JP2023033176A - Flying object generation method, flying object transfer method and image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a flying object generation method using an optical vortex laser capable of forming a high-resolution image.SOLUTION: There is provided a flying object generation method for generating from a light absorption material a liquid column or droplet with a smaller diameter than an irradiation diameter of an optical vortex laser beam in the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam by irradiating a surface of a base material on the side opposite to the side where the light absorption material is arranged in the base material in which the light absorption material is arranged on the surface with the optical vortex laser beam. The flying object generation method adjusts an amount of the liquid column or the droplet by changing the orbital angular momentum quantum number of the optical vortex laser beam.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

The present invention relates to a flying object generation method, a flying object transfer method, and an image forming apparatus.

Since ink droplets can be ejected to desired positions in image forming apparatuses, in recent years, it has been applied to the field of 3D printers, which perform three-dimensional modeling, and the field of printed electronics, which forms electronic parts using printing technology. being considered.

Specifically, a method in which a laser is irradiated from the transparent substrate side of a transfer target material (donor) layer formed on a transparent substrate, and the flying object is flown and transferred to a desired position on a receiver substrate arranged opposite to the target. There is a laser induced forward transfer (LIFT) that is being investigated for various applications. A method of transferring high-viscosity ink without scattering by using an optical vortex laser having an annular profile as a LIFT laser light source has been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-100002).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a method capable of stably controlling the amount of flying light absorbing material without scattering the light absorbing material.

A method for generating a flying object of the present invention as a means for solving the above-mentioned problems is characterized in that, in a base material on which a light absorbing material is arranged, light is generated on the surface of the base material on the side opposite to the side on which the light absorbing material is arranged. A flying object generation method for generating a liquid column or droplet having a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam from a light absorbing material in the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam by irradiating the vortex laser beam,
The amount of the liquid column or droplet is adjusted by changing the orbital angular momentum quantum number of the optical vortex laser beam.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a flying object generation method that can stably control the amount of flying light absorbing material without scattering the light absorbing material.

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram showing an example of a wavefront (equal phase front) in a general laser beam. FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of light intensity distribution in a general laser beam. FIG. 1C is a diagram showing an example of phase distribution in a general laser beam. FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram showing an example of a wavefront (equal phase front) in an 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 phase distribution in an optical vortex laser beam. FIG. 3A is a photograph showing an example when a light absorbing material is irradiated with a general laser beam. FIG. 3B is a photograph showing an example when a light absorbing material is irradiated with an optical vortex laser beam. FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the result of spatial intensity distribution measurement in an optical vortex laser beam. FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the result of spatial intensity distribution measurement in a laser beam having a point of light intensity 0 at 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 light absorbing material supply means and adherent transport 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 adherent 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 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 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 fixing means is added. FIG. 8A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the image forming apparatus of the invention. FIG. 8B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of the image forming apparatus of the invention. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus of the present invention. 10A is a photograph showing an example of a flight state of a light absorbing material when the orbital angular momentum quantum number is 1 in Example 1. FIG. 10B is a photograph showing an example of the flight state of the light absorbing material when the orbital angular momentum quantum number is 2 in Example 1. FIG. 10C is a photograph showing an example of the flight state of the light absorbing material when the orbital angular momentum quantum number is 3 in Example 1. FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between the quantum number (L) of the orbital angular momentum, the quantum number (P) in the same radial direction, and the wavefront shape of the optical vortex laser beam. 12A is a photograph showing an example of dots when the orbital angular momentum quantum number is 1 in Example 1. FIG. 12B is a photograph showing an example of dots when the orbital angular momentum quantum number is 2 in Example 1. FIG. 12C is a photograph showing an example of dots when the orbital angular momentum quantum number is 3 in Example 1. FIG. 13 is a photograph showing an example of dots when the orbital angular momentum quantum number is 1 in Example 3. FIG. 14A is a photograph showing an example of a wire when the orbital angular momentum quantum number is 1 in Example 3. FIG. 14B is a photograph showing an example of a wire when the orbital angular momentum quantum number is 2 in Example 3. FIG. 15 is a photograph showing an example of a wire with a Gaussian beam in Comparative Example 2. FIG.

(Flying Object Generating Method, Flying Object Transfer Method, and Image Forming Apparatus)
In the flying object generation method of the present invention, a light vortex laser beam is applied to the surface of a base material having a light absorbing material disposed on the surface opposite to the side on which the light absorbing material is disposed. A flying object generation method for generating a liquid column or droplet from a light absorbing material in the irradiation direction of a vortex laser beam and having a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of an optical vortex laser beam,
The amount of the liquid column or droplet is adjusted by changing the orbital angular momentum quantum number of the optical vortex laser beam.
In the flying object transfer method of the present invention, a light vortex laser beam is applied to the surface of a substrate on which a light absorbing material is arranged on the surface opposite to the side on which the light absorbing material is arranged. 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 in the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam, and the orbital angular momentum quantum number of the optical vortex laser beam is reduced to Adjust the amount of the liquid column or droplet by changing
The liquid column or liquid droplets are brought into contact with a medium to be transferred and transferred.
That is, in the flying object transfer method of the present invention, a small-diameter liquid column or droplet generated from a light absorbing material by the flying object generating method of the present invention is brought into contact with a medium to be transferred and transferred.
Therefore, since the flying object generation method using the optical vortex laser of the present invention can be explained only by the flying object transfer method of the present invention, the image forming method of the present invention will be explained. Details of the generation method will also be clarified.

In the flying object generation method of the present invention, in the conventional method of forming a flying object using a laser, high-viscosity ink, which is a material to be transferred, is caused to fly when flying and transferring to an acceptor substrate, and the ink scatters due to the effect of a light vortex. However, there is no mention of a method for controlling the amount of the material to be transferred (donor), which is necessary for application to an image forming apparatus. This is based on the knowledge that it is difficult to stably transcribe a large amount.

Therefore, it was found that the image forming method of the present invention can adjust (control) the amount of the liquid column or droplet of the optical vortex laser beam by changing the orbital angular momentum quantum number of the optical vortex laser beam. bottom.

First, the optical vortex laser beam will be described.
Since a general laser beam is in phase, it has a planar equiphase plane (wavefront) as shown in FIG. 1A. Since the direction of the pointing vector of the laser beam is orthogonal to the planar equiphase plane, it is the same direction as the irradiation direction of the laser beam. 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 a normal distribution (Gaussian distribution) where the center of the beam is the strongest as shown in FIG. 1B, the light absorbing material is likely to scatter. Moreover, when the phase distribution is observed, it is confirmed that there is no phase difference as shown in FIG. 1C.
FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram showing an example of a wavefront (equal phase front) in an optical vortex laser beam. A Laguerre-Gaussian beam, which is one of optical vortex laser beams, has a spiral equiphase surface as shown in FIG. 2A. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2B, the light intensity distribution has a concave annular distribution in which the center of the beam is zero. Since the direction of the Poynting vector of the optical vortex laser beam is orthogonal to the spiral equiphase plane, the Poynting vector is slightly inclined with respect to the traveling direction of the optical vortex laser beam, resulting in The light pressure along the orbital direction of the torus, that is, the orbital angular momentum appears. When the optical vortex laser beam is applied to the light absorbing material, a force acts along the circumferential direction of the ring. Therefore, the light absorbing material 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 in which it is difficult to scatter. Also, when the phase distribution is observed, it is confirmed that a phase difference occurs as shown in FIG. 2C.

FIG. 3A is a photograph showing an example when a light absorbing material is irradiated with a general laser beam. FIG. 3B is a photograph showing an example when a light absorbing material is irradiated with an optical vortex laser beam.
Comparing FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, it can be confirmed that the light absorbing material is scattered more in FIG. 3A than in FIG. 3B. From this, the light absorbing material irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam is applied with circular energy as radiation pressure, flies along the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam, and is affected by the orbital angular momentum. It can be seen that it adheres in a state where it is difficult to scatter.

The method for determining whether it is an optical vortex laser beam is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Distribution measurements are common.
Spatial intensity distribution 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 spatial intensity distribution measurement are shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.
FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the result of spatial intensity distribution measurement in an optical vortex laser beam, and FIG. 4B shows an example of the result of spatial intensity distribution measurement in a laser beam having a point of light intensity 0 at the center. It is an explanatory diagram.
When the spatial intensity distribution of the optical vortex laser beam is measured, as shown in FIG. 4A, it is confirmed that the measured spatial intensity distribution is circular, and the laser beam has a point with a light intensity of 0 at the center as in FIG. 1C. can.
On the other hand, if the spatial intensity distribution measurement of a general laser beam having a point of light intensity 0 in the center is similar to the spatial intensity distribution measurement of the optical vortex laser beam shown in FIG. 4A, as shown in FIG. 4B. , the difference from the optical vortex laser beam can be confirmed because the energy distribution in the annular portion is not uniform.

The image forming method of the present invention can be suitably 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 which the light absorbing material is arranged on the surface opposite to the side on which the light absorbing material is arranged. As a result, the image forming apparatus of the present invention causes a liquid column or droplet having a smaller diameter than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam in the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam to be generated from the light absorbing material. is brought into contact with a medium to be transferred and transferred.
It is preferable that the image forming apparatus has light absorbing material flying means, transfer means, and other means as necessary.

<Means for flying light absorbing material>
The light absorbing material flying means irradiates a light vortex laser beam on the surface of the base material on the side opposite to the side on which the light absorbing material is disposed in the base material on which the light absorbing material is disposed, thereby generating a light 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 in the irradiation direction of the beam, and the liquid column or droplet is generated by changing the orbital angular momentum quantum number of the optical vortex laser beam. It is a means of adjusting the volume of droplets.

The light absorbing material flying means in the present invention can adjust the amount of the liquid column or droplet by changing the orbital angular momentum quantum number of the optical vortex laser beam.
The orbital angular momentum is total angular momentum excluding spin angular momentum.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the quantum number (L) of the orbital angular momentum, the quantum number (P) in the same radial direction, and the wavefront shape of the optical vortex laser beam. As shown in FIG. 11, as the orbital angular momentum quantum number (L) increases, the intensity distribution of the optical vortex laser beam spreads, and the region of the singular point (center) in the ring of the optical vortex laser beam widens. Become. Thereby, the amount of the liquid column or droplet can be adjusted.
The orbital angular momentum quantum number is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, but is preferably 1 or more and 3 or less. When the orbital angular momentum quantum number is 3 or less, separation of the central singularity is prevented, and a relatively stable beam shape can be obtained.

Further, as the light absorbing material flying means, for example, one having a laser light source, an optical vortex converting section, and a polarization converting section can be used. It is preferred to have a member.

<<Laser light source>>
The laser light source is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples thereof include solid lasers, gas lasers and semiconductor lasers that generate laser beams, and those capable of pulse oscillation are preferable.
Examples of solid-state lasers include YAG lasers and titanium sapphire lasers.
Examples of gas lasers include argon lasers, helium neon lasers, and carbon dioxide lasers.
Among these, a semiconductor laser with an output of about 30 mW is preferable from the viewpoint of miniaturization and cost reduction of the device.
The wavelength of the laser beam is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose.
The beam diameter of the laser beam is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose.
The pulse width of the laser beam is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. preferable.
The pulse frequency of the laser beam is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, but is preferably 500 Hz or higher.
As the laser light source, a laser light source capable of outputting an optical vortex laser beam may be used.

<<Optical vortex converter>>
The optical vortex converter is not particularly limited as long as it can convert a laser beam into an optical vortex laser beam, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples include a spatial light modulator, a helical phase plate, and a multimode fiber. be done. Among these, the spatial light modulator is preferred because it can modulate the amplitude and phase of the laser.

The method for generating the optical vortex laser beam is not limited to the method using the optical vortex converter. For example, a method of oscillating an optical vortex as an eigenmode from a laser resonator, a method of inserting a hologram element into the resonator, and the like. is mentioned. Other methods for generating optical vortex laser beams include, for example, a method using pumping light converted to a donut beam, a method using a resonator mirror having a dark spot, and a spatial filter that removes the thermal lens effect generated by a side-pumped solid-state laser. and a method of oscillating in an optical vortex mode.

<<Polarization converter>>
The polarization conversion section imparts circular polarization to the optical vortex laser beam. Examples of the polarization converter include a quarter wavelength plate. The optical axis is set at +45° or -45° to impart circular polarization to the optical vortex laser beam. The following formula (1) is a formula of the total angular momentum density that combines the orbital angular momentum and the spin angular momentum of polarized light, and shows the distribution of the total angular momentum density of the sum of the spin angular momentum derived from the orbital angular momentum and the polarized light. It is thought that it contributes to the rotational speed of the liquid column generated during laser irradiation. Due to the rotation of the liquid column, the image forming apparatus can stably fly the light absorbing material, and can increase the effect of attaching the light absorbing material to the adherend in a shape that suppresses scattering.

ただし、式（１）において、ε_０は真空中の誘電率であり、ωは光の角周波数であり、Ｌは軌道角運動量量子数であり、Ｉは、下記数式（２）で表される光渦レーザビームの強度であり、Ｓは偏光に対するスピン角運動量量子数であり、ｒは円筒座標系の動径である。

ただし、式（２）において、ω_０は光のビームウエストサイズである。
なお、ビームウエストサイズとは、光渦レーザビームにおけるビーム径の最小値を意味する。

However, in formula (1), ε ₀ is the dielectric constant in vacuum, ω is the angular frequency of light, L is the orbital angular momentum quantum number, and I is expressed by the following formula (2). is the intensity of the optical vortex laser beam, S is the spin angular momentum quantum number for polarization, and r is the radius of the cylindrical coordinate system.

where ω ₀ is the beam waist size of the light in equation (2).
The beam waist size means the minimum beam diameter of the optical vortex laser beam.

The values of the spin angular momentum quantum number S are 0 and ±1, and the signs indicate the directions of circularly polarized light (clockwise and counterclockwise), respectively, and is 0 for linearly polarized light.

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 polarization conversion unit that imparts circular polarization to the optical vortex laser beam. , and suppress scattering of the light absorbing material.

<<Other members>>
Other members are not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose.

-Beam diameter changing member-
The beam diameter changing member is not particularly limited as long as it can change the beam diameter of the laser beam or the optical vortex laser beam, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose.
The beam diameter (irradiation diameter) of the optical vortex laser beam is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, but is preferably 100 μm or less. It is preferable that the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam is 100 μm or less, since a high-resolution image can be easily formed.
Note that the beam diameter can be changed by, for example, the laser spot diameter and the condenser lens.
When the light absorbing material is a dispersion, the beam diameter is preferably at least the maximum value of the volume average particle size of the light absorbing material, 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 absorbing material can be made to fly stably.

―Beam Wavelength Changer―
The beam wavelength changing element is not particularly limited as long as the wavelength of the laser beam or the optical vortex laser beam can be changed to a wavelength that can be absorbed by the light absorbing material and can be transmitted through the base material described later, depending on the purpose. It can be selected as appropriate. Examples of beam wavelength changing elements include KTP crystals, BBO crystals, LBO crystals, CLBO crystals, and the like.

―Output adjustment section―
The output adjuster is not particularly limited as long as it can adjust the laser beam or the optical vortex laser beam to an appropriate output value, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples thereof include glass.

As for the output value of the optical vortex laser beam irradiated to the light absorbing material, a state in which a liquid column that converges to a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter while rotating about the central axis of the irradiation diameter with the irradiation direction as the axis, or There is no particular limitation as long as it is possible to achieve a state in which a portion can be cut off and droplets can be produced, and it can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. In addition, below, an "output value" may be called "irradiation energy."
As the irradiation energy of the optical vortex laser beam, the appropriate value changes depending on the viscosity and film thickness of the light absorbing material, so it is preferable to adjust it as appropriate. /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 converges to a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter while rotating about the central axis of the irradiation diameter centered on the irradiation direction, or This is advantageous in that it is easy to realize a state in which a portion can be separated and droplets can be generated.

<Transfer Means>
The transfer means is a means for transferring a liquid column or droplets produced from a light absorbing material into liquid columns or droplets having a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam by contacting the transfer medium.
The transfer means is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples thereof include means having a mechanism for bringing liquid columns or droplets generated from a light absorbing material into contact with a medium to be transferred. . 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 conveying the adherend.

<<Receiving medium>>
The medium to be transferred (object to be adhered) is not particularly limited as long as the liquid column or droplets generated from the light absorbing material can come into contact therewith, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples include a recording medium and an intermediate transfer belt.

<Other means>
Other means include, for example, a light absorbing material supplying means, a beam scanning means, an adherent conveying means, a fixing means, a control means, and the like.
Alternatively, the light absorbing material flying means, the base material, the light absorbing material supplying means, and the beam scanning means may be integrated as a light absorbing material flying unit.
Other processes include, for example, a light absorbing material supplying process, a beam scanning process, an adherent conveying process, a fixing process, a control process, and the like.

The light absorbing material supplying 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 object to be adhered, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. can. As the light absorbing material supplying means, for example, the light absorbing material may be supplied through a cylindrical base material arranged on the optical path.
Specifically, when the light absorbing material is a liquid and the light absorbing material is supplied to the base material, providing a supply roller and a regulating blade as the light absorbing material supplying means allows the light absorption with a very simple configuration. This is preferable because the absorbent can be supplied to the surface of the substrate 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 absorbing material, rotates while carrying the light absorbing material on the surface, and supplies the light absorbing material by coming into contact with the substrate. The regulating blade is arranged downstream of the storage tank in the rotation direction of the supply roller, regulates the light absorbing material carried by the supply roller to make the average thickness uniform, and stabilizes the amount of the light absorbing material to be scattered. By making the average thickness very thin, it is possible to reduce the amount of light absorbing material that flies, so that the light absorbing material can be attached to the adherend as minute dots that are suppressed from scattering, and the dot gain that thickens halftone dots is achieved. can be suppressed. Note that the regulating blade may be arranged downstream of the supply roller in the rotation direction of the substrate.

Moreover, when the light absorbing material has a high viscosity, the material of the supply roller preferably has elasticity at least on the surface in order to ensure contact with the base material. When the light absorbing material has a relatively low viscosity, the supply rollers include, for example, gravure rolls, microgravure rolls, forward rolls, etc., such as those used in precision wet coating.

Further, as a means for supplying the light absorbing material without a supply roller, after the base material is brought into direct contact with the light absorbing material in the storage tank, excess light absorbing material is scraped off with a wire bar or the like, and the surface of the base material is covered with the light absorbing material. A layer of light absorbing material may be formed. The storage tank may be provided separately from the light absorbing material supplying means, and the light absorbing material may be supplied to the light absorbing material supplying means through a hose or the like.
The light absorbing material supplying process is not particularly limited as long as it is a process of supplying the light absorbing material onto the optical path of the optical vortex laser beam between the light absorbing material flying means and the object to be adhered. can be selected, and can be suitably performed, for example, using a light absorbing material supplying means.

The beam scanning means is not particularly limited as long as it can scan the optical vortex laser beam on the light absorbing material, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, the beam scanning means includes a reflecting mirror for reflecting the vortex laser beam emitted from the light absorbing material flying means toward the light absorbing material, and for changing the angle and position of the reflecting mirror to absorb the vortex laser beam. and a reflector drive for scanning the material.
The beam scanning process is not particularly limited as long as it is a process of scanning a light absorbing material with an optical vortex laser beam, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. can be done.

The adherend conveying means is not particularly limited as long as it can convey the adherend, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples thereof include a pair of conveying rollers.
The adherend conveying step is not particularly limited as long as it is a step of conveying the adherend, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, it can be suitably carried out using adherend conveying means. .

The fixing means is not particularly limited as long as it can fix the light absorbing material adhered to the object to be adhered, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. things, etc.
The heating and pressing member is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples thereof include a heating roller, a pressure roller, and a combination of a heating roller and a pressure roller. Other heating and pressurizing members include, for example, those in which a fixing belt is combined with these, and those in which a heating roller is replaced with a heating block.

As the pressure roller, a roller whose pressure surface moves at the same speed as the adherend conveyed by the adherend conveying means is preferable from the viewpoint of suppressing image deterioration due to rubbing. Among these, the one having an elastic layer formed in the vicinity of the surface is more preferable because it is easy to contact and pressurize the object to be adhered. Furthermore, the pressure roller, which has a water-repellent surface layer formed on the outermost surface with a material with low surface energy such as a silicone-based water-repellent material or a fluorine compound, suppresses image distortion caused by light-absorbing material adhering to the surface. point, it is particularly preferable.
The water-repellent surface layer made of a silicone-based water-repellent material includes, for example, a film of a silicone-based release agent, a baked film of silicone oil or various modified silicone oils, a film of silicone varnish, a film of silicone rubber, and a film of silicone rubber. Coatings made of composites such as metals, rubbers, plastics, ceramics, and the like can be used.
The water-repellent surface layer made of a fluorine compound includes a film of fluororesin, a film of an organic fluorine compound, a baked film or adsorption film of fluorine oil, a film of fluororubber, or a film of fluororubber and various metals, rubbers, plastics, ceramics, etc. Films made of composites and the like can be mentioned.

The heating temperature of the heating roller is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the 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 according to the 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 that forming the outermost surface of the pressure roller from the viewpoint of suppressing disturbance of the image due to the light absorbing material adhering to the surface. Since the fixing belt can be thinned, 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 less from the viewpoint of energy saving, and the pressure is preferably 1 kg/cm or less from the standpoint of rigidity of the device.

When two or more types of light absorbing materials are used, the light absorbing materials of each color may be fixed each time they adhere to the adherend, and all types of light absorbing materials adhere to the adherend and are laminated. You may fix it in the state where it was stuck.
Moreover, when the light absorbing material has a very high viscosity and is slow to dry and it is difficult to improve the adhesion speed to the adherend, the adherend may be additionally heated to accelerate the drying.
Furthermore, the penetration and wetting of the light-absorbing material into the adherend is slow, and when the light-absorbing material is dried in a state in which the adhered light-absorbing material is not sufficiently smoothed, the surface of the adherend with the light-absorbing material adhered becomes rough. As a result, the gloss of the surface of the adherend may not be obtained. In order to obtain gloss on the surface of the adherend, a fixing means that fixes the adherend by applying pressure is used. may be made to have a small surface roughness.
The fixing means is necessary for fixing to the object to be adhered, especially when a solid light absorbing material formed by pressing powder is used. Incidentally, 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 adherend to the adherend, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. can be suitably performed.

The control means is not particularly limited as long as it can control the movement of each means, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples thereof include devices such as sequencers and computers.
The control step is a step of controlling each step, and can be suitably performed by control means.

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

<<Light-absorbing substance>>
The light-absorbing substance is not particularly limited as long as it absorbs light of a predetermined wavelength, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples thereof include coloring agents such as pigments and dyes.

The ability of the light-absorbing substance to absorb light of a predetermined wavelength is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. % 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.
In addition, in a coating film formed of a light absorbing material having light absorption 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 more preferable, and 0.01% or less (4 or more) is particularly preferable. When the transmittance is within the preferred range, the energy of the optical vortex laser beam absorbed by the base material is less likely to be converted into heat, which is advantageous in that changes such as drying and melting of the light absorbing material are less likely to occur. . Furthermore, when the transmittance is within the preferred range, the energy applied 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 (UV3600 manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation).

The shape, size, material, etc. of the light absorbing material are not particularly limited, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose.
Examples of the form of the light absorbing material include liquid, solid, and powder. In particular, the ability to fly highly viscous substances or solids is an advantage that conventional ink jet recording systems cannot achieve.
Further, if the light absorbing material is solid or powder, it is preferable that the light absorbing material is in a viscous state when irradiated with the vortex laser beam. Specifically, when it is desired to fly a solid or powder, for example, it is preferable to heat and melt the material before irradiating it with the optical vortex laser beam so as to make it viscous.

The liquid light-absorbing material is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include ink containing pigment and solvent, conductive paste containing conductor and solvent, and the like. When ink containing a solvent is irradiated with a light vortex laser beam, if the solvent does not absorb light, the energy of the light vortex laser beam is imparted to the light-absorbing content other than the solvent. The solvent flies together.
The viscosity of the liquid light-absorbing material is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose.
The viscosity can be measured at 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 according to the purpose.
The conductor is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. Examples include conductive inorganic particles such as silver, gold, copper, nickel, ITO, carbon, carbon nanotube; Examples include particles made of conductive organic polymers such as poly(ethylenedioxythiophene), polyacetylene, and polypyrrole. These may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together.
The volume resistivity ^of the conductive paste is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose.

Examples of powdery light absorbing materials include toners containing pigments and binder resins, and fine metal particles such as solder balls. In this case, when the vortex laser beam is irradiated, the energy of the vortex laser beam is imparted to the pigment, and the binder resin flies as toner together with the pigment. It should be noted that only the pigment may be used as the powdery light absorbing material.

The solid light-absorbing material is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. mentioned.

The metal thin film is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. Examples of metals include silver, gold, aluminum, platinum, copper, and other general metals that can be vapor-deposited or sputtered. These may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together.
As a method of forming an image pattern by flying a metal thin film, for example, a metal thin film is formed on a base material such as glass or film in advance, and an image pattern is formed by irradiating the metal thin film with an optical vortex laser beam and flying it. A method of forming Further, as another method, there is a method of forming an image pattern by causing a non-image portion to fly.

The compacted powder is preferably layered with a predetermined average thickness, and a layered solid may be carried on the surface of the substrate.

The size of the light absorbing material is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose.
The average thickness of the light absorbing material is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. By setting the average thickness of the light absorbing material within the above preferred range, it is possible to suppress scattering of the light absorbing material when the optical vortex laser beam is irradiated.
When the average thickness of the light-absorbing material is within the preferable range, when the light-absorbing material is supplied in a layered form, the strength of the layer can be ensured even when the light-absorbing material is continuously ejected, so stable supply is possible. is advantageous in that it is possible to In addition, since the energy of the optical vortex laser beam does not become too large, it is advantageous in that deterioration and decomposition do not readily occur, especially when the light absorbing material is an organic material.
Depending on the coating method, it is also possible to supply a layer having a fixed pattern.

The method for measuring the average thickness is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. and the like. As the average, the average of thicknesses at 5 points is preferable, the average of thicknesses at 10 points is more preferable, and the average of thicknesses at 20 points is particularly preferable.
The average thickness measuring device is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples thereof include non-contact or contact methods such as laser displacement gauges and micrometers.

The material of the light absorbing material is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. If so, it may be a three-dimensional modeling agent, which will be described later.

-coloring agent-
As with the light absorbing material, the shape and material of the coloring agent are not particularly limited, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Differences when the light absorbing material is used as the coloring agent will be described below.

The liquid colorant is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Water-based inks can be used. In addition to water-based inks, coloring agents containing relatively low-boiling-point liquids such as hydrocarbon-based organic solvents and various alcohols can also be used as solvents. Among these, water-based inks are preferable from the viewpoints of safety of volatile components, risk of explosion, and the like.

In addition, the image forming apparatus can also form images with process inks for offset printing that use plates, inks compatible with JAPAN COLOR, special color inks, etc., making it possible to easily create digital images that match the colors used in offset printing without using a plate. can be reproduced.
Further, since the UV curable ink can also form an image, it can be cured by irradiating it with ultraviolet rays in the fixing process, thereby preventing blocking caused by sticking of overlapping recording media and simplifying the drying process.

Examples of materials for the coloring material include organic pigments, inorganic pigments, and dyes. These may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together.

Examples of organic pigments include dioxazine violet, quinacridone violet, copper phthalocyanine blue, phthalocyanine green, sap green, monoazo yellow, disazo yellow, polyazo yellow, benzimidazolone yellow, isoindolinone yellow, fast yellow, and chromophthal yellow. , nickel azo yellow, azomethine yellow, benzimidazolone orange, alizarin red, quinacridone red, naphthol red, monoazo red, polyazo red, perylene red, anthraquinonyl red, diketopyrrolopyrrole red, diketopyrrolopyrrole orange, benzimidazolone Brown, sepia, aniline black, and the like, and among 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, viridian, yellow ocher, and alumina. White, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, vermilion, lithopone, ultramarine, talc, white carbon, clay, mineral violet, rose cobalt violet, silver white, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, strontium sulfide, aluminate 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, raw sienna, raw umber, cassel earth, Chalk, gypsum, burnt sienna, burnt umber, lapis lazuli, azurite, malachite, orpiment, cinnabar, coral powder, chalk, red iron oxide, ultramarine blue, dark blue, fish phosphorus foil, and iron oxide treated pearl.

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

As a magenta pigment, C.I., which is quinacridone red, is used. I. Pigment Red 122, Naphthol Red, C.I. I. Pigment Red 269, and a rhodamine lake, C.I. I. Pigment Red 81:4 is preferred, and these may be used singly or in combination of two or more. Among these, C.I. I. Pigment Red 122 and C.I. I. Pigment Red 269 mixtures are more preferred, C.I. I. Pigment Red 122 (P.R. 122) and C.I. I. Pigment Red 269 (P.R. 269) mixtures include P.I. R. 122:P. R. A mixture of 5:95 to 80:20 of 269 is particularly preferred. P. R. 122:P. R. 269 is within a particularly preferable range, the hue does not deviate from magenta.

As a yellow pigment, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 74, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 155, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 180, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 185 is preferred. Among these, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 185 is more preferred. These may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together.

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

Many inorganic pigments are composed of particles having a volume average particle diameter of more than 10 μm. When an inorganic pigment having a volume average particle diameter of 10 μm or more is used as a coloring agent, the coloring agent is preferably liquid. If the colorant is liquid, it is advantageous in that the colorant can be maintained in a stable state without using forces other than non-electrostatic force such as electrostatic force. In this case, nozzle clogging and sedimentation of ink are likely to occur, and the image forming method of the present invention is very effective as compared with the ink jet recording method in which a stable continuous printing process is difficult to achieve. Furthermore, the image forming method of the present invention is very effective even in comparison with the electrophotographic method, which cannot be established as a stable continuous printing process because a sufficient amount of charge cannot be obtained when the surface area of the colorant particles is small. .

Examples of dyes include monoazo dyes, polyazo dyes, metal complex salt azo dyes, pyrazolone azo dyes, stilbene azo dyes, thiazole azo dyes, anthraquinone derivatives, anthrone derivatives, indigo derivatives, thioindigo derivatives, phthalocyanine dyes, diphenylmethane dyes, and triphenylmethane dyes. Dyes, xanthene dyes, acridine dyes, azine dyes, oxazine dyes, thiazine dyes, polymethine dyes, azomethine dyes, quinoline dyes, nitro dyes, nitroso dyes, benzoquinone dyes, naphthoquinone dyes, naphthalimide dyes, perinone dyes, and the like.

The viscosity of the coloring agent is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose.
When a liquid colorant that permeates the recording medium is used, the colorant adhering to the recording medium may cause feathering or bleeding. When the coloring agent is used, since it dries faster than the speed of permeation into the recording medium, especially by reducing bleeding, it is possible to improve color development and sharpen the edge portion, and it is possible to form a high-quality image. . In addition, when gradation expression is performed by superimposing the colorants in layers, blurring due to an increase in the amount of the colorant can be reduced.
Furthermore, since this image forming method involves flying and adhering a liquid colorant, for example, compared with a so-called thermal transfer method in which a colorant is melt-transferred from a film-shaped colorant carrier by heat, the image to be recorded is relatively small. Good recording can be performed even if the medium has minute unevenness.

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

For example, when coated paper or smooth film used in general offset printing is used as a recording medium, the average thickness of the coloring agent is preferably 0.5 μm or more and 5 μm or less. When the average thickness is within the preferred range, it becomes difficult for the human eye to discern color differences due to minute differences in the average thickness of the recording medium. This is advantageous in that the gain does not become conspicuous and a sharp image can be easily expressed.

Further, for example, when using a recording medium having a surface roughness greater than that of coated paper or film, such as high-quality paper used in offices, the average thickness of the colorant is preferably 3 μm or more and 10 μm or less. When the average thickness is within the preferred range, it is difficult to be affected by the surface roughness of the recording medium, and it is easy to obtain good image quality. Even if the layers are superimposed on each other, the stepped feeling is unlikely to be noticeable.

Furthermore, for example, when used for textile printing for dyeing cloth, fibers, etc., the average thickness of the coloring agent is 5 μm or more in order to adhere the coloring agent to cotton, silk, chemical fiber, etc., which is a recording medium. is often required. This often requires a large amount of coloring agent because the fibers are thicker than paper.

<Base material>
The shape, structure, size, material, etc. of the substrate are not particularly limited, and can be appropriately selected according to the 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 light vortex laser beam can be irradiated from the back surface, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples of the shape of the substrate include a flat plate shape, a cylindrical shape such as a perfect circle or an ellipse, a surface obtained by cutting out a part of a cylindrical shape, and an endless belt shape. Among these, it is preferable that the substrate has a tubular shape and has a light absorbing material supplying means for supplying the light absorbing material to the surface of the substrate rotating in the circumferential direction. When the light absorbing material is carried on the surface of the cylindrical base material, it can be supplied without depending on the size of the object to be adhered in the outer peripheral direction. Further, in this case, a light absorbing material flying means is arranged inside the cylindrical shape, and the light vortex laser beam can be irradiated from the inside toward the outer circumference, and the substrate rotates in the circumferential direction to continuously irradiate. be able to. Further, examples of the shape of the plate-like substrate include a slide glass.

The structure of the substrate is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose.

The size of the base material is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose, but it is preferable to set the size to match the width of the object to be adhered.

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

The surface roughness Ra of the substrate is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. , both of the surface and the back surface are preferably 1 μm or less. In addition, when the surface roughness Ra is within the preferable range, it is possible to suppress the variation in the average thickness of the light absorbing material attached to the adherend, and the desired amount of light absorbing material can be attached. Advantageous.
The surface roughness Ra can be measured according to JIS B0601, for example, using a confocal laser microscope (manufactured by Keyence Corporation) or a stylus surface profile measuring device (Dektak150, manufactured by Bruker AXS Co., Ltd.). can be measured by

<Substance to be adhered>
The object to be adhered (medium to be transferred) is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. substrates and the like.

-Recording medium-
The recording medium is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples thereof include coated paper, fine paper, film, cloth, and fiber.

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

In addition, the average diameter (average dot diameter) of the light absorbing material after transfer (adherence) in the transfer medium (adherence target) is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose, but is 100 μm. The following is preferable in that the resolution of the image to be formed and the three-dimensional object can be further improved. In the present invention, the diameter of the flying droplet is smaller than the diameter of the irradiated optical vortex laser beam. The dot diameter formed by changes.
For the average dot diameter, for example, a dot image of the light absorbing material is acquired with a microscope or the like, the 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 dot diameter can be obtained by averaging the converted diameter as the dot diameter.

Furthermore, the value of variation in the diameter (dot diameter) of the light absorbing material after transfer (adherence) on the medium to be transferred (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 medium to be transferred within the preferred range described above, it is possible to further improve the accuracy when forming an image or a three-dimensional object.
Further, the value of the variation in the diameter of the light absorbing material after transfer on the transfer medium can be obtained, for example, by obtaining a dot image of the light absorbing material with a microscope or the like, detecting the dot area from the image luminance information, and detecting the detected dot. The area of each dot is calculated from the number of pixels in the region, the diameter of the dot when converted to a circle is defined as the dot diameter, and the dot diameter can be calculated from the average particle diameter and standard deviation of the particle diameter distribution of each dot.

In addition, the dispersion value of the position (dot position) of the light absorbing material after transfer (adherence) on the medium to be transferred (attachment) is preferably 10 μm or less, more preferably 5 μm or less. preferable. By setting the value of the variation in the position of the light absorbing material after transfer on the transfer medium within the preferred range described above, the accuracy in forming an image or a three-dimensional object can be further improved. As for the value of the variation in the position of the light absorbing material after transfer on the transfer medium, for example, when the dots of the light absorbing material are attached in a row, the light absorption in the direction perpendicular to the row of dots is It can be the value of the variation in the position of the material.
For example, a dot image of a light-absorbing material is acquired with a microscope or the like, dot areas are detected from image luminance information, the coordinates of the center of gravity of each detected dot area are calculated, and the deviation from the approximate straight line by the least-squares method of each center of gravity is calculated. It can be obtained by calculating.

It should be noted that 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, an image forming apparatus may be provided with four colorant flying units to fly colorants of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, which are process colors. The number of colors of the coloring agent is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose, and the number of coloring agent flying units may be increased or decreased as necessary. Further, by arranging the colorant flying unit having the white colorant on the upstream side of the colorant flying unit having the process color colorant in the conveying direction of the recording medium, it is possible to provide a white concealing layer. Therefore, an image with excellent color reproducibility can be formed on a transparent recording medium. However, especially for yellow, white, and transparent colorants, the laser light source is changed to, for example, a blue laser beam or an ultraviolet laser beam so that the transmittance (absorbance) of the light at the wavelength of the optical vortex laser beam is appropriate. You may have to choose accordingly.

Furthermore, since the image forming apparatus can use a high-viscosity colorant, even if an image is formed by sequentially stacking colorants of different colors on a recording medium, the colorants bleed out and mix together. Since the occurrence can be suppressed, 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 colorant carrier may be switched to form a multi-color image.

Also, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can be applied to a three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus as follows.

(Manufacturing equipment for three-dimensional objects)
The three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus preferably has at least a three-dimensional modeling agent flying device, preferably three-dimensional modeling agent curing means, and further has other means as necessary. The three-dimensional modeling agent flying device is an image forming device in which the light absorbing material is a three-dimensional modeling agent, and the three-dimensional modeling agent flying means causes the three-dimensional modeling agent to fly.

<Solid modeling agent flying means>
The three-dimensional modeling agent flying means is the same as the above-described light absorbing material flying means except that the light absorbing material is the three-dimensional modeling agent and the object to be adhered is the model supporting substrate, so the description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the three-dimensional modeling agent flying means stacks the three-dimensional modeling agent as a layer on the modeled object support substrate, and three-dimensionally attaches the three-dimensional modeling agent.

<Solid modeling agent curing means>
The three-dimensional modeling agent curing means is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose.
The three-dimensional modeling agent curing step is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. can be suitably performed using

<Other means>
Other means include, for example, three-dimensional modeling agent supply means, three-dimensional modeling head unit scanning means, substrate position adjusting means, control means, and the like.

<<3D Modeling Agent Supply Means>>
The three-dimensional modeling agent supply means is the same as the light absorbing material supply means described above except that the light absorbing material is the three-dimensional modeling agent and the object to be adhered is the modeled object support substrate, so the description thereof will be omitted.

<<3D modeling head unit scanning means>>
The three-dimensional modeling head unit scanning means is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. The object support substrate may be scanned in the width direction (X-axis) of the device. The three-dimensional modeling head unit may, for example, harden the ultraviolet-curing three-dimensional modeling agent adhered by the light absorber flying unit by the ultraviolet light absorbing material flying means. Also, a plurality of stereolithography head units may be provided.

<<Board Position Adjusting Means>>
The substrate position adjusting means is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. A possible base (stage) may be used.

<<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.

<Solid modeling agent>
As with the light-absorbing material, the shape and material of the three-dimensional modeling agent are not particularly limited, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Differences when the light absorbing material is a three-dimensional shaping agent will be described below.

The average thickness of the three-dimensional shaping agent is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. When the average thickness is within the preferred range, it is advantageous in terms of precision, texture, smoothness, production time, and the like of the three-dimensional object. Moreover, as average thickness of a three-dimensional shaping|molding agent, 5 micrometers or more and 100 micrometers or less are more preferable. When the average thickness is within a more preferable range, the energy of the optical vortex laser beam can be kept low, 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 undergoes a polymerization reaction and is cured by irradiation with active energy rays (ultraviolet rays, electron beams, etc.), heating, etc., and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples include active energy ray-curable compounds and thermosetting compounds. Among these, materials that are liquid at room temperature are preferred.
The active energy ray-curable compound is a relatively low-viscosity monomer having a radically polymerizable unsaturated double bond in its molecular structure, and examples thereof include monofunctional monomers and polyfunctional monomers.

<<Other Ingredients>>
Other components are not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. Boiling point alcohols, surface treating agents, viscosity modifiers, adhesion imparting agents, antioxidants, anti-aging agents, cross-linking accelerators, UV absorbers, plasticizers, preservatives, dispersants and the like.

<Solid modeling agent carrier>
The three-dimensional modeling agent carrier is the same as the base material described above, except that the three-dimensional modeling agent is used as the light absorbing material, so the description thereof is omitted.

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

The gap between the object support substrate and the three-dimensional modeling agent carrier is the same as the gap between the adhering object and the base material, so the explanation thereof will be omitted.

Next, an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The number, position, shape, and the like of the following constituent members are not limited to those of the present embodiment, and the number, position, shape, and the like can be set to be preferable in 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, an image forming apparatus 300 has a light absorbing material flying unit 1, a light absorbing material 20 that absorbs light, an adherend 30, and a base material 40. As shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus 300 irradiates the light absorbing material 20 carried on the base material 40 with the light vortex laser beam 12 by the light absorbing material flying means 1 , and the light absorbing material 20 is irradiated with the energy of the light vortex laser beam 12 . flies in the irradiation direction and adheres to the object 30 to be adhered.

The light absorbing material flying means 1 has a laser light source 2 , beam diameter changing members 3 and 7 , beam wavelength changing member 4 , optical vortex converting section 5 and polarization converting section 6 .

The laser light source 2 is, for example, a titanium sapphire laser, generates a pulse-oscillated laser beam 11 , and irradiates the beam diameter changing member 3 with the laser beam 11 .
The beam diameter changing member 3 is, for example, a condenser lens, 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 , and changes 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 absorbing material 20.
The optical vortex converter 5 is, for example, a helical phase plate, 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 the optical vortex laser beam 12 .
The polarization converter 6 is, for example, a quarter-wave plate, and imparts circular polarization to the optical vortex laser beam.

The light absorbing material 20 is irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam 12 from the light absorbing material flying means 1 , receives energy in the range of the diameter of the optical vortex laser beam 12 , flies, and adheres to the adherend 30 .
The flying light absorbing material 20 is converged in the vicinity of the central axis of the beam diameter due to the forward propulsion and gyro effect of the moderate energy imparted by the optical vortex laser beam 12, and is twisted to the periphery. It adheres to the adherend 30 while suppressing the scattering of .
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 optical vortex converting section 5 .

FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
In FIG. 5B, an image forming apparatus 301 has a substrate 40 and a beam scanning means 60 in addition to each means of the image forming apparatus 300 shown in FIG. 5A. This image forming apparatus 301 scans the vortex laser beam 12 generated by the light absorbing material flying means 1 in a direction orthogonal to the irradiation direction of the 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 carried by the plate-shaped base material 40 and attach the flying light absorbing material 20 to the adherend 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 movable in the scanning direction indicated by the arrow S in FIG.
The beam scanning means 60 may 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 use a polygon mirror as the reflecting mirror 61 to scan an arbitrary position with the vortex laser beam 12 .

The substrate 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 absorbing material 20 is a highly viscous liquid, the light absorbing material 20 is applied and fixed for the purpose of fixing. Used. This base material 40 is capable of transmitting light, carries the light absorbing material 20 on the front surface, and the light absorbing material 20 is irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam 12 from the back surface.
In addition, when the light absorbing material 20 is supported on the base material 40, the flying amount of the light absorbing material 20 can be stabilized by controlling the average thickness of the light absorbing material 20 forming the layer to be constant. can be done.
A 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, an image forming apparatus 301a has galvanometer scanners (galvanometer mirrors) 62a and 62b as the beam scanning means 60 in the image forming apparatus 301 shown in FIG. 5B. The galvanometer scanners 62 a and 62 b are independently movable in scanning directions (two-dimensional), and can reflect the optical vortex laser beam 12 to any position on the light absorbing material 20 . By using the galvanometer 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, it is also preferable to dispose an fθ lens between the galvanometer scanner 62b and the substrate 40, for example.

FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 5B to which a light absorbing material supplying means and an adherent transporting means are added.
In FIG. 6A, an image forming apparatus 302 has, in addition to each means of the image forming apparatus 301 shown in FIG. The substrate 40 is changed to a cylindrical light-absorbing material carrying roller 41 . A light vortex laser beam irradiation unit 100 is arranged inside the light absorbing material carrying roller 41, and irradiates the light absorbing material carrying roller 41 with the light vortex laser beam 12 onto the adherend 30 carried on the outer periphery thereof. .

The light absorbing material supplying means 50 has a storage tank 51 , a supply roller 52 and a regulating blade 53 .
The storage tank 51 is arranged below and near the supply roller 52 to store the light absorbing material 10 .
The supply roller 52 is arranged so as to be in contact with the light absorbing material carrying roller 41 and partially immersed in the light absorbing material 10 in the storage tank 51 . The supply roller 52 causes the light absorbing material 10 to adhere to the surface while rotating in the rotational direction indicated by the arrow R2 in FIG. The adhering light absorbing material 10 is made uniform in average thickness by the regulating blade 53 and transferred to the light absorbing material carrying roller 41 to be supplied as a layer. As the light absorbing material carrying roller 41 rotates, the light absorbing material 10 supplied to the surface of the light absorbing material carrying roller 41 is continuously supplied to the position where the light vortex laser beam 12 is irradiated.
The regulating blade 53 is arranged on the upstream side of the light absorbing material carrying roller 41 in the direction of rotation indicated by an arrow R2 in the drawing, and regulates the light absorbing material 10 adhered to the surface by the supply roller 52, thereby preventing the light absorbing material carrying roller 41 from The average thickness of the light absorbing material 10 supplied to the is made uniform.

The adherent conveying means 70 is arranged near the light absorbing material carrying roller 41 so that the light absorbing material carrying roller 41 and the adherent 30 to be conveyed do not come into contact with each other. and an adherent transport belt 72 stretched around rollers 71 . The adherend conveying means 70 rotates the adherend conveying roller 71 by the rotary driving means, and conveys the adherend 30 by the adherend conveying belt 72 in the conveying 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 inner side of the light absorbing material carrying roller 41 according to the image information, and adheres the light absorbing material 20 to the adherend 30 . A two-dimensional image is formed on the adherend 30 by carrying out the adhesion operation of adhering the light absorbing material 20 to the adherend 30 while the adherend 30 is being moved by the adherend conveying belt 72 . be able to.

Incidentally, the light absorbing material 20 carried on the surface of the light absorbing material carrying roller 41 but not caused to fly accumulates due to the rotation of the light absorbing material carrying roller 41 and contact with the supply roller 52, and eventually the storage tank. Drop down to 51 and collect. Moreover, the method for collecting the light absorbing material 20 is not limited to this, and a scraper or the like may be provided to scrape off the light absorbing material 20 on the surface of the light absorbing material carrying roller 41 .

FIG. 6B is an explanatory view showing another example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 5B to which light absorbing material supply means and adherent transport means are added.
In FIG. 6B, the image forming apparatus 303 uses the cylindrical light absorbing material carrying roller 41 in the image forming apparatus 302 shown in FIG. 302 is changed.

The light-absorbing material holding portion 42 has a shape that is a partial surface of a cylinder and has no surface on the opposite side of the center line of the cylinder. By using a carrier without a facing surface in this way, the optical path of the vortex laser beam 12 can be easily secured without providing the vortex laser beam irradiation unit 100 on the cylindrical light absorbing material carrier 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 fixing means is added.
In FIG. 7A, an image forming apparatus 305 has fixing means 80 in addition to each means of the image forming apparatus 302 shown in FIG. to smooth it out. 6A, the position of the adherend conveying means 70 is the side surface of the light absorbing material carrying roller 41, but in FIG. 7A it is set above the light absorbing material carrying roller 41 for convenience of explanation.

The fixing means 80 is a pressure-type fixing means, and is arranged downstream of the light absorbing material carrying roller 41 in the conveying direction of the adherend 30 indicated by the arrow C in FIG. and rollers 84 . The fixing means 80 presses and fixes the adherend 30 to which the light absorbing material 20 is adhered by pinching and conveying the adherend 30 .

The pressure roller 83 is urged toward the opposing roller 84 , the surface contacts the adherend 30 , and presses the adherend 30 while sandwiching the adherend 30 with the opposite roller 84 .
The opposing roller 84 is arranged at a position in contact with the pressure roller 83 , and sandwiches the adherend 30 with the pressure roller 83 via the adherend conveying belt 72 .

For example, if 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 adherend 30 by the light absorbing material 20 slows down. Cheap. If the light absorbing material 20 is dried as it is, the surface roughness of the image may become rough and the glossiness of the image may be lowered. In such a case, the fixing means 80 presses the adherend 30 to which the light absorbing material 20 is adhered by the pressure roller 83 to push the light absorbing material 20 into the adherent 30 or crush the light absorbing material 20 . Therefore, the surface roughness of the adherend 30 to which the light absorbing material 20 is adhered can be reduced.

FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 6A to which fixing means is added.
In FIG. 7B, an image forming apparatus 306 is obtained by changing the pressure type fixing section 80 of the image forming apparatus 305 shown in FIG. 7A to a heating and pressure type fixing section 81 .
The fixing means 81 is arranged downstream of the light absorbing material carrying roller 41 in the conveying direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. It has a halogen lamp 88 and an opposing roller 84 . This fixing means 81 is used when a material that needs to be melted is used as the light absorbing material 20 of the dispersed liquid, and the desired image cannot be obtained only by applying pressure.

The heating and pressurizing roller 85 is urged toward the opposing roller 84 and heats and presses the adherend 30 while nipping it with the opposing roller 84 via the fixing belt 86 .
The fixing belt 86 is in the form of an endless belt, stretched over the heating pressure roller 85 and the driven roller 87 , and the surface of the fixing belt 86 contacts the adherend 30 .
The driven roller 87 is arranged below the heating and pressurizing roller 85 and follows the rotation of the heating and pressurizing roller 85 .
A halogen lamp 88 is arranged inside the heating pressure roller 85 and generates heat for fixing the light absorbing material 20 to the adherend 30 .
The facing roller 84 is arranged at a position where it abuts against the fixing belt 86 , and sandwiches the adherend 30 with the pressure roller 83 via the adherend conveying belt 72 .

FIG. 7C is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 6A to which fixing means is added.
In FIG. 7C, an image forming apparatus 307 is obtained by changing the pressure type fixing section 80 of the image forming apparatus 305 shown in FIG. 7A to a UV irradiation type fixing section 82 .
The fixing means 82 is arranged downstream of the light absorbing material carrying roller 41 in the conveying direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. The fixing means 81 is used when an ultraviolet curable material is used as the light absorbing material 20 , and the UV lamp 89 irradiates UV to fix the adherend 30 .

FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
In FIG. 8A, an image forming apparatus 200 has three light absorber flying units 120 in addition to each means of the image forming apparatus 306 shown in FIG. It is what I did.
The light absorber flying unit 120 is composed of the light absorber supplying means 50 , the light absorber flying means 1 , the beam scanning means 60 , the light absorber carrying roller 41 , and the light absorber 20 .

The light absorber flying units 120 Y, M, C, and K store four color toners of process colors yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) as colorants 21 . ing.
Accordingly, it can be applied to a color process in which an image of each color is sequentially formed on the recording medium 31 to obtain a color image.

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

The intermediate transfer means 90 has an intermediate transfer member 91 , an intermediate transfer member drive roller 92 and an intermediate transfer member driven roller 93 .
The intermediate transfer member 91 is, for example, an endless belt, is arranged above the four light absorbing member flying units 120, and is stretched between an intermediate transfer member driving roller 92 and an intermediate transfer member driven roller 93. .
The intermediate transfer member driving roller 92 is rotated in the rotation direction indicated by the arrow R2 in FIG.
The intermediate transfer member driven roller 93 follows the rotation of the intermediate transfer member driving roller 92 .
In this manner, an image may be first formed on the intermediate transfer member 91 and then transferred to a desired recording medium 31 . This image forming apparatus 201 can also obtain a high-quality color image in the same manner as the image forming apparatus 200 . Further, when the image formed on the intermediate transfer member 91 is transferred to the recording medium 31, the intermediate transfer member driving roller 92 presses the recording medium 31 to which the coloring agent 21 is adhered, similarly to the image forming apparatus 200. surface roughness can be reduced.

Also, in FIG. 5B, the direction in which the vortex laser beam is irradiated is the direction of gravity, but in FIGS. or horizontal direction.
As described above, in the image forming method of the present invention, the direction of irradiation of the light vortex laser beam to the surface of the substrate 40 may be the non-gravitational direction, and the liquid column or droplet may be generated in the non-gravitational direction. This makes it possible to increase the degree of freedom in designing the device.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing an example of the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus of the present invention.
In FIG. 9 , a three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 500 has a three-dimensional object support substrate 122 , a stage 123 , and a three-dimensional object head unit 130 . This three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 500 manufactures a three-dimensional object 124 by laminating the adhered three-dimensional object 22 while hardening it.
The three-dimensional modeling head unit 130 is arranged in the upper part of the three-dimensional article manufacturing apparatus 500, and can be scanned in the direction indicated by the arrow L in the figure by the driving means. This stereolithography head unit 130 has a light absorber flying unit 120 and an ultraviolet irradiation device 121 .

The light absorber flying unit 120 is arranged in the center of the stereolithography head unit 130, and flies the light absorber 20 downward to attach it to the object support substrate 122 or the light absorber 20 already cured.
The ultraviolet irradiators 121 are arranged on both sides of the light absorber flying unit 120, and irradiate the light absorber 20 projected by the light absorber flying unit 120 with ultraviolet rays to cure the light absorber.
The modeled object support substrate 122 is arranged in the lower part of the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 500 and serves as a substrate when the three-dimensional object forming head unit 130 forms the layer of the three-dimensional object forming agent 22 .
The stage 123 is arranged below the modeled object support substrate 122, and can move the modeled object support substrate 122 in the vertical direction in the figure by a driving means. Moreover, this stage 123 can be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow H in the drawing, and the gap between the stereolithography head unit 130 and the stereolithography object 124 can be adjusted.

In the image forming apparatus and the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus, an example in which the adherend, the recording medium, and the object support substrate are conveyed or moved has been shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the object to be adhered or the like is kept stationary. Alternatively, the light absorber flying unit or the like may be moved. Alternatively, both the object to be adhered and the light absorber flying unit may be moved.
Also, in the case of simultaneously forming an image on the entire surface of the recording medium, at least during recording, both may be stationary and only the laser may operate.

Examples of the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.
In the following, the light absorbing material flying means shown in FIG. 5B is used to irradiate the UV ink as a light absorbing material with a pulse-oscillated light vortex laser beam so as to form a dot on the adherend. Examples and comparative examples will be described.

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

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

<Means for flying light absorbing material>
The light absorbing material flying means includes a laser light source, a beam diameter changing member, a beam wavelength changing element, a spatial light modulator (LCOS-SLM X13267 manufactured by Hamamatsu Photonics) as a light vortex converter, and 1 as a polarization converter. /4 wave plate.

As a laser light source, a laser light source (YAG) produced by Omatsu Laboratory, Graduate School of Integrated Science, Chiba University was used. Using this laser light source, a 1-pulse laser beam having a wavelength of 532 nm, a beam diameter of 1.25 mm×1.23 mm, a pulse width of 2 nanoseconds, and a pulse frequency of 50 Hz is generated. rice field. The generated one-pulse laser beam was converted into an optical vortex laser beam using a spatial light modulator (LCOS-SLM X13267 manufactured by Hamamatsu Photonics). Next, the optical vortex laser beam converted by the spatial light modulator was passed through a quarter-wave plate (QWP; manufactured by Kogaku Giken Co., Ltd.) arranged downstream of the spatial light modulator. At this time, the optical axes of the spiral phase plate and the quarter-wave plate were set at +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 absorbing material is irradiated was adjusted to 50 μJ/dot. The optical vortex laser beam was applied to a condensing lens (YAG laser condensing lens manufactured by Thorlabs) so that the beam diameter when irradiated to the light absorbing material was Φ80 μm.
In Example 1, the orbital angular momentum quantum number was changed to 1, 2, and 3 to form the flying object. Flight states of the projectile when the orbital angular momentum quantum number is changed to 1, 2 and 3 are shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C.

(Example 2)
A film was formed in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the optical vortex converter was changed from the spatial light modulator to a spiral phase plate.

(Comparative example 1)
A film was formed in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the energy adjustment filter was set to change the diameter of the liquid column or droplet.

In Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Example 1, "flying state", "adhesion state" and "controllability of adhesion amount" were evaluated. The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

<Evaluation of Flight State>
In Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Example 1, a high-speed video camera (HyperVision HPV-X, manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation) was used to observe the flight state when the UV ink as the light absorbing material was irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam. One frame was photographed at 100 ns from a direction perpendicular to the flight direction of the light absorbing material, and evaluated according to the following criteria.
〔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 ×: Spreads beyond the diameter of the laser beam and flies

<Evaluation of adhesion state>
In Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Example 1, the adhesion state of the adherend to which the flying light absorbing material adhered was evaluated according to the following criteria. The adhesion state results are shown in Table 1. If this evaluation is ◯ or △, it is a level that poses no problem in actual use.
〔Evaluation criteria〕
○: No scattering △: Slightly scattering ×: Scattering

<Evaluation of adhesion amount controllability>
The dot diameter (μm) of the dots transferred to the laser profile and paper in Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Example 1 was measured using a digital microscope (VHX-5000, manufactured by Keyence Corporation), and the average of three dots. A dot diameter D (μm) was calculated. In addition, the circularity of the dots transferred to paper was calculated using a self-made analysis program. The roundness of dots is given by the following equation.
Roundness = 4π × (dot area) / (dot perimeter) ²
It should be noted that when the activation angular motion quantum number L is changed in the spatial light modulator, the beam spot diameter of the optical vortex is proportional to √(L+1). 12A to 12C show photographs of dots when the activation angular motion quantum number L is changed to 1, 2 and 3. FIG.
〔Evaluation criteria〕
◯: The dots change according to the diameter of the optical vortex laser, and the roundness of the dot diameter is 0.7 or more △: The dots change according to the diameter of the optical vortex laser, but the dot diameter is true Circularity is less than 0.7.
×: Dots are scattered and the dot diameter and roundness cannot be measured.

(Example 3)
<Base material, light absorbing material and adherend>
On a slide glass (manufactured by Matsunami Glass Industry Co., Ltd., microslide glass S7213; transmittance of 532 nm wavelength light is 99%) as a base material, silver nano ink (manufactured by Daicel Co., Ltd., Picosil (registered trademark)) is applied as a light absorbing material. DNS351S) was applied to the surface to form a film with an average thickness of 10 μm. At this time, the transmittance of light having a wavelength of 532 nm in the film-like light absorbing material was 0.01% or less (absorbance of 4 or more). Also, the viscosity of the silver nano ink was 12 Pa·s from the spec sheet. It should be noted that the silver nanoink develops electrical conductivity by heating at about 200°C.

Next, similarly, the surface of the base material coated with the light absorbing material was opposed to the object to be adhered, and the base material was placed so that the light vortex laser beam could be vertically irradiated from the back surface of the light absorbing material.
As the object to be adhered, the same slide glass (Micro Slide Glass S7213 manufactured by Matsunami Glass Industry Co., Ltd.) was used, and the gap between the object to be adhered and the light absorbing material was set to 1.0 mm.

<Means for flying light absorbing material>
The configuration of the light absorbing material flying means is the same as that of the first embodiment.
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 irradiating the light absorbing material can be adjusted. The optical vortex laser beam was applied to a condensing lens (YAG laser condensing lens manufactured by Thorlabs) so that the beam diameter when irradiated to the light absorbing material was Φ40 μm.
FIG. 13 shows a photograph of a dot row of silver nanoink when the orbital angular momentum quantum number is 1. In FIG. The dot row is a dot row after heating at 200° C. for about 10 minutes using a hot plate.

In Example 3, as shown in FIG. 13, by forming dot rows more densely, wires of silver nanoink necessary for circuits were formed. Furthermore, wires of silver nanoink formed by changing the orbital angular momentum quantum number to 1 or 2 are shown in FIGS. 14A to 14B. The wire is a dot row after being heated at 200° C. for about 10 minutes using a hot plate, like the dot row. When the volume resistivity of these wires was measured by the four-probe method, they were 5 to 10 μΩcm, so they can be sufficiently used as wiring.

(Comparative example 2)
In Example 2, a wire of silver nanoink was formed in the same manner as in Example 2, except that the laser light source was not converted into an optical vortex but was a Gaussian beam. The results are shown in FIG.

In Example 3 and Comparative Example 2, the "attachment state" was evaluated. Table 3 shows the results.

上記式（３）において、ωは電流の角周波数、μは透磁率、σは電気伝導度を表す。２５℃における銀の物性値と５Ｇ通信を想定した２８ＧＨｚを用いると、δ＝０．３９μｍとなり、この値を表面粗さＲａの基準とした。
〔評価基準〕
○：表面粗さＲａが０．３９μｍ以下、かつ導通している
△：表面粗さＲａが０．３９μｍ超、かつ導通している
×：断線している <Evaluation of adhesion state>
In Example 3 and Comparative Example 2, the state of the silver nanoink wire (continuity or disconnection) was visually observed, and the surface roughness Ra was measured using a laser microscope (VK-X1000, manufactured by Keyence Corporation). Measurements were taken five times at different locations in the range of 750 μm of the field of view, and the adhesion state was evaluated based on the following evaluation criteria.
The measurement direction was set to the longitudinal direction in which the current flowed, the silver nanoink wire was created with a length of 5 mm or more, and the conduction was measured with a length of 5 mm.
The reference value of the surface roughness Ra was determined by skin thickness. The skin thickness is a phenomenon in which, when an alternating current is passed through a wiring, the current flows only on the surface of the conductor when the frequency becomes high, and the electrical resistance increases, making it difficult for the current to flow. It is known that when the surface roughness Ra is smaller than the skin thickness δ, the current loss (conductor loss) becomes small. A formula for calculating the skin thickness δ is shown as the following formula (3).

In the above equation (3), ω represents the angular frequency of current, μ represents magnetic permeability, and σ represents electrical conductivity. Using the physical properties of silver at 25° C. and 28 GHz assuming 5G communication, δ=0.39 μm, and this value was used as the standard for surface roughness Ra.
〔Evaluation criteria〕
○: Surface roughness Ra is 0.39 μm or less and conductive △: Surface roughness Ra is over 0.39 μm and conductive ×: Disconnected

Embodiments of the present invention are, for example, as follows.
<1> By irradiating a light vortex laser beam on the surface of a base material having a light absorbing material disposed on the surface opposite to the side on which the light absorbing material is disposed, the light vortex laser beam and 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,
A method for generating a flying object using an optical vortex laser, wherein the quantity of the liquid column or droplet is adjusted by changing the orbital angular momentum quantum number of the optical vortex laser beam.
<2> The flying object generation method according to <1>, wherein the orbital angular momentum quantum number of the optical vortex laser beam is changed by a spatial light modulator and a spiral phase plate.
<3> The flying object generating method according to <2>, wherein the orbital angular momentum quantum number of the optical vortex laser beam is changed by a spatial light modulator.
<4> By irradiating a light vortex laser beam on the surface of a base material on which a light absorbing material is arranged on the surface opposite to the side on which the light absorbing material is arranged, the light vortex laser beam and a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam. to adjust the amount of droplets,
A projectile transfer method using a light vortex laser, characterized in that the liquid column or droplet is brought into contact with a medium to be transferred and transferred.
<5> changing the energy of the optical vortex to change the transport speed of the liquid column or droplets having a smaller diameter than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam, and transferring the liquid column or droplets to the receiver substrate; The projectile transfer method according to <4>.
<6> By irradiating a light vortex laser beam on the surface of the base material on which the light absorbing material is arranged on the surface opposite to the side on which the light absorbing material is arranged, the light vortex laser beam and a diameter smaller than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam. or light absorbing material flying means for adjusting the amount of droplets;
a transfer means for contacting the liquid column or droplets with a medium to be transferred and transferring them;
An image forming apparatus characterized by having

The flying object generation method according to any one of <1> to <3>, the flying object transfer method according to any one of <4> to <5>, and the image forming apparatus according to <6>. According to this, it is possible to solve the conventional problems and achieve the object of the present invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 light absorbing material flying means 2 laser light source 3, 7 beam diameter changing member 4 beam wavelength changing member 5 spiral phase plate (optical vortex converter)
6 1/4 wavelength plate (polarization conversion part)
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 11 laser beam 12 optical vortex laser beam 20 light absorber 21 colorant 22 solid modeling agent 30 object to be adhered 31 recording medium 40 substrate 100 light absorber flying unit 110 coloring agent flying unit 120 solid modeling agent flying unit 124 solid modeling Object 130 Stereolithography head unit 300 to 307 Image forming apparatus 400, 401 Image forming apparatus 500 3D object manufacturing apparatus

WO2016/136722

Claims (6)

By irradiating a light vortex laser beam on the surface of a base material on which a light absorbing material is arranged on the surface opposite to the side on which the light absorbing material is arranged, the irradiation direction of the light vortex laser beam and 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 method for generating a flying object using an optical vortex laser, wherein an orbital angular momentum quantum number of the optical vortex laser beam is changed to adjust an amount of the liquid column or droplet. 2. The flying object generation method according to claim 1, wherein the orbital angular momentum quantum number of said optical vortex laser beam is changed by either a spatial light modulator or a spiral phase plate. 3. The flying object generation method according to claim 2, wherein the orbital angular momentum quantum number of said optical vortex laser beam is changed by a spatial light modulator. By irradiating a light vortex laser beam on the surface of a base material on which a light absorbing material is arranged on the surface opposite to the side on which the light absorbing material is arranged, the irradiation direction of the light vortex laser beam and 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 orbital angular momentum quantum number of the optical vortex laser beam is changed to change the liquid column or droplet. adjust the amount of
A flying object transfer method using a light vortex laser, wherein the liquid column or droplet is brought into contact with a transfer medium to transfer the liquid. 5. Changing the energy of the optical vortex to change the transfer speed of the liquid column or droplets having a smaller diameter than the irradiation diameter of the optical vortex laser beam, thereby transferring the liquid column or droplets to the receiver substrate. 3. The flying object transfer method described in . By irradiating a light vortex laser beam on the surface of a base material on which a light absorbing material is arranged on the surface opposite to the side on which the light absorbing material is arranged, the irradiation direction of the light vortex laser beam and 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 orbital angular momentum quantum number of the optical vortex laser beam is changed to change the liquid column or droplet. light absorbing material flying means for adjusting the amount of
a transfer means for contacting the liquid column or droplets with a medium to be transferred and transferring them;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images