# US 9,517,635 B2 · Image forming method

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- Number: US 9,517,635 B2
- Document ID: US9517635B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/635,468
- Filed: 2015-03-02
- Published: 2015-06-18
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2012-09-27
- Assignees: FUJIFILM Corporation
- Applicants: Fujifilm Corporation
- Inventors: Ryuji Shinohara
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517635B2

## CPC

- C09D 11/38: characterised by non-macromolecular additives other than solvents, pigments or dyes
- B41J 2/01: Ink jet
- B41J 2/2107: {characterised by the ink properties (supplying ink in a solid state B41J2/17593)}
- C09D 11/322: Pigment inks
- C09D 11/40: Ink-sets specially adapted for multi-colour inkjet printing
- C09D 11/54: Inks based on two liquids, one liquid being the ink, the other liquid being a reaction solution, a fixer or a treatment solution for the ink
- C09D 139/06: Homopolymers or copolymers of N-vinyl-pyrrolidones
- B41J 2/2114: {Ejecting specialized liquids, e.g. transparent or processing liquids (B41J2/211 takes precedence)}
- C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D)
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

An image forming method comprises: applying a treatment liquid, which contains an organic acidic compound represented by the following general formula (I), a water-soluble polymer compound, and water, on a recording medium; and applying an ink composition, which contains a pigment, a pyrrolidone derivative, a compound represented by the following general formula (II), and water, on a treatment liquid-applied surface of the recording medium. In the general formula (I), n represents an integer of 2 or greater and m represents an integer of 3 or greater. In the general formula (II), l, m, and n represent an integer of 1 or greater, the relation l+m+n=3 to 15 is satisfied, and AO represents ethyleneoxy or propyleneoxy.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image forming method comprising:
applying a treatment liquid, which contains an organic acidic compound represented by the following general formula (I), a water-soluble polymer compound, and water, on a recording medium; and
applying an ink composition, which contains a pigment, a compound having a lactam structure of 5-membered ring, a compound represented by the following general formula (II), and water, on a treatment liquid-applied surface of the recording medium,
[Chem. 1]
CnH2n+2−m(COOH)m General Formula (I)
wherein in the general formula (I), n represents an integer of 2 or greater and m represents an integer of 3 or greater,
wherein in the general formula (II), 1, m, and n each independently represent an integer of 1 or greater, the relation l+m+n=3 to 15 is satisfied, and AO represents at least one of ethyleneoxy and propyleneoxy, and
wherein the water-soluble polymer compound contains a hydrophilic structural unit having an anionic group.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the treatment liquid further contains silicone oil.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein in applying the ink composition, the recording medium is conveyed at a conveyance speed of 50 m/min or higher.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the compound having the lactam structure of 5-membered ring is at least one of 2-pyrrolidone and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the content of the compound having the lactam structure of 5-membered ring in the ink composition is 3.0 mass % to 20.0 mass % relative to the total mass of the ink composition.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the content of the organic acidic compound in the treatment liquid is 0.5 mass % to 20.0 mass % relative to the total mass of the treatment liquid.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein AO in the general formula (II) is propyleneoxy.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The image forming method according to claim 1,
wherein the water-soluble polymer compound contains a structural unit represented by the following general formula (A) and a structural unit represented by the following general formula (B),
wherein in the general formula (A), Ra1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group,
La1 represents a single bond, —COO—, or —CON(Ra3)—, and Ra3 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent group, which has 1 to 30 carbon atoms and may include at least one of an ether bond, a thioether bond, and an ester bond, and
La2 represents a single bond or a divalent linking group, which has 1 to 30 carbon atoms and may include at least one of an ether bond, a thioether bond, and an ester bond,
Aa represents an ionic group,
wherein in the general formula (B), Rb1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group,
Lb1 represents a single bond, —COO—, or —CON(Rb3)—, and Rb3 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent group, which has 1 to 30 carbon atoms and may include at least one of an ether bond, a thioether bond, and an ester bond, and
Rb2 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent group, which has 1 to 30 carbon atoms and may include at least one of an ether bond, a thioether bond, and an ester bond,
where when Rb2 is a hydrogen atom, Lb1 is a single bond.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The image forming method according to claim 8, wherein Rb2 is a linear aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having a branched structure and 3 to 12 carbon atoms, an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having a ring structure and 3 to 12 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having 7 to 12 carbon atoms, or an aryloxyalkyl group having 7 to 12 carbon atoms.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The image forming method according to claim 8,
wherein Ra1 is a hydrogen atom, La1 is —COO— or —CONH—, La2 is an alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and Aa is a sulfonic acid group or a salt thereof, and
wherein Rb1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, Lb1 is —COO—, and Rb2 is a linear aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having a branched structure and 3 to 12 carbon atoms, an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having a ring structure and 3 to 12 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having 7 to 12 carbon atoms, or an aryloxyalkyl group having 7 to 12 carbon atoms.

### Claim 11 (depends on 4)

The image forming method according to claim 4,
wherein the water-soluble polymer compound contains a structural unit represented by the following general formula (A) and a structural unit represented by the following general formula (B),
wherein in the general formula (A), Ra1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group,
La1 represents a single bond, —COO—, or —CON(Ra3)—, and Ra3 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent group, which has 1 to 30 carbon atoms and may include at least one of an ether bond, a thioether bond, and an ester bond, and
La2 represents a single bond or a divalent linking group, which has 1 to 30 carbon atoms and may include at least one of an ether bond, a thioether bond, and an ester bond,
where in the general formula (A), Aa represents an ionic group,
wherein in the general formula (B), Rb1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group,
Lb1, represents a single bond, —COO—, or —CON(Rb3)—, and Rb3 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent group, which has 1 to 30 carbon atoms and may include at least one of an ether bond, a thioether bond, and an ester bond, and
Rb2 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent group, which has 1 to 30 carbon atoms and may include at least one of an ether bond, a thioether bond, and an ester bond,
where when Rb2 is a hydrogen atom, Lb1 is a single bond.