IP Library Granted Patent US 7,244,021
Granted Patent B2
US 7,244,021 · App. 10/807,223 · Granted Jul 17, 2007

Image recording device

Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,244,021
App. No.
10/807,223
Granted
Jul 17, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image recording device has: a first recording head which discharges a first ink for a first image forming process; a second recording head which discharges a second ink for a second image forming process; a curing section which cures an ink on a recording medium; and a controller which controls the curing section to cure the first ink on the recording medium, and controls the second recording head to start discharging the second ink after a conversion of the first ink on the recording medium becomes not less than 30%.

Claims (41)

1. An image recording device, comprising:

a first recording head which discharges a first ink for a first image forming process, wherein the first ink is an ultraviolet-ray curable ink, which is cured as irradiated with ultraviolet rays;

a second recording head which discharges a second ink for a second image forming process, wherein the second ink is an ultraviolet-ray curable ink, which is cured as irradiated with ultraviolet rays;

a curing section which cures the ultraviolet-ray curable ink on a recording medium, wherein the curing section includes an ultraviolet light source generating the ultraviolet rays to cure the ultraviolet ray curable ink; and

a controller which controls the curing section to cure the first ink on the recording medium, and controls the second recording head to start discharging the second ink after a conversion of the first ink on the recording medium becomes not less than 30%, wherein the second image forming process is a process for a background, and a layer of the second ink has a transmission density not less than 0.15 or an L value not less than 65.

2. The image recording device of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls at least one of the first recording head and the second recording head so as to overlap at least a part of a first recording area of the first image forming process and a part of a second recording area of the second image forming process in an arbitrary area on a recording surface of the recording medium.

3. The image recording device of claim 1 , wherein a color of the second ink is white.

4. The image recording device of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls either the first recording head or the second recording head so as to record in all of an arbitrary area of the recording medium.

5. The image recording device of claim 1 , wherein the first recording head and the second recording head include a plurality of nozzles for an ink discharge, and a diameter of ink at the 100% conversion of the ink is not less than 140% of a distance between centers of adjacent nozzles of the first recording head or the second recording head.

6. The image recording device of claim 5 , wherein the curing section includes a plurality of cure devices corresponding to each recording head.

7. The image recording device of claim 1 , comprising:

a third recording head which discharges a third ink for the first image forming process;

a fourth recording head which discharges a fourth ink for same process of the third recording head; and

a fifth recording head which discharges a fifth ink for same process of the third recording head.

8. The image recording device of claim 1 , wherein the curing section cures the first ink and the second ink on the recording medium.

9. The image recording device of claim 1 , wherein the curing section includes a first cure device for the first image forming process and a second cure device for the second image forming process.

10. The image recording device of claim 1 , wherein the first recording head and the second recording head are extending in a width direction of the recording medium.

11. The image recording device of claim 1 , comprising:

a moving section which relatively moves the recording medium to the first and second recording head and/or the curing section.

12. The image recording device of claim 1 , wherein a layer of the second ink has a transmission density not less than 0.2 or an L value of not less than 70.

13. The image recording device of claim 12 , wherein a layer of the second ink has a transmission density not more than 0.5 or an L value not more than 100.

14. An image recording device, comprising:

a first recording head which discharges a first ink for first image forming process, wherein the first ink is an ultraviolet-ray curable ink, which is cured as irradiated with ultraviolet rays;

a second recording head which discharges a second ink for a second image forming process, wherein the second ink is an ultraviolet-ray curable ink, which is cured as irradiated with ultraviolet rays;

a curing section which cures the ultraviolet-ray curable ink on a recording medium, wherein the curing section includes an ultraviolet light source generating the ultraviolet rays to cure the ultraviolet-ray curable ink; and

a controller which controls the curing section to cure the first ink on the recording medium, and controls the second recording head to start discharging the second ink after a conversion of the first ink on the recording medium becomes not less than 30%,

wherein the first image forming process is a process for background, and a layer of the first ink has a transmission density not less than 0.16 or an L value not less than 65.

15. The image recording device of claim 14 , wherein the controller controls at least one of the first recording head and the second recording head so as to overlap at least a part of a first recording area of the first image forming process and a part of a second recording are of the second image forming process in an arbitrary area on a recording surface of the recording medium.

16. The image recording device of claim 14 , wherein the color of the first ink is white.

17. The image recording device of claim 14 , wherein the controller controls either the first recording head or the second recording head so as to record in all of an arbitrary area of the recording medium.

18. The image recording device of claim 14 , wherein the first recording head and the second recording head include a plurality of nozzles for an ink discharge, and a diameter of ink at the 100% conversion of the ink is not less than 140% of the distance between centers of adjacent nozzles of the first recording head or the second recording head.

19. The image recording device of claim 14 , comprising:

a third recording head which discharges a third ink for the second image forming process;

a fourth recording head which discharges a fourth ink for the same process of the third recording head; and

a fifth recording head which discharges a fifth ink for the same process of the third recording head.

20. The image recording device of claim 19 , wherein the curing section includes plurality of cure devices corresponding to each recording head.

21. The image recording device of claim 14 , wherein the curing section cures the first ink and the second ink on the recording medium.

22. The image recording device of claim 14 , wherein the curing section includes a first cure device for the first image forming process and a second cure device for the second image forming process.

23. The image recording device of claim 14 , wherein the first recording head and the second recording head extend in a width direction of the recording medium.

24. The image recording device of claim 14 , wherein a layer of the first ink has a transmission density not less than 0.2 or an I value not less than 70.

25. The image recording device of claim 24 , wherein the layer of the first ink has a transmission density not more than 0.5 or an L value not more than 100.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2004
From: ARAI, TAKEO
To: KONICA MINOLTA HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 015136/0396 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2003-088685 · Mar 27, 2003 · national
JP 2004-047641 · Feb 24, 2004 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20040189772A1 · Sep 30, 2004