JP2013078922A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus in which an image is formed on a recording medium, and the surface of the layer where the image is formed is covered by covering layers different in surface properties.SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming part which writes the image with the ink in a first layer that is formed by supplying a first liquid that cures by giving a first stimulus, to a first moving body peripheral surface in layers, cures the first layer by giving the first stimulus, starts the transfer to the recording medium of the first layer before the curing is completed at the latest, fixes the first layer on this recording medium by this transfer; and a coating part that cures by giving a second stimulus to a second layer that is formed by supplying the second liquid that cures by giving the second stimulus in layers on the second moving body peripheral surface that has the peripheral surface different from the peripheral surface of the first moving body, starts the transfer above the first layer of the recording medium of the second layer, at the latest the completion of the curing, and coat the first layer by the second layer by this transfer.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  A curable solution containing at least a curable material that is cured by an external stimulus is supplied onto the intermediate transfer member to form a curable solution layer, and ink is applied to the curable solution layer formed on the intermediate transfer member. The curable solution layer to which the ink has been applied is brought into contact with the recording medium, and a stimulus for curing the curable solution layer is applied to the curable solution layer immediately before and during contact with the curable solution layer and the recording medium. A recording apparatus that supplies and transfers a curable solution layer from an intermediate transfer member to a recording medium has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-226805 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which an image is formed on a recording medium and the surface of the layer on which the image is formed is coated with a coating layer having different surface properties.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 comprises:
A first moving body that moves around;
First layer formation for forming a first layer on the first moving body by supplying a first liquid that cures by applying a first stimulus to the peripheral surface of the first moving body. And
An image writing unit for writing an image with ink on the first layer formed on the first moving body;
A first stimulus applying unit that cures the first layer by applying the first stimulus to the first layer after the image is written by the image writing unit;
At the latest, transfer of the first layer to the recording medium is started before the curing of the first layer which has received the first stimulus given by the first stimulus applying unit is completed. An image forming unit having a first transfer unit that fixes the first layer on the recording medium by
A second moving body having a peripheral surface having a surface property different from the peripheral surface of the first moving body and moving around,
Second layer formation for forming a second layer on the second moving body by supplying a second liquid that is cured by applying a second stimulus to the peripheral surface of the second moving body in layers. And
A second stimulus applying unit that cures the second layer by applying the second stimulus to the second layer;
At the latest, before the curing of the second layer that has received the second stimulus given by the second stimulus applying unit is completed, the transfer of the first layer of the second layer is received. A recording portion having a second transfer portion that starts transfer of the recording medium onto the first layer and covers the first layer with the second layer by the transfer; and A recording medium transporting means is provided for transporting through a transport path passing through the first transfer section and further through the second transfer section.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including a second image writing unit that writes an image with ink on a second layer formed on the second moving body.

An image forming apparatus according to claim 3 is provided.
An area designating unit for designating a first area in which the second layer is to be formed with respect to the second layer forming unit;
The second layer forming unit forms the second layer in a first region designated by the region designating unit on the peripheral surface of the second moving body.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first region of the peripheral surface of the second moving body has a relatively higher affinity for the second liquid than at least a region around the first region. It is a region.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 5
The first stimulus and the second stimulus are ultraviolet rays,
The first stimulus applying unit and the second stimulus applying unit irradiate ultraviolet rays.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the image is formed on the recording medium, and the surface of the first layer on which the image is formed can be covered with the second layer having a surface property different from that of the first layer. .

  According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect, an image can be additionally formed on the recording medium on which the image is formed.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect, a desired region of the surface of the recording medium can be covered with the second layer.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect, as compared with the case where the second moving body of the present configuration is not provided, a desired region of the surface of the recording medium can be covered with the second layer with high accuracy. it can.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the fifth aspect, the apparatus structure is simple compared to the case where the first stimulus applying unit and the second stimulus applying unit different from the present configuration are provided.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows 2nd Embodiment of the image forming apparatus of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows 3rd Embodiment of the image forming apparatus of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows 4th Embodiment of the image forming apparatus of this invention. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a part of a peripheral surface of a second intermediate transfer belt shown in FIG. 4.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

  An image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called ink jet recording type image forming apparatus that ejects ink and forms an image with ink on a recording medium such as paper, cloth, or film. As the ink, liquid ink or molten solid ink is used. The ink is ejected from, for example, a nozzle, a slit, or a porous film. As for the method for ejecting the ink, a so-called charge control method in which ink is ejected using electrostatic attraction, and a so-called drop-on-demand method (pressure in which ink is ejected using the vibration pressure of a piezo element). A method selected from various methods such as a pulsed method) and a so-called thermal ink jet method in which ink is ejected using pressure generated by forming and growing bubbles by high heat is applied.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming unit 10, a covering unit 20, and a recording medium conveying unit 30.

  First, the image forming unit 10 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 10 includes a first intermediate transfer belt 11, an image writing layer forming unit 13, a first image writing unit 14, a first ultraviolet irradiation unit 16, A first transfer unit 17 and a first cleaning unit 18 are provided. The image forming unit 10 corresponds to an example of the image forming unit referred to in the present invention. The image writing layer forming unit 13, the first image writing unit 14, the first transfer unit 17, and the first cleaning unit 18 are arranged around the first intermediate transfer belt 11 around the first intermediate transfer belt 11. 11 are arranged in this order from the upstream side in the circumferential movement direction (arrow A direction). The first ultraviolet irradiation unit 16 is disposed inside the first intermediate transfer belt 11 and at a position facing the first transfer unit 17.

  The first intermediate transfer belt 11 is an endless belt-like member that is supported by belt support rolls 111, 112, 113 and a drive roll 114, and whose peripheral surface moves in the direction of arrow A when the drive roll 114 is driven. is there. The first intermediate transfer belt 11 has a base and a release layer formed on the outer surface of the base. The first intermediate transfer belt 11 may be a single layer as long as the base itself has a releasability. Moreover, the base and the release layer may each have a plurality of layers. This release layer is a layer of a material having a so-called release property. For this reason, the adhesion of the outer surface (surface) of the release layer is significantly lower than the adhesion of the surface of the recording medium 60 on which an image is recorded. The outer surface of the release layer is the peripheral surface of the first intermediate transfer belt 11. Specifically, the surface property of the peripheral surface of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 is, for example, a smooth surface. Since the peripheral surface of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 is a smooth surface, a high gloss glossy recorded matter can be obtained after the recording medium 60 passes through the first transfer space 15. The first intermediate transfer belt 11 having high gloss corresponds to an example of the first moving body according to the present invention.

  Here, the first ultraviolet irradiation unit 16 performs the first intermediate transfer in a state where the image writing layer 41 is sandwiched between the recording medium 60 and the first intermediate transfer belt 11 in the first transfer space 15. The cured image writing layer 42 in which the image writing layer 41 is cured is formed by irradiating the image writing layer 41 with ultraviolet rays through the belt 11. Although detailed description will be given later, the image writing layer 41 is a layer of the first liquid 40 supplied in a layered manner to the circumferential surface of the first intermediate transfer belt 11. This 1st ultraviolet irradiation part 16 is equivalent to an example of the 1st irritation | stimulation provision part said to this invention. Specifically, the first ultraviolet irradiation unit 16 includes, for example, 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, A xenon lamp, a UV-LED, or the like is applied.

  As described above, since the first ultraviolet irradiation unit 16 is provided inside the first intermediate transfer belt 11, the ultraviolet rays pass through the first intermediate transfer belt 11 and then are applied to the image writing layer 41. Irradiated. The base of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 is made of a material having a high ultraviolet transmittance so that the image writing layer 41 is efficiently irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Specifically, the ultraviolet transmittance of the base portion of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 is 50% or more in the peak wavelength region of the curing light source. For example, when a UV-LED (peak wavelength: 385 nm) is used as the first ultraviolet irradiation unit 16, the transmittance at 385 nm was measured. Similarly, the transmittance was also measured at each peak wavelength in the various light sources applied as the first ultraviolet irradiation unit 16. An ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer (model number V-560) manufactured by JASCO Corporation was used for measuring the transmittance. Further, the base portion of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 has high durability against ultraviolet rays.

  Since the ultraviolet transmittance of the base portion of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 is 50% or more, the ultraviolet energy necessary for the curing reaction of the first liquid 40 is efficiently supplied to the image writing layer 41 and the first The base portion of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 absorbs ultraviolet rays, and deterioration of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 due to light deterioration, ozone deterioration, or the like is suppressed. Specific examples of the material forming the base of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 include ETFE (ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer), transparent polyimide film, polyolefin film, and cyclic olefin film. PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film, PES (polyether sulfone) film, and the like.

  Examples of the material used for the release layer of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 include a fluorine resin material. Specifically, for example, a fluorine resin, a fluorine-modified urethane, a silicone resin, and a copolymer are used. Powder paint or resin tube such as fluororubber, fluororesin-copolymerized vinyl ether, PFA (tetrafluoroethylene perfluoroalkoxy resin), FEP (tetrafluoroethylene / hexafluoropropylene copolymer paint), PTFE (4-fluoroethylene) Ethylene fluoride paint, PTFE-dispersed urethane paint, ETFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) tube, PVdF (polyvinylidene fluoride), PHV (polytetrafluorovinylidene), PFA (polyperfluoroalkyl) resin material, and the like. Among these, it is preferable to use a material having high ultraviolet transmittance. Moreover, when using a material with low ultraviolet-transmitting property, it is preferable to reduce the thickness of the release layer.

  The image writing layer forming unit 13 supplies an image on the first intermediate transfer belt 11 by supplying the first liquid 40 that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays in a layered manner to the peripheral surface of the first intermediate transfer belt 11. The writing layer 41 is formed. As shown in FIG. 1, the image writing layer forming unit 13 is disposed outside the first intermediate transfer belt 11 and at a position facing the driving roll 114 in order to stabilize the application of the first liquid 40. The image writing layer forming unit 13 corresponds to an example of the first layer forming unit referred to in the present invention. The ultraviolet rays correspond to an example of the first stimulus according to the present invention, the first liquid 40 corresponds to an example of the first liquid according to the present invention, and the image writing layer 41 corresponds to the present invention. This corresponds to an example of the first layer. Specifically, as the image writing layer forming unit 13, for example, a known supply method (coating method: for example, die coater, bar coater coating, spray coating, inkjet coating, air knife coating, A device using a blade method, a comma coater, a flow coater method, a roll method, or the like is applied. Here, in addition to the ultraviolet curable material that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays, the first liquid 40 includes four inkjet recording heads 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K in the first image writing unit 14 described later. Also included is a material for fixing the ink 141 ejected from the ink. The material for immobilizing the ink 141 is, for example, a liquid-absorbing material that has liquid absorbency with respect to the ink 141. As the liquid-absorbing material, for example, a liquid-absorbing resin or surface ink affinity is given. Examples include inorganic particles.

  The first image writing unit 14 ejects the ink 141 to the image writing layer 41 formed on the first intermediate transfer belt 11 by the image writing layer forming unit 13, whereby the image writing layer 41 An image is written with ink 141. The first image writing unit 14 corresponds to an example of the image writing unit referred to in the present invention. More specifically, four inkjet recording heads 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K that are responsible for image formation of different colors are arranged along the circumferential movement direction (arrow A direction) of the first intermediate transfer belt 11, Each of the images is formed by sequentially superposing the ink 141 of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). As a result, a color image is formed. Specifically, as the inkjet recording heads 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K, for example, an image in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged side by side in a direction intersecting with the circumferential movement direction (arrow A direction) of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 is arranged. The width of the recording medium 60 in the direction intersecting with the line type ink jet recording head having a width equal to or larger than the width of the recording medium 60 to be recorded or the circumferential movement direction (arrow A direction) of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 For example, a scanning type ink jet recording head in which an ink jet recording head is mounted on a carriage that scans over an equal or larger width is used.

  The first transfer space 15 is a space in which the image writing layer 41 after the image is written with the ink 141 by the first image writing unit 14 is sandwiched between the recording medium 60 and the first intermediate transfer belt 11. It is.

  As described above, the first transfer unit 17 is disposed at a position facing the first ultraviolet irradiation unit 16, and a pressure roll 171 that pressurizes the recording medium 60 from the back side, and recording before and after pressing. And a support 172 that supports the medium 60 from the back side. The first transfer unit 17 performs transfer in the first transfer space 15. That is, when the image writing layer 41 enters the first transfer space 15, transfer of the image writing layer 41 to the recording medium 60 is started. After starting the transfer, the first ultraviolet irradiation unit 16 applies ultraviolet rays to the image writing layer 41 in a state where the recording medium 60 is pressurized from the back side by the pressure roll 171 of the first transfer unit 17. Is irradiated. The cured image writing layer 42 is fixed to the surface of the recording medium 60 when the image writing layer 41 is cured by the ultraviolet irradiation to become the cured image writing layer 42. Thereafter, when the recording medium 60 passes through the first transfer space 15, the cured image writing layer 42 is strongly attracted to the fixed recording medium 60 side. On the other hand, since the adherence to the first intermediate transfer belt 11 having the release layer is low, the cured image writing layer 42 is separated from the first intermediate transfer belt 11, and the surface of the recording medium 60 is cured image writing. Covered with an embedded layer 42. Further, the image written by the first image writing unit 14 is recorded on the recording medium 60 as a result of the first transfer device 17 covering the surface of the recording medium 60 with the cured image writing layer 42. This completes the transfer. The combination of the first transfer unit 17 and the first transfer space 15 corresponds to an example of the first transfer unit referred to in the present invention.

  The first cleaning unit 18 removes the first liquid 40 remaining on the peripheral surface of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 after being covered by the first transfer unit 17.

  Next, the covering part 20 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the covering portion 20 includes a second intermediate transfer belt 21, a covering layer forming portion 23, a second ultraviolet irradiation portion 26, a second transfer device 27, and a second cleaning portion. 28. This coating | coated part 20 is equivalent to an example of the coating | coated part said to this invention. The covering layer forming unit 23, the second transfer unit 27, and the second cleaning unit 28 are arranged around the second intermediate transfer belt 21 in the circumferential movement direction (arrow C direction) of the second intermediate transfer belt 21. Arranged in this order from the upstream side. In addition, the second ultraviolet irradiation unit 26 is disposed inside the second intermediate transfer belt 21 and at a position facing the second transfer unit 27.

  The second intermediate transfer belt 21 is an endless belt-like member that is supported by belt support rolls 211, 212, 213 and a drive roll 214, and whose peripheral surface moves in the direction of arrow C when the drive roll 214 is driven. is there. The second intermediate transfer belt 21 has a base and a release layer formed on the outer surface of the base. Note that the second intermediate transfer belt 21 may be a single layer as long as the base itself has a releasability. Moreover, the base and the release layer may each have a plurality of layers (an adhesive layer, an adhesive layer, a corona discharge treatment layer, etc.). This release layer is a layer of a material having releasability with respect to so-called ultraviolet curable resin, ink, dirt, and external deposits. For this reason, the adherence of the outer surface (surface) of the release layer is significantly lower than the adherence of the cured image writing layer 42 of the recording medium 60 on which the image is recorded by the image forming unit 10 described above. The outer surface of the release layer is the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21. The surface property of the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 is different from the surface property of the peripheral surface of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 of the image forming unit 10. A surface (embossed, matte, embossed, lens shaped, etc.). Since the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 is an uneven surface, the recording medium 60 that has received the transfer of the image writing layer 41 passes through the second transfer space 25 and then has a mat, emboss, or lens shape. A recorded material with an uneven surface such as can be obtained. The second intermediate transfer belt 21 corresponds to an example of the second moving body referred to in the present invention.

  Here, the second ultraviolet irradiation unit 26 is configured so that the coating layer 51 is sandwiched between the recording medium 60 and the second intermediate transfer belt 21 in the second transfer space 25, and the second intermediate transfer belt 21. The cured coating layer 52 formed by curing the coating layer 51 is formed by irradiating the coating layer 51 with ultraviolet rays. Although detailed description will be given later, the coating layer 51 is a layer of the second liquid 50 that is supplied in a layered manner to the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21. This 2nd ultraviolet irradiation part 26 is equivalent to an example of the 2nd irritation | stimulation provision part said to this invention. As the second ultraviolet irradiation unit 26, the specific light source described above is applied in the same manner as the first ultraviolet irradiation unit 16 of the image forming unit 10. In addition, the same kind of light source may be used for the 1st ultraviolet irradiation part 16 and the 2nd ultraviolet irradiation part 26, or another kind of light source may be used.

  As described above, since the second ultraviolet irradiation unit 26 is provided inside the second intermediate transfer belt 21, the ultraviolet rays are applied to the coating layer 51 after passing through the second intermediate transfer belt 21. The The base of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 is made of a material having high ultraviolet transparency so that the coating layer 51 can be irradiated with ultraviolet rays efficiently. Specifically, the ultraviolet transmittance of the base portion of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 is 50% or more, more preferably 80% or more in the peak wavelength region of the curing light source. For example, when a UV-LED (peak wavelength: 385 nm) is used as the second ultraviolet irradiation unit 26, the transmittance at 385 nm was measured. Similarly, the transmittance was also measured at each peak wavelength in the various light sources applied as the second ultraviolet irradiation unit 26. An ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer (model number V-560) manufactured by JASCO Corporation was used for measuring the transmittance. Further, the base portion of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 has high durability against ultraviolet rays.

  When the ultraviolet transmittance of the base portion of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 is 50% or more, the ultraviolet energy necessary for the curing reaction of the second liquid 50 is efficiently supplied to the coating layer 51, and the second The base portion of the intermediate transfer belt 21 absorbs ultraviolet rays, and deterioration of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 due to light deterioration, ozone deterioration, or the like is suppressed. Examples of the material for forming the base portion of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 include the specific materials described above, similarly to the material for forming the base portion of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 of the image forming portion 10. . Further, as the material used for the release layer of the second intermediate transfer belt 21, the above-described specific materials are used in the same manner as the material used for the release layer of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 of the image forming unit 10. Is mentioned.

  The coating layer forming unit 23 supplies the second liquid 50 that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays in a layered manner to the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21, so that the coating layer 51 is formed on the second intermediate transfer belt 21. Is formed. As shown in FIG. 1, the coating layer forming portion 23 is disposed on the outer side of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 and at a position facing the driving roll 214 in order to stabilize the application of the second liquid 50. The covering layer forming portion 23 corresponds to an example of the second layer forming portion referred to in the present invention. In addition, ultraviolet rays correspond to an example of the second stimulus referred to in the present invention, the second liquid 50 corresponds to an example of the second liquid referred to in the present invention, and the coating layer 51 refers to the first stimulus referred to in the present invention. This corresponds to an example of two layers. As the covering layer forming unit 23, as in the image writing layer forming unit 13 of the image forming unit 10, an apparatus using the above-described specific known supply method is applied.

  The second transfer space 25 is formed between the recording medium 60 and the second intermediate transfer belt 21 in which the coating layer 51 has received the transfer of the image writing layer 41 by the first transfer unit 17 in the image forming unit 10 described above. It is a space to be sandwiched.

  As described above, the second transfer unit 27 is disposed at a position facing the second ultraviolet irradiation unit 26, and a pressure roll 271 that pressurizes the recording medium 60 from the back side, and recording before and after pressing. And a support 272 that supports the medium 60 from the back side. The second transfer device 27 performs transfer in the second transfer space 25. That is, when the coating layer 51 enters the second transfer space 25, the cured image writing layer in which the image writing layer 41 of the recording medium 60 that has received the transfer of the image writing layer 41 of the coating layer 51 is cured. The transfer onto 42 is started. After the start of the transfer, the second ultraviolet irradiation unit 26 irradiates the coating layer 51 with ultraviolet rays while the recording medium 60 is pressurized from the back side by the pressure roll 271 of the second transfer unit 27. Is done. The cured coating layer 52 is fixed to the cured image writing layer 42 of the recording medium 60 when the coating layer 51 is cured by the ultraviolet irradiation to become the cured coating layer 52. Thereafter, when the recording medium 60 passes through the second transfer space 25, the cured coating layer 52 is strongly attracted to the fixed recording medium 60 side. On the other hand, since the adhesion to the second intermediate transfer belt 21 having the release layer is low, the cured coating layer 52 is separated from the second intermediate transfer belt 21, and the cured image writing layer 42 of the recording medium 60 is removed. Covered with a cured coating layer 52. This completes the transfer. The combination of the second transfer device 27 and the second transfer space 25 corresponds to an example of a second transfer portion according to the present invention.

  The second cleaning unit 28 removes the second liquid 50 remaining on the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 after being covered by the second transfer unit 27.

  Next, the recording medium transport unit 30 will be described.

  The recording medium conveying means 30 includes a recording medium conveying belt 31 whose peripheral surface moves in the direction of arrow B. The recording medium conveyance belt 31 is an endless belt-like member supported by belt support rolls 311, 312, 313, 314, 315 and 316. The recording medium conveyance belt 31 is disposed outside the first intermediate transfer belt 11 and the second intermediate transfer belt 21 and outside the first transfer unit 17 and the second transfer unit 27. The recording medium conveyance belt 31 conveys the recording medium 60 through a conveyance path that passes through the first transfer space 15 and further passes through the second transfer space 25. The recording medium conveying means 30 corresponds to an example of the recording medium conveying means according to the present invention.

  Hereinafter, an operation of recording an image on the recording medium 60 and an operation of covering by the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

  First, an image recording operation on the recording medium 60 by the image forming unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

  The first intermediate transfer belt 11 rotates in the direction of arrow A when the drive roll 114 is driven while being supported by the belt support rolls 111, 112, 113 and the drive roll 114.

  The image writing layer 41 is formed on the first intermediate transfer belt 11 by supplying the first liquid 40 to the circumferential surface of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 by the image writing layer forming unit 13.

  Next, the ink 141 is ejected to the image writing layer 41 from the four inkjet recording heads 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K in the first image writing unit 14, whereby the ink 141 is applied to the image writing layer 41. To write the image. The image writing layer 41 on which the image has been written in this way is sent to the first transfer space 15 by the circular movement of the first intermediate transfer belt 11.

  On the other hand, although not shown, the recording medium 60 on which an image is recorded is taken out from the recording medium container and conveyed to the first transfer space 15. The recording medium 60 is held and conveyed on the circumferential surface of the recording medium conveying belt 31 of the recording medium conveying means 30, and passes through the first transfer space 15 as the recording medium conveying belt 31 rotates.

  The image writing layer 41 after the image is written with the ink 141 by the first image writing unit 14 is sandwiched between the transported recording medium 60 and the first intermediate transfer belt 11 in the first transfer space 15. It is. At this time, the surface of the image writing layer 41 on which the image is written comes into contact with the surface of the recording medium 60. Further, the first transfer unit 17 performs transfer in the first transfer space 15. That is, when the image writing layer 41 enters the first transfer space 15, transfer of the image writing layer 41 to the recording medium 60 is started. Then, the recording medium 60 is pressurized from the back side by the pressure roll 171 of the first transfer device 17, and the image writing layer 41 and the recording medium 60 are in close contact with each other. After the start of the transfer, the first ultraviolet irradiation unit is in a state where the image writing layer 41 is sandwiched between the recording medium 60 and the first intermediate transfer belt 11 and the recording medium 60 is pressurized from the back side. 16, the image writing layer 41 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays through the first intermediate transfer belt 11. The cured image writing layer 42 is formed by the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays.

  On the contact surface of the image writing layer 41 that contacts the surface of the recording medium 60, an image is written with the ink 141 by the first image writing unit 14. The ultraviolet rays irradiated from the first ultraviolet irradiation unit 16 pass through the first intermediate transfer belt 11 and are supplied to the image writing layer 41 to form a cured image writing layer 42. As described above, since the ultraviolet transmittance of the base portion of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 is 50% or more, the ultraviolet energy necessary for the curing reaction of the first liquid 40 is efficiently applied to the image writing layer 41. Supplied.

  As described above, since the image writing layer 41 is in close contact with the recording medium 60, the cured image writing layer 42 obtained by curing the image writing layer 41 is fixed to the recording medium 60. As a result, the image of the ink 141 is stably recorded on the recording medium 60 in a state protected by the cured image writing layer 42. Such image recording stability depends on the adhesion between the cured image writing layer 42 and the recording medium 60 and does not depend on the ink 141. For this reason, this image recording has a high degree of freedom in selecting the recording medium 60.

  After the ultraviolet irradiation, the recording medium 60 and the cured image writing layer 42 pass through the first transfer space 15 as the recording medium conveyance belt 31 and the first intermediate transfer belt 11 move. The cured image writing layer 42 is separated from the first intermediate transfer belt 11, and the surface of the recording medium 60 is covered with the cured image writing layer 42.

  As described above, since the release layer is formed on the first intermediate transfer belt 11, the cured image writing layer 42 becomes the first intermediate when the recording medium 60 passes through the first transfer space 15. Separated from the transfer belt 11, the cured image writing layer 42 is transferred from the peripheral surface of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 to the surface of the recording medium 60. In addition, since the image is written with the ink 141 by the first image writing unit 14 on the contact surface of the image writing layer 41 that contacts the surface of the recording medium 60, the first image writing unit 14. Is recorded on the recording medium 60 as a result of covering the surface of the recording medium 60 with the cured image writing layer 42 by the first transfer unit 17.

  Further, as described above, since the peripheral surface of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 is a smooth surface, the surface of the cured image writing layer 42 covering the recording medium 60 is the smooth surface of the first intermediate transfer belt 11. The circumference is copied to give a glossy surface with high gloss.

  The recording medium 60 on which an image is recorded by the image forming unit 10 via the first transfer space 15 is conveyed to the second transfer space 25 by the circular movement of the recording medium conveyance belt 31.

  Further, after the transfer by the first transfer unit 17, the first liquid 40 remaining on the peripheral surface of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 is removed by the first cleaning unit 18.

  Next, the covering operation by the covering portion 20 of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

  The second intermediate transfer belt 21 rotates in the direction of arrow C when the driving roll 214 is driven while being supported by the belt supporting rolls 211, 212, 213 and the driving roll 214.

  A coating layer 51 is formed on the second intermediate transfer belt 21 by supplying the second liquid 50 to the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 by the coating layer forming unit 23. The covering layer 51 is sent to the second transfer space 25 by the circular movement of the second intermediate transfer belt 21.

  On the other hand, as described above, the recording medium 60 on which an image is recorded by the image forming unit 10 is conveyed to the second transfer space 25 through the first transfer space 15. The recording medium 60 is held and conveyed on the circumferential surface of the recording medium conveying belt 31 of the recording medium conveying means 30, and passes through the second transfer space 25 as the recording medium conveying belt 31 rotates.

  The covering layer 51 is sandwiched between the transported recording medium 60 and the second intermediate transfer belt 21 in the second transfer space 25. The second transfer device 27 performs transfer in the second transfer space 25. That is, when the coating layer 51 enters the second transfer space 25, the cured image writing layer in which the image writing layer 41 of the recording medium 60 that has received the transfer of the image writing layer 41 of the coating layer 51 is cured. Begin transferring onto 42. Then, the recording medium 60 is pressurized from the back side by the pressure roll 271 of the second transfer device 27, and the coating layer 51 and the recording medium 60 are in close contact with each other. After the start of such transfer, the coating layer 51 is sandwiched between the recording medium 60 and the second intermediate transfer belt 21 and the recording medium 60 is pressed from the back side. Then, the coating layer 51 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays through the second intermediate transfer belt 21. And the hardening coating layer 52 is formed by the irradiation of the ultraviolet-ray.

  The ultraviolet rays irradiated from the second ultraviolet irradiation unit 26 pass through the second intermediate transfer belt 21 and are supplied to the coating layer 51 to form the cured coating layer 52. As described above, since the ultraviolet transmittance of the base portion of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 is 50% or more, the ultraviolet energy necessary for the curing reaction of the second liquid 50 is efficiently supplied to the coating layer 51. The

  After the ultraviolet irradiation, the recording medium 60 and the cured coating layer 52 pass through the second transfer space 25 as the recording medium conveyance belt 31 and the second intermediate transfer belt 21 move. Then, the cured coating layer 52 is separated from the second intermediate transfer belt 21, and the cured image writing layer 42 of the recording medium 60 is coated with the cured coating layer 52.

  As described above, since the release layer is formed on the second intermediate transfer belt 21, the cured coating layer 52 becomes the second intermediate transfer belt when the recording medium 60 passes through the second transfer space 25. The cured coating layer 52 is transferred from the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 onto the cured image writing layer 42 of the recording medium 60.

  As described above, since the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 is an uneven surface, the surface of the cured coating layer 52 covering the cured image writing layer 42 of the recording medium 60 is the second intermediate transfer. The uneven surface of the belt 21 is copied to form an uneven surface. That is, irregularities are formed on the surface of the cured coating layer 52 that covers the cured image writing layer 42 of the recording medium 60, and surface properties such as a mat, emboss, and lens shape are obtained due to surface irregular reflection due to the irregularities. The surface texture is determined to be matte or embossed depending on the roughness of the concavo-convex pattern on the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21.

  The recording medium 60 in which the cured image writing layer 42 is coated with the cured coating layer 52 by the coating unit 20 by passing through the second transfer space 25 is conveyed by the recording medium conveyance belt 31, and is not illustrated thereafter. Is discharged out of the apparatus.

  In addition, after the transfer by the second transfer unit 27, the second liquid 50 remaining on the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 is removed by the second cleaning unit 28.

  This is the end of the description of the first embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and the second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described below. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment described above in that the covering unit further includes a second image writing unit.

  In the following, the same elements as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated description will be omitted, and description will be made focusing on differences from the first embodiment.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 2 is also an ink jet recording type image forming apparatus similar to the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 2 includes an image forming unit 10, a covering unit 20, and a recording medium transport unit 30.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the covering unit 20 includes a second intermediate transfer belt 21, a covering layer forming unit 23, a second image writing unit 24, a second ultraviolet irradiation unit 26, and a second A transfer unit 27 and a second cleaning unit 28 are provided. This covering portion 20 also corresponds to an example of the covering portion referred to in the present invention. The covering layer forming unit 23, the second image writing unit 24, the second transfer unit 27, and the second cleaning unit 28 are arranged around the second intermediate transfer belt 21 on the second intermediate transfer belt 21. They are arranged in this order from the upstream side in the circumferential movement direction (arrow C direction).

  The coating layer forming unit 23 supplies the second liquid 50 that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays in a layered manner to the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21, so that the coating layer 51 is formed on the second intermediate transfer belt 21. Is formed. Here, in addition to the ultraviolet curable material that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays, the second liquid 50 includes four inkjet recording heads 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K in the second image writing unit 24 described later. A material for fixing the ink 241 ejected from the ink is also included. The material that immobilizes the ink 241 is, for example, a liquid-absorbing material that has liquid-absorbing properties with respect to the ink 241. Examples include inorganic particles. The second liquid 50 also corresponds to an example of the second liquid referred to in the present invention.

  The second image writing unit 24 discharges the ink 241 to the coating layer 51 formed on the second intermediate transfer belt 21 by the coating layer forming unit 23, thereby printing an image on the coating layer 51 with the ink 241. Write. The second image writing unit 24 corresponds to an example of the second image writing unit referred to in the present invention. More specifically, four inkjet recording heads 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K that are responsible for image formation of different colors are arranged along the circumferential movement direction (arrow C direction) of the second intermediate transfer belt 21, Each of the images is formed by sequentially superposing the ink 241 of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). As a result, a color image is formed. As the ink jet recording heads 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K, the above-described line type ink jet recording head, scan type ink jet recording head, and the like are applied as in the case of the ink jet recording heads 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K of the image forming unit 10. .

  In the second transfer space 25, the coating layer 51 after the image is written with the ink 241 by the second image writing unit 24 is transferred to the image writing layer by the first transfer unit 17 in the image forming unit 10 described above. This space is sandwiched between the recording medium 60 that has received the transfer 41 and the second intermediate transfer belt 21.

  The second transfer unit 27 covers the cured image writing layer 42 obtained by curing the image writing layer 41 of the recording medium 60 that has received the transfer of the image writing layer 41 by the image forming unit 10 with the coating layer 51. Is. The image written by the second image writing unit 24 is recorded on the recording medium 60 as a result of the second transfer device 27 covering the cured image writing layer 42 of the recording medium 60 with the cured coating layer 52. .

  The image recording operation on the recording medium 60 by the image forming unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 2 is the image recording operation on the recording medium 60 by the image forming unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. Therefore, the description is omitted, and the covering operation by the covering portion 20 of the image forming apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 2 will be described.

  As described above, while the second intermediate transfer belt 21 is supported by the belt support rolls 211, 212, 213 and the drive roll 214, the second intermediate transfer belt 21 moves around in the direction of arrow C when the drive roll 214 is driven.

  A coating layer 51 is formed on the second intermediate transfer belt 21 by supplying the second liquid 50 to the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 by the coating layer forming unit 23.

  Next, the ink 241 is ejected to the coating layer 51 from the four inkjet recording heads 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K in the second image writing unit 24, whereby an image is written to the coating layer 51 with the ink 241. It is. The covering layer 51 on which the image is written in this manner is sent to the second transfer space 25 by the circumferential movement of the second intermediate transfer belt 21.

  On the other hand, as described above, the recording medium 60 on which the image is recorded by the image forming unit 10 via the first transfer space 15 is the same as the operation in the first embodiment, and the second transfer space 25. It is conveyed to.

  The coating layer 51 after the image is written with the ink 241 by the second image writing unit 24 is sandwiched between the transported recording medium 60 and the second intermediate transfer belt 21 in the second transfer space 25. At this time, the surface of the covering layer 51 on which the image is written comes into contact with the cured image writing layer 42 of the recording medium 60 on which the image is recorded by the image forming unit 10 described above. Further, as described above, the recording medium 60 is pressurized from the back side by the pressure roll 271 of the second transfer device 27, and the covering layer 51 and the recording medium 60 are brought into close contact with each other.

  Next, the coating layer 51 is cured by the second ultraviolet irradiation unit 26 by the same operation as that in the first embodiment. Further, the second transfer device 27 cures the image writing layer 41 of the recording medium 60 that has received the transfer of the image writing layer 41 of the covering layer 51 by the same operation as in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the cured image writing layer 42 of the recording medium 60 is covered with the covering layer 51 by the transfer in the second embodiment. However, in the second embodiment, an image is written with the ink 241 by the second image writing unit 24 on the contact surface of the covering layer 51 that contacts the cured image writing layer 42 of the recording medium 60. Therefore, the image written by the second image writing unit 24 is recorded on the recording medium 60 as a result of the second transfer device 27 covering the cured image writing layer 42 of the recording medium 60 with the cured coating layer 52. Is done. That is, an image is additionally recorded on the recording medium 60 on which the image is recorded by the image forming unit 10. Examples of such an additional image include an image recorded in common across a plurality of recording media 60 such as a company logo mark.

  As described above, since the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 is an uneven surface, the surface of the cured coating layer 52 that covers the cured image writing layer 42 of the recording medium 60 also in the second embodiment. The irregularities on the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 are copied to form irregular surfaces, and surface texture such as mat, emboss, lens shape, etc. is obtained by surface irregular reflection due to the irregularities.

  The recording medium 60 in which the cured image writing layer 42 is coated with the cured coating layer 52 by the coating unit 20 through the second transfer space 25 is the same as the operation in the first embodiment, and the recording medium conveyance belt. After that, it is transported by 31 and is discharged out of the apparatus although illustration is omitted.

  In addition, after the transfer by the second transfer device 27, the second liquid 50 remaining on the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 by the second cleaning unit 28 in the same operation as in the first embodiment. Is removed.

  This is the end of the description of the second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and the third embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described below. The third embodiment is different from the second embodiment described above in that the covering portion further includes an area specifying portion.

  In the following, the same elements as those in the second embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated description will be omitted, and description will be made focusing on differences from the second embodiment.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a third embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 3 shown in FIG. 3 is also an ink jet recording type image forming apparatus similar to the image forming apparatus 2 shown in FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 3 includes an image forming unit 10, a covering unit 20, and a recording medium conveying unit 30.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the covering unit 20 includes a second intermediate transfer belt 21, a covering layer forming unit 23, a second image writing unit 24, a second ultraviolet irradiation unit 26, and a second A transfer unit 27, a second cleaning unit 28, and an area designating unit 70 are provided.

  The region designating unit 70 designates a region where the coating layer 51 is to be formed with respect to the coating layer forming unit 23. This area is, for example, an area corresponding to a part of the image on the recording medium 60 on which the image is recorded by passing through the first transfer space 15. That is, by designating such an area, an area for supplying the second liquid 50 by the coating layer forming unit 23 on the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 is determined. The area specifying unit 70 corresponds to an example of the area specifying unit according to the present invention.

  The coating layer forming unit 23 supplies the second liquid 50, which is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays, in a layered manner to the region designated by the region designating unit 70 on the circumferential surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21. The coating layer 51 is formed on the second intermediate transfer belt 21. Specifically, an ink jet recording head using an ink jet type application, which is a known supply method (coating method), is applied as the coating layer forming portion 23. As a result, the coating layer 51 is formed in the region designated by the region designating unit 70 on the circumferential surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21. The covering layer forming portion 23 also corresponds to an example of the second layer forming portion referred to in the present invention. The covering layer 51 also corresponds to an example of the second layer referred to in the present invention.

  The image recording operation on the recording medium 60 by the image forming unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 3 shown in FIG. 3 is the image recording operation on the recording medium 60 by the image forming unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 2 shown in FIG. Therefore, the description is omitted, and the covering operation by the covering portion 20 of the image forming apparatus 3 shown in FIG. 3 will be described.

  As described above, while the second intermediate transfer belt 21 is supported by the belt support rolls 211, 212, 213 and the drive roll 214, the second intermediate transfer belt 21 moves around in the direction of arrow C when the drive roll 214 is driven.

  The second liquid 50 is supplied in a layer form to the region designated by the region designating unit 70 on the circumferential surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 by the covering layer forming unit 23, so that the second intermediate transfer belt 21. A covering layer 51 is formed thereon. That is, the covering layer 51 is formed in the area designated by the area designating unit 70 on the circumferential surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21.

  Next, the ink 241 is ejected to the coating layer 51 from the four inkjet recording heads 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K in the second image writing unit 24, whereby an image is written to the coating layer 51 with the ink 241. It is. The covering layer 51 on which the image is written in this manner is sent to the second transfer space 25 by the circumferential movement of the second intermediate transfer belt 21.

  On the other hand, as described above, the recording medium 60 on which the image is recorded by the image forming unit 10 through the first transfer space 15 is the same as the operation in the second embodiment, and the second transfer space 25. It is conveyed to.

  Next, the coating layer 51 is cured by the second ultraviolet irradiation unit 26 by the same operation as that in the second embodiment. Further, a cured image obtained by curing the image writing layer 41 of the recording medium 60 that has received the transfer of the image writing layer 41 of the covering layer 51 by the second transfer device 27 in the same operation as that of the second embodiment. The transfer onto the writing layer 42 is started, and the cured coating layer 52 is formed by irradiation of the ultraviolet rays. In the third embodiment, the coating layer forming unit 23 forms the coating layer 51 in the region designated by the region designating unit 70 on the circumferential surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21. The cured image writing layer 42 of the medium 60 is partially covered with a covering layer 51. In addition, since the image is written with the ink 241 by the second image writing unit 24 on the contact surface of the covering layer 51 that comes into contact with the cured image writing layer 42 of the recording medium 60, the second image writing is performed. The image written by the embedding unit 24 is recorded on the recording medium 60 as a result of the second transfer unit 27 covering the cured image writing layer 42 of the recording medium 60 with the cured coating layer 52. That is, an image is additionally recorded on the recording medium 60 on which the image is recorded by the image forming unit 10. Examples of such an additional image include a scratch image that visualizes an image recorded under the additional image by rubbing the additional image portion.

  Further, as described above, since the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 is an uneven surface, also in the third embodiment, a cured coating layer that partially covers the cured image writing layer 42 of the recording medium 60. The surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 is made uneven by copying the irregularities on the surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21, and has surface properties such as mat, emboss, and lens shape due to surface irregular reflection due to the irregularities. On the other hand, the cured image writing layer 42 in which the smooth peripheral surface of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 described above is copied on the surface without the cured image writing layer 42 of the recording medium 60 being coated with the cured coating layer 52. The surface texture of the portion where 42 is exposed is a high gloss glossy surface.

  The recording medium 60 in which the cured image writing layer 42 is coated with the cured coating layer 52 by the coating unit 20 through the second transfer space 25 is the same as the operation in the second embodiment, and the recording medium conveyance belt. After that, it is transported by 31 and is discharged out of the apparatus although illustration is omitted.

  In addition, after the transfer by the second transfer device 27, the second liquid 50 remaining on the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 by the second cleaning unit 28 in the same operation as in the second embodiment. Is removed. Thereby, adhesion of the 2nd liquid 50 to an unnecessary field is avoided.

  This is the end of the description of the third embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and the fourth embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described below. In the fourth embodiment, in place of the second intermediate transfer belt described above, a second intermediate transfer belt made of a material having a part of the peripheral surface is used, and the physical properties are changed in place of the second liquid described above. The point which uses a different 2nd liquid differs from 3rd Embodiment mentioned above. The configuration of the image forming apparatus is the same as that of the third embodiment described above.

  In the following, the same elements as those in the third embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted, and description will be made focusing on differences from the third embodiment.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 4 shown in FIG. 4 is also an ink jet recording type image forming apparatus similar to the image forming apparatus 3 shown in FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 4 includes an image forming unit 10, a covering unit 20, and a recording medium conveying unit 30.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the covering unit 20 includes a second intermediate transfer belt 22, a covering layer forming unit 23, a second image writing unit 24, a second ultraviolet irradiation unit 26, and a second A transfer unit 27, a second cleaning unit 28, and an area designating unit 70 are provided.

  The second intermediate transfer belt 22 is an endless belt-like member that is supported by belt support rolls 211, 212, 213 and a drive roll 214, and whose peripheral surface rotates in the direction of arrow C when the drive roll 214 is driven. is there.

  FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a part of the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt shown in FIG.

  In the fourth embodiment, instead of the second intermediate transfer belt 21 described with reference to FIG. 3, a second intermediate transfer belt 22 having a different material on a peripheral surface as shown in FIG. 5 is used. . More specifically, the second intermediate transfer belt 22 has a base and a release layer formed on the outer surface of the base, and the release layer has a second liquid 80 described later on the outer surface. The first region 22A has a relatively high affinity for and the second region 22B has a relatively low affinity for the second liquid 80. The second region 22B is the outer surface of the release layer itself made of the same material as that used for the release layer of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 of the image forming unit 10, for example. The first region 22A is, for example, an outer surface of a fluorine-based film, an olefin-based film, or a PET (polyester) -based film subjected to surface silicone treatment, heated on the outer surface of the release layer, and heat-molded and pressed with a mold pressure roll. It is. The first region 22A is a region where the covering layer 81 is to be transferred onto the cured image writing layer 42 obtained by curing the image writing layer 41 of the recording medium 60 that has received the transfer of the image writing layer 41. The corresponding area. Such a release layer having the first region 22A and the second region 22B on the outer surface is a layer of a material having releasability to a so-called ultraviolet curable resin, ink, dirt, and external deposits. An outer surface of the layer (that is, a region obtained by combining the first region 22A and the second region 22B) is a peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 22. The peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 22 is a peripheral surface having a surface property different from the peripheral surface of the first intermediate transfer belt 11 of the image forming unit 10. Specifically, for example, an uneven surface (embossed surface) , Mat, grain shape, lens shape, etc.). Since the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 22 is an uneven surface, the recording medium 60 that has received the transfer of the image writing layer 41 passes through the second transfer space 25 and then has a mat, emboss, or lens shape. A recorded material with an uneven surface such as can be obtained. The second intermediate transfer belt 22 also corresponds to an example of the second moving body referred to in the present invention.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the description will be continued.

  The region designating unit 70 designates a region where the coating layer 81 is to be formed with respect to the coating layer forming unit 23. As described above, in the fourth embodiment, the first region 22A of the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 22 is a region corresponding to the region where the coating layer 81 is to be transferred. Therefore, the area designating unit 70 in the fourth embodiment supplies the second liquid 80 to the first layer 22A of the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 22 with respect to the coating layer forming unit 23. Specify as. The area specifying unit 70 also corresponds to an example of the area specifying unit referred to in the present invention.

  The covering layer forming unit 23 applies the first liquid 22A, which is the region designated by the region designating unit 70 on the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 22, to the second liquid 80 that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays. In this way, the coating layer 81 is formed on the first region 22A of the second intermediate transfer belt 22. In the fourth embodiment, an ultraviolet curable hydrophobic monomer is used as a material that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays in the second liquid 80. Examples of ultraviolet curable hydrophobic monomers include alcohol / polyhydric alcohol / amino alcohols acrylic ester, alcohol / polyhydric alcohol methacrylate, acrylic aliphatic amide, acrylic cycloaliphatic amide, acrylic aromatic And radical curable materials such as amides; and cationic curable materials such as epoxy monomers, oxetane monomers, and vinyl ether monomers. The covering layer forming portion 23 also corresponds to an example of the second layer forming portion referred to in the present invention. The second liquid 80 also corresponds to an example of the second liquid referred to in the present invention, and the coating layer 81 also corresponds to an example of the second layer referred to in the present invention.

  The image recording operation on the recording medium 60 by the image forming unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 4 shown in FIG. 4 is the same as the image recording operation on the recording medium 60 by the image forming unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 3 shown in FIG. Therefore, the description is omitted, and the covering operation by the covering portion 20 of the image forming apparatus 4 shown in FIG. 4 will be described.

  As described above, while the second intermediate transfer belt 22 is supported by the belt support rolls 211, 212, 213 and the drive roll 214, the second intermediate transfer belt 22 rotates in the direction of arrow C when the drive roll 214 is driven.

  The second liquid 80 is supplied to the first region 22A specified by the region specifying unit 70 on the circumferential surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 22 by the covering layer forming unit 23 in a layered manner. A coating layer 81 is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 22. That is, the covering layer 81 is formed in the first region 22A specified by the region specifying unit 70 on the circumferential surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 22. As described above, since the first region 22 is a region having a relatively high affinity for the second liquid 80, the coating layer 81 to which the second liquid 80 is supplied in a layer form is the first region 22A. It is formed without protruding.

  Next, the ink 241 is ejected to the coating layer 81 from the four inkjet recording heads 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K in the second image writing unit 24, whereby an image is written to the coating layer 81 with the ink 241. It is. The covering layer 81 having the image written thereon is sent to the second transfer space 25 by the circular movement of the second intermediate transfer belt 22.

  On the other hand, as described above, the recording medium 60 on which an image is recorded by the image forming unit 10 is conveyed to the second transfer space 25 through the first transfer space 15.

  Next, the coating layer 81 is cured by the second ultraviolet irradiation unit 26 by the same operation as that in the third embodiment. Further, a cured image obtained by curing the image writing layer 41 of the recording medium 60 that has received the transfer of the image writing layer 41 of the covering layer 81 by the second transfer device 27 in the same operation as that of the third embodiment. The transfer onto the writing layer 42 is started, and the cured coating layer 82 is formed by irradiation of the ultraviolet rays. In the fourth embodiment, the coating layer 81 is formed by the coating layer forming unit 23 so that the coating layer 81 does not protrude into the first region 22A designated by the region designating unit 70 on the circumferential surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 22. Therefore, the cured image writing layer 42 of the recording medium 60 is partially covered with the covering layer 81 by the transfer.

  The recording medium 60 in which the cured image writing layer 42 is coated with the cured coating layer 82 by the coating unit 20 through the second transfer space 25 is the same as the operation in the third embodiment, and the recording medium conveyance belt. After that, it is transported by 31 and is discharged out of the apparatus although illustration is omitted.

  Further, after the transfer by the second transfer unit 27, the second liquid 80 remaining on the peripheral surface of the second intermediate transfer belt 22 by the second cleaning unit 28 in the same operation as in the third embodiment. Is removed. Thereby, adhesion of the 2nd liquid 50 to an unnecessary field is avoided.

  Above, description of 4th Embodiment of the image forming apparatus of this invention is complete | finished.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the moving body referred to in the present invention is described as an example of an intermediate transfer belt. However, the moving body referred to in the present invention is not limited to this, and the peripheral surface is a circuit. It may be anything that moves, for example, a roll.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the first liquid referred to in the present invention has been described with reference to an example in which the first liquid is cured by ultraviolet irradiation, but the first liquid referred to in the present invention is limited to this. For example, it may be one that is cured by application of an electron beam or heat. In each of the above-described embodiments, the second liquid referred to in the present invention has been described with reference to an example in which the second liquid is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. However, the second liquid referred to in the present invention is limited to this. For example, it may be one that is cured by application of an electron beam or heat.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the first liquid and the second liquid referred to in the present invention have been described by way of examples in which they are cured by the same kind of stimulation. The liquid of 2 is not restricted to this, For example, one may harden | cure by irradiation of an ultraviolet-ray, and the other may harden | cure by provision of an electron beam.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, an example is described in which the first transfer unit according to the present invention starts transferring the image writing layer to the recording medium before the image writing layer is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. However, the first transfer portion referred to in the present invention is not limited to this, and it is only necessary to start the transfer to the recording medium before the curing of the first layer is completed at the latest. For example, after the first layer starts to be cured by a curing stimulus, the transfer may be started before the curing is completed.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the second transfer unit according to the present invention performs image writing on the recording medium that has received the transfer of the image writing layer of the coating layer before the coating layer is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Although the example of starting transfer onto the cured image writing layer in which the layer is cured has been described, the second transfer portion referred to in the present invention is not limited to this, and at the latest, the second layer The transfer of the second layer onto the first layer of the recording medium that has received the transfer of the first layer may be started before the curing of is completed. For example, after the second layer starts to be cured by a curing stimulus, the transfer may be started before the curing is completed.

1, 2, 3, 4 Image forming apparatus 10 Image forming unit 11 First intermediate transfer belt 111, 112, 113, 211, 212, 213 Belt support roll 114, 214 Drive roll 13 Image writing layer forming unit 14 First Image writing unit 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14K, 24Y, 24M, 24C, 24K Inkjet recording head 141, 241 Ink 15 First transfer space 16 First ultraviolet irradiation unit 17 First transfer unit 171, 271 Addition Pressure rolls 172, 272 Support 18 First cleaning section 20 Cover section 21, 22 Second intermediate transfer belt 22A First area 22B Second area 23 Cover layer forming section 24 Second image writing section 25 Second 2 transfer space 26 2nd ultraviolet irradiation part 27 2nd transfer device 28 2nd cleaning part 30 Recording medium conveyance means 31 Recording medium conveying belt 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316 Belt support roll 40 First liquid 41 Image writing layer 42 Cured image writing layer 50, 80 Second liquid 51, 81 Covering layer 52, 82 Curing Cover layer 60 Recording medium 70 Area designation part

Claims (5)

A first moving body that moves around;
First layer formation for forming a first layer on the first moving body by supplying a first liquid that hardens by applying a first stimulus to the peripheral surface of the first moving body in layers. And
An image writing unit for writing an image with ink on a first layer formed on the first moving body;
A first stimulus applying unit that cures the first layer by applying the first stimulus to the first layer after the image is written by the image writing unit;
At the latest, transfer of the first layer to the recording medium is started before the curing of the first layer that has received the first stimulus given by the first stimulus applying unit is completed, and the transfer An image forming unit having a first transfer unit that fixes the first layer on the recording medium by
A second moving body having a peripheral surface having a surface property different from the peripheral surface of the first moving body and moving around,
Second layer formation for forming a second layer on the second moving body by supplying a second liquid that is cured by applying a second stimulus to the peripheral surface of the second moving body in layers. And
A second stimulus applying unit that cures the second layer by applying the second stimulus to the second layer;
At the latest, before the curing of the second layer that has received the second stimulus given by the second stimulus applying unit is completed, the transfer of the first layer of the second layer is received. A recording portion having a second transfer portion that starts transfer of the recording medium onto the first layer and covers the first layer with the second layer by the transfer, and the recording medium An image forming apparatus, comprising: a recording medium transporting unit that transports the ink through a transport path that passes through the first transfer unit and further through the second transfer unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second image writing unit that writes an image with ink on a second layer formed on the second moving body. An area designating unit for designating a first area in which the second layer is to be formed with respect to the second layer forming unit;
The second layer forming unit forms the second layer in a first region specified by the region specifying unit on the peripheral surface of the second moving body. Item 3. The image forming apparatus according to Item 1 or 2.   The first region of the peripheral surface of the second moving body is a region having a relatively higher affinity for the second liquid than at least a region around the first region. Item 4. The image forming apparatus according to Item 3. The first stimulus and the second stimulus are ultraviolet rays;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first stimulus applying unit and the second stimulus applying unit irradiate ultraviolet rays.

Images