JP2019052834A - Dryer, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a dryer capable of efficiently drying a liquid coated area formed on a member to be conveyed and of preventing generation of a void thereon.SOLUTION: The dryer that dries a liquid coated member to be conveyed, comprises: a plurality of heating members aligned in the conveying direction of the member to be conveyed to heat the member to be conveyed by contacting with the member to be conveyed; and a conveying path for the member to be conveyed to travel therethrough while contacting with the plurality of heating members. The conveying path includes: a first path for the member to be conveyed to travel therethrough while contacting with the plurality of heating members; and a second path for the member to be conveyed to travel therethrough while contacting again with at least one of the heating members having been contacted thereby in the first path, with the Martens hardness at 120°C of a dried film made from the liquid according to a prescribed method being equal to or larger than 30 N/mm.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a drying apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

  An aqueous ink containing water is known as an ink used in the ink jet recording system. When such an aqueous ink is applied to a recording medium such as continuous paper in the transport direction using an inkjet recording apparatus capable of printing at high speed, the aqueous ink is formed from the aqueous ink applied to the recording medium. It is necessary to dry the image area in a short time. As means for drying, for example, contact heating means such as a heating roller is known.

  In Patent Document 1, a long belt-like base material provided with a liquid material is wound around the outer peripheral surface, and a heating roller that transports the base material along a transport path on the outer peripheral surface by rotating while heating, There is disclosed a drying device having a plurality of transport rollers that are provided in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the heating roller and transport the substrate.

  However, there is a problem that a large number of heating members are required to sufficiently dry the region formed with the liquid formed on the conveyed member. In addition, even if the transported member is sufficiently dried, when a member that comes into contact with the region to which the liquid is applied is provided, there is a problem that a part of the region to which the liquid is applied is peeled off (white area). is there.

The invention according to claim 1 is a drying device that dries a member to which a liquid is applied and is transported, wherein the transported member is in contact with the transported member and heats the transported member. A plurality of heating members arranged side by side in the conveyance direction; and a conveyance path in which the conveyed member is conveyed while being in contact with the plurality of heating members. A first path that is conveyed while being in contact with the plurality of heating members; and a second path that is conveyed while the member being conveyed is again in contact with at least one of the heating members that is in contact with the first path. The dry film produced from the liquid by the following production method has a Martens hardness at 120 ° C. of 30 N / mm ² or more.
[How to make]
The liquid is coated on a glass plate, and the coated liquid is dried under reduced pressure at 100 ° C. for 3 hours to obtain a dry film having an average thickness of 5 μm.

  The drying apparatus of the present invention can efficiently dry the region formed with the liquid formed on the conveyed member with the heating member, and suppresses white spots where a part of the region applied with the liquid is peeled off. There is an effect that can be.

1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. It is expansion explanatory drawing of the drying apparatus in 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of the contact state to a heating roller. It is expansion explanatory drawing of the drying apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. It is expansion explanatory drawing of the drying apparatus in 3rd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of the contact distance and winding angle to a heating roller and a heating drum. It is a table | surface shown about an example of the relationship between the roller diameter of a heating roller, and the cockling of a continuous paper. It is expansion explanatory drawing of the drying apparatus in 4th Embodiment. It is principal part expansion explanatory drawing of the drying apparatus in 5th Embodiment. It is principal part expansion explanatory drawing of the drying apparatus in 6th Embodiment. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the image forming apparatus in 7th Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the drying apparatus according to the present invention will be described. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and other embodiments, additions, modifications, deletions, and the like can be changed within a range that can be conceived by those skilled in the art, and any aspect is possible. As long as the functions and effects of the present invention are exhibited, the scope of the present invention is included.

<< Drying equipment >>
The present invention is a drying device that dries a member to which a liquid is applied and is transported, and is arranged in the transport direction of the transported member that contacts the transported member and heats the transported member. A plurality of heating members arranged, and a conveyance path in which the conveyed member is conveyed while being in contact with the plurality of heating members, and the conveyance path includes the plurality of members to be conveyed A first path that is transported while being in contact with the heating member; and a second path that is transported while the member being transported is in contact with at least one of the heating members that is in contact with the first path; The drying film produced from the liquid by the following production method has a Martens hardness at 120 ° C. of 30 N / mm ² or more.
[How to make]
The liquid is coated on a glass plate, and the coated liquid is dried under reduced pressure at 100 ° C. for 3 hours to obtain a dry film having an average thickness of 5 μm.
Hereinafter, the drying apparatus of the present invention will be described together with an image forming apparatus having a drying apparatus.

  First, an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment having the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

  This image forming apparatus is an ink jet recording apparatus, and an example of a liquid applying unit that discharges and applies ink, which is a liquid of a predetermined color, stored in a liquid storage container to a continuous paper 110 that is a conveyed member. A liquid application unit 101 including the liquid discharge head. The liquid container is an example of a liquid container, and examples thereof include an ink cartridge and an ink bottle.

  In the liquid application unit 101, for example, full-line heads 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D for four colors are arranged from the upstream side in the transport direction of the continuous paper 110. Each head 111 applies black K, cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y liquid to the continuous paper 110, respectively. The type and number of colors are not limited to this.

  The liquid application unit 101 may be either a serial type that moves the ejection head or a line type that does not move the ejection head. Further, the liquid application unit 101 is an ink jet recording method, but may be another method. Examples thereof include a blade coating method, a gravure coating method, a bar coating method, a roll coating method, a dip coating method, a curtain coating method, a slide coating method, a die coating method, and a spray coating method.

  The continuous paper 110 is fed out from the original winding roller 102, sent out by the transport roller 112 of the transport unit 103 onto the transport guide member 113 disposed facing the liquid application unit 101, and guided by the transport guide member 113. Are transported.

  The continuous paper 110 to which the liquid is applied by the liquid application unit 101 is sent by the discharge roller 114 through the drying device 104 according to the present invention, and is taken up by the take-up roller 105.

  Next, the drying apparatus in 1st Embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG.2 and FIG.3. FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory view of the drying apparatus in the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory view for explaining a contact point of the continuous paper with the heating roller.

  The drying device 104 includes contact heating means 10 that heats the continuous paper 110 by contacting the surface of the continuous paper 110 opposite to the surface to which the liquid is applied. In addition, guide rollers 17 </ b> A and 17 </ b> B are provided for guiding the continuous paper 110 that has passed through the contact heating means 10.

  The contact heating means 10 includes heating rollers 11 </ b> A to 11 </ b> E that are examples of a plurality of heating members having a curved contact surface 11 a that is a peripheral surface that contacts the continuous paper 110. Further, the contact heating means 10 includes contact guide rollers 13A to 13D which are examples of contact guide members that guide the continuous paper 110 so as to contact the contact surfaces 11a of the heating rollers 11D to 11A.

  Here, the plurality of heating rollers 11 </ b> A to 11 </ b> E (hereinafter referred to as “heating roller 11” when not distinguished from each other. The same applies to other members) are arranged in a curved shape. The contact guide roller 13 is disposed between the adjacent heating rollers 11 and is replaced with an “image portion” which is an example of an area to which liquid is applied on the continuous paper 110 (hereinafter, “area to which liquid has been applied”). To explain). The “region to which the liquid is applied” indicates a region on the surface of the member to be transported to which the liquid is applied, and does not include a region on the surface to which the liquid is not applied.

  The contact guide roller 13 is preferably a roller having a fine uneven structure on the surface. Examples of the roller having a fine concavo-convex structure include a roller that adheres a substantially spherical body to the surface, a film that adheres a substantially spherical body to the surface, a roller covered with a tape, and the like. The fixed substantially spherical body is preferably embedded in a roller, a film, a tape, or the like, and is partially exposed from the surface to form an uneven structure. The diameter of the substantially spherical body is preferably 20 μm or more and 200 μm or less. Examples of the material constituting the substantially spherical body include glass and ceramic. By using the contact guide roller 13 having a fine concavo-convex structure on the surface, white spots where a part of the image portion is peeled off due to the adhesive force generated on the surface of the image portion and the contact guide roller 13, and components of the peeled image portion are contact-guided. Member contamination formed by transferring to the roller 13 can be suppressed.

  In addition, the temperature of the image part when the contact guide roller 13 and the image part on the continuous paper 110 are in contact with each other is preferably 60 ° C. or higher and 120 ° C. or lower. When the temperature of the image portion is 60 ° C. or higher, the image portion can be dried simultaneously with the conveyance, so that white spots and member contamination caused by insufficient drying of the image portion can be suppressed. When the temperature of the image portion is 120 ° C. or less, the image portion can be brought into contact with the contact guide roller 13 in a state where the image portion is not thermally melted, so that white spots and member contamination can be suppressed.

  The drying device 104 has a conveyance path (conveyance path, conveyance path) 20 for the continuous paper 110 constituted by the plurality of heating rollers 11 and the contact guide roller 13.

  The transport path 20 is a first path (hereinafter referred to as “first path Y1”) in which the continuous paper 110 is transported in the first direction (Y1 direction) while contacting the plurality of heating rollers 11A to 11E. And a second path (hereinafter referred to as “second path Y2”) that is conveyed in the second direction (Y2 direction) while re-contacting the plurality of heating rollers 11D to 11A that are in contact with each other in the first path. Yes.

  In the present embodiment, a path that contacts two or more heating rollers 11 (first heating members) when the continuous paper 110 is transported along the second path Y2 is configured. The path | route which contacts (1st heating member) may be sufficient. In other words, when the continuous paper 110 is transported through the second path Y2, it is not necessary to transport all the heating rollers 11A to 11E in contact again.

  Here, the continuous paper 110 is conveyed in the first path Y1 while being in contact with the heating rollers 11A to 11E on the outer side (side receiving the tension) of the plurality of heating rollers 11A to 11E arranged in a curved shape. . Thereafter, the direction of the continuous paper 110 is changed in the second path Y2, and the inside of the plurality of heating rollers 11E to 11A (the side on which the loosening occurs) is guided by the contact guide roller 13 to the heating rollers 11D to 11A. It is conveyed while in contact.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the continuous paper 110 is conveyed through the first path Y <b> 1 and the second path Y <b> 2 while simultaneously contacting two spaced apart locations (a part and b part) of the same heating roller 11. It will be.

  In this way, the members simultaneously conveyed to two different places on the same heating member (heating roller) are brought into contact with each other and heated.

  Thereby, the member conveyed efficiently with few heating members can be dried.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged explanatory view of a drying apparatus according to the second embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration of the image forming apparatus other than the drying apparatus 104 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  Further, the drying device 104 has a place where a plurality of (here, two) heating rollers 11 are arranged between the contact guide rollers 13 and 13 in the drying device 104 of the first embodiment.

  Even with such a configuration, it is possible to guide the heating roller 11 and the contact guide roller 13 so that they are brought into contact with the heating roller 11 even when transported in the second direction Y2.

  Then, due to the arrangement of the contact guide roller 13 according to the present embodiment, the portion of the continuous paper 110 being transported through the first path Y1 and the second path between the heating rollers 11 and 11 where the contact guide roller 13 is not disposed. A space 120 is formed between the portions of the continuous paper 110 that is transporting Y2.

  Therefore, for example, a sensor unit for controlling the temperature of the heating roller 11 and a temperature control unit 121 for controlling the temperature can be arranged in the space 120.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged explanatory view of a drying device according to the third embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration of the image forming apparatus other than the drying apparatus 104 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  The drying device 104 is a heating drum that is a second heating member at a position downstream of the plurality of heating rollers 11 in the first path Y1 and upstream of the plurality of heating rollers 11 in the second path Y2. 12 is arranged. The heating drum 12 has a curved contact surface (circumferential surface) having a smaller curvature than the contact surface of the heating roller 11.

  Here, the heating drum 12 is driven to rotate, and the heating roller 11 is rotated with the continuous paper 110 being conveyed.

  The heating roller 11E, the heating drum 12, and the guide roller 17 constitute a path (conveying path) for winding the continuous paper 110 around the heating drum 12 in an area of 70% or more, preferably 80% or more. Yes. The heating drum 12 and the guide roller 17 change the conveying direction of the continuous paper 110 from the direction of the first path Y1 to the direction of the second path Y2.

  At this time, the contact distance of the continuous paper 110 to the heating drum 12 is longer than the contact distance of the continuous paper 110 to the heating roller 11. The “contact distance” is a distance at which the continuous paper 110 is in contact with the circumferential surface in the direction along the circumferential direction of the heating drum 12 and the heating roller 11 (conveying direction). When the heating member is a curved member having a curved surface as a contact surface, the distance is in contact with the curved surface in a direction along the circumferential direction of the curved surface (conveying direction).

  Here, the contact distance and the winding angle will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a contact distance and a winding angle to the heating roller and the heating drum.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the contact distance L <b> 2 between the contact surface 12 a that is the peripheral surface of the heating drum 12 and the continuous paper 110 is the contact distance between the contact surface 11 a that is the peripheral surface of the heating roller 11 and the continuous paper 110. The transport path is configured to be longer than L1.

  Here, the winding angle θ2 of the continuous paper 110 with respect to the contact surface 12a of the heating drum 12 is larger than the winding angle θ1 of the continuous paper 110 with respect to the contact surface 11a of the heating roller 11 (θ2> θ1).

  As shown in FIG. 6, the winding angles θ2 and θ1 (collectively referred to as “winding angle θ”) end the contact with the point Ps where the continuous paper 110 starts to contact the contact surfaces 12a and 11a. This means the angle formed by the point Pe to the center O.

  Therefore, when the winding angle θ is increased, the contact distance is increased if the diameter of the rotating body is the same, and the contact distance is increased as the diameter of the rotating body is increased even if the winding angle θ is the same.

  In this embodiment, since the diameter of the heating drum 12 is larger than that of the heating roller 11 and the winding angle θ2 is larger than θ1, in any case, the contact surface 12a of the heating drum 12 and the continuous paper 110 Is longer than the contact distance L1 between the contact surface 11a of the heating roller 11 and the continuous paper 110.

  As described above, even when the winding angle θ is the same, the contact distance increases as the diameter of the rotating body increases. Therefore, even if the heating drum 12 and the heating roller 11 have the same diameter and the winding angle θ2 is made larger than θ1, the contact distance L2 between the contact surface 12a of the heating drum 12 and the continuous paper 110 becomes the contact of the heating roller 11. The contact distance L1 between the surface 11a and the continuous paper 110 is longer.

  As a result, the continuous paper 110 that has been transported through the first path Y <b> 1 and heated by the heating roller 11 can be heated and dried by applying a large amount of heat by the heating drum 12.

  In this case, the continuous paper 110 immediately after the liquid is applied is reduced in cockling by being conveyed through the first path Y1 while being in contact with the heating roller 11, and is wound around the heating drum 12 in this state. Efficient drying can be performed by closely contacting the peripheral surface of the heating drum 12.

  That is, since the strength of the continuous paper 110 is reduced when the time has not passed since the liquid application, the back surface side of the continuous paper 110 has a wide range (long contact distance). It is difficult to adhere to the surface (contact surface).

  Therefore, in the initial state where the applied liquid has not been dried, the contact angle is shortened by reducing the winding angle of the continuous paper 110 around the heating roller 11.

  Here, by increasing the curvature of the heating roller 11, the tension generated when the continuous paper 110 is conveyed changes from the pressing force at the contact portion with the heating roller 11, so the contact state with the heating roller 11 is uniform. Become. In this state, generation of cockling and wrinkles is suppressed or corrected in the continuous paper 110, and when passing through the plurality of heating rollers 11, the heat necessary for drying is uniformly supplied to the liquid on the continuous paper 110. Ready to do.

  In this way, the continuous paper 110 that has been cocked and dried is able to be brought into close contact with the contact surface even if the contact distance with the rotating body (curved surface) is increased.

Therefore, in the heating drum 12 arranged on the downstream side of the plurality of heating rollers 11, by increasing the contact distance of the continuous paper 110, a large amount of heat is supplied to the continuous paper 110 to efficiently dry in a short time. Can be done.
Note that a large-diameter heating member such as the heating drum 12 can improve the drying property because the contact area with the member to which the liquid is applied and conveyed is increased, but the region to which the liquid is applied is more Heated. Therefore, for example, when the region to which the liquid is applied and the contact guide member come into contact with each other, image peeling (“white spot” described later) is likely to occur. Therefore, the liquid applied to the conveyed member has the following Martens hardness. It is more preferable to satisfy this range.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the back surface of the continuous paper 110 is brought into contact with the heating roller 11 again on the downstream side of the heating drum 12.

  Thereby, for example, the moisture of the ink is evaporated by the heat transfer of the heating roller 11 and the heat transfer of the heating drum 12 in the first path Y1, and then the ink is transferred by the heat transfer of the heating roller 11 in the second path Y2. By evaporating the solvent, the ink can be fixed on the paper which is the continuous paper 110.

  Next, an example of the relationship between the roller diameter of the heating roller 11 and the cockling of the continuous paper 110 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a table showing an example of the relationship between the roller diameter of the heating roller and cockling of the continuous paper.

  FIG. 7 shows the results of changing the diameter of the heating roller 11 to measure the cockling height and cockling pitch generated on the continuous paper 110, and confirming the presence or absence of a cockling that can be visually confirmed.

  From this result, in this example, by setting the diameter of the heating roller 11 to 200 mm, the cockling height is almost halved compared to when the diameter of the heating roller 11 is 250 mm, and the diameter of the heating roller 11 is 100 mm or less. By doing this, you can see that cockling is gone.

  Accordingly, the diameter of the heating roller 11 is preferably 200 mm or less, and more preferably 100 mm or less.

  Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is an enlarged explanatory view of a drying device according to the fourth embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration of the image forming apparatus other than the drying apparatus 104 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  The drying device 104 is a contact guide that guides the continuous paper 110 to contact the ten heating rollers 11 (11A to 11J), the heating drum 12, and the heating rollers 11 (11A to 11J) that constitute the contact heating means 10. The roller 13 (13A-13J) is provided.

  Further, guide rollers 17 </ b> A to 17 </ b> D for guiding the continuous paper 110 to the contact heating means 10 and a guide roller 17 </ b> E for winding the continuous paper 110 around the heating drum 12 are provided. Furthermore, heating rollers 14A and 14B that also serve as guide rollers for guiding the continuous paper 110 coming out from the contact heating means 10 are provided.

  In the contact heating means 10, ten heating rollers 11 (11 </ b> A to 11 </ b> J) are arranged around the heating drum 12 in an arc shape. Here, the distance from the center of the heating drum 12 to the center of each heating roller 11 is the same, but the center of the heating drum 12 coincides with the center of the arc of the heating roller 11 arranged in an arc shape. do not have to.

  Thereby, when it conveys in contact over the some heating roller 11, a load is not applied to the continuous paper 110, and it can convey with appropriate tension | tensile_strength.

  The continuous paper 110 guided to the contact heating means 10 by the guide roller 17D is in contact with the outer sides (opposite to the heating drum 12) of the plurality of heating rollers 11A to 11J arranged in an arc shape. Y1 is conveyed.

  After that, the continuous paper 110 reaches the circumferential surface of the heating drum 12 and is wound around the entire circumference of the heating drum 12 to come into contact therewith, and then again with the guide roller 17E and the contact guide roller 13A, the heating roller 11J. Be guided to. The continuous paper 110 is conveyed along the second path Y2 while being guided and contacted by the contact guide rollers 13A to 13J on the inner side (the heating drum 12 side) of the heating rollers 11J to 11A.

  Thereby, even if the number of heating members is increased, the apparatus can be reduced in size. And a drying rate can be raised by increasing the number of heating members.

  Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is an enlarged explanatory view of a main part of the drying device in the fifth embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the contact guide roller 13 disposed between the adjacent heating rollers 11, 11 has a first position shown in FIG. 9B that presses the conveyed continuous paper 110 against the heating roller 11, and the continuous paper. The paper 110 is disposed so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow between the second position shown in FIG. Thereby, the position of the contact guide roller 13 can be changed with respect to the conveyance path outside the group of heating rollers 11.

  In addition, the movement of the contact guide roller 13 can be performed manually by, for example, a handle operation or can be performed by an actuator provided with a drive source.

  Since it comprised in this way, in order to improve workability | operativity at the time of initial loading of the continuous paper 110, the contact guide roller 13 is only the predetermined distance N1 with respect to the conveyance path outside the heating roller 11 group at the time of loading operation. The retreated position can be separated.

  After the continuous paper 110 is loaded, the contact guide roller 13 is moved to a pressing position at a predetermined distance N2 (N2 <N1) with respect to the conveyance path outside the heating roller 11 group, and the continuous paper 110 is moved. Pressing inward from the common circumscribing line of the adjacent heating rollers 11 and 11. Thereby, the contact area | region with respect to the heating roller 11 of the continuous paper 110 can be enlarged.

  On the other hand, when the continuous guide sheet 110 is pressed by the contact guide roller 13 as described above, the contact guide roller 13 presses the image portion formed on the continuous form paper 110 while making direct contact. Become. Therefore, white spots and member contamination can be suppressed by forming an image portion using a liquid having a Martens hardness described later.

  Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is an enlarged explanatory view of a main part of the drying device in the sixth embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the first heating rollers 11A to 11K and the contact guide rollers 13A to 13H are arranged side by side.

  Here, between the group of the first heating rollers 11A to 11E and the group of the first heating rollers 11G to 11K arranged in a curved shape, a path in which the heating rollers 11E, 11F, and 11G are arranged in a straight line is interposed, respectively. By doing so, a part of the transport path is bent, and the straight path portion is included in the curved path.

  That is, the shape of the conveyance path (conveyance path) is not limited to the curved shape, and may include a straight shape (straight path) in part (this embodiment).

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the plurality of first heating members and second heating members are rotating bodies has been described, but some or all of them may not be rotating bodies.

  In each of the above embodiments, the conveyance path is described as an arc-shaped, arc-shaped or curved path. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a route that is bent in the middle of the Y1 direction (or Y2 direction), a crank-like route, or the like may be used.

  Moreover, in each said embodiment, the simple 1st roller (rotating body) other than a heating member may be arrange | positioned in the middle demonstrated by the structure which several 1st heating members are located in a line in a row.

  In addition to recording an image such as a character or a figure with a liquid such as ink, a member conveyed by the image forming apparatus has an image having no meaning such as a pattern for the purpose of decoration or decoration. You may provide with liquids, such as an ink.

  In each of the above embodiments, the second direction is described as an example opposite to the first direction. However, the second direction is not limited to the opposite direction, and may be a direction having an angle with respect to the first direction. Good.

  Next, an image forming apparatus according to a seventh embodiment having the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the seventh embodiment.

  In this image forming apparatus, the first printing unit 1001 that prints on one side of the continuous paper 110 and dries between the original winding roller 102 and the winding roller 105, and the first printing unit 1001 prints on one side. A reversing unit 1003 for reversing the front and back of the continuous paper 110 and a second printing unit 1002 for printing on the other surface of the continuous paper 110 and drying are arranged.

  The configurations of the liquid application unit 101, the transport unit 103, and the drying device 104 of the first printing unit 1001 and the second printing unit 1002 are substantially the same as (or may be the same as) the first embodiment, but the second to thirteenth units. It can be the same as or substantially the same as in the sixth embodiment.

  Here, the liquid application unit 101 of the first printing unit 1001 serves as a first liquid application unit that applies liquid to the first surface of the continuous paper 110 that is a conveyed member. The liquid application unit 101 of the second printing unit 1002 serves as a second liquid application unit that applies liquid to the second surface opposite to the first surface of the continuous paper 110 that is a conveyed member.

  In addition, the drying device 104 of the first printing unit 1001 is a first drying device in which the first surface of the continuous paper 110 contacts the heating roller 11 in the first path Y1. The drying device 104 of the second printing unit 1002 is a second drying device in which the second surface of the continuous paper 110 is in contact with the heating roller 11 in the first path Y1.

  Here, in the drying device 104 of the first printing unit 1001, since the image portion is formed only on the first surface of the continuous paper 110, the contact guide roller 13 corresponds to a member that directly contacts the image portion. . On the other hand, in the drying device 104 of the second printing unit 1002, since the image portion is formed on both the first surface and the second surface of the continuous paper 110, a contact guide roller is used as a member that contacts the image portion. In addition to 13, the heating roller 11 also corresponds. In other words, since the chances of white spots and member stains increase, the need to suppress white spots and member stains by forming an image portion using a liquid having Martens hardness, which will be described later, is further increased.

In the image forming apparatuses according to the first to sixth embodiments described above, the conveyed member contacts the plurality of heating members on a surface to which no liquid is applied. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The heating member may be in contact with the surface to which the liquid is applied. For example, in the first path, the plurality of heating members are in contact with a surface on which no liquid is applied, and in the second path, the plurality of heating members are in contact with a surface on which liquid is applied. Is mentioned. By drying from the surface to which liquid is not applied in the first path, image peeling due to contact between the undried image portion and the heating member is suppressed, and the surface to which liquid is applied in the second path is directly heated. Therefore, higher drying property can be obtained.
In the image forming apparatuses according to the first to seventh embodiments, the case where continuous paper is used as an example of the conveyed member has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and cut paper or the like is used. You can also. When cut paper is used as a member to be transported, a known method can be appropriately used as a method for transporting the cut paper. For example, a method of transporting the both sides of the cut paper with a belt is preferable. By sandwiching with the belt, it is possible to apply a tension in the transport direction, and it is possible to make the recording medium more closely contact the heating roller, and it is possible to improve the drying efficiency.

<< Liquid >>
The liquid used in the image forming apparatus having the drying apparatus of the present invention has a Martens hardness at 120 ° C. of 30 N / mm ² or more of a dry film produced from the liquid by the following production method [Production method].
The liquid is coated on a glass plate, and the coated liquid is dried under reduced pressure at 100 ° C. for 3 hours to obtain a dry film having an average thickness of 5 μm.
Hereinafter, the ink which is one aspect of the liquid will be described.

[Martens hardness]
Martens hardness is an index representing the hardness of a material obtained in an indentation depth test. In this test, a Vickers indenter is pushed into the material, and the load test force and the indentation depth at that time are continuously measured to obtain a relationship of “indentation depth−test force”. Then, the Martens hardness is obtained on the basis of the slope in which the indentation depth up to the 50% value and 90% value of the maximum load test force of this curve is proportional to the square root of the load test force.

  The Martens hardness of the dry film in the present application is measured using a dry film obtained by coating a liquid on a glass plate and drying under reduced pressure at 100 ° C. for 3 hours. The liquid is applied so that the average thickness of the dried film after drying is 5 μm. In addition, an average means the average of the thickness in 10 arbitrary points of a dry film. After cooling this dry film to room temperature, using a micro hardness tester HM-2000 manufactured by Fischer Instruments in a state heated to 120 ° C., the Vickers indenter is applied with a force of 0.5 [mN] over 10 seconds. It can be measured by pushing in, holding for 5 seconds, and pulling out the indenter over 10 seconds.

Martens hardness of the dried film measured by this method is 30 N / mm ² or more, preferably 35N / mm ² or more, more preferably 50 N / mm ² or more. If it is 30 N / mm ² or more, the tack force in the region to which the liquid on the conveyed member is applied is lowered, and the mechanical strength is also increased. For this reason, it is possible to suppress white spots caused by a member that comes into contact with the region to which the liquid is applied, such as a contact guide member, coming into contact with the region to which the liquid is applied. Further, as described above, when the contact guide member or the like contacts the region to which the liquid is applied, the region to which the liquid is applied is in a heated state. Therefore, in the present application, the Martens hardness of the dry film is measured in a state where the dry film is 120 ° C. according to the actual situation. Incidentally, Martens hardness of the dry film is preferably at most 120 N / mm ^2, more preferably 117N / mm ² or less, and more preferably 89N / mm ² or less. If it is 120 N / mm ² or less, the scratch resistance is improved, and member contamination can be suppressed.
Moreover, in this embodiment, in order to heat the member conveyed efficiently, it has a some heating member in a conveyance path | route, and the contact guide provided between the adjacent heating members in a conveyance path | route. It is preferable to have a plurality of members. At this time, since the contact guide member comes into contact with the region to which the liquid on the member to be transported is applied a plurality of times, white spots are more likely to occur than when the contact count is one. Accordingly, when such a drying apparatus is used, it is more preferable that the liquid applied to the conveyed member satisfies the range of the Martens hardness in order to suppress white spots.

  Next, the ink having the above-described Martens hardness will be described. Martens hardness is particularly affected by the type of resin in the ink, the resin content, and the like. Hereinafter, ink compositions capable of realizing the above-described Martens hardness will be exemplified.

<Organic solvent>
The organic solvent used in the present invention is not particularly limited, and a water-soluble organic solvent can be used. Examples thereof include ethers such as polyhydric alcohols, polyhydric alcohol alkyl ethers and polyhydric alcohol aryl ethers, nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds, amides, amines and sulfur-containing compounds.
Specific examples of the water-soluble organic solvent include, for example, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, and 1,4-butane. Diol, 2,3-butanediol, 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, triethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, 1,2-pentanediol, 1,3-pentanediol, 1,4-pentanediol 2,4-pentanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,3-hexanediol, 2,5-hexanediol, 1,5-hexanediol, Glycerin, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, 2-ethyl-1,3-he Polyhydric alcohols such as sundiol, ethyl-1,2,4-butanetriol, 1,2,3-butanetriol, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol, petriol, ethylene glycol mono Polyhydric alcohol alkyl ethers such as ethyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, tetraethylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monophenyl ether, ethylene glycol mono Polyhydric alcohol aryl ethers such as benzyl ether, 2-pyrrolidone, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-hydroxyethyl- -N-containing heterocyclic compounds such as pyrrolidone, 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone, ε-caprolactam, γ-butyrolactone, formamide, N-methylformamide, N, N-dimethylformamide, 3-methoxy-N, Amides such as N-dimethylpropionamide and 3-butoxy-N, N-dimethylpropionamide, amines such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethylamine, sulfur-containing compounds such as dimethylsulfoxide, sulfolane and thiodiethanol, propylene carbonate, Examples thereof include ethylene carbonate.
In addition to functioning as a wetting agent, it is preferable to use an organic solvent having a boiling point of 250 ° C. or lower because good drying properties can be obtained.

A polyol compound having 8 or more carbon atoms and a glycol ether compound are also preferably used. Specific examples of the polyol compound having 8 or more carbon atoms include 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol, and the like.
Specific examples of glycol ether compounds include polyhydric alcohol alkyls such as ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, tetraethylene glycol monomethyl ether, and propylene glycol monoethyl ether. Examples of ethers include polyhydric alcohol aryl ethers such as ethylene glycol monophenyl ether and ethylene glycol monobenzyl ether.
A polyol compound having 8 or more carbon atoms and a glycol ether compound can improve ink permeability when paper is used as a recording medium.

In particular, when a resin is included in the ink, N, N-dimethyl-β-butoxypropionamide, N, N-dimethyl-β-ethoxypropionamide, 3-ethyl-3-hydroxymethyloxetane, propylene glycol monomethyl ether Is preferred. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together. These film-forming properties of the resin by using together with the resin is promoted, but the Martens hardness of the dry film can be easily to 30 N / mm ² or more, as a means of the Martens hardness 30 N / mm ² or more, It is not limited to this solvent type. Resin content in ink and N, N-dimethyl-β-butoxypropionamide, N, N-dimethyl-β-ethoxypropionamide, 3-ethyl-3-hydroxymethyloxetane, and propylene glycol monomethyl in ink When the mass ratio of the total ether content (resin content / content of the organic solvent) is 0.86 or more and 1.60 or less, the Martens hardness of the dry film is 30 N / mm ² or more. However, the means for setting the Martens hardness to 30 N / mm ² or more is not limited to this mass ratio.

  The boiling point of the organic solvent is preferably 180 ° C. or higher and 260 ° C. or lower. When the boiling point is 180 ° C. or higher, the evaporation rate at the time of drying can be adjusted appropriately, leveling can be sufficiently performed, and scratch resistance can be improved. Moreover, when it is 260 degrees C or less, a drying property does not fall and drying time does not become long time. With the recent increase in the speed of printing technology, the time required for drying ink becomes rate-limiting, and it is necessary to shorten the drying time.

  The content of the organic solvent in the ink is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose, but is preferably 10% by mass or more and 60% by mass or less from the viewpoint of the drying property and ejection reliability of the ink, 20 mass% or more and 60 mass% or less are more preferable.

<Water>
The water content in the ink is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 10% by mass or more and 90% by mass or less, and 20% by mass from the viewpoint of ink drying property and ejection reliability. % To 60% by mass is more preferable.

<Color material>
The color material is not particularly limited, and pigments and dyes can be used.
An inorganic pigment or an organic pigment can be used as the pigment. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. A mixed crystal may be used.
As the pigment, for example, a black pigment, a yellow pigment, a magenta pigment, a cyan pigment, a white pigment, a green pigment, an orange pigment, a glossy pigment such as gold or silver, a metallic pigment, or the like can be used.
Carbon black produced by known methods such as contact method, furnace method, thermal method in addition to titanium oxide, iron oxide, calcium carbonate, barium sulfate, aluminum hydroxide, barium yellow, cadmium red, chrome yellow as inorganic pigments Can be used.
Organic pigments include azo pigments, polycyclic pigments (for example, phthalocyanine pigments, perylene pigments, perinone pigments, anthraquinone pigments, quinacridone pigments, dioxazine pigments, indigo pigments, thioindigo pigments, isoindolinone pigments, and quinophthalone pigments). Dye chelates (for example, basic dye type chelates, acidic dye type chelates), nitro pigments, nitroso pigments, aniline black, and the like can be used. Of these pigments, those having good affinity with the solvent are preferably used. In addition, resin hollow particles and inorganic hollow particles can also be used.
Specific examples of pigments include black for carbon black (CI pigment black 7) such as furnace black, lamp black, acetylene black, channel black, or copper, iron (CI pigment black 11). And metal pigments such as titanium oxide, and organic pigments such as aniline black (CI Pigment Black 1).
Further, for color use, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 1, 3, 12, 13, 14, 17, 24, 34, 35, 37, 42 (yellow iron oxide), 53, 55, 74, 81, 83, 95, 97, 98, 100, 101, 104 , 108, 109, 110, 117, 120, 138, 150, 153, 155, 180, 185, 213, C.I. I. Pigment orange 5, 13, 16, 17, 36, 43, 51, C.I. I. Pigment Red 1, 2, 3, 5, 17, 22, 23, 31, 38, 48: 2, 48: 2 (Permanent Red 2B (Ca)), 48: 3, 48: 4, 49: 1, 52: 2, 53: 1, 57: 1 (Brilliant Carmine 6B), 60: 1, 63: 1, 63: 2, 64: 1, 81, 83, 88, 101 (Bengara), 104, 105, 106, 108 ( Cadmium red), 112, 114, 122 (quinacridone magenta), 123, 146, 149, 166, 168, 170, 172, 177, 178, 179, 184, 185, 190, 193, 202, 207, 208, 209, 213, 219, 224, 254, 264, C.I. I. Pigment violet 1 (rhodamine lake), 3, 5: 1, 16, 19, 23, 38, C.I. I. Pigment Blue 1, 2, 15 (phthalocyanine blue), 15: 1, 15: 2, 15: 3, 15: 4 (phthalocyanine blue), 16, 17: 1, 56, 60, 63, C.I. I. Pigment Green 1, 4, 7, 8, 10, 17, 18, 36, etc.
The dye is not particularly limited, and an acid dye, a direct dye, a reactive dye, and a basic dye can be used. One kind may be used alone, or two or more kinds may be used in combination.
Examples of the dye include C.I. I. Acid Yellow 17, 23, 42, 44, 79, 142, C.I. I. Acid Red 52, 80, 82, 249, 254, 289, C.I. I. Acid Blue 9, 45, 249, C.I. I. Acid Black 1, 2, 24, 94, C.I. I. Food Black 1, 2, C.I. I. Direct Yellow 1,12,24,33,50,55,58,86,132,142,144,173, C.I. I. Direct Red 1,4,9,80,81,225,227, C.I. I. Direct Blue 1, 2, 15, 71, 86, 87, 98, 165, 199, 202, C.I. I. Directed Black 19, 38, 51, 71, 154, 168, 171, 195, C.I. I. Reactive Red 14, 32, 55, 79, 249, C.I. I. Reactive black 3, 4, and 35 are mentioned.

  The content of the color material in the ink is preferably 0.1% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less, more preferably 1% by mass or more and 10% by mass from the viewpoints of improvement in image density, good fixability and ejection stability. It is as follows.

In order to obtain an ink by dispersing a pigment, a method of introducing a hydrophilic functional group into the pigment to form a self-dispersing pigment, a method of coating the surface of the pigment with a resin and dispersing, a dispersing agent is used. Method, etc.
As a method of introducing a hydrophilic functional group into a pigment to obtain a self-dispersing pigment, for example, a method of making it dispersible in water by adding a functional group such as a sulfone group or a carboxyl group to the pigment (for example, carbon) Is mentioned.
As a method for coating the surface of the pigment with a resin and dispersing it, a method in which the pigment is included in microcapsules and dispersible in water can be mentioned. This can be paraphrased as a resin-coated pigment. In this case, it is not necessary that all pigments blended in the ink are coated with a resin, and within a range where the effects of the present invention are not impaired, uncoated pigments and partially coated pigments are dispersed in the ink. It may be.
Examples of the method of dispersing using a dispersant include a method of dispersing using a known low-molecular type dispersant or high-molecular type dispersant represented by a surfactant.
As the dispersant, for example, an anionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, or the like can be used depending on the pigment.
RT-100 (nonionic surfactant) manufactured by Takemoto Yushi Co., Ltd. and naphthalenesulfonic acid Na formalin condensate can also be suitably used as a dispersant.
A dispersing agent may be used individually by 1 type, or may use 2 or more types together.

<Pigment dispersion>
An ink can be obtained by mixing a material such as water or an organic solvent with a pigment. Further, it is also possible to produce an ink by mixing a pigment, other water, a dispersant, and the like into a pigment dispersion and mixing a material such as water or an organic solvent.
The pigment dispersion is obtained by mixing and dispersing water, a pigment, a pigment dispersant, and other components as necessary, and adjusting the particle size. For dispersion, a disperser is preferably used.
The particle size of the pigment in the pigment dispersion is not particularly limited, but the maximum frequency is 20 nm or more in terms of maximum number because the pigment dispersion stability is good and the image quality such as ejection stability and image density is also high. 500 nm or less is preferable and 20 nm or more and 150 nm or less are more preferable. The particle size of the pigment can be measured using a particle size analyzer (Nanotrack Wave-UT151, manufactured by Microtrack Bell Co., Ltd.).
The content of the pigment in the pigment dispersion is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. However, from the viewpoint of obtaining good ejection stability and increasing the image density, 0.1% by mass. % To 50% by mass is preferable, and 0.1% to 30% by mass is more preferable.
The pigment dispersion is preferably degassed by filtering coarse particles with a filter, a centrifugal separator or the like, if necessary.

<Resin>
The type of resin contained in the ink is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, urethane resin, polyester resin, acrylic resin, vinyl acetate resin, styrene resin, butadiene type Examples thereof include resins, styrene-butadiene resins, vinyl chloride resins, acrylic styrene resins, and acrylic silicone resins.
Resin particles made of these resins may be used. An ink can be obtained by mixing resin particles with a material such as a colorant or an organic solvent in a resin emulsion state in which water is dispersed as a dispersion medium. As said resin particle, what was synthesize | combined suitably may be used and a commercial item may be used. Moreover, these may be used individually by 1 type, or may be used in combination of 2 or more types of resin particles.

  Among these, urethane resin particles are preferable. Since the urethane resin particles have a large tack force, can form a dry film firmly, and can improve the scratch resistance, the problem of white spots can be suppressed. Furthermore, the urethane resin particles having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of −20 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower can further improve the scratch resistance.

  Among the resin particles, acrylic resin particles are preferably used in combination with urethane resin particles because they are excellent in scratch resistance and ejection stability.

In the ink, the mass ratio (urethane resin particles / acrylic resin particles) of the urethane resin particles content (% by mass) with respect to the total amount of ink and the acrylic resin particle content (% by mass) with respect to the total amount of ink is 0.8. 1 or more and 0.5 or less are preferable. When the mass ratio (urethane resin particles / acrylic resin particles) is 0.1 or more and 0.5 or less, the Martens hardness of the dry film formed using the ink can be easily set to 30 N / mm ² or more. However, the means for setting the Martens hardness to 30 N / mm ² or more is not limited to the mass ratio of the resin.

The volume average particle diameter of the resin particles is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 10 nm or more and 1,000 nm or less from the viewpoint of obtaining good fixability and high image hardness. It is more preferably 200 nm or less and particularly preferably 10 nm or more and 100 nm or less.
The volume average particle diameter can be measured using, for example, a particle size analyzer (Nanotrack Wave-UT151, manufactured by Microtrack Bell Co., Ltd.).

  The resin content is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected according to the purpose. However, from the viewpoint of fixability and ink storage stability, the content of the resin is 1% by mass or more and 30% by mass or less. Is preferable, and 5 mass% or more and 20 mass% or less are more preferable.

  The particle size of the solid content in the ink is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. From the viewpoint of improving the image quality such as ejection stability and image density, the maximum frequency in terms of the maximum number Is preferably 20 nm to 1000 nm, and more preferably 20 nm to 150 nm. The solid content includes resin particles, pigment particles, and the like. The particle size can be measured using a particle size analyzer (Nanotrack Wave-UT151, manufactured by Microtrack Bell Co., Ltd.).

<Filler>
The ink may include a filler. By including a filler having a higher hardness than the other components in the ink in the region to which the liquid has been applied, it becomes easy to make the Martens hardness of the dry film 30 N / mm ² or more. The means for setting to 30 N / mm ² or more is not limited to the filler. In addition, since the filler is included in the region to which the liquid is applied, the contact area with the member that is in contact with the region to which the liquid is applied, such as a contact guide member, can be reduced, and white spots and member contamination can be suppressed. .
Examples of the filler include inorganic pigments, and specifically, white carbon (fine powder silicic acid), iron oxides (bengala, yellow iron oxide, iron black, etc.) iron powder, copper powder, calcium carbonate, Although talc, aluminum powder, etc. are mentioned, white carbon (fine powder silicic acid) with high hardness, iron oxides (Bengara, yellow iron oxide, iron black, etc.) iron powder, copper powder, etc. are preferable. Considering that the filler affects the color of the ink, a white pigment is preferable, but a colored pigment such as iron oxide may be used as long as the color after addition is studied. The filler content is preferably 1.0% by mass or more and 5.0% by mass or less based on the total amount of the ink. Moreover, it is preferable that a volume average particle diameter (D90) is 80 nm or more and 250 nm or less from the point of favorable discharge property.

<Additives>
If necessary, a surfactant, an antifoaming agent, an antiseptic / antifungal agent, a rust inhibitor, a pH adjuster, and the like may be added to the ink.

<Surfactant>
As the surfactant, any of silicone surfactants, fluorine surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, nonionic surfactants and anionic surfactants can be used.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular in silicone type surfactant, According to the objective, it can select suitably. Among them, those that do not decompose even at high pH are preferable, and examples thereof include side chain modified polydimethylsiloxane, both terminal modified polydimethylsiloxane, one terminal modified polydimethylsiloxane, and side chain both terminal modified polydimethylsiloxane. Those having an oxyethylene group or a polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene group are particularly preferred because they exhibit good properties as an aqueous surfactant. In addition, as the silicone surfactant, a polyether-modified silicone surfactant can be used, and examples thereof include a compound in which a polyalkylene oxide structure is introduced into the side chain of the Si portion of dimethylsiloxane.
Examples of the fluorosurfactant include a perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acid compound, a perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid compound, a perfluoroalkyl phosphate compound, a perfluoroalkyl ethylene oxide adduct, and a perfluoroalkyl ether group in the side chain. Polyoxyalkylene ether polymer compounds are particularly preferred because of their low foaming properties. Examples of the perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acid compound include perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acid, perfluoroalkyl sulfonate, and the like. Examples of the perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acid compound include perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acid and perfluoroalkylcarboxylate. Examples of the polyoxyalkylene ether polymer compound having a perfluoroalkyl ether group in the side chain include a sulfate ester salt of a polyoxyalkylene ether polymer having a perfluoroalkyl ether group in the side chain and a perfluoroalkyl ether group in the side chain. Examples thereof include salts of polyoxyalkylene ether polymers. As counter ions of salts in these fluorosurfactants, Li, Na, K, NH ₄ , NH ₃ CH ₂ CH ₂ OH, NH ₂ (CH ₂ CH ₂ OH) ₂ , NH (CH ₂ CH ₂ OH) ₃ etc. are mentioned.
Examples of amphoteric surfactants include lauryl aminopropionate, lauryl dimethyl betaine, stearyl dimethyl betaine, and lauryl dihydroxyethyl betaine.
Nonionic surfactants include, for example, polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl ester, polyoxyethylene alkylamine, polyoxyethylene alkylamide, polyoxyethylene propylene block polymer, sorbitan fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene sorbitan Examples include fatty acid esters and ethylene oxide adducts of acetylene alcohol.
Examples of the anionic surfactant include polyoxyethylene alkyl ether acetate, dodecylbenzene sulfonate, laurate, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate salt, and the like.
These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The silicone surfactant is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, side chain modified polydimethylsiloxane, both terminal modified polydimethylsiloxane, one terminal modified polydimethylsiloxane, side Since both ends of the chain are modified with polydimethylsiloxane, a polyether-modified silicone surfactant having a polyoxyethylene group or a polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene group as a modifying group exhibits good properties as an aqueous surfactant. preferable.
As such a surfactant, an appropriately synthesized product or a commercially available product may be used. Commercially available products can be obtained from, for example, Big Chemie Co., Ltd., Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd., Nippon Emulsion Co., Ltd., and Kyoeisha Chemical Co., Ltd.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said polyether modified silicone surfactant, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, the polyalkylene oxide structure represented by a general formula (S-1) type | formula is dimethylpolyethylene. Examples thereof include those introduced into the side chain of Si part of siloxane.
(However, in the formula (S-1), m, n, a, and b each independently represent an integer, R represents an alkylene group, and R ′ represents an alkyl group.)
A commercial item can be used as said polyether modified silicone type surfactant, For example, KF-618, KF-642, KF-643 (Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.), EMALEX-SS-5602, SS- 1906EX (Japan Emulsion Co., Ltd.), FZ-2105, FZ-2118, FZ-2154, FZ-2161, FZ-2162, FZ-2163, FZ-2164 (Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd.), BYK-33, BYK-387 (Bic Chemie Co., Ltd.), TSF4440, TSF4452, TSF4453 (Toshiba Silicon Co., Ltd.), etc. are mentioned.

As the fluorine-based surfactant, a fluorine-substituted compound having 2 to 16 carbon atoms is preferable, and a fluorine-substituted compound having 4 to 16 carbon atoms is more preferable.
Examples of the fluorosurfactant include perfluoroalkyl phosphate compounds, perfluoroalkylethylene oxide adducts, and polyoxyalkylene ether polymer compounds having a perfluoroalkyl ether group in the side chain. Among these, a polyoxyalkylene ether polymer compound having a perfluoroalkyl ether group in the side chain is preferable because of its low foaming property, and in particular, fluorine-based compounds represented by the general formulas (F-1) and (F-2) A surfactant is preferred.
In the compound represented by the general formula (F-1), m is preferably an integer of 0 to 10 and n is preferably an integer of 0 to 40 in order to impart water solubility.
In the compound represented by the general formula (F-2), Y is H, or CmF _{2m + 1} , m is an integer of 1 to 6, or CH ₂ CH (OH) CH ₂ —CmF _{2m + 1,} where m is 4 to 6. An integer, or CpH _{2p + 1} , p is an integer of 1-19. n is an integer of 1-6. a is an integer of 4-14.
A commercial item may be used as said fluorosurfactant. As this commercial item, for example, Surflon S-111, S-112, S-113, S-121, S-131, S-132, S-141, S-145 (all manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.); Fullrad FC-93, FC-95, FC-98, FC-129, FC-135, FC-170C, FC-430, FC-431 (all manufactured by Sumitomo 3M Limited); Megafac F-470, F -1405, F-474 (all manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.); Zonyl TBS, FSP, FSA, FSN-100, FSN, FSO-100, FSO, FS-300, UR, Capstone FS-30, FS-31, FS-3100, FS-34, FS-35 (all manufactured by Chemours); FT-110, FT-250 FT-251, FT-400S, FT-150, FT-400SW (all manufactured by Neos Co., Ltd.), Polyfox PF-136A, PF-156A, PF-151N, PF-154, PF-159 (Omnova) Manufactured), Unidyne DSN-403N (produced by Daikin Industries, Ltd.) and the like. Among these, good print quality, particularly color developability, penetrability to paper, wettability, and leveling are significantly improved. FS-3100, FS-34, FS-300 manufactured by Chemours, FT-110, FT-250, FT-251, FT-400S, FT-150, FT-400SW manufactured by Neos Co., Ltd. Particularly preferred are Fox PF-151N and Unidyne DSN-403N manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as content of surfactant in an ink, Although it can select suitably according to the objective, From the point which is excellent in wettability and discharge stability, and image quality improves, it is 0.001 mass. % To 5% by mass is preferable, and 0.05% to 5% by mass is more preferable.

<Antifoaming agent>
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as an antifoamer, For example, a silicone type antifoamer, a polyether type | system | group antifoamer, a fatty-acid ester type | system | group antifoamer etc. are mentioned. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these, a silicone type antifoaming agent is preferable from the viewpoint of excellent foam breaking effect.

<Antiseptic and antifungal agent>
The antiseptic / antifungal agent is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one.

<Rust preventive>
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a rust preventive agent, For example, acidic sulfite, sodium thiosulfate, etc. are mentioned.

<PH adjuster>
The pH adjuster is not particularly limited as long as the pH can be adjusted to 7 or more, and examples thereof include amines such as diethanolamine and triethanolamine.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a physical property of an ink, According to the objective, it can select suitably, For example, it is preferable that a viscosity, surface tension, pH, etc. are the following ranges.
The viscosity at 25 ° C. of the ink is preferably 5 mPa · s or more and 30 mPa · s or less, preferably 5 mPa · s or more and 25 mPa · s or less from the viewpoint of improving the printing density and character quality and obtaining good discharge properties. More preferred. Here, for the viscosity, for example, a rotary viscometer (RE-80L manufactured by Toki Sangyo Co., Ltd.) can be used. Measurement conditions are 25 ° C., standard cone rotor (1 ° 34 ′ × R24), sample liquid amount 1.2 mL, rotation speed 50 rpm, and measurement is possible for 3 minutes.
The surface tension of the ink is preferably 35 mN / m or less and more preferably 32 mN / m or less at 25 ° C. from the viewpoint that the ink is suitably leveled on the recording medium and the drying time of the ink is shortened.
The pH of the ink is preferably 7 to 12 and more preferably 8 to 11 from the viewpoint of preventing corrosion of the metal member in contact with the liquid.

The liquid is preferably ink, but is not limited thereto, and may be, for example, a pretreatment liquid or a posttreatment liquid.
The pretreatment liquid is a liquid that is applied to the conveyed member before the ink is applied, and preferably has a function of aggregating components such as a coloring material in the ink. The pretreatment liquid includes an organic solvent, water, a resin, an additive such as a surfactant, and a flocculant. Since the additives such as the organic solvent, water, resin, and surfactant are the same as those used in the ink, description thereof is omitted. As the flocculant, a known flocculant can be used as appropriate, and for example, it can be selected from polyvalent metal salts, organic acids, cationic polymers, and the like.
The post-treatment liquid is a liquid applied to a member to be transported after the ink is applied, and preferably has a function of protecting an image portion formed with the ink. The post-treatment liquid contains additives such as an organic solvent, water, a resin, a filler, and a surfactant. Since the additives such as the organic solvent, water, resin, filler, and surfactant are the same as those used in the ink, description thereof is omitted.
In the present embodiment, the “white spot” includes not only peeling of the coating film formed of ink but also peeling of the coating film formed of the pretreatment liquid or the posttreatment liquid.

<< Members to be transported >>
The recording medium which is an example of the transported member is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. Plain paper, glossy paper, special paper, cloth, film, OHP sheet, general-purpose printing paper, Examples include cut paper and continuous paper. The recording medium means a medium on which ink or various processing liquids can be temporarily attached.
The recording medium is not limited to those used as general recording media, and wallpaper, flooring, building materials such as tiles, cloth for clothing such as T-shirts, textiles, leather, and the like can be used as appropriate. Moreover, ceramics, glass, metal, etc. can also be used by adjusting the structure of the path | route which conveys a recording medium.
In particular, the recording medium that is effective in the present invention includes a support and a coating layer provided on at least one surface side of the support, and, if necessary, other layers. And a recording medium having

In the recording medium having the support and the coating layer, the transfer amount of pure water to the recording medium at a contact time of 100 ms measured with a dynamic scanning absorption meter is 2 mL / m ² or more and 35 mL / m ² or less. 2 mL / m ² or more and 10 mL / m ² or less is preferable.
If the transfer amount of the ink and pure water at the contact time of 100 ms is too small, beading is likely to occur. If it is too large, the ink dot diameter after recording becomes too smaller than the desired diameter. There is.
The amount of pure water transferred to the recording medium at a contact time of 400 ms measured with a dynamic scanning absorption meter is 3 mL / m ² or more and 40 mL / m ² or less, and 3 mL / m ² or more and 10 mL / m ² or less. preferable.
If the amount of transfer at the contact time of 400 ms is small, the drying property is insufficient, so that white spots and member stains are likely to occur. Gloss may tend to be low. The amount of pure water transferred to the recording medium at the contact time of 100 ms and 400 ms can be measured on the surface of the recording medium having the coated layer.

Here, the dynamic scanning absorptiometer (DSA, Kojipa Gakkai, Vol. 48, May 1994, pp. 88-92, Kuju Shigenori) absorbs liquid in a very short time. It is a device that can measure the amount accurately. The dynamic scanning absorption meter reads the liquid absorption speed directly from the movement of the meniscus in the capillary, makes the sample a disk, and then scans the liquid absorption head in a spiral shape, and the scanning speed according to a preset pattern. Is automatically changed by a method in which the number of necessary points is measured with one sample.
A liquid supply head for a paper sample is connected to a capillary via a Teflon (registered trademark) tube, and the position of the meniscus in the capillary is automatically read by an optical sensor. Specifically, the transfer amount of pure water or ink can be measured using a dynamic scanning absorption meter (K350 series D type, manufactured by Kyowa Seiko Co., Ltd.).
The transfer amount at the contact time of 100 ms and the contact time of 400 ms can be obtained by interpolation from the measured value of the transfer amount at the contact time adjacent to each contact time.

<Recorded material>
The recorded matter has an image formed using the above ink on a member to be conveyed. The conveyed member can be recorded by the inkjet recording apparatus and the inkjet recording method.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

<Preparation example of pigment dispersion>
(Adjustment of cyan pigment dispersion)
20 g of Pigment Blue 15: 3 (manufactured by Dainichi Seika Kogyo Co., Ltd., Chromofine Blue), 20 mmol of the compound of the following structural formula (1), and 200 mL of ion-exchange high-purity water are mixed in a Silverson mixer (6,000 rpm) in a room temperature environment. To obtain a slurry. When the pH of the obtained slurry was higher than 4, 20 mmol of nitric acid was added. After 30 minutes, sodium nitrite (20 mmol) dissolved in a small amount of ion exchange high purity water was slowly added to the above mixture. Furthermore, the mixture was stirred while heating at 60 ° C. and reacted for 1 hour to produce a modified pigment in which a compound of the following structural formula (1) was added to Pigment Blue. Next, the pH was adjusted to 10 with an aqueous NaOH solution, and a modified pigment dispersion was obtained after 30 minutes. The modified pigment dispersion includes a pigment having at least one geminal bisphosphonic acid group or a sodium salt of a geminal bisphosphonic acid group. Next, ultrafiltration using a dialysis membrane was performed using the modified pigment dispersion and ion-exchange high purity water, and further ultrasonic dispersion was performed to obtain a cyan pigment dispersion having a pigment concentration of 15% by mass.

(Adjustment of magenta pigment dispersion)
In the preparation example of the cyan pigment dispersion, Pigment Blue 15: 3 was changed to Pigment Red 122 (manufactured by Clariant Japan Co., Ltd., Toner Magenta EO02). A mass% magenta pigment dispersion was obtained.

<Example of ink preparation>
(Adjustment of ink 1)
After mixing and stirring with the following formulation, ink 1 was prepared by filtration through a 0.2 μm polypropylene filter. In addition, as for content of each component, the component which specified that it was solid content represents a solid content amount, and the component which does not specify that it is solid content represents the whole addition amount. The total amount of ink 1 is 100 parts by mass.
Cyan pigment dispersion 45.0 parts by mass Urethane resin particles 1 (manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, trade name: Takelac W6110, glass transition temperature (Tg): -20 ° C) 2.0 parts by mass (solid content)
-Styrene acrylic resin particles (manufactured by DIC, trade name: GRANDOL PP-1000EF) 5.0 parts by mass (solid content)
-N, N-dimethyl-β-butoxypropionamide 5.0 parts by mass-Diethylene glycol 15.0 parts by mass-Zonyl FS-300 2.0 parts by mass-Remaining amount of ion-exchanged water

[Evaluation of Martens hardness]
Next, ink 1 was coated on a glass plate and dried under reduced pressure at 100 ° C. for 3 hours to form a dry film so that the average thickness was 5 μm. In addition, with the average, it was set as the average of the thickness in 10 points | pieces of the dry film. After cooling this dry film to room temperature, using a micro hardness tester HM-2000 manufactured by Fischer Instruments in a state heated to 120 ° C., the Vickers indenter is applied with a force of 0.5 [mN] over 10 seconds. The indentation was held for 5 seconds, the indenter was pulled out over 10 seconds, and the Martens hardness was measured to be 66 N / mm ² .

(Adjustment of inks 2 to 11)
Inks 1 to 11 were prepared in the same manner as Ink 1 except that the composition and content (% by mass) shown in Table 1 below were changed. In addition, content of a urethane resin particle and an acrylic resin particle represents solid content, and another component represents the addition amount of the whole. Further, using the adjusted inks 2 to 11, Martens hardness was measured in the same manner as ink 1. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

In Table 1, the trade names of the components, the name of the manufacturer, and the method for adjusting the white carbon pigment dispersion are as follows.
Urethane resin particles 1 (Mitsui Chemicals, trade name: Takelac W6110, glass transition temperature (Tg): -20 ° C)
Urethane resin particles 2 (Mitsui Chemicals, trade name: Takelac W6061, glass transition temperature (Tg): 25 ° C.)
Urethane resin particles 3 (Mitsui Chemicals, trade name: Takelac W6010, glass transition temperature (Tg): 90 ° C.)
・ Styrene acrylic resin particles (manufactured by DIC, trade name: GRANDOL PP-1000EF)
Acrylic silicon resin particles (manufactured by Toa Gosei Co., Ltd., trade name: Saimak US480)
・ Zonyl FS-300 (manufactured by Dupont)
・ TEGO WET-270 (Evonik)

(Adjustment of white carbon pigment dispersion)
In the preparation example of the cyan pigment dispersion, Pigment Blue 15: 3 was changed to a white carbon pigment (manufactured by Nippon Silica Co., Ltd., Nipsil). A white carbon pigment dispersion was obtained.

<Formation and drying of liquid-applied region>
Example 1
The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 equipped with the drying apparatus shown in FIG. 8 is mounted with the ink 1, and the formation of an image portion, which is an example of a region to which liquid is applied, on both sides of the recording medium, and the drying of the image portion Went. The image portion was formed by forming a solid image with a resolution of 1,200 dpi. As the recording medium, Lumi Art Gloss 90 gsm (manufactured by Stora Enso, paper width 520.7 mm), which is roll paper, was used.
The temperature of the image portion when the contact guide roller contacts the image portion and the surface shape of the contact guide roller were as follows.
-Image part temperature: 98 ° C
-Surface shape: Concavity and convexity Note that the temperature of the image portion was measured by a non-contact thermometer (ES1B, manufactured by OMRON) as the temperature of the image portion in contact with the contact guide roller. Further, the surface irregularities of the contact guide roller were created by covering the contact guide roller with a tape-like member to which a substantially spherical glass was fixed. The diameter of the substantially spherical body varied and was in the range of 20 to 200 μm.

(Examples 2 to 12, Comparative Examples 1 to 4)
In Example 1, except for changing to the ink of Table 2 below, the temperature of the image part, and the surface shape, the formation of the image part of Examples 2 to 12 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4 in the same manner as Example 1, And the image area was dried.
In addition, regarding the surface shapes described in Table 2 below, “plane” means that the contact guide roller is not covered with the tape-shaped member, and the surface shape has no irregularities.

  The image areas obtained through the formation of the image areas and the drying of the image areas in Examples 1 to 12 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4 were evaluated for white spots and scratch resistance according to the following methods and evaluation criteria.

[Evaluation of white spots]
The image part obtained through the formation of the image part and the drying of the image part was observed with an optical microscope (× 50) and visually, and the state of image peeling was classified on the basis of the following evaluation criteria, and the white spots were evaluated. In addition, the case where it was B or more was considered to be practical. The results are shown in Table 2 below.
(Evaluation criteria)
A: Image peeling cannot be confirmed with an optical microscope (× 50) B: Image peeling can be confirmed with an optical microscope (× 50) but cannot be visually confirmed C: Image peeling can be visually confirmed

[Evaluation of scratch resistance]
The image was rubbed 20 times with 1.2 cm square paper (Lumi Art Gloss 90 gsm) against the image area obtained through the formation of the image area and the drying of the image area. The ink adhering stain transferred to the rubbed paper was measured with a reflective color spectrocolorimetric densitometer (manufactured by X-Rite), and the density of the ink adhering stain was calculated by subtracting the background color of the rubbed paper. The calculated ink adhesion stain concentrations were classified based on the following evaluation criteria, and scratch resistance was evaluated. In addition, it is preferable in it being B or more. The results are shown in Table 2 below.
(Evaluation criteria)
A: Concentration of ink adhering stain is less than 0.1 B: Concentration of ink adhering stain is 0.1 or more and less than 0.2 C: Concentration of ink adhering stain is 0.2 or more

10 Contact heating means 11A to 11J Heating roller (first heating member)
12 Heating drum (second heating member)
13A to 13J Contact guide roller 17A to 17C Guide roller 101 Liquid application unit 103 Conveying unit 104 Drying device 110 Continuous paper (member to be conveyed)

JP 2014-152964 A

Claims (19)

A drying device for drying a member to which liquid is applied and transported,
A plurality of heating members arranged in the conveying direction of the member to be conveyed, in contact with the member to be conveyed and heating the member to be conveyed;
A transport path in which the transported member is transported while being in contact with the plurality of heating members,
The transport path is
A first path in which the member to be conveyed is conveyed while being in contact with the plurality of heating members;
The transported member includes a second path transported while again contacting at least one of the heating members in contact with the first path;
A drying device having a Martens hardness at 120 ° C. of 30 N / mm ² or more of a dry film prepared from the liquid by the following preparation method.
[How to make]
The liquid is coated on a glass plate, and the coated liquid is dried under reduced pressure at 100 ° C. for 3 hours to obtain a dry film having an average thickness of 5 μm. The plurality of heating members are arranged in a curved shape or an arc shape,
The first path is a path outside the plurality of heating members arranged in the curved shape or the arc shape,
The drying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second path is a path inside the plurality of heating members arranged in a curved shape or an arc shape.   The drying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a contact guide member that guides the conveyed member so as to contact the heating member when the conveyed member is conveyed along the second path. .   The drying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the contact guide member is disposed between the adjacent heating members.   The drying apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a plurality of the heating members are arranged between the adjacent contact guide members.   The drying device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the contact guide member is in contact with a region to which the liquid of the member to be transported is applied.   The contact guide member is movable between a first position where the conveyed member is pressed against the heating member and a second position where the conveyed member is not pressed against the heating member. Drying equipment.   The drying apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the contact guide member has a concavo-convex structure on a surface thereof.   The drying apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the contact guide member has a substantially spherical body having a diameter of 20 µm or more and 200 µm or less on a surface thereof.   The drying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the region to which the liquid is applied has a temperature at the time of contact with the contact guide member of 60 ° C. or more and 120 ° C. or less. The liquid contains a urethane resin and an acrylic resin,
The mass ratio (content of urethane resin / content of acrylic resin) between the content of the urethane resin and the content of the acrylic resin in the liquid is 0.1 or more and 0.5 or less. The drying apparatus as described in any one of these. The Martens hardness, drying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11 is 35N / mm ² or more 120 N / mm ² or less.   The drying device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a diameter of the heating member arranged on the most downstream side in the transport direction in the first path is the largest among the diameters of the plurality of heating members. Liquid storage means for storing the liquid;
Liquid application means for applying the liquid to the conveyed member;
An image forming apparatus comprising: the drying device according to claim 1. First liquid applying means for applying a liquid to the first surface of the conveyed member;
A first drying device comprising the drying device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, which is disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction of the first liquid application unit;
A second liquid applying means disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction of the first drying device, for applying a liquid to a second surface which is a surface opposite to the first surface of the transported member;
A second drying device configured by the drying device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, which is disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction of the second liquid application unit,
In the first drying device, the second surface of the conveyed member contacts the plurality of heating members in the first path,
In the second path, the first surface of the conveyed member is in contact with the plurality of heating members in the second drying device,
An image forming apparatus in which a Martens hardness at 120 ° C. of a dry film produced from the liquid by the following production method is 30 N / mm ² or more.
[How to make]
The liquid is coated on a glass plate, and the coated liquid is dried under reduced pressure at 100 ° C. for 3 hours to obtain a dry film having an average thickness of 5 μm.   The first drying device and the second drying device include a contact guide member that guides the conveyed member so as to contact the heating member when the conveyed member is conveyed along the second path. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15.   The drying apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the contact guide member is in contact with an area to which the liquid of the transported member is applied. A drying device for drying a member to which liquid is applied and transported,
A plurality of heating members arranged to be arranged in the transport direction of the transported member;
A transport path through which the transported member is transported;
A contact guide member for guiding the conveyed member so as to contact the heating member;
Have
The transport path is
A first path in which the conveyed member is conveyed while being heated by the plurality of heating members;
The transported member includes a second path transported while being heated again by at least one of the heating members in contact with the first path,
The contact guide member is in contact with a region to which the liquid of the member to be transported is applied,
A drying device having a Martens hardness at 120 ° C. of 30 N / mm ² or more of a dry film prepared from the liquid by the following preparation method.
[How to make]
The liquid is coated on a glass plate, and the coated liquid is dried under reduced pressure at 100 ° C. for 3 hours to obtain a dry film having an average thickness of 5 μm. A drying device for drying a member to which liquid is applied and transported,
A heating member arranged in the transport direction of the transported member to heat the transported member in contact with the transported member; and
A transport path in which the transported member is transported while being in contact with the heating member,
The transport path is
A first path in which the conveyed member is conveyed while being in contact with the heating member;
The transported member includes a second path that is transported while again contacting the heating member that has been in contact with the first path;
A drying device having a Martens hardness at 120 ° C. of 30 N / mm ² or more of a dry film prepared from the liquid by the following preparation method.
[How to make]
The liquid is coated on a glass plate, and the coated liquid is dried under reduced pressure at 100 ° C. for 3 hours to obtain a dry film having an average thickness of 5 μm.