IP Library Granted Patent US 12,011,943
Granted Patent B2
US 12,011,943 · App. 17/697,754 · Granted Jun 18, 2024

Image forming apparatus

Inventors: Maiko Miyoshi (Izunokuni Shizuoka, JP); Hiroshi Kiyomoto (Hiratsuka Kanagawa, JP); Yui Hiyoshi (Mishima Shizuoka, JP); Taishi Fukazawa (Tokyo, JP)
Assignees: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA; PILOT CORPORATION; THE PILOT INK CO., LTD.
B41M5/0023B41J2/2114
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,011,943
App. No.
17/697,754
Granted
Jun 18, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: a first supplying device configured to supply a first ink onto a recording medium to form a non-color print layer on the recording medium, the first ink comprising non-color particles; and a second supplying device configured to supply a second ink onto the recording medium having the non-color print layer formed thereon, to form a color print layer on the recording medium, the second ink including color pigment particles that are decolored when heated.

Claims (31)

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a first supplying device configured to supply a first ink onto a recording medium to form a non-color print layer on the recording medium, the first ink comprising non-color particles; and

a second supplying device configured to supply a second ink onto the recording medium having the non-color print layer formed thereon, to form a color print layer on the recording medium, the second ink comprising color pigment particles that are decolored when heated,

wherein an average particle size D 1 of the color pigment particles and an average particle size D 2 of the non-color particles satisfy a relationship represented by an inequality 0.5<D 2 /D 1 <5.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to control operations of the first and second supplying devices such that a combination of the non-color print layer and the color print layer forms a pattern which differs from a pattern of the color print layer.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the non-color particles are particles obtained by decoloring the color pigment particles, or are same as the color pigment particles but for the non-color particles being free of a color-developing compound.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the non-color particles are particles obtained by decoloring the color pigment particles.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the non-color particles are same as the color pigment particles but for the non-color particles being free of a color-developing compound.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second supplying device is configured to supply the second ink onto the recording medium by an inkjet method.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the first supplying device is configured to supply the first ink onto the recording medium by an inkjet method.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second ink further comprises hollow resin particles.

9. An image forming method, comprising:

supplying a first ink onto a recording medium to form a non-color print layer on the recording medium, the first ink comprising non-color particles; and

supplying a second ink onto the recording medium having the non-color print layer formed thereon, to form a color print layer on the recording medium, the second ink comprising color pigment particles that are decolored when heated,

wherein at least one of the following items (i) and (ii) is satisfied:

(i) an average particle size D 1 of the color pigment particles and an average particle size D 2 of the non-color particles satisfy a relationship represented by an inequality 0.5<D 2 /D 1 <5; or

(ii) the non-color particles are particles obtained by decoloring the color pigment particles, or are same as the color pigment particles but for the non-color particles being free of a color-developing compound.

10. The image forming method according to claim 9 , wherein the formation of the non-color print layer and the formation of the color print layer are performed such that a combination of the non-color print layer and the color print layer forms a pattern which differs from a pattern of the color print layer.

11. The image forming method according to claim 9 , wherein the item (i) is satisfied.

12. The image forming method according to claim 9 , wherein the item (ii) is satisfied.

13. The image forming method according to claim 12 , wherein the non-color particles are particles obtained by decoloring the color pigment particles.

14. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a first supplying device configured to supply a first ink onto a recording medium to form a non-color print layer on the recording medium, the first ink comprising non-color particles; and

a second supplying device configured to supply a second ink onto the recording medium having the non-color print layer formed thereon, to form a color print layer on the recording medium, the second ink comprising color pigment particles that are decolored when heated,

wherein the non-color particles are particles obtained by decoloring the color pigment particles, or are same as the color pigment particles but for the non-color particles being free of a color-developing compound.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising a controller configured to control operations of the first and second supplying devices such that a combination of the non-color print layer and the color print layer forms a pattern which differs from a pattern of the color print layer.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the non-color particles are particles obtained by decoloring the color pigment particles.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the non-color particles are same as the color pigment particles but for the non-color particles being free of a color-developing compound.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the second supplying device is configured to supply the second ink onto the recording medium by an inkjet method.

19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the first supplying device is configured to supply the first ink onto the recording medium by an inkjet method.

20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the second ink further comprises hollow resin particles.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2024
From: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: RISO TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 068493/0970 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2024
From: MIYOSHI, MAIKO; KIYOMOTO, HIROSHI; HIYOSHI, YUI; FUKAZAWA, TAISHI
To: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA; PILOT CORPORATION; THE PILOT INK CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066563/0378 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-045919 · Mar 19, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220297458A1 · Sep 22, 2022