IP Library Granted Patent US 7,118,196
Granted Patent B2
US 7,118,196 · App. 10/921,893 · Granted Oct 10, 2006

Ink jet recording method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,118,196
App. No.
10/921,893
Granted
Oct 10, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

When a drive frequency for an electrode used to cause an electrostatic force to act on an ink composition is assigned A, and a division frequency for a thread is assigned B, a relationship of A≧5 kHz and B/A≧5 is met, and a division frequency for the thread is reduced for a time period required to apply a pulse voltage to the electrode in order to eject the ink composition. As a result, it is possible to provide an electrostatic ink jet recording method with which excellent gradation controllability and controllability for dot diameters in a shadow area can be realized.

Claims (21)

1. An ink jet recording method comprising the steps of:

causing an electrostatic force to act on ink composition obtained by dispersing charged particles containing colorants in a dispersion medium;

generating a thread of said ink composition on a nozzle; and

dividing said thread into ink droplets to eject said ink droplets of said composition through said nozzle; wherein

a relationship of A≧5 kHz and B/A≧5 is met when a drive frequency for an electrode used to cause said electrostatic force to act on said ink composition is assigned A, and a division frequency for said thread is assigned B; and

said division frequency for said thread is reduced for a time period to apply a pulse voltage to said electrode to eject the ink composition.

2. The ink jet recording method according to claim 1 , wherein said ink composition having electric conductivity of 10 to 3,000 pS/cm is used to reduce said division frequency.

3. The ink jet recording method according to claim 1 , wherein electric field having strength of 1×10 5 to 3×10 7 V/m is applied to said electrode for said time period required to apply said pulse voltage to reduce said division frequency.

4. The ink jet recording method according to claim 1 , wherein said ink composition is supplied to said nozzle at a rate of 1×10 −6 to 1×10 −3 cc/sec to reduce said division frequency.

5. The ink jet recording method according to claim 1 , wherein the time period required to apply said pulse voltage to said electrode is controlled so as to adjust a quantity of ejection of said ink droplets of said ink composition in forming one dot on a recording medium.

6. The ink jet recording method according to claim 1 , wherein a degree of reduction in said division frequency for said time period required to apply said pulse voltage to said electrode is equal to or larger than 5%.

7. An ink jet recording method comprising the steps of:

causing an electrostatic force to act on ink composition obtained by dispersing charged particles containing colorants in a dispersion medium;

generating a thread of said ink composition on a nozzle; and

dividing said thread into ink droplets to eject said ink droplets of said composition through said nozzle; wherein

said ink composition having an electric conductivity of 10 to 3,000 pS/cm is used;

electric field having strength of 1×10 5 to 3×10 7 V/m is applied to said thread; and

said ink composition is supplied to said nozzle at a rate of 1×10 −6 to 1×10−3 cc/sec.

8. The ink jet recording method according to claim 7 , wherein a pulse voltage is applied to an electrode used to cause said electrostatic force to act on the ink, a division frequency for said thread is reduced for a time period required to apply said pulse voltage to said electrode.

9. The ink jet recording method according to claim 8 , wherein said time period required to apply said pulse voltage to said electrode is controlled so as to adjust a quantity of ejection of said ink droplets of said ink composition in forming one dot on a recording medium.

10. The ink jet recording method according to claim 8 , wherein a degree of reduction in said division frequency for said time period required to apply said pulse voltage to the electrode is equal to or larger than 5%.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 15, 2007
From: FUJIFILM HOLDINGS CORPORATION (FORMERLY FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.)
To: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018904/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2004
From: AOSHIMA, KEITARO
To: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 015712/0465 →