JP2005104658A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recording device capable of reliably dropping sheet-like recording materials onto a loading face and neatly stacking them, easily taking out them, and preventing any dropping or discharging troubles from the loading face. <P>SOLUTION: In the image recording device 1 in which a sheet-like recording material 5 of a plastic supporting body of 4,500-6,500 N/mm<SP>2</SP>in Young's modulus and 100-250 μm in thickness is wound around a circumferential surface of a drum 30, the drum 30 is turned to perform the scanning exposure of the image, and the exposed sheet-like recording material 5 is discharged on an upper surface of the device by a pair of transfer rollers 70, a roller cover 41 which is also used for a guide of a rear end 5a of the sheet-like recording material 5 is provided on a lower roller 70a of the final pair of transfer rollers 70. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for scanning and exposing an image on a sheet-like recording material on a plastic support.

Conventional image recording apparatuses generally require a development process after completion of exposure, so that recorded materials are discharged from the side of the apparatus toward the entrance of the developing section. For example, a part of the image recording apparatus for color proof or the image recording apparatus for plate making film that does not require development processing exists, and it is a mechanism for discharging to the upper surface of the apparatus. A stacking surface is provided (for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-2001

  As described above, since the stacking surface is inclined obliquely downward, the unloaded sheet slides down the stacking surface and hits the stopper and stops. For this reason, when the next sheet is carried out, the leading edge of the sheet being discharged is caught at the rear end of the stacked sheet, causing the sheet to be folded or scratched. In addition, since the drop from the carry-out port to the stacking surface is small, the leading edge of the sheet immediately comes into contact with the stacking surface due to the curl. For this reason, even if a large-sized sheet exists on the stacking surface, the above problem is likely to occur. Further, since the stacking surface is flat, it is difficult to take out the stacked sheets, and the sheets may be broken and scratched.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and can reliably drop the sheet-like recording material onto the stacking surface and load it in an orderly manner, and can be easily taken out. An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus capable of preventing the above-described problem.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention is configured as follows.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a sheet-like recording material of a plastic support having a Young's modulus of 4500 to 6500 N / mm ² and a thickness of 100 to 250 μm is wound around the peripheral surface of the drum, and the drum is rotated to obtain an image by a light source. In the image recording apparatus that scans and exposes the exposed sheet-like recording material to the upper surface of the apparatus by a pair of conveyance rollers,
In the image recording apparatus, a roller cover that also serves as a guide for a rear end of the sheet-like recording material is provided on the lower roller of the last pair of conveying rollers.

  A second aspect of the present invention is the image recording apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein a stacking surface on which the discharged sheet-shaped recording material is stacked is substantially horizontal.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the angle of the roller cover is 5 to 30 degrees with respect to the vertical direction.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a tip end height of the roller cover is lower than a center of the lower roller. is there.

  The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the distance between the tip of the roller cover and the surface of the lower roller is 1 to 5 mm. An image recording apparatus.

  The image according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an air blowing means for blowing air from the inside of the roller cover toward the conveyance downstream direction. It is a recording device.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the drop from the discharge position of the sheet-shaped recording material to the stacking surface is 30 to 100 mm. It is a recording device.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a conveyance speed of the sheet-like recording material is 50 to 200 mm / sec. .

  The invention according to claim 9 is the image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a recess for taking out the sheet is provided on a stacking surface of the sheet-like recording material. .

  A tenth aspect of the present invention is the image recording apparatus according to the ninth aspect, wherein the depth of the concave portion for taking out the sheet is 10 to 20 mm.

  The invention according to claim 11 is the image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the stacking surface of the sheet-like recording material has irregularities extending in the conveying direction. .

  A twelfth aspect of the present invention is the image recording apparatus according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, wherein the stack surface of the sheet-shaped recording material is a conductive member.

  A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is the image recording apparatus according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, wherein a stacking surface of the sheet-shaped recording material is a metal.

  The invention according to claim 14 is characterized in that a protrusion for preventing sheet dropping is provided on the opposite side to the discharge position of the stacking surface of the sheet-like recording material. It is an image recording device of description.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the fourteenth aspect, the protrusion for preventing the sheet dropping is provided in the full width in the width direction.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the fourteenth aspect, the protrusion for preventing the sheet drop is divided into a plurality of two or more portions.

  The invention according to claim 17 is the image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein a static eliminating brush is attached to a tip of the roller cover.

  The invention according to claim 18 is the image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein a static eliminating brush is attached in the vicinity of the upper roller.

  According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to any one of the first to eighteenth aspects, the material of the plastic support is polyethylene terephthalate.

  The invention according to claim 20 is the image recording apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that the plastic support has a thickness of 170 to 180 μm.

The invention according to claim 21 is the image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the plastic support has a Young's modulus of 5000 to 6000 N / mm ^2. .

  With the above configuration, the present invention has the following effects.

  In the first aspect of the invention, the lower roller of the final conveying roller pair has a roller cover that also serves as a guide for the rear end of the sheet-like recording material, so that the leading end of the sheet-like recording material to be discharged is Guided by the roller cover, the sheets are stacked in an orderly manner without being caught on the rear end of the sheet-like recording material on the stacking surface. Further, even if the rear end of the sheet-like recording material is discharged, it is guided by the roller cover and reliably falls onto the stacking surface without being caught near the lower roller.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, even when continuous discharge is performed by making the stacking surface of the sheet-like recording material substantially horizontal, the leading end of the discharged sheet-like recording material is guided by the roller cover so that the sheet-like recording on the stacking surface is performed. It is loaded neatly without being caught at the rear end of the material.

  In the invention according to claim 3, the angle of the roller cover is 5 to 30 degrees with respect to the vertical direction, so that even if the rear end of the sheet-like recording material is discharged, it is guided by the roller cover and in the vicinity of the lower roller. It will surely fall on the loading surface without being caught.

  In the invention according to claim 4, since the tip height of the roller cover is lower than the center of the lower roller, the roller cover is guided near the lower roller even if the rear end of the sheet-like recording material is discharged. It will surely fall on the loading surface without being caught.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the distance between the front end of the roller cover and the surface of the lower roller is 1 to 5 mm, so that the lower end of the sheet-like recording material is guided by the roller cover even if the rear end is discharged. It will surely fall on the loading surface without being caught near the side roller.

  In the invention described in claim 6, by blowing air from the inner side of the roller cover toward the conveyance downstream direction, even if the rear end of the sheet-like recording material is discharged, it is sent by the air and caught near the lower roller. It surely falls on the loading surface.

  In the invention according to claim 7, the drop from the discharge position of the sheet-shaped recording material to the stacking surface is 30 to 100 mm, and even in continuous discharge by making the stacking surface of the sheet-shaped recording material substantially horizontal, The leading end of the discharged sheet recording material is stacked in an orderly manner without being caught by the trailing end of the sheet recording material on the stacking surface.

  In the invention according to claim 8, the conveyance speed of the sheet-like recording material is 50 to 200 mm / sec, so that the leading edge of the discharged sheet-like recording material is not caught by the trailing edge of the sheet-like recording material on the stacking surface. It is loaded with order and vigor.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the sheet-shaped recording material is damaged when the sheet-shaped recording material is taken out from the stacking surface by placing a fingertip on the concave portion by providing a recess for taking out the sheet on the sheet-shaped recording material stacking surface. Can be easily taken out without giving.

  In the invention according to claim 10, the depth of the recess for taking out the sheet is 10 to 20 mm, so that when the sheet-like recording material is taken out from the stacking surface by placing the fingertip on the recess having the predetermined depth, the sheet-like recording is performed. It can be easily removed without damaging the material.

  In the invention of claim 11, the stack surface of the sheet-shaped recording material has irregularities extending in the transport direction, and the contact area between the sheet-shaped recording material and the stack surface is reduced by the irregularities, thereby preventing catching.

  In the invention described in claim 12, the sheet-like recording material stacking surface is a conductive member, so that static electricity of the sheet-like recording material peeled and charged by the conveying roller pair can be removed, and discharge trouble due to sticking can be prevented. .

  In the invention described in claim 13, the sheet-like recording material stacking surface is made of metal, so that the static electricity of the sheet-like recording material peeled and charged by the conveying roller pair can be removed, and the discharge trouble due to sticking can be prevented.

  According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, by providing a protrusion for preventing sheet dropping on the side opposite to the discharge position on the stacking surface of the sheet-like recording material, the sheet-like recording material falls from the stacking surface even if it is ejected vigorously. Can be prevented.

  According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, by providing the sheet drop prevention protrusions in the full width direction, even if the sheet-like recording material is ejected vigorously, it can be prevented from dropping from the stacking surface.

  According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, by providing the sheet drop prevention protrusions in a plurality of two or more portions, it is possible to prevent the sheet-like recording material from dropping from the stacking surface even if it is ejected vigorously.

  In the invention described in claim 17, by attaching a static eliminating brush to the tip of the roller cover, static electricity of the peeled and charged sheet-like recording material can be removed, and a discharge trouble due to sticking can be prevented.

  According to the invention described in claim 18, by attaching a static eliminating brush near the upper roller, static electricity of the sheet-like recording material that has been peeled and charged can be removed, and a discharge trouble due to sticking can be prevented.

  In the invention described in claim 19, the material of the plastic support is preferably polyethylene terephthalate from the viewpoint of transportability and easy handling as a recording medium.

  In the invention described in Item 20, the thickness of the plastic support is 170 to 180 μm, and is preferably 170 to 180 μm from the viewpoint of transportability and ease of handling as a recording medium.

In the invention described in claim 21, the Young's modulus of the plastic support is 5000 to 6000 N / mm ² , so that it has a predetermined elasticity and is smoothly conveyed.

  Hereinafter, although an embodiment of an image recording apparatus of the present invention will be described, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The embodiment of the present invention shows the most preferable mode of the present invention, and the terminology of the present invention is not limited to this.

  1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the image recording apparatus, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image recording apparatus, FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a discharge unit, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the discharge unit. The image recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes a supply unit 2, a recording unit 3, and a discharge unit 4. A single or a plurality of sheet-like recording material magazines 20 are arranged in the supply unit 2, and the sheet-like recording material 5 is supplied from the magazine 20 to the recording unit 3 through the supply path 6. The recording unit 3 includes a drum 30 and an exposure unit 31, and the sheet-like recording material 5 is wound around the circumferential surface of the drum 30, the drum 30 is rotated, and the image is scanned and exposed by the light source of the exposure unit 31. Record. The sheet-like recording material 5 on which the image is recorded is discharged onto the tray 40 of the discharge unit 4 through the discharge path 7.

  This sheet-like recording material 5 is configured as shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the layer structure of the sheet-like recording material.

The sheet-like recording material 5 of this embodiment is a printing plate having at least a hydrophilic layer 51 and a heat-sensitive image forming layer 52 on a plastic support 50 having infrared light transmittance. As the plastic support 50, for example, a polyethylene terephthalate base is preferably used. From the viewpoint of transportability and ease of handling as a recording medium, the Young's modulus is preferably 4500 to 6500 N / mm ² and the thickness is preferably 100 to 250 μm, and more preferably the Young's modulus. Is 5000 to 6000 N / mm ² and has a thickness of 170 to 180 μm.

  The discharge part 4 of this embodiment is configured as shown in FIGS. The discharge part 4 of this embodiment is arrange | positioned at the apparatus upper part. A conveyance roller pair 70 is disposed in the discharge path 7, and the sheet-like recording material 5 on which an image is recorded by the conveyance roller pair 70 is discharged to the discharge unit 4.

  The final conveying roller pair 70 includes a lower roller 70a and an upper roller 70b, and a roller cover 41 that also serves as a guide for the rear end 5a of the sheet-like recording material 5 is provided on the lower roller 70a.

  A stacking surface 4a on which the discharged sheet-like recording material 5 is stacked is formed in the discharge unit 4, and the stacking surface 4a is substantially horizontal. The leading edge 5b of the discharged sheet-shaped recording material 5 is guided by the roller cover 41 and is stacked in an orderly manner without being caught on the rear end 5a of the sheet-shaped recording material 5 on the stacking surface 4a. Even if the rear end 5a of the sheet-like recording material 5 is discharged, it is guided by the roller cover 41 and reliably falls onto the stacking surface 4a without being caught near the lower roller 70a.

  Further, even when continuous discharge is performed by making the stacking surface 4a substantially horizontal, the leading end 5b of the sheet-like recording material 5 to be discharged is guided by the roller cover 41 to the rear end 5a of the sheet-like recording material 5 on the stacking surface 4a. It is loaded neatly without getting caught.

  The angle θ1 of the roller cover 41 is 5 to 30 degrees with respect to the vertical direction, and even if the rear end 5a of the sheet-like recording material 5 is discharged, the roller cover 41 is reliably guided without being caught near the lower roller. It falls on the loading surface 4a. The angle θ1 of the roller cover 41 is not 5 to 30 degrees with respect to the vertical direction. When the inclination is a gradual inclination below this setting, even if the rear end 5a of the sheet-like recording material 5 is discharged, Not sent out. On the other hand, when the angle θ1 of the roller cover 41 is steep and greater than the set inclination, even if the rear end 5a of the sheet-like recording material 5 is discharged, the roller cover 41 falls without being guided by the roller cover 41.

  The tip height of the roller cover 41 is H1, the center height of the lower roller 70a is H2, and the tip height of the roller cover 41 is lower than the center of the lower roller 70a. As described above, since the tip end height of the roller cover 41 is lower than the center of the lower roller 70a, even if the rear end 5a of the sheet-like recording material 5 is discharged, it is guided by the roller cover 41 and in the vicinity of the lower roller 70a. It is surely dropped onto the loading surface 4a without being caught by the.

  The distance D1 from the tip 41a of the roller cover 41 to the surface of the lower roller 70a is 1 to 5 mm. When the distance D1 is not 1 to 5 mm and is narrower than the specified distance, the tip 41a of the roller cover 41 contacts the surface of the lower roller 70a and damages the surface of the lower roller 70a, or obstructs rotation. It becomes. On the other hand, when the distance D1 is greater than or equal to the specified distance and there is a large interval, the leading edge 5b of the discharged sheet-like recording material 5 may be caught in the interval. Since the distance D1 between the front end 5b of the roller cover 41 and the surface of the lower roller 70a is 1 to 5 mm, the lower roller is guided by the roller cover 41 even when the rear end 5a of the sheet-like recording material 5 is discharged. It is surely dropped onto the loading surface 4a without being caught in the vicinity.

  Further, an air blowing means 45 for blowing air from the inside of the roller cover 41 toward the conveyance downstream direction is provided. As shown in FIG. 6, the air blowing means 45 is constituted by, for example, a blower fan 45a. The air from the blower fan 45a is guided from the blower duct 45b to the blower hole 41b formed in the roller cover 41, and the air is blown out from the blower hole 41b toward the conveyance downstream direction from the inside of the roller cover 41. In this way, by blowing air from the inner side of the roller cover 41 toward the conveyance downstream direction, even if the rear end 5a of the sheet-like recording material 5 is discharged, it is reliably sent without being caught in the vicinity of the lower roller. Falls onto the loading surface 4a.

  The drop D2 from the discharge position of the sheet-like recording material 5 to the stacking surface 4a is 30 to 100 mm. The discharge position of the sheet-like recording material 5 is between the lower roller 70a and the upper roller 70b, and the drop D2 is not 30 to 100 mm. If there is no drop below this specified drop, the sheet-like recording material 5 Can not be placed. On the other hand, when the head D2 is equal to or larger than the predetermined head and the head is large, the rear end 5a of the sheet-like recording material 5 is difficult to guide with the roller cover 41, and the head D2 is 30 to 100 mm. Even when continuous discharge is performed by making the stacking surface 4a of the material 5 substantially horizontal, the leading end 5b of the discharged sheet-like recording material 5 is neatly stacked without being caught by the rear end 5a of the sheet-like recording material 5 on the stacking surface 4a. The

  Moreover, the conveyance speed of the sheet-like recording material 5 is 50-200 mm / sec. When the conveyance speed is not 50 to 200 mm / sec and is equal to or less than the specified conveyance speed, not only the processing capacity is lowered, but also the sheet-like recording material 5 may not be ejected vigorously and may be caught near the lower roller. On the other hand, if the conveying speed is equal to or higher than the prescribed conveying speed, there is a possibility that the sheet-like recording material 5 is discharged too much and falls off the loading surface 4a. When the conveyance speed of the sheet-like recording material 5 is 50 to 200 mm / sec, the leading edge 5b of the discharged sheet-like recording material 5 is urged without being caught by the rear end 5a of the sheet-like recording material 5 on the stacking surface 4a. Loaded well.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the stacking surface 4a of the sheet-like recording material 5 is provided with a recess 4a1 for taking out the sheet. By providing the recess 4a1 for taking out the sheet, it is possible to easily take out the sheet-like recording material 5 without damaging the sheet-like recording material 5 when the fingertip is put on the recess 4a1 and the sheet-like recording material 5 is taken out from the stacking surface 4a. The depth of the recess 4a1 for taking out the sheet is 10 to 20 mm. If the depth of the recess 4a1 is shallow, the fingertip cannot be hung, and if it is too deep, the sheet-like recording material 5 may hang down and be supported on a flat surface. Since the depth of the concave portion 4a1 is 10 to 20 mm, the sheet-like recording material 5 can be easily damaged without removing the sheet from the stacking surface 4a by placing the fingertip on the concave portion 4a1 having a predetermined depth. Can be taken out.

  Further, the stacking surface 4a of the sheet-like recording material 5 has a plurality of irregularities 4a2 extending in the transport direction, as shown in FIG. The unevenness 4a2 is formed of ribs, and the contact area between the sheet-like recording material 5 and the stacking surface 4a is reduced by the unevenness 4a2, thereby preventing catching.

  Further, the stacking surface 4a of the sheet-like recording material 5 is a conductive member, and the apparatus top plate 60 is formed of a conductive member as shown in FIG. A sheet may be provided as the stacking surface 4a, and the static electricity of the sheet-like recording material 5 peeled and charged by the conveying roller pair 70 can be removed, and a discharge trouble due to sticking can be prevented.

  Further, the stacking surface 4a of the sheet-like recording material 5 may be a metal. The device top plate 60 may be formed of metal, or a separate metal plate may be provided on the device top plate 60 to form the loading surface 4a. Since the stacking surface 4a is made of metal, static electricity of the sheet-like recording material 5 peeled and charged by the conveying roller pair 70 can be removed, and discharge trouble due to sticking can be prevented.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a protrusion 4a3 for preventing sheet dropping is provided on the side opposite to the discharge position of the stacking surface 4a of the sheet-like recording material 5. Although the sheet dropping prevention protrusion 4a3 is provided in the full width direction, as shown in FIG. 7, the sheet dropping prevention protrusion 4a3 may be divided into a plurality of two or more parts. By providing the protrusion 4a3 for preventing sheet dropping on the opposite side to the discharge position of the stacking surface 4a of the sheet-like recording material 5, even if the sheet-like recording material 5 is discharged with great force, it comes into contact with the protrusion 4a3 from the stacking surface 4a. It can prevent falling.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the static eliminating brush 61 is attached to the tip 41 a of the roller cover 41. Further, a neutralizing brush 63 is attached to the discharge portion of the apparatus cover 62, and the neutralizing brush 63 is disposed in the vicinity of the upper roller. As described above, by attaching the neutralizing brushes 61 and 63, the neutralizing brushes 61 and 63 can be brought into contact with both surfaces of the sheet-like recording material 5 that is peeled and charged at the time of ejection, and static electricity can be removed.

Hereinafter, the sheet-like recording material of this embodiment will be described in detail.
<Plastic support>
Examples of the plastic support used in this embodiment include polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate, polyimide, polyamide, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyphenylene oxide, and cellulose esters. Particularly preferred are polyester films such as polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate. The thickness of the plastic support is preferably from 100 to 250 m, particularly preferably from 170 to 180 m, from the viewpoint of transportability in the recording production apparatus and ease of handling as recording.

  The surface of the plastic support may be subjected to corona discharge treatment, flame treatment, plasma treatment, ultraviolet irradiation treatment, etc. in order to ensure adhesion with the hydrophilic layer. Further, the surface of the support can be mechanically roughened by sandblasting, brush polishing or the like. Furthermore, an undercoat layer made of latex having a hydrophilic functional group or a water-soluble resin may be provided on the surface of the plastic support.

  The transmittance of the sheet-like recording material 5 at the wavelength of the light source used is preferably 1 to 30%, more preferably 1 to 5%, and the transmittance of the plastic support is a preferred embodiment.

The light source used in this embodiment is a semiconductor laser, and the image plane power during image recording is preferably 100 to 400 mJ / cm ² . Examples of the laser light source include an argon laser, a He—Ne gas laser, a YAG laser, and a semiconductor laser.

  Since a semiconductor laser having a relatively long wavelength in the infrared region is advantageously used, in order to obtain the above-described transmittance, a compound that absorbs, diffuses, and reflects light having these wavelengths may be included.

  Examples of the compound that reflects and diffuses light having an exposure wavelength include titanium oxide, barium sulfate, zinc oxide, calcium carbonate, polyethylene, and the like. When forming a plastic support, it is dispersed and mixed in the raw material plastic. It is preferable.

The compound having absorption at the exposure wavelength can be selected from carbon black, phthalocyanine copper, iron, aluminum, titanium metal salts, cyanine dyes, polymethine dyes, squalium dyes, etc., and forms a substrate. In this case, it is preferable that the raw material is dispersed and mixed in the raw material plastic.
<Functional layer>
The functional layer of the sheet-like recording material of this embodiment is composed of a hydrophilic layer and a heat-sensitive image forming layer provided thereon.
(Hydrophilic layer)
A hydrophilic layer is a layer which has a function which does not deposit printing ink at the time of printing, The following are mentioned as a raw material which forms this hydrophilic layer.

  The material for forming the hydrophilic layer comprises an organic hydrophilic matrix structure obtained by crosslinking or pseudo-crosslinking an organic hydrophilic polymer, or hydrolysis or condensation reaction of polyalkoxysilane, titanate, zirconate or aluminate. Inorganic hydrophilic matrix structures, metal oxides and the like obtained by sol-gel conversion are preferably used. The hydrophilic layer preferably contains metal oxide fine particles, and examples thereof include colloidal silica, alumina sol, titania sol, and other metal oxide sols.

  The form of the metal oxide fine particles may be spherical, needle-like, feather-like, or any other form. The average particle diameter is preferably 3 to 100 nm, and several types of metal oxides having different average particle diameters are used. Fine particles can be used in combination. Moreover, surface treatment may be performed on the particle surface.

  The metal oxide fine particles can be used as a binder by utilizing the film forming property. The decrease in hydrophilicity is less than when an organic binder is used, and it is suitable for use in a hydrophilic layer.

  Among the above, colloidal silica can be preferably used for the hydrophilic layer. Colloidal silica has the advantage of high film-forming properties even under relatively low temperature drying conditions, and can provide good strength. The colloidal silica that can be used in this embodiment preferably includes necklace-like colloidal silica and fine particle colloidal silica having an average particle size of 20 nm or less. Further, when colloidal silica is a colloidal solution, it exhibits alkalinity. preferable.

  As a porous material having a matrix structure, which is one of the materials forming the hydrophilic layer, porous metal oxide particles having a particle size of less than 1 μm can be used. As the porous metal oxide particles, the following porous silica particles, porous aluminosilicate particles, or zeolite particles can be preferably used.

  The porous silica particles are generally produced by a wet method or a dry method. In the wet method, the gel obtained by neutralizing the aqueous silicate solution can be obtained by drying and pulverizing, or by pulverizing the precipitate deposited by neutralization. In the dry method, silicon tetrachloride is burned together with hydrogen and oxygen to obtain silica. These particles can be controlled in their porosity and particle size by adjusting the production conditions. As the porous silica particles, those obtained from a wet gel are particularly preferable.

  The porosity of the particles is preferably 0.5 ml / g or more in terms of pore volume, more preferably 0.8 ml / g or more, and further preferably 1.0 to 2.5 ml / g. preferable. The pore volume is closely related to the water retention of the coating film. The larger the pore volume, the better the water retention, the less likely to get dirty during printing, and the greater the water volume latitude.

  The hydrophilic layer of the sheet-like recording material can contain layered clay mineral particles. Examples of the layered mineral particles include kaolinite, halloysite, talc, smectite (montmorillonite, beidellite, hectorite, sabonite, etc.), clay minerals such as vermiculite, mica (mica), chlorite, hydrotalcite, layered polysilicic acid. And salts (casmite, macatite, ialite, magadiite, kenyaite, etc.). In particular, the higher the charge density of the unit layer (unit layer), the higher the polarity and the higher the hydrophilicity (preferably the charge density is 0.25 or more, more preferably 0.6 or more. Such charge. Examples of the layered mineral having density include smectite (charge density 0.25 to 0.6; negative charge), vermiculite (charge density 0.6 to 0.9; negative charge), etc. Those having stable quality such as particle size can be obtained, and among the synthetic fluorine mica, those that are swellable are preferable, and those that are free swell are more preferable.

  Use the layered mineral intercalation compounds (pillar crystals, etc.), those that have been subjected to ion exchange treatment, and those that have been subjected to surface treatment (such as silane coupling treatment or compounding treatment with an organic binder). Can do.

  As the size of the flat lamellar mineral particles, the average particle diameter (maximum length of the particles) is less than 1 μm in the state of being contained in the layer (including the case where the swelling process and the dispersion peeling process have been performed). The aspect ratio is preferably 50 or more. When the particle size is in the above range, the continuity and flexibility in the planar direction, which are the characteristics of the thin layered particles, are imparted to the coating film, and it is difficult for cracks to occur, and a tough coating film can be obtained in a dry state. In a coating solution containing a large amount of particulate matter, sedimentation of the particulate matter can be suppressed due to the thickening effect of the layered clay mineral. When the particle diameter is larger than the above range, the coating film may be non-uniform, and the strength may be locally reduced. On the other hand, when the aspect ratio is not more than the above range, the number of tabular grains with respect to the addition amount is reduced, the viscosity is insufficient, and the effect of suppressing sedimentation of the particulate matter is reduced.

  The content of the layered mineral particles is preferably 0.1 to 30% by mass, and more preferably 1 to 10% by mass based on the entire layer. In particular, swellable synthetic fluorinated mica and smectite are preferable because they are effective even when added in a small amount. The layered mineral particles may be added to the coating solution in powder form, but in order to obtain a good degree of dispersion even with a simple preparation method (no need for a dispersion step such as media dispersion), the layered mineral particles are used alone. It is preferable to prepare the gel swollen in water and add it to the coating solution.

  As other additive materials for the hydrophilic layer, an aqueous silicate solution can be used. By a so-called sol-gel method using a metal alkoxide, which is preferably an alkali metal silicate such as Na silicate, K silicate or Li silicate. Inorganic polymers or organic-inorganic hybrid polymers can also be used. The formation of an inorganic polymer or an organic-inorganic hybrid polymer by a sol-gel method is described in, for example, “Application of Sol-Gel Method” (written by Sakuo Sakuo / Agne Jofusha) or a known method. Can be used.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, you may contain water-soluble resin. Examples of the water-soluble resin include polysaccharides, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinyl ether, styrene-butadiene copolymer, conjugated diene polymer latex of methyl methacrylate-butadiene copolymer. Examples thereof include resins such as acrylic polymer latex, vinyl polymer latex, polyacrylamide, sodium polyacrylate, and polyvinylpyrrolidone, and it is preferable to use a polysaccharide as the water-soluble resin.

  As polysaccharides, starches, celluloses, polyuronic acids, pullulans and the like can be used, but cellulose derivatives such as methyl cellulose salts, carboxymethyl cellulose salts, hydroxyethyl cellulose salts are particularly preferable, and sodium salts and ammonium salts of carboxymethyl cellulose are preferable. More preferred. This is because an effect of forming the surface shape of the hydrophilic layer in a preferable state can be obtained by including the polysaccharide in the hydrophilic layer.

  The surface of the hydrophilic layer preferably has a concavo-convex structure with a pitch of 0.1 to 20 μm like the aluminum grain of the PS plate, and this concavo-convex improves water retention and image area retention). The structure can be formed by containing an appropriate amount of filler having an appropriate particle size in the hydrophilic layer, but the hydrophilic colloidal silica and the aforementioned water-soluble polysaccharide are added to the hydrophilic layer coating solution. It is preferable that a structure having better printability can be obtained by forming and forming a phase separation when the hydrophilic layer is applied and dried.

  The shape of the concavo-convex structure (pitch and surface roughness, etc.) includes the type and amount of alkaline colloidal silica, the type and amount of water-soluble polysaccharide, the type and amount of other additives, the solid content concentration of the coating solution, and the wetness It is possible to appropriately control the film thickness, drying conditions, and the like.

  As inorganic particles that can be used in this embodiment, for example, known metal oxide particles such as silica, alumina, titania, zirconia can be used, but in order to suppress sedimentation in the coating solution, It is preferable to use porous metal oxide particles. As the porous metal oxide particles, the aforementioned porous silica particles and porous aluminosilicate particles can be preferably used.

  Examples of the particles coated with an inorganic material include particles in which organic particles such as polymethyl methacrylate and polystyrene are used as a core material, and the particles are coated with inorganic particles having a particle diameter smaller than that of the core material particles. The particle size of the inorganic particles is preferably about 1/10 to 1/100 of the core particles. As the inorganic particles, known metal oxide particles such as silica, alumina, titania, zirconia, etc. can be used. Various known methods can be used as the coating method, but the core material particles and the coating material particles collide with each other at high speed in the air like a hybridizer to cause the coating material particles to bite into the surface of the core material particles. It is preferable to use a dry coating method of fixing and coating.

  Moreover, the particle | grains which carried out the metal plating of the core material of an organic particle can also be used. Examples of such particles include “Microbar AU” manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. in which resin particles are plated with gold.

  The particle size is preferably 1 to 10 μm, more preferably 1.5 to 8 μm, and still more preferably 2 to 6 μm.

  The hydrophilic layer as a whole preferably has a low content ratio of materials containing carbon such as organic resin and carbon black in order to improve hydrophilicity, and the total of these materials is preferably less than 9% by mass. More preferably, it is less than 5 mass%.

  In this embodiment, the hydrophilic layer may consist of a plurality. For example, another hydrophilic layer (intermediate hydrophilic layer) can be provided on one hydrophilic layer. When the intermediate hydrophilic layer is provided, the same material as the hydrophilic layer can be used as the material used for the intermediate hydrophilic layer.

  At least one of the hydrophilic layer and the heat-sensitive image forming layer contains a photothermal conversion material in order to have a function of converting laser light into heat. The thickness of the layer containing the photothermal conversion material is 1 μm to 5 μm from the viewpoint of photothermal conversion efficiency.

  When both the hydrophilic layer and the heat-sensitive image forming layer contain a photothermal conversion material, the thickness of the layer containing the photothermal conversion material is the total thickness of both. In this embodiment, it is particularly preferable that the hydrophilic layer contains a photothermal conversion material. The transmittance can be adjusted by adjusting the content of the hydrophilic layer of the photothermal conversion material, the content in the image forming layer, and the thickness of the content layer, but the content of the photothermal conversion material is adjusted to the content layer. On the other hand, it is 0.1 to 60% by mass, preferably 3 to 60% by mass, and more preferably 3 to 45% by mass.

  As the photothermal conversion material, infrared absorbing dyes, inorganic / organic pigments, metals, and metal oxides are preferable, and the following materials can be given as shells.

  Infrared absorbing dyes include cyanine dyes, croconium dyes, polymethine dyes, azurenium dyes, squalium dyes, thiopyrylium dyes, naphthoquinone dyes, anthraquinone dyes and other organic compounds, phthalocyanine dyes, naphthalocyanine dyes, Examples include azo-based, thioamide-based, dithiol-based, and indoaniline-based organometallic complexes. Specifically, JP-A-63-139191, JP-A-64-33547, JP-A-1-160683, JP-A-1-280750, JP-A-1-293342, JP-A-2-2074, Kaihei 3-26593, JP-A-3-30991, JP-A-3-34891, JP-A-3-36093, JP-A-3-36094, JP-A-3-36095, JP-A-3-42281, JP-A-3-42281 Examples thereof include compounds described in JP-A-3-97589, JP-A-3-103476, and the like. These can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  Examples of the pigment include carbon, graphite, metal, metal oxide and the like. As carbon, it is particularly preferable to use furnace black or acetylene black. (The particle size (d50) is preferably 100 nm or less, and more preferably 50 nm or less.

  As the graphite, fine particles having a particle size of 0.5 μm or less, preferably 100 nm or less, more preferably 50 nm or less can be used.

  As the metal, any metal can be used as long as the particle diameter is 0.5 μm or less, preferably 100 nm or less, more preferably 50 nm or less. The shape may be any shape such as a spherical shape, a piece shape, or a needle shape. Colloidal metal fine particles (Ag, Au, etc.) are particularly preferable.

  As the metal oxide, a material that is black in the visible light region, or a material that has conductivity or is a semiconductor can be used.

  The content of these photothermal conversion materials in the hydrophilic layer and the image forming layer is 0.1 to 60% by mass, preferably 3 to 60% by mass, and more preferably 3 to 45% by mass.

Moreover, when it has a hydrophilic layer and an intermediate | middle hydrophilic layer and both layers contain a photothermal conversion material, the addition amount of a photothermal conversion material may differ in a hydrophilic layer and an intermediate | middle hydrophilic layer.
<Thermosensitive image forming layer>
The heat-sensitive image forming layer of this embodiment is a layer capable of forming an image by image-like heating, and contains heat-meltable fine particles and / or heat-fusible fine particles.

  The heat-meltable fine particles are fine particles formed of a material that has a low viscosity when melted, and is generally classified as a wax, among thermoplastic materials. The physical properties are preferably a softening point of 40 ° C. or higher and 120 ° C. or lower, a melting point of 60 ° C. or higher and 100 ° C. or lower, more preferably a softening point of 40 ° C. or higher and 100 ° C. or lower, and a melting point of 60 ° C. or higher and 120 ° C. or lower.

  Examples of usable materials include paraffin wax, polyolefin, polyethylene wax, microcrystalline wax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, montan wax, and fatty acid wax. These have a molecular weight of about 800 to 10,000, and in order to facilitate emulsification, these waxes can be oxidized to introduce polar groups such as a hydroxyl group, an ester group, a carboxyl group, an aldehyde group, and a peroxide group. Furthermore, in order to lower the softening point and improve the workability, these waxes include, for example, stearoamide, linolenamide, lauryl amide, mysteramide, hardened bovine fatty acid amide, valmitamide, oleic acid amide, rice sugar fatty acid amide, It is also possible to add coconut fatty acid amides or methylolated products of these fatty acid amides, methylene bisstellaramide, ethylene bisstellaramide and the like. Coumarone-indene resin, rosin-modified phenol resin, terpene-modified phenol resin, xylene resin, ketone resin, acrylic resin, ionomer, and copolymers of these resins can also be used.

  Among these, it is preferable to contain any of polyethylene wax, microcrystalline wax, carnauba wax, fatty acid ester, and fatty acid. Since these materials have a relatively low melting point and a low melt viscosity, high-sensitivity image formation can be performed. Further, since these materials have lubricity, damage when a shearing force is applied to the surface of the recording material is reduced, and durability against printing stains due to scratches or the like is improved.

  The heat-meltable fine particles are preferably dispersible in water, and the average particle size is preferably 0.01 to 10 μm, more preferably 0.1 to 3 μm.

  Moreover, the composition of the inside and the surface layer of the heat-meltable fine particles may be continuously changed, or may be coated with a different material. As a coating method, a known microcapsule formation method, a sol-gel method, or the like can be used.

  As content of the heat-meltable microparticles | fine-particles in a structural layer, 1-90 mass% of the whole layer is preferable, and 5-80 mass% is more preferable.

  Examples of the heat-fusible fine particles that can also be used in the heat-sensitive image forming layer of this embodiment include thermoplastic hydrophobic polymer polymer fine particles, and the softening temperature of the thermoplastic hydrophobic polymer polymer particles Although there is no specific upper limit, the temperature is preferably lower than the decomposition temperature of the polymer particles. Moreover, it is preferable that the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of a high molecular weight polymer is the range of 10,000-1,000,000.

  Specific examples of the polymer constituting the polymer particles include, for example, diene (co) polymers such as polypropylene, polybutadiene, polyisoprene and ethylene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, Synthetic rubbers such as methyl methacrylate-butadiene copolymer, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer, polymethyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate- (2-ethylhexyl acrylate) copolymer, methyl methacrylate-methacrylic acid copolymer, methyl acrylate- ( (N-methylolacrylamide) copolymer, (meth) acrylic acid ester such as polyacrylonitrile, (meth) acrylic acid (co) polymer, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl acetate-vinyl propionate copolymer, vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer Combined vinyl Ester (co) polymer, vinyl acetate - (2-ethylhexyl acrylate) copolymers, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polystyrene and copolymers thereof. Of these, (meth) acrylic acid esters, (meth) acrylic acid (co) polymers, vinyl ester (co) polymers, polystyrene, and synthetic rubbers are preferably used.

  The polymer polymer fine particles may be composed of a polymer polymer polymerized by any known method such as an emulsion polymerization method, a suspension polymerization method, a solution polymerization method, and a gas phase polymerization method. As a method of microparticulating a polymer polymer polymerized by a solution polymerization method or a gas phase polymerization method, a method of spraying a solution in an organic solvent of the polymer polymer into an inert gas and drying to form particles, Examples thereof include a method in which a high molecular weight polymer is dissolved in a water-immiscible organic solvent, this solution is dispersed in water or an aqueous medium, and the organic solvent is distilled off to form fine particles. In any of the methods, the heat-meltable fine particles and the heat-fusible fine particles may be used as a dispersant or a stabilizer, for example, when polymerized or finely divided, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, polyethylene. A surfactant such as glycol or a water-soluble resin such as polyvinyl alcohol may be used. Further, triethylamine, triethanolamine or the like may be contained.

  The thermoplastic fine particles are preferably dispersible in water, and the average particle diameter is preferably 0.01 to 10 μm, more preferably 0.1 to 3 μm.

  The thermoplastic fine particles may be continuously coated with different materials or the composition of the inside and the surface layer may be changed. As a coating method, a known microcapsule forming method, a sol-gel method, or the like can be used.

  As content of the thermoplastic fine particle in a structure layer, 1-90 mass% of the whole layer is preferable, and 5-80 mass% is further more preferable.

  The heat-sensitive image forming layer of this embodiment can further contain a water-soluble material. By containing the water-soluble material, when removing the heat-sensitive image forming layer in the unexposed area using dampening water or ink on the printing press, the removability can be improved.

  As the water-soluble material, the water-soluble resins mentioned as materials that can be contained in the hydrophilic layer can be used, but it is preferable to use saccharides for the image formation of this embodiment, and in particular to use oligosaccharides. Is preferred.

  Among oligosaccharides, trehalose is relatively inexpensive and can be obtained industrially at low cost. Despite its high solubility in water, its hygroscopicity is very low, and both developability and storage stability are available. Very good.

  In addition, oligosaccharide hydrate is melted by heat to remove the water of hydration and then coagulated to form anhydrous crystals (for a short time after coagulation), but trehalose has a melting point of anhydride more than hydrate. It is characteristic that it is higher than 100 ° C. This means that immediately after being melted by infrared exposure and re-solidified, the exposed part is in a state of being difficult to melt at a high melting point, and it is effective in preventing image defects during exposure such as banding. Of the oligosaccharides, trehalose is preferred.

The oligosaccharide content in the heat-sensitive image forming layer is preferably from 1 to 90% by mass, more preferably from 10 to 80% by mass, based on the entire layer.
(Back coat layer)
A back coat layer may be formed on the back surface of the sheet-like recording material of this embodiment. In addition to the binder component and the mat material, it is preferable to add a compound that imparts surface lubricity and conductivity to the back coat layer.

  As binders, gelatin, polyvinyl alcohol, polymethylcellulose, nitrocellulose, acetylcellulose, aromatic polyamide resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, alkyd resin, phenol resin, melamine resin, fluorine resin, polyimide resin, urethane resin, acrylic resin, Urethane-modified silicone resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, Teflon (R) resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, vinyl chloride resin, polyvinyl acetate, polycarbonate, organic boron compounds, aromatic esters, fluorinated polyurethane, polyethersulfone, polyester resin A general-purpose polymer such as a polyamide resin, a polystyrene resin, or a copolymer mainly composed of these monomers can be used. The use of a crosslinkable binder as the binder is effective for preventing the mat material from falling off and improving the scratch resistance of the backcoat. It is also very effective for blocking during storage. This cross-linking means can be employed without any particular limitation on any one or combination of heat, actinic rays and pressure according to the characteristics of the cross-linking agent used. Depending on the case, in order to provide the adhesiveness to a base material, you may provide arbitrary easy-adhesion layers in the side which provides the backcoat layer of a base material.

  As the mat material preferably added to the back coat layer, organic or inorganic fine particles can be used. Examples of the organic fine particles include organic fine particles made of a resin such as a silicone resin, a fluororesin, an acrylic resin, a methacrylic resin, and a melamine resin. Among these, a silicone resin, an acrylic resin, and a methacrylic resin are preferable. Examples thereof include polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, fine particles of other radical polymerization polymers, and fine particles of condensation polymers such as polyester and polycarbonate. Examples of the inorganic fine particles include inorganic fine particles such as silicon oxide, calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, aluminum oxide, zinc oxide, barium sulfate, and zinc sulfate. Among these, titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, and silicon oxide are preferable.

The average particle size of the inorganic fine particles is preferably 0.5 to 20 μm, more preferably 1 to 10 μm. If the average particle size is less than 0.5 μm, the backcoat layer cannot be sufficiently roughened, and a long-time pressure reduction is required to obtain uniform adhesion. If it exceeds 20 μm, the back coat layer is too rough and the smoother value becomes large, and stable adhesion to the fixing member cannot be ensured.

The back coat layer is preferably provided at a weight of about 0.5 to 3 g / m ² . When the matting agent is not added, the attached amount of the back coat layer is preferably 0.01 to 1.0 g / m ² .

  As content of the said microparticles | fine-particles, 0.5-80 mass% is preferable with respect to the total solid content mass of a backcoat layer, and 1-20 mass% is more preferable.

  For the purpose of adjusting the surface slipperiness, it is also preferable to add various surfactants, silicon oil, fluororesin, waxes and the like to the back coat layer.

  An antistatic agent can be added to prevent the recording material from being transported abnormally in the transport path due to frictional charging, and the adhesion of foreign matter due to charging. As the antistatic agent, cationic surfactants, anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, polymer antistatic agents, conductive fine particles and the like can be used. Among these, fine particles of metal oxides such as carbon black, graphite, tin oxide, zinc oxide and titanium oxide, and conductive fine particles such as organic semiconductors are preferably used. In particular, it is preferable to use fine particles of carbon black and graphite, particularly metal oxide, because a stable antistatic ability can be obtained regardless of environmental influences such as temperature.

  The metal oxide fine particles are preferably contained in the back coat layer in the range of 10 to 90% by mass. The average particle diameter of the metal oxide fine particles is preferably in the range of 0.001 to 0.5 μm. The average particle size here is a value including not only the primary particle size of the metal oxide fine particles but also the particle size of the higher order structure. The recording material of the present invention may have an antistatic layer as described above on the image forming layer side of the support.

  It is also a preferred embodiment that the transmittance of the backcoat layer is 1% to 40%. As the semiconductor laser used in this embodiment, one having a relatively long wavelength in the infrared region is advantageously used. Therefore, in order to obtain the above transmittance, a compound that absorbs, diffuses, and reflects light of these wavelengths. May be included.

  Examples of the compound that reflects and diffuses light having an exposure wavelength include titanium oxide, barium sulfate, zinc oxide, calcium carbonate, polyethylene, and the like, and are used by being dispersed and mixed in a coating solution when a backcoat layer is applied. It is preferable.

The compound having absorption at the exposure wavelength can be selected from carbon black, phthalocyanine copper, iron, aluminum, titanium metal salts, cyanine dyes, polymethine dyes, squalium dyes, etc. In this case, it is preferable to use the mixture dispersed and mixed in the coating solution.
<Laser exposure>
For the laser exposure of the sheet-shaped recording material, specifically, scanning exposure using a laser that emits light in the infrared and / or near-infrared region, that is, in the wavelength range of 700 to 1000 nm, is preferably used. A gas laser may be used as the laser, but it is particularly preferable to use a semiconductor laser that emits light in the near infrared region.

The sheet-like recording material is image-exposed with a laser beam in a state of being closely fixed to the fixing member. As a device suitable for exposure, any type of device may be used as long as it can form an image on the surface of the recording material in accordance with an image signal from a computer using a semiconductor laser. Examples of the exposure method used in the embodiment are given below.
(1) A method of exposing the entire surface of a recording material by performing two-dimensional scanning on one or a plurality of laser beams on a sheet-like recording material that is tightly fixed to a flat plate-shaped fixing member,
(2) In the circumferential direction of the cylinder using one or a plurality of laser beams from the inside of the cylinder to the sheet-like recording material fixed intimately along the cylindrical surface inside the fixed cylindrical fixing member ( A method of exposing the entire surface of the recording material by moving in the direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction (sub-scanning direction) while scanning in the main scanning direction),
(3) The sheet-like recording material that is tightly fixed is scanned in the circumferential direction (main scanning direction) by rotating the drum using one or a plurality of laser beams from the outside of the cylinder, and the direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction ( And a method of exposing the entire surface of the recording material by moving in the sub-scanning direction).

  The embodiment of the present invention is an image recording apparatus for recording an image on a printing plate of a plastic support. However, as long as the requirements of the present invention are satisfied, an image recording apparatus for color proofing or an image recording for a plate making film is used. Of course, the same effect can be obtained even if it is implemented in the apparatus.

  This image recording apparatus can be applied to an image recording apparatus in which a sheet-like recording material of a plastic support is wound around a peripheral surface of a drum, the drum is rotated, an image is scanned and exposed by a light source, and an image is recorded.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus. It is a perspective view of an image recording device. It is a schematic block diagram of a discharge part. It is an enlarged view of a discharge part. It is a figure which shows the layer structure of a sheet-like recording material. It is an enlarged view of a discharge part. It is a perspective view of an image recording device. It is an enlarged view of a discharge part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image recording device 2 Supply part 3 Recording part 4 Ejection part 5 Sheet-like recording material 6 Supply path 7 Ejection path 30 Drum 31 Exposure part 41 Roller cover 70 Conveying roller pair 70a Lower roller

Claims (21)

A sheet-like recording material of a plastic support having a Young's modulus of 4500 to 6500 N / mm ² and a thickness of 100 to 250 μm is wound around the peripheral surface of the drum, and the drum is rotated to scan and expose an image with a light source. In an image recording apparatus that discharges a sheet-like recording material to the upper surface of the apparatus by a pair of conveyance rollers,
An image recording apparatus comprising: a roller cover that also serves as a guide for a rear end of the sheet-like recording material on a lower roller of the final conveying roller pair. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a stacking surface on which the discharged sheet-shaped recording material is stacked is substantially horizontal. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an angle of the roller cover is 5 to 30 degrees with respect to a vertical direction. 4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a tip end height of the roller cover is lower than a center of the lower roller. 5. The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a distance between a tip of the roller cover and a surface of the lower roller is 1 to 5 mm. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an air blowing unit that blows out air from an inner side of the roller cover toward a conveyance downstream direction. The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a drop from the discharge position of the sheet-shaped recording material to a stacking surface is 30 to 100 mm. The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a conveyance speed of the sheet-like recording material is 50 to 200 mm / sec. The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a concave portion for taking out the sheet is provided on a stacking surface of the sheet-like recording material. The image recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a depth of the recess for taking out the sheet is 10 to 20 mm. 11. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a stacking surface of the sheet-shaped recording material has irregularities extending in a conveyance direction. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a stacking surface of the sheet-shaped recording material is a conductive member. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a stacking surface of the sheet-shaped recording material is a metal. 14. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion for preventing a sheet drop is provided on a side opposite to a discharge position of the stacking surface of the sheet-like recording material. The image recording apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the protrusion for preventing the sheet from dropping is provided at a full width in a width direction. The image recording apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the protrusion for preventing the sheet drop is divided into a plurality of two or more portions. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a static eliminating brush is attached to a tip of the roller cover. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a static eliminating brush is attached in the vicinity of the upper roller. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plastic support is made of polyethylene terephthalate. The image recording apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the plastic support has a thickness of 170 to 180 μm. The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the Young's modulus of the plastic support is 5000~6000N / mm ^2.

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