Effects of Ink-Paper Interaction and System Parameters on Drying Quality in High-Speed Color Inkjet with Infrared Ray Heater

Abstract

Expanding high-speed full color inkjet system to production printing market requires applicability for various papers. However coated paper has difficulties such as interference among adjacent droplets, dryness and jetting stability, whereas normal paper has difficulties in achieving both fixing quality and image quality such as offset, optical density, color gamut and bleeding. Additionally, in normal paper, absorption speed depends on combination of inks and papers. Therefore, there are risks of insufficient fixing in slow absorption speed and bleeding or low optical density in fast absorption speed. In this study, focused on the combination of aqueous pigment ink and inkjet treated paper that shows relatively slow absorption speed, we studied on optimal condition which enhancing absorption and controlling fixed position of pigments in a paper. Setting up inkjet offline bench with infrared radiation heating system, relationship between fixing quality (smear) and optical density were investigate for following system parameters: drop volume, interval (time duration between inkjet head and the heater) and heating energy, which covered the conditions in actual high-speed inkjet printing system.