US6074052A — Ink jet printing method and ink jet recording app…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 195 words

A method for ink jet printing comprising the steps of: providing an ink jet printing apparatus for forming an image using a print head comprising: a first nozzle group for discharging a first ink to develop a first color; a second nozzle group for discharging a second ink to develop the first color; a third nozzle group for discharging a printability improving solution to improve printability of said first ink and said second ink; said first nozzle group, said second nozzle group and said third nozzle group being arranged along a relative moving direction of said print head to a printing medium, said third nozzle group being arranged between said first nozzle group and said second nozzle group; forming an image by discharging a first ink from said first nozzle group onto said printing medium based on image data; discharging a printability improving solution having a faster rate of penetration into said printing medium compared to said first ink and containing a material to insolubilize or coagulate a coloring material in said first ink from said third nozzle group onto said image; and discharging a second ink from said second nozzle group onto said image.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 195 words

A method for ink jet printing comprising the steps of: providing an ink jet printing apparatus for forming an image using a print head comprising: a first nozzle group for discharging a first ink to develop a first color; a second nozzle group for discharging a second ink to develop the first color; a third nozzle group for discharging a printability improving solution to improve printability of said first ink and said second ink; said first nozzle group, said second nozzle group and said third nozzle group being arranged along a relative moving direction of said print head to a printing medium, said third nozzle group being arranged between said first nozzle group and said second nozzle group; forming an image by discharging a first ink from said first nozzle group onto said printing medium based on image data; discharging a printability improving solution having a faster rate of penetration into said printing medium compared to said first ink and containing a material to insolubilize or coagulate a coloring material in said first ink from said third nozzle group onto said image; and discharging a second ink from said second nozzle group onto said image.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method for ink jet printing according to claim 1, wherein said first ink and said second ink have a like composition.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method for ink jet printing according to claim 1, wherein said discharging of said printability improving solution is based on said image data.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 41 words

A method for ink jet printing according to claim 1, wherein said discharging of said printability improving solution is based on modified data obtained from said image data such that said modified data comprises fewer data points than said image data.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 78 words

A method for ink jet printing according to claim 1, wherein said steps of forming an image by discharging said first ink, discharging said printability improving solution, and discharging said second ink are performed in order, and a discharge volume of said first ink discharged from said first nozzle group in said forming step is larger than a discharge volume of said second ink discharged from said second nozzle group in said step of discharging said second ink.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method for ink jet printing according to claim 5, wherein the discharge volume of said first ink discharged from said first nozzle group is larger than the discharge volume of said second ink.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 62 words

A method for ink jet printing according to claim 5, wherein the discharge volume of said first ink discharged from said first nozzle group is made larger than the discharge volume of said second ink discharged from said second nozzle group, by increasing the size of discharge openings of said first nozzle group relative to discharge openings of said second nozzle group.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 78 words

A method for ink jet printing according to claim 1, wherein said steps of forming an image by discharging said first ink, discharging said printability improving solution, and discharging said second ink are performed in order, and a discharge rate of said first ink discharged from said first nozzle group in said forming step is larger than a discharge rate of said second ink discharged from said second nozzle group in said step of discharging said second ink.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 68 words

A method for ink jet printing according to claim 8, wherein said first nozzle group and said second nozzle group are each operatively connected to printheads and said method further comprises submitting pulse waveforms to said printheads such that the discharge rate of said first ink discharged from said first nozzle group is larger than the discharge rate of said second ink discharged from said second nozzle group.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 62 words

A method for ink jet printing according to claim 9, wherein the discharge rate of said first ink discharged from said first nozzle group is made larger than the discharge rate of said second ink discharged from said second nozzle group, by increasing the size of discharge openings of said first nozzle group relative to discharge openings of said second nozzle group.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 46 words

A method for ink jet printing according to claim 1, wherein each of said first nozzle group, said second nozzle group and said third nozzle group is provided with a thermal energy generator for generating thermal energy to discharge said ink or said printability improving solution.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 36 words

A method for ink jet printing according to claim 1, wherein said printability improving solution contains a cationic material comprising an ionic compound and a polymer, and said link contains a dye comprising an anionic material.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 41 words

A method for ink jet printing according to claim 1, wherein said printability improving solution contains a cationic material comprising an ionic compound and a polymer, and said ink contains an anionic dye, or contains an anionic compound and a pigment.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method for ink jet printing according to claim 1, wherein said printability improving solution has a surface tension γ, in dyn/cm, within a range 30≦γ≧40.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method for ink jet printing according to claim 14, wherein said surface tension γ is within a range of 30≦γ≦38.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method for ink jet printing according to claim 14, wherein said surface tension γ is within a range of 30≦γ≦36.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method for ink jet printing according to claim 1, wherein said first ink contains a black coloring material.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 239 words

An ink jet printing apparatus for forming an image comprising a print head comprising: a first nozzle group discharging a first ink to develop a first color; a second nozzle group discharging a second ink to develop the first color; a third nozzle group discharging a printability improving solution having a faster rate of penetration into a printing medium compared to said first ink and said second ink to improve printability of said first ink and said second ink and containing a material to insolubilize or coagulate a coloring material in said first ink; said first nozzle group said second nozzle group and said third nozzle group being arranged in a relative moving direction of said print head to said printing medium, said third nozzle group being arranged between said first nozzle group and said second nozzle group, each of said first nozzle group, said second nozzle group, and said third nozzle group being operatively connected to a driver; wherein said ink jet printing apparatus further comprises a control unit operatively connected to said driver for controlling discharge operation of said first nozzle group, said second nozzle group and said third nozzle group such that said first nozzle group discharges said first ink onto said printing medium based on image data to form an image; said third nozzle group discharges said printability improving solution onto said image; and said second nozzle group discharges said second ink onto said image.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 239 words

An ink jet printing apparatus for forming an image comprising a print head comprising: a first nozzle group discharging a first ink to develop a first color; a second nozzle group discharging a second ink to develop the first color; a third nozzle group discharging a printability improving solution having a faster rate of penetration into a printing medium compared to said first ink and said second ink to improve printability of said first ink and said second ink and containing a material to insolubilize or coagulate a coloring material in said first ink; said first nozzle group said second nozzle group and said third nozzle group being arranged in a relative moving direction of said print head to said printing medium, said third nozzle group being arranged between said first nozzle group and said second nozzle group, each of said first nozzle group, said second nozzle group, and said third nozzle group being operatively connected to a driver; wherein said ink jet printing apparatus further comprises a control unit operatively connected to said driver for controlling discharge operation of said first nozzle group, said second nozzle group and said third nozzle group such that said first nozzle group discharges said first ink onto said printing medium based on image data to form an image; said third nozzle group discharges said printability improving solution onto said image; and said second nozzle group discharges said second ink onto said image.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 45 words

An ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein each of said first nozzle group, said second nozzle group and said third nozzle group is provided with a thermal energy generator for generating thermal energy to discharge said ink or said printability improving solution.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 35 words

An ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said printability improving solution contains a cationic material comprising an ionic compound and a polymer, and said ink contains a dye comprising an anionic material.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 40 words

An ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said printability improving solution contains a cationic material comprising an ionic compound and a polymer, and said ink contains an anionic dye, or contains an anionic compound and a pigment.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 25 words

An ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said printability improving solution has a surface tension γ, in dyn/cm, within a range 30≦γ≧40.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 20 words

An ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said surface tension γ is within a range of 30≦γ≦38.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 20 words

An ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said surface tension γ is within a range of 30≦γ≦36.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 18 words

An ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said first ink contains a black coloring material.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-06-13	2003-12-13	2004-06-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-06-13	2007-12-13	2008-06-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-06-13	2011-12-13	2012-06-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Ink jet printing method and ink jet recording apparatus

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