JP2000296629A - Image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recording apparatus capable of directly forming a printing plate on the basis of image data and capable of processing even other recording material. SOLUTION: An image recording apparatus 10 for directly applying recording to a recording material D1 for a printing plate on the basis of image data to form the printing plate is equipped with a first recording material feed part for feeding a recording material, a second recording feed part for feeding a thermal recording material comprising a recording material utilizing color forming (or color erasing) reaction due to an acid catalyst, one recording part 30 recording a latent image on the recording material fed from a recording material feed part 20, the downstream heating part arranged on the downstream side of the recording position of the recording part 30 and heating the thermal recording material fed from the second recording material feed part 20 and a route changeover means for guiding a recording material unnecessary for heating to a part other than the heating part between the recording part 30 and the downstream heating part 60.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for recording an image on an image recording material used as a lithographic printing plate. The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for an image recording material that can be used for a plate (CTP) or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, CTP type devices (for example,
Plate-setter)
Apply a heat-sensitive resin layer on an aluminum substrate and
There is a heat-sensitive material (collectively referred to as a thermal plate) that forms an image on a resin layer by heat conversion by heating by irradiating infrared laser light. For example, product name: Brillia L
H-NI (manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.), trade name: Direct Image Thermal Printing Plate (manufactured by Kodak Company), trade name: DiamondPlateLT-
1 (manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation). By using such an image recording material, a printing plate can be directly created from image data without recording the image data on a film. In addition to the above, recording materials generally used for graphic arts include image formation using a silver salt (a method called Wet by wet processing, a dry method called dry silver), and a preform. There is a method corresponding to each method (ablation method, peeling transfer method, etc.) utilizing desorption of dye. Each of these recording materials requires a specific recording and development mode. In particular, the recording mode has a difference between a photon mode and a heat mode of a light beam. Sensitivity varies greatly with intensity.

[0003]

Here, for example, there are a positive type and a negative type of the above-mentioned thermal plate used in the above-mentioned CTP type apparatus. After the development process, a heating process is required before the development process. Therefore, the same image processing section and heat development section can be used for the positive type and the negative type as the individual processing. There is a problem that it is necessary to take only the unit offline and separately process it manually. This is an example, but when recording an image on any of the above recording materials, different devices are required for each, and if one type of recording material is used, it is necessary to increase one type of device as it is This causes a problem that space, cost, labor and the like increase.

[0004] An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to directly produce a printing plate based on image data.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus capable of processing other recording materials.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image recording apparatus for producing a printing plate by directly recording on a printing plate recording material based on image data. A first recording material supply unit for supplying a thermosensitive recording material made of an image recording medium utilizing a color development (or decoloring) reaction by an acid catalyst, a second recording material supply unit for supplying the printing plate recording material, One recording unit that records a latent image on a recording material supplied from each recording material supply unit, and a downstream heating unit that is disposed downstream of a recording position of the recording unit and heats each recording material to a predetermined temperature, A path switching unit is provided between the recording unit and the downstream heating unit, and is provided with a path switching unit that guides the recording material that does not require heating to a portion other than the downstream heating unit. (B) In the apparatus of (a), the recording unit may be a thermal head recording unit that performs image-wise recording on each recording material. (C) In the apparatus (a), the recording unit may be a laser recording unit that performs imagewise exposure on the printing plate recording material and the thermal recording material. (D) The apparatus of (c) above may be provided with a heating unit that is a heating laser beam that scans immediately before a scanning position of the laser recording unit on the thermosensitive recording material. (E) In the apparatus according to the above (a) or (b), the thermosensitive recording material supplied from the first recording material supply unit is arranged at a recording position of the recording unit or upstream of the recording position, and is heated to a predetermined temperature. A configuration in which an upstream heating unit is provided can be adopted. (F) In the apparatus described in (e) above, the upstream heating section heats only in contact with the heat-sensitive recording material, and is non-contact when supplying the printing plate recording material, and is a swingable heating roller. May be adopted. (G) In the apparatus described in (e) above, the upstream heating section is provided with a flat heating surface at a recording position of the recording section or at a position facing the back side of the recording surface of the thermosensitive recording material upstream of the recording position. be able to. (H) In the apparatus of (a) to (g) above, the predetermined heating temperature of the upstream heating unit may be set according to the capacity of the recording unit.

[0006] As a recording medium of an image recording material utilizing a color-forming (or decoloring) reaction by an acid catalyst used in the image recording apparatus of the present invention, those defined below can be used. This image recording medium has an acid generator represented by the following general formula (1), which generates an acid by the action of heat or an acid, and causes an intramolecular or intermolecular reaction by the action of an acid.
A compound that changes the absorption range of 0 to 900 nm. Formula ⁽¹⁾ W 1 OP 1 (wherein, W ¹ represents a residue of an acid represented by W ¹ OH, P ¹
Represents a substituent which is released by the action of heat or an acid. Then, the acid generator represented by the general formula (1) can be a compound selected from the following general formulas (2) to (4). General formula (2)

[0007]

Embedded image

(Wherein, R ¹ represents an electron-withdrawing group having a Hammett σp value of greater than 0. R ² represents an alkyl group.)
R ³ represents a group capable of leaving by the action of heat or an acid. W ¹
Has the same meaning as in formula (1). ) General formula (3)

[0009]

Embedded image

[0010] (. Represents ^{wherein, R 4, R 5, R} 6 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group,, W ¹ is as in formula (1) defined above) the formula (4) P ² - X-LC (R ⁷ ) (R ⁸ ) -OW ¹ (wherein P ² represents a substituent capable of leaving by the action of heat or an acid. X represents O, S, NR ⁹ (R ⁹ represents a hydrogen atom or Represents a substitutable group), or CR ¹⁰ R ¹¹ (R ¹⁰ and R ¹¹ represent a hydrogen atom or a substitutable group, and may be the same or different.) L represents a linking group R ⁷ and R ⁸ represent a hydrogen atom or a substitutable group, and may be the same or different. W ¹ has the same meaning as in formula (1).

The image recording medium has a partial structure having a function of generating an acid by the action of heat or an acid,
A polymer having a partial structure that causes a change in the absorption range of 360 to 900 nm by the action of an acid may be contained. The polymer described may be a polymer represented by the following general formula (5). General formula (5)-(A) _x- (B) _y- (C) _z- (wherein A is obtained by polymerization of at least one or more vinyl monomers having a function of generating an acid by the action of heat or an acid. Represents a repeating unit obtained, B represents a repeating unit obtained by polymerizing at least one or more vinyl monomers having a partial structure that causes a change in an absorption band of 360 to 900 nm by the action of an acid, and C represents A and B Represents a repeating unit obtained by polymerization of at least one or more copolymerizable vinyl monomers, x,
y and z represent% by weight, and 1 ≦ x ≦ 99, 1
≦ y ≦ 99, 0 ≦ z ≦ 98, and x + y + z = 100. )

As described above, the recording material of the present invention has an acid generator that generates an acid by the action of heat or an acid, and an intramolecular or intermolecular reaction caused by the action of an acid to cause a 360 to 9 reaction.
A compound that changes the absorption range of 00 nm is used. This recording material does not use silver, and can be handled in a bright room, and has the property of not generating waste material. This recording material can perform image-like recording by heat distribution, and can perform image recording by heating by irradiating visible to infrared laser light. Then, as described in the prior art, CTP
Image recording material used for the like (for example, trade name: Bri
llia LH-NI (Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.), trade name: Direct Image Thermal Printing Plate (Kodak Co., Ltd.), trade name: DiamondPlat
eLT-1 (Mitsubishi Chemical Co., Ltd.) also forms an image on the resin layer by heat conversion by heating by irradiating visible to infrared laser light. Outside laser light source can be used.

In view of this, the present invention employs a configuration in which the same visible to infrared laser light is irradiated for image recording.
The first recording material supply unit includes an acid generator that generates an acid by the action of heat or an acid, and a compound that causes an intramolecular or intermolecular reaction by the action of the acid to change the absorption range of 360 to 900 nm. The second recording material supply section accommodates a negative type thermal plate recording material. From these two recording materials, from the image recording to the heat treatment can be executed by the same apparatus. Therefore, the above-mentioned recording materials can be completed up to the development, and the negative type thermal plate recording material can be completed by completing the heating process and providing a separate feeding port for the negative type thermal plate recording material. And a compact image recording apparatus in which the processing paths are arranged. As described above, by using the image recording apparatus of the present invention, a printing plate can be directly produced based on image data, and the above-mentioned materials can be processed as other recording materials.

Therefore, by adjusting the predetermined temperature at which the thermosensitive recording material is pre-heated before recording, it is possible to change the required capacity of the recording section. Conversely, the recording means for the printing plate can be changed. By setting a predetermined heating temperature in accordance with the capability of (for example, a laser), it is possible to use the same recording unit completely. When a positive type thermal plate recording material is used, a switching means is disposed between the recording unit and the downstream heating unit, and the positive type thermal plate recording material, which is a recording material that does not require heating, is used for other than the downstream heating unit. It is necessary to provide a configuration having a path leading to the part.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present invention, details of the above-mentioned sheet D of the image recording material will be described later, but at least one light beam such as a laser beam is used for image recording on the image recording material and the recording material for a printing plate. An image is recorded by a beam, or an image is recorded by a heat mode (heat) of a laser beam or a thermal head. In this embodiment, a positive type thermal plate recording material can be used.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, an image recording material having the above-mentioned image recording medium (hereinafter referred to as sheet D, negative type thermal plate recording material as sheet D1, positive type thermal plate recording material) Is called sheet D2.)
The first recording material supply unit 20, the second recording material supply unit 25, the image recording unit 30 using the laser beam heat mode, the upstream heating unit 40, the downstream heating unit 60, and the The unit 50 is provided as a main component.

In the first recording material supply section 20, the sheet D, which is the recording material described above, is made of a resin-based film such as PET resin as a base material. The sheet D is cut into a predetermined length, and is conveyed and supplied as a sheet D having a desired length. On the other hand, in the second recording material supply unit 25,
In general, sheets D1 and D2, which are recording materials for a printing plate using an aluminum plate as a support plate, are stored in a sheet-by-sheet stacked state. Is done. Here, each of the first recording material supply unit 20 and the second recording material supply unit 25,
Between the transport path F, a first switching guide 28 is provided. The first switching guide 28 is connected to the first recording material supply unit 20 or the second recording material supply unit 2 with respect to the transport path F.
It is swingable so that five connections can be selectively switched. Therefore, sheet D or sheet D1, sheet D2
Is selected by input means (not shown) or the like, and the first switching guide 28 performs a switching operation accordingly. These sheets are transferred to the image recording unit 3 along the conveyance path F.
Transported to 0.

When the sheet D is selected and conveyed, in the case of the present embodiment, an image recording optical system 32 for irradiating a laser beam E is arranged in the image recording section 30, and the heat mode of the laser beam is utilized. Image recording. A heating roller 42 serving as an upstream heating unit 40 is also arranged as a conveying roller upstream of the laser beam irradiation position E1 on the conveyance path F, and is provided with a conveyance roller 44 arranged downstream of the laser beam irradiation position E1. D is transported at a constant speed. The sheet D is heated to a predetermined temperature by the heating roller 42 while carrying out such a constant speed conveyance. The sheet D heated to the predetermined temperature is conveyed to the laser beam irradiation position E1 of the image recording unit 30 before the temperature decreases, and is used for image recording scanning. A second switching guide 45 is disposed downstream of the transport roller 44, and the sheet D is transported to the downstream heating unit 60 along the transport path F1.

In the downstream heating section 60 of this embodiment, the sheet D is carried into the downstream heating section 60 by the carry-in roller 61. Inside, upper and lower heater plates 62 and 64 are arranged so as to form a sheet conveying path therebetween. The upper and lower heater plates 62 and 64 are made of, for example, aluminum or the like, and are provided with a heating means made of a nichrome wire or the like on the side opposite to the side facing the sheet D.
It is preferable that the size of the upper and lower heater plates 62 and 64 is set to be at least larger than the width of the largest sheet D to be carried in. Then, the sheet D that has been subjected to the heat development processing between the upper and lower heater plates 62 and 64 is carried out of the downstream heating unit 60 by the carry-out roller 63. A third switching guide 47 is arranged downstream of the carry-out roller 63, a path to the delivery roller 46 is selected, and is sent from the image recording apparatus 10 and stored in the tray 51 of the stacking unit 50.

When the second recording material supply unit 25 for the sheets D1 and D2 is selected by the first switching guide 28,
The heating roller 42 of the upstream heating section 40 is held so as to be swingable, and heating before recording is not necessary for the positive type thermal plate recording material. . In this case, although not shown, another transporting roller is provided. Then, the image recording unit 30 performs image recording on the sheet D1 and the sheet D2. The second switching guide 45 is provided for changing the path of the sheet D2 that does not need to be heated, for the sheets D and D1 that need to be heated. The 2 switching guide 45 and the following path are not required. Therefore, the sheet D1 is conveyed to the downstream heating unit 60 along the conveyance path F1 similarly to the sheet D. Then, in the downstream heating section 60, as described above, the same processing as that for the sheet D is performed, and the sheet is carried out of the downstream heating section 60 by the carry-out roller 63. The third switching guide 47 is disposed downstream of the carry-out roller 63 as described above, and the developing process is necessary for the sheet D1. Then, the sheet is transferred to the plate developing unit 52 of the stacking unit 50 and subjected to a developing process.

On the other hand, for the sheet D2, a transport path F2 that does not pass through the downstream heating section 60 is selected by the second switching guide 45 downstream of the transport roller 44, and
8, after being sent from the image recording device 10 to the plate developing device 52 of the stacking unit 50 and subjected to the developing process,
The printing plate is stored in the storage tray 54. In addition, in the image recording apparatus 110 of the present embodiment, since the volatile gas is generated from the sheet D by the heating of the downstream heating unit 60, the exhaust device 80 including a cleaning filter is provided to collect the volatile gas.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing the configuration of the upstream heating section of the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. As shown in this figure, the upstream heating section 40 is constituted by a pair of heating rollers 42, and the sheet D is nipped and conveyed by the heating rollers 42 (the conveying roller 44 is omitted for easy viewing of the figure). The irradiation position E1 of the laser beam E is located downstream of the heating roller 42 in the direction of the transport path F indicated by the arrow. Therefore, the sheet D heated to a predetermined temperature
Is transported to the laser beam irradiation position E1 of the image recording unit 30 before the temperature decreases, and is used for image recording scanning. The heating roller 4 is used for the sheets D1 and D2.
2 is unnecessary, and although not shown, a transport roller for securing the transport of the sheets D1 and D2 is arranged near the heating roller 42.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of the image recording unit of the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. As shown in this figure, the image recording optical system 32 deflects the light beam E modulated in accordance with the recorded image in the main scanning direction (the width direction of the sheet D (D1, D2)) to obtain a predetermined recording position E1. A light source 35 for emitting a laser beam E, and a polygon mirror 36 serving as an optical deflector.
And a falling mirror 37. In addition,
In the image recording optical system 32, various members arranged in a known laser beam scanning device for shaping the laser beam E emitted from the light source are arranged as necessary.

The laser beam E emitted from the light source 35
Is deflected in the main scanning direction by the polygon mirror 36, the optical path is changed by the falling mirror 37, and is incident on the recording position E1. On the other hand, with respect to the sub-scan, in the case of the sheet D, as described above, the conveyance is performed by the heating roller 42 and the conveyance roller 44 arranged with the recording position E1 (scanning line) interposed therebetween.
The sheet D is conveyed at a recording position E1 in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. Therefore, since the laser beam D is deflected in the main scanning direction, the sheet D is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed by the laser beam, and an image is recorded. In the case of the sheets D1 and D2, a conveyance roller (not shown) arranged near the heating roller 42 ensures conveyance of the sheets D1 and D2.

Thus, in this embodiment,
The sensitivity is greatly improved by heating the recording material shown in the sheet D by the heating roller 42 before or at the time of image recording irradiation with a laser. The recording material used in the present invention has a characteristic of exhibiting almost no sensitivity up to a predetermined temperature. The heating temperature can be increased.
Then, by performing such heating, the sensitivity can be improved in the laser-irradiated portion. In addition, since heating is performed beforehand to a predetermined temperature before recording, the amount of heat is compensated by heating, and writing can be performed with a low laser power. Since the heating unit is canceled for the printing plate recording material indicated by the sheet D2, the resistance to conveyance can be reduced and unnecessary heating can be avoided.

The upper limit of such heating before or during recording (hereinafter, referred to as preheating) is preferably set to a temperature lower by 5 ° C. than a temperature at which fogging occurs. The lower limit of the preheating temperature is preferably 50 ° C. or higher, more preferably 80 ° C. or higher. Laser irradiation is performed after preheating, and the time between this heating and laser irradiation is preferably 10 seconds or less, more preferably 3 seconds or less, and still more preferably 1 second or less. There is no problem even if there is. In the present embodiment, a heating unit for preheating is provided for the purpose of the above-described operation and effect, but is not an essential requirement.
If a sufficient amount of heat can be applied to the recording material during recording, it is possible to omit such an upstream heating section.

Next, the temperature of the thermal development of the recording material represented by the sheet D used in the present invention by the downstream heating unit may be the same as or different from the preheat temperature. The heat development temperature is preferably substantially the same as the preheat temperature or lower than the preheat temperature. The lower limit of the heat development temperature is preferably 50 ° C. or higher, more preferably 80 ° C. or higher. The upper limit of the heat development temperature is preferably 150 ° C. or lower, more preferably 130 ° C. or lower.

The image recording apparatus 10 of the present embodiment may include an output control unit which is an image forming control unit connected to each unit, the first and second recording material supply units 20 and 25, and the image recording unit 30. it can. (Not shown) This output control section optimizes the profile of each section in order to adapt to various conditions (recording material type, lot, unique parameters of each section, environmental conditions, intended image processing conditions, etc.). After setting, each unit can execute processing based on the profile.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, except that an image recording material having the above-mentioned image recording medium (hereinafter, the above-mentioned recording material is a sheet D, a negative type thermal plate recording material is a sheet D1, and a positive type The first recording material supply unit 120, the second recording material supply unit 125, the image recording unit 130, the downstream heating unit 140, the stacking unit 50, and the like are arranged in the order of the conveyance path of the thermal plate recording material. Is provided as a main component.

In the first recording material supply section 120, the sheet D, which is a recording material described above, is made of a resin-based film such as PET resin as a base material, is pulled out of a magazine 121 stored in a roll shape, and is The sheet D is cut into a predetermined length, and is conveyed and supplied as a sheet D having a desired length. On the other hand, in the second recording material supply unit 125, sheets D1 and D2, which are recording materials for a printing plate having an aluminum plate as a support plate, are generally stored in a sheet-by-sheet state. In case, sucker 12
6, the sheet D1 is sucked and held, and the sucker 126 is moved by a known moving means such as a link mechanism, so that the sheets D are taken out one by one and supplied to the conveying rollers 129 arranged on the conveying path F.

Here, the first recording material supply unit 120 and the second recording material
A first switching guide 128 is provided between each of the recording material supply units 125 and the transport path F. The first switching guide 128 is swingable so as to selectively switch the connection between the first recording material supply unit 120 and the second recording material supply unit 125 with respect to the transport path F.
Therefore, the sheet D, the sheet D1, and the sheet D2 are selected by input means (not shown) or the like, and the first switching guide 128 performs a switching operation accordingly. These sheets are transported to the image recording unit 130 along the transport path F.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing an image recording section according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the relative sizes and distances of the respective elements have been changed for easy understanding. First, when the sheet D is selected, in the case of the present embodiment, the image recording unit 130 performs image recording using the heat mode of the laser beam with the rotation direction of the holding drum 131 holding the sheet D as the main scanning direction. are doing. In the image recording unit 130, a method called an outer drum is used, and the sheet D conveyed along the conveyance path is moved to the sheet holding position 13 of the holding drum 131.
At 5 (see FIG. 4), it is held on the holding drum 131 and rotates together with the holding drum 131. When the laser beam is rotated to the position of the laser beam emitting unit 132, imagewise exposure is started. The main scanning direction is the rotation direction of the holding drum 131, and the sub-scanning direction is the laser beam emitting unit 132 on a slide shaft 133 parallel to the axial direction of the holding drum 131.
Is made by moving.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a laser beam emitting section 132 provided with laser preheating. For imagewise exposure, the recording laser light source 13
From 4, the recording laser E is applied to the sheet D on the holding drum 131 via the lens 137. On the other hand, preheat laser E _P is irradiated on the sheet D on the holding drum 131 from the pre-heat the laser light source 133 through the lens 137. This preheat laser E _P is a recording laser E
Is irradiated immediately before the scanning position, and the sheet D is heated in advance to a temperature just before fogging occurs. Good sensitivity can be obtained by preheating with the laser in this way. The lens 137 is used for the recording laser light source 134 and the preheat laser light source 133, but it is also possible to use different lenses.

FIG. 7 shows a preheat laser E on a sheet.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between _P and a recording laser E. As seen in this figure, preheat laser E _P along the scanning direction G is adapted to be irradiated prior to recording laser E. Here, by the relation of (preheat laser E effective径径D _P of _P)> (the effective diameter D _E of the recording laser E), thereby preventing the occurrence of preheating leakage (effective diameter and may, e ^-2 Ya FWHM spread of beam spot defined by full width at half maximum). Further, although the recording laser E is this preheating laser E _P figure keeping some distance, it can be irradiated so as to overlap a portion of each beam spot.

Referring back to FIG. 4, after the recording by the image recording section 130 is completed, the sheet D is nipped by the conveying roller 144, and the second switching guide 145 is disposed downstream of the sheet D. The sheet D is connected to the transport path F1 by the second switching guide 145, and is transported to the downstream heating unit 160.

In the downstream heating section 160 of this embodiment,
Sheet D is carried into downstream heating section 160 by carry-in roller 161. Inside the upper and lower heater plates 162, 1
64 are arranged so as to form a sheet conveying path therebetween. The upper and lower heater plates 162 and 164 are formed of, for example, aluminum or the like, and are provided with heat generating means made of a nichrome wire or the like on the side opposite to the side facing the sheet D. These upper and lower heater plates 162, 164
Is preferably set at least larger than the width of the largest sheet D to be carried in. Then, the sheet D subjected to the heat development processing between the upper and lower heater plates 162 and 164 is carried out of the downstream heating unit 160 by the carry-out roller 163. A third switching guide 147 is disposed downstream of the carry-out roller 163, a path to the delivery roller 146 is selected, and the path is delivered from the image recording device 110 and stored in the tray 51 of the stacking unit 50.

[0037] When the second recording material supply portion 125 of the seat D1 and sheet D2 in the first switching guide 128 is selected, the image recording in the image recording unit 130, except that it does not irradiated preheat laser E _P is The operation is performed in the same manner as for the sheet D. The image recording section 130 performs image recording on the sheet D1 and the sheet D2. The second switching guide 145 is provided to change the path of the sheet D2 that does not need to be heated, for the sheets D and D1 that need to be heated. The 2 switching guide 145 and the subsequent path are not required. Therefore, the sheet D1 is conveyed to the downstream heating unit 160 along the conveyance path F1 similarly to the sheet D. Then, in the downstream heating unit 60, as described above, the same processing as that for the sheet D is performed, and the sheet is carried out of the downstream heating unit 160 by the carry-out roller 163. As described above, the third switching guide 147 is disposed downstream of the carry-out roller 163. Since the developing process is required for the sheet D1, the path to the sending roller 148 is selected, and the image recording apparatus 11
0, is transferred to the plate developing unit 52 of the stacking unit 50, and is subjected to development processing.
4

On the other hand, for the sheet D2, a transport path F2 that does not pass through the downstream heating section 160 is selected by the second switching guide 145 downstream of the transport roller 144, and is sent from the image recording apparatus 110 by the feed roller 148. After being transferred to the plate developing unit 52 of the stacking unit 50 and subjected to the development processing, it is stored in the storage tray 54 as a printing plate.
In the image recording apparatus 110 of the present embodiment, since the volatile gas is generated from the sheet D by the heating of the thermal developing unit 160, an exhaust device 180 including a clean filter is provided to collect the volatile gas. Also, in the image recording apparatus 110 of the present embodiment, the image recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG.
May be provided with an output control unit similar to the output control unit provided in the device.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing another configuration of preheating by a laser. The configuration shown in FIG. 6 is a configuration corresponding to the image recording mode of the outer drum system. However, the configuration shown in FIG. This is applicable to the image recording apparatus of the first embodiment. As a path of the exposure of the recording laser beam E, the recording laser beam E emitted from the light source 335 is connected to the beam splitter 33.
3. Deflected in the main scanning direction by the polygon mirror 336 via the cylindrical lens 332. The deflected laser beam E is further scanned and irradiated on the sheet D via the scanning lens system 337.

On the other hand, as a path of the preheat laser E _P , the preheat laser E
_P enters the optical axis of the recording laser beam E by the beam splitter 333. Then, similarly to the recording laser beam E, the sheet D is scanned and irradiated onto the sheet D via the cylindrical lens 332, the polygon mirror 336, and the scanning lens system 337. At this time, as in FIG.
Preheat laser E _P along is adapted to be irradiated prior to recording laser E. Note that the polygon mirror 336 is used as a means for deflecting the laser, but it is applicable as long as it can be used as a deflector, such as a galvano scanner or a resonant scanner. Also,
Relationship (effective diameter D _P of the preheat laser E _P)> (the effective diameter D _E of the recording laser E) is effective.

Next, another embodiment relating to the heating section, the image recording section, and the downstream heating section will be described below. FIG. 9 (a)
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating another embodiment of a heating roller and an image recording unit. FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the heating roller of FIG. 9A. The heating unit for preheating is a single heating roller 342 having a heating element 343 inside. The sheet D is stretched by the heating roller 342 to have a predetermined angle, heated, and conveyed while maintaining this form. As described above, the positions of the preheating and the image recording unit are concentrated on one heating roller, which can contribute to downsizing of the entire apparatus. At this time, the position where the recording laser beam E is irradiated may be any position as long as the temperature of the sheet D rises to some extent. It is most preferable because recording can be performed at the time of receiving the largest amount of heat and sensitivity can be increased.

FIG. 10A is a schematic perspective view showing another embodiment of the image recording section and the upstream heating section. The arrangement of the conveying rollers of the image recording unit is the same as that of the embodiment of FIG. 3, and the sheet D has two pairs of conveying rollers 352 and 354.
Is transported while being stretched between the transport rollers 352,
Irradiate the recording laser beam E between 354
Is the sub-scanning direction. As the preheating means, the heating plate 350 is
2, 354 between the recording laser beam E irradiation position or upstream thereof and the sheet D before laser beam irradiation.
Heat. In this case, it is necessary to cover the area where the heating plate 350 is disposed with a cover (not shown) through which the recording laser beam E can pass, and to perform uniform heating near the area where the sheet D is conveyed. The sheet D may be configured to be heated in contact with the heating plate 350, or a configuration in which a pressing means is provided to press the sheet D against the heating plate 350 for heating.

FIG. 10B is a schematic sectional view perpendicular to the heating roller of the upstream heating unit in which the upstream heating unit of FIG. 10A is another embodiment. The conveying system is the same as that shown in FIG.
At 56, a heating box 355 having a lamp heater 357 (or a bar-shaped ceramic heater or the like) as a heating element is provided inside. Then, the transport roller 35
Covers 358 and 359 are provided to cover the entire area between 2,354 to enhance heat retention. In this case, it is preferable to arrange the irradiation position of the recording laser beam E at the most downstream side of the plane 356 because recording is performed at the time when the largest amount of heat is received and sensitivity is increased.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the downstream heating section. The downstream heating section 360 is configured to be exchangeable with the downstream heating section 60 of the image recording apparatus 10 and the downstream heating section 160 of the image recording apparatus 110 described above. The downstream heating section 360 has a lamp heater 3 as a heating element at the center of the shaft.
A heating drum 364 having 62 (may be a bar-shaped ceramic heater or the like) is provided, and a plurality of holding rollers 368 that are in circumferential contact with the heating drum 364 are provided. The recorded sheet D is nipped and conveyed between the heating drum 364 and the holding roller 368. Then, after being in contact with the heating drum 364 for a predetermined heating time, the sheet D is peeled off from the heating drum 364 by the peeling claw 369, and the heat development is completed.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are schematic diagrams showing still another embodiment of the downstream heating section. The downstream heating unit 370 shown in FIG. 12A and the downstream heating unit 380 shown in FIG. 12B are similar to the downstream heating unit 360 shown in FIG. , Can be replaced with the downstream heating unit 160 of the image recording apparatus 110. The downstream heating section 370 is provided with a staggered arrangement of conveyance rollers 374 forming a conveyance path for the sheet D in a box structure. These transport rollers 374
Is heated by the heating plate 372 from the back side of the transport path, and the entire inside of the box structure of the downstream heating unit 370 is maintained at a predetermined temperature, and the sheet D is thermally developed.

The downstream heating section 380 shown in FIG. 12B has a box structure in which conveying rollers 384 arranged in opposition form a conveying path for the sheet D. These transport rollers 384 are heated by the heating plate 382 from the back side of the transport path of the sheet D, maintain the entire inside of the box structure of the thermal developing unit 380 at a predetermined temperature, and thermally develop the sheet D.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing output control when the image recording apparatus of the present invention and another image forming apparatus are used as a processor. In this embodiment of the output control, the image recording apparatus 110 and the output control unit 170 of the second embodiment are used as an example, and a plate setter 500 is used as a general processing machine. The RIP processing unit 1701 provided in the output control unit 170 performs RIP processing on the input image data, and based on the data, the post-RIP processing unit 1703 converts a desired profile corresponding to each processing machine from the profile database 1705 based on the data. It is extracted and output to each processor as a selected output profile 1710.

In each of the above embodiments, when forming an image by the laser heat mode method, in order to convert laser light into thermal energy, it is necessary to have a dye that absorbs light of the wavelength of the laser light. There is. Examples of the laser light source include an excimer laser, an argon laser, a helium neon laser, a semiconductor laser, a glass (YAG) laser, a carbon dioxide laser, and a dye laser, and a helium neon laser, a semiconductor laser, and a glass laser are useful in the present invention. It is a laser light source. Among them, a semiconductor laser is particularly useful because the device is small and inexpensive. The oscillation wavelength of the semiconductor laser is usually 670 to 830 nm, and a dye having absorption in the near infrared is used. As the near-infrared absorbing dye, a cyanine dye, a squarylium dye, a merocyanine dye, an oxonol dye, a phthalocyanine dye, and the like are used.
Specific examples thereof include, for example, U.S. Pat.
No. 72, No. 4,948,777, No. 4,950,
Nos. 640, 4,950,639 and 4,94
8,776, 4948,778, 4,942,1
No. 41, No. 4,952,552, No. 5,036
040 and 4,912,083.

When an image is formed by a laser photon mode method, a laser is selected as a means for forming a latent image in accordance with the absorption characteristics of the photoacid generator. At this time, various dyes may be added for the purpose of spectral sensitization, but in that case, it is necessary to select a laser according to the absorption wavelength of the dye.

Next, the image recording medium used in the present invention and its recording method will be described. The present invention relates to an acid generator that generates an acid by the action of heat or an acid, and from 360 to 900 by an intramolecular or intermolecular reaction by the action of an acid.
The present invention relates to an image recording method using a recording medium for forming an image, which contains a compound causing a change in the absorption region of nm. The compound represented by the general formula (1) has a function of generating an acid by the action of heat or an acid. In the acid generator represented by the general formula (1), W ¹ represents a residue of an acid (sulfonic acid, carboxylic acid, phosphoric acid, phenol, etc.) represented by W ¹ OH. W ¹ OH is preferably an acid having a pKa smaller than 3, and preferred examples thereof include arylsulfonic acid, alkylsulfonic acid, carboxylic acid having an electron-withdrawing group, arylphosphonic acid, and alkylphosphonic acid. P ¹ represents a substituent capable of leaving by the action of heat or an acid, and the acid represented by W ¹ OH is generated from the acid generator represented by W ¹ OP ¹ with the release of P ¹ . Examples of such a substituent include an alkyl group having a hydrogen atom at the β-position (eg, a tetrahydropyranyl group, a tetrahydrofuranyl group, a t-butyl group, a cyclohexyl group,
4,5-dihydro-2-methylfuran-5-yl group, 2
-Cyclohexenyl group), an alkoxycarbonyl group having a hydrogen atom at the β-position (for example, t-butoxycarbonyl group, cyclohexyloxycarbonyl group, 2- (2-methyl) butoxycarbonyl group, 2- (2-phenyl) propyloxycarbonyl group 2,2-chloroethoxycarbonyl group, etc.), silyl group (eg, trimethylsilyl group, triethylsilyl group, t-butyldimethylsilyl group, phenyldimethylsilyl group, etc.), or these groups, or acetal, ketal, thioketal, pinacol, epoxy Substituents which release ring decomposition to trigger (for example, W ¹ O in the description of the following general formulas (2) to (4))
H-substituted group). Examples of the acid generator represented by the general formula (1) include, for example, trifluoroacetic acid (α-phenylisopropyl) ester, trifluoroacetic acid t-butyl ester, toluenesulfonic acid cyclohexyl ester, p-nitrobenzoic acid triethylsilyl ester, Tetrahydropyranyl p-nitrobenzoate, poly (4-vinyl-1-t-butoxycarbonyloxy-2-nitrobenzene), poly (cyclohexyl 4-vinylbenzenesulfonate) and the like can be mentioned. From the viewpoint of storage stability, compounds represented by formulas (2) to (4) are preferred.

In the general formula (2), R ¹ represents an electron-withdrawing group having a Hammett σp value larger than 0, and R ¹ is preferably an acyl group (eg, acetyl, propanoyl, 2-methylpropanoyl, pivaloyl, benzoyl) , Naphthoyl), cyano group, alkylsulfonyl group (methanesulfonyl, ethanesulfonyl, benzylsulfonyl, t-butylsulfonyl, etc.) or arylsulfonyl group (benzenesulfonyl, etc.). R
¹ is more preferably an acyl group. R ² represents an alkyl group (methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, octyl, dodecyl, etc.). R ² is preferably a group having 6 or less carbon atoms. R ³ represents a group capable of leaving by heat or an acid,
Preferred groups are secondary or tertiary alkyl groups having a hydrogen atom at the β-position (t-butyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl, cyclohexyl, 2-cyclohexenyl, etc.). , Silyl group (trimethylsilyl, t-butyldimethylsilyl, etc.) or alkoxymethyl group (methoxymethyl, octyloxymethyl, tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, 4,5-dihydro-2-methylfuran-5-yl, etc.) Is mentioned. R ³ is preferably a secondary or tertiary alkyl group having a hydrogen atom at the β-position. These groups represented by R ^{1 to} R ³ may further have a substituent. W ¹ has the same meaning as in formula (1). Next, the compound represented by formula (3) will be described. In the general formula (3), R ⁴ , R ⁵ and R ⁶ each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group (methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, t
-Butyl, octyl, dodecyl, etc.) or an aryl group (phenyl, naphthyl, etc.). R ⁴ , R ⁵ , R ⁶
May further have a substituent. R ⁴ and R ⁵ , R ⁴ and R
⁶ or R ⁵ and R ⁶ may be bonded to each other to form a ring. W ¹ has the same meaning as in formula (1). General formula (2)
The compounds represented by (3) and (3) can be synthesized according to the method described in JP-A-8-248561.

The compound capable of releasing an acid by a completely different mechanism has at least one substituent which is removed by the action of heat or an acid, and the intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction following the removal of the substituent. And a compound that generates an acid. A preferred form is a compound represented by the general formula (4). General formula (4) P ² -X-LC (R ⁷ ) (R ⁸ ) -OW ^{1 In the} formula, P ² represents a substituent removed by the action of heat or an acid. X is O, S, NR ⁹ (R ⁹ represents a hydrogen atom or a substitutable group), or CR ¹⁰ R ¹¹ (R ¹⁰ and R ¹¹ represent a hydrogen atom or a substitutable group, and May be different). L represents a linking group. R ⁷ and R ⁸ represent a hydrogen atom or a substitutable group, and may be the same or different. W ¹ has the same meaning as in formula (2). Substituent P removed by the action of heat or acid
² is introduced into a nucleophilic group such as a hydroxyl group, a mercapto group, an amino group, or a carbon atom to prevent an intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction during storage or in a non-image area. Is decomposed and eliminated, so that an acid can be generated by an intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction. Useful substituents represented by P ² include, when introduced into an oxygen atom, an alkoxycarbonyl group (for example, t-butoxycarbonyl group, isopropyloxycarbonyl group, 1-phenylethoxycarbonyl group, 1,1-diphenylethoxy group). Carbonyl group, 2-cyclohexeneoxycarbonyl group, etc.), alkoxymethyl group (for example, methoxymethyl group,
Ethoxymethyl group, n-octyloxymethyl group, tetrahydropyranyl group, tetrahydrofuranyl group, 4,5
-Dihydro-2-methylfuran-5-yl group, etc.), silyl group (for example, trimethylsilyl group, triethylsilyl group, t-butyldimethylsilyl group, t-butyldiphenylsilyl group, phenyldimethylsilyl group, etc.), and β
Secondary or tertiary alkyl group having a hydrogen atom at position (for example, t-butyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl,
Preferred examples include 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl, cyclohexyl, 2-cyclohexenyl, and the like. Among those introduced into a sulfur atom, an alkoxymethyl group (eg, isobutoxymethyl group, tetrahydropyranyl group, etc.), an alkoxycarbonyl group (eg, benzyloxycarbonyl group, p-methoxybenzyloxycarbonyl group, etc.), an acyl group (eg, acetyl Groups, a benzoyl group, etc.), and a benzyl group (eg, a p-methoxybenzyl group, a bis (4-methoxyphenyl) methyl group, a triphenylmethyl group, etc.) are preferred examples. Among those introduced into a nitrogen atom, alkoxycarbonyl groups (for example, t-butoxycarbonyl group, cyclohexyloxycarbonyl group, 2- (2-methyl) butoxycarbonyl group, 2- (2-phenyl) propyloxycarbonyl group, 2-chloroethoxycarbonyl Groups), an acyl group (eg, an acetyl group, a benzoyl group, a 2-nitrobenzoyl group, a 4-chlorobenzoyl group, a naphthoyl group, etc.) or a formyl group. A tertiary alkoxycarbonyl group (such as a t-butoxycarbonyl group) is preferably introduced as a carbon atom.

In the intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction following the removal of these substituents, a form in which a 5- to 10-membered ring is formed is preferable, and a 5- or 6-membered ring is particularly preferable. The linking group L is preferably selected so as to form a ring of these sizes.

The acid generator of the present invention may form a polymer by linking a plurality of polymerizable groups introduced at substitutable positions. When applied to an image recording medium utilizing the fact that the hue changes due to the action of an acid described below, the coatability is imparted without using a separate binder by forming a polymer, so that the image recording layer can be used. This is advantageous for thinning. The molecular weight of the polymer is preferably in the range of 1,000 to 1,000,000, particularly preferably 2,000 to 3
This is the case when it is in the range of 10,000. In this case, it may be a homopolymer or a copolymer with another monomer. When the compound of the present invention is used as a polymer, the number of carbon atoms may exceed the definition of carbon number described in the above description. Hereinafter, specific examples of the compounds represented by formulas (1) to (4) of the present invention are shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

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The amount of these acid generators varies depending on the type of the compound having a change in absorption, but is generally preferably in the range of 0.001 to 20 equivalents, particularly preferably, with respect to the compound having a change in absorption. Is the case of 0.01 to 5 equivalents.

In the present invention, a compound that changes the absorption band at 360 to 900 nm by an intramolecular or intermolecular reaction by the action of an acid is stable as long as it is stored under neutral to basic conditions. When an acid acts, the activation energy of intra- or intermolecular reaction decreases,
It is a compound that easily undergoes a reaction by heating to cause a change in absorption in the above range. At this time, the heating temperature for forming an image is preferably from 60 to 200 ° C, particularly preferably from 80 to 140 ° C.
The compound having such an absorption change may be a single compound or may be composed of two or more components. For example, a compound (for example, 9,10-distyrylanthracene and maleic anhydride, tetraphenylcyclopentadiene and an acrylate ester) that forms a decolorized image in the region by a Diels-Alder reaction, A compound that forms a color image (e.g., an adduct of 9,10-distyrylanthracene and maleic anhydride, an adduct of diphenylisobenzofuran and acrylamide, etc.), a conjugated system is extended by β-hydrogen elimination, and a color image is formed in the region. Compounds to be formed (for example, 1-acetoxy-1,2-diarylethane,
1-sulfoxy-1,2-diarylethane, etc.), a combination of an aldehyde and an active methylene compound which forms a color image in the area by dehydration condensation (for example, a photographic 4 equivalent magenta coupler and p-methoxycinnamaldehyde) or an acid. Compounds having an amino group or a hydroxyl group substituted by a substituent whose decomposition or elimination is promoted by the action in a molecule, and the absorption in the above absorption range is changed by the removal of the substituent. A basic leuco dye or the like which develops color instantly upon contact with an acid can also be used in the image forming medium. However, such a compound acts as a base and uses microcapsules to inhibit the acid growth process. It is necessary to keep it separate from the acid generator and the acid multiplying agent by coating or applying it to another layer.

In the present invention, a compound whose absorption is changed by the decomposition or elimination of a substituent of an amino group or a hydroxyl group by the action of an acid is particularly useful. Examples of such a substituent of the amino group include an alkoxycarbonyl group (for example, t-butoxycarbonyl group, cyclohexyloxycarbonyl group, 2- (2-methyl) butoxycarbonyl group, 2- (2-phenyl) propyloxycarbonyl group, 2-chloro Preferred examples include an ethoxycarbonyl group), an acyl group (eg, an acetyl group, a benzoyl group, a 2-nitrobenzoyl group, a 4-chlorobenzoyl group, and a naphthoyl group), and a formyl group. From the viewpoint of heat sensitivity, an alkoxycarbonyl group having a hydrogen atom at the β-position is particularly useful. Such compounds include, for example, U.S. Pat.
Nos. 602,263, 4,826,976, etc., which provide a heat-sensitive recording material having higher sensitivity and excellent storage stability when combined with the thermal acid generator and the acid multiplying agent of the present invention. be able to. Examples of the substituent of the hydroxyl group which is decomposed or eliminated by the action of an acid include a secondary or tertiary alkoxycarbonyl group having a hydrogen atom at the β-position (for example, t-butoxycarbonyl group, isopropyloxycarbonyl group, 1-phenylethoxycarbonyl group) ,
1,1 diphenylethoxycarbonyl group, 2-cyclohexeneoxycarbonyl group, etc.), silyl group (for example, trimethylsilyl group, triethylsilyl group, t-butyldimethylsilyl group, t-butyldiphenylsilyl group, phenyldimethylsilyl group, etc.), Alkoxymethyl group (for example, methoxymethyl group, ethoxymethyl group, 1-methoxyethyl group, 1-phenoxyethyl group, 2- (2-methoxypropyl) group, etc.) and secondary or tertiary alkyl group having a hydrogen atom at the β-position (For example, tetrahydropyranyl group, tetrahydrofuranyl group, 4,5-dihydro-2
-Methylfuran-5-yl group, t-butyl group, 2-cyclohexenyl group and the like) are preferred examples,
In the present invention, a secondary or tertiary compound having a hydrogen atom at the β position is particularly preferred.
Grade alkoxycarbonyl groups are preferred. No. 5,243,052 or JP-A-9-2536 discloses compounds whose absorption is changed by decomposition of a hydroxyl group substituent.
There is a description example in No. 0 and the like. Below 360-action by the action of acid
Specific examples of the compound that causes a change in the absorption region at 900 nm are shown, but the present invention is not limited to these.

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The image recording medium of the present invention is generally 360 to 900 by the action of the above-mentioned acid generator, acid multiplying agent and acid.
It is prepared by applying a composition that changes the absorption range in nm on a support. At this time, a binder is usually coexisted, unless one of these is a polymer or an amorphous having good coatability. When the binder does not need to be used, there is an advantage that the film thickness can be easily reduced and a sharp image can be obtained. When a binder is used, gelatin, casein, starches, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, a water-soluble binder such as ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymer, and polyvinyl butyral, triacetyl cellulose, polystyrene, acrylic Any water-insoluble binder such as a methyl acid-butadiene copolymer and an acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer can be used. Further, in the present invention, a compound in which color is changed or decolored by the action of an acid to change the hue and an acid generator are made into a copolymer, so that an acid is generated in the immediate vicinity of the compound in which the hue changes. High sensitivity can be expected. In addition, by controlling the diffusion of molecules by polymerization, there is a possibility that the cut-off and preservation of images can be improved. These characteristics are particularly preferable for applications requiring high image quality, such as graphic arts films. A preferred form of such a compound is represented by the general formula (5). The general formula (5) will be described. In the general formula (5), A represents a repeating unit obtained by polymerization of at least one kind of vinyl monomer having a function of generating an acid by the action of heat or an acid. As the compound having such a function, the compounds represented by the aforementioned general formulas (1) to (1)
It can be obtained by introducing a polymerizable group into any part of the compound represented by (4). When the polymer having a thermal acid generating function of the present invention is applied to a laser heat mode type image recording medium, it is useful without adding an acid generator separately. Specific examples of the vinyl monomer forming A in the general formula (5) are shown below, but the invention is not limited thereto. These compounds can be synthesized in the same manner as in the method described in JP-A-8-248561.

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In the general formula (5), B represents a repeating unit obtained by polymerization of at least one or more kinds of vinyl monomers having a partial structure in which the absorption range from 360 to 900 nm is changed by the action of an acid. Compounds that cause an absorption change by the action of an acid are as described above,
In the above structure, a polymerizable group is introduced at a substitutable position. Specific examples are shown below, but the present invention is not limited to these.

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C in the general formula (5) represents a repeating unit obtained by polymerization of at least one kind of vinyl monomer capable of forming a copolymer with A and B, and represents a polarity, a glass transition temperature and the like. The storage stability, the color-forming activity and the like can be controlled by adjusting. Such vinyl monomers may be used in combination of two or more. Preferred examples include acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide, styrene, vinyl ether and the like. Specific examples of the monomer forming C are shown below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

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In the general formula (5), x, y, and z represent weight% of each composition. x, y and z are respectively 1 ≦ x ≦ 99,
1 ≦ y ≦ 99, 0 ≦ z ≦ 99, and x + y + z = 100
It is. It is preferable that the relation of 0.01y <x ≦ 10y be satisfied, and particularly preferable that the relation of 0.1y ≦ x ≦ 5y be satisfied. z is preferably 0 ≦ z ≦ 50.

The molecular weight of the polymer represented by the formula (5) is preferably in the range of 1,000 to 1,000,000, particularly preferably in the range of 2,000 to 100,000. The polymer may be in any form such as a random copolymer, an alternating copolymer and a block copolymer, but a random copolymer which is easily synthesized is generally used.

The monomers forming A, B, C in the polymer represented by the general formula (5) and x, y, z
Are shown, but the present invention is not limited to these.

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The polymer of the present invention can be synthesized by various polymerization methods such as solution polymerization, precipitation polymerization, suspension polymerization, bulk polymerization,
It can be carried out by emulsion polymerization. The method of initiating polymerization includes a method using a radical initiator, a method of irradiating light or radiation, and the like. These polymerization methods and the method of initiating the polymerization are described in, for example, T. Tsuruta, “Polymer Synthesis Method” Revised Edition (Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, 1971), Takatsu Otsu, Masayoshi Kinoshita, “Experimental Method of Polymer Synthesis” Published in 1972,
It is described on pages 124-154.

Among the above polymerization methods, a solution polymerization method using a radical initiator is particularly preferred. Solvents used in the solution polymerization method include, for example, ethyl acetate, methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, acetone, dioxane, N, N-dimethylformamide, N, N-dimethylacetamide, benzene, toluene, acetonitrile, Various organic solvents such as methylene chloride, chloroform and dichloroethane may be used alone or as a mixture of two or more thereof, or may be used as a mixed solvent with water.

The polymerization temperature must be set in relation to the molecular weight of the polymer to be produced, the type of initiator, and the like, and can be from 0 ° C. or lower to 120 ° C. or higher.
Polymerization is carried out in the range of 0 ° C. In the present invention, it is preferable to carry out the polymerization at a temperature in the range of 30 to 90 ° C. because the monomer forming the site A in the general formula (5) may decompose at a high temperature.

Examples of the radical initiator used in the polymerization include 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile,
Such as 2,2'-azobis (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride, and 4,4'-azobis (4-cyanopentanoic acid) Preferred are azo-based initiators and peroxide-based initiators such as benzoyl peroxide, t-butyl hydroperoxide, and potassium persulfate (for example, redox initiators may be used in combination with sodium bisulfite). In the present invention, the initiator (for example, 2,2'-azobis (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile)) or 2,2'-azobis (4-methoxy-2,
4-dimethylvaleronitrile), dimethyl 2,2'-azobis (2-methylpropionate), 2,2'-azobis [2- (3,4,5,6-tetrahydropropane)
Dihydrochloride] and the like are particularly preferred.

The amount of the polymerization initiator used can be adjusted according to the polymerizability of the monomer and the required molecular weight of the polymer. Is preferred. In the synthesis of the polymer of the present invention, the monomers forming A, B and C are mixed and first put into a reaction vessel, and then an initiator may be charged, or a process of dropping these monomers into a polymerization solvent. The polymerization may be carried out via

The polymer represented by the general formula (5) of the present invention has a partial structure having a function of generating an acid by the action of heat or an acid, and a partial structure having a change in the absorption region of 360 to 900 nm by the action of an acid. It is a polymer having both. Such a polymer may be a polymer of a single monomer having both functions, but the structure represented by the general formula (5) is generally used from a synthetic viewpoint. The image recording medium of the present invention is generally produced by coating a polymer represented by the general formula (5) on a support. When the polymer of the present invention also has a function of generating an acid by heat, the absorption region changes only by the action of heat alone, so that when used as a heat-sensitive recording material, the sensitivity and the sharpness of the image are excellent. ing. Further, since the image recording medium of the present invention does not require the use of a so-called binder, the thickness can be reduced, a sharp image can be obtained, and abrasion does not easily occur. However, when using the polymer represented by the general formula (5), if necessary, a binder may be used in combination, and specific examples thereof include those described above.

In the present invention, a small amount of a base may be added for the purpose of enhancing the storage stability of the image recording medium, or a compound capable of generating an acid by the action of light or heat may be added for the purpose of enhancing the sensitivity. Various additives such as a pigment, an antioxidant, and an anti-sticking agent can be added according to the requirements. Further, an overcoat layer may be provided to protect the image recording layer, or a backcoat layer may be provided on the back surface of the support. Various known techniques for heat-sensitive recording materials can be used, such as providing a single layer or a plurality of undercoat layers made of pigment or resin between the image recording layer and the support.

When a base is added, an organic base is preferable. For example, a guanidine derivative (for example, 1,3-diphenylguanidine, 1,3-dimethylguanidine, 1,3-
Dibutylguanidine, 1-benzylguanidine, 1,
1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine, etc.), aniline derivatives (eg, aniline, pt-butylaniline, N,
N′-dimethylaniline, N, N′-dibutylaniline, triphenylamine, etc.), alkylamine derivatives (eg, tributylamine, octylamine, laurylamine, benzylamine, dibenzylamine, etc.), and heterocyclic compounds (eg, N , N'-Dimethylaminopyridine, 1,8-diazabicyclo [5.4.0] -7-
Undecene, triphenylimidazole, lutidine, 2
-Picoline) is a preferred example. These bases are 1 to 10 with respect to the composition represented by A in the general formula (1).
It is preferable to add 50 mol%, particularly preferably 5 to 20 mol%.

When the image recording medium of the present invention is used as a photon mode type image recording medium, it is necessary to add a compound which generates an acid by the action of light. On the other hand, when used as a heat mode image recording medium,
If the acid generator represented by A in the general formulas (1) to (4) or (5) has a function of generating an acid by the action of heat, a thermal acid generator is separately added. Although it is not necessary, a thermal acid generator may be added separately for the purpose of increasing the sensitivity. When the acid generator represented by A in the general formulas (1) to (4) or (5) does not have a function of generating an acid by the action of heat, a thermal acid generator is separately added. It is necessary to do. When a plurality of acid generators are used in combination as described above, the general formulas (1) to (4) of the present invention are used.
A plurality of acid generators contained in (4) may be used in combination. The compounds represented by the general formulas (1) to (4) of the present invention may be used in combination with a known acid generator. Examples of the known acid generator include compounds described in “Organic Materials for Imaging”, edited by Organic Electronics Materials Research Society, published by Bunshin Publishing Company (1997), pp. 37-91, and references cited therein. And the like. Also,
Many of the photoacid generators described herein also function as thermal acid generators.

When a pigment is added, examples include diatomaceous earth, talc, kaolin, calcined kaolin, titanium oxide, silicon oxide, magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, and urea-formalin resin.

Other additives include ultraviolet absorbers such as benzophenone type and benzotriazole type, head wear and sticking preventives comprising higher fatty acid metal salts such as zinc stearate and calcium stearate, paraffin, paraffin oxide, polyethylene, Waxes, such as polyethylene oxide and caster wax, are mentioned, and can be added as needed.

Examples of the support used in the image recording medium of the present invention include papers such as high quality paper, baryta paper, coated paper, cast coated paper, synthetic paper, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene-2,
6-naphthylenedicarboxylate, polyarylene,
Examples thereof include polymer films such as polyimide, polycarbonate, and triacetyl cellulose, glass, metal foil, and nonwoven fabric. In the case where the image recording medium of the present invention is used for a transmission type image such as an OHP film or a plate making film, a transparent support is used. For a plate making film, a support having a small coefficient of thermal expansion and good dimensional stability and having no absorption in the photosensitive region of the PS plate is selected. Representative synthetic examples of the compounds of the present invention are illustrated below. (Synthesis Example 1) Synthesis of S- (20)

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5 g of 1,4-butanediol (1-1) was dissolved in THF (50 ml), and potassium-t-butoxide (6.23 g) was added. Further, di-t-butyl dicarbonate (1-2) 12.1 was added to this solution at room temperature.
g was added and the mixture was stirred for 2 hours. The obtained solution is added to water 100
The organic layer was extracted by adding 200 ml of ethyl acetate. Further, the organic layer was washed twice with water, dried over magnesium sulfate, and concentrated. Purification was performed by silica gel column chromatography to obtain 3 g of (1-3) as an oily compound. ¹ H-NMR (CDCl ₃ ) δ (ppm); 1.49 (s, 9H), 1.70 (m,
4H), 1.96 (br, 1H), 3.66 (t, 2
H), 4.10 (t, 2H) Next, 2 g of (1-3) was dissolved in 10 ml of methylene chloride,
Triethylamine (1.57 ml), 0.28 g of 4-dimethylaminopyridine, and 2.16 g of toluenesulfonyl chloride were added, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. The reaction solution was poured into 10 ml of water, and the organic layer was extracted. Further, the organic layer is washed twice with water, dried over magnesium sulfate,
Concentrated. Purification was performed by silica gel column chromatography to obtain 1.5 g of Exemplified Compound S- (20) as a colorless and transparent oily compound. ¹ H-NMR (CDCl ₃ ): δ (ppm); 1.48
(S, 9H), 1.71 (m, 4H), 2.48 (s,
3H), 4.00 (t, 2H), 4.05 (t, 2
H), 7.34 (d, 2H), 7.80 (d, 2H)

(Synthesis Example 2) Synthesis of A- (28)

[0117]

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(2-1) 9.01 g was placed in tetrahydrofuran (50 ml), and an oil dispersion of sodium hydride (4 g, content 60%) was added thereto. After stirring for 1 hour, 15.66 g of (2-2) was added, and the mixture was stirred for 3 hours. Then, ethyl acetate (70 ml) and water (50 ml)
Was added and the aqueous layer was separated. Further, the reaction solution was washed with water, and the organic layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated. The obtained oil was purified by silica gel column chromatography (eluent: ethyl acetate / hexane = 1/4 (volume ratio)) to obtain 9.5 g of 2-3. Next, (2-3) 6.3 g
Was dissolved in methylene chloride (50 ml), and (2-4) 5.
17 g and (2-5) 6.08 g were added, and the mixture was stirred for 5 hours. Hexane was added thereto, and the mixture was directly subjected to silica gel column chromatography (eluent: ethyl acetate / hexane =
Exemplified compound A- (28)
Was obtained (6.2 g, 55% yield). ¹ H NMR (CDCl ₃ ): δ (ppm); 1.65 (4
H), 3.55 (2H), 4.1 (2H), 4.6 (2
H), 4.75 (2H), 5.5 (1H), 5.9 (1
H), 6.8 (1H), 7.35 (5H), 7.6 (2
H), 7.9 (2H). (Synthesis Example 3) Synthesis of S- (22)

[0119]

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(3-1) 15.07 g was placed in tetrahydrofuran (70 ml), and an oil dispersion of sodium hydride (4 g, content 60%) was added thereto. After stirring for 1 hour, 15.66 g of (3-2) was added, and the mixture was stirred for 3 hours. Then, ethyl acetate (70 ml) and water (50 m
1) was added and the aqueous layer was separated. Further, the reaction solution was washed with water, and the organic layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated. The obtained oil was purified by silica gel column chromatography (eluent: ethyl acetate / hexane = 1/5 (volume ratio)) to obtain 8.4 g of (3-3). Then (3
-3) 2.04 g was dissolved in methylene chloride, and (3-4)
2.6 g and 1.91 g of (3-5) were added, and the mixture was stirred for 5 hours. Hexane was added thereto, and the mixture was directly subjected to silica gel column chromatography (eluent: ethyl acetate / hexane =
1/10 (volume ratio)) to give Exemplified Compound S- (2
2) was obtained (2.3 g, 63% yield). ¹ H NMR (CDCl 3): δ (ppm); -0.1
(6H), 0.95 (9H), 1.6 (4H), 2.5
(3H), 3.6 (2H), 4.1 (2H), 7.4
(2H), 7.8 (2H).

(Synthesis Example 4) Synthesis of LD- (16) To 4.5 g of quinoline-N-oxide monohydrate was added 4.16 g of acetic anhydride, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour, whereby the system became homogeneous. To this solution was added 5 g of 3-phenylisoxazolone suspended in 10 ml of chloroform, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. The reaction solution was washed with water, dried over magnesium sulfate, and concentrated. The obtained oil was purified by silica gel column chromatography (developing solvent; n-hexane / ethyl acetate = 1/1), and then methanol was added to obtain 1.75 g of a lemon yellow dye (melting point: 223 to 224). ° C, λmax = 423 nm (ε
= 16200) (in ethyl acetate). ). Next, 1 g of the obtained dye was dissolved in 10 ml of THF, and 139 mg of an oil dispersion of sodium hydride (content 60%) was added. Further, 6.2 g of di-tert-butyl-dicarbonate was added, and the mixture was heated under reflux for 30 minutes. Ethyl acetate was added to the reaction solution, and the mixture was washed with water and the organic layer was extracted. The extract was dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated. The obtained oil was subjected to silica gel column chromatography (developing solvent; n-hexane / ethyl acetate = 1 /
Purification in 1) gave 450 mg of LD- (16) as colorless crystals (mp 137-138 ° C, λma).
x = 335 nm (ε = 14800) (in ethyl acetate)). The structure was identified by NMR and mass spectrometry.

(Synthesis Example 5) Synthesis of LD- (20) 0.3 g of the dye obtained as a synthesis intermediate of Synthesis Example 4 was
It was dissolved in 3 ml of HF, and 41.6 mg of an oil dispersion of sodium hydride (60% content) was added. Further, 0.2 ml of chloromethyloctyl ether was added, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. . Ethyl acetate was added to the reaction solution, and the mixture was washed with water and the organic layer was extracted. The extract was dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated. The resulting oil was purified by silica gel column chromatography (developing solvent; n-hexane / ethyl acetate = 3/1) to find that LD- (20) was 25 as a colorless oil.
0 mg was obtained (λmax = 340 nm (ε = 1280
0) (in ethyl acetate)). The structure was identified by ¹ H NMR and mass spectroscopy.

(Synthesis Example 6) Synthesis of P- (2) 1) Synthesis of A- (1) 2 synthesized according to the method described in JP-A-8-248561.
-Methyl-2- (2-hydroxymethyl) acetoacetic acid t
-Butyl ester 18 g, triethylamine 19.8
g and 2 g of 4-dimethylaminopyridine were dissolved in 90 ml of methylene chloride. Further, 18 g of paravinylbenzenesulfonyl chloride (synthesized by allowing thionyl chloride to act on sodium paravinylbenzenesulfonate) was added to the solution, followed by stirring at room temperature for 4 hours.
100 ml of water was added to the reaction solution to extract an organic layer, which was further washed twice with 100 ml of water. After drying the organic layer over magnesium sulfate, hydroquinone monomethyl ether 2m
g was added and the mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure. The obtained oil was subjected to silica gel column chromatography (eluent: n-hexane /
The residue was purified by ethyl acetate (3/1) to obtain 17.7 g of a colorless and transparent oil (yield: 54.1%). The obtained structure was identified by mass spectrometry, elemental analysis and ¹ HNMR. Mass spectrometry: M ⁺ = 367 Elemental analysis: calc. C: 58.68% H: 6.57% S: 8.70% found C: 58.69% H: 6.59% S: 8.71% ¹ H-NMR (CDCl ₃ ): δ (ppm) : 1.40
(S, 3H), 1.42 (s, 9H), 2.15 (s,
3H), 4.30 (ABq, 2H), 5.50 (d, 1
H), 5.93 (d, 1H), 6.78 (dd, 1
H), 7.58 (d, 2H), 7.85 (d, 2H) 2) Synthesis of B- (22) 4- (2-methacryloyloxyethyl) -2- (2H
-Benzotriazol-2-yl) phenol (manufactured by Otsuka Chemical Co., Ltd.) and 5 ml of nitrobenzene in THF
The resultant was dissolved in 300 ml, and 7.4 g of an oil dispersion of sodium hydride (content 60%) was added under cooling with water. Further, 104 g of chloromethyloctyl ether was added to this solution, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. Thereafter, 500 ml of ethyl acetate was added to the reaction solution, and the organic layer was washed with water and dried over magnesium sulfate. After the organic layer was concentrated under reduced pressure, silica gel column chromatography (eluent: hexane /
The residue was purified with ethyl acetate = 9/1) and crystallized from hexane to give B- (22) as white crystals.
8 g (yield 53%) was obtained. The structure was identified by mass spectrometry, elemental analysis and ¹ H-NMR. 3) Synthesis of P- (2) 16.6 g of A- (1) and 20.9 of B- (22)
5 g was dissolved in 40 ml of toluene, a solution of 225 mg of 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile in toluene (6 ml) was added thereto, and the mixture was heated and stirred at 75 ° C. for 3 hours.
A solution of 225 mg of 2'-azobisisobutyronitrile in toluene (6 ml) was added, and the mixture was heated and stirred at 75 ° C for 3 hours. The reaction solution was cooled to room temperature, added to 500 ml of MeOH, and the precipitated white polymer was isolated to obtain 34.8 g of a polymer (P- (1)) having a molecular weight of 75,000.
(93% yield) was obtained. ¹ HNMR confirmed that the copolymer was a copolymer of A- (1) and B- (1). Further, it was confirmed by elemental analysis that x: y = 50: 50.

(Synthesis Example 7) Synthesis of P- (16) 2 g of A- (1) and 1.52 g of B- (14) were dissolved in 5 ml of benzene, and 2,2′-azobis (2,4-
(Dimethylvaleronitrile) (20.2 mg) was added and the mixture was stirred at 60 ° C for 10 hours. When the reaction solution was added to 30 ml of methanol, a white amorphous was obtained. After removing the supernatant by decantation, the polymer was dissolved in a small amount of methylene chloride, added to methanol, and reprecipitated.
The supernatant was removed and dried. A polymer having a molecular weight of 3800 and a molecular weight distribution of Mw / Mn = 3.2 (P- (14))
Was obtained (yield 6.25%). ¹ H NMR
It was confirmed that the copolymer was a copolymer of A- (1) and B- (14). Further, elemental analysis confirmed that x: y was 67:33. The melting point was 120 to 123 ° C, and the thermal decomposition temperature was 145 to 148 ° C. (Synthesis Example 8) Synthesis of P- (11)

[0125]

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The compound was synthesized in the same manner as in Synthesis Example 4 (8-
After hydrolyzing 1) under ice-cooling, a leuco dye monomer (8-2) was obtained by condensing with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate using 2-chloro-1-methylpyridinium iodide as a condensing agent. P- (11) was obtained by copolymerizing the acid generator monomers (A-1) and (8-2) with AIBN as an initiator (molecular weight 53,000, thermal decomposition onset temperature 140.7 ° C.).

[0127]

As described above, the present invention provides
From the image recording to the heat treatment, the same apparatus can be used for the two recording materials, namely, the recording material of No. 1 and the negative type thermal plate recording material. Therefore, the above ~
For the negative type thermal plate recording material, the development can be completed for the negative type thermal plate recording material. A compact image recording device can be connected to a processing machine and has a processing path. As described above, by using the image recording apparatus of the present invention, a printing plate can be directly produced based on image data, and the above-mentioned materials can be processed as other recording materials. In addition, by adjusting a predetermined temperature for pre-heating the thermosensitive recording material before recording, it is possible to change the required capacity of the recording unit.
By setting the predetermined heating temperature in accordance with the capability of the recording means (for example, a laser) for a printing plate, it is possible to use the same recording unit completely.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating a configuration of an upstream heating unit of the image recording apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of an image recording unit of the image recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view illustrating an image recording unit according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a laser beam emitting unit provided with laser preheating.

7 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the preheat laser E _P on the sheet and the recording laser E.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing another configuration of preheating by a laser.

FIG. 9A is a schematic perspective view illustrating another embodiment of a heating roller and an image recording unit. (B) is a sectional view perpendicular to the heating roller of (a).

FIG. 10A is a schematic perspective view showing another embodiment of the recording unit and the upstream heating unit. (B) is a schematic sectional view perpendicular to the heating roller of the upstream heating unit in which the upstream heating unit of (a) is another embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the downstream heating unit.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are schematic views showing still another embodiment of the downstream heating unit.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating output control when the image recording apparatus of the present invention and another image forming apparatus are used as a processor.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 110 Image recording device 20, 120 Recording material supply unit 21, 121 Magazine 23, 123 Cutter 30, 130 Recording unit 32, 132 Image recording optical system 40 Upstream heating unit 42, 142 Heating roller 50 Stacking unit 60, 160 Downstream heating part D sheet (recording material of the calibration film) D1 sheet (recording material for plate) E recording laser beam E _P preheating laser beam

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tatsuhiko Obayashi 210 Nakanakanuma, Minamiashigara-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Photo Film F-term (reference) 2C065 AB01 AF01 CA03 CA07 CA11 CJ01 CJ02 CJ04 2C362 AA03 AA10 BA04 BA17 BA29 BA63 CB66 2H084 AA14 AA38 AA40 BB02 BB13 CC20

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus for producing a plate by directly recording on a recording material for a plate based on image data, comprising a heat-sensitive image recording medium comprising a color developing (or decoloring) reaction by an acid catalyst. A first recording material supply section for supplying a recording material, a second recording material supply section for supplying the printing plate recording material, and one recording medium for recording a latent image on the recording material supplied from each of the recording material supply sections. A recording unit, a downstream heating unit disposed downstream of a recording position of the recording unit and heating each of the recording materials to a predetermined temperature, and a recording unit that is disposed between the recording unit and the downstream heating unit and that does not require heating. An image recording apparatus comprising: a path switching unit that guides a material to a portion other than the heating unit. 2. An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording section is a thermal head recording means for performing imagewise recording on each of said recording materials. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording section is a laser recording unit that performs imagewise exposure on the printing plate recording material and the thermal recording material. 4. An image recording apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an upstream heating section which is a heating laser beam for scanning immediately before a scanning position of said laser recording means on said thermosensitive recording material. apparatus. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an upstream heating unit disposed at a recording position of the recording unit or upstream of the recording position, and configured to heat each of the recording materials to a predetermined temperature. An image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 6. The swingable heating roller, wherein the upstream heating section heats only in contact with the heat-sensitive recording material and is non-contact when the printing plate recording material is supplied. The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: 7. The heating unit according to claim 5, wherein the upstream heating unit has a flat heating surface at a recording position of the recording unit or at a position upstream of the recording position opposite to a recording surface of the thermosensitive recording material. An image recording apparatus as described in the above. 8. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined heating temperature of the upstream heating unit is set according to a capacity of the recording unit.