraviolet curable monomer include alcohol / polyhydric alcohol / amino alcohol acrylic ester, alcohol / polyhydric alcohol methacrylate, acrylic aliphatic amide, acrylic alicyclic amide, acrylic aromatic Radical curable materials such as aromatic amides; and cationic curable materials such as epoxy monomers, oxetane monomers, and vinyl ether monomers. Examples of the ultraviolet curable macromer, the ultraviolet curable oligomer, and the ultraviolet curable prepolymer include those obtained by polymerizing these monomers at a predetermined polymerization degree, epoxy, urethane, polyester, polyether skeleton, acryloyl group, Examples include radical curable materials such as epoxy acrylate, urethane acrylate, polyester acrylate, polyether acrylate, urethane methacrylate, and polyester methacrylate to which a methacryloyl group is added.

  When the curing reaction is a type that proceeds by radical reaction, examples of the ultraviolet polymerization initiator include benzophenone, thioxanthone, benzyldimethyl ketal, α-hydroxyketone, α-hydroxyalkylphenone, α-aminoketone, α-aminoalkyl. Examples include phenone, monoacylphosphine oxide, bisacylphosphine oxide, hydroxybenzophenone, aminobenzophenone, titanocene type, oxime ester type, and oxyphenylacetate type.

  When the curing reaction is a type that proceeds by a cationic reaction, examples of the ultraviolet polymerization initiator include arylsulfonium salts, aryldiazonium salts, diaryliodonium salts, triarylsulfonium salts, allene-ion complex derivatives, and triazine-based initiators. Etc.

  Examples of the “electron beam curable resin” obtained by curing the electron beam curable material include acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, urethane resin, polyester resin, polyether resin, and silicone resin. The curable solution 12A contains at least one of an electron beam curable monomer, an electron beam curable macromer, an electron beam curable oligomer, and an electron beam curable prepolymer.

  Here, examples of the electron beam curable monomer, the electron beam curable macromer, the electron beam curable oligomer, and the electron beam curable prepolymer include the same materials as the ultraviolet curable material.

  Examples of the “thermosetting resin” obtained by curing the thermosetting material include an epoxy resin, a polyester resin, a phenol resin, a melamine resin, a urea resin, and an alkyd resin. The curable solution 12A contains at least one of a thermosetting monomer, a thermosetting macromer, a thermosetting oligomer, and a thermosetting prepolymer. Further, a curing agent may be added during the polymerization. Further, the curable solution 12A may include a thermal polymerization initiator for causing the thermosetting reaction to proceed.

  Here, examples of the thermosetting monomer include polyalcohols such as phenol, formaldehyde, bisphenol A, epichlorohydrin, cyanuric amide, urea and glycerin, acids such as phthalic anhydride, maleic anhydride, and adipic acid. It is done. Examples of the thermosetting macromer, thermosetting oligomer, and thermosetting prepolymer include those obtained by polymerizing these monomers at a predetermined polymerization degree, epoxy prepolymers, and polyester prepolymers.

  Examples of the thermal polymerization initiator include acids such as protonic acid / Lewis acid, alkali catalysts, and metal catalysts.

As described above, the curable material may be anything as long as it is cured (for example, cured by the progress of the polymerization reaction) by external energy such as ultraviolet rays, electron beams, and heat.
Among the curable materials, a material having a high curing speed (for example, a material having a high polymerization reaction speed) is desirable in view of speeding up image recording. Examples of such a curable material include a radiation curable curable material (the above-described ultraviolet curable material, electron beam curable material, and the like).

  The curable material may be modified with Si, fluorine, or the like in consideration of wettability with the intermediate transfer member or the like. Moreover, it is desirable that the curable material contains a polyfunctional prepolymer in consideration of the curing speed and the degree of curing.

  Further, the curable solution may contain water or an organic solvent for dissolving or dispersing the main components (monomer, macromer, oligomer, prepolymer, polymerization initiator, etc.) that contribute to the curing reaction. However, the ratio of the main component is, for example, 30% by mass or more, desirably 60% by mass or more, and more desirably 90% by mass or more.

  Moreover, the curable solution may contain various color materials for the purpose of controlling the coloring of the cured layer.

  The viscosity of the curable solution is preferably 5 mPa · s to 10000 mPa · s, more preferably 10 mPa · s to 1000 mPa · s, and still more preferably 15 mPa · s to 500 mPa · s. The viscosity of the curable solution is preferably higher than the viscosity of the ink.

The curable solution 12A preferably contains a material for fixing the colorant in the ink from the viewpoint of image uniformity and suppression of intercolor bleeding.
In addition, as these materials, materials having a liquid absorbing property to ink (liquid absorbing material) are preferable. The liquid-absorbing material means that after the liquid-absorbing material and the ink are mixed at a weight ratio of 30: 100 for 24 hours, when the liquid-absorbing material is taken out from the mixed liquid by a filter, the weight of the liquid-absorbing material is mixed with the ink. This is an increase of 5% or more.
As described above, since the curable solution 12A contains the ink-absorbing material, an ink liquid component (for example, water or an aqueous solvent) is quickly taken into the resin layer and the image is fixed. Color mixing at the boundary is suppressed, image uniformity is improved, and non-uniform transfer of ink due to pressure during transfer is reduced.

Examples of the liquid-absorbing material include a resin (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a liquid-absorbing resin) and inorganic particles (for example, silica, alumina, zeolite, etc.) having surface ink affinity. It is selected as appropriate.
Specifically, when water-based ink is used as the ink, it is desirable to use a water-absorbing material as the liquid-absorbing material. When oil-based ink is used as the ink, it is desirable to use an oil-absorbing material as the liquid-absorbing material.

  Specific examples of the water-absorbing material include polyacrylic acid and salts thereof, polymethacrylic acid and salts thereof, (meth) acrylic acid ester- (meth) acrylic acid and salts thereof, and styrene. -Copolymer composed of (meth) acrylic acid and its salt, styrene- (meth) acrylic ester-Copolymer composed of (meth) acrylic acid and its salt, styrene- (meth) acrylic ester A copolymer composed of an ester formed from an alcohol having an aliphatic or aromatic substituent having a carboxylic acid and a salt structure thereof and (meth) acrylic acid, (meth) acrylic acid ester-carboxylic acid and a salt thereof Copolymer composed of ester formed from alcohol having aliphatic or aromatic substituent having structure and (meth) acrylic acid Copolymer composed of ethylene- (meth) acrylic acid copolymer, butadiene- (meth) acrylic ester- (meth) acrylic acid and salts thereof, butadiene- (meth) acrylic ester-carboxylic acid and salts thereof A copolymer composed of an ester formed from an alcohol having an aliphatic or aromatic substituent having a structure and (meth) acrylic acid, a polymaleic acid and a salt thereof, a copolymer composed of styrene-maleic acid and a salt thereof Examples thereof include sulfonic acid-modified products of the respective resins, phosphoric acid-modified products of the respective resins, and the like, preferably from polyacrylic acid and salts thereof, styrene- (meth) acrylic acid and salts thereof. Consists of copolymer, styrene- (meth) acrylic acid ester- (meth) acrylic acid and its salts A copolymer composed of an ester produced from (meth) acrylic acid, an alcohol having an aliphatic or aromatic substituent having a styrene- (meth) acrylic acid ester-carboxylic acid and a salt structure thereof, and (Meth) acrylic acid ester- (meth) acrylic acid and a copolymer composed of a salt thereof. These resins may be uncrosslinked or crosslinked.

  Specific examples of the oil-absorbing material include low-molecular gelling agents such as hydroxystearic acid, cholesterol derivatives, and benzylidene sorbitol, polynorbornene, polystyrene, polypropylene, styrene-butadiene copolymers, and various rosins. Desirably, polynorbornene, polypropylene, and rosins are used.

  When the liquid-absorbing material is in the form of particles, the volume average particle size is desirably in the range of 0.05 μm or more and 25 μm from the viewpoint of achieving both the stability of the curable solution 12A and the image quality. More preferably, it is 10 μm or less.

  The ratio of the liquid-absorbing material to the entire curable solution 12A is, for example, 10% or more, desirably 20% or more, and more desirably 30% or more and 70% or less in terms of mass ratio.

Next, other additives contained in the curable solution 12A will be described.
The curable solution 12A may include a component that aggregates or thickens the components of the ink.

  The component having this function may be included as a functional group of a resin (resin water-absorbing resin) constituting the liquid-absorbing resin particles or may be included as a compound. Examples of the functional group include carboxylic acids, polyvalent metal cations, polyamines, and the like.

  Moreover, as the said compound, flocculants, such as an inorganic electrolyte, an organic acid, an inorganic acid, and an organic amine, are mentioned suitably.

  Inorganic electrolytes include alkali metal ions such as lithium ion, sodium ion, potassium ion, aluminum ion, barium ion, calcium ion, copper ion, iron ion, magnesium ion, manganese ion, nickel ion, tin ion, titanium ion, zinc Polyvalent metal ions such as ions, hydrochloric acid, odorous acid, hydroiodic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, thiocyanic acid, and acetic acid, succinic acid, lactic acid, fumaric acid, fumaric acid, citric acid, salicylic acid, benzoic acid And the like, and organic carboxylic acids such as salts of organic sulfonic acids.

  Specific examples include lithium chloride, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium bromide, potassium bromide, sodium iodide, potassium iodide, sodium sulfate, potassium nitrate, sodium acetate, potassium oxalate, sodium citrate, potassium benzoate and the like. Alkali metal salts and aluminum chloride, aluminum bromide, aluminum sulfate, aluminum nitrate, sodium aluminum sulfate, potassium aluminum sulfate, aluminum acetate, barium chloride, barium bromide, barium iodide, barium oxide, barium nitrate, thiocyanate Barium acid, calcium chloride, calcium bromide, calcium iodide, calcium nitrite, calcium nitrate, calcium dihydrogen phosphate, calcium thiocyanate, calcium benzoate, calcium acetate, salicylic acid Lucium, calcium tartrate, calcium lactate, calcium fumarate, calcium citrate, copper chloride, copper bromide, copper sulfate, copper nitrate, copper acetate, iron chloride, iron bromide, iron iodide, iron sulfate, iron nitrate, oxalic acid Iron, iron lactate, iron fumarate, iron citrate, magnesium chloride, magnesium bromide, magnesium iodide, magnesium sulfate, magnesium nitrate, magnesium acetate, magnesium lactate, manganese chloride, manganese sulfate, manganese nitrate, manganese dihydrogen phosphate , Manganese acetate, manganese salicylate, manganese benzoate, manganese lactate, nickel chloride, nickel bromide, nickel sulfate, nickel nitrate, nickel acetate, tin sulfate, titanium chloride, zinc chloride, zinc bromide, zinc sulfate, zinc nitrate, thiocyanate Examples thereof include salts of polyvalent metals such as zinc acid and zinc acetate.

  Specific examples of organic acids include arginic acid, citric acid, glycine, glutamic acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, cysteine, oxalic acid, fumaric acid, phthalic acid, maleic acid, malonic acid, lysine, malic acid, and general formula Examples thereof include compounds represented by (1) and derivatives of these compounds.

Here, in the formula, X represents O, CO, NH, NR ₁ , S, or SO ₂ . R ₁ represents an alkyl group, and R ₁ is preferably CH ₃ , C ₂ H ₅ , or C ₂ H ₄ OH. R represents an alkyl group, and R is preferably CH ₃ , C ₂ H ₅ , or C ₂ H ₄ OH. In addition, R may be included in the formula or may not be included. X is preferably CO, NH, NR, O, and more preferably CO, NH, O. M represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal or an amine. M is preferably H, Li, Na, K, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine or the like, more preferably H, Na, K, and still more preferably a hydrogen atom. n is an integer of 3 to 7. n is preferably a case where the heterocyclic ring is a 6-membered ring or a 5-membered ring, and more preferably a 5-membered ring. m is 1 or 2. The compound represented by the general formula (1) may be a saturated ring or an unsaturated ring as long as it is a heterocyclic ring. l is an integer of 1 to 5.

  Specifically, the compound represented by the general formula (1) has a furan, pyrrole, pyrroline, pyrrolidone, pyrone, pyrrole, thiophene, indole, pyridine, quinoline structure, and further has a carboxyl group as a functional group. Compounds. Specifically, 2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid, 4-methyl-4-pentanolide-3-carboxylic acid, furan carboxylic acid, 2-benzofuran carboxylic acid, 5-methyl-2-furan carboxylic acid, 2,5 -Dimethyl-3-furancarboxylic acid, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, 4-butanolide-3-carboxylic acid, 3-hydroxy-4-pyrone-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, 2-pyrone-6-carboxylic acid, 4-pyrone-2-carboxylic acid, 5-hydroxy-4-pyrone-5-carboxylic acid, 4-pyrone-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, 3-hydroxy-4-pyrone-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, thiophenecarboxylic Acid, 2-pyrrolecarboxylic acid, 2,3-dimethylpyrrole-4-carboxylic acid, 2,4,5-trimethylpyrrole-3-propionic acid, 3-hydroxy-2-yne Carboxylic acid, 2,5-dioxo-4-methyl-3-pyrroline-3-propionic acid, 2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, 4-hydroxyproline, 1-methylpyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid, 5-carboxy-1-methyl Pyrrolidine-2-acetic acid, 2-pyridinecarboxylic acid, 3-pyridinecarboxylic acid, 4-pyridinecarboxylic acid, pyridinedicarboxylic acid, pyridinetricarboxylic acid, pyridinepentacarboxylic acid, 1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl Examples include nicotinic acid, 2-quinolinecarboxylic acid, 4-quinolinecarboxylic acid, 2-phenyl-4-quinolinecarboxylic acid, 4-hydroxy-2-quinolinecarboxylic acid, and 6-methoxy-4-quinolinecarboxylic acid. .

  The organic acid is preferably citric acid, glycine, glutamic acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, phthalic acid, pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, pyrone carboxylic acid, pyrrole carboxylic acid, furan carboxylic acid, pyridine carboxylic acid, coumaric acid, thiophene carboxylic acid, Nicotinic acid, derivatives of these compounds, or salts thereof. More desirably, pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, pyrone carboxylic acid, pyrrole carboxylic acid, furan carboxylic acid, pyridine carboxylic acid, coumaric acid, thiophene carboxylic acid, nicotinic acid, or derivatives of these compounds, or salts thereof. More desirable are pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, pyrone carboxylic acid, furan carboxylic acid, coumaric acid, or a derivative of these compounds, or a salt thereof.

  The organic amine compound may be any of primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary amines and salts thereof. Specific examples include tetraalkylammonium, alkylamine, benzalkonium, alkylpyridium, imidazolium, polyamine, and derivatives or salts thereof. Specifically, amylamine, butylamine, propanolamine, propylamine, ethanolamine, ethylethanolamine, 2-ethylhexylamine, ethylmethylamine, ethylbenzylamine, ethylenediamine, octylamine, oleylamine, cyclooctylamine, cyclobutylamine, cyclohexane Propylamine, cyclohexylamine, diisopropanolamine, diethanolamine, diethylamine, di-2-ethylhexylamine, diethylenetriamine, diphenylamine, dibutylamine, dipropylamine, dihexylamine, dipentylamine, 3- (dimethylamino) propylamine, dimethylethylamine, dimethyl Ethylenediamine, dimethyloctylamine, 1,3-dimethylbutylamine, dimethyl 1,3-propanediamine, dimethylhexylamine, amino-butanol, amino-propanol, amino-propanediol, N-acetylaminoethanol, 2- (2-aminoethylamino) -ethanol, 2-amino-2- Ethyl-1,3-propanediol, 2- (2-aminoethoxy) ethanol, 2- (3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) ethylamine, cetylamine, triisopropanolamine, triisopentylamine, triethanolamine, trioctylamine, Tritylamine, bis (2-aminoethyl) 1,3-propanediamine, bis (3-aminopropyl) ethylenediamine, bis (3-aminopropyl) 1,3-propanediamine, bis (3-aminopropyl) methylamine, Bis (2-ethylhexyl ) Amine, bis (trimethylsilyl) amine, butylamine, butylisopropylamine, propanediamine, propyldiamine, hexylamine, pentylamine, 2-methyl-cyclohexylamine, methyl-propylamine, methylbenzylamine, monoethanolamine, laurylamine, Nonylamine, trimethylamine, triethylamine, dimethylpropylamine, propylenediamine, hexamethylesidiamine, tetraethylenepentamine, diethylethanolamine, tetramethylammonium chloride, tetraethylammonium bromide, dihydroxyethyl stearylamine, 2-heptadecenyl-hydroxyethylimidazoline, lauryl Dimethylbenzylammonium chloride, cetylpyridinium mouth Ride, stearamide methylbiridium chloride, diallyldimethylammonium chloride polymer, diallylamine polymer, monoallylamine polymer and the like can be mentioned.

  More desirably, triethanolamine, triisopropanolamine, 2-amino-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol, ethanolamine, propanediamine, propylamine and the like are used.

Among these flocculants, polyvalent metal salts (Ca (NO ₃ ), Mg (NO ₃ ), Al (OH ₃ ), polyaluminum chloride, etc.) are preferably used.

  The flocculant may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Moreover, as content of a flocculant, it is desirable that it is 0.01 to 30 mass%. More preferably, it is 0.1 mass% or more and 15 mass% or less, More preferably, it is 1 mass% or more and 15 mass% or less.

  Hereinafter, the details of the ink contained in the ink droplet 14A used in the first and second embodiments will be described.

  Examples of the ink include an aqueous ink containing an aqueous solvent as a solvent and an oil-based ink containing an oily solvent as a solvent. In this embodiment, even when a water-based ink or oil-based ink is used and a non-penetrable medium is used as a recording medium, good image fixability can be obtained without volatilizing the solvent with a heater or the like. As the ink, an ultraviolet curable ink is also used. By using ultraviolet curable ink, a highly durable image is formed.

  Examples of the water-based ink include an ink in which a water-soluble dye or pigment is dispersed or dissolved in an aqueous solvent as a recording material. Examples of the oil-based ink include an ink in which an oil-soluble dye is dissolved in an oil-based solvent as a recording material, and an ink in which a dye or pigment is dispersed by reverse micelle as a recording material.

  When using an oil-based ink, it is desirable to use an oil-based ink using a low-volatile or non-volatile solvent. Since the solvent of the oil-based ink is low volatility or non-volatility, the ink state change due to the solvent volatilization hardly occurs at the head nozzle end portion, and thus the head nozzle clogging resistance is good. Further, since the solvent of the oil-based ink is low volatility or non-volatile, even if the image-receiving layer receiving the ink droplet is transferred to the recording medium and the solvent of the oil-based ink penetrates the recording medium, the curl and cockle may be Hard to occur. Further, the solvent of the oil-based ink may be a cationic curable one.

  In the present embodiment, it is desirable to use water-based ink as the ink. In this case, it is desirable to use a water absorbing material as the liquid absorbing material contained in the curable solution 12A.

  First, the recording material will be described. As the recording material, a color material is mainly used. As the coloring material, either a dye or a pigment can be used, but a pigment is desirable from the viewpoint of durability. As the pigment, either an organic pigment or an inorganic pigment can be used. Examples of the black pigment include carbon black pigments such as furnace black, lamp black, acetylene black, and channel black. In addition to black, cyan, magenta, and yellow primary pigments, specific color pigments such as red, green, blue, brown, and white, metallic luster pigments such as gold and silver, colorless or light color extender pigments, plastic pigments, etc. May be used. In addition, a newly synthesized pigment may be used for the present invention.

  In addition, there is a method of using, as a pigment, particles in which a dye or pigment is fixed on the surface of silica, alumina, polymer beads, or the like, an insoluble raked product of a dye, a colored emulsion, or a colored latex.

  Specific examples of black pigments include Raven7000, Raven5750, Raven5250, Raven5000 ULTRAII, Raven3500, Raven2000, Raven1500, Raven1250, Raven1200, Raven1125, Raven10, Raven10, Raven10 Regal 330R, Regal 660R, Mogul L, Black Pearls L, Monarch 700, Monarch 800, Monarch 880, Monarch 900, Monarch 1000, Monarch 1100, Monarch 1300, Monarch 140 0 (manufactured by Cabot Corporation), Color Black FW1, Color Black FW2, Color Black FW2V, Color Black 18, Color Black FW200, Color Black S150, Color Black P160, Color Black P160, Color Black FW2V, Color Black FW200 Printex 140V, Special Black 6, Special Black 5, Special Black 4A, Special Black 4 (manufactured by Degussa), No. 25, no. 33, no. 40, no. 47, no. 52, no. 900, no. 2300, MCF-88, MA600, MA7, MA8, MA100 (manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) and the like, but are not limited thereto.

  Specific examples of the cyan pigment include C.I. I. Pigment Blue-1, -2, -3, -15, -15: 1, -15: 2, -15: 3, -15: 4, -16, -22, -60, and the like. It is not limited.

  Specific examples of the magenta color pigment include C.I. I. Pigment Red-5, -7, -12, -48, -48: 1, -57, -112, -122, -123, -146, -168, -177, -184, -202, C.I. I. Pigment Violet-19 etc. are mentioned, However, It is not limited to these.

  Specific examples of yellow pigments include C.I. I. Pigment Yellow-1, -2, -3, -12, -13, -14, -16, -17, -73, -74, -75, -83, -93, -95, -97, -98, -114, -128, -129, -138, -151, -154, -180, and the like, but are not limited thereto.

  Here, when a pigment is used as the color material, it is desirable to use a pigment dispersant together. Examples of the pigment dispersant used include a polymer dispersant, an anionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, and a nonionic surfactant.

  As the polymer dispersant, a polymer having a hydrophilic structure portion and a hydrophobic structure portion is preferably used. As the polymer having a hydrophilic structure portion and a hydrophobic structure portion, a condensation polymer and an addition polymer are used. Examples of the condensation polymer include known polyester dispersants. Examples of the addition polymer include addition polymers of monomers having an α, β-ethylenically unsaturated group. Desired polymer dispersion by copolymerizing a monomer having an α, β-ethylenically unsaturated group having a hydrophilic group and a monomer having an α, β-ethylenically unsaturated group having a hydrophobic group An agent is obtained. A homopolymer of a monomer having an α, β-ethylenically unsaturated group having a hydrophilic group is also used.

  Monomers having an α, β-ethylenically unsaturated group having a hydrophilic group include monomers having a carboxyl group, a sulfonic acid group, a hydroxyl group, a phosphoric acid group, such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and crotonic acid. , Itaconic acid, itaconic acid monoester, maleic acid, maleic acid monoester, fumaric acid, fumaric acid monoester, vinyl sulfonic acid, styrene sulfonic acid, sulfonated vinyl naphthalene, vinyl alcohol, acrylamide, methacryloxyethyl phosphate, bismethacrylic acid Examples include roxyethyl phosphate, methacrylooxyethyl phenyl acid phosphate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and diethylene glycol dimethacrylate.

  Examples of the monomer having an α, β-ethylenically unsaturated group having a hydrophobic group include styrene derivatives such as styrene, α-methylstyrene, vinyltoluene, vinylcyclohexane, vinylnaphthalene, vinylnaphthalene derivatives, alkyl acrylate esters, Examples include methacrylic acid alkyl esters, methacrylic acid phenyl esters, methacrylic acid cycloalkyl esters, crotonic acid alkyl esters, itaconic acid dialkyl esters, maleic acid dialkyl esters, and the like.

  Examples of desirable copolymers used as polymer dispersants include styrene-styrene sulfonic acid copolymers, styrene-maleic acid copolymers, styrene-methacrylic acid copolymers, styrene-acrylic acid copolymers, Vinyl naphthalene-maleic acid copolymer, vinyl naphthalene-methacrylic acid copolymer, vinyl naphthalene-acrylic acid copolymer, alkyl acrylate ester-acrylic acid copolymer, alkyl methacrylate ester-methacrylic acid copolymer, styrene -Methacrylic acid alkyl ester-Methacrylic acid copolymer, Styrene-Acrylic acid alkyl ester-Acrylic acid copolymer, Styrene-Methacrylic acid phenyl ester-Methacrylic acid copolymer, Styrene-Methacrylic acid cyclohexyl ester-Methacrylic acid copolymer Etc. . Moreover, you may copolymerize the monomer which has a polyoxyethylene group and a hydroxyl group with these polymers.

  Examples of the polymer dispersant include those having a weight average molecular weight of 2000 to 50000.

  These pigment dispersants may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Although the amount of the pigment dispersant added varies greatly depending on the pigment, it cannot be generally stated, but generally 0.1 to 100% by mass with respect to the pigment can be mentioned.

  A pigment that can be self-dispersed in water is also used as a coloring material. A pigment that can be self-dispersed in water refers to a pigment that has many water-solubilizing groups on the surface of the pigment and disperses in water without the presence of a polymer dispersant. Specifically, it can be self-dispersed in water by subjecting ordinary so-called pigments to surface modification treatments such as acid / base treatment, coupling agent treatment, polymer graft treatment, plasma treatment, oxidation / reduction treatment, etc. Pigments are obtained.

  Further, as pigments that can be self-dispersed in water, in addition to pigments obtained by subjecting the above pigments to surface modification treatment, Cab-o-jet-200, Cab-o-jet-300, IJX- manufactured by Cabot Corporation 157, IJX-253, IJX-266, IJX-273, IJX-444, IJX-55, Cab-o-jet-260M, Cab-o-jet-250C, Cab-o-jet-270Y, Cab-o- Commercially available self-dispersing pigments such as jet-1027R, Cab-o-jet-554B, Microjet Black CW-1, CW-2 manufactured by Orient Chemical Co., etc. are also used.

  The self-dispersing pigment is desirably a pigment having at least sulfonic acid, sulfonate, carboxylic acid, or carboxylate as a functional group on the surface thereof. More desirably, the pigment has at least a carboxylic acid or a carboxylate as a functional group on the surface.

  Furthermore, a pigment coated with a resin is also used. This is called a microcapsule pigment, and not only commercially available microcapsule pigments manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc., or Toyo Ink, but also microcapsule pigments produced for the present invention are used.

  In addition, a resin-dispersed pigment in which a polymer substance is physically adsorbed or chemically bonded to the pigment is also used.

  Other recording materials include hydrophilic anionic dyes, direct dyes, cationic dyes, reactive dyes, dyes such as polymer dyes and oil-soluble dyes, wax powders / resin powders and emulsions colored with dyes, Fluorescent dyes and fluorescent pigments, infrared absorbers, ultraviolet absorbers, magnetic materials such as ferromagnetic materials represented by ferrite and magnetite, semiconductors and photocatalysts represented by titanium oxide and zinc oxide, and other organic and inorganic electrons Examples include material particles.

  The content (concentration) of the recording material is, for example, in the range of 5 to 30% by mass with respect to the ink.

  Examples of the volume average particle diameter of the recording material include a range of 10 nm to 1000 nm.

  The volume average particle size of the recording material refers to the particle size of the recording material itself, or the particle size to which the additive has adhered when an additive such as a dispersant is attached to the recording material. A Microtrac UPA particle size analyzer 9340 (manufactured by Lees & Northrup) was used as the volume average particle diameter measuring apparatus. The measurement was performed according to a predetermined measurement method with 4 ml of ink placed in a measurement cell. As input values at the time of measurement, the viscosity of the ink was used as the viscosity, and the density of the dispersed particles was used as the recording material density.

  Next, the aqueous solvent will be described. Examples of the aqueous solvent include water. In particular, ion exchange water, ultrapure water, distilled water, and ultrafiltered water are preferably used. A water-soluble organic solvent may be used together with the aqueous solvent. As the water-soluble organic solvent, polyhydric alcohols, polyhydric alcohol derivatives, nitrogen-containing solvents, alcohols, sulfur-containing solvents and the like are used.

  Specific examples of the water-soluble organic solvent include polyhydric alcohols such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2, Examples thereof include sugar alcohols such as 6-hexanetriol, glycerin, trimethylolpropane, and xylitol, and sugars such as xylose, glucose, and galactose.

  Polyhydric alcohol derivatives include ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, propylene glycol monobutyl ether, dipropylene glycol monobutyl ether, diglycerin. And ethylene oxide adducts.

Examples of nitrogen-containing solvents include pyrrolidone, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, cyclohexyl pyrrolidone, and triethanolamine. Examples of alcohols include alcohols such as ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, and benzyl alcohol.
Examples of the sulfur-containing solvent include thiodiethanol, thiodiglycerol, sulfolane, dimethyl sulfoxide and the like.

  As the water-soluble organic solvent, propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, and the like are also used.

  At least one kind of water-soluble organic solvent may be used. As content of a water-soluble organic solvent, the range of 1 mass% or more and 70 mass% or less is mentioned, for example.

  Next, the oily solvent will be described. As the oily solvent, organic solvents such as aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones, esters, ethers, glycols, nitrogen-containing solvents, vegetable oils and the like are used. Examples of aliphatic hydrocarbons include n-hexane, cyclohexane, methyl hexane, n-octane, methyl heptane, dimethyl hexane, nonane, decane, etc., n-paraffin solvents such as Isopar, iso-paraffin solvents, Paraffinic solvents such as cycloparaffinic solvents may be used. Examples of the aromatic hydrocarbon include toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and the like. Examples of alcohols include methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, hexanol, and benzyl alcohol. Examples of ketones include acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, pentanone, hexanone, heptanone, cyclohexanone, and the like. Examples of the esters include methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, vinyl acetate, ethyl propionate, and ethyl butyrate. Examples of ethers include diethyl ether, ethyl propyl ether, ethyl propyl ether, and ethyl isopropyl ether. Examples of glycols include ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propanediol, hexanediol, glycerin, and polypropylene glycol. In addition, glycol derivatives such as ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, and diethylene glycol butyl ether may be used as the solvent. Examples of vegetable oils include dry oil, semi-dry oil, and non-dry oil. Examples of the drying oil include camellia oil, linseed oil, tung oil, poppy oil, walnut oil, safflower oil, and sunflower oil. Semi-drying oil includes rapeseed oil and non-drying oil includes coconut oil. The above solvents may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  Next, other additives will be described. In addition, a surfactant is added to the ink as necessary.

  Examples of these surfactants include various anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and the like. Desirably, anionic surfactants and nonionic surfactants are used. An activator is used.

Specific examples of the surfactant are listed below.
Examples of the anionic surfactant include alkylbenzene sulfonate, alkylphenyl sulfonate, alkylnaphthalene sulfonate, higher fatty acid salt, sulfate of higher fatty acid ester, sulfonate of higher fatty acid ester, sulfuric acid of higher alcohol ether. Ester salts and sulfonates, higher alkyl sulfosuccinates, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether carboxylates, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl phosphates, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether phosphates can be used, preferably , Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, isopropylnaphthalenesulfonate, monobutylphenylphenol monosulfonate, monobutylbiphenylsulfonate, monobutylbiphenylsulfonate, dibutylphenylsulfonate Nord disulfonic acid salts and the like are used.

  Nonionic surfactants include polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ethers, polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters, sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitol fatty acid esters, glycerin fatty acid esters, poly Oxyethylene glycerin fatty acid ester, polyglycerin fatty acid ester, sucrose fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene alkylamine, polyoxyethylene fatty acid amide, alkyl alkanolamide, polyethylene glycol polypropylene glycol block copolymer, acetylene glycol, polyoxyethylene adduct of acetylene glycol Desirably, polyoxyethylene nonyl pheny is preferable. Ether, polyoxyethylene octyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene dodecyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester, sorbitan fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester, fatty acid alkylolamide, polyethylene glycol polypropylene glycol block copolymer Acetylene glycol and polyoxyethylene adducts of acetylene glycol are used.

  In addition, silicone surfactants such as polysiloxane oxyethylene adducts, fluorine surfactants such as perfluoroalkyl carboxylates, perfluoroalkyl sulfonates, and oxyethylene perfluoroalkyl ethers, spicrispolic acid and rhamnolipids Biosurfactants such as lysolecithin are also used.

  These surfactants may be used alone or in combination. The hydrophilic / hydrophobic balance (HLB) of the surfactant is, for example, in the range of 3 to 20 in consideration of solubility.

  The amount of these surfactants added is, for example, in the range of 0.001 to 5% by mass, desirably 0.01 to 3% by mass.

  In addition, the ink has other properties such as penetrants for adjusting penetrability, polyethyleneimine, polyamines, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene glycol, ethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, etc. In order to adjust pH, compounds of alkali metals such as potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, etc., pH buffer, antioxidant, antifungal agent, viscosity adjuster, conductive agent as necessary Further, an ultraviolet absorber and a chelating agent are also added.

  Next, preferred characteristics of the ink will be described. First, the surface tension of the ink is, for example, in the range of 20 to 45 mN / m.

  Here, as the surface tension, a value measured in an environment of 23 ° C. and 55% RH using a Wilhelmy type surface tension meter (manufactured by Kyowa Interface Science Co., Ltd.) was adopted.

  The viscosity of the ink is 1.5 mPa · s or more and 30 mPa · s or less, preferably 1.5 mPa · s or more and 20 mPa · s or less. From the viewpoint of head ejection properties, the viscosity of the ink is desirably 20 mPa · s or less. The viscosity of the ink is preferably lower than the viscosity of the curable solution.

Here, as the viscosity, a value measured using a rheomat 115 (manufactured by Contraves) as a measuring device under the conditions of a measurement temperature of 23 ° C. and a shear rate of 1400 s ⁻¹ was adopted.

  The ink is not limited to the above configuration. In addition to the recording material, for example, a functional material such as a liquid crystal material or an electronic material may be included.

  Hereinafter, the ultraviolet curable ink contained in the ink droplet 30A used in the third embodiment will be described.

  The ultraviolet curable ink includes at least a curable material that is cured by an external stimulus (energy). The “curable material that is cured by external stimulation (energy)” is the same as the curable material contained in the curable solution 12A.

  Further, the ultraviolet curable ink may contain water or an organic solvent for dissolving or dispersing main components (monomer, macromer, oligomer, prepolymer, polymerization initiator, etc.) that contribute to the curing reaction. However, the ratio of the main component is, for example, 30% by mass or more, desirably 60% by mass or more, and more desirably 90% by mass or more.

  Further, the ultraviolet curable ink contains a recording material. The recording material is the same as the recording material used for the ink contained in the ink droplet 14A.

The surface tension of the ultraviolet curable ink is, for example, in the range of 20 to 45 mN / m.
The viscosity of the ultraviolet curable ink is 1.5 mPa · s to 30 mPa · s, preferably 1.5 mPa · s to 20 mPa · s. From the viewpoint of head ejection properties, the viscosity of the ink is desirably 20 mPa · s or less.

  The ultraviolet curable ink is not limited to the above-described configuration, and may include other additives and functional materials.

[Test example]
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to test examples. However, these test examples do not limit the present invention.

(Test Example 1 to Test Example 8)
Using a recording apparatus (see FIG. 1) having the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, a curable solution is supplied to an intermediate transfer belt by a solution supply apparatus to form an image receiving layer. Ink was applied to form an image. Then, while the image receiving layer was brought into contact with the recording medium by the transfer device, the image receiving layer was cured by irradiating the ultraviolet ray by the first ultraviolet irradiating device and peeled off from the intermediate transfer belt. Thereafter, the non-cured layer was completely cured by irradiating with ultraviolet rays or the like by a second ultraviolet irradiation device, and evaluation was performed. The conditions are as follows.

Intermediate transfer belt: ETFE endless belt having a thickness of 0.1 mm, a belt width of 350 mm, and an outer diameter of Φ168 mm coated with a fluorine resin (process speed: 400 mm / s)
Solution supply device: gravure roll coater (image receiving layer thickness 15 μm)
Each recording head: Piezo-type recording head (resolution resolution 1200 × 1200 dpi (dpi: number of dots per inch), drop size 2 pL)
Transfer device (pressure roll): A steel pipe with a diameter of 30 mm coated with a fluororesin (pressing force against the intermediate transfer belt: linear pressure 0.1 kgf / cm)
First ultraviolet irradiation device: UV-LED ultraviolet light emitting diode NCCU033 (manufactured by Nichia Corporation) was collected with a lens and used in a plurality of arrays, peak wavelength: 365 nm)
Second ultraviolet irradiation device: Metal halide lamp (manufactured by Integration Technology, model number: Vzero140 is used with a D bulb lamp)
・ Recording media: Art paper (OK Kanfuji)

  Moreover, the curable solution and the ink of each color used what was produced as follows.

<Curable solution (radical curable material)>
-Polyurethane acrylate: 40 parts by weight-1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (UV curable monomer): 20.0 parts by weight-Sodium polyacrylate (liquid absorbing resin, one having a number average particle size of 5 μm by ball milling): 35.0 parts by weight Irgacure 651 (Ciba Japan Co., Ltd.) 0.2 parts by weight

<Black ink production method>
Cab-o-jet-300 (manufactured by Cabot) was treated with an ultrasonic homogenizer for 30 minutes, and then centrifuged (7000 rpm) for 20 minutes to obtain a pigment dispersion (carbon concentration: 12.8%). Got.

Next, each of the following components was sufficiently mixed and pressure filtered through a 1 μm filter to prepare an ink. Pigment dispersion: 40 parts by weight Glycerin: 20 parts by weight Surfinol 465: 1.5 parts by weight Pure water: 35 parts by weight

<Ink preparation method 1>
3 parts by weight of sodium neutralized salt of styrene-maleic acid copolymer was added to 30 parts by weight of pigment, and ion exchange water was further added to make the total amount 300 parts by weight. This liquid was dispersed using an ultrasonic homogenizer. This liquid was centrifuged with a centrifugal separator to remove the remaining 100 parts by weight. The supernatant was passed through a 1 μm filter to obtain a dispersion. An appropriate amount of 10 parts by weight of glycerin, 5 parts by weight of diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, 0.03 part by weight of a surfactant, 3 parts by weight of isopropyl alcohol, ion-exchanged water and sodium hydroxide are added to an appropriate amount of the dispersion, and the total amount is 100 parts by weight. The pigment concentration was adjusted to 5% by weight. This was mixed and passed through a 1 μm filter to obtain the intended ink.

-Cyan ink-
An ink having the following composition was obtained according to the ink preparation method 1 described above. I. Acid Blue 199: 5 parts by weight-Styrene-maleic acid-sodium maleate copolymer: 0.3 parts by weight-Glycerin: 15 parts by weight-Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether: 5 parts by weight-Surfactant (Surfinol 465: Nissin (Chemical Co., Ltd.): 1.0 part by weight, isopropyl alcohol: 3 parts by weight, ion-exchanged water: remaining part 100 parts by weight

-Magenta ink-
An ink having the following composition was obtained according to the ink preparation method 1 described above. I. Acid Red 52: 3.5 parts by weight • Styrene-maleic acid-sodium maleate copolymer: 0.3 parts by weight • Glycerin: 20 parts by weight • Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether: 5 parts by weight • Surfactant (Surfinol 465: Manufactured by Nissin Chemical Co., Ltd.): 1.0 part by weight, ion-exchanged water: 100 parts by weight in total

-Yellow ink-
An ink having the following composition was obtained according to the ink preparation method 1 described above. I. Direct yellow 86: 4.0 parts by weight, styrene-maleic acid-sodium maleate copolymer: 0.4 parts by weight, glycerin: 15 parts by weight, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether: 10 parts by weight, surfactant (Surfinol 465: Manufactured by Nissin Chemical Co., Ltd.): 1.0 part by weight, ion-exchanged water: 100 parts by weight in total

When the “transfer stimulus amount” and the “fixing stimulus amount” under the conditions of this test example were determined, the transfer stimulus amount was 100 mJ / cm ² and the fixing stimulus amount was 500 mJ / cm ² .
The amount of transfer stimulus and the amount of fixation stimulus were determined as follows. Specifically, UVD-S365 (manufactured by Ushio Electric Co., Ltd.) was attached to the apparatus, and actually passed under the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus to measure “transfer stimulation amount” and “fixing stimulation amount”.

Further, the above-mentioned “curing wavelength region” under the conditions of this test example was found to be 320 nm to 380 nm.
The curing wavelength region was determined as follows. Specifically, a photopolymerization initiator was mixed in an acetonitrile solution, and an absorption spectrum was measured with a spectrophotometer in a 0.10% solution state. The entire wavelength region of the peak portion that appears as a specific absorption wavelength was obtained centering on the peak intensity of the absorption spectrum.

Further, when the “I _1C / I _1T ” value and the “I _2C / I _2T ” value under the conditions of this test example were determined, the “I _1C / I _1T ” value was 1.0, and “I _2C / I _{2 2T} "value was 0.31.
The “I _1C / I _1T ” value and the “I _2C / I _2T ” value were determined as follows. Specifically, the emission spectrum of the first ultraviolet irradiation device (UV-LED) is measured, and the integrated value (I _1C ) of the emission intensity in the curing wavelength region and the integrated value (I _1T ) of the emission intensity from 250 nm to 500 nm. ) Ratio (I _1C / I _1T ) was determined from the emission spectrum. The same applies to the second ultraviolet irradiation device (metal halide).

  The first ultraviolet ray irradiation amount (the amount of ultraviolet ray irradiated to the image receiving layer by the first ultraviolet ray irradiation device, that is, the ultraviolet ray irradiation amount after passing through the intermediate transfer belt) and the second ultraviolet ray in Test Example 1 to Test Example 8 Table 1 shows the irradiation amount (the amount of ultraviolet rays irradiated to the image receiving layer by the second ultraviolet irradiation device).

<Evaluation of transferability from intermediate transfer member to recording medium>
Using an art paper (OK Kanfuji Oji Paper Co., Ltd.) as a recording medium, a printing test was carried out continuously for 5 sheets, and the peelability of the image receiving layer was evaluated by visually observing the residue on the intermediate transfer belt after the test. The evaluation criteria are as follows, and the evaluation results are shown in Table 1.
○: Residue is less than 1% in area per unit area.
Δ: Residue is 1% or more and less than 20 in area per unit area.
X: Residue is 20% or more in area per unit area.

<Evaluation of image fixability on recording media>
Using art paper (OK Kanfuji Oji Paper Co., Ltd.) as a recording medium, the surface of the sample after fixing was rubbed with a becot to evaluate the stickiness of the surface. The evaluation criteria are as follows, and the evaluation results are shown in Table 1.
A: The surface is not sticky and image distortion does not occur.
○: The surface is somewhat sticky but acceptable.
X: The surface is sticky and the image is peeled off from the substrate.

<Evaluation of degradation level of intermediate transfer belt>
Using an art paper (OK Kanfuji Oji Paper Co., Ltd.) as a recording medium, a print test was continuously performed for 5000 sheets, and the state of the intermediate transfer belt after the test was visually observed to evaluate the degree of deterioration of the intermediate transfer belt. The evaluation criteria are as follows, and the evaluation results are shown in Table 1.
A: The intermediate transfer belt is not deteriorated.
○: Slight deterioration of the intermediate transfer belt is observed, but acceptable.
Δ: Deterioration of the intermediate transfer belt is observed, but the allowable range.
X: The intermediate transfer belt is significantly deteriorated.

(Test Example 9 to Test Example 12)
Test Example 9 is the same as Test Example 1 to Test Example 8 except that a high-pressure mercury lamp (manufactured by Integration Technology, model number: Vzero140 is used with an H bulb lamp attached) is used as the first ultraviolet irradiation device. And Test Example 10 was performed. The results are shown in Table 2.
In addition, Test Example 1 is the same as Test Example 1 except that a metal halide lamp (manufactured by Integration Technology, model number: Vzero140 is used with an H bulb lamp) is used as the first ultraviolet irradiation device. 11 and Test Example 12 were performed. The results are shown in Table 2.

  In Test Example 7 to Test Example 12, it was confirmed that transferability and image fixability were good and deterioration of the intermediate transfer belt was suppressed as compared with Test Example 1 to Test Example 6.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the recording device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the recording device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 Intermediate transfer belt (intermediate transfer member)
12 Solution supply device (curable solution layer forming means)
12A Ink-receiving curable solution (curable solution)
12B Image receiving layer (curable solution layer)
14 Inkjet recording head (applying means)
14A Ink droplet 16 Transfer device (transfer means)
18 Ultraviolet irradiation device (first stimulus supply means)
26 Intermediate transfer drum (intermediate transfer member)
28 Ultraviolet irradiation device (second stimulus supply means)
30 Inkjet recording head (curable solution layer forming means)
31A ink droplet (curable solution)
31B Ink layer (curable solution layer)
101, 102, 103 Recording device

Claims (3)

An intermediate transfer member;
A curable solution layer forming means for forming a curable solution layer by supplying a curable solution containing at least a curable material that is cured by an external stimulus on the intermediate transfer body;
The curable solution layer formed on the intermediate transfer member is brought into contact with a recording medium and then peeled off from the intermediate transfer member, whereby the curable solution layer is transferred from the intermediate transfer member to the recording medium. Transcription means;
First stimulus supply means for supplying the stimulus for curing the curable solution layer to the curable solution layer immediately before and during contact between the curable solution layer and the recording medium; ,
Second stimulus supply means for supplying the stimulus for curing the curable solution layer to the curable solution layer after being peeled from the intermediate transfer body,
The amount of stimulus that the first stimulus supply means supplies to the curable solution layer before the curable solution layer is peeled from the intermediate transfer member is equal to or greater than the transfer stimulus amount, and more than the fixing stimulus amount. Less
The total amount of the first stimulus supplying means and the second stimulus supply means stimulus supplied to the curable solution layer state, and are said fixing stimulating amount or more,
The first stimulus supply unit and the second stimulus supply unit are ultraviolet irradiation devices that irradiate the curable solution layer with light containing ultraviolet rays,
The ratio of the integrated irradiation intensity (I _1C ) in the curing wavelength region to the integrated irradiation intensity (I _1T ) in the wavelength region of 250 to 500 nm of the light including ultraviolet rays irradiated to the curable solution layer by the first stimulus supply unit ( I _1C / I _1T ) is the integrated irradiation in the curing wavelength region with respect to the integrated irradiation intensity (I _2T ) in the wavelength region of 250 nm to 500 nm of the light including the ultraviolet rays irradiated to the curable solution layer by the second stimulus supply unit. A recording apparatus characterized by being larger than a ratio (I _2C / I _2T ) of intensity (I _2C ) . The curable solution layer forming means is an image receiving layer forming means for supplying an ink receiving curable solution containing at least the curable material onto the intermediate transfer body to form an image receiving layer.
An ink applying means for applying ink to the image receiving layer formed on the intermediate transfer member;
Said transfer means, said image-receiving layer in which the ink is applied, by peeling from the intermediate transfer member after contacting the recording medium, to transfer the image-receiving layer in the recording medium from the intermediate transfer member The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus is a recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first stimulus supply unit is an ultraviolet light emitting diode.