JP2020157751A - Flying object generation method using optical vortex laser, image formation method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a flying object generation method using optical vortex laser which can form a high-resolution image.SOLUTION: A flying object generation method using optical vortex laser generates from a light absorption material a liquid column or liquid droplet having a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of an optical vortex laser beam in the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam by emitting the optical vortex laser beam to the surface of a base material on the side opposite to the side on which the light absorption material is arranged in the base material having the light absorption material on its surface. The irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam to the surface of the base material is the non-gravity direction, and it is preferable that the liquid column or liquid droplet is generated in the non-gravity direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10A

Description

The present invention relates to a flying object generation method, an image forming method, and an apparatus using an optical vortex laser.

Since ink droplets can be made to fly to a desired position in an image forming apparatus, in recent years, it has been applied to the field of 3D printers for three-dimensional modeling and the field of printed electronics for forming electronic components by printing technology. It is being considered.

Specifically, it is necessary to accurately fly various materials to desired positions in addition to the low-viscosity ink used in conventional image forming, and various image forming devices have been proposed. For example, a method has been proposed in which a high-viscosity material is printed by irradiating a coating film of high-viscosity ink with an ordinary laser to form an ink protrusion in the direction of gravity and bringing the formed protrusion into contact with a medium. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

An object of the present invention is to provide a flying object generation method using an optical vortex laser capable of forming a high-resolution image.

The flying object generation method using the optical vortex laser of the present invention as a means for solving the above-mentioned problems is the side of the base material having the light absorbing material arranged on the surface opposite to the side on which the light absorbing material is arranged. By irradiating the surface of the base material with an optical vortex laser beam, a liquid column or droplet having a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam in the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam is formed into the light absorbing material. It is characterized by being generated from.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method for generating a flying object using an optical vortex laser capable of forming a high-resolution image.

FIG. 1A is a schematic view showing an example of a wave surface (equal phase surface) in a general laser beam. FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of a light intensity distribution in a general laser beam. FIG. 1C is a diagram showing an example of a phase distribution in a general laser beam. FIG. 2A is a schematic view showing an example of a wave plane (equal phase plane) in the optical vortex laser beam. FIG. 2B is a diagram showing an example of a light intensity distribution in an optical vortex laser beam. FIG. 2C is a diagram showing an example of the phase distribution in the optical vortex laser beam. FIG. 3A is a photograph showing an example when a light absorber is irradiated with a general laser beam. FIG. 3B is a photograph showing an example when the light absorber is irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam. FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the result of interference measurement in the optical vortex laser beam. FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the result of interference measurement in a laser beam having a point having a light intensity of 0 in the center. FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 5C is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 6A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 5B to which the light absorbing material supplying means and the adherend transporting means are added. FIG. 6B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 5B to which a light absorbing material supplying means and an adherend transporting means are added. FIG. 7A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 6A to which the fixing means is added. FIG. 7B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 6A to which the fixing means is added. FIG. 7C is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 6A to which the fixing means is added. FIG. 8A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 8B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a three-dimensional model manufacturing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 10A is a photograph showing the flying state of the light absorbing material in Example 1. FIG. 10B is a photograph showing the adhered state of the light absorbing material in Example 1. FIG. 11A is a photograph showing the flight state of the light absorbing material in Example 2. FIG. 11B is a photograph showing an adhered state of the light absorbing material in Example 2. FIG. 12A is a photograph showing the flight state of the light absorber in Example 3. FIG. 12B is a photograph showing the adhered state of the light absorbing material in Example 3. FIG. 13A is a photograph showing the flight state of the light absorbing material in Example 4. FIG. 13B is a photograph showing the adhered state of the light absorbing material in Example 4. FIG. 14A is a photograph showing the flight state of the light absorbing material in Comparative Example 1. FIG. 14B is a photograph showing the adhered state of the light absorbing material in Comparative Example 1. FIG. 15A is a photograph showing the flight state of the light absorbing material in Comparative Example 2. FIG. 15B is a photograph showing the adhered state of the light absorbing material in Comparative Example 2. FIG. 16 is a photograph showing an adhered state of the light absorbing material in Example 5. FIG. 17 is a photograph showing an adhered state of the light absorbing material in Example 6. FIG. 18 is a photograph showing an adhered state of the light absorbing material in Example 7.

(Flying object generation method using optical vortex laser, image forming method, and image forming device)
In the flying object generation method using the optical vortex laser of the present invention, the optical vortex laser beam is applied to the surface of the base material on the opposite side of the base material on which the light absorber is arranged. By irradiating, a liquid column or droplet having a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam in the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam is generated from the light absorber.
The image forming method of the present invention irradiates an optical vortex laser beam on the surface of the base material on the surface of the base material on which the light absorber is arranged, which is opposite to the side on which the light absorber is arranged. A liquid column or droplet having a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam in the irradiation direction of the laser beam is generated from the light absorbing material, and the liquid column or droplet is brought into contact with the transfer medium to be transferred.
That is, in the image forming method of the present invention, a liquid column or droplet having a small diameter generated from a light absorbing material by the flying object generation method using the optical vortex laser of the present invention is brought into contact with the transfer medium and transferred.
Therefore, since the description of the image forming method of the present invention is sufficient for the method of generating a flying object using the optical vortex laser of the present invention, the method of generating a flying object using the optical vortex laser of the present invention is sufficient through the explanation of the image forming method of the present invention. The details of the method will also be clarified.

In the image forming method of the present invention, in the method of forming an image using a conventional laser, the length of the protruding portion of the ink is difficult to be constant, and the area in contact with the medium varies, so that a high-resolution image cannot be formed. It is based on the finding that there are cases.
Further, the image forming method of the present invention is based on the finding that a high-resolution image may not be formed because the ink is likely to scatter only by reducing the diameter of the laser of the prior art.
Further, in the image forming method of the present invention, in the method of forming an image using a conventional laser, an ink protrusion having straightness only in the direction of gravity can be formed, which limits the degree of freedom in designing the apparatus. It is based on the finding that there are cases.

Therefore, in the image forming method of the present invention, when the coating film of the light absorbing material is irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam, a part of the light absorbing material is removed from the end of the light absorbing material that swells hemispherically in the irradiation direction side. Protrude or fly so as to tear off while rotating. In other words, in the image forming method of the present invention, when the surface of the base material is irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam, the light absorber swells in a substantially dome shape in the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam with rotational motion, and is substantially a dome. A liquid column or droplet having a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam is generated from the top of the light absorber of the shape.
Further, the image forming method of the present invention can form a high resolution image by bringing a liquid column or a droplet generated from a light absorbing material into contact with a transfer medium and transferring the liquid column or droplet.

First, the optical vortex laser beam will be described.
Since a general laser beam has the same phase, it has a planar equiphase plane (wave plane) as shown in FIG. 1A. Since the direction of the pointing vector of the laser beam is orthogonal to the plane with the same phase, the direction is the same as the irradiation direction of the laser beam. Therefore, when the laser beam is irradiated to the light absorber, the light is absorbed. A force acts on the material in the irradiation direction. However, since the light intensity distribution in the cross section of the laser beam is the strongest normal distribution (Gaussian distribution) at the center of the beam as shown in FIG. 1B, the light absorber tends to scatter. Further, when the phase distribution is observed, it is confirmed that there is no phase difference as shown in FIG. 1C.
On the other hand, the optical vortex laser beam has a spiral equiphase plane as shown in FIG. 2A. Since the direction of the pointing vector of the optical vortex laser beam is orthogonal to the spiral equiphase plane, when the optical vortex laser beam is applied to the light absorber, a force acts in the orthogonal direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2B, the light intensity distribution becomes a concave donut-shaped distribution in which the center of the beam becomes zero, and the light absorber irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam applies donut-shaped energy as radiation pressure. Will be done. Then, the light absorber irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam flies along the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam and adheres to the adherend in a state of being difficult to scatter. Further, when the phase distribution is observed, it is confirmed that the phase difference is generated as shown in FIG. 2C.

FIG. 3A is a photograph showing an example when a light absorber is irradiated with a general laser beam. FIG. 3B is a photograph showing an example when the light absorber is irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam.
Comparing FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, it can be confirmed that the light absorber is scattered more in FIG. 3A than in FIG. 3B. From this, the light absorber irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam is applied with donut-shaped energy as radiation pressure, flies along the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam, and is not easily scattered on the adherend. It can be seen that it adheres.

The method for determining whether or not the beam is an optical vortex laser beam is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples thereof include the above-mentioned observation of the phase distribution and interference measurement, and interference measurement is common. Is the target.
The interference measurement can be observed using a laser beam profiler (a laser beam profiler manufactured by Spiricon, a laser beam profiler manufactured by Hamamatsu Photonics Co., Ltd., etc.), and examples of the results of the interference measurement are shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.
FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the result of interference measurement in the optical vortex laser beam, and FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the result of interference measurement in the laser beam having a point of light intensity 0 in the center. ..
Interference measurement of the optical vortex laser beam confirms that, as shown in FIG. 4A, the energy distribution is donut-shaped and the laser beam has a point with a light intensity of 0 in the center as in FIG. 1C.
On the other hand, when a general laser beam having a point of light intensity 0 in the center is subjected to interference measurement, as shown in FIG. 4B, it is similar to the interference measurement of the optical vortex laser beam shown in FIG. 4A, but the donut-shaped portion. Since the energy distribution of is not uniform, the difference from the optical vortex laser beam can be confirmed.

The image forming method of the present invention can be preferably performed by the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention irradiates a light vortex laser beam on the surface of the base material on the surface of the base material on which the light absorbing material is arranged, which is opposite to the side on which the light absorbing material is arranged. As a result, the image forming apparatus of the present invention generates a liquid column or droplet having a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam in the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam from the light absorber, and the liquid column or droplet is generated from the light absorber. Is a device that brings the laser into contact with the transfer medium and transfers the laser.
The image forming apparatus preferably has a light absorbing material flying means and a transfer means, and further preferably has other means as needed.

<Light absorber flight means>
The optical vortex flying means is an optical vortex laser by irradiating the surface of the base material on the surface of the base material on which the light absorber is arranged with a light vortex laser beam on the side opposite to the side on which the light absorber is arranged. This is a means for generating a liquid column or droplet having a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam in the irradiation direction of the beam from the light absorber.

Further, as the light absorbing material flying means, for example, one having a laser light source, an optical vortex conversion unit, and a wavelength conversion unit can be used, and the light absorbing material flying means may be further used as necessary. It is preferable to have a member.

<< Laser light source >>
The laser light source is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include a solid-state laser, a gas laser, and a semiconductor laser that generate a laser beam, and those capable of pulse oscillation are preferable.
Examples of the solid-state laser include a YAG laser and a titanium sapphire laser.
Examples of the gas laser include an argon laser, a helium neon laser, and a carbon dioxide gas laser.
Among these, a semiconductor laser having an output of about 30 mW is preferable in terms of miniaturization and cost reduction of the apparatus. However, in this example, a titanium sapphire laser was experimentally used.
The wavelength of the laser beam is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 300 nm or more and 11 μm or less, and more preferably 350 nm or more and 1100 nm or less.
The beam diameter of the laser beam is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 10 μm or more and 10 mm or less, and more preferably 10 μm or more and 1 mm or less.
The pulse width of the laser beam is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 2 nanoseconds or more and 100 nanoseconds or less, and more preferably 2 nanoseconds or more and 10 nanoseconds or less.
The pulse frequency of the laser beam is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 10 Hz or more and 200 Hz or less, and more preferably 20 Hz or more and 100 Hz or less.
The laser light source may be a laser light source capable of outputting an optical vortex laser beam.

<< Optical Vortex Converter >>
The optical vortex conversion unit is not particularly limited as long as it can convert the laser beam into an optical vortex laser beam, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include a diffraction optical element, a multimode fiber, and a liquid crystal phase modulator. Be done.
Examples of the diffractive optical element include a spiral phase plate and a hologram element. Among these, a spiral phase plate (Spiral Phase Plate) is preferable.
The method of generating the optical vortex laser beam is not limited to the method of using the optical vortex conversion unit, and for example, a method of oscillating the optical vortex from the laser resonator as an intrinsic mode, a method of inserting a hologram element into the resonator, and the like. Can be mentioned. Other methods for generating an optical vortex laser beam include, for example, a method using excitation light converted into a donut beam, a method using a resonator mirror having a dark spot, and a spatial filter using a thermal lens effect generated by a side excitation solid-state laser. A method of oscillating in the optical vortex mode can be mentioned.

<< Wavelength converter >>
The wavelength conversion unit provides a condition in which the total rotational moments J _{L, S} represented by the following equation (1) become | J _{L, S} | ≧ 0 by applying circular polarization to the optical vortex laser beam. There is no particular limitation as long as it can satisfy the above conditions, and it can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples of the wavelength conversion unit include a 1/4 wave plate and the like. In the case of a 1/4 wave plate, the optical axis may be installed at a temperature other than + 45 ° or −45 ° to impart elliptical circular polarization (elliptical polarization) to the optical vortex laser beam, but the optical axis may be +45. It is preferable to install the laser beam at ° or −45 ° to impart circular polarization to the optical vortex laser beam and satisfy the above conditions. As a result, the image forming apparatus can increase the effect of stably flying the light absorbing material and adhering it to the object to be adhered in a shape in which scattering is suppressed.

However, in the equation (1), ε ₀ is the dielectric constant in vacuum, ω is the angular frequency of light, L is the topology culture, and I is the optical vortex laser beam represented by the following equation (2). Is the orbital angular momentum corresponding to the vortex order of, S is the spin angular momentum with respect to circular polarization, and r is the driving diameter of the cylindrical coordinate system.
However, in equation (2), ω ₀ is the beam waist size of light.
Note that the topology culture means the quantum number that appears from the periodic boundary condition in the azimuth direction in the cylindrical coordinate system of the optical vortex laser beam. Further, the beam waist size means the minimum value of the beam diameter in the optical vortex laser beam.

L is a parameter determined by the number of turns of the spiral wave front in the wave plate. S is a parameter determined by the direction of circular polarization in the wave plate. Both L and S are integers. The symbols L and S represent the directions of the spiral (clockwise and counterclockwise), respectively.
If the total rotational moment of the optical vortex laser beam is J, it can be expressed as J = L + S.

The image forming apparatus includes, for example, an optical vortex conversion unit that converts a laser beam into an optical vortex laser beam, and a wavelength conversion unit that imparts circular polarization to the optical vortex laser beam, and is set to | J _{L, S} | ≧ 0. As a result, the linear directivity of the flying object of the light absorbing material having a high viscosity or solid can be exhibited, and the scattering of the light absorbing material can be suppressed.

<< Other parts >>
The other members are not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include a beam diameter changing member, a beam wavelength changing element, and an output adjusting unit.

-Beam diameter changing member-
The beam diameter changing member is not particularly limited as long as the beam diameter of the laser beam or the optical vortex laser beam can be changed, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include a condensing lens.
The beam diameter (irradiation diameter) of the optical vortex laser beam is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 100 μm or less. When the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam is 100 μm or less, it is preferable because a high-resolution image can be easily formed.
The beam diameter can be changed by, for example, the laser spot diameter and the condensing lens.
When the light absorber is a dispersion, the beam diameter is preferably at least the maximum value of the volume average particle diameter of the light absorber, and more preferably three times the maximum value of the dispersion. When the beam diameter is within a more preferable range, it is advantageous in that the light absorber can be stably flown.

-Beam wavelength changing element-
The beam wavelength changing element is not particularly limited as long as the wavelength of the laser beam or the light vortex laser beam can be changed to a wavelength capable of absorbing the light absorbing material and transmitting the base material described later, depending on the purpose. It can be selected as appropriate. Examples of the beam wavelength changing element include a KTP crystal, a BBO crystal, an LBO crystal, and a CLBO crystal.

-Output adjustment unit-
The output adjusting unit is not particularly limited as long as the laser beam or the optical vortex laser beam can be adjusted to an appropriate output value, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include glass.

The output value of the optical vortex laser beam that irradiates the light absorber is a state in which a liquid column that converges to a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter while rotating around the central axis of the irradiation diameter about the irradiation direction, or As long as it is possible to realize a state in which a part can be separated to generate droplets, there is no particular limitation, and an appropriate selection can be made according to the purpose. In the following, the "output value" may be referred to as "irradiation energy".
Since the appropriate value of the irradiation energy of the optical vortex laser beam changes depending on the viscosity and film thickness of the light absorbing material, it is preferable to adjust it appropriately. Specifically, 100 μJ / dot or less is more preferable, and 60 μJ is more preferable. / Dot or less is more preferable. When the irradiation energy of the optical vortex laser beam is 60 μJ / dot or less, a state in which a liquid column that converges to a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter while rotating around the central axis of the irradiation diameter about the irradiation direction, or It is advantageous in that it is easy to realize a state in which a part can be separated to generate droplets.

<Transfer means>
The transfer means is a means for transferring a liquid column or droplet having a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam by bringing the liquid column or droplet generated from the light absorbing material into contact with the transfer medium.
The transfer means is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include means provided with a mechanism for bringing a liquid column or droplets generated from the light absorbing material into contact with the transfer medium. .. Specifically, the transfer means may have, for example, a mechanism for adjusting the gap between the adherend and the light absorbing material, or a mechanism for transporting the adherend.

<< Transfer medium >>
The transfer medium (attached matter) is not particularly limited as long as it can come into contact with liquid columns or droplets generated from the light absorber, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, it is used in an image forming apparatus. Examples include a recording medium and an intermediate transfer belt.

<Other means>
Other means include, for example, a light absorber supplying means, a beam scanning means, an adherend transporting means, a fixing means, a controlling means, and the like.
Further, the light absorber flying means, the base material, the light absorbing material supplying means, and the beam scanning means may be integrally treated as a light absorber flying unit.
Examples of other steps include a light absorbing material supply step, a beam scanning step, an adherend transporting step, a fixing step, and a control step.

The light absorbing material supply means is not particularly limited as long as the light absorbing material can be supplied on the optical path of the optical vortex laser beam between the light absorbing material flying means and the adherend, and may be appropriately selected according to the purpose. it can. As the light absorbing material supply means, for example, the light absorbing material may be supplied via a cylindrical base material arranged on the optical path.
Specifically, when the light absorber is a liquid and the light absorber is supplied to the base material, it is possible to provide a supply roller and a regulation blade as the light absorber supply means with a very simple configuration. It is preferable because the absorbent material can be supplied to the surface of the base material with a constant average thickness.
In this case, the surface of the supply roller is partially immersed in a storage tank for storing the light absorber, and the supply roller rotates while supporting the light absorber on the surface to supply the light absorber by abutting against the base material. The regulation blade is arranged on the downstream side of the storage tank in the rotation direction of the supply roller to regulate the light absorber carried by the supply roller to make the average thickness uniform and stabilize the amount of the light absorber to be flown. By making the average thickness very thin, the amount of flying light absorber can be reduced, so that the light absorber can be attached to the adherend as minute dots with suppressed scattering, and the dot gain with thick halftone dots can be obtained. It can be suppressed. The regulation blade may be arranged on the downstream side of the supply roller in the rotation direction of the base material.

Further, when the light absorbing material has a high viscosity, the material of the supply roller is preferably one having at least an elastic surface in order to ensure contact with the base material. When the light absorber has a relatively low viscosity, the supply rollers include, for example, gravure rolls, microgravure rolls, forward rolls and the like as used in precision wet coating.

Further, as a light absorbing material supply means without a supply roller, the base material is brought into direct contact with the light absorbing material in the storage tank, and then the excess light absorbing material is scraped off with a wire bar or the like to the surface of the base material. A layer of light absorber may be formed. The storage tank may be provided separately from the light absorbing material supply means, and the light absorbing material may be supplied to the light absorbing material supplying means by a hose or the like.
The light absorbing material supply step is not particularly limited as long as it is a step of supplying the light absorbing material on the optical path of the optical vortex laser beam between the light absorbing material flying means and the adherend, and is appropriately used according to the purpose. It can be selected, and can be preferably performed by using, for example, a light absorber supplying means.

The beam scanning means is not particularly limited as long as the optical vortex laser beam can be scanned with respect to the light absorbing material, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, the beam scanning means includes a reflecting mirror that reflects a light vortex laser beam emitted from the light absorbing material flying means toward the light absorbing material, and a light vortex laser beam that absorbs light by changing the angle and position of the reflecting mirror. It may have a reflector driving unit that scans the material.
The beam scanning step is not particularly limited as long as it is a step of scanning the optical vortex laser beam on the light absorbing material, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, the beam scanning step is preferably performed using a beam scanning means. Can be done.

The means for transporting the object to be adhered is not particularly limited as long as the object to be adhered can be conveyed, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include a transfer roller pair.
The process of transporting the adherend is not particularly limited as long as it is a step of transporting the adherend, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, the process of transporting the adhered material can be preferably performed. ..

The fixing means is not particularly limited as long as the light absorbing material adhered to the object to be adhered can be fixed, and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. For example, a thermocompression bonding method using a heating and pressurizing member. Things and so on.
The heating and pressurizing member is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include a combination of a heating roller, a pressurizing roller, a heating roller and a pressurizing roller. Examples of other heating and pressurizing members include those in which a fixing belt is combined with these, and those in which the heating roller is replaced with a heating block.

As the pressurizing roller, one in which the pressurizing surface moves at the same speed as the adherend conveyed by the adhered object transporting means is preferable in that image deterioration due to rubbing is suppressed. Among these, those having an elastic layer formed in the vicinity of the surface are more preferable because they can easily contact and pressurize the adherend. Further, the pressure roller in which the water-repellent surface layer is formed of a low surface energy material such as a silicone-based water-repellent material or a fluorine compound on the outermost surface suppresses image distortion due to the light absorber adhering to the surface. Especially preferable in that respect.
Examples of the water-repellent surface layer made of a silicone-based water-repellent material include a silicone-based release agent film, a baking film of silicone oil or various modified silicone oils, a silicone varnish film, a silicone rubber film, and silicone rubber. Examples thereof include a film made of a composite material such as metal, rubber, plastic, and ceramic.
Examples of the water-repellent surface layer made of a fluorine compound include a fluororesin film, an organic fluorine compound film, a fluorine oil baking film or an adsorption film, a fluorine rubber film, or fluorine rubber and various metals, rubber, plastics, ceramics, etc. Examples thereof include a film made of a composite material.

The heating temperature of the heating roller is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 80 ° C. or higher and 200 ° C. or lower.

The fixing belt is not particularly limited as long as it has heat resistance and high mechanical strength, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include films such as polyimide, PET, and PEN. Further, as the fixing belt, it is preferable to use the same material as the material forming the outermost surface of the pressure roller in that the image distortion due to the adhesion of the light absorbing material to the surface is suppressed. Since the thickness of the fixing belt can be reduced, the energy for heating the belt itself can be reduced, so that the fixing belt can be used immediately after the power is turned on. The temperature and pressure at this time vary depending on the composition of the light absorbing material to be fixed, but the temperature is preferably 200 ° C. or lower from the viewpoint of energy saving, and the pressure is preferably 1 kg / cm or less from the viewpoint of the rigidity of the apparatus.

When two or more types of light absorbers are used, the light absorbers of each color may be fixed each time they adhere to the adherend, and all types of light absorbers adhere to the adherend and are laminated. It may be fixed in a state of being fixed.
Further, when the light absorbing material has a very high viscosity and the drying becomes slow and it is difficult to improve the adhesion rate to the adherend, the adherend may be additionally heated to promote the drying.
Furthermore, the penetration and wetting of the light absorber into the adherend is slow, and when the adhered light absorber is dried in a state where it is not sufficiently smoothed, the surface of the adherend to which the light absorber is attached becomes rough. Therefore, the surface gloss of the adherend may not be obtained. In order to obtain the gloss of the surface of the adherend, by using a fixing means for pressurizing and fixing the adherend, the light absorber adhering to the adherend is crushed and fixed by being pushed into the adherend. The surface roughness of the surface may be reduced.
The fixing means is required to fix the powder to the adherend, especially when a solid light absorbing material formed by compacting the powder is used. If necessary, a known optical fixing device may be used together with the fixing means.
The fixing step is not particularly limited as long as it is a step of fixing the light absorbing material attached to the adhered object to the adherend, and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. For example, a fixing means is used. It can be preferably performed.

The control means is not particularly limited as long as the movement of each means can be controlled, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include devices such as sequencers and computers.
The control step is a step of controlling each step, and can be preferably performed by the control means.

<Light absorber>
The light absorbing material has a light absorbing substance, and further has other substances appropriately selected as necessary.
As the light absorber, the absorbance of the optical vortex laser beam with respect to the wavelength is preferably larger than 1, and more preferably larger than 2. When the light absorber has an absorbance of the optical vortex laser beam with respect to the wavelength of more than 2, it is advantageous in that energy efficiency can be improved.

<< Light Absorbent >>
The light absorbing substance is not particularly limited as long as it absorbs light having a predetermined wavelength, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include colorants such as pigments and dyes.

The absorption performance of light of a predetermined wavelength in the light absorbing substance is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. However, the transmittance (absorbance) in the coating state at a film thickness of 3 μm is 80. % Or less (0.1 or more) is preferable, 50% or less (0.3 or more) is more preferable, and 30% or less (0.5 or more) is particularly preferable.
Further, in a coating film formed of a light absorbing material having light absorbing performance, the transmittance (absorbance) in the film thickness of the light absorbing material is preferably 10% or less (1 or more), and 1% or less (2 or more). Is more preferable, 0.1% or less (3 or more) is further preferable, and 0.01% or less (4 or more) is particularly preferable. When the transmittance is within a preferable range, the energy of the optical vortex laser beam absorbed by the base material is not easily converted into heat, which is advantageous in that the light absorbing material is less likely to undergo changes such as drying and melting. .. Further, when the transmittance is within a preferable range, the energy given to the light absorbing material is less likely to decrease, which is advantageous in that the adhesion position is less likely to vary.
The transmittance (absorbance) can be measured using, for example, a spectrophotometer (manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation, UV3600) or the like.

The form, size, material, and the like of the light absorbing material are not particularly limited, and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose.
Examples of the form of the light absorbing material include liquid, solid, and powder. In particular, the ability to fly a highly viscous body or solid is an advantage that cannot be achieved by conventional inkjet recording methods.
When the light absorber is a solid or powder, the form of the light absorber is preferably a state in which the light absorber has viscosity when irradiating the optical vortex laser beam. Specifically, when it is desired to fly a solid or powder, for example, it is preferable to heat the solid or powder before irradiating it with an optical vortex laser beam to bring it into a molten state to have a viscous form.

The liquid light absorbing material is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include inks containing pigments and solvents, conductive pastes containing conductors and solvents, and the like. When the ink containing the solvent is irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam, if the solvent does not absorb the light, the energy of the optical vortex laser beam is given to the inclusions that absorb the light other than the solvent, and the inclusions thereof. At the same time, the solvent flies.
The viscosity of the liquid light absorbing material is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 1 Pa · s or more, and more preferably 1 Pa · s or more and 20 Pa · s or less.
The viscosity can be measured in an environment of 25 ° C. using, for example, a rotational viscometer (VISCOMATE VM-150III manufactured by Toki Sangyo Co., Ltd.).

The conductive paste is not particularly limited as long as it is an ink containing a conductor, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include conductive pastes known or commonly used in a method for manufacturing a circuit board.
The conductor is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, conductive inorganic particles such as silver, gold, copper, nickel, ITO, carbon and carbon nanotubes; polyaniline and polythiophene (polyaniline, polythiophene). For example, particles made of a conductive organic polymer such as poly (ethylenedioxythiophene), polyacetylene, polypyrrole, etc. can be mentioned. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
The volume resistivity of the conductive paste is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, it is preferably 10 ³ Ω · cm or less from the viewpoint of use as a normal electrode applications.

Examples of the light absorbing material of the powder include toner containing a pigment and a binder resin, metal fine particles such as solder balls, and the like.
In this case, when the optical vortex laser beam is irradiated, the energy of the optical vortex laser beam is applied to the pigment, and the binder resin flies as toner together with the pigment. The powder light absorber may be only a pigment.

The solid light absorber is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, a metal thin film formed by sputtering or vapor deposition, a material obtained by compacting powder such as a dispersion, or the like is used. Can be mentioned.

The metal thin film is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples of the metal include general metals such as silver, gold, aluminum, platinum, and copper that can be vapor-deposited or sputtered. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
As a method of forming an image pattern by flying a metal thin film, for example, a metal thin film is prepared in advance on a base material such as glass or a film, and the metal thin film is irradiated with an optical vortex laser beam to fly the image pattern. There is a method of forming. Further, as another method, there is a method of forming an image pattern by flying a non-image portion.

The compacted powder is preferably in a layered form having a predetermined average thickness, and a layered solid may be supported on the surface of the base material.

The size of the light absorbing material is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose.
The average thickness of the light absorbing material is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 5 μm or more, more preferably 10 μm or more, still more preferably 10 μm or more and 50 μm or less. By setting the average thickness of the light absorber in the above-mentioned preferable range, it is possible to suppress the scattering of the light absorber when irradiating the optical vortex laser beam.
When the average thickness of the light absorber is within a preferable range, when the light absorber is supplied in layers, the strength of the layer can be ensured even when the light absorber is continuously flown, so that a stable supply can be achieved. Is advantageous in that it is possible. Further, since the energy of the optical vortex laser beam does not become too large, it is advantageous in that deterioration and decomposition are unlikely to occur especially when the light absorber is an organic substance.
Depending on the coating method, it can be supplied as a layer holding a certain pattern.

The method for measuring the average thickness is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, an arbitrary plurality of points are selected for the light absorbing material, and the average thickness of the plurality of points is calculated. The method of obtaining by doing so can be mentioned. As an average, the average of the thickness of 5 points is preferable, the average of the thickness of 10 points is more preferable, and the average of the thickness of 20 points is particularly preferable.
The average thickness measuring device is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include a non-contact or contact method such as a laser displacement meter or a micrometer.

The material of the light absorber is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, when image formation is performed, a colorant such as toner may be used to produce a three-dimensional model. If this is the case, it may be a three-dimensional modeling agent described later.

-Colorant-
Similar to the light absorbing material, the colorant is not particularly limited in shape, material and the like, and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. Hereinafter, the differences when the light absorbing material is used as a colorant will be described.

The liquid colorant is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, a coloring material such as a dye, a pigment, colored particles, or colored oil droplets is dispersed in water as a solvent. Water-based inks can be used. Further, not limited to the water-based ink, as a solvent, for example, a colorant containing a liquid having a relatively low boiling point such as a hydrocarbon-based organic solvent or various alcohols can be used. Among these, water-based inks are preferable from the viewpoints of safety of volatile components and danger of explosion.

In addition, since the image forming apparatus can form an image with process ink for offset printing using a plate, JAPAN COLOR compatible ink, special color ink, etc., a digital image matching the color used for offset printing can be easily produced without a plate. It can be reproduced.
Further, since the image can be formed even with the UV curable ink, it is possible to prevent the overlapping recording media from sticking to each other and to simplify the drying step by irradiating the fixing step with ultraviolet rays to cure the image.

Examples of the material of the coloring material include organic pigments, inorganic pigments, dyes and the like. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Examples of organic pigments include dioxazine violet, quinacridone violet, copper phthalocyanine blue, phthalocyanine green, sap green, monoazo yellow, disuazo yellow, polyazo yellow, benzimidazolone yellow, isoindolinone yellow, first yellow, and chromophthal yellow. , Nickel azo yellow, azomethin yellow, benzimidazolone orange, alizarin red, quinacridone red, naphthol red, monoazo red, polyazo red, perylene red, anthracinyl red, diketopyrrolopyrrole red, diketopyrrolopyrrole orange, benzimidazolone Brown, sepia, aniline black, etc. are mentioned, and among the organic pigments, metal lake pigments include, for example, Rhodamine lake, quinoline yellow lake, brilliant blue lake and the like.

Examples of inorganic pigments include cobalt blue, cerulean blue, cobalt violet, cobalt green, zinc white, titanium white, titanium yellow, chrome titanium yellow, light red, chrome oxide green, mars black, billijan, yellow ocher, and alumina. White, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, vermilion, lithopon, ultramarine, talc, white carbon, clay, mineral violet, rose cobalt violet, silver white, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, strontium sulfide, aluminic acid Strontium, brass, gold powder, bronze powder, aluminum powder, brass pigment, ivory black, peach black, lamp black, carbon black, Prussian blue, aureolin, mica titanium, yellow ocher, tail belt, low sienna, low umber, cadmium earth, Cretaceous, gypsum, burnt sienna, burnt umber, lapis lazuli, azurite, malakite, opiment, dragon sand, coral powder, husk, red iron oxide, ultramarine, prussian blue, fish phosphorus foil, iron oxide-treated pearl, etc.

Among these, carbon black is preferable as the black pigment from the viewpoint of hue and image preservation.
The cyan pigment is C.I., which is copper phthalocyanine blue from the viewpoint of hue and image preservation. I. Pigment Blue 15: 3 is preferred.

The magenta pigment is quinacridone red, C.I. I. Pigment Red 122, Naftor Red C.I. I. Pigment Red 269 and Rhodamine Lake C.I. I. Pigment Red 81: 4 is preferable, and these may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these, from the viewpoint of hue and image preservation, C.I. I. Pigment Red 122 and C.I. I. A mixture of Pigment Red 269 is more preferred, C.I. I. Pigment Red 122 (PR122) and C.I. I. As a mixture of Pigment Red 269 (PR269), P.R. R. 122: P.I. R. A mixture in which 269 is 5:95 or more and 80:20 or less is particularly preferable. P. R. 122: P.I. R. When 269 is in a particularly preferable range, the hue does not deviate as a magenta color.

As the yellow pigment, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 74, disazo yellow C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 155, Benz Imidazolone Yellow, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 180, Isoindoline Yellow C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 185 is preferred. Among these, from the viewpoint of hue and image preservation, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 185 is more preferred. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

When the light absorber is used as a process color ink as a colorant, it is preferably used in a four-color ink set.

Most of the inorganic pigments are composed of particles having a volume average particle size of more than 10 μm. When an inorganic pigment having a volume average particle diameter of 10 μm or more is used as the colorant, the colorant is preferably a liquid. If the colorant is a liquid, it is advantageous in that the colorant can be maintained in a stable state without using a force other than non-electrostatic adhesive force such as electrostatic force. Further, in this case, the image forming method of the present invention is very effective as compared with the inkjet recording method in which nozzle clogging and ink settling are likely to be noticeable and a stable continuous printing process is difficult to obtain. Further, the image forming method of the present invention is very effective as compared with the electrophotographic method in which a sufficient amount of charge cannot be obtained when the surface area of the colorant particles becomes small and the stable continuous printing process cannot be established. ..

Examples of dyes include monoazo dyes, polyazo dyes, metal complex salt azo dyes, pyrazolone azo dyes, stillben azo dyes, thiazole azo dyes, anthraquinone derivatives, anthron derivatives, indigo derivatives, thioindigo derivatives, phthalocyanine dyes, diphenylmethane dyes, and triphenylmethane. Examples thereof include dyes, xanthene dyes, acrydin dyes, azine dyes, oxazine dyes, thiazine dyes, polymethine dyes, azomethine dyes, quinoline dyes, nitro dyes, nitroso dyes, benzoquinone dyes, naphthoquinone dyes, naphthalimide dyes and perinone dyes.

The viscosity of the colorant is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose.
When a liquid colorant that penetrates the recording medium is used, the colorant adhering to the recording medium may cause feathering or bleeding, but high-viscosity coloring that can be handled by the image forming apparatus of the present invention. When the agent is used, it dries faster than the permeation rate into the recording medium, so that the color development property can be improved and the edge portion can be sharpened by reducing the bleeding, and a high-quality image can be formed. Further, even when gradation expression is performed by overstrike in which colorants are laminated and adhered, bleeding due to an increase in the amount of the colorant can be reduced.
Further, since this image forming method is for flying and adhering a liquid colorant, for example, as compared with a so-called thermal transfer method in which a colorant is melt-transferred by heat from a film-shaped colorant carrier, a recording medium is used. Even if there are minute irregularities on the surface, good recording can be performed.

The average thickness of the colorant is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 100 μm or less. When the average thickness of the colorant is 100 μm or less, the energy for flying the colorant can be reduced, so that the durability of the colorant carrier and the decomposition of the composition when the colorant is an organic substance are less likely to occur. It is advantageous in that. The preferable range of the average thickness varies depending on the recording medium, purpose, and the like.

For example, when coated paper or a smooth film used in general offset printing is used as a recording medium, the average thickness of the colorant is preferably 0.5 μm or more and 5 μm or less. When the average thickness is within a preferable range, it becomes difficult for the human eye to discriminate the color difference due to a minute difference in the average thickness of the recording medium, so that even coated paper tends to produce a highly saturated image and the dot gain of halftone dots. Is not noticeable and is advantageous in that a sharp image can be easily expressed.

Further, when a recording medium having a surface roughness larger than that of coated paper or film is used, for example, high-quality paper used in an office or the like, the average thickness of the colorant is preferably 3 μm or more and 10 μm or less. When the average thickness is within a preferable range, it is easy to obtain good image quality without being affected by the surface roughness of the recording medium, and when a full-color image is expressed with a process color colorant, a plurality of colorant layers are formed. Even if they are overlapped, the feeling of step is less likely to be noticeable.

Further, for example, when used for printing to dye cloth, fibers, etc., in order to attach the colorant to cotton, silk, chemical fibers, etc., which are recording media, the average thickness of the colorant is 5 μm or more. Often required. This is because the thickness of the fiber is larger than that of paper, so a large amount of colorant is often required.

<Base material>
The base material is not particularly limited in shape, structure, size, material, etc., and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. The shape of the base material is not particularly limited as long as the light absorbing material is supported on the front surface and the optical vortex laser beam can be irradiated from the back surface, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples of the shape of the base material include a flat plate shape, a tubular shape such as a perfect circle or an ellipse, a surface obtained by cutting out a part of the tubular shape, and an endless belt shape. Among these, it is preferable that the base material has a tubular shape and has a light absorbing material supply means for supplying the light absorbing material to the surface of the base material rotating in the circumferential direction. When the light absorbing material is supported on the surface of the tubular base material, it can be supplied regardless of the size of the adherend in the outer peripheral direction. Further, in this case, a light absorbing material flying means is arranged inside the tubular shape so that the optical vortex laser beam can be irradiated from the inside toward the outer periphery, and the base material rotates in the circumferential direction to continuously irradiate. be able to. Further, examples of the shape of the flat base material include slide glass and the like.

The structure of the base material is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose.

The size of the base material is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but the size is preferably set according to the width of the adherend.

The material of the base material is not particularly limited as long as it transmits light, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Among those that transmit light, inorganic materials such as various glasses containing silicon oxide as a main component, transparent heat-resistant plastics, and organic materials such as elastomers are preferable in terms of transmittance and heat resistance.

The surface roughness Ra of the base material is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but it does not reduce the energy given to the light absorber by suppressing the refraction scattering of the optical vortex laser beam. , Both the front surface and the back surface are preferably 1 μm or less. Further, when the surface roughness Ra is within a preferable range, the variation in the average thickness of the light absorbing material attached to the adherend can be suppressed, and a desired amount of the light absorbing material can be attached. It is advantageous.
The surface roughness Ra can be measured according to JIS B0601, for example, using a confocal laser scanning microscope (manufactured by KEYENCE Co., Ltd.) or a stylus type surface shape measuring device (Dectak 150, manufactured by Bruker AXS Co., Ltd.). Can be measured.

<Attachment>
The object to be adhered (transfer medium) is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. For example, a recording medium for forming an image or a modeled object supporting substrate for forming a three-dimensional modeled object. And so on.

-Recording medium-
The recording medium is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include coated paper, woodfree paper, film, cloth, and fiber.

The gap between the adherend and the light absorber is not particularly limited as long as the adherend and the light absorber are not brought into contact with each other, and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, but is 0.05 mm or more. It is preferably 5 mm or less, more preferably 0.10 mm or more and 1 mm or less, and particularly preferably 0.10 mm or more and 0.50 mm or less. When the gap between the adherend and the light absorber is within a preferable range, it is advantageous in that the accuracy of the adhesion position of the light absorber with respect to the adherend is less likely to decrease. Further, by not bringing the adhered object into contact with the light absorbing material, the light absorbing material can be adhered to the adhered object regardless of the composition of the light absorbing material and the adhered object.
Further, it is preferable that the gap is kept constant by, for example, a position controlling means for maintaining the position of the adherend to be constant. In this case, it is important to arrange each part in consideration of the positional fluctuation of the light absorber and the adherend and the variation of the average thickness.

The average diameter (average dot diameter) of the light absorber after transfer (adhesion) in the transfer medium (attachment) is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is 100 μm. The following is preferable in that the resolution of the formed image or the three-dimensional model can be further improved. In the present invention, the diameter of the flying droplets is smaller than the diameter of the irradiated optical vortex laser beam, but on the transfer medium, the relationship between the impact at the time of droplets and the surface tension with the surface of the transfer medium. The dot diameter formed by is changed.
Further, the average dot diameter is made circular by, for example, acquiring a dot image of a light absorber with a microscope or the like, detecting a dot area from image luminance information, and calculating the area of each dot from the number of pixels in the detected dot area. It can be obtained by using the converted diameter as the dot diameter and averaging them.

Further, the value of the variation in the diameter (dot diameter) of the light absorbing material after transfer (adhesion) in the transfer medium (attachment) is preferably 10% or less, and preferably 6% or less. More preferred. By setting the value of the variation in the diameter of the light absorbing material after transfer in the transfer medium to the above-mentioned preferable range, the accuracy in forming an image or a three-dimensional model can be further improved.
Further, the value of the variation in the diameter of the light absorbing material after transfer in the transfer medium is determined by acquiring a dot image of the light absorbing material with a microscope or the like, detecting a dot region from the image brightness information, and detecting the dots. It can be obtained by calculating the area of each dot from the number of pixels in the region, using the diameter when converted to a circle as the dot diameter, and calculating from the average particle size and standard deviation of the particle size distribution of each dot.

In addition, the value of the variation in the position (dot position) of the light absorbing material after transfer (adhesion) in the transfer medium (attachment) is preferably 10 μm or less, and more preferably 5 μm or less. preferable. By setting the value of the variation in the position of the light absorbing material after transfer in the transfer medium to the above-mentioned preferable range, the accuracy in forming an image or a three-dimensional model can be further improved. As the value of the variation in the position of the light absorbing material after transfer in the transfer medium, for example, when the dots of the light absorbing material are attached in a row, the light absorption is performed in the direction orthogonal to the row of the dots. It can be a value of variation in the position of the material.
For example, a dot image of a light absorber is acquired with a microscope or the like, a dot region is detected from the image brightness information, the coordinates of the center of gravity of each detected dot region are calculated, and the deviation of each center of gravity from the approximate straight line by the least squares method is calculated. It can be obtained by calculation.

The light absorbing material flying means, the light absorbing material supplying means, and the beam scanning means may be integrally treated as a colorant flying unit.
For example, four colorant flying units may be provided in the image forming apparatus to fly the colorants of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, which are process colors. The number of colors of the colorant is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, and the number of colorant flying units may be increased or decreased as necessary. Further, by arranging the colorant flying unit having a white colorant on the upstream side of the colorant flying unit having the process color colorant in the transport direction of the recording medium, it is possible to provide the white concealing layer. Therefore, an image having excellent color reproducibility can be formed on a transparent recording medium. However, especially for yellow, white, and transparent colorants, the laser light source may be, for example, a blue laser beam, an ultraviolet laser beam, or the like so that the light transmittance (absorptivity) of the wavelength of the light vortex laser beam becomes appropriate. You may have to make the appropriate choice.

Further, since a high-viscosity colorant can be used in the image forming apparatus, even if an image is formed by sequentially superimposing colorants of different colors on a recording medium, bleeding occurs in which the colorants exude and mix with each other. Therefore, a high-quality color image can be obtained.

For the purpose of downsizing the image forming apparatus, only one colorant flying unit may be provided, and the colorant itself supplied to the supply roller and the colorant carrier may be switched to form an image of a plurality of colors.

Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can also be applied to an apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional model as follows.

(Manufacturing equipment for 3D objects)
The three-dimensional model manufacturing apparatus preferably has at least a three-dimensional modeling agent flying device, and preferably has a three-dimensional modeling agent curing means, and further has other means, if necessary. The three-dimensional modeling agent flying device is an image forming device in which the light absorber is a three-dimensional modeling agent, and the three-dimensional modeling agent is flown by the three-dimensional modeling agent flying means.

<Three-dimensional modeling agent flying means>
The three-dimensional modeling agent flying means is the same as the above-mentioned light absorbing material flying means except that the light absorbing material is a three-dimensional modeling agent and the object to be adhered is a modeled object support substrate, and thus the description thereof will be omitted. In the three-dimensional modeling agent flying means, the three-dimensional modeling agent is stacked as a layer on the modeled object support substrate and adhered three-dimensionally.

<Three-dimensional modeling agent curing means>
The three-dimensional modeling agent curing means is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, if the three-dimensional modeling agent is an ultraviolet curable material, an ultraviolet irradiator or the like can be mentioned.
The three-dimensional modeling agent curing step is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, if the three-dimensional modeling agent is an ultraviolet curable material, an ultraviolet irradiation step or the like can be mentioned, and the three-dimensional modeling agent curing means. Can be preferably performed using.

<Other means>
Examples of other means include a three-dimensional modeling agent supply means, a three-dimensional modeling head unit scanning means, a substrate position adjusting means, a control means, and the like.

<< Three-dimensional modeling agent supply means >>
The three-dimensional modeling agent supply means is the same as the above-mentioned light absorption material supply means except that the light absorber is a three-dimensional modeling agent and the object to be adhered is a modeled object support substrate, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

<< Three-dimensional modeling head unit scanning means >>
The three-dimensional modeling head unit scanning means is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, a three-dimensional modeling head unit in which a light absorber flying unit and an ultraviolet light absorbing material flying means are integrated is modeled. It may be scanned in the width direction (X axis) of the device on the object support substrate. In the three-dimensional modeling head unit, for example, the ultraviolet curable three-dimensional modeling agent attached to the light absorber flying unit can be cured by the ultraviolet light absorbing material flying means. Further, a plurality of three-dimensional modeling head units may be provided.

<< Board position adjustment means >>
The substrate position adjusting means is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, the position of the modeled object support substrate is adjusted in the depth direction (Y axis) and the height direction (Z axis) of the device. It may be a possible substrate (stage).

<< Control means >>
Since the control means is the same as the control means of the image forming apparatus described above, the description thereof will be omitted.

<Three-dimensional modeling agent>
Similar to the light absorbing material, the three-dimensional modeling agent is not particularly limited in its shape, material and the like, and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. Hereinafter, the differences when the light absorbing material is used as a three-dimensional modeling agent will be described.

The average thickness of the three-dimensional modeling agent is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, and varies depending on the required precision and the like, but is preferably 5 μm or more and 500 μm or less. When the average thickness is within a preferable range, it is advantageous in terms of accuracy, texture, smoothness, manufacturing time, and the like of the three-dimensional model. Further, the average thickness of the three-dimensional modeling agent is more preferably 5 μm or more and 100 μm or less. When the average thickness is within a more preferable range, the energy of the optical vortex laser beam can be suppressed to a low level, which is advantageous in suppressing deterioration of the three-dimensional modeling agent.

The three-dimensional modeling agent contains at least a curable material and, if necessary, other components.

<< Curable material >>
The curable material is not particularly limited as long as it is a compound that cures by causing a polymerization reaction by irradiation with active energy rays (ultraviolet rays, electron beams, etc.), heating, etc., and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include active energy ray-curable compounds and thermosetting compounds. Among these, a material that is liquid at room temperature is preferable.
The active energy ray-curable compound is a relatively low-viscosity monomer having an unsaturated double bond capable of radical polymerization in its molecular structure, and examples thereof include a monofunctional monomer and a polyfunctional monomer.

<< Other ingredients >>
The other components are not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, water, organic solvent, photopolymerization initiator, surfactant, colorant, stabilizer, water-soluble resin, low Examples thereof include boiling alcohol, surface treatment agents, viscosity modifiers, adhesive imparting agents, antioxidants, antiaging agents, cross-linking accelerators, ultraviolet absorbers, plasticizers, preservatives, dispersants and the like.

<Three-dimensional modeling agent carrier>
Since the three-dimensional modeling agent carrier is the same as the above-mentioned base material except that the light absorbing material is used as the three-dimensional modeling agent, the description thereof will be omitted.

<Modeled object support board>
The modeled object support substrate is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, the positions of the Y-axis and the Z-axis may be adjusted by the substrate position adjusting means.

Since the gap between the modeled object support substrate and the three-dimensional modeling agent carrier is the same as the gap between the adherend and the base material, the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, an example of the image forming apparatus in the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The number, position, shape, etc. of the following constituent members are not limited to the present embodiment, and may be a preferable number, position, shape, etc. for carrying out the present invention.

FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
In FIG. 5A, the image forming apparatus 300 includes a light absorbing material flying means 1, a light absorbing material 20 that absorbs light, an adherend 30, and a base material 40. The image forming apparatus 300 irradiates the light absorbing material 20 supported on the base material 40 with the optical vortex laser beam 12 of light by the light absorbing material flying means 1, and uses the energy of the light vortex laser beam 12 to irradiate the light absorbing material 20. Is a device that flies in the irradiation direction and adheres to the adherend 30.

The light absorber flying means 1 includes a laser light source 2, beam diameter changing members 3 and 7, a beam wavelength changing member 4, an optical vortex conversion unit 5, and a wavelength conversion unit 6.

The laser light source 2 is, for example, a titanium sapphire laser, which generates a pulse-oscillated laser beam 11 and irradiates the beam diameter changing member 3.
The beam diameter changing member 3 is, for example, a condensing lens, which is arranged downstream of the laser light source 2 in the optical path of the laser beam 11 generated by the laser light source 2 to change the diameter of the laser beam 11.
The beam wavelength changing member 4 is, for example, a KTP crystal, is arranged downstream of the beam diameter changing member 3 in the optical path of the laser beam 11, and changes the wavelength of the laser beam 11 to a wavelength that can be absorbed by the light absorber 20.
The optical vortex conversion unit 5 is, for example, a spiral phase plate, which is arranged downstream of the beam wavelength changing member 4 in the optical path of the laser beam 11 and converts the laser beam 11 into an optical vortex laser beam 12.
The wavelength conversion unit 6 is, for example, a 1/4 wave plate, and imparts circular polarization to the optical vortex laser beam.

The light absorber 20 is irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam 12 from the light absorber flying means 1, receives energy within the diameter range of the optical vortex laser beam 12, and flies, and adheres to the adherend 30.
The flying light absorber 20 is twisted while converging near the central axis of the beam diameter due to the forward propulsion by the appropriate energy and the gyro effect provided by the optical vortex laser beam 12, and thus to the periphery. Adheres to the adherend 30 while suppressing the scattering of the light.
At this time, the flying amount of the flying light absorbing material 20 is a part of the area of the light absorbing material 20 irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam 12, and can be adjusted by the wavelength conversion unit 6 or the like.

FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
In FIG. 5B, the image forming apparatus 301 includes a base material 40 and a beam scanning means 60 in addition to the means of the image forming apparatus 300 shown in FIG. 5A. The image forming apparatus 301 scans the optical vortex laser beam 12 generated by the light absorber flying means 1 in a direction orthogonal to the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam 12 by the beam scanning means 60. As a result, the image forming apparatus 301 can irradiate an arbitrary position of the light absorbing material 20 supported by the flat plate-shaped base material 40 and attach the flying light absorbing material 20 to the adhered object 30.

The beam scanning means 60 is arranged downstream of the light absorbing material flying means 1 in the optical path of the optical vortex laser beam 12 and has a reflecting mirror 61.
The reflecting mirror 61 is moved by the reflecting mirror driving means in the scanning direction indicated by the arrow S in FIG. 5B, and reflects the optical vortex laser beam 12 at an arbitrary position of the light absorbing material 20.
The beam scanning means 60 may, for example, move the light absorbing material flying means 1 itself or rotate the light absorbing material flying means 1 to change the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam 12. Alternatively, the beam scanning means 60 may scan the optical vortex laser beam 12 at an arbitrary position by using a polygon mirror as the reflecting mirror 61.

The base material 40 is arranged downstream of the beam scanning means 60 in the optical path of the optical vortex laser beam 12, and for example, when the light absorber 20 is a highly viscous liquid, the light absorber 20 is applied and fixed for the purpose of being applied and fixed. Used. The base material 40 is capable of transmitting light, supports the light absorbing material 20 on the front surface, and irradiates the light absorbing material 20 from the back surface with the optical vortex laser beam 12.
Further, at the stage when the light absorbing material 20 is supported on the base material 40, the flight amount of the light absorbing material 20 is stabilized by controlling the average thickness of the light absorbing material 20 forming the layer to be constant. Can be done.
The combination of the light absorbing material flying means 1 and the beam scanning means 60 is referred to as an optical vortex laser beam irradiation unit 100.

FIG. 5C is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
In FIG. 5C, the image forming apparatus 301a has galvano scanners (galvano mirrors) 62a and 62b as the beam scanning means 60 in the image forming apparatus 301 shown in FIG. 5B. The galvano scanners 62a and 62b can each move in independent scanning directions (two-dimensional), and can reflect the optical vortex laser beam 12 at an arbitrary position on the light absorber 20. By using the galvano scanners 62a and 62b as the beam scanning means 60, the scanning speed and scanning accuracy of the optical vortex laser beam 12 can be further improved.
Further, in the image forming apparatus 301a, for example, it is preferable to arrange an fθ lens between the galvano scanner 62b and the base material 40.

FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 5B to which the light absorbing material supplying means and the object transporting means are added.
In FIG. 6A, the image forming apparatus 302 has a light absorbing material supplying means 50 and an adherend transporting means 70 in addition to the means of the image forming apparatus 301 shown in FIG. 5B, and has a flat plate shape. The base material 40 is changed to a cylindrical light absorbing material-supporting roller 41. Further, a light vortex laser beam irradiation unit 100 is arranged inside the light absorbing material supporting roller 41, and the light vortex laser beam 12 irradiates the adhered object 30 carried on the outer periphery of the light absorbing material supporting roller 41. ..

The light absorber supply means 50 includes a storage tank 51, a supply roller 52, and a regulation blade 53.
The storage tank 51 is arranged in the vicinity below the supply roller 52 and stores the light absorber 10.
The supply roller 52 is arranged so as to be in contact with the light absorber supporting roller 41, and a part of the supply roller 52 is immersed in the light absorber 10 of the storage tank 51. The supply roller 52 attaches the light absorber 10 to the surface while rotating in the rotation direction indicated by the arrow R2 in FIG. 6A by a rotation driving means or following the rotation of the light absorber supporting roller 41. The attached light absorbing material 10 is supplied as a layer by making the average thickness uniform by the regulation blade 53 and transferring to the light absorbing material supporting roller 41. The light absorbing material 10 supplied to the surface of the light absorbing material supporting roller 41 is continuously supplied to the position where the optical vortex laser beam 12 is irradiated by the rotation of the light absorbing material supporting roller 41.
The regulating blade 53 is arranged on the upstream side of the light absorbing material supporting roller 41 in the rotation direction indicated by the arrow R2 in the drawing, regulates the light absorbing material 10 adhered to the surface by the supply roller 52, and regulates the light absorbing material supporting roller 41. The average thickness of the light absorbing material 10 supplied to the light absorbing material 10 is made uniform.

The adherend transporting means 70 is arranged in the vicinity of the light absorber-supporting roller 41 so that the light-absorbing material-supporting roller 41 and the adherend 30 to be transported do not come into contact with each other. It has an adherend transport belt 72 stretched on a roller 71. The adhered object transporting means 70 rotates the adhered object transport roller 71 by the rotation driving means, and transports the adhered object 30 by the adhered object transport belt 72 in the transport direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 6A.
At this time, the optical vortex laser beam irradiation unit 100 irradiates the optical vortex laser beam 12 from the inside of the light absorber supporting roller 41 according to the image information, and attaches the light absorber 20 to the adherend 30. A two-dimensional image is formed on the adhered object 30 by performing such an adhering operation of adhering the light absorbing material 20 to the adhered object 30 while moving the adhered object 30 by the adhered object transport belt 72. be able to.

The light absorbing material 20 that was supported on the surface of the light absorbing material-supporting roller 41 but did not fly was accumulated by the contact between the light absorbing material-supporting roller 41 and the supply roller 52, and eventually the storage tank. It falls to 51 and is collected. Further, the method of recovering the light absorbing material 20 is not limited to this, and a scraper or the like for scraping the light absorbing material 20 on the surface of the light absorbing material supporting roller 41 may be provided.

FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 5B to which a light absorbing material supplying means and an adherend transporting means are added.
In FIG. 6B, the image forming apparatus 303 uses the cylindrical light absorbing material supporting roller 41 in the image forming apparatus 302 shown in FIG. 6A as the light absorbing material supporting portion 42 divided into two along the axial direction. The arrangement of 302 is changed.

The light absorbing material supporting portion 42 has a shape that is a part of a cylindrical surface and has no surface on the opposite side of the cylindrical center line. By using a carrier having no facing surface in this way, the optical path of the optical vortex laser beam 12 can be easily secured without providing the optical vortex laser beam irradiation unit 100 on the cylindrical light absorber supporting roller 41. The device can be simplified.

FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 6A to which the fixing means is added.
In FIG. 7A, the image forming apparatus 305 has fixing means 80 in addition to the means of the image forming apparatus 302 shown in FIG. 6A, and fixes the light absorbing material 20 attached to the adherend 30. I try to make it smooth. The position of the adherend transporting means 70 was set to the side surface of the light absorbing material supporting roller 41 in FIG. 6A, but was set above the light absorbing material supporting roller 41 in FIG. 7A for convenience of explanation.

The fixing means 80 is a pressure-type fixing means, and is arranged on the downstream side of the light absorbing material-supporting roller 41 in the transport direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 7A of the adherend 30, and faces the pressure roller 83. It has a roller 84 and. The fixing means 80 pressurizes and fixes the adhered object 30 to which the light absorbing material 20 is attached by transporting it while sandwiching it.

The pressurizing roller 83 is urged toward the opposing roller 84, and the surface of the pressurizing roller 83 comes into contact with the adhered object 30 and pressurizes while sandwiching the adhered object 30 with the opposing roller 84.
The opposing roller 84 is arranged at a position where it comes into contact with the pressure roller 83, and the adhered object 30 is sandwiched between the pressure roller 83 and the adhered object transfer belt 72.

For example, when the image forming apparatus 305 is used as the image forming apparatus and the light absorbing material 20 having a very high viscosity of 1,000 mPa · s or more is used, the penetration or wetting of the light absorbing material 20 into the adherend 30 is delayed. Cheap. If the light absorbing material 20 is dried as it is, the surface roughness of the image may become rough and the gloss of the image may be lowered. In such a case, the fixing means 80 pressurizes the adhered object 30 to which the light absorbing material 20 is attached by the pressure roller 83 and pushes the light absorbing material 20 into the adhered object 30 or crushes the light absorbing material 20. Therefore, the surface roughness of the adherend 30 to which the light absorbing material 20 is attached can be reduced.

FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 6A to which the fixing means is added.
In FIG. 7B, the image forming apparatus 306 is obtained by changing the pressurizing type fixing means 80 in the image forming apparatus 305 shown in FIG. 7A to the heating and pressurizing type fixing means 81.
The fixing means 81 is arranged on the downstream side of the light absorbing material supporting roller 41 in the transport direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 7B of the adherend 30, and includes a heating and pressurizing roller 85, a fixing belt 86, a driven roller 87, and the like. It has a halogen lamp 88 and an opposing roller 84. The fixing means 81 is used when the material requiring melting is used as the light absorbing material 20 of the dispersion liquid in which the material needs to be melted, and the target image cannot be obtained only by pressurization.

The heating and pressurizing roller 85 is urged toward the opposing roller 84, and heats and pressurizes the adherend 30 while sandwiching the adhered object 30 with the opposing roller 84 via the fixing belt 86.
The fixing belt 86 has an endless belt shape, is stretched by a heating and pressurizing roller 85 and a driven roller 87, and its surface comes into contact with the adherend 30.
The driven roller 87 is arranged below the heating and pressurizing roller 85, and is driven according to the rotation of the heating and pressurizing roller 85.
The halogen lamp 88 is arranged inside the heating and pressurizing roller 85, and generates heat for fixing the light absorbing material 20 on the adherend 30.
The opposing roller 84 is arranged at a position where it comes into contact with the fixing belt 86, and the adhered object 30 is sandwiched by the pressure roller 83 via the adhered object transport belt 72.

FIG. 7C is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 6A to which the fixing means is added.
In FIG. 7C, the image forming apparatus 307 is obtained by changing the pressurizing type fixing means 80 in the image forming apparatus 305 shown in FIG. 7A to the UV irradiation type fixing means 82.
The fixing means 82 is arranged on the downstream side of the light absorbing material supporting roller 41 in the transport direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 7C of the adherend 30, and has a UV lamp 89. This fixing means 81 is used when an ultraviolet curable material is used as the light absorbing material 20, and is fixed to the adherend 30 by irradiating UV with a UV lamp 89.

FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
In FIG. 8A, the image forming apparatus 200 has three light absorber flight units 120 in addition to the means of the image forming apparatus 306 shown in FIG. 7B, and the light absorber 20 is changed to the colorant 21. It was done.
Further, the light absorber flying unit 120 is composed of a light absorbing material supplying means 50, a light absorbing material flying means 1, a beam scanning means 60, a light absorbing material supporting roller 41, and a light absorbing material 20.

The light absorber flight units 120Y, M, C, and K store the four process colors of toner, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), as the colorant 21. ing.
As a result, images of each color are sequentially formed on the recording medium 31, and can be applied to a color process for obtaining a color image.

FIG. 8B is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
In FIG. 8B, the image forming apparatus 201 has an intermediate transferring means 90 as a transferring means in addition to the means of the image forming apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 8A.

The intermediate transfer means 90 includes an intermediate transfer body 91, an intermediate transfer body driving roller 92, and an intermediate transfer body driven roller 93.
The intermediate transfer body 91 is, for example, an endless belt, which is arranged above the four light absorber flight units 120 and is stretched by the intermediate transfer body driving roller 92 and the intermediate transfer body driven roller 93. ..
The intermediate transfer body drive roller 92 is rotated in the rotation direction indicated by the arrow R2 in FIG. 8B by the rotation drive means to rotate the intermediate transfer body 91.
The intermediate transfer body driven roller 93 is driven according to the rotation of the intermediate transfer body driving roller 92.
In this way, an image may be first formed on the intermediate transfer body 91 and then transferred to a desired recording medium 31. Also in this image forming apparatus 201, it is possible to obtain a high-quality color image as in the image forming apparatus 200. Further, since the image formed on the intermediate transfer body 91 is pressed by the intermediate transfer body driving roller 92 when being transferred to the recording medium 31, the surface of the recording medium 31 to which the colorant 21 is attached is pressed like the image forming apparatus 200. Roughness can be reduced.

Further, in FIG. 5B, the direction of irradiating the optical vortex laser beam is the direction of gravity, but in FIGS. 5A and 6A to 8B, the direction of irradiating the optical vortex laser beam is opposite to the direction of gravity. And it was shown to be horizontal.
As described above, in the image forming method of the present invention, the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam on the surface of the base material is the non-gravity direction, and the liquid column or the droplet may be generated in the non-gravity direction. As a result, the degree of freedom in designing the device can be increased.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a three-dimensional model manufacturing apparatus of the present invention.
In FIG. 9, the three-dimensional model manufacturing apparatus 500 includes a model support substrate 122, a stage 123, and a three-dimensional model head unit 130. The three-dimensional model manufacturing apparatus 500 manufactures the three-dimensional model 124 by laminating the adhered three-dimensional model 22 while curing it.
The three-dimensional modeling head unit 130 is arranged above the three-dimensional modeling object manufacturing apparatus 500, and can be scanned by the driving means in the direction indicated by the arrow L in the drawing. The three-dimensional modeling head unit 130 includes a light absorber flight unit 120 and an ultraviolet irradiator 121.

The light absorber flight unit 120 is arranged in the center of the three-dimensional modeling head unit 130, and the light absorber 20 is flown downward to be attached to the modeled object support substrate 122 or the already cured light absorber 20.
The ultraviolet irradiator 121 is arranged on both side surfaces of the light absorber flight unit 120, and irradiates the light absorber 20 to which the light absorber flight unit 120 has flown with ultraviolet rays to cure it.
The modeled object support substrate 122 is arranged below the three-dimensional modeled object manufacturing apparatus 500, and serves as a substrate when the three-dimensional modeling head unit 130 forms a layer of the three-dimensional modeling agent 22.
The stage 123 is arranged below the modeled object support substrate 122, and the modeled object support substrate 122 can be moved in the vertical direction in the drawing by a driving means. Further, the stage 123 can be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow H in the drawing, and the gap between the three-dimensional modeling head unit 130 and the three-dimensional modeling object 124 can be adjusted.

In the image forming apparatus and the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus, an example of transporting or moving the adherend, the recording medium, and the modeled object support substrate is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the adhered object or the like is stationary. The light absorber flying unit or the like may be moved. Alternatively, both the adherend and the like and the light absorber flying unit and the like may be moved.
Further, in the case where an image of the entire surface of the recording medium is formed at the same time, both may be stationary and only the laser may be operated at least during recording.

Examples of the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.
In the following, the UV ink as the light absorber is irradiated with a pulse-oscillated optical vortex laser beam by the light absorber flying means shown in FIG. 5B to adhere the object to be adhered so as to form dots. An example and a comparative example will be described.

(Example 1)
<Base material, light absorber and adherend>
On a slide glass as a base material (manufactured by Matsunami Glass Industry Co., Ltd., microslide glass S7213; transmittance of 532 nm wavelength light is 99%), UV ink having the following composition is applied to the surface as a light absorber. A film having an average thickness of 20 μm was formed. At this time, the transmittance of the 532 nm wavelength light in the film-shaped light absorber was 0.01% or less (absorbance was 4 or more). The viscosity of the UV ink was 4 Pa · s when measured in an environment of 25 ° C. using a rotational viscometer (VISCOMATE VM-150III, manufactured by Toki Sangyo Co., Ltd.).
・ UV Core TYPE-A Beni (manufactured by T & K TOKA Co., Ltd.) 100 parts by mass ・ UV flexo 500 Beni (manufactured by T & K TOKA Co., Ltd.) 50 parts by mass

Next, the surface of the base material coated with the light absorber was opposed to the object to be adhered, and the base material was installed so that the optical vortex laser beam could be vertically irradiated from the back surface of the light absorber.
As the adherend, POD gloss coated paper (manufactured by Mitsubishi Paper Mills Limited) was used, and the gap between the adherend and the light absorber was set to 1.5 mm.

<Light absorber flight means>
The light absorber flying means includes a laser light source, a beam diameter changing member, a beam wavelength changing element, a spiral phase plate as an optical vortex conversion unit, and a 1/4 wave plate as a wavelength conversion unit.

As the laser light source, a laser light source (YAG) made by myself at the Omatsu Laboratory, Graduate School of Fusion Science, Chiba University was used. Using this laser light source, a one-pulse laser beam was generated in which the wavelength of the generated laser beam was 532 nm, the beam diameter was 1.25 mm × 1.23 mm, the pulse width was 2 nanoseconds, and the pulse frequency was 20 Hz. .. The generated 1-pulse laser beam is applied to a condensing lens (YAG laser condensing lens manufactured by Sigma Kouki Co., Ltd.) as a beam diameter changing member to determine the beam diameter when the light absorber is irradiated. The diameter was set to Φ80 μm. Next, the laser beam that passed through the beam diameter changing member was passed through a spiral phase plate (Vortex phase plate manufactured by Luminex Co., Ltd.) to be converted into an optical vortex laser beam. Next, the optical vortex laser beam converted by the spiral phase plate was passed through a 1/4 wave plate (QWP; manufactured by Kogaku Giken Co., Ltd.) arranged downstream of the spiral phase plate. At this time, the optical axes of the spiral phase plate and the 1/4 wave plate were set to + 45 ° so that the total rotational moment J represented by the above equation (1) was 2. By passing the converted optical vortex laser beam through an energy adjustment filter (ND filter manufactured by SIGMA KOKI Co., Ltd.), the laser output when the light absorber was irradiated was adjusted to 50 μJ / dot.

<Evaluation of flight condition>
Using a high-speed video camera (HyperVision HPV-X, manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation), the flying state when the UV ink as the light absorber is irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam as described above is used to obtain the light absorber. The images were taken at 100 ns per frame from the direction orthogonal to the flight direction, and evaluated according to the following criteria. The flight state is shown in FIG. 10A, and the results are shown in Table 1.
〔Evaluation criteria〕
◯: Converges on the optical path axis of the laser beam and travels straight △: Converges on the optical path axis of the laser beam, but the straightness is slightly disturbed ×: Diffuses and flies over the laser beam diameter

<Evaluation of adhesion state>
The state of adhesion of the adherend to which the flying light absorber was attached was evaluated according to the following criteria. The adhesion state is shown in FIG. 10B, and the results are shown in Table 1. If this evaluation is ◯ or Δ, it is a level at which there is no problem in actual use.
〔Evaluation criteria〕
○: No scattering △: Slightly scattered ×: With scattering

(Example 2)
In Example 1, the flight was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the energy adjustment filter was set so that the irradiation energy when irradiating the light absorber with the optical vortex laser beam was changed from 50 μJ / dot to 60 μJ / dot. The state and adhesion state were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1. The flying state is shown in FIG. 11A, and the attached state is shown in FIG. 11B.

(Example 3)
In Example 1, the flying state and the adhered state were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the gap between the adherend and the light absorbing material was set to 1.5 mm to 0.2 mm. The results are shown in Table 1. The flying state is shown in FIG. 12A, and the attached state is shown in FIG. 12B. As shown in FIG. 12A, it can be seen that the film of the UV ink irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam comes into contact with the adherend before being separated and is then separated.

(Example 4)
In Example 3, the flight was carried out in the same manner as in Example 3 except that the energy adjustment filter was set so that the irradiation energy when irradiating the light absorber with the optical vortex laser beam was changed from 50 μJ / dot to 60 μJ / dot. The state and adhesion state were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1. The flying state is shown in FIG. 13A, and the attached state is shown in FIG. 13B.

(Comparative Example 1)
In Example 1, the flight was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the energy adjustment filter was set so that the irradiation energy when irradiating the light absorber with the optical vortex laser beam was changed from 50 μJ / dot to 70 μJ / dot. The state and adhesion state were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1. The flying state is shown in FIG. 14A, and the attached state is shown in FIG. 14B.

(Comparative Example 2)
In Example 1, the flying state and the adhering state were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the film thickness of the UV ink applied to the surface of the base material was adjusted to an average thickness of 20 μm to 3 μm. The results are shown in Table 1. The flying state is shown in FIG. 15A, and the attached state is shown in FIG. 15B. Further, when the film thickness of the UV ink was 3 μm, the transmittance of 532 nm wavelength light was 1%.

From the results in Table 1, in Examples 1, 3 and 4, the flying state and the adhering state of the UV ink were good. Further, in Example 2, since the irradiation energy was strong and the gap between the adherend and the light absorbing material was wide, the results were slightly more scattered than in Examples 1, 3 and 4, but the results were good. ..
On the other hand, in Comparative Example 1, since the irradiation energy was increased, the light absorber (UV ink) was scattered wider than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B. That is, in Comparative Example 1, droplets having a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam could not be generated from the light absorber.
Further, in Comparative Example 2, since the film thickness of the UV ink was changed from the average thickness of 20 μm to 3 μm, the irradiation energy per unit volume became stronger, and as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the light absorber (UV ink) became light. It scattered wider than the irradiation diameter of the vortex laser beam. That is, in Comparative Example 2, droplets having a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam could not be generated from the light absorber.

In this way, by appropriately combining each parameter such as the irradiation energy of the optical vortex laser, the film thickness, the distance between the adherend and the light absorber, or the material and viscosity of the ink, as in Examples 1 to 4, The flying object generation method using the optical vortex laser of the present invention can easily form a small-diameter liquid column or droplet using a highly viscous material, and thus can form a high-resolution image.

(Example 5)
In Example 5, unlike Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2, light pulse-oscillated by using a light absorbing material flying means having two galvano scanners as shown in FIG. 5C is used. The UV ink as a light absorber was irradiated with a vortex laser beam to form dots in a row on the adherend.
Further, in Example 5, the laser beam diameter is focused to Φ60 μm, the scanning speed of the galvano scanner is 100 mm / s, the laser repetition frequency (pulse frequency) is 500 Hz, and the adherends (non-adherent) are at intervals of about 200 μm. Dots were formed on the transfer medium). Further, in Example 5, the gap between the adherend and the light absorbing material is set to 0.1 mm, and the energy is set so that the irradiation energy when irradiating the light absorbing material with the optical vortex laser beam is 27 μJ / dot. The adjustment filter was set.
In Example 5, dots were formed on the adherend in the same manner as in Example 1 except for the above-mentioned conditions.

The dots formed in Example 5 were observed using a digital microscope (VHX-5000, manufactured by KEYENCE CORPORATION).
In addition, by analyzing the image acquired using the above digital microscope, the values of the variation in the average diameter of the dots (average dot diameter), the diameter of the todd (dot diameter), and the position of the dots (dot position) can be determined. The value of the variation was calculated.

More specifically, for the average dot diameter, a dot image of a light absorber is acquired with a digital microscope, a dot area is detected from the image brightness information, and the area of each dot is calculated from the number of pixels in the detected dot area. The diameter when converted to a circle was taken as the dot diameter, and this was calculated by averaging.
In addition, the value of the variation in dot diameter is calculated by acquiring a dot image of the light absorber with a digital microscope, detecting the dot area from the image brightness information, and calculating the area of each dot from the number of pixels in the detected dot area. The diameter was taken as the dot diameter when converted to, and was calculated from the average particle size and standard deviation of the particle size distribution of each dot.
Furthermore, for the value of the variation in the dot position, a dot image of the light absorber is acquired with a digital microscope, the dot region is detected from the image luminance information, the coordinates of the center of gravity of each detected dot region are calculated, and the minimum of each center of gravity is two. It was obtained by calculating the deviation from the approximate straight line by the multiplication method.

In Example 5, the average dot diameter was 67.4 μm, the value of the variation in the dot diameter was 3.4%, and the value of the variation in the dot position was 0.6 μm. The results are shown in Table 2. Further, the state of adhesion of the light absorbing material (state of dots in a row) in Example 5 is shown in FIG.

(Example 6)
In Example 6, dots were formed in a row on the adherend in the same manner as in Example 5 except that the gap between the adherend and the light absorber was changed to 0.2 mm in Example 5. ..
In Example 6, the average dot diameter was 69.9 μm, the dot diameter variation value was 5.3%, and the dot position variation value was 3.2 μm. The results are shown in Table 2. Further, the state of adhesion of the light absorbing material (state of dots in a row) in Example 6 is shown in FIG.

(Example 7)
In Example 7, dots were formed in a row on the adherend in the same manner as in Example 5 except that the gap between the adherend and the light absorber was changed to 0.5 mm in Example 5. ..
In Example 7, the average dot diameter was 75.7 μm, the dot diameter variation value was 9.0%, and the dot position variation value was 2.9 μm. The results are shown in Table 2. Further, the state of adhesion of the light absorbing material (state of dots in a row) in Example 7 is shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, when the gap between the adherend and the light absorber is 0.1 mm or 0.2 mm (Examples 5 and 6), the shapes of the dots are particularly similar. There is. Further, as shown in Table 2, when the gap (gap) between the adherend and the light absorber is 0.1 mm or 0.2 mm (Examples 5 and 6), the average dot diameter and the dot diameter The variability values are particularly close.
As described in Examples 3 and 4, when the gap between the adherend and the light absorber is 0.2 mm or less, the film of the UV ink (light absorber) irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam is formed. , Contact the adherend before being separated, and then separated to form dots. Therefore, in Examples 5 and 6, since the tip of the light absorbing material adheres to the adherend without separating, the scattering generated when the light absorbing material is separated is small, and dots having a more uniform diameter are generated. It is thought that it is.

Further, in Example 7 in which the gap between the deposit and the light absorber is 0.5 mm, the tip of the UV ink (light absorber) is separated and the flying ink droplets land on the deposit. As a result, dots are formed. Therefore, in Example 7, as shown in FIG. 18, some ink scattering occurs, and the variation in dot diameter is slightly larger than in Examples 5 and 6.
However, also in Example 7, as shown in FIG. 18, the dot shape is sufficiently formed, and the difference is clear as compared with FIGS. 14B and 15B showing the adhesion state of Comparative Examples 1 and 2 which are the prior arts. is there.
The variation in the dot position is about 3 μm in all of Examples 5 to 7, and it can be seen that the dots can be formed with high accuracy.

As described above, in the method for generating a flying object using the optical vortex laser of the present invention, the surface of the base material on the surface of the base material on which the light absorber is arranged is opposite to the side on which the light absorber is arranged. By irradiating the optical vortex laser beam, a liquid column or droplet having a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam in the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam is generated from the light absorbing material. As a result, the flying object generation method using the optical vortex laser of the present invention can form a high-resolution image.

Examples of aspects of the present invention are as follows.
<1> The optical vortex laser beam is formed by irradiating the surface of the base material on the surface opposite to the side on which the light absorber is arranged with the optical vortex laser beam. This is a flying object generation method using an optical vortex laser, which comprises generating a liquid column or droplet having a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam in the irradiation direction of the light absorber.
<2> The optical vortex laser according to <1>, wherein the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam on the surface of the base material is the non-gravity direction, and the liquid column or droplets are generated in the non-gravity direction. This is the method of generating flying objects.
<3> The optical vortex laser beam is formed by irradiating the surface of the base material on the surface opposite to the side on which the light absorber is arranged with the optical vortex laser beam. A liquid column or droplet having a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam is generated from the light absorbing material, and the liquid column or droplet is brought into contact with the transfer medium to be transferred. This is a characteristic image forming method.
<4> The image forming method according to <3>, wherein the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam onto the surface of the base material is the non-gravity direction, and the liquid column or the droplet is generated in the non-gravity direction. ..
<5> When the surface of the base material is irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam, the light absorber swells in a substantially dome shape in the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam with rotational motion, and the light having the substantially dome shape. The image forming method according to any one of <3> to <4>, wherein liquid columns or droplets having a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam are generated from the top of the absorbent material.
<6> The image forming method according to any one of <3> to <5>, wherein the light absorber has an absorbance of the optical vortex laser beam with respect to a wavelength of more than 1.
<7> The image forming method according to any one of <3> to <6>, wherein the thickness of the light absorbing material arranged on the surface of the base material is 10 μm or more.
<8> The image forming method according to any one of <3> to <7>, wherein the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam is 100 μm or less.
<9> The image forming method according to any one of <3> to <8>, wherein the irradiation energy of the optical vortex laser beam is 60 μJ / dot or less.
<10> The optical vortex laser beam is formed by irradiating the surface of the base material on the surface of the base material on which the light absorbing material is arranged on the side opposite to the side on which the light absorbing material is arranged. A light absorbing material flying means for generating a liquid column or droplet having a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam in the irradiation direction of the light absorbing material.
A transfer means for bringing the liquid column or the droplet into contact with the transfer medium to transfer the liquid column or the droplet.
It is an image forming apparatus characterized by having.

The method for generating a flying object using the optical vortex laser according to any one of <1> to <2>, the image forming method according to any one of <3> to <9>, and the above <10>. According to the image forming apparatus of the above, the conventional problems can be solved and the object of the present invention can be achieved.

1 Light absorber Flying means 2 Laser light source 3, 7 Beam diameter changing member 4 Beam wavelength changing member 5 Spiral phase plate (optical vortex conversion part)
6 1/4 wave plate (wavelength converter)
11 Laser beam 12 Optical vortex Laser beam 20 Light absorber 21 Colorant 22 Three-dimensional modeling agent 30 Adhesion 31 Recording medium 32 Substrate 40 Base material 100 Light absorber flying unit 110 Coloring agent flying unit 120 Three-dimensional modeling agent flying unit 124 Three-dimensional Modeled object 130 Three-dimensional modeling head unit 300 to 307 Image forming device 400, 401 Image forming device 500 Three-dimensional modeling object manufacturing device

JP-A-2018-56565

Claims (10)

By irradiating the surface of the base material with the light absorber on the surface opposite to the side on which the light absorber is placed, the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam A method for generating a flying object using an optical vortex laser, which comprises generating a liquid column or droplet having a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam from the light absorbing material. The projectile generation using the optical vortex laser according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam on the surface of the base material is the non-gravity direction, and the liquid column or the droplet is generated in the non-gravity direction. Method. By irradiating the surface of the base material with the light absorber on the surface opposite to the side on which the light absorber is placed, the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam In addition, a liquid column or droplet having a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam is generated from the light absorbing material, and the liquid column or droplet is brought into contact with the transfer medium to be transferred. Image formation method. The image forming method according to claim 3, wherein the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam on the surface of the base material is the non-gravity direction, and the liquid column or the droplet is generated in the non-gravity direction. When the surface of the base material is irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam, the light absorber swells in a substantially dome shape in the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam with rotational motion, and the light absorber having a substantially dome shape. The image forming method according to any one of claims 3 to 4, wherein a liquid column or droplet having a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam is generated from the top of the light vortex. The image forming method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the light absorber has an absorbance of the optical vortex laser beam with respect to a wavelength of more than 1. The image forming method according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the thickness of the light absorbing material arranged on the surface of the base material is 10 μm or more. The image forming method according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam is 100 μm or less. The image forming method according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the irradiation energy of the optical vortex laser beam is 60 μJ / dot or less. By irradiating the surface of the base material with the light absorber on the surface opposite to the side on which the light absorber is placed, the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam In addition, a light absorbing material flying means for generating a liquid column or droplet having a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam from the light absorbing material,
A transfer means for bringing the liquid column or the droplet into contact with the transfer medium to transfer the liquid column or the droplet.
An image forming apparatus characterized by having.