JP2002127477A - Image recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image transfer method in which peeling of a main paper is prevented and transfer conditions, e.g. transfer temperature, transfer speed or transfer pressure of a transfer unit, are not required to be relaxed even for a recycled paper having an uncoated main paper or a wood-free printing paper. SOLUTION: An adhesive sheet 30 is superposed onto an image receiving sheet 10 transferred with toner and then the adhesive sheet 30 is stripped off from the image receiving sheet 10 except a thermal adhesion layer 32. Subsequently, toner 23 on the image receiving sheet 10 is transferred to a main paper through the thermal adhesion layer 32.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image transfer method for transferring a toner transferred on an image receiving sheet to a paper, and particularly to a good image recording on a paper whose surface is not coated. To an image transfer method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image recording apparatus using a heating head such as a laser beam has been used to thermally transfer a heat-sensitive material onto an image receiving sheet in accordance with image information, and then pass the image receiving sheet and the actual paper through the image transfer apparatus. A system is used in which an image formed on an image receiving sheet is transferred to a real paper to obtain an image on the real paper. An example of the configuration of this type of image recording apparatus is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The image recording apparatus uses a laser light source (L
A recording laser beam 71 emitted from the laser head 70 provided with D) is applied to a recording medium as an overlap sheet composed of the image receiving sheet 10 mounted on the recording drum 60 and the transfer sheet 20 covering the image receiving sheet 10. While rotating the recording drum 60 in the direction of the arrow,
Is an image recording apparatus configured to form a two-dimensional image on a recording medium by moving the recording medium 60 in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the recording drum 60.

[0005] Each configuration of the image receiving sheet 10 and the transfer sheet 20 mounted on the recording drum 60 is as shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the image receiving sheet 10 includes a recording drum 60.
It is composed of a support 11, a cushion layer 12, and an image receiving layer 13 in order from the side. The transfer sheet 20 covered on the image receiving sheet 10 includes a support 21, a photothermal conversion (IR) layer 22, and a toner layer 23 in this order from the laser beam irradiation side.
It is composed of The image receiving sheet 10 is mounted on a recording drum 60, and the transfer sheet 2 is placed above the image receiving sheet 10.
When the transfer layer 20 is irradiated with laser light from the side opposite to the image receiving sheet 10 when the toner layer is superimposed on the image receiving sheet 10, the laser light passes through the support 21 because the support 21 is transparent. The irradiated portion of the toner layer 23 is transferred to the image receiving layer 13 by heat.

Here, the support is made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) base, TAC (triacetyl cellulose) base, PEN (polyethylene naphthalate).
A material such as a base that transmits laser light is used. The light-to-heat conversion layer is made of a material that efficiently converts laser energy into heat, such as carbon, a black substance, an infrared absorbing dye, and a specific wavelength absorbing substance. K in the toner layer
(Black), C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), transfer sheets of each color, gold, silver, brown, gray,
A transfer sheet of a special color such as orange or green may be used. The image receiving layer receives the transferred toner. Further, the cushion layer has a function of absorbing a step when the toner is stacked in a plurality of steps and absorbing a step due to dust.

For more detailed contents of the image receiving sheet 10 and the transfer sheet 20 as recording media used in the image recording apparatus, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-29 filed by the present applicant.
6594, JP-A-4-327982, JP-A-4-327983 and the like,
An image recording apparatus using such a recording medium is described in detail in JP-A-6-275183,
Please refer to them as necessary.

Next, a laser recording step of performing laser recording using the image receiving sheet 10 and the transfer sheet 20 having the structure of FIG. 5 and a peeling step of peeling off each transfer sheet 20 from the image receiving sheet 10 after recording are shown in FIG. This will be described with reference to FIG.

1) The image receiving sheet 10 is wound around a recording drum 60. 2) First, in order to perform the K step, the K transfer sheet 20 is wound around the image receiving sheet 10. If necessary,
Squeeze treatment (image receiving sheet 1
The adhesiveness between 0 and the K transfer sheet 20 is improved. )I do. 3) Recording is performed by irradiating a laser beam based on the K image / character data. 4) When the K transfer sheet 20 is peeled off from the image receiving sheet 10, only the K portion irradiated with the laser beam is transferred to the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet 10, and the other K portions not irradiated with the laser beam are the K transfer sheet. It is peeled off while sticking to 20 (the K step is completed).

5) Step C and below are not particularly shown, but the same steps as Step K are performed. That is, the C transfer sheet is wound around the image receiving sheet 10. 6) Perform laser recording with C data. 7) The C transfer sheet 20 is peeled from the image receiving sheet 10 (the C step ends). 8) Further, the M step is performed. That is, the M transfer sheet 2
0 is wound around the image receiving sheet 10. 9) Perform laser recording with M data. 10) The M transfer sheet 20 is peeled off from the image receiving sheet 10 (the M step ends). 11) Then, the Y step is performed. That is, the Y transfer sheet 20 is wound around the image receiving sheet 10. 12) Perform laser recording with Y data. 13) Finally, the Y transfer sheet 20 is peeled off from the image receiving sheet 10 (Y step ends). In this manner, a desired color image is formed on the image receiving sheet 10 by appropriately or not laminating the four KCMY colors imagewise.

Next, this is transferred to a real paper. 1) FIG. 7 shows K on the image receiving sheet 10 obtained in the process of FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional process of transferring four colors of CMY onto a main paper. In FIG. 7A, the four colors of KCMY are appropriately laminated on the image receiving layer 10 of the image receiving sheet 10 via the cushion layer 12 on the support 11 thereof. On top of this, book 4
Overlap 0. 2) In this state, the sheets are placed in the transfer machine 50. Since two heat rollers (or a heat roller and a normal roller) in a pressurized state are provided in the transfer machine 50, a sheet in a state where the two heat rollers are overlapped with each other passes. (FIG. 7 (b)). 3) After that, when the image receiving sheet 10 is peeled off from the main paper 40,
The KCMY colors wrapped in the image receiving layer 13 are transferred to the main paper side of the image receiving sheet 10 and separated from each other with the cushion layer 12 as a boundary, and the main paper having a predetermined color is obtained (FIG. 7C). ). The peeled image receiving sheet 10
The side is discarded. FIG. 7D will be described later.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing an image recording apparatus for carrying out the image recording method. As shown in FIG. 8, the image recording apparatus 1 includes an image receiving sheet supply unit 100, a transfer sheet supply unit 200, a recording unit 300, and a discharge unit 40.
0. Further, the image recording device 1 includes a main body cover 5.
The surface is covered by 10 and supported by legs 520.

In the image recording apparatus 1, an image receiving sheet supply section 100 supplies an image receiving sheet to the recording section 300. The transfer sheet supply unit 200 can supply a plurality of types of transfer sheets, and can selectively supply one type of transfer sheet from the plurality of types of transfer sheets to the recording unit 300. Can be. In the recording unit 300, a transfer sheet is further wound on the image receiving sheet wound on the drum 310. Then, the transfer sheet superposed on the image receiving sheet is subjected to laser exposure based on image information to be recorded. An image is formed on the image receiving sheet by the toner of the portion of the transfer sheet heated by the laser exposure being adhered to the image receiving sheet by adhesive deterioration, melting or sublimation and transferred. Further, different colors (for example, black, yellow, cyan, magenta) for the same image receiving sheet
A color image can be formed on the image receiving sheet by attaching the toner on the transfer sheet. this is,
As will be described later, this is achieved by exchanging the exposed transfer sheet with a transfer sheet of another color sequentially and performing laser exposure while the image receiving sheet is wound around the drum 310.

The image receiving sheet on which the image has been formed is ejected via the ejection section 400 and taken out of the image recording apparatus. Then, in an image transfer unit (not shown) provided separately, the image receiving sheet is heated and pressed while the surface on which the image is formed is overlapped with the actual paper to be printed. As a result, the toner is transferred onto an arbitrary sheet of paper (printing paper) and an image is formed. The above is the outline of the image recording apparatus 1. Next, each of the image receiving sheet supply unit 100, the transfer sheet supply unit 200, the recording unit 300, and the discharge unit 400 will be described in order.

The image receiving sheet supply section 100 has an image receiving sheet roll 130. The image receiving sheet roll 130 is formed by winding an image receiving sheet 140 around a core. The image receiving sheet 140 has a support layer, an image receiving layer, and a cushion layer, and the cushion layer and the image receiving layer are sequentially laminated on the support layer. In the image receiving sheet roll 130,
The image receiving layer is wound so that the image receiving layer is located outside of the support layer (hereinafter, the image receiving sheet roll wound in this manner is referred to as an “outwardly wound” image receiving sheet roll). Further, the image receiving sheet roll 130 is installed so as to be rotatable around the center axis of the core. The image receiving sheet supply section 100 further includes an image receiving sheet transport section 150. The image receiving sheet transport unit 150 includes a motor (not shown), a drive transmission belt or chain (not shown), transport rollers 154,
55, a support guide 156, and an image receiving sheet cutting unit 160
And a detection sensor (not shown) for detecting an end point of the image receiving sheet. Each of the transport roller 154 and the transport roller 155 has a pair of rollers. With such a driving mechanism, the image receiving sheet 140 can be sent to the recording unit 300 or returned from the recording unit 300.

First, the image receiving sheet 140 is pulled out by the above-described driving mechanism such as a motor in a state where the leading end of the image receiving sheet roll 130 is sandwiched between the conveying rollers 154. Thereby, the image receiving sheet roll 130 rotates,
The image receiving sheet 140 is fed out. Image receiving sheet 14
0 is further sandwiched between the transport rollers 155 and the support guide 1
It is guided by 56 and transported. The image receiving sheet 140 thus transported by the image receiving sheet transport unit 150
Is cut into a predetermined length by the image receiving sheet cutting unit 160. A detection sensor is used for measuring the length. The length can be measured by, for example, detecting the leading end of the image receiving sheet 140 with a detection sensor and considering the number of rotations of the motor and the like. The image receiving sheet 140 is cut into a predetermined length based on the measurement result, and is supplied to the recording unit 300. Although not shown, the image receiving sheet cutting unit 160 has a cutter, a support unit, and a guide. The image receiving sheet 14 unwound from the image receiving sheet roll 130 by the driving described above.
0 is cut to a predetermined length by a cutter after the conveyance is stopped based on the above-described measurement result of the image receiving sheet length. As described above, the image receiving sheet supply unit 100
By feeding and cutting a part of the image receiving sheet roll 130, the image receiving sheet 140 having a predetermined length can be supplied to the recording unit 300.

Next, the transfer sheet supply unit 200 will be described. The transfer sheet supply unit 200 has a rotating rack 210. The rotating rack 210 is driven to rotate about a rotating shaft as described later. Also, the rotating rack 210
, A plurality of (six in the figure) transfer sheet rolls 230 are accommodated, and are arranged “radially” around the rotation shaft 213. Each transfer sheet roll 230 has a core, a transfer sheet 240 wound around the core, and flanges (not shown) inserted from both sides of the core. Each transfer sheet roll 230 is held rotatably about each core. By setting the outer diameter of the flange to be larger than the diameter of the transfer sheet portion, the transfer sheet portion does not collapse. Each transfer sheet 240 has a support layer, a light-to-heat conversion layer, and a toner layer, and a light-to-heat conversion layer and a toner layer are sequentially laminated on the support layer. The transfer sheet roll 230 is wound so that the toner layer is located outside the support layer (hereinafter, the transfer sheet roll wound in this manner is referred to as an “outwardly wound” transfer sheet roll). As described later, the toner layer has toner ink, and the toner ink is transferred to the image receiving sheet by laser exposure. In FIG. 8, six transfer sheet rolls 2
The case where 30 is accommodated in the carousel 210 is shown. The six types of transfer sheets include, for example, black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M),
A transfer sheet of four colors of yellow (Y) and a transfer sheet of special colors of two colors (for example, gold and silver) can be used.

The rotating rack 210 further has a transfer sheet feeding mechanism 250 corresponding to each of the plurality of transfer sheet rolls 230. The transfer sheet feeding mechanism 250 includes a feed roller 254 and a support guide. 256. In the figure, 6
One transfer sheet feeding mechanism 250 is provided. The feed roller 254 has rollers 254a and 254b. The roller 254a is connected to a motor by a gear mechanism as described later, and is driven by the motor. The transfer sheet 240 can be held between the roller 254a and the roller 254b with a predetermined pressure. The roller 254b conveys the transfer sheet 240 by rotating in a direction opposite to the rotation of the roller 254a. The transfer sheet 240 has rollers 254a and 254b.
It can be pinched and sent out or reversed. The transfer sheet roll 230 rotates with the transfer of the transfer sheet 240. The transfer sheet 240 is supplied to the recording unit 300 by the transfer sheet feeding mechanism 250 having such a structure. In a state where the leading end of the transfer sheet 240 is sandwiched between the feed rollers 254, the feed rollers 254 are driven by the aforementioned driving mechanism such as a motor. By this driving, the transfer sheet 240 is fed out. Further, the transfer sheet 240 is further cut into a predetermined length in a transfer sheet transport unit 270 described later and supplied to the recording unit 300. As described above, the plurality of transfer sheet rolls 230
Can selectively supply a desired type of transfer sheet 240 to the transfer sheet transport unit 270.

The transfer sheet supply section 200 further has a transfer sheet transport section 270. Transfer sheet transport unit 2
70 is a motor (not shown), a drive transmission belt or chain (not shown), and transport rollers 274 and 27.
5, a guide 276, a transfer sheet cutting unit 280, and a detection sensor (not shown) for detecting an end of the transfer sheet. Each of the transport rollers 274 and 275 has a pair of rollers. Rollers 274 and 27
Reference numeral 5 is connected to a motor by a drive transmission belt or chain, and is driven by the motor to convey the transfer sheet 240. With such a driving mechanism,
The transfer sheet 240 can be sent out toward the recording unit 300, or can be returned in reverse. The transfer sheet 240 conveyed in this manner is cut to a predetermined length by the transfer sheet cutting unit 280. A detection sensor is used for measuring the length of the transfer sheet 240. The length of the transfer sheet 240 can be measured by detecting the edge of the transfer sheet 240 with a detection sensor and taking into account the number of rotations of the motor and the like. The transfer sheet 240 is cut into a predetermined length based on the measurement result, and is supplied to the recording unit 300. Although not shown, the transfer sheet cutting unit 280 has a cutter, a support unit, a guide, and the like. As described above,
The transfer sheet supply unit 200 can supply a transfer sheet 240 having a predetermined length to the recording unit 300 by feeding out and cutting a part of the transfer sheet roll 230. When the transfer sheet 240 is consumed, it is necessary to remove the used transfer sheet roll 230 and replace it with a new transfer sheet 240. The exchange of the transfer sheet roll 230 can be performed by opening the lid 511. At this time, by rotating the rotating rack 210, the transfer sheet roll 230 to be replaced is
Is moved to a predetermined replacement position corresponding to. On the other hand, replacement of the image receiving sheet roll 130 is also performed by opening the lid 511.

Next, the recording section 300 will be described. The recording unit 300 has a drum 310. The drum 310 has a hollow cylindrical shape, and is rotatably held by a frame (not shown). The drum 310 is connected to a rotating shaft of a motor and is driven to rotate by the motor. Drum 3
A plurality of holes are formed on the surface of the substrate 10. This hole is connected to a blower (not shown). When the image receiving sheet 140 and the transfer sheet 240 are placed on the drum 310 and the blower is operated, these sheets are attracted to the drum 310. The drum 310 has a plurality of grooves (not shown).
It is provided in parallel with 10 rotation axes and on a straight line. Further, if necessary, the overlapping portion between the image receiving sheet 140 and the transfer sheet 240 is lightly pressed and heated (squeezed) using a heating / pressurizing roller 320 in order to enhance the adhesion between the image receiving sheet 140 and the transfer sheet 240. You. Also,
Above the drum 310, a plurality of peeling claws (not shown) are provided in parallel with the rotation axis of the drum 310 and on a straight line. Further, the recording unit 300 has a recording head 350. The recording head 350 can emit laser light. The toner ink on the transfer sheet 240 at the position irradiated with the laser light is transferred onto the surface of the image receiving sheet 140. The recording head 350 can be moved linearly in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the drum 310 by a driving mechanism (not shown). Therefore,
By a combination of the rotational movement of the drum 310 and the linear movement of the recording head 350, a desired position on the transfer sheet covering the image receiving sheet can be exposed by laser. Therefore, by scanning the transfer sheet with a laser beam, which is a light beam for drawing, and performing laser exposure only on the corresponding position based on the image information, a desired image can be formed on the image receiving sheet 14.
0 can be transferred.

Next, the operation of winding the image receiving sheet 140 and the transfer sheet 240 around the drum 310 will be described. Two types of sheets, an image receiving sheet 140 and a transfer sheet 240, are wound around the drum 310. First, the image receiving sheet 140 supplied by the image receiving sheet supply unit 100 is wound around the drum 310. As described above, the plurality of holes 314 are formed in the surface of the drum 310, and the image receiving sheet 140 is sucked by the blower, whereby the image receiving sheet 140 is rotated by the rotation of the drum 310. It is wound while being adsorbed on. Next, one transfer sheet 240 supplied from the transfer sheet supply unit 200 is
Wrapped around. The two types of sheets, the image receiving sheet 140 and the transfer sheet 240, are different in size from each other, and the transfer sheet 240 is larger than the image receiving sheet 140 in both the vertical and horizontal directions. Therefore, the transfer sheet 240 is attracted to the drum 310 by a portion larger than the image receiving sheet 140. The transfer sheet 240 is wound while being attracted to the drum 310 as the drum 310 rotates. The image receiving sheet 140 and the transfer sheet 240 wound around the drum 310 have the toner layer of the transfer sheet 240 in contact with the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet 140. The toner ink of the toner layer having such a positional relationship is
As described above, the laser beam is exposed by the recording head 350 and transferred to the image receiving sheet 140. The transfer sheet 240 on which the transfer operation has been completed is separated from the drum 310.

Next, the peeling operation will be described. First, the drum 310 is rotated to a predetermined position for peeling. Then, the position of the tip of the peeling claw described above is
It moves from a standby position where it does not contact the drum 10 to a position where it contacts the drum 310. During this movement, the tip of the peeling claw is prevented from contacting the transfer sheet 240. With the rotation of the drum 310, the peeling claw relatively moves on the drum 310 in the circumferential direction along the surface of the drum 310.
The tip of the peeling claw relatively moves on the surface of the drum 310 along the shape of the groove, and sinks below the transfer sheet 240. The transfer sheet 240 moves along the upper surface of the peeling nail. The transfer sheet 240 is separated from the drum 310.
Then, before coming into contact with the image receiving sheet 140, the peeling claw further rises in a direction away from the drum 310 and moves to the standby position. The transfer sheet 240 is further separated from the drum 310 and the image receiving sheet 140 by rotating the drum 310 after the leading end of the transfer sheet 240 is separated. At this time, the image receiving sheet 140 is applied to the drum 31 by the suction force of the blower 316.
Since it is still adsorbed at 0, only the transfer sheet 240 can be peeled off. The transfer sheet 240 peeled by the above operation is further discharged to the outside of the apparatus via a discharge unit 400 described later.

Next, a transfer sheet 240 of another color is wound on the image receiving sheet 140 wound around the drum 310 in the above-described procedure. Then, after the toner ink of the transfer sheet 240 is transferred to the image receiving sheet 140 by laser exposure by the above-described operation, the transfer sheet 240 is peeled and discharged. The same operation is repeated for a plurality of types of transfer sheets 240. For example, a color image is transferred to the image receiving sheet 140 by repeating the above operation for four types of transfer sheets 240 of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. Finally, the image receiving sheet 140 onto which the plural types of toner inks have been transferred is peeled off. The peeling of the image receiving sheet 140 is performed in the same manner as the peeling of the transfer sheet 240. At this time, the peeling claw approaches the plurality of grooves and peels the image receiving sheet 140 from the drum 310. Moreover, since the same peeling claw as that used when peeling the transfer sheet 240 can be used, the structure can be simplified. Therefore, the reliability of the machine can be improved. Image receiving sheet 1 peeled as described above
40 is discharged to the discharge unit 400.

Next, the discharge section 400 will be described. The discharge unit 400 includes a sheet common transport unit 410, a transfer sheet discharge unit 440, and an image receiving sheet discharge unit 450.
The sheet common conveyance unit 410 includes a motor (not shown), a drive transmission belt or chain (not shown), conveyance rollers 414, 415, 416, a support guide 418,
419 and a detection sensor (not shown). In addition, the sheet common conveyance unit 410 further has a movable guide unit, which includes a guide plate 438 and a drive mechanism (not shown). Guide plate 438
Can be moved between two positions to be described later by a driving mechanism. The transfer sheet discharge unit 440 is for discharging the processed transfer sheet 240 to the transfer sheet collection box 540. The image receiving sheet discharge section 450 includes an image receiving sheet discharge port 451, rollers 454 and 455, and a guide 458. Image receiving sheet 1 on which an image has been transferred
Reference numeral 40 denotes a tray 5 via an image receiving sheet discharging unit 450.
It is discharged to 50. Each transport roller 414, 415, 4
16, 454, and 455 are configured as a set of two rollers, similarly to the other transport rollers described above.
The image receiving sheet 140 and the transfer sheet 240 can be conveyed by being rotated between two rollers. The discharge unit 400 having such a mechanism performs discharge of the image receiving sheet 140 and discharge of the transfer sheet 240 by the following operation.

First, the discharge of the transfer sheet 240 will be described. The transfer sheet 240 that has become unnecessary after the laser exposure in the recording unit 300 is transferred to the drum 3 as described above.
Peeled from 10. The peeled transfer sheet 240 is
Peeling claw, support guides 418, 419, guide plate 4
While being supported by the transfer rollers 414, 41
It is conveyed by being pinched and sent out by 5, 416.

Next, the discharge of the image receiving sheet 140 will be described. The image receiving sheet 140 is separated from the drum 310 as described above after the toner ink is transferred and processed by the recording unit 300. The peeled image receiving sheet 140 is conveyed by being held by the peeling claws, the support guides 418, 419, and the guide plate 438, nipped by the conveying rollers 414, 415, 416, and sent out. Note that the sheet common conveyance unit 410 is common to the case where the transfer sheet 240 is discharged, and the structure can be simplified as compared with the case where a conveyance unit is provided for each sheet. In the sheet common transport unit 410, the transfer sheet 240 is transported with the toner layer facing down, and the image receiving sheet 140 is transported with the image receiving layer facing upward. Therefore, even if the image receiving sheet 140 and the transfer sheet 240 are sequentially transported using the same transport path, there is no possibility that the image formed on the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet 140 is contaminated. The image receiving sheet 140 is
The sheet is conveyed by the conveying rollers 414, 415, and 416, and is once discharged to the outside of the apparatus. However, not all of the image receiving sheet 140 is discharged to the outside. The rear end of the image receiving sheet 140 is a guide plate 438.
In a state where it is present above and is nipped by the transport roller 416, the driving by the motor is temporarily stopped, and the image receiving sheet 140 is pulled back toward the image receiving sheet discharge port 451 by rotating the motor in the reverse direction. That is, a “switchback” operation is performed. The drive stop timing is determined using a signal from the detection sensor. The detection sensor detects that the rear end of the image receiving sheet 140 has passed the position of the detection sensor, and then stops driving the motor 412 when the image receiving sheet 140 is transported and reaches a predetermined position. The predetermined position means a position where the rear end of the image receiving sheet 140 is present on the guide plate 438 and is in a state where the image receiving sheet 140 is sandwiched between the transport rollers 416. Whether or not the image receiving sheet 140 has moved a predetermined distance until reaching this position can be determined from the number of rotation pulses of the motor from the time of detection of the rear end by the detection sensor. The guide plate 438 of the movable guide portion is driven by a drive mechanism (not shown) and can move between a broken line and a solid line shown in the figure. The guide plate 43 is driven by this drive mechanism.
8 moves. When the stopped motor rotates in the reverse direction, each of the transport rollers 416, 454, 45
5 is driven in the opposite direction. By this reverse rotation, the image receiving sheet 140 is pulled back. Then, the image receiving sheet 14
The “0” is further conveyed by the conveying rollers 454 and 455 while being supported by the guide 458, and is sent out to the tray 550. As described above, the image receiving sheet sent to the tray 550 is taken out of the image recording apparatus and then subjected to additional processing in a separate image transfer unit.
As a result, printing is performed on any printing paper.

The above operation is controlled by a control unit (not shown). The control unit controls the image receiving sheet supply unit 100, the transfer sheet supply unit 200, the recording unit 300, the discharge unit 400, and the like. The control unit controls a driving unit having a motor and the like in each of the above units, and in particular, in the recording unit 300, further controls an air unit such as a blower and an image processing unit that processes image data. Transfer sheet supply unit 2
00 drives the transfer sheet 240 from the rotation drive system of the rotating rack 210 and the transfer sheet roll 230 to the drum 31
0 and a sheet conveyance driving system provided for the driving system. Among them, regarding the motor driving of the sheet transport driving system, the driver for driving the motor is shared by the plurality of transfer sheet feeding mechanisms as described above. The drive circuit system is simplified.

With the image recording apparatus as described above, a desired color image can be formed on the image receiving sheet 140. Hereinafter, an operation procedure will be described for a case where a color image is formed using four colors of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. First, in step 1, the image receiving sheet supply unit 100 transfers the image receiving sheet 140 to the drum 31.
Supply for 0. The image receiving sheet 140 is provided by a part of the externally wound image receiving sheet roll 130 being fed out and cut, and is wound around the drum 310.
Next, in step 2, the transfer sheet supply unit 200
The black transfer sheet 240 is supplied to the drum 310. The rotation of the rotating rack 210 of the transfer sheet supply unit 200 causes the black transfer sheet roll 2 to move.
30 is moved to a position facing the transfer sheet conveying path 270. The transfer sheet 240 is provided by a part of the outer transfer sheet roll 230 being fed out and cut, and is wound around the drum 310. At this time, the transfer sheet 24 unreeled from the transfer sheet roll 230
The leading end of the zero is near the cutter 280 outside the carousel 210. At this time, after supplying the transfer sheet 240, the transfer sheet feeding mechanism 250 can drive the feed roller 254 to rotate in the reverse direction and store the leading end of the transfer sheet roll 230 inside the outer periphery of the rotating rack 210.
However, even in this case, the feed roller 254 sandwiches the tip. In the next step 3, an image is transferred and output on the image receiving sheet 140 based on the image data given in advance. Here, the given image data is further color-separated into images for each color, and laser exposure is performed based on the color-separated image data for each color. Based on the image data for each color after color separation,
The recording head 350 irradiates the transfer sheet 240 with a drawing light beam. The toner ink on the transfer sheet 240 is transferred to the image receiving sheet 140, and the image receiving sheet 140
An image is formed on it. Then, in step 4, only the transfer sheet 240 is peeled off from the drum 310. The transfer sheet 240 peeled from the drum 310
Then, the sheet is discharged to the transfer sheet collection box 540 via 00.
In step 5, it is determined whether the transfer has been completed for the transfer sheets 240 of all colors. If another type of transfer sheet 240 needs to be supplied, the above steps 2 to 4 are repeated. That is, each operation is repeated for the transfer sheets 240 of the other cyan, magenta, and yellow colors. As a result, the toner inks of the four color transfer sheets are transferred to one image receiving sheet 140, and a color image is formed on the image receiving sheet 140.
When the above processing is completed, it is determined in step 5 that the laser exposure on the last transfer sheet 240 has been completed. Then, in the next step 6, the image receiving sheet 140 is separated from the drum 310. The peeled image receiving sheet 140 is discharged to the tray 550 via the discharge unit 400 with a switchback operation. In the discharged image receiving sheet 140, the toner ink on the image receiving sheet 140 is further transferred to any printing paper by a separate image transfer unit. As a result, proof color printing can be performed.

[0027]

However, in a method of creating a print proofer by a conventional image recording apparatus,
When the image receiving sheet on which the image is recorded by the image recording apparatus 1 is transferred to various types of paper by a transfer machine, if the paper 40 is coated, there is no problem as shown in FIG. Transfer is performed, but when the real paper 40 is not coated, for example, such as recycled paper or woodfree paper, a strong peeling force is required when peeling off the image receiving sheet. Excessive application resulted in peeling of the paper (see FIG. 7D). This is presumably because the surface of the recycled paper or the high-quality paper is rough and the paper fibers are exposed, and the material of the image receiving layer is entangled with the fibers, and the fiber material is peeled off to the image receiving layer side during peeling. Then, when the transfer conditions such as the transfer temperature, transfer speed, and transfer pressure of the transfer machine were lowered to lower the peeling force of the image reception, transfer failure occurred recently.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an image recording method and apparatus capable of recording an image on recycled paper or the like on which the present paper has not been coated without lowering transfer conditions such as a transfer temperature, a transfer speed, and a transfer pressure of a transfer machine. Is to do.

[0029]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording method, comprising: an image receiving sheet transferring step of transferring toner of a transfer sheet to an image receiving sheet; An image recording method comprising: transferring a toner to a paper; and transferring the toner onto the paper, wherein a heat bonding layer is provided on the entire surface of the image receiving sheet obtained in the image receiving sheet transfer step between the image receiving sheet transfer step and the paper transfer step. The method is characterized in that a heat bonding layer covering step of providing According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image recording method according to the first aspect, the step of coating the thermal adhesive layer supports at least the thermal adhesive layer from the front side on the image receiving sheet obtained in the image receiving sheet transferring step. An adhesive sheet made of a body is heat-transferred in a state where the heat-adhesive layer is placed on the image-receiving sheet side, and then the support of the adhesive sheet is peeled off from the heat-adhesive layer. It is characterized in that it is left on the sheet side. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image recording method according to the second aspect, the paper transfer step is performed by transferring to a paper by a transfer machine, and the thermal adhesive layer coating step is performed in the image receiving sheet transfer step. On the obtained image receiving sheet, an adhesive sheet comprising at least a thermal adhesive layer and a support is superposed from the surface side with the thermal adhesive layer facing the image receiving sheet side, and is thermally transferred by passing through the transfer machine. There is a feature. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording method according to the second aspect, the image receiving sheet transferring step is performed by an image recording apparatus having a recording drum and a heat roller, and the thermal adhesive layer covering step is performed. An adhesive sheet comprising at least a thermal adhesive layer and a support is superposed on the image receiving sheet obtained in the image receiving sheet transfer step from the front side on the recording drum with the thermal adhesive layer facing the image receiving sheet. In addition, the heat transfer is performed by the heat roller. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording method according to the second aspect, the image receiving sheet transferring step is performed by an image recording apparatus having a recording drum and a recording laser, and the thermal adhesive layer coating step is performed. An adhesive sheet comprising at least a thermal adhesive layer and a support is superposed on the image receiving sheet obtained in the image receiving sheet transfer step from the front side on the recording drum with the thermal adhesive layer facing the image receiving sheet. In addition, the entire surface is recorded by the recording laser.

[0030]

Next, an image recording method according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a view showing a process of the present invention for coating an adhesive layer on an image receiving sheet to which each color has been transferred, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a process of transferring an image to real paper using the image receiving sheet coated with the adhesive layer according to FIG. FIG. 3 is an embodiment showing a specific method of thermal transfer of an adhesive layer according to the present invention. In FIG. 1A, reference numeral 10 denotes an image receiving sheet obtained in the transfer / peeling step of each color shown in FIG.
Each of the four colors of KCMY is appropriately laminated imagewise.
An adhesive sheet 30 composed of a support (release paper) 31 and a thermal adhesive layer 32 provided on the support (release paper) 31 is placed on the adhesive sheet 30 with the adhesive layer 32 side facing the image receiving layer 13. The heat bonding layer 12 has a property of generating an adhesive force when heated. Using an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer-based thermal adhesive as the thermal adhesive layer (Jitsuho 5-1)
2270, JP-A-5-77591), a vinyl acetate-olefin copolymer, and a low-density polyolefin mixed with a self-emulsifying polyolefin and a thermal adhesive. 2) In this state, the heat bonding layer 32 is thermally transferred to the image receiving layer 13 by heating and pressing (FIG. 1B). 3) Thereafter, when the adhesive sheet 30 is peeled off from the image receiving sheet 10, only the support 31 which is a release paper is peeled off while the thermal adhesive layer 32 of the adhesive sheet 30 is adhered to the image receiving layer 13 (FIG. 1 (c)). Accordingly, the image receiving sheet 10 includes the cushion layer 12, the image receiving layer 13,
MY four color toner layer 23, and a thermal adhesive layer 32 thereon
Is placed.

Next, the image is transferred to the actual paper using the image receiving sheet 10 coated with the adhesive layer in this manner. The image transfer process is as shown in FIG. 1) The real paper 40 is overlaid on the image receiving sheet 10 obtained in FIG. At this time, the book paper 40 is overlaid on the adhesive layer 32 of the image receiving sheet 10 (FIG. 2A). 2) In this state, the sheets are passed through the transfer machine 50. Then, since two heat rollers (or between a heat roller and a normal roller) in a heated and pressurized state are provided in the transfer machine, the adhesive layer 32 is formed by passing between the two heat rollers. The paper 40 comes to adhere to each other (FIG. 2B). 3) After that, when the image receiving sheet 10 is peeled off from the main paper 40,
The KCMY colors wrapped in the image receiving layer 13 are transferred to the book paper 40 via the adhesive layer 32 on the book paper side, and the book paper having a predetermined color is obtained. (FIG. 2C).
The peeled image receiving sheet 10 is discarded. As described above, according to the present invention, the respective colors of KCMY wrapped in the image receiving layer 13 are adhered to the paper 40 via the adhesive layer 32, so that the adhesive force between the image receiving layer 13 and the paper 40 is increased, Conversely, since the adhesive force between the image receiving layer 13 and the cushion layer 12 becomes relatively weak, the peeling is always performed here, and the paper fibers on the surface of the paper as in the related art are removed from the image receiving layer 13 side. No peeling occurs.

FIG. 3 is a view showing some specific embodiments of the present invention for thermally transferring an adhesive layer onto an image receiving sheet. FIG. 3A shows a case where the thermal adhesive layer of the adhesive sheet 30 is thermally transferred to the image receiving sheet 10 side by using the transfer machine 50. That is, as described in FIG. 2, the transfer machine 50 is originally for transferring the KCMY toners of the image receiving sheet 10 to the actual paper, and for example, a heat roller 51 in a heated / pressurized state and a normal roller 52 It consists of. An adhesive sheet 3 is provided between these two heat rollers.
The adhesive layer of the adhesive sheet 30 and the image receiving sheet 10 are adhered to each other by high heating by passing the superposed sheet of the image receiving sheet 10 and the image receiving sheet 10. As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the transfer machine 50 originally used in this image recording method is used as it is, the thermal adhesive layer can be coated on the image receiving sheet without using any special device, which is convenient. Therefore, the cost is reduced.

FIG. 3B shows a case where the heat adhesive layer of the adhesive sheet 30 is thermally transferred to the image receiving sheet 10 side by using the heating roller 320 originally provided around the recording drum 60. That is, the heating roller 320 is a roller originally provided around the drum 310 of the recording unit 300 in the image recording apparatus in FIG. 8, and is for increasing the adhesion between the image receiving sheet 140 and the transfer sheet 240. . Therefore, the adhesive roller and the image receiving sheet are heated by reusing the heating roller 320 for improving the adhesion between the image receiving sheet and the transfer sheet. The heating roller 320 is moved onto the recording drum 60, and the heating roller 320 is pressed against the recording drum 60. The overlapping sheet of the adhesive sheet 30 and the image receiving sheet 10 passes between the rollers, thereby bonding the adhesive sheet 30. The layer and the image receiving sheet 10 are bonded to each other by high heat. According to this embodiment, since the heat roller 320 originally contained is used as it is, the heat bonding layer can be coated on the image receiving sheet without using a special device, so that it is convenient and the cost is reduced. .

FIG. 3C shows a case where the thermal adhesive layer of the adhesive sheet 30 is thermally transferred to the image receiving sheet 10 side by using the laser head 70 which irradiates the recording drum 60. That is, the laser head 70 emits the recording laser light toward the recording drum 60 and irradiates the recording medium including the image receiving sheet 10 and the transfer sheet 20 mounted on the recording drum 60 as described with reference to FIG. An image is formed. The use of this recording laser beam makes it possible to use the adhesive sheet 30 and the image receiving sheet
The recording layer is solid-recorded with the recording laser light, so that the adhesive layer of the adhesive sheet 30 and the image receiving sheet 10 adhere to each other with high heat. In this case, the configuration of the adhesive sheet 30 'used here is slightly different from that of the adhesive sheet 30 of FIG. That is, the adhesive sheet 30 ′
As shown in (b) of (c), the support is required to be transparent in order to transmit a laser beam. The light-to-heat conversion (IR) layer 22 of the transfer sheet 20 is disposed between the adhesive layer 32 and the adhesive layer 32. By using such an adhesive sheet 30 ′, efficient laser heating can be performed using the laser head 70 which is originally built in, and therefore the image of the thermal adhesive layer can be received without using a special heat transfer device. Since it can be coated on a sheet, it is convenient and the cost is low.

Although several embodiments of the application of the thermal adhesive layer by thermal transfer have been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and the adhesive may be applied to the surface of the image receiving sheet without using thermal transfer. Good. FIG. 9 shows an example. FIG.
(A) is an example of adhesive application using an adhesive sprayer according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 91 is an adhesive spraying device, 910 is a spray nozzle, and 911 is an adhesive tank. The adhesive tank 911 is filled with the thermal adhesive 32. Reference numeral 98 denotes a belt conveyor on which the image receiving sheet 10 to be coated with the thermal adhesive 32 is placed and transported. Above the belt conveyor 98, a leading edge detector 913 of the image receiving sheet 10 and a leading edge detector 9
14, and these detection signals are sent to the spray nozzle controller 915. The spray nozzle controller 915 sets the spray nozzle 910 to “open” by the detection signal of the tip detector 913,
The detection signal from the tip detector 914 is set to “close”. Therefore,
Now, when the placed image receiving sheet 10 moves from left to right in the figure, a signal is sent to the spray nozzle controller 915 when the leading edge detector 913 of the image receiving sheet 10 detects the leading edge, and the spray nozzle 910 starts spraying. I do. Thereby, the image receiving sheet 1
The heat bonding layer 32 is formed on 0. Then, another tip detector 91 downstream of the tip detector 913
4 detects the leading end of the image receiving sheet 10, sends a signal to the spray nozzle controller 915, and the spray nozzle 910 ends spraying. Thereby, the heat bonding layer 3 is formed on the image receiving sheet 10.
2 is formed in a necessary range. Image receiving sheet 1
Adjustment of the bonding start position and the bonding end position of the thermal bonding layer 32 on the zero is performed by moving the positions of the tip detector 913 and the tip detector 914. The image receiving sheet 10 thus obtained proceeds to the step shown in FIG. 2 and is transferred to the actual paper.

FIG. 9 (b) shows an example of adhesive application using an adhesive impregnated roller according to another embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, reference numeral 92 denotes an adhesive impregnated roller device;
0 is an adhesive impregnated roller, 921 is an adhesive tank, 922
Is an opening / closing stopper. By opening and closing the opening / closing stopper 922, the thermal adhesive 32 in the adhesive tank 9211 is dropped on the adhesive impregnated roller 920. Reference numeral 98 denotes a belt conveyor on which the image receiving sheet 10 to be coated with the thermal adhesive is placed and transported. On the belt conveyor 98, a leading edge detector 923 of the image receiving sheet 10 and a leading edge detector 924 downstream thereof are arranged, and these detection signals are sent to the impregnating roller controller 925. The impregnating roller controller 925 excites the electromagnetic plunger 926 with the detection signal of the tip detector 923 and moves it in the direction of arrow A, thereby moving the adhesive impregnating roller 920 onto the image receiving sheet 10. The impregnating roller controller 925 returns the electromagnetic plunger 926 in the direction indicated by the arrow B in response to the detection signal of the leading end detector 914, thereby separating the adhesive impregnating roller 920 from above the image receiving sheet 10. The impregnating roller controller 925 also prevents the surface of the adhesive impregnating roller 920 from drying out.
The opening / closing stopper 922 is appropriately opened, and the thermal adhesive 32 is dropped from the adhesive tank 9211 onto the adhesive impregnated roller 920. Then, the currently placed image receiving sheet 10 moves from left to right in the figure, and the leading edge detector 92 of the image receiving sheet 10 is moved.
3 detects the tip, and sends a signal to the impregnated roller controller 925.
Then, the rod of the electromagnetic plunger 926 moves in the direction of the arrow A, and the adhesive impregnated roller 920 starts to apply the thermal adhesive 32 onto the image receiving sheet 10. Thereby, the heat bonding layer 32 is formed on the image receiving sheet 10. When the leading edge detector 924 detects the leading edge of the image receiving sheet 10, a signal is sent to the impregnated roller controller 9.
25, whereby the rod of the electromagnetic plunger 926 returns in the direction of arrow B, the adhesive impregnated roller 920 separates from the image receiving sheet 10, and the application operation ends. As a result, the heat bonding layer 32 is formed on the image receiving sheet 10 in a necessary range. Thermal bonding layer 3 on image receiving sheet 10
Adjustment of the bonding start position and the bonding end position of 2 is performed by the tip detector 9.
23 and the tip detector 924. Next, the image receiving sheet 10 thus obtained is transferred to the process shown in FIG.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the adhesive layer is first applied onto the image receiving sheet after the toner transfer, the adhesive strength between the image receiving layer on the image receiving sheet and the toner surface and the paper is increased. Therefore, the cushion layer on the image receiving sheet always comes off. Therefore, even if the paper is uncoated, for example, recycled paper or woodfree paper, the paper does not peel off, and the transfer temperature, transfer speed, and transfer pressure of the transfer machine There is no need to lower the transfer conditions such as.

As a specific method of coating the thermal adhesive layer on the image receiving sheet, a heat roller 53 originally provided around a transfer machine and a recording drum, which is an indispensable device for the image recording apparatus, is used. Since a laser head that irradiates the recording drum 60 is used, the thermal adhesive layer can be coated on the image receiving sheet without using any special device, so that it is convenient and the cost is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a process of the present invention in which an image receiving sheet to which each color has been transferred is coated with an adhesive layer.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a process of transferring an image to a real paper using an image receiving sheet coated with an adhesive layer according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is each embodiment showing a specific method of heat transfer of an adhesive layer according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image recording apparatus using a laser head.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image receiving sheet and a transfer sheet mounted on a recording drum.

6 is a diagram illustrating a recording step of performing laser recording using the image receiving sheet having the configuration of FIG. 5 and K, C, M, and Y transfer sheets and a peeling step after recording.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional process of transferring four colors of KCMY on an image receiving sheet to a real paper.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically illustrating an image recording apparatus that performs the image recording method.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing each embodiment of application of an adhesive by a method other than thermal transfer.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 image receiving sheet 11 support 12 cushion layer 13 image receiving layer 20 transfer sheet 21 support (transparent) 22 light-to-heat conversion (IR) layer 23 toner layer 30, 30 'adhesive sheet 31 support (release paper) 32 thermal adhesive layer 40 paper Reference Signs List 50 transfer machine 51 heat roller 52 normal roller 60 recording drum 70 laser head 91 adhesive spray device 910 spray nozzle 911 adhesive tank 913, 914 tip detector 915 spray nozzle controller 92 adhesive impregnated roller device 920 adhesive impregnated roller 921 Adhesive tank 922 Opening / closing stopper 923, 924 Tip detector 925 Impregnating roller controller 926 Electromagnetic plunger 98 Belt conveyor 1 Image recording device 100 Image receiving sheet supply unit 130 Image receiving sheet roll 140 Image receiving sheet 142 Support layer 144 Image receiving layer 150 Image receiving sheet Transfer section 154, 155 transfer roller 156 support guide 160 image receiving sheet cutting section 200 transfer sheet supply section 210 rotating rack 213 rotating shaft 230 transfer sheet roll 240 transfer sheet 242 support layer 244 toner layer 250 transfer sheet feeding mechanism 252 motor 254 feed Roller 256 Support guide 270 Transfer sheet transport unit 274, 275 Transport roller 276 Guide 280 Transfer sheet cutting unit 300 Recording unit 310 Drum 320 Heating / pressurizing roller 350 Recording head 400 Discharge unit 410 Sheet common transport unit 412 Motors 414, 415, 416, 454, 455 Conveying rollers 418, 419 Support guide 438 Guide plate 440 Transfer sheet discharge section 450 Image receiving sheet discharge section 451 Image receiving sheet discharge port 458 Guide 10 body cover 511 lid 5 520 leg 540 transfer sheet collecting box 550 tray

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image recording method, comprising: an image receiving sheet transferring step of transferring toner of a transfer sheet to an image receiving sheet; and a book paper transferring step of transferring the toner transferred on the image receiving sheet to book paper. Between the transfer step and the paper transfer step,
An image recording method, further comprising: a heat bonding layer coating step of providing a heat bonding layer on the entire surface of the image receiving sheet obtained in the image receiving sheet transfer step. 2. The heat bonding layer covering step includes, on the image receiving sheet obtained in the image receiving sheet transfer step, an adhesive sheet comprising at least a heat bonding layer and a support from the front side, and applying the heat bonding layer to the image receiving sheet. Heat transfer with the sheet side overlaid,
2. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein the support of the adhesive sheet is peeled off from the thermal adhesive layer, and the thermal adhesive layer is left on the image receiving sheet side. 3. The paper transfer step is to transfer the paper to the paper by a transfer machine, and the heat bonding layer coating step is to place at least a surface of the image receiving sheet obtained in the image receiving sheet transfer step from the front side. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an adhesive sheet comprising a thermal adhesive layer and a support is heat-transferred through the transfer machine in a state where the thermal adhesive layer is placed on the image receiving sheet side. Method. 4. The image receiving sheet transferring step is performed by an image recording apparatus having a recording drum and a heat roller, and the heat bonding layer covering step is performed on the image receiving sheet obtained in the image receiving sheet transferring step. An adhesive sheet comprising at least a thermal adhesive layer and a support is placed on the recording drum from above with the thermal adhesive layer facing the image receiving sheet, and thermally transferred by the heat roller. 3. The image recording method according to claim 2, wherein: 5. The image receiving sheet transfer step is performed by an image recording apparatus having a recording drum and a recording laser, and the heat bonding layer coating step is performed on the image receiving sheet obtained in the image receiving sheet transfer step. An adhesive sheet comprising at least a thermal adhesive layer and a support is placed on the recording drum from above with the thermal adhesive layer facing the image receiving sheet, and the entire surface is recorded by the recording laser. 3. The image recording method according to claim 2, wherein: