JP2000272784A - Printing paper assembly of photosensitive microcapsule type, and printer and printing system using it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily read information related to printing paper on the rolled printing paper, to which photosensitive microcapsule is applied, in an inexpensive structure. SOLUTION: A printing paper 1 on which photosensitive microcapsule is applied is rolled by a roll 21. The rolled printing paper 1 is stored in a shading case 81. A portion of the case 81 is provided with an opening 82 to provide for delivery of the printing paper 1. An identification mark 83 is provided near the opening 82 for showing information related to the stored printing paper 1. The identification mark 83 read by an identification mark reading means provided in a printer is used for printing control operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer for printing by exposing a printing paper coated with photosensitive microcapsules by a print head having a light emitting element, and more particularly to a printing paper assembly containing the printing paper in a case. And a printer and a printing system using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The applicant of the present invention has previously filed Japanese Patent Application No. 9-1.
At 52719, the print paper coated with the photosensitive microcapsules is scanned by a print head having a plurality of types of light emitting elements to form a latent image, and mechanical pressure is applied to the print paper on which the latent image is formed by a print roller. In addition, the specific configuration and operation and effect of the printer for developing are disclosed in detail. This printer is a device particularly suitable for a handy type printer for a digital camera that stores image data in a storage medium such as a floppy disk.

In the printing paper, a photosensitive microcapsule having a diameter of about 4 microns is uniformly coated on a base paper, an image receiving layer containing a color developer is coated thereon or in the same layer, and a polyester film is further coated thereon. It is a laminate. The microcapsule itself is a mere container made of transparent gelatin or the like, which is light-transmissive and has such strength as to be broken by the mechanical pressure of the print roller.

[0004] The color-forming substance encapsulated in the microcapsules is a colorless leuco dye, which is a substance that forms a color upon contact with an image receiving layer containing a color developer. The color-forming substances correspond to the three primary colors of light, that is, red (R), green (G), and blue (B).
That is, three types of magenta (M), yellow (Y), and cyan (C) are prepared. The photo-curing material that is encapsulated in the microcapsule in combination with the color-forming substance is a light of a color that is complementary to the color presented by the color-forming substance coming into contact with the image receiving layer,
That is, a substance that is cured by light having a specific wavelength is selected. That is, a photo-curable substance that cures when irradiated with green light (G) is selected as the magenta (M) color-forming substance that absorbs green and exhibits reddish purple. Similarly, a color-forming substance for yellow (Y) that absorbs blue-violet is a photo-curing substance that cures when irradiated with blue light (B), and a cyan (C) that absorbs red and exhibits blue-violet. As the color-forming substance, a photo-curable substance that cures when irradiated with red light (R) is selected.
Accordingly, there are three types of photosensitive microcapsules, M, Y, and C. Therefore, there are two types of print paper: mono-color for which only one type of photosensitive microcapsule is coated, and 256-color full-color for which three types of photosensitive microcapsules are coated. There is a business. The principle of color development of such print paper is as follows.

For example, when one type of light of R, G, and B, that is, monochromatic light is selected and irradiated on a full-color printing paper coated with three types of photosensitive microcapsules, M,
Among the three types of photosensitive microcapsules of Y and C, only the photosensitive microcapsules enclosing a photocurable substance having a complementary color relationship with the selected monochromatic light are cured in response to light, and the other two types are Does not cure. That is, when the light of R is irradiated,
Of the photosensitive microcapsules, the photocurable substance is cured in response to the red light, and the other two types, that is, M and Y, are not cured. When the pressure of the print roller is applied to the print paper in this state, the photosensitive microcapsules of M and Y are completely destroyed, but the photosensitive microcapsules of C are not destroyed or incompletely depending on the degree of curing. Destroyed. For this reason, the M and Y coloring substances come into contact with the image receiving layer of the printing paper, and the area develops red mixed with M and Y. The color of the red color obtained by mixing M and Y changes depending on the degree of curing of the photosensitive microcapsule C. This is because, although incomplete, the photosensitive microcapsules of C are destroyed, and the color-forming substance for C comes into contact with the image receiving layer. Similarly, when the light of G is irradiated, the color develops green mixed with Y and C, and when the light of B is irradiated, the color develops blue mixed with M and C.

In short, when one type of light of R, G, and B is selected and irradiated on a full-color print paper coated with three types of photosensitive microcapsules, the area irradiated with the selected light is used. Develops into a mixed color of M and Y, Y and C, or C and M, respectively. When two types of light of R, G, and B are selected and irradiated on the full-color print paper, the area irradiated with the selected two types of light is one of M, Y, or C. It develops into a color corresponding to. The region not irradiated with any type of light exhibits black color because colors corresponding to all of M, Y, and C are performed. The color tone, saturation, and brightness of the print are adjusted by adjusting the intensity of irradiation light and the irradiation time.

Incidentally, when such print paper is mass-produced industrially, it is common to determine the amount to be produced at a time, and to repeat the production in units of the amount. This is what is called lot production. In this case, the characteristics of the product may vary from lot to lot. In the case of the print paper according to the present invention, since this is a print paper having photosensitivity, the photosensitivity may vary from lot to lot. If the sensitivity changes, the print quality cannot be kept constant. Therefore, it is necessary to provide sensitivity information to the printer and correct the exposure on the printer side based on the sensitivity information.

Although the print paper is for color printing, monochrome print paper can be similarly constructed. The printer can be configured to print on both color or monochrome print paper. In this case, it is necessary to give the printer information on whether the set print paper is for color or monochrome, and change the exposure condition according to the information.

Thus, in some situations, it may be necessary to provide the printer with parameters specific to the print paper. In order to respond to such a request, some parameter setting means have been conventionally proposed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,521,674 discloses a method and an apparatus in which a code indicating a parameter is printed on print paper and the code is read by a printer. This code is visible before printing, but disappears after printing. However, in the method or apparatus according to the present invention, the code must be printed on all the print sheets, since the purpose is to set parameters for each sheet of the sheet-like print sheets. Therefore, there is a problem that the number of print paper manufacturing steps increases, leading to an increase in cost. In addition, there is a problem that the cost is further increased due to special printing that is invisible after printing.
In the case of roll-shaped print paper, the setting parameters may be the same for each roll, and even when the setting parameters are cut and used for each print, it is not necessary to print the parameters on each sheet.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-310306 discloses a device in which a code indicating a parameter is displayed on a roll of a roll of print paper and the code is read by a printer. Since this apparatus only displays one code on a roll-shaped print sheet, there is no problem as in the above-described apparatus. However, since the code is displayed on the roll of print paper itself, the printer cannot read the code if it is used for photosensitive print paper that needs to be housed in a light-shielding case. Alternatively, in order to enable the printer to read, a read-only mechanism is required, such as providing a shutter or the like in a case and opening the shutter to allow reading when mounted on the printer. Also in this case, a significant cost increase is inevitable.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of a conventional printer in a printer having a function of reading parameters of print paper on the printer side. Provides a photosensitive microcapsule-type roll-shaped print paper assembly capable of easily and inexpensively reading parameters related to a photosensitive roll-shaped print paper, and a printer and a print system using the same. Is what you do.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, a print paper coated with photosensitive microcapsules, the light-shielded paper is stored, and a part of the print paper is pulled out. A photosensitive microcapsule-type print paper assembly was provided by providing a case having an opening for providing the same and a sign provided on a part of the surface of the case and displaying information related to the stored print paper. .

The code sign may take various configurations, but may be a bar code arranged so as to be read by a sensor moving in a direction perpendicular to the feed direction of the printing paper, or a plurality of first codes. Terminal group,
A plurality of second terminal groups, and a conductive pattern for connecting between the first terminal group and the second terminal group, the first terminal group and the second terminal group Even if the information related to the print paper is displayed by a conduction pattern between the first terminal and the second terminal,
It is constituted by providing at least one resistor composed of a resistance element connected between the first terminal and the second terminal, and by a resistance value between the first terminal and the second terminal. Information related to the print paper may be displayed.

The present invention is preferably applied to a print paper assembly containing roll-shaped print paper.
A print sheet assembly in which a plurality of sheet-shaped print sheets are stacked and stored in a case may be used. Further, in the present invention, the photosensitive microcapsule type printing paper assembly, code reading means for reading the code mark,
The printer is provided with control means for performing print control based on the information related to the print paper read by the code reading means.

In this printer configuration, depending on the configuration of the code marker, a feeding means for moving the print paper in a first direction and the print paper while moving in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The code reading means may be provided in the print head and read the code mark by moving in the second direction.

Further, in the present invention, a printing system is configured such that the printer and the image processing apparatus are connected, an image signal is transmitted and received between the image processing apparatus and the printer, and an image is generated on the printing paper.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (Description of Photosensitive Microcapsule Type Printing Paper) First, the printing paper used in the present invention will be described. The print paper is called a photosensitive microcapsule type printer paper. This print paper is formed by uniformly coating a photosensitive microcapsule having a diameter of about 4 microns on a base paper made of white PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and coating an image receiving layer containing a color developer on or on the same layer. Further, a transparent PET film is laminated thereon.
The microcapsule itself is a mere container made of transparent gelatin or the like, which is light-transmissive and has such strength as to be broken by the mechanical pressure of the print roller.

The color-forming substance encapsulated in the microcapsules is a transparent leuco dye, which is a substance that forms a color when it comes into contact with an image receiving layer containing a color developer. The color-forming substances correspond to the three primary colors of light, that is, red (R), green (G), and blue (B).
That is, three types of magenta (M), yellow (Y), and cyan (C) are prepared. The photo-curing material that is encapsulated in the microcapsule in combination with the color-forming substance is a light of a color that is complementary to the color presented by the color-forming substance coming into contact with the image receiving layer,
That is, a substance that is cured by light having a specific wavelength is selected. That is, a photo-curable substance that cures when irradiated with green light (G) is selected as the magenta (M) color-forming substance that absorbs green and exhibits reddish purple. Similarly, a color-forming substance for yellow (Y) that absorbs blue-violet is a photo-curing substance that cures when irradiated with blue light (B), and a cyan (C) that absorbs red and exhibits blue-violet. As the color-forming substance, a photo-curable substance that cures when irradiated with red light (R) is selected.
Accordingly, there are three types of photosensitive microcapsules, M, Y, and C. Therefore, there are two types of print paper: mono-color for which only one type of photosensitive microcapsule is coated, and 256-color full-color for which three types of photosensitive microcapsules are coated. There is a business. The principle of color development of such print paper is as follows.

For example, when one type of light among R, G, and B, that is, monochromatic light is selected and irradiated on a full-color print paper coated with three types of photosensitive microcapsules, M,
Among the three types of photosensitive microcapsules of Y and C, only the photosensitive microcapsules enclosing a photocurable substance having a complementary color relationship with the selected monochromatic light are cured in response to light, and the other two types are Does not cure. That is, when the light of R is irradiated,
Of the photosensitive microcapsules, the photocurable substance is cured in response to the red light, and the other two types, that is, M and Y, are not cured. When the roller pressure is applied to the print paper in this state, the photosensitive microcapsules of M and Y are completely destroyed, but the photosensitive microcapsules of C are not destroyed or are incompletely destroyed depending on the degree of curing. Is done. For this reason, the M and Y coloring substances come into contact with the image receiving layer of the printing paper, and the area develops red mixed with M and Y. The color of the red color obtained by mixing M and Y changes depending on the degree of curing of the photosensitive microcapsule C. This is because, although incomplete, the photosensitive microcapsules of C are destroyed, and the color-forming substance for C comes into contact with the image receiving layer. Similarly, when the light of G is irradiated, the color develops green mixed with Y and C, and when the light of B is irradiated, the color develops blue mixed with M and C.

In short, when one type of light of R, G, and B is selected and irradiated on a full-color printing paper coated with three types of photosensitive microcapsules, the area irradiated with the selected light is used. Develops into a mixed color of M and Y, Y and C, or C and M, respectively. When two types of light of R, G, and B are selected and irradiated on the full-color print paper, the area irradiated with the selected two types of light is one of M, Y, or C. It develops into a color corresponding to. The region not irradiated with any type of light exhibits black color because colors corresponding to all of M, Y, and C are performed. The color tone, saturation, and brightness of the print are adjusted by adjusting the intensity of irradiation light and the irradiation time.

(Description of Print Paper Assembly) Next, a print paper assembly according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1A is an external perspective view of the print paper assembly 80, and FIG.
It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected by the surface orthogonal to the X direction of (a). The printing paper 1 is the photosensitive microcapsule type printing paper described above. The print paper 1 is long and is wound around a roll 21 in a roll shape. 8
Reference numeral 1 denotes a case for storing the roll-shaped print paper 1. The roll 21 is supported by a projection (not shown) provided inside the case 81 so as to freely rotate.
An opening 82 through which the print paper 1 can be fed is provided in a part of the case 81. The print sheet 1 is fed out from the opening 82 and printed by a printer. Since the print paper 1 has photosensitivity, the case 81 is configured to have a light shielding property by a light shielding material. However, since the photosensitivity of the printing paper 1 used in this embodiment is not so high, the structure of the opening 82 is provided with a tongue as shown in FIG.
The light-shielding property is sufficient only by providing the opening 82 at the tip.
Needless to say, the opening 82 may be provided with a material such as felt, for example, to further enhance the light shielding property.

In the vicinity of the opening 82 of the case 81, an identification mark 83 made of a bar code is provided. The identification mark 83 indicates the type of the printer paper 1, for example, monochrome, color, sensitivity, and the like. The sensitivity may represent an overall sensitivity level, or, in the case of color printing paper, may be a different sensitivity for light for exposure (for example, red, green, and blue). When the sensitivity of the print paper 1 changes depending on the production lot, the lot number may be displayed as a representative value of the sensitivity. In this case, it is necessary to convert the lot number into the sensitivity information by another means, but such conversion can be easily realized by a known technique.

(Description of Printer and Print System) Next, a printer according to the present invention and a print system using the printer will be described with reference to FIGS. In the printer 10, reference numeral 80 denotes the print sheet assembly described above. An exposure unit 30 for forming a latent image of a predetermined print pattern on the print paper 1;
Reference numeral 50 denotes a pressure developing unit that visualizes a latent image formed on the print sheet 1, and 70 denotes a motor that drives each movable unit of the printer 10. The printer 10 may be, for example, a size that can be placed on the palm of a hand or a size that can be used by being placed on a desk. The printing system 100 includes a printer 10 and an interface cable 9 connected to the printer 10.
And an image information processing device 90 such as a digital camera connected via the PC 1. Image information (print pattern information) in digital or analog form from the image information processing device 90 is controlled by the controller 19 of the printer 10. And is sent to the exposure unit 30 via a cable.

The print paper assembly 80 includes the printer 10
Is housed in a substantially cylindrical housing chamber 12 in the housing 11 of the first embodiment. The housing 11 is configured to be openable and closable at an upper portion of the storage chamber 12 so that the print paper assembly 80 can be stored at a predetermined position in the storage chamber 12. When the printing paper 1 is fed out from the opening 82 of the printing paper assembly 80, the microcapsule layer is located below the base paper. 2
Reference numeral 2 denotes a paper sensor that detects the passage of the trailing edge (rear end) of the paper 1 or the presence or absence of the paper 1 on the front surface.

The feeding and feeding of the sheet is performed by a sheet feeding mechanism 23 disposed upstream and downstream with respect to the sheet feeding direction A,
24. The sheet 1 is sent along a horizontal plane in the exposure unit 30 and the pressure development unit 50 as the sheet 1 is fed in the direction A. The paper feed mechanisms 23 and 24 are respectively provided with a feed roller receiving the rotational driving force and a sheet spring provided in opposition to the rollers, and are pressed downward in the direction of the paper 1 by a leaf spring so as to feed the paper 1 in the A direction. Consists of a pinch roller.
The feed roller is made of, for example, a steel shaft fitted with a rubber cylinder and fixed, and the pinch roller is made of, for example, an integrated plastic material.

The exposure section 30 includes an exposure head guide shaft 31 having both ends fixed to the side wall of the frame 14, and a print sheet 1.
Exposure head structure 32 fitted and supported on the guide shaft 31 so as to be slidable in a scanning direction C orthogonal to the feeding direction A
And an exposure head drive shaft 33 that moves in the scanning direction C. The exposure head drive shaft 33 is supported on the side wall of the frame 14 so as to be rotatable around its axis, and has a spiral groove 34 on the peripheral surface. The spiral groove 34 includes a left-handed and right-handed spiral groove, and a turning groove connecting the two spiral grooves.
The exposure head structure 32 is provided with an exposure head 35 disposed between the paper feed mechanisms 23 and 24 on the upstream side and the downstream side so as to face the print paper 1, and faces the bottom wall of the frame 14. The head position sensor 37 is further provided with an identification marker detection sensor 38 facing the identification marker 83 provided near the opening of the print paper assembly 80.

The exposure head position sensor 37 is a linear scale (for example, a predetermined distance in the scanning direction C) formed on the bottom wall of the frame 14 facing the sensor 37 along the scanning path of the exposure head position sensor 37. The controller 19 controls the exposure by the exposure head 35 on the basis of the detected position information by reading the 14 g of each of the scale lines (each having a scale line drawn). .

The identification marker detection sensor 38 detects an identification marker 83 provided on the print paper assembly 80. The identification mark 83 is a code in which information is arranged along the scanning direction C. Therefore, the identification marker detection sensor 3
8 is a type that detects the identification mark 83 while moving along the scanning direction C. However, since various sensors for detecting this type of identification mark have been realized,
Other types of sensors may be used. For example, a linear sensor in which a plurality of sensors are arranged on a line in the scanning direction can identify the identification mark 83 without moving in the scanning direction C. In this case, the sensor does not need to be provided on the moving head, but only needs to be fixed to the fixed portion of the printer.
Information detected by the identification mark detection sensor 38 is sent to the controller 19 as information related to the print paper 1. The controller 19 controls the exposure by the exposure head 35 based on this information.

The exposure head structure 32 has an upper and lower portion connected to the hole in which the exposure head drive shaft 33 is inserted in addition to the hole in which the exposure head guide shaft 31 and the exposure head drive shaft 33 are inserted in the scanning direction C. It has a direction hole. An engagement pin that engages with the spiral groove 34 of the exposure head drive shaft 33 is disposed in the vertical hole so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and the engagement pin is moved by a bias / engagement mechanism of the pin. Upper spiral groove 34
And is held in this engaged state. When the pin is engaged with the spiral groove 34, the exposure head structure 32 is slid and guided by the guide shaft 31 and reciprocally scanned with the rotation of the exposure head drive shaft 33.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the exposure head 35 includes a hollow and flat box 40, a light source 41 of 3 rows and 3 columns fixed to the bottom wall of the box 40, and each light source 41. And a 3 × 3 aperture opening 42 formed on the top wall of the box 40 at a position facing the. Here, the top wall functions as an aperture means or an aperture plate. Light source 41 of each row
a, 41b and 41c are composed of light sources of the same color, for example,
The first to third rows of the first column are red LEDs 41a1,
41a2, 41a3, the first to third rows of the second column are green LEDs 41b1, 41b2, 41b3, and the first to third rows of the third column are blue LEDs 41c1, 41c.
2, 41c3. The interval between the rows of the light sources 41 corresponds to, for example, the intermittent feed pitch of the paper 1 in the A direction by the paper feed mechanisms 23 and 24. On the other hand, when the exposure head 35 scans in the direction C, the spacing between the rows of the light sources 41 is shifted by the position of the light source in the scanning direction (also referred to as “phase in the scanning direction”). Therefore, when the exposure head 35 is scanned for exposure, the positional deviation of the light source 41 in the scanning direction related to the color data for each dot area in the scanning direction is determined by the positional information of the exposure head 35 read from the scanning position sensor 37. Based on the above, while the controller 19 compensates, each dot area in the scanning direction is irradiated with light of a predetermined color. Exposure of one row in the scanning direction C is performed while sequentially performing such operation control for each dot area in the scanning direction C. The number of columns arranged at right angles to the scanning direction C is the number of the three primary colors of light, and the number of rows arranged at right angles to the paper feed direction A is necessary for printing at one point (dot area). If the intensity of light from the light source is stronger, the number of light sources for each color (the number of rows) may be smaller. If the light intensity is weaker, the number of rows is smaller. The number of light sources may be increased depending on the color. The size of the aperture opening may be the same, different depending on the color of the light to be stopped, or different depending on the row.

In FIG. 2 to FIG.
Is configured so that it can reciprocate in the scanning direction C, is supported on the side wall of the frame 14 independently of the exposure unit 30, and has a developing support table 51 as a sheet supporting means, and presses the sheet 1 in cooperation therewith. Pressure development head 52 and pressure development head 5
And a pressure developing head 52 for supporting the roller 2
And a pressure developing head drive shaft 54 as a pressure developing head driving means for reciprocating the frame 14 in the direction C with respect to the frame.

The pressure developing head drive shaft 54 is supported on the side wall of the frame 14 so as to be rotatable around its axis, and has a spiral groove 55 on the peripheral surface. The spiral groove 55 includes a left-handed and right-handed spiral groove, and a turning groove connecting the two spiral grooves. The roller support 53 extends in the scanning direction C between the side walls of the frame 14, and has a U-shaped cross section fitted in a notch or a slot (slot) formed in the side wall so as to be movable in the vertical direction L. And a compression spring 5 for applying a biasing force in the upward direction L1 to the roller support base body.
3b. A plurality of compression springs 53b are provided at intervals along the scanning direction C.

The pressure developing head 52 includes a pair of rollers 5
7, 58. The pressure developing head 52 has, in addition to the hole in which the pressure developing head driving shaft 54 is inserted in the scanning direction C, a vertical hole connected to the hole. In the vertical hole,
An engaging pin that engages with the spiral groove 55 of the pressure developing head drive shaft 54 is disposed so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The engaging pin is moved upward by the biasing / engaging mechanism of the pin. 55 and is held in this engaged state. When the pin is engaged with the spiral groove 55, the pressure developing head 52
Is scanned back and forth.

The pressure developing head 52 further includes a roller 5
A roller housing chamber or a through-hole housed so as to be movable in the L-direction with the peripheral surfaces of the rollers 7 and 58 in contact with each other;
Shafts at both ends of the groove 58 have grooves to be accommodated so as to be movable in the L direction. The lower roller 58 of the stacked rollers 57, 58 in the roller accommodating chamber is mounted on a roller support 53 having a U-shaped cross section.

On the other hand, the developing support table 51 located on the back side of the sheet 1 has a U-shaped platen 63 whose cross section (cross section perpendicular to the scanning direction C) is convex downward. The lower edge of the platen 63 protrudes toward the pressure developing head 52 in the scanning direction area M where the printing of the paper 1 is to be performed, and retreats upward at both ends of the area M. When the pressure developing head 52 is the platen 6
3, the print paper 1 is not substantially pressed or pinched, and is located at both ends in the scanning direction facing the retreat areas on both sides of the central area M of the central area M.
By the operation of 4, the sheet can be fed in the sheet feeding direction A (for example, intermittent feeding of one line, introduction of the leading edge of the sheet, or feeding of the trailing edge of the sheet).

On the other hand, the pressure developing head 52 is
In the range facing the print allowable area M at the center of the printing paper 1, the printing paper 1
And the platen 63. The roller 57 linearly hits the front surface of the printing paper 1 along the paper feeding direction A, and the platen 63 hits the back surface of the printing paper 1 linearly along the scanning direction C. At each point, the paper portion pressed and clamped by 63 becomes substantially dot-shaped, and a pressing force acts on the contact point, and when the latent image is formed at the contact point, the microcapsules that are not cured Is crushed, and the dot area is colored. At this time, the applied pressure is based on the extension force of the compression spring 53 b for pressure development applied to the roller support 53. The force applied to the contact point (pressure development point) by the spring is set to a predetermined size (for example, several tens to several hundred g weight) suitable for appropriately crushing the microcapsules in consideration of the area of the contact point. Is done. Instead of, or in addition to, providing the roller support 53 with a spring, an elastic pressing means such as a spring may be provided on the platen side to press the platen 63 against the back surface of the sheet 1.

Therefore, when the pressure developing head 52 is moved in the direction C by the rotation of the pressure developing head drive shaft 54, the roller 58 rolls on the roller support 53 in the direction C, The roller 57 contacting with the peripheral surface rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the roller 58 and the platen 63.
The roller rolls in the C direction on the surface of the print sheet 1 so as to scan the contact point (pressing point) with the print paper 1 in the C direction.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 16 designates the rotation of the output shaft of the motor 70 by the paper feed mechanisms 23, 2 on the upstream and downstream sides.
4, a power transmission mechanism for transmitting the light to the exposure head drive shaft 33 and the pressure developing head drive shaft 54. The power transmission mechanism 16 performs initial settings of the printer 10 and initial paper feed in addition to the normal printing operation. In order to incorporate various operation modes required for the printer 10 into the structure of the power transmission mechanism, a one-way clutch, a Geneva gear, and the like may be included together with a gear train including a spur gear and a bevel gear.

(Description of Operation of Printer and Print System) The operation of the print system 100 having the printer 10 configured as described above will be briefly described. First, an initial operation immediately after power-on will be described. When the power is turned on, the controller 19 first drives the motor 70. The motor 70 is driven to rotate, and this rotation is transmitted to the exposure head 35 by the power transmission mechanism 16, and the exposure head 35 reciprocates one time. At this time, the identification mark detection sensor 3 provided on the exposure head structure 32
8 is an identification mark 8 provided on the print paper assembly 80.
3 so as to scan over it, and read the information displayed on the identification mark 83. The read information is input to the controller 19 and stored. Thereafter, the controller 19
Print control is performed based on this information.

Next, the printing operation will be described. It is assumed that the previous printing operation has been completed in a state where the leading end of the printing paper 1 is held by the downstream paper feeding mechanism 24. With the paper feed mechanisms 23 and 24 stopped,
When a print command is given to the printer 10, the motor 7
The rotation drive of the exposure head drive shaft 33 and the pressure development head drive shaft 54 is started via the power transmission mechanism 16 by the rotation drive of 0, and the exposure head 35 and the pressure development head 52 are moved from the initial position in the scanning direction from the initial position. The scan to C is started separately. At the same time, the exposure head position sensor 37
Is sent to the controller 19 to be decoded by the controller 19 as position information of the exposure head 35. Based on the position information of the exposure head 35 and the image information data (position and color data) from the image information processing device 90, the controller 19 outputs color data corresponding to the scanning position of the exposure head 35 to the exposure head 35.
The light source of the corresponding color among the light sources of the first row of the exposure head 35 emits light (with a predetermined intensity if desired), and a predetermined color (dot area) in the scanning direction of the print paper 1 is provided. Is formed. This operation is performed by the exposure head 3
5 is continued from the initial position until scanning in one direction is completed.

When the one-way scanning by the exposure head 35 is completed, the pressure developing head 52 is outside the protruding area M of the platen 63, and the pressure developing unit 50 is in a state of allowing the paper 1 to be fed. ing. Once the scanning of the exposure head 35 and the pressure developing head 52 is stopped, the paper feed mechanism 23, 24 moves the paper 1 by one pitch (dot area 1).
Is sent in the direction A.

When the feeding of the paper 1 is completed, the exposure head 3
5 and the pressure developing head 52 are scanned in the same manner as described above. At this time, the light source of the corresponding color among the light sources of the first and second rows of the exposure head 35 emits light, and scanning is performed. When the exposure scanning is completed, the sheet 1 is fed by one pitch, and
The scanning is performed by emitting light from the light source of the corresponding color among the light sources on the third to third rows. When the exposure scanning is completed, the sheet 1 is further fed by one pitch. After that,
A similar exposure operation is repeated.

At the time of exposure, the controller 19 controls light emission in accordance with the information read by the identification mark detection sensor 38. As described above, the identification mark 83 can represent various kinds of information. As an example, a case where the identification mark 83 represents the sensitivity of the print paper 1 will be described. The read information is input to the controller 19 as information indicating the level of the sensitivity of the print paper 1. Controller 19
If this is information indicating that the sensitivity is low, the light emission control is performed so that the intensity of light emitted from the light source 41 of the exposure head 35 is higher than the normal condition. Conversely, if the information indicates that the sensitivity is high, the light emission is controlled so as to reduce the light emission intensity. There are various methods for controlling the light emission intensity depending on the elements constituting the light source 41. For example, when the light source 41 is constituted by an LED, L
When the current for driving the ED is changed or when the pulse driving is performed, the control can be performed by changing the pulse width.

In the case where the identification mark 83 indicates monochrome or color, the controller 19 similarly reads this information and controls the light emission of the light source 41 in each case. For example, when the read information indicates color, the three types of light sources 4 are used as described above.
1 controls light emission according to the print color. If the read information indicates monochrome, light emission control may be performed so that only one of the three types of light sources emits light, or light emission may be performed so that all three types of light sources emit light. It may be controlled.

On the other hand, when the exposed area (latent image forming area) of the sheet 1 reaches the pressure development head 52, the microcapsules corresponding to the latent image are scanned during the pressure development scanning by the pressure development head 52. The development of crushing and developing a predetermined color proceeds simultaneously. The pressure developing head 5
The pressure development scanning by 2 may be started when the exposure area reaches the pressure development head 52.

The print paper assembly 80 according to the above embodiment
In the above, the identification mark 83 is provided near the opening 82,
Since the identification mark 83 may be arranged so as to be read by the printer, it may be designed so as to be arranged at an arbitrary place in a pair with the reading means on the printer side. Further, the identification mark 83 may use another configuration that is optically read by a barcode.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of a print sheet assembly according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional explanatory view of a printer using the same as viewed from the side. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a case 81a constituting the print paper assembly 80a is provided with a conductive pattern portion 83a. The periphery of the pattern portion 83a is a non-conductive portion 83b. On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
In the portion for receiving the print paper assembly 80a, a plurality of detection pins 39 are provided at positions that come into contact with terminal portions a to l provided at specific positions of the pattern portion 83a and the non-conductive portion 83b. I have. Print paper assembly 80a
Is inserted into the printer 10a, the detection pin 39 contacts the terminal portions al. At this time, conduction or non-conduction between the detection pins 39 is determined by the wiring shape of the pattern portion 83a. For example, in the pattern shown in FIG. 6, there is conduction between the detection pins that contact the terminals a, c, g, h, and i, and between the detection pins that contact the terminals e, k, and l.
No electrical connection is established between these pins and the other pins. Since the conduction state between these detection pins takes a plurality of states depending on the wiring shape of the pattern portion 83a, this state indicates information related to the print paper, such as the sensitivity of the print paper and whether it is for monochrome or color. You can do it.

The timing for reading the identification mark is not limited to the timing at the time of the initial operation as in the above embodiment, but may be read at an arbitrary timing during the printing operation.
For example, when the print paper assembly can be attached and detached while the power is turned on, a means for periodically reading or detecting that the print paper assembly has been attached is provided, and the means for attaching the print paper assembly by this means is provided. May be configured to read the identification mark at the time when is detected.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 is an external perspective view of a print sheet assembly according to the third embodiment. As shown in the figure,
A thin plate-shaped resistor 84 is provided in a case 81b constituting the print paper assembly 80b. The resistor 84 includes a resistance element portion 84a and terminal portions 84b arranged at both ends of the element portion 84a and electrically connected thereto. Such a resistor is manufactured by applying a carbon resin to a substrate, and the resistor can be formed in a thin plate or film shape. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, a thin plate resistor 84 may be formed and attached to the case 81b by bonding or the like, or in some cases, the resistor element portion 84a and the terminal portion may be directly attached to the surface of the case 81b. 84b.

The information relating to the print paper is indicated by the resistance value of the resistor 84. For the sake of simplicity, for example, in the case of three levels of sensitivity in monochrome, resistance values are assigned as follows. Sensitivity High Normal Low Resistance 10 kΩ 3 kΩ 0 kΩ On the other hand, two detection pins 86 are provided at the position where the printer paper assembly 80 b is to be contacted with the terminal 84 b, as in the second embodiment. (Not shown). When the print paper assembly 80b is inserted into the printer, the detection pins 86 come into contact with the terminal portions 84b. Further, the printer is provided with a resistance value measuring circuit 85 for measuring the resistance value of the resistor 84. FIG. 9 shows an example of a circuit diagram of the resistance value measuring circuit 85. As shown in FIG. 9, the resistance value measuring circuit 85 includes a resistor Rr connected in series with the resistor 84 to constitute a voltage dividing circuit, and an amplifier circuit 87 for amplifying the divided voltage.
And an A / D converter 88 connected to the output of the amplifier circuit 87 and converting the output voltage into a digital value. A /
The output of the D converter 88 is connected to the controller 19.

In this circuit, for example, Rr = 10k
Assuming that Ω and Vss = 10 V, the input voltage of the amplifier 85 becomes the following value with respect to the resistance value of the resistor 84. Sensitivity High Normal Low Resistance 10 kΩ 3 kΩ 0 kΩ Input voltage 5 V 2.3 V 0 V The amplifier 87 amplifies this input voltage, and the A / D converter 8
8 is output. The A / D converter 88 has a resolution of, for example, 8 bits and outputs a signal 255 digitized with respect to an input voltage of 5V. In this case, the A / D converter 88 outputs the following values for the input voltage.

Sensitivity High Normal Low Resistance 10 kΩ 3 kΩ 0 kΩ Input voltage 5 V 2.3 V 0 V Output value 255 117 0 The output value of the A / D converter 88 is read by the controller 19, and the controller 19 uses this value to determine the sensitivity of the printing paper. And controls the light emission intensity of the light source at the time of exposure. In order to identify the sensitivity, the output value shown in this table is set as a center value, a threshold value is set before and after this value, and this threshold value is compared with the output value of the A / D converter 88. What is necessary is just to identify.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the resistor 8
Since the information related to the printing paper is displayed by the resistance value of 4, there is an advantage that only two terminals for reading the information are required and the connection structure is simplified. Further, the resistance value can be set finely, and the resistance value measurement circuit can read in 256 steps when using an 8-bit A / D converter, so that more information can be displayed. . For example, when three levels of high sensitivity, normal, and low sensitivity are displayed for each of the three colors, 3 × 3 × 3 = 2
What is necessary is just to identify seven ways. The 27 ways of disassembly are
4 can be easily identified. In some cases, a plurality of resistors 84 may be provided so as to indicate more information. In this case, a plurality of detection pins corresponding to these resistors are provided on the printer side and connected to a resistance value detection circuit. The resistance value detection circuit
A plurality of circuits may be provided exclusively for each resistor, or only one circuit may be provided, and the detection terminals may be switched by a multiplexer. Note that the resistance value measuring circuit 85 shown here is merely an example, and there are various other circuits for measuring the resistance value. Therefore, an appropriate circuit may be adopted according to the design.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention, a photosensitive microfilm type print sheet is stored in a case having a light-shielding property, and an identification mark indicating information related to the print sheet is provided on the case. The assembly was constructed. Further, using this print sheet assembly, a printer is provided by providing code reading means for identifying the identification mark and control means for controlling printing based on the information read by the code reading means.

Therefore, information relating to the print paper can be easily and inexpensively read by the printer. Since the case has a light-shielding property, the case can be applied to photosensitive print paper, and there is an effect that the operation range is wide. Further, particularly when the sign is configured by a resistor including a first terminal, a second terminal, and a resistance element connected between these terminals,
Another advantage is that more information about the print paper can be displayed with a simple mechanical configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B are an external perspective view and a cross-sectional view of a photosensitive microcapsule type print sheet assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a printer and a printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from a side. (Explanation of II section in FIG. 3)

FIG. 3 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above. (II-II cross-sectional view of FIG. 2)

FIG. 4 is an explanatory front sectional view of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. (III-III cross-sectional view of FIG. 2)

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an exposure head of the printer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of a photosensitive microcapsule type printing paper assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory partial cross-sectional view of a printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention as viewed from a side.

FIG. 8 is an external perspective view of a photosensitive microcapsule type printing paper assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of a resistance measuring circuit for measuring a resistance value of a resistor provided in a photosensitive microcapsule type printing paper assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 print paper 10, 10 a printer 11 housing 12 housing room 14 frame 14 g linear scale 16 power transmission mechanism 19 controller 21 roll 22 paper detection sensor 23 upstream paper feed mechanism 24 downstream paper feed mechanism 30 exposure unit 31 exposure head guide shaft 32 exposure Head structure 33 Exposure head drive shaft 34 Spiral groove 35 Exposure head 37 Head position sensor 38 Identification marker detection sensor 39 Detection pin 50 Pressurized development unit 51 Development support 52 Pressurized development head 53 Roller support 53b Compression spring 54 Pressure Developing head drive shaft 55 Spiral groove 57, 58 Pressure roller 63 Platen 70 Motor 80, 80a, 80b Print paper assembly 81, 81a, 81b Case 82 Opening 83 Identification mark 83a Pattern part 83b Non-conductive part 84 Resistance 84a element unit 84b terminal portion 85 resistance measuring circuit 86 detects the pin 87 amplifier 88 A / D converter 90 an image information processing apparatus 91 interface cable 100 printing system A sheet feeding direction C-scan direction

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C060 BA03 BA07 BB09 BC03 BC15 BC22 BC72 2H096 AA23 BA20 GA55 LA22 LA30 3F052 AA01 AB13 BA02 3F058 AA02 AB02 AC10 CA11 DB12 KA03 LA05 LA06

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A print paper coated with a photosensitive microcapsule and wound in a roll shape, a case for storing the print paper in a light-shielded state, and partially having an opening for drawing out the print paper to the outside; A photosensitive microcapsule-type print sheet assembly provided on a part of the surface of the print sheet and displaying a sign indicating information related to the stored print sheet. 2. The photosensitive microcapsule according to claim 1, wherein the code marker is a barcode arranged so as to be read by a sensor moving in a direction orthogonal to a feed direction of the print paper. Printing paper assembly. 3. The code sign connects a plurality of first terminal groups, a plurality of second terminal groups, and a connection between the first terminal group and the second terminal group. Consisting of conductive patterns,
2. The photosensitive microcapsule type printing according to claim 1, wherein information related to the printing paper is displayed by a conduction pattern between the first terminal group and the second terminal group. Paper assembly. 4. A printing paper coated with a photosensitive microcapsule, a case for storing the printing paper in a light-shielded state, and having an opening for partially drawing out the printing paper, and a part of the surface of the case. And a code marker that displays information related to the stored print paper, the code marker includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and the first terminal and the second terminal. A photosensitive microcapsule type printing paper assembly comprising at least one resistor comprising a resistive element connected between the resistive element and the resistive element. 5. The photosensitive microcapsule type print sheet assembly according to claim 1, a code reading means for reading the code mark, and the print paper read by the code reading means. A control unit for performing print control based on information related to the printer. 6. A photosensitive microcapsule type print sheet assembly according to claim 1, a feed means for moving the print sheet in a first direction, and a feed means for moving in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. A print head that prints on the print paper while the print head is provided, and code reading means that reads the code mark by moving in the second direction; and A control unit for performing print control based on related information. 7. A printer according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the printer is connected to an image processing apparatus, an image signal is transmitted and received between the image processing apparatus and the printer, and an image is generated on the print paper. A printing system characterized by comprising: