Image recording method and image recording apparatus

Abstract

An image recording method includes a reaction liquid applying step; a first liquid composition applying step; an ink applying step of applying an ink containing a second water-soluble resin so as to at least partly overlap with an area where the first liquid composition is applied on an intermediate transfer member to form an intermediate image; and a step of transferring the intermediate image to a recording medium by bringing the intermediate image into contact with the recording medium to separate the intermediate image from the intermediate transfer member. The temperatures Tc, T1 of the intermediate image and intermediate transfer member from start of the contact to the separation are adjusted to be not less than the glass transition temperature Tgs of the second water-soluble resin. The temperatures Tr, T2 of the intermediate image and recording medium at the separation are adjusted to be less than Tgs.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . An image recording method comprising:
 a reaction liquid applying step of applying a reaction liquid to an intermediate transfer member;   a liquid composition applying step of applying to the intermediate transfer member a liquid composition that causes viscosity increase on contact with the reaction liquid so as to at least partly overlap with an area where the reaction liquid is applied;   an ink applying step of applying an ink that contains a water-soluble resin to the intermediate transfer member so as to at least partly overlap with an area where the liquid composition is applied, to form an intermediate image;   a transfer step of transferring the intermediate image to a recording medium by bringing the intermediate image on the intermediate transfer member into contact with the recording medium to separate the intermediate image from the intermediate transfer member while keeping the contact with the recording medium; and   a control step of controlling at least one of temperatures of the intermediate image, the intermediate transfer member, and the recording medium,   wherein in the control step a temperature T 1  of the intermediate transfer member from a position at which the intermediate image starts to be in contact with the recording medium to a position at which the intermediate image is separated from the intermediate transfer member is adjusted to a temperature not less than a glass transition temperature Tgs of the water-soluble resin, and a temperature T 2  of the recording medium at a position at which the intermediate image is separated from the intermediate transfer member is adjusted to a temperature less than the glass transition temperature Tgs of the water-soluble resin.   
     
     
         11 . The image recording method according to  claim 10 , wherein a difference between the temperature T 1  and the temperature T 2  (T 1 −T 2 ) is 10° C. or more and 35° C. or less. 
     
     
         12 . The image recording method according to  claim 10 , wherein the ink contains resin particles. 
     
     
         13 . The image recording method according to  claim 10 , wherein the liquid composition contains resin particles. 
     
     
         14 . The image recording method according to  claim 13 , wherein the temperature T 1  is a temperature less than a glass transition temperature Tgp of the resin particles contained in the liquid composition. 
     
     
         15 . An image recording apparatus comprising:
 an intermediate transfer member;   a reaction liquid applying unit of applying a reaction liquid to the intermediate transfer member;   a liquid composition applying unit of applying to the intermediate transfer member a liquid composition that causes viscosity increase on contact with the reaction liquid so as to at least partly overlap with an area where the reaction liquid is applied;   an ink applying unit of applying an ink that contains a water-soluble resin to the intermediate transfer member so as to at least partly overlap with an area where the liquid composition is applied to form an intermediate image;   a transfer unit of transferring the intermediate image to a recording medium by bringing the intermediate image on the intermediate transfer member into contact with the recording medium to separate the intermediate image from the intermediate transfer member while keeping the contact with the recording medium; and   a temperature adjusting unit of adjusting or maintaining a temperature T 1  of the intermediate transfer member to a temperature not less than a glass transition temperature Tgs of the water-soluble resin from a position at which the intermediate image starts to be in contact with the recording medium to a position at which the intermediate image is separated from the intermediate transfer member and adjusting or maintaining a temperature T 2  of the recording medium to a temperature less than the glass transition temperature Tgs of the water-soluble resin at a position at which the intermediate image is separated from the intermediate transfer member.   
     
     
         16 . An image recording method comprising:
 a reaction liquid applying step of applying a reaction liquid to an intermediate transfer member;   a first liquid composition applying step of applying to the intermediate transfer member a first liquid composition that causes viscosity increase on contact with the reaction liquid so as to at least partly overlap with an area where the reaction liquid is applied;   an ink applying step of applying an ink to the intermediate transfer member so as to at least partly overlap with an area where the first liquid composition is applied;   a second liquid composition applying step of applying to the intermediate transfer member a second liquid composition that contains a water-soluble resin to the intermediate transfer member so as to at least partly overlap with an area where the ink is applied, to form an intermediate image;   a transfer step of transferring the intermediate image to a recording medium by bringing the intermediate image on the intermediate transfer member into contact with the recording medium to separate the intermediate image from the intermediate transfer member while keeping the contact with the recording medium; and   a control step of controlling at least one of temperatures of the intermediate image, the intermediate transfer member, and the recording medium,   wherein in the control step a temperature T 1  of the intermediate transfer member from a position at which the intermediate image starts to be in contact with the recording medium to a position at which the intermediate image is separated from the intermediate transfer member is adjusted to a temperature not less than a glass transition temperature Tgs of the water-soluble resin, and a temperature T 2  of the recording medium at a position at which the intermediate image is separated from the intermediate transfer member is adjusted to a temperature less than the glass transition temperature Tgs of the water-soluble resin.