Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink-jet printing process using the same

Claim 2

An ink-jet printing apparatus applying an ink containing a pigment dispersed in an aqueous medium to a printing medium followed by applying a treatment liquid to react with the ink, said ink containing a first pigment selected from a self dispersing pigment having at least one anionic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment and a self-dispersing pigment having at least one cationic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment, a second pigment capable of being dispersed in an aqueous medium by a polymer dispersant, and at least one dispersant selected from a polymer dispersant having the same polarity as that of the group bonded to the surface of the first pigment and a nonionic polymer dispersant; and said ink-jet printing apparatus comprising application means for applying the ink and the treatment liquid separately to a printing medium to mix the ink and the treatment liquid with each other in a liquid state on the printing medium.

Claim 3

An ink-jet printing apparatus applying an ink containing a pigment dispersed in an aqueous medium to a printing medium followed by applying a treatment liquid to react with the ink, said ink containing a first pigment selected from a self-dispersing pigment having at least one anionic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment and a self-dispersing pigment having at least one cationic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment, a second pigment capable of being dispersed in an aqueous medium by a polymer dispersant, at least one dispersant selected from a polymer dispersant having the same polarity as that of the group bonded to the surface of the first pigment and a nonionic polymer dispersant; and said ink-jet printing apparatus comprising application means for applying the ink and the treatment liquid separately to a printing medium to mix the ink and the treatment liquid with each other in a liquid state on the printing medium followed by applying the ink to the ink and the treatment liquid mixed on the printing medium to further mix therewith on the recording medium in a liquid state.

Claim 4

An ink-jet printing apparatus applying an ink containing a pigment dispersed in an aqueous medium to a printing medium followed by applying a treatment liquid to react with the ink, said ink containing a first pigment selected from a self-dispersing pigment having at least one anionic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment and a self-dispersing pigment having at least one cationic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment, a second pigment capable of being dispersed in an aqueous medium by a polymer dispersant, at least one dispersant selected from a polymer dispersant having the same polarity as that of the group bonded to the surface of the first pigment and a nonionic polymer dispersant; and said ink-jet printing apparatus comprising application means for applying the ink and the treatment liquid separately to a printing medium to mix the ink and the treatment liquid with each other in a liquid state on the printing medium followed by applying the ink to the ink and the treatment liquid mixed on the printing medium to further mix therewith on the recording medium in a liquid state.

Claim 5

An ink-jet printing apparatus carrying out printing by ejecting an ink containing a pigment dispersed in an aqueous medium to a printing medium followed by ejecting a treatment liquid to react with the ink, using an ink-ejecting portion for ejecting the ink and a treatment-liquid-ejecting portion for ejecting the treatment liquid, said ink containing a first pigment selected from a self-dispersing pigment having at least one anionic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment and a self-dispersing pigment having at least one cationic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment, a second pigment capable of being dispersed in an aqueous medium by a polymer dispersant, and at least one dispersant selected from a polymer dispersant having the same polarity as that of the group bonded to the surface of the first pigment and a nonionic polymer dispersant; and said ink-jet printing apparatus comprising at least one pigment-based-ink-ejecting portion for ejecting the ink in the ink-ejecting portion; arrangement means for arranging the pigment-based-ink-ejecting portion and the treatment-liquid-ejecting portion in a prescribed relative position; and control means for relatively moving the respective ejecting portions to the printing medium, and for having the respective ejecting portions eject the ink and the treatment liquid respectively so as to mix the ink and the treatment liquid on the printing medium.

Claim 6

An ink-jet printing apparatus carrying out printing by ejecting an ink containing a pigment dispersed in an aqueous medium to a printing medium followed by ejecting a treatment liquid to react with the ink, using an ink-ejecting portion for ejecting the ink and a treatment-liquid-ejecting portion for ejecting the treatment liquid, said ink containing a first pigment selected from a self-dispersing pigment having at least one anionic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment and a self-dispersing pigment having at least one cationic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment, a second pigment capable of being dispersed in an aqueous medium by a polymer dispersant, and at least one dispersant selected from a polymer dispersant having the same polarity as that of the group bonded to the surface of the first pigment and a nonionic polymer dispersant; and said ink-jet printing apparatus comprising at least one pigment-based-ink-ejecting portion for ejecting the ink in the ink-ejecting portion; arrangement means for arranging the pigment-based-ink-ejecting portion and the treatment-liquid-ejecting portion in a prescribed relative position; and control means for relatively moving the respective ejecting portions to the printing medium, and for having the respective ejecting portions eject the ink and the treatment liquid respectively so as to mix the ink and the treatment liquid on the printing medium.

Claim 7

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein said anionic group is at least one selected from the group consisting of —COOM, —SO 3 M —PO 3 HM and —PO 3 M 2 (wherein M independently represents hydrogen atom, an alkali metal, ammonium, or an organic ammonium).

Claim 8

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein said cationic group is at least one selected from the following: —NH 3 + , —NR 3 + , —SO 2 NH 2 , —SO 2 NHCOR, (In the formulas, R independently represents a linear branched alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted naphthyl group).

Claim 9

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein said atomic group is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a phenyl group which may be substituted, and a naphthyl group which may be substituted.

Claim 10

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein 80% or more particles of said first pigment has a particle diameter of 0.05 to 0.3 μm.

Claim 11

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein 80% or more particles of said first pigment has a particle diameter of 0.1 to 0.25 μm.

Claim 12

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein said second pigment is dispersed by adsorbing a polymer dispersant in the surface thereof.

Claim 13

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein said polymer dispersant is at least one selected from the group consisting of a sulfonic acid type polymer dispersant and a carboxylic acid type polymer dispersant.

Claim 14

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein said second pigment contains at least two pigments having different structures.

Claim 15

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the ratio of said first pigment to said second pigment is within the range from 5/95 to 97/3.

Claim 16

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the ratio of said first pigment to said second pigment is within the range from 10/90 to 95/5.

Claim 17

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the ratio of said first pigment to said second pigment is within the range from 9/1 to 4/6.

Claim 18

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , where n said first pigment is contained at a content higher than that of said second pigment.

Claim 19

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein at least one of said first pigment and said second pigment is a carbon black.

Claim 20

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein said ink further contains a dye with the same polarity as that of the group bonded to the surface of said first pigment.

Claim 21

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the polarity of the group bonded to the surface of said first pigment is anionic, and said dye is an anionic dye.

Claim 22

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein said anionic dye is at least one selected from the group consisting of from an acidic dye, a direct dye, and a reactive dye.

Claim 23

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein said anionic dye has a skeletal structure selected from the group consisting of a disazo skeletal structure and trisazo skeletal structure.

Claim 24

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein said treatment liquid contains a compound having at least one group with the polarity opposite to that of the group bonded to the surface of said first pigment.

Claim 25

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein said treatment liquid contains a first compound having one group with the polarity opposite to that of the group bonded to the surface of said first pigment and a second compound having a plurality of groups with the polarity opposite to that of the group bonded to the surface of said first pigment.

Claim 26

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein said first compound is benzalkonium chloride and said second compound is polyallylamine.

Claim 27

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the ratio of said first compound and said second compound in said treatment liquid is substantially optimized.

Claim 28

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein said ink is a black ink.

Claim 29

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said arrangement means arranges said pigment-based-ink-ejecting portion and said treatment-liquid-ejecting portion in this order in a prescribed direction and said control means causes the respective ejecting portion to eject said ink and said treatment liquid in this order to a printing medium to subsequently mix said ink and said treatment liquid.

Claim 30

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said arrangement means comprises first and second pigment-based-ink-ejecting portions, and one treatment-liquid-ejecting portion, and said arrangement means arranges said first pigment-based-ink ejecting portion, said treatment-liquid ejection portion, and said second pigment-based-ink ejecting portion in this order in a prescribed direction, and said control means causes the respective ejecting portions to eject said pigment-based ink, said treatment liquid, and said pigment-based ink in this order to a printing medium to subsequently mix said pigment-based ink and said treatment liquid.

Claim 31

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said arrangement means further arranges a cyan-ink-ejecting portion for ejecting a cyan ink, a magenta-ink-ejecting portion for ejecting a magenta ink, and a yellow-ink-ejecting portion for ejecting a yellow ink successively to the arrangement position of said pigment-based-ink-ejecting portion and said treatment-liquid-ejecting portion.

Claim 32

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein said treatment liquid has a penetration rate of 5.0 (ml/m 2 ·msc ½ ) or higher as a Ka value measured by Bristow's method.

Claim 33

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said pigment-based-ink-ejecting portion and said treatment-liquid-ejecting portion respectively comprise an ink-ejecting port and a treatment-liquid-ejecting port positioned in a range coresponding to the whole width of the printing region in a relatively moving printing medium.

Claim 34

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising driving means for moving said pigment-based-ink-ejecting portion and said treatment-liquid-ejecting portion with respect to a printing medium while keeping the positioning relation of said pigment-based-ink-ejecting portion and said treatment-liquid-ejecting portion arranged by said arrangement means, wherein said control means controls said driving means to scan the respective ejecting portions with respect to a printing medium, thereby conducting the relative movement.

Claim 35

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said pigment-based-ink-ejecting portion and said treatment-liquid-ejecting portion generate bubbles in a mixed ink and a treatment liquid, respectively, by utilizing heat energy, thereby ejecting the mixed ink and the treatment liquid, respectively, by the pressure of the bubbles.

Claim 36

The ink-jet printing apparatus according to claim 29 , wherein said pigment-based ink has a penetration rate of less than 1.0 (ml/m 2 ·msc ½ ) as a Ka value measured by Bristow's method.

Claim 37

An ink-jet printing apparatus applying an ink containing a coloring material to a printing medium followed by applying a treatment liquid to make the coloring materials of the ink insoluble, said ink containing a first ink containing a first pigment selected from a self-dispersing pigment having at least one anionic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment and a self-dispersing pigment having at least one cationic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment, and a second ink containing a second pigment capable of being dispersed in an aqueous medium by a polymer dispersant and at least one dispersant selected from a polymer dispersant having the same polarity as that of the group bonded to the surface of the first pigment and a nonionic polymer dispersant, and said ink-jet printing apparatus comprising application means for applying said first ink, said second ink, and said treatment liquid separately to a printing medium to mix the first ink, the second ink, and the treatment liquid in a liquid state on said printing medium.

Claim 38

An ink-jet printing apparatus applying an ink containing a coloring material to a printing medium followed by applying a treatment liquid to make the coloring materials of the ink insoluble, said ink containing a first ink containing a first pigment selected from a self-dispersing pigment having at least one anionic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment and a self-dispersing pigment having at least one cationic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment, and a second ink containing a second pigment capable of being dispersed in an aqueous medium by a polymer dispersant and at least one dispersant selected from a polymer dispersant having the same polarity as that of the group bonded to the surface of the first pigment and a nonionic polymer dispersant, and said ink-jet printing apparatus comprising application means for applying said first ink, said second ink, and said treatment liquid separately to a printing medium to mix the first ink, the second ink, and the treatment liquid in a liquid state on said printing medium.

Claim 39

An ink-jet printing apparatus carrying out printing, using an ink-ejecting portion for ejecting an ink containing a coloring material to a printing medium and a treatment-liquid-ejecting portion for ejecting a treatment liquid for making the coloring material of the ink to be ejected by the ejecting portion insoluble, by ejecting the ink to a printing medium followed by ejecting the treatment liquid, said ink-ejecting portion comprising a first ink-ejecting portion for ejecting a first ink containing a first pigment selected from a self-dispersing pigment having at least one anionic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment and a self-dispersing pigment having at least one cationic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment; and a second ink-ejecting portion for ejecting a second ink containing a second pigment capable of being dispersed in an aqueous medium by a polymer dispersant and at least one dispersant selected from a polymer dispersant having the same polarity as that of the group bonded to the surface of the first pigment and a nonionic polymer dispersant, comprising: arrangement means for arranging said first ink-ejecting portion, said second ink-ejecting portion, and said treatment-liquid-ejecting portion in a prescribed relative position, and control means for relatively moving the respective ejecting portions to the printing medium, and for having the respective ejecting portions eject said first ink, said second ink, and said treatment liquid respectively so as to mix said first ink, said second ink, and said treatment liquid on the printing medium.

Claim 40

An ink-jet printing apparatus carrying out printing, using an ink-ejecting portion for ejecting an ink containing a coloring material to a printing medium and a treatment-liquid-ejecting portion for ejecting a treatment liquid for making the coloring material of the ink to be ejected by the ejecting portion insoluble, by ejecting the ink to a printing medium followed by ejecting the treatment liquid, said ink-ejecting portion comprising a first ink-ejecting portion for ejecting a first ink containing a first pigment selected from a self-dispersing pigment having at least one anionic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment and a self-dispersing pigment having at least one cationic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment; and a second ink-ejecting portion for ejecting a second ink containing a second pigment capable of being dispersed in an aqueous medium by a polymer dispersant and at least one dispersant selected from a polymer dispersant having the same polarity as that of the group bonded to the surface of the first pigment and a nonionic polymer dispersant, comprising: arrangement means for arranging said first ink-ejecting portion, said second ink-ejecting portion, and said treatment-liquid-ejecting portion in a prescribed relative position, and control means for relatively moving the respective ejecting portions to the printing medium, and for having the respective ejecting portions eject said first ink, said second ink, and said treatment liquid respectively so as to mix said first ink, said second ink, and said treatment liquid on the printing medium.

Claim 41

An ink-jet printing process including a process of recording images on a printing medium, said process comprising the steps of: (i) applying an ink on a printing medium by employing an ink-jet recording process; and (ii) applying a treatment liquid capable of reacting with the ink, wherein said ink contains a first pigment and a second pigment dispersed in an aqueous medium, said first pigment being selected from a self-dispersing pigment having at least one anionic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment and a self-dispersing pigment having at least one cationic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment and said second pigment being capable of being dispersed in an aqueous medium by a polymer dispersant, said ink further containing at least one dispersant selected from a polymer dispersant having the same polarity as that of the group bonded to the surface of said first pigment and a nonionic polymer dispersant, and wherein said step (ii) is conducted subsequently to said step (i) or substantially simultaneously with the step (i) so as to bring said ink and said treatment liquid into contact with each other in a liquid state on said printing medium.

Claim 42

An ink-jet printing process including a process of recording images on a printing medium, said process comprising the steps of: (i) applying an ink on a printing medium by employing an ink-jet recording process; and (ii) applying a treatment liquid capable of reacting with the ink, wherein said ink contains a first pigment and a second pigment dispersed in an aqueous medium, said first pigment being selected from a self-dispersing pigment having at least one anionic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment and a self-dispersing pigment having at least one cationic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment and said second pigment being capable of being dispersed in an aqueous medium by a polymer dispersant, said ink further containing at least one dispersant selected from a polymer dispersant having the same polarity as that of the group bonded to the surface of said first pigment and a nonionic polymer dispersant, and wherein said step (ii) is conducted subsequently to said step (i) or substantially simultaneously with the step (i) so as to bring said ink and said treatment liquid into contact with each other in a liquid state on said printing medium.

Claim 43

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 36 , further comprising a third step, subsequently to said first step and said second step, of applying said ink to said printing medium so as to mix said ink with the mixed liquid of said ink and said treatment liquid on said printing medium in a liquid state.

Claim 44

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 36 , wherein said treatment liquid has a penetration rate of 5.0 (ml/m 2 ·msc ½ ) or higher as a Ka value measured by Bristow's method.

Claim 45

The ink-jet printing process according to any one of claims 36 to 38 , wherein said ink has a penetration rate of less than 1 (ml/m 2 ·msc ½ ) as a Ka value measured by Bristow's method.

Claim 46

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 36 , wherein said anionic group is at least one selected from the group consisting of —COOM, —SO 3 M, —PO 3 HM and —PO 3 M 2 (wherein M independently represents hydrogen atom, an alkali metal, ammonium, or an organic ammonium).

Claim 47

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 36 , wherein said cationic group is at least one selected from the following: —NH 3 + , —NR 3 + , —SO 2 NH 2 , —SO 2 NHCOR, (In the formulas, R independently represents a linear branched alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted naphthyl group).

Claim 48

The ink-jet painting process according to claim 36 , wherein said atomic group is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a phenyl group which may be substituted, and a naphthyl group which may be substituted.

Claim 49

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 36 , wherein 80% or more particles of said first pigment has a particle diameter of 0.05 to 0.3 μm.

Claim 50

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 36 , wherein 80% or more particle of said first pigment has a particle diameter of 0.1 to 0.25 μm.

Claim 51

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 36 , wherein said second pigment is dispersed by adsorbing a polymer dispersant in the surface thereof.

Claim 52

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 36 , wherein said polymer dispersant is at least one selected from the group consisting of a sulfonic acid type polymer dispersant and a carboxylic acid type polymer dispersant.

Claim 53

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 36 , wherein said second pigment contains at least two pigments having different structures.

Claim 54

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 36 , wherein the ratio of said first pigment to said second pigment is within the range from 5/95 to 97/3.

Claim 55

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 36 , wherein the ratio of said first pigment to said second pigment is within the range from 10/90 to 95/5.

Claim 56

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 36 , wherein the ratio of said first pigment to said second pigment is within the range from 9/1 to 4/6.

Claim 57

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 36 , wherein said first pigment is contained at a content higher than that of said second pigment.

Claim 58

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 36 , wherein at least one of said first pigment and said second pigment is a carbon black.

Claim 59

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 36 , wherein said ink further contains a dye with the same polarity as that of the group bonded to the surface of said first pigment.

Claim 60

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 53 , wherein the polarity of the group bonded to the surface of said first pigment is anionic, and said dye is an anionic dye.

Claim 61

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 54 , wherein said anionic dye is at least one selected from the group consisting an acidic dye, a direct dye, and a reactive dye.

Claim 62

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 54 , wherein said anionic dye has a skeletal structure selected from a disazo skeletal structure and a trisazo skeletal structure.

Claim 63

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 36 , wherein said treatment liquid contains a compound having at least one group with the polarity opposite to that of the group bonded to the surface of said first pigment.

Claim 64

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 36 , wherein said treatment liquid contains a first compound having one group with the polarity opposite to that of the group bonded to the surface of said first pigment and a second compound having a plurality of groups with the polarity opposite to that of the group bonded to the surface of said first pigment.

Claim 65

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 58 , wherein said first compound is benzalkonium chloride and said second compound is polyallylamine.

Claim 66

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 58 or 59 , wherein the ratio of said first compound and said second compound in said treatment liquid is substantially optimized for the composition of said ink.

Claim 67

An ink-jet printing process comprising the steps of applying a first ink, a second ink, and a treatment liquid reactable with at least one of said first and second ink in such a manner that the respective first ink, second ink and treatment liquid are brought into contact with on the surface of a printing medium in a liquid state, wherein said first ink contains a first pigment selected from a self-dispersing pigment having at least one anionic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of said first pigment and a self-dispersing pigment having at least one cationic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment, said second ink contains a second pigment capable of being dispersed in an aqueous medium by a polymer dispersant and at least one dispersant selected from a polymer dispersant having the same polarity as that of the group bonded to the surface of the self-dispersing pigment and a nonionic polymer dispersant, said treatment liquid containing a compound having the opposed polarity to that of the group bonded to the surface of the self-dispersing pigment, and said treatment liquid being applied after applying at least one of said first ink and said second ink to a printing medium.

Claim 68

An ink-jet printing process comprising the steps of applying a first ink, a second ink, and a treatment liquid reactable with at least one of said first and second ink in such a manner that the respective first ink, second ink and treatment liquid are brought into contact with on the surface of a printing medium in a liquid state, wherein said first ink contains a first pigment selected from a self-dispersing pigment having at least one anionic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of said first pigment and a self-dispersing pigment having at least one cationic group bonded directly or through another atomic group to the surface of the first pigment, said second ink contains a second pigment capable of being dispersed in an aqueous medium by a polymer dispersant and at least one dispersant selected from a polymer dispersant having the same polarity as that of the group bonded to the surface of the self-dispersing pigment and a nonionic polymer dispersant, said treatment liquid containing a compound having the opposed polarity to that of the group bonded to the surface of the self-dispersing pigment, and said treatment liquid being applied after applying at least one of said first ink and said second ink to a printing medium.

Claim 69

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 61 , wherein said treatment liquid is applied to a printing medium after application of said first ink and said second ink.

Claim 70

The ink-jet printing process according to claim 61 , wherein either one of said first ink and said second ink is applied to a printing medium followed by applying said treatment liquid and applying the other ink.