JP2019217664A - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is an ink jet recording apparatus that suppresses damage to a porous body of a liquid absorbing member that is in contact with a transfer member and absorbs a part of a liquid component contained in an image, thereby suppressing image defects. A porous body of a liquid absorbing member that contacts a transfer body and absorbs a part of a liquid component contained in an image is formed in a non-image area of the transfer body in a non-image area. There is a reinforced region containing a reinforcing material from the contact surface with 101d to the inside of the porous body. [Selection diagram] FIG.

Description

    The present invention relates to an inkjet recording device.

In the inkjet recording method, an image is formed by directly or indirectly applying a liquid composition (ink) containing a coloring material onto a recording medium such as paper. At this time, curling or cockling may occur due to the recording medium excessively absorbing the liquid component in the ink.
Therefore, in order to quickly remove the liquid component in the ink forming the image, an image is formed on the transfer body, and then the liquid component contained in the image on the transfer body is dried by thermal energy or the like, and then the paper is removed. And other methods for transferring an image to a recording medium.
Further, as a means for removing a liquid component contained in an image on a transfer body, a method of contacting a roller-shaped porous body with an ink image and absorbing and removing the liquid component from the ink image without using thermal energy Is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

JP 2009-45851 A

In the case of the liquid component removal method using a roller-shaped porous body disclosed in Patent Document 1, the surface of the porous body may be damaged by repeated contact of the porous body with the transfer body. Specific examples of the damage include damage due to tack force when the porous body separates from the transfer body, and damage due to shear force due to a difference in rotation speed between the porous body and the transfer body. When the surface layer of the porous body is made of a brittle material, the surface layer may peel off. Further, if the portion where the surface layer is separated comes into contact with the ink image, an image defect may occur.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of suppressing damage to a porous body due to contact with a transfer member and suppressing occurrence of image defects.

An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention forms a transfer body having a surface having an image area and a non-image area, a support member supporting the transfer body, and applying an ink to an image area of the transfer body to form an image. An ink applying device, a liquid absorbing member having a porous body that is in contact with a surface of the transfer body and absorbs at least a part of a liquid component included in the image, and at least a part of the liquid component is absorbed. A transfer device for transferring an image from the transfer body to a recording medium, comprising:
The porous body has a contact surface that is in contact with the surface of the transfer body, and in a region of the contact surface that is in contact with the non-image region, the porous body has a contact surface with the non-image region. It is characterized by having a reinforced region containing a reinforcing material over the inside.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the damage to a porous body by the contact with a transfer body can be suppressed, and the inkjet recording device which can suppress generation | occurrence | production of an image defect can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a transfer-type inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a development view of a transfer body according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a development view of the first embodiment of the transfer member and the liquid absorbing member according to the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows one Embodiment of the reinforcement area | region concerning this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows one Embodiment of the reinforcement area | region concerning this invention. FIG. 10 is a development view showing a second embodiment of the transfer body and the liquid absorbing member according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a development view showing a third embodiment of the transfer body and the liquid absorbing member according to the present invention. FIG. 14 is a development view showing a fourth embodiment of the transfer body and the liquid absorbing member according to the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the joining part in 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a development view showing a fifth embodiment of a transfer body and a liquid absorbing member according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a transfer-type inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is a transfer type ink jet recording apparatus that uses a transfer body as a medium to which ink is to be ejected to form an image with ink.
An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a transfer member, an ink applying device that applies an ink to an image area of the transfer member to form an image, a liquid absorbing member having a porous body, and an image transfer device that transfers an image from the transfer member to a recording medium. And a transfer device for transferring an image.
The surface of the transfer body (also referred to as an image forming surface) includes an image area where an image is formed by applying ink and a non-image area where no image is formed without applying ink. The image area means an area where ink can be applied based on image data, and includes not only an area where ink is actually applied but also an area which is set as an area where ink is not applied in image data. . On the other hand, the non-image area means an area that is not used for forming an image, and ink is not applied regardless of whether ink needs to be applied based on image data.
The liquid absorbing member has a porous body that comes into contact with the surface of the transfer body in the liquid absorption processing area and absorbs at least a part of the liquid component included in the image.
The porous body of the liquid absorbing member has a contact surface with the surface of the transfer body. The contact surface has a reinforced region containing a reinforcing material in a region in contact with the non-image region of the transfer body from the contact surface with the non-image region to the inside of the porous body. That is, the reinforcing material has penetrated into the reinforced region to the inside of the pores inside the porous body.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments.
(Transfer-type inkjet recording device)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a sheet-fed inkjet recording apparatus 100 that produces a recorded material by transferring an image to a recording medium 108 via a transfer body 101. In FIG. 1, the cylindrical support member 102 with the transfer member mounted thereon is shown as a cross-sectional view in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis, and each device arranged along the outer periphery of the support member is shown. Have been.
The ink jet recording apparatus 100 includes a transfer member 101 supported by a support member 102, a reaction liquid applying device 103, an ink applying device 104, a liquid absorbing device 105, and a transfer device that transfers an image from the transfer member 101 to a recording medium 108. And a transfer device on which a pressing member 106 is disposed.
Further, the inkjet recording apparatus 100 is provided with a transfer member cleaning member 109 for cleaning the surface of the transfer member 101 after the image is transferred. The transfer member 101, the reaction liquid applying device 103, the ink applying device 104, the liquid absorbing device 105, and the transfer member cleaning member 109 each have a length corresponding to the width of the recording medium 108.
The reaction liquid applying device and the transfer member cleaning member may be provided as needed.

The support member 102 of the transfer body 101 rotates in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1 around the rotation axis 102a. The transfer member 101 is conveyed and moved by the rotation of the support member 102. The reaction liquid is applied to the moving transfer member 101 by the reaction liquid applying device 103, and the ink is sequentially applied by the ink applying device 104 to form an image (hereinafter, referred to as an “ink image”) on the transfer member 101. Is done. The ink image formed on the transfer body 101 is transported by the movement of the transfer body 101 to a position (liquid absorption processing area) where the ink image contacts the liquid absorbing member 105a of the liquid absorbing device 105.
In the present embodiment, a transfer unit for transferring the transfer member and the liquid absorbing member is configured by the support member 102 and its driving system, the transport device for the liquid absorbing member 105a in the liquid absorbing device 105, and the driving system thereof. The transport unit transports the reinforced area of the liquid absorbing member 105a such that the reinforced area does not contact the image area of the transfer body.
The liquid absorbing device 105 operates in synchronization with the rotation of the transfer body 101. Specifically, in synchronization with the rotation of the support member 102 in the direction A, the liquid absorbing member 105a was fed into the liquid absorbing processing area by transport in the direction of arrow B to perform liquid absorption, and was used for liquid absorption. The part is carried out of the liquid absorption processing area. The ink image formed on the transfer body 101 passes through a state of contacting the moving liquid absorbing member 105a. During this time, the liquid absorbing member 105a removes at least a part of the liquid component from the ink image on the transfer body. In this contact state, it is particularly preferable that the liquid absorbing member 105a be pressed against the transfer member 101 with a predetermined pressing force by the liquid absorbing pressing member 105b in order to effectively function the liquid absorbing member 105a.

If the removal of the liquid component is described from a different viewpoint, it can be expressed that the ink constituting the ink image formed on the transfer body is concentrated. Concentrating the ink means that a decrease in the liquid component contained in the ink results in an increase in the content ratio of solid components such as coloring materials and resins contained in the ink to the liquid component.
Then, the ink image after the liquid removal from which the liquid component has been removed is in a state where the ink is concentrated as compared with the ink image before the liquid removal, and further the recording medium conveyed by the recording medium conveying device 107 by the transfer body 101 The transfer device moves to a transfer device that makes contact with the transfer device 108. The recording medium 108 is carried into the transfer device by the recording medium transport device 107. The recording medium transport device 107 operates in synchronization with the rotation of the support member 102. Specifically, the recording medium 108 is conveyed in the direction of arrow C in synchronization with the rotation of the support member 102 in the direction of arrow A. The pressing member 106 presses the transfer body 101 while the ink image after the liquid removal is in contact with the recording medium 108, so that the ink image is transferred onto the recording medium 108. The post-transfer ink image transferred onto the recording medium 108 is an ink image before removing the liquid and an inverted image of the ink image after removing the liquid.

In this embodiment, since the reaction liquid is applied on the transfer body and the ink is applied to form an ink image, the reaction liquid remains without reacting with the ink in a region other than the ink image. . In this apparatus, the liquid absorbing member 105a comes into contact not only with the image but also with the unreacted reaction liquid, and also removes the liquid component of the reaction liquid.
Therefore, in the above description, it is described that the liquid component is removed from the ink image, but it is not limited to removing the liquid component only from the ink image, but at least the liquid component is removed from the ink image on the transfer body. It is used in the sense that it is sufficient.
The liquid component includes, for example, water and an organic solvent contained in the ink and the reaction liquid.

Each configuration of the transfer type ink jet recording apparatus used in the present embodiment will be described below.
<Transfer body>
The transfer body 101 has an image forming surface, and the image forming surface has an image area where an ink image is formed by application of ink and the ink image is held until transfer, and an ink area. It has non-image areas that are not applied, ie, are not used to form an ink image. Various materials such as resin and ceramic can be appropriately used as a member constituting the image forming surface, but a material having a high compression modulus is preferable in terms of durability and the like. Specific examples include an acrylic resin, an acrylic silicone resin, a fluorine-containing resin, and a condensate obtained by condensing a hydrolyzable organosilicon compound.
In order to improve the wettability and transferability of the reaction solution, the surface for image formation may be subjected to a surface treatment before use. Examples of the surface treatment include a frame treatment, a corona treatment, a plasma treatment, a polishing treatment, a roughening treatment, an active energy ray irradiation treatment, an ozone treatment, a surfactant treatment, and a silane coupling treatment. A plurality of these may be combined. Also, an arbitrary surface shape can be provided on the surface for image formation.
The transfer body may have a single-layer structure having an image forming surface, or may have a multilayer structure having a surface layer including the image forming surface and other layers.
In the case of a multilayer structure, the transfer body preferably has a compression layer having a function of absorbing pressure fluctuation. By providing the compression layer, the compression layer absorbs the deformation, disperses the fluctuation with respect to local pressure fluctuation, and can maintain good transferability even during high-speed printing. Examples of the member of the compression layer include acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, acrylic rubber, chloroprene rubber, urethane rubber, and silicone rubber. It is preferable that a predetermined amount of a vulcanizing agent, a vulcanization accelerator, and the like be blended during the molding of the rubber material, and further, a filler such as a foaming agent, hollow fine particles, or salt be blended as necessary to make the rubber material porous. Thus, the bubble portion is compressed with a change in volume in response to various pressure fluctuations, so that deformation in directions other than the compression direction is small, and more stable transferability and durability can be obtained. Porous rubber materials include those having a continuous pore structure in which each pore is continuous with each other and those having an independent pore structure in which each pore is independent. In the present invention, any structure may be used, and these structures may be used in combination.
Further, the transfer member preferably has an elastic layer between the surface layer and the compression layer. Various materials such as resin and ceramic can be used as appropriate for the member of the elastic layer. From the viewpoint of processing characteristics and the like, various elastomer materials and rubber materials are preferably used. Specifically, for example, fluorosilicone rubber, phenyl silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, chloroprene rubber, urethane rubber, nitrile rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, natural rubber, styrene rubber, isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, ethylene / propylene / butadiene copolymer Coalescence, nitrile butadiene rubber and the like. In particular, silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, and phenyl silicone rubber are preferable in terms of dimensional stability and durability because of their low compression set. Further, the change in elastic modulus due to temperature is small, which is preferable in terms of transferability.
Various adhesives or double-sided tapes may be used between the respective layers (surface layer, elastic layer, compression layer) constituting the transfer body to fix and hold them. Further, a reinforcing layer having a high compression modulus may be provided in order to suppress lateral elongation at the time of mounting on the device and to maintain stiffness. Further, a woven fabric may be used as the reinforcing layer. The transfer body can be produced by arbitrarily combining the layers made of the above-mentioned materials.
The size of the transfer body can be freely selected according to the target print image size. The shape of the transfer body is not particularly limited, and specific examples include a sheet shape, a roller shape, a belt shape, and an endless web shape.

In the present embodiment, a sheet shape is selected as the shape of the transfer body. A fixing member 101a is fixed to both ends of the sheet-like transfer member 101 in the rotation direction A of the cylindrical support member 102. By fixing the fixing member 101 a with the gripping member 102 b of the support member 102, the image forming surface is fixed with the sheet-shaped transfer member 101 stretched on the outer peripheral surface of the support member 102, using the outer peripheral surface. The portion where the two gripping members 102b are disposed close to each other may be a joint formed by a concave portion.
FIG. 2 is a developed view of the transfer body 101 attached to the outer periphery of the cylindrical support member as viewed from the outside in a direction perpendicular to the circumference. The circumferential length of the transfer body 101 is the total length of the image area 101f, the non-image area 101d, and the fixing non-image area 101e. The image area 101f is an area where an ink image is formed by a reaction liquid and ink and the ink image is held until transfer, and the length in the circumferential direction is the length of one sheet in the transport direction of the recording medium 108. Is equivalent to The non-image area 101e for fixing is an area used for fixing the transfer body 101 to the support member 102 as described above. Therefore, the non-image area of the transfer body includes a non-image area 101e for fixing and a non-image area 101d arranged between the image area 101f and the non-image area 101e for fixing. The non-image area 101d may be provided as needed. The length of the non-image area 101d in the circumferential direction is not particularly limited. However, if it is too long, the support member 102 becomes large and the space in the apparatus increases. It is desirable to keep it to 10% or less.
In the present embodiment, one transfer body 101 is used for one rotation of the support member 102, but the number of sheets for one rotation is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of sheet-like transfer members may be arranged along the rotation direction A via a plurality of joints.

<Supporting member>
The support member 102 has a gripping member 102b that grips the above-described fixing member 101a provided at an end of the transfer body 101. The transfer member 101 is supported on the support member 102 by gripping the fixed member 101a with the grip member 102b.
The support member 102 is required to have a certain level of structural strength from the viewpoint of transport accuracy and durability. Metal, ceramic, resin, and the like are preferably used as the material of the support member. Among them, aluminum, iron, stainless steel, acetal resin, epoxy resin, polyimide, etc. to reduce rigidity and dimensional accuracy that can withstand pressure during transfer and to improve control responsiveness by reducing inertia during operation Polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, polyurethane, silica ceramics, and alumina ceramics are preferably used. It is also preferable to use them in combination.
As described above, the number of the transfer members 101 is not limited to one, and it is necessary to multiply the peripheral length of the support member by the number of transfer members. For example, when there are four transfer members, the peripheral length of the support member is four times that of FIG.

<Reaction liquid application device>
The ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment has a reaction liquid application device 103 that applies a reaction liquid to the transfer body 101. 1 is a gravure offset having a reaction liquid storage unit 103a that stores a reaction liquid and reaction liquid application members 103b and 103c that apply the reaction liquid in the reaction liquid storage unit 103a onto the transfer body 101. The case of a roller is shown.
The reaction liquid application device may be any device that can apply the reaction liquid to the transfer member, and various devices known in the art can be used as appropriate. Specifically, a gravure offset roller, an ink jet head, a die coating device (die coater), a blade coating device (blade coater) and the like can be mentioned. The application of the reaction liquid by the reaction liquid application device may be performed before application of the ink or after application of the ink, as long as the reaction liquid can be mixed (reacted) with the ink on the transfer body. Preferably, the reaction liquid is applied before applying the ink. By applying the reaction liquid before applying the ink, bleeding in which inks applied adjacently mix with each other or ink that has landed earlier is attracted to ink that has landed later during image formation by an inkjet method. Loading can also be suppressed.
<Reaction liquid>
The reaction liquid contains a component for increasing the viscosity of the ink. Examples of the component for increasing the viscosity of the ink include a reactant or the like that causes components having an anionic group (a resin, a self-dispersion pigment, etc.) in the ink to aggregate when the ink comes into contact with the ink. As the reactant, a substance which can be used as a reactant from known reactants or known compounds can be selected and used. Examples of the reactant include a polyvalent metal ion, a cationic component such as a cationic resin, and an organic acid.

<Ink applying device>
The ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment has an ink applying device 104 that applies ink to the transfer body 101.
In the present embodiment, an ink jet head is used as the ink applying device 104 for applying ink. As a form of the ink jet head, for example, a form in which ink is ejected by causing film boiling in an ink by an electro-thermal converter to form a bubble, a form in which ink is ejected by an electro-mechanical converter, and a form utilizing static electricity A form in which ink is ejected is exemplified. In the present embodiment, a known inkjet head can be used. Among them, those using an electro-thermal converter are particularly preferably used from the viewpoint of high-speed and high-density printing. Drawing can be performed by receiving an image signal and applying a required amount of ink to each position.
<Liquid absorption device>
In the present embodiment, the liquid absorbing device 105 includes a liquid absorbing member 105a and a liquid absorbing pressing member 105b that presses the liquid absorbing member 105a against an ink image on the transfer body 101.
The shapes of the liquid absorbing member 105a and the pressing member 105b are not particularly limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the pressing member 105b has a semi-cylindrical shape, the liquid absorbing member 105a has a belt shape, and the semi-cylindrical pressing member 105b transfers the belt-shaped liquid absorbing member 105a to the transfer body 101. It may be configured to be pressed. Further, the pressing member 105b has a cylindrical shape, and the liquid absorbing member 105a has a cylindrical shape formed on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical pressing member 105b, and the cylindrical liquid absorbing member 105a is formed by the cylindrical pressing member 105b. May be pressed against the transfer member.
In the present embodiment, a belt-shaped liquid absorbing member is used as the liquid absorbing member 105a in consideration of a space or the like in the inkjet recording apparatus.
Further, the liquid absorbing device 105 having such a belt-shaped liquid absorbing member 105a may have a stretching member that stretches the liquid absorbing member 105a. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 105c denotes a stretching roller as a stretching member. In FIG. 1, the pressing member 105b has a semi-cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto, and may be a roller member that rotates similarly to the stretching roller. In the liquid absorbing device 105, the liquid component contained in the ink image is absorbed by the porous material of the liquid absorbing member 105a by pressing the liquid absorbing member 105a having a porous body against the ink image by the pressing member 105b to make contact therewith. , Reduce liquid components. As a method of reducing the liquid component in the ink image, in addition to the method of contacting the liquid absorbing member, various other methods conventionally used, for example, a method of heating, a method of blowing low humidity air, a method of reducing pressure, and the like. May be combined. Further, the liquid component may be further reduced by applying these methods to the ink image after the liquid removal in which the liquid component has been reduced.

<Liquid absorption member>
The liquid absorbing member can have various shapes such as a sheet shape, a roller shape, and a belt shape.
The porous body of the liquid absorbing member has a portion that comes into contact with the image forming surface of the transfer body. At the time of contact between this portion and the image forming surface of the transfer body, at least a portion of the liquid is removed from the ink image before liquid removal formed in the image area by absorption into the porous body, and the liquid in the ink image is removed. Reduce the content of components.
The contact surface of the liquid absorbing member with the image forming surface of the transfer body is a first surface, and the first surface is formed of a porous material.
The porous body of the liquid absorbing member has a contact surface that comes into contact with both the image region and the non-image region included in the image forming surface. A material strengthening area is provided.
The liquid absorbing member 105a moves in conjunction with the movement of the transfer body, and after contacting the ink image before liquid removal, circulates at a predetermined cycle and re-contacts another ink image before liquid removal. Those having a possible shape are preferred. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the liquid absorbing member 105a has an endless belt shape. By repeatedly transporting the liquid absorbing member to the liquid absorbing region in the form of an endless belt, the liquid absorbing member can be efficiently reused.
In the present embodiment, the circumference of the endless belt-shaped liquid absorbing member 105a is the same as the circumference of the transfer body 101. Thereby, the contact points between the transfer body 101 and the liquid absorbing member 105a correspond one-to-one in the periodic operation in the apparatus. Further, the entire circumference of the endless belt-shaped liquid absorbing member becomes a repetitive contact portion that periodically repeats contact and retreat with respect to the image forming surface of the transfer body.
The circumferential length of the transfer body 101 and the endless belt-shaped liquid absorbing member 105a is such that the contact points between the transfer body 101 and the endless belt-shaped liquid absorbing member 105a correspond one-to-one during the periodic operation in the apparatus. It is not limited to being the same. For example, the circumference of the liquid absorbing member in the form of an endless belt may be an integral multiple of the circumference of the transfer body, or vice versa. FIG. 11 shows an embodiment in which the peripheral length of the endless belt-shaped liquid absorbing member is equal to one transfer member for four transfer members.
(Porous body)
The average pore diameter on the surface (first surface) side of the liquid absorbing member that is disposed to face the transfer body of the porous body is smaller than the average pore diameter on the second surface side that faces the first surface. preferable. In order to suppress the coloring material in the ink from adhering to the porous body, the pore diameter is preferably small, and the average pore diameter of the porous body on the first surface side that is in contact with at least the image is preferably 10 μm or less. preferable. In the present embodiment, the average pore diameter indicates the average diameter of pores on the surface of the first surface or the second surface, and is a known means such as a mercury intrusion method, a nitrogen adsorption method, and SEM image observation. And so on.
In addition, it is preferable to reduce the thickness of the porous body in order to uniformly provide high air permeability. The air permeability can be indicated by a Gurley value specified in JIS P8117, and the Gurley value is preferably 10 seconds or less.

The porous body may have a single-layer structure or a multilayer structure of two or more layers.
In the case where the porous body has a single-layer structure and its thickness is reduced in order to obtain a uniform high air permeability, a sufficient capacity for absorbing the liquid component from the ink image may not be secured in some cases. In such a case, the porous body may have a multilayer structure including a thin surface layer that contacts the transfer body and absorbs the liquid component from the ink image, and a layer that stores the liquid component absorbed by the surface layer. preferable. Further, the liquid absorbing member may have a layer made of a non-porous material in addition to the layer made of a porous material.
Next, an embodiment in which the porous body has a multilayer structure will be described. Here, the first layer on the side contacting the transfer member, the layer below the first layer, that is, the layer laminated on the surface opposite to the contact surface of the first layer with the transfer member will be described as the second layer. . Further, the multilayer structure is also described in the order of lamination from the first layer. In the case where the porous body has a single-layer structure, the porous body can be formed as a single layer using a material for a first layer described later.
[First layer]
The material of the first layer is not particularly limited, and any of a hydrophilic material having a contact angle to water of less than 90 ° and a water-repellent material having a contact angle of 90 ° or more can be used.
As the hydrophilic material, a single material such as cellulose or polyacrylamide, or a composite material thereof is preferably selected. In addition, the surface of the following water repellent material can be used after being subjected to a hydrophilic treatment. Examples of the hydrophilic treatment include methods such as sputter etching, irradiation with radiation or H ₂ O ions, and irradiation with excimer (ultraviolet) laser light.
In the case of a hydrophilic material, the contact angle with water is more preferably 60 ° or less. In the case of a hydrophilic material, there is an effect of sucking up liquid, especially water, by capillary force.
On the other hand, the material of the first layer is preferably a water-repellent material having a low surface free energy, particularly a fluororesin, in order to suppress the adhesion of the coloring material and to enhance the cleaning property. Specific examples of the fluororesin include polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyvinyl fluoride (PVF), perfluoroalkoxy fluororesin (PFA), Examples thereof include fluorinated ethylene / propylene hexafluoride copolymer (FEP), ethylene / tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE), and ethylene / chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer (ECTFE). One or more of these resins can be used as needed, and a configuration in which a plurality of films are stacked in the first layer may be used. In the case of a water-repellent material, there is almost no effect of sucking up liquid by capillary force, and it may take time to suck up liquid when it comes into contact with an image for the first time. For this reason, it is preferable to impregnate the first layer with a liquid having a contact angle with the first layer of less than 90 °. This liquid can be impregnated in the first layer by applying from the first surface of the liquid absorbing member. This liquid is preferably prepared by mixing a surfactant and a liquid having a low contact angle with the first layer in water.
In this embodiment, the thickness of the first layer is preferably 50 μm or less. The layer thickness is more preferably 30 μm or less. In the present embodiment, the film thickness was obtained by measuring an arbitrary 10 layer thicknesses with a straight-forward micrometer OMV_25 (trade name, manufactured by Mitutoyo) and calculating the average value.
However, when the layer thickness is reduced, the high air permeability required for the porous layer can be secured, but there is a problem that the strength of the first layer is reduced with respect to external physical force and the first layer is easily broken. . According to the present embodiment described below, even if the first layer has low strength, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of image defects without being destroyed.
The first layer can be manufactured by a known method for manufacturing a thin-film porous film. For example, a porous film can be obtained by forming a sheet material by molding a resin material by a method such as extrusion molding and then stretching the sheet material to a predetermined thickness. Further, a porous film can be obtained by adding a plasticizer such as paraffin to the material at the time of extrusion molding and removing the plasticizer by heating or the like at the time of stretching. The pore size can be adjusted by appropriately adjusting the amount of the plasticizer to be added, the stretching ratio, and the like.
[Second layer]
In this embodiment, the second layer is preferably a layer having air permeability. Such a layer may be a nonwoven fabric of resin fibers or a woven fabric. The material of the second layer is not particularly limited, but the contact angle between the first layer and the first liquid is equal to or greater than that of the first layer so that the liquid component absorbed to the first layer does not flow backward. Is also preferably a low material. Specifically, a single material such as polyolefin (polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), etc.), polyurethane, polyamide such as nylon, polyester (polyethylene terephthalate (PET), etc.), polysulfone (PSF), or these materials And the like. Further, the second layer is preferably a layer having a larger pore diameter than the first layer.
[Third layer]
In the present embodiment, the multi-layered porous belt may have three or more layers, and the number of layers is not limited. From the viewpoint of rigidity, a nonwoven fabric is preferred as the third and subsequent layers (also referred to as a third layer). The same material as the second layer is used as the material.
[Other materials]
The porous body may have a reinforcing member for reinforcing the side surface.
The belt-shaped liquid absorbing member may be a belt-shaped one by connecting the longitudinal ends of a long porous sheet. A non-porous tape material or the like can be used as a joining member that connects the ends of adjacent porous sheets. The joining portion of the porous sheet may be arranged at a position or at a period that does not make contact with the ink image formed on the transfer body.

[Method of manufacturing porous body having multilayer structure]
The method for forming the porous body by laminating the first layer and the second layer is not particularly limited. These layers may be merely superimposed, or the layers may be adhered to each other using a method such as adhesive lamination or heat lamination. From the viewpoint of air permeability, heat lamination is preferred in the present embodiment. Further, for example, by heating, a part of the first layer or the second layer may be melted and bonded and laminated. Further, a fusing material such as hot melt powder may be interposed between the first layer and the second layer and bonded and laminated to each other by heating. In the case of stacking the third layer or more, the layers may be stacked at once or sequentially, and the order of stacking is appropriately selected.
In the heating step, a lamination method in which the porous body is heated while sandwiching the porous body with a heated roller and applying pressure is preferable.
When the liquid absorbing member is formed in a belt shape, the liquid absorbing member may include a plurality of sheets of the liquid absorbing member, and two adjacent sheets may be connected to each other by a seam that joins the ends of these sheets.

Hereinafter, various conditions and configurations of the liquid absorbing device 105 will be described in detail.
(Preprocessing)
In the present embodiment, before the liquid absorbing member 105a is brought into contact with an image on the transfer body 101, a pre-processing of applying a processing liquid to a porous body of the liquid absorbing member 105a by a pre-processing device (not shown in FIG. 1) is performed. Preferably, it is applied. The treatment liquid preferably contains water and a water-soluble organic solvent. The water is preferably water deionized by ion exchange or the like. The type of the water-soluble organic solvent is not particularly limited, and any known organic solvent such as ethanol or isopropyl alcohol can be used. In the pretreatment with the treatment liquid, the method of applying the treatment liquid is not particularly limited, but immersion or dropping of a droplet is preferable.
(Pressure condition)
If the pressure of the liquid absorbing member at the time of contact with the ink image on the transfer body is 2.9 N / cm ² (0.3 kgf / cm ² ) or more, the liquid component in the ink image is solidified in a shorter time. This is preferable because the liquid can be separated and the liquid component can be removed from the ink image. In this specification, the pressure of the liquid absorbing member indicates a nip pressure between the medium to be ejected and the liquid absorbing member, and is measured by a surface pressure distribution measuring instrument (trade name: “I-SCAN”, Nitta Co., Ltd.). (Manufactured by the company), the surface pressure was measured, the weight in the pressurized area was divided by the area, and the value was calculated.
(Action time)
The operation time of bringing the liquid absorbing member 105a into contact with the ink image is preferably within 50 ms in order to further suppress the coloring material in the ink image from adhering to the liquid absorbing member. The operation time in the present specification is calculated by dividing the pressure sensing width in the moving direction of the transfer body in the above-described surface pressure measurement by the moving speed of the transfer body. Hereinafter, this operation time is referred to as a liquid absorption nip time.
In this manner, on the transfer body 101, a liquid component is absorbed, and an ink image after liquid removal, which is an ink image with a reduced liquid component, is formed. The ink image from which the liquid has been removed is then transferred onto the recording medium 108 by a transfer device. An apparatus configuration and conditions at the time of transfer will be described.

<Pressing member for transfer>
In this embodiment, the ink image after the liquid removal on the transfer body 101 is transferred onto the recording medium 108 conveyed by the recording medium conveying device 107 by bringing the ink image into contact with the recording medium 108 by the transfer pressing member 106. By removing the liquid component contained in the ink image on the transfer body 101 and then transferring it to the recording medium 108, it is possible to obtain a recorded image in which curling, cockling, and the like are suppressed.
The pressing member 106 is required to have a certain degree of structural strength from the viewpoint of the conveyance accuracy and durability of the recording medium 108. As the material of the pressing member 106, metal, ceramic, resin, or the like is preferably used. Among them, aluminum, iron, stainless steel, acetal resin, epoxy resin, polyimide, etc. to reduce rigidity and dimensional accuracy that can withstand pressure during transfer and to improve control responsiveness by reducing inertia during operation Polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, polyurethane, silica ceramics, and alumina ceramics are preferably used. These may be used in combination.
There is no particular limitation on the pressing time during which the pressing member 106 presses the transfer body in order to transfer the ink image after the liquid removal on the transfer body 101 to the recording medium 108, but the transfer is performed favorably and the transfer body In order not to impair the durability, it is preferable to be 5 ms or more and 100 ms or less. Note that the pressing time in the present embodiment indicates the time during which the recording medium 108 and the transfer body 101 are in contact with each other, and the surface pressure is measured using the surface pressure distribution measuring device described above. The value is calculated by dividing the length of the area in the transport direction by the transport speed.
Further, there is no particular limitation on the pressure with which the pressing member 106 presses the transfer body 101 in order to transfer the ink image after the liquid removal on the transfer body 101 to the recording medium 108. Do not impair the durability of the body. For this reason, the pressure is preferably 9.8 N / cm ² (1 kg / cm ² ) or more and 294.2 N / cm ² (30 kg / cm ² ) or less. Note that the pressure in the present embodiment indicates the nip pressure between the recording medium 108 and the transfer body 101. The surface pressure is measured using the surface pressure distribution measuring device described above, and the weight in the pressure area is determined. The value was calculated by dividing by the area.
The temperature when the pressing member 106 presses the transfer body 101 to transfer the ink image after the liquid removal on the transfer body 101 to the recording medium 108 is not particularly limited, but the temperature of the resin component contained in the ink is not limited. It is preferably at least the glass transition point or the softening point. In addition, it is preferable that the heating includes a heating unit for heating the ink image on the transfer member 101, the transfer member 101, and the recording medium.
The shape of the pressing member 106 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a roller shape.

<Recording medium and recording medium transport device>
In the present embodiment, the recording medium 108 is not particularly limited, and any known recording medium can be used. Examples of the recording medium include a long material wound in a roll shape and a sheet material cut into a predetermined size. Examples of the material include paper, plastic film, wood board, corrugated cardboard, and metal film.
Further, in FIG. 1, the recording medium transport device 107 for transporting the recording medium 108 includes a recording medium feeding roller 107a and a recording medium winding roller 107b, but it is sufficient that the recording medium can be transported. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

<Reinforcement area of porous body>
The porous body of the liquid absorbing member has a contact surface in contact with the surface of the transfer body, and the surface of the porous body (contact surface) in a region of the contact surface that contacts the non-image area of the transfer body. And a reinforced region including a stiffener disposed over the interior thereof.
The reinforcing material is disposed in the pores of the porous body, and the mechanical strength of the portion of the porous body where the reinforcing material is disposed is improved. The reinforcing material is arranged from the surface of the porous body to at least a part in the thickness direction. It is preferable that the reinforcing material on the surface of the porous body and the reinforcing material filled from the porous body surface into the pores inside the porous body form a continuous phase.
The penetration depth of the reinforcing material in the thickness direction of the porous body can be appropriately selected such that the intended reinforcing effect can be obtained, such as the total thickness of the porous body or a depth less than the total thickness. . For example, when reinforcing only the surface portion of the porous body having a single-layer structure, the reinforcing material may penetrate to the thickness of the surface portion. When the porous body has a multilayer structure of two or more layers, the strength of the first layer as a surface layer of the porous body having a contact surface that comes into contact with the surface of the transfer body is improved, and the porous body is provided below the first layer. In order to improve the bonding strength with the second layer, the reinforcing material is preferably contained from the surface of the porous body through the first layer to the depth reaching the second layer. That is, it is preferable to include a reinforcing material from the contact surface with the transfer member to the inside of the second layer.
As the reinforcing material, any material can be used without particular limitation as long as the material imparts strength characteristics necessary for reinforcement to the porous material by being contained in the porous material. For example, a material that becomes fluid by heating and that penetrates into the pores of the porous body and solidifies can be mentioned as a material for the reinforcing material. As such a material, a resin that is heated and melted, that is, a resin that can be melt-impregnated into a porous body is preferable. The molten resin penetrates into the pores of the porous body due to the melt impregnation of the porous body with the resin, and is then cooled, so that the pores extend from the surface of the porous body to the penetration depth. Inside, it is possible to arrange a reinforcing material made of a solidified product of the molten resin.
The resin for forming the reinforcing material has a melting temperature that does not affect the material constituting the porous body or the structure and function of the porous body, and has a desired mechanical strength in a solidified state. It is preferable to select and use one that can be imparted to the reinforced region. The melting temperature of the resin for forming a reinforcing material is preferably 280 ° C. or lower, and is preferably a temperature at which a desired reinforcing material can be formed after melting and solidifying, for example, 100 ° C. or higher.
The temperature at which the porous body is melted and impregnated with the resin for forming the reinforcing material may be equal to or higher than the melting temperature of the resin for forming the reinforcing material. When the porous body contains materials that undergo thermal deformation or heat melting, it is preferable to set the temperature to a temperature lower than the temperature at which thermal deformation or heat melting occurs in order to prevent the influence on these materials.
When the porous body is used in the form of a belt, it is more preferable that the reinforced region also has a suitable bending property when transported or pressed against the transfer body.
From such a viewpoint, as the resin for forming the reinforcing material, a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene, whose melting point and the glass transition temperature related to the flexibility of the solidified material can be selected according to the purpose, is preferable.

(Embodiment of liquid absorbing member according to the present invention)
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention in which an endless porous belt is used as a liquid absorbing member will be described.
In describing an embodiment of the liquid absorbing member according to the present invention, a problem in a transfer type ink jet recording apparatus using a liquid absorbing member having a non-reinforced two-layered porous body will be described.
Of the liquid absorbing member having a two-layered porous body, the first layer that comes into contact with the ink image has a smaller fiber diameter than other layers in order to secure air permeability while reducing the pore diameter. And a thin film is preferred. In such a case, the material strength of the first layer tends to be low, and may be lower than the adhesion strength between the first layer and the second layer depending on the selected material. At that time, if a shearing force or a tacking force greater than the material strength from the outside of the first layer is applied, intra-layer peeling occurs inside the first layer.
In particular, a shear force or a tack force is likely to be applied to at least one of the contact start position and the contact end position between the transfer member and the liquid absorbing member. For example, when there is an operator's operation error or sudden trouble stop, when the liquid absorbing member is in contact with the contact start position or the contact end position, the first layer starts from the contact portion in the first layer. The possibility of peeling in the layer is increased.
Further, when the liquid absorbing member is transported in the apparatus after the inner layer is separated, the first layer and the tension roller come into contact with each other, and the inner layer is chained like a transmission line from the part where the inner layer is separated as a starting point. I do. When the portion where the first layer is peeled off in the layer comes into contact with the ink image, the fiber shape of the second layer below the first layer is transferred to the ink image, and irregularities corresponding to the shape of the peeled portion are generated. An image is formed.
In view of the above-described problems, the embodiment of the present invention suppresses either the in-layer peeling itself of the first layer or the chain of the in-layer peeling at the contact portion.

<First embodiment>
The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3A is a developed view of the transfer body 102 viewed from the outside in a direction perpendicular to the circumference. FIG. 3B is a developed view of the liquid absorbing member 105a, which is an endless porous belt, as viewed from outside the orbit. In this porous belt, two laminated porous layers are formed into an endless belt shape, and the surface of the transfer member that contacts the image region and the portion where the reinforcing region 105d is provided form the same surface. ing.
As described above, one round of the transfer body and one round of the liquid absorbing member have the same length. Therefore, the position of the transfer body 101 at an arbitrary distance from the upstream end in the transport direction A and the position of the liquid absorbing member 105a at the same arbitrary distance from the upstream end in the transport direction B are one-to-one. Make contact within the processing area.
As described above, when the liquid absorbing member 105a is in contact with the contact start position 101b or the contact end position 101c at the time of trouble of the device when the liquid absorbing member whose porous body is not reinforced is used, for example, One layer may be peeled in the layer. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the region of the liquid absorbing member 105a that contacts the non-image regions on both sides of the image region 101f of the transfer body 101 is defined as the reinforced region 105d. In the reinforced region 105d, the thermoplastic resin penetrates from the surface to the inside of the first layer of the porous body. Thereby, the first layer is reinforced, and even if a physical force is applied at the contact start position or the contact end position, the separation of the first layer in the layer can be suppressed. Further, the bonding strength between the first layer and the second layer can be improved.
FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the reinforcing region 105d. The porous body forming the liquid absorbing member 105a is formed from a first layer 51 and a second layer 52. As described above, there may be a third layer and further layers. In the reinforcing region 105d, a reinforcing layer 53 in which a reinforcing material has penetrated is formed on the surface of the first layer 51 opposite to the second layer 52. The reinforcing layer 53 is composed of a porous body and a solidified thermoplastic resin disposed on the surface thereof and in the pores inside the porous body, and a part of the molten resin permeates into the first layer and penetrates. 53s are formed. If the infiltration portion 53s exists in the first layer, the above-mentioned in-layer peeling can be suppressed, but more preferably, if the infiltration portion 53s reaches the second layer 52, the material strength of the first layer is reduced. It can be further improved.
As a method for manufacturing the reinforcing layer 53, a known heat-pressure applying device may be used. After heating until the material of the reinforcing layer 53 reaches the melting point, the reinforcing layer 53 is formed by applying an arbitrary pressure to permeate the molten resin into the first layer, and cooling and holding the molten resin to solidify. Is done.
The material of the reinforcing layer 53 is preferably a thermoplastic resin having excellent flexibility. When the resin having poor flexibility is used for the reinforcing layer while the liquid absorbing member 105a is being conveyed in the liquid absorbing device, the ability to follow the pressing member 105b and the stretching roller 105c is reduced, and the trouble of conveying the liquid absorbing member is reduced. Can cause. From the viewpoint that the resin having excellent flexibility has a low glass transition temperature, the material used for the reinforcing layer is preferably polyethylene or polypropylene.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the reinforcing layer 53 does not need to be a single layer, and may have a two-layer structure including the melt-solidified layer 53a and the support layer 53b. For example, of the two types of resin materials, polyethylene having a low melting point is used for forming the melt-solidified layer 53a, and polypropylene having a high melting point is used as a base material for the support layer 53b. In this configuration, a film material in which polyethylene having a low melting point is laminated on a substrate made of polypropylene having a high melting point can be suitably used. Accordingly, if the heating layer is heated at a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the molten and solidified layer and lower than the melting point of the support layer at the time of applying the heat pressure for forming the reinforcing layer, the support layer 53b in contact with the hot-pressed member does not melt, and The reinforcing material including the reinforcing layer 53 joined to the support layer 53b can be obtained by infiltrating the melt-solidified layer. Further, according to the method of forming the reinforcing region, it is possible to prevent the hot-press member from being contaminated by the adhesion of the molten resin.
The thickness of the reinforcing layer 53 is preferably thinner from the viewpoint of the above-mentioned flexibility. However, if it is too thin, the amount of resin that permeates into the first layer is reduced, and the resin may be peeled off by external physical force. From such a viewpoint, the thickness of the reinforcing layer is preferably from 20 to 100 μm. In the case of the two-layer structure shown in FIG. 5, from the same viewpoint, the thickness of the melt-solidified layer is preferably 20 to 70 μm, and the thickness of the support layer is preferably 10 to 30 μm.

<Second embodiment>
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which the strengthening region 105d is arranged only at the contact start position 101b and the contact end position 101c on the liquid absorbing member 105a. The layer configuration, material, and thickness of the reinforced region are the same as in the first embodiment.
Even in the second embodiment, the first layer is protected from the physical force that the liquid absorbing member 105a receives from the contact start position 101b or the contact end position 101c when a trouble occurs in the device, and the layer of the first layer is protected. Internal peeling can be suppressed. Further, by making the width of the reinforced region smaller than in the first embodiment, the flexibility of the liquid absorbing member 105a is improved, and the liquid absorbing member 105a can be transported more stably. Further, the amount of material used for the reinforced region can be reduced.
<Third embodiment>
A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 7 shows an embodiment in which the reinforced region 105d is disposed only on the non-image region 101d on the liquid absorbing member 105a. The layer configuration, material, and thickness of the reinforced region are the same as in the first and second embodiments.
As described above, when the first layer of the liquid absorbing member 105a is in contact with the contact start position 101b or the contact end position 101c at the time of occurrence of a trouble in the apparatus, the first layer may peel off in the layer. Further, when the liquid absorbing member 105a is transported in the apparatus after the in-layer peeling, the peeling is linked. According to the third embodiment, even if the delamination occurs in the layer, the chain is interrupted by the strengthening region 105d, and the penetration into the image region 101f can be suppressed. If the first layer does not peel off in the image area 101f, a non-defective image can be continuously output as a recording apparatus.
In the third embodiment, the width of the reinforced region can be further reduced as compared with the second embodiment, the flexibility of the liquid absorbing member 105a is improved, and the liquid can be transported more stably. Further, the amount of material used for the reinforced region can be reduced.

<Fourth embodiment>
A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which a joining portion 33 for forming the liquid absorbing member 105a into a belt shape is arranged at a position corresponding to the non-image area 101d.
The liquid absorbing member 105a has a belt shape that is periodically conveyed in the ink jet recording apparatus. A predetermined length is cut out from the porous film formed in a sheet shape by the heat lamination method, and the end portions are joined to form a porous belt. It is preferable that the joining method of the adjacent ends is a method having a tensile strength equal to or higher than the tension to be conveyed in the liquid absorbing device and a bending resistance to withstand repeated bending during the conveyance.
The joint 33 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a joining portion between end portions of a porous sheet cut out to a predetermined length. A pair of films 34 used for bonding are formed from a melt-solidified layer 34a and a support layer 34b. From the same viewpoint as in the first embodiment, the material for forming the melt-solidified layer 34a is polyethylene, and the material for forming the support layer 34b is polypropylene.
A method for manufacturing the joint will be described. First, on each of the front and back sides of the end of the porous sheet, the film 34 is brought into contact so as to bridge the adjacent end. Then, the material is pressed while being heated at a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the material of the melt-solidified layer 34a and lower than the melting point of the support layer 34b, so that the melted solidified layer 33a penetrates into the porous body. By cooling while maintaining this state, the support layer 34b straddles the adjacent end portion via the melt-solidified layer 34a, and the bonding portion 33 is formed. In this case, the reinforcing region is provided in a region including a seam in which the ends of one porous sheet are joined together and two ends connected at the seam.
The bonding portion 33 formed as described above plays a role similar to that of the reinforced region 105d of the third embodiment. That is, it is possible to suppress the invasion of the chain of the first layer into the image area 101f.

<Fifth embodiment>
A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 10 shows a state in which a non-image area 101d other than the non-image area 101e for fixing is not provided on the transfer body 101, and the joining portion 33 for forming the liquid absorbing member 105a into a belt shape is located on the non-image area 101e for fixing. Fig. 3 shows an embodiment with the arrangement.
In the fourth to fourth embodiments, the non-image area 101d is provided on the transfer body 101, and the reinforced area and the joining portion of the liquid absorbing member are conveyed so as to come into contact with the non-image area 101d. I was not doing it. What can be prevented in these embodiments is that in-layer peeling occurring at both the contact start position 101b and the contact end position 101c enters the image area. However, when a trouble occurs in the transfer type ink jet recording apparatus of the present embodiment, a larger external force is more likely to be applied to the first layer at the contact end position. In view of this, it is an object of the present embodiment to prevent only the in-layer peeling by the contact end portion from entering the image area.
The configuration and manufacturing method of the joining portion 33 are the same as in the fourth embodiment.
According to the present embodiment, by not providing the non-image area 101d of the transfer body 101, there is an advantage that an image size per transfer body can be increased.

In each of the above embodiments, the circumference of the transfer body and the circumference of the endless porous belt are the same, but the circumference of the endless porous belt is an integral multiple of the circumference of the transfer body, or vice versa. good. Even in such a case, by arranging the reinforcing region so as to be in contact with the non-image region of the transfer body, the desired effect according to the present invention can be obtained.
Further, in each of the embodiments described above, the planar shape of the reinforced region is a band extending linearly in the width direction of the liquid absorbing member, but the planar shape of the reinforced region is not limited to this. For example, a continuous or discontinuous linear shape of various shapes, a continuous or discontinuous band shape of various shapes, a shape in which a plurality of these linear or band-like regions are arranged in a stripe shape, a plurality of spot-like regions are arranged. A modified shape or the like may be adopted.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in more detail using examples and comparative examples. The present invention is not limited in any way by the following examples unless it exceeds the gist.
The size of the transfer body 101 and the size of the liquid absorbing member 105a are unified in Examples and Comparative Examples described later. The width of the transfer body 101 (depth: the length in the depth direction of FIG. 1) is 760 mm, the length of the image area 101f in the transport direction (A direction in FIG. 1) is 560 mm, and the length of the non-image area 101d in the transport direction is The length in the transport direction of the two non-image areas 101e for fixing is 60 mm, and the two pairs are 40 mm. Therefore, the circumference of the transfer body when the transfer body 101 is fixed to the support member 102 is 700 mm. The endless belt-shaped liquid absorbing member 105a has a depth of 800 mm and a circumference of 700 mm.
(Examples 1-1 and 1-2)
Examples 1-1 and 1-2 corresponding to the first embodiment will be described.
First, as a common premise, the liquid absorbing member 105a has a three-layer structure including a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer of porous membranes. Regarding the material and thickness of each layer, the first layer is made of PTFE (thickness 10 μm), the second layer is made of polyethylene (thickness 70 μm), and the third layer is made of polyphenylene sulfide (thickness 250 μm). In addition, the thickness of each layer of the porous body is determined by measuring any 10 layer thicknesses with a linear type micrometer OMV-25 (trade name, manufactured by Mitutoyo), and using the average value as the thickness of the porous body. Calculated.
The average pore diameter of the first layer of the porous body is 0.2 to 1 μm, the fiber diameter of the fibers contained in the second layer is 2 to 8 μm, the basis weight is 20 to 30 g / m ² , The fiber diameter of the fibers contained in the layer is 5 to 10 μm, and the basis weight is 70 to 130 g / m ² .
Next, design conditions in the embodiments 1-1 and 1-2 will be described. The basic configuration is as shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. Example 1-1 is a case where the reinforcing layer 53 of the reinforcing region 105d is one layer, and Example 1-2 is a case where the reinforcing layer 53 is two layers. In Example 1-1, a polyethylene (PE) film having a film thickness of 70 μm (melting point: 105 to 115 ° C., glass transition temperature: −145 to −155 ° C.) was used as a material for the reinforcing layer, and in Example 1-2, it was melt-solidified. Polyethylene (PE) film with a thickness of 50 μm (melting point: 105 to 115 ° C., glass transition temperature: −145 to −155 ° C.) for the layer, and a polypropylene (PP) film with a thickness of 20 μm (melting point: 160 to 170 ° C., glass transition temperature: −20 to 0 ° C.). In Examples 1-1 and 1-2, the size of the film was 800 mm in depth and 140 mm in width. The film is melted and permeated at an arbitrary position in the circumferential direction by using a known heat-pressure applying device by aligning the position of the liquid absorbing member 105a in the depth direction. The conditions of the heat pressure were set at a temperature of 150 ° C. and a pressure of 1.5 kg / cm ² .
In each of Examples 1-1 and 1-2, the film thickness of the first layer of the liquid absorbing member is 10 μm, but a film having a larger thickness is used for the melt-solidified layer. Therefore, the permeation part 53s is configured to reach the second layer via the first layer.
The capacity of the resin material for the melt-solidified layer can be appropriately adjusted so that the desired amount of permeation into the porous body can be obtained.
(Comparative Example 1-1)
Comparative Example 1-1 is an example in which the reinforcing layer of the embodiment of the present invention was not formed on the liquid absorbing member 105a. The layer structure of the liquid absorbing member is the same as that of the first embodiment.

(Evaluation item)
The liquid absorbing members of Examples and Comparative Examples are evaluated using the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment.
The transfer body 101 is formed from a surface layer, an elastic layer, and a compression layer. The surface layer uses a silicone resin having a thickness of 5 μm, the elastic layer uses a silicone rubber having a thickness of 0.2 mm, and the compression layer uses a nitrile rubber having a thickness of 2 mm.
The transfer body 101 rotates in the direction A about the rotation shaft 102a in FIG. 1, and the liquid absorbing member 105a is conveyed while being given a tension of 0.5 N / mm in the direction B. The tangential speed of the transfer body 101 and the transport speed of the liquid absorbing member 105a are both 0.6 m / sec. The liquid absorbing member 105a and the transfer body 101 are transported while controlling such that the reinforced area of the liquid absorbing member having the reinforcing layer is in contact with the non-image area and the fixing non-image area of the transfer body every circumference. The liquid absorbing member 105a is pressed against the transfer body 101 with a predetermined pressure by the pressing member 105b of FIG. This pressure is usually 3 kg / cm ² , but in this evaluation, assuming that an extreme pressure is applied due to a device trouble, this pressure is set to two levels of 30 kg / cm ² and 50 kg / cm ² . Set to.
Under the above conditions, after the transfer body 101 and the liquid absorbing member 105a are rotated, the above-described operation is performed by confirming the separation of the first layer in the liquid absorbing member and the penetration of the separation into the image area. The example and the comparative example are evaluated.
In the first layer, the presence or absence of the first layer peeling is visually determined when the transfer body and the liquid absorbing member are rotated five times. The index of penetration of a chain of delamination is as follows.
◎: No rotation occurred for 50 rotations or more.
：: Occurred at 10 rotations or more and less than 50 rotations.
X: Occurred at 9 rotations or less.
Further, as the evaluation of the flexibility, when the liquid absorbing member is conveyed in the recording apparatus, the ability to follow the roller when the reinforcing region comes into contact with a tension roller having a radius of 30 mm was confirmed. The indices of flexibility are as follows.
◎: Followed without floating from the circumference of the tension roller.
：: Although floating from the circumference of the tension roller, it does not affect the image.
C: The image may float from the circumference of the tension roller, causing an image defect.

In Table 1, "PE" is polyethylene and "PP" is polypropylene.
(Examples 2-1 and 3-1 and 3-2 and 4-1 and 5-1)
Examples corresponding to the second, third, fourth, and fifth embodiments will be referred to as 2-1 3-1 -3-2 4-1 5-1. The layer configuration of the liquid absorbing member is the same as in the first embodiment.
In Examples 2-1 and 3-1, a two-layer film in which polyethylene having a thickness of 50 μm is laminated as a melt-solidified layer and polypropylene (PP) having a thickness of 20 μm is laminated as a support layer is used. The size of the film is 800 mm in depth and 10 mm in width. In Example 2-1, two films of the same type are used.
In Example 2-1, the respective films are arranged such that the positions in the depth direction of the liquid absorbing member 105a are aligned and the distance between the width centers of the two films is 70 mm. Then, a reinforcing layer is formed by melting and penetrating by the same heat and pressure method as in Example 1-1. The liquid absorbing member and the transfer body are conveyed under the control of the transfer type ink jet recording apparatus so that the two reinforcing regions having the formed reinforcing layer are in contact with the contact start portion 101b and the contact end portion 101c, respectively.
In Example 3-1, one film is aligned in the depth direction of the liquid absorbing member 105a, and is melted and permeated at an arbitrary position in the circumferential direction by the hot-pressure method in the same manner as in Example 1-1, and the reinforcing layer is formed. To form The liquid absorbing member and the transfer body are conveyed under the control of the transfer type ink jet recording apparatus so that the reinforced area having the formed reinforcing layer is in contact with the non-image area 101d.
In Examples 2-1 and 3-1 the thickness of the first layer of the liquid absorbing member is 10 μm, whereas a film having a thickness of 50 μm is used as the melt-solidified layer. Therefore, the permeation part 53s is configured to reach the second layer via the first layer.
On the other hand, in Example 3-2, a two-layer film in which polyethylene having a thickness of 7 μm is laminated as the melt-solidified layer and polypropylene (PP) having a thickness of 20 μm is laminated as the support layer is used. The size of the film and the method of forming the reinforcing layer are the same as in Example 3-1. In Example 3-2, the film thickness of the first layer of the liquid absorbing member is 10 μm, and the thickness of the melt-solidified layer is smaller than that. Therefore, the permeation portion 53s does not reach the second layer.
In Example 4-1, two two-layer films in which polyethylene having a thickness of 50 μm is laminated as a melt-solidified layer and polypropylene (PP) having a thickness of 20 μm is laminated as a support layer are used. The size of the film is 800 mm in depth and 12 mm in width. As shown in FIG. 9, the two films are arranged so as to span the end of the porous film of the raw material of the liquid absorbing member. Then, a heat pressure is applied at a temperature of 150 ° C. and a pressure of 1.5 kg / cm ² to cause the melted and solidified layer to permeate the porous membrane. By cooling while maintaining this state, the supporting layer is in a state of straddling the end portion via the molten and solidified layer, and the bonding portion 33 is formed. The liquid absorbing member and the transfer body are conveyed under the control of the transfer type ink jet recording apparatus so that the formed joint portion is in contact with the non-image area 101d.
Example 5-1 is the same as Example 4-1 in the film used and the method of forming a joint using the same. Regarding the transfer body conveyed with the liquid absorbing member, the size is not changed and the non-image area other than the non-image area for fixing is not provided, so that the image size can be output larger than in the other embodiments. I have. In the transfer type ink jet recording apparatus, the liquid absorbing member and the transfer body are conveyed under control so that the formed joint faces the non-image area 101e for fixing.
The evaluation items of Examples 2-1 and 3-1 and 3-2 and 4-1 and 5-1 are the same as those of Example 1-1. Table 2 shows the obtained results.

  In Table 2, "PE" is polyethylene and "PP" is polypropylene.

33 Joining part 100 Transfer type ink jet recording apparatus 101 Transfer body 105 Liquid absorbing device 105a Liquid absorbing member 105d Reinforcement area

Claims (13)

A transfer body having a surface having an image area and a non-image area,
A support member for supporting the transfer body,
An ink applying apparatus for applying an ink to an image area of the transfer body to form an image,
A liquid absorbing member having a porous body that is in contact with the surface of the transfer body and absorbs at least a part of a liquid component included in the image;
A transfer device that transfers an image in which at least a part of the liquid component is absorbed from the transfer body to a recording medium,
An inkjet recording apparatus having
The porous body has a contact surface that is in contact with the surface of the transfer body, and in a region of the contact surface that is in contact with the non-image region, the porous body has a contact surface with the non-image region. An ink jet recording apparatus having a reinforced region containing a reinforcing material throughout the inside.   The porous body has a first layer as a surface layer having a contact surface that contacts at least the surface of the transfer body, and a second layer provided below the first layer, the contact layer The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing material is contained from a surface to the inside of the second layer.   The transfer type ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing material includes a resin.   4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the reinforcing material is a solidified molten resin that has permeated from the porous surface to the inside. 5.   The inkjet according to claim 4, wherein the molten resin is a resin obtained by melting a resin laminated on a base material, and the reinforcing material includes a solidified product of the base material and the molten resin bonded to the base material. Recording device.   The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid absorbing member has a belt shape.   The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the belt-shaped liquid absorbing member has a repetitive contact portion that periodically repeats contact and retreat with the surface of the transfer body.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the reinforced region is provided at at least one of a contact start position and a contact end position of the repeated contact portion on the surface of the transfer body.   The reinforced area is provided between the contact start position of the repetitive contact portion and the area contacting the image area of the transfer body, and at least one of the area contacting the image area of the transfer body and the contact end position. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 7, comprising:   The belt-shaped liquid absorbing member is formed of one sheet of the liquid absorbing member, and has a seam in which the ends of the sheet are joined to each other. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9, comprising:   The belt-shaped liquid absorbing member includes sheets of a plurality of liquid absorbing members, and two adjacent sheets are connected by a seam joining ends of the sheets, and an end joined at the seam. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the enhanced region is provided in a region including:   The support member is a cylindrical support member, and the transfer body is supported on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical support member with the surface as the outer peripheral surface, and the transfer member is synchronized with the rotation of the cylindrical support member. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 11, further comprising a transport unit that transports the belt-shaped liquid absorbing member. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reaction liquid application device that applies a reaction liquid containing a component that increases the viscosity of the ink to an image area of the transfer body.