JP2728990B2 - Image recording method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording method, and more particularly to an image recording method for recording an image based on a digital signal using a recording material whose color development can be controlled by a photoreaction such as photopolymerization or photodecomposition. About the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of recording an image on a recording material, there is a method of obtaining an image by exposing the image and then developing the image by uniformly heating. This method is also called photothermography (photothermographic image recording method), and has a feature that an image can be obtained by a simple process of only dry processing.

In order to record an image by this recording method, for example, a color-separated image original is brought into close contact with a recording material, and the recording material is sequentially exposed through this image original to correspond to the color of the original. A color image is formed to create a color image.

[0004] For example, there is a recording material in which a color can be formed by irradiating light beams having different wavelengths corresponding to a color forming layer to record an image. Such a recording material includes two components of a two-component thermosensitive coloring medium in which two components are separated and separated by a microcapsule containing a photocurable composition (see JP-A-52-89915). Laminated with a layer containing a vinyl monomer having a polymer and a photopolymerizable composition, an isolating layer, and a layer comprising a colorless electron-donating dye
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 1-223830 and 2-19730, each having a plurality of photosensitive layers emitting different colors and each photosensitive layer having a different center wavelength.
No. 10) is proposed. According to this,
For example, by irradiating a recording material with light in accordance with a recorded image, color development in a region of the irradiated light is suppressed. Then, by heating the recording material, the recording material in a region not irradiated with light is colored to form an image.

[0005] In such a recording field, with the rapid development of the information industry, there is a demand for easily obtaining a color hard copy from a terminal of a computer, facsimile or other information equipment.

However, if an image is recorded by a conventional contact-type method, digital data of an image output from the information equipment or the like cannot be recorded.

[0007] Therefore, there is an image recording apparatus which records an image based on digital data using a laser beam emitting visible light or infrared light. However, since the recording material to be used has a property of absorbing visible light or infrared light, it is necessary to store the recording material so that unnecessary light does not enter, or to work in a dark room, etc. The recording material may be irradiated with light due to ready light irradiation, for example, when a storage bag is put in or taken out or broken, and color may not be formed at an appropriate density. Furthermore, since the wavelength of a visible light beam or an infrared light beam is long, the energy of the light beam is low, and a light reaction hardly occurs.

Incidentally, in order to form an image on a recording material which develops a color corresponding to the light beam of each wavelength as described above, the wavelengths must be separated, and the wavelength range used for the entire image area must be reduced. Creating an optical filter for strict separation into light beams is complex and costly to manufacture. When an optical filter that can obtain a transmitted light amount that does not cause any practical problem and is relatively easy to manufacture is used, it is difficult to specify a wavelength range to be transmitted finely, and it is difficult to specify other specific wavelengths. The light beam is transmitted even in the region (crosstalk). Therefore, there is a problem that density unevenness and color mixing occur.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above fact, the present invention makes it possible to form an image with light having a wavelength near the ultraviolet wavelength.
Image recording that can easily record an image based on input digital data for each of a plurality of layers of recording material and can obtain a full-color image without color mixing when forming an image by developing a plurality of colors. The aim is to get a method.

[0010]

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The first aspect of the present invention, both the ultraviolet wavelength band when the dye image is formed by irradiating light in the visible wavelength range below a wavelength in the ultraviolet wavelength region near
Depending on the exposure amount of the light beam of the nearby wavelength, the color density or
To a recording medium with multiple layers of recording material whose color development area is converted
After image recording based on the image data of
By heating, it responds to the exposure amount of the light beam of the wavelength.
The recording medium used in an image recording apparatus for coloring
Image recording method for forming a full-color image
A plurality of exposure amounts of light beams having different wavelengths near the ultraviolet wavelength corresponding to the respective photosensitive wavelength ranges of the recording material of the recording medium are independently changed based on the input image data. It is characterized in that a color image is recorded.

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the recording medium is irradiated with light having a wavelength near the ultraviolet wavelength range. Then, by heating the recording material irradiated with the light, a color image is formed. This recording medium includes a plurality of recording materials on which a color image is formed, and each recording material has a different photosensitive wavelength range. By irradiating light beams of different wavelengths in the vicinity of the ultraviolet wavelength range, a color image is recorded on the recording medium.
(Latent image) is recorded. Here, the light beam applied to the recording medium is light having a different wavelength near the ultraviolet wavelength range. The light beam applied to the recording medium is light having a wavelength corresponding to each photosensitive wavelength range of the recording material of the recording medium. At this time, the exposure amount of each light beam is independently changed based on the input image data. Therefore, each color image is recorded on the recording material of the recording medium.
Is recorded and a full-color image (latent image) is recorded on the recording medium.
Is done. For this reason, the recording medium is based on the image data.
A full-color image can be easily recorded. Image
After recording, the recording medium is heated by heating means.
In accordance with the amount of exposure to each recording material by the image data.
Then, each color develops and is visualized.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a digital color printer 10. First, the recording medium 12 used in the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
This recording medium is the same as that described in Example 1 of JP-A-3-87827. This recording medium 12
By irradiating light beams having different wavelengths (wavelengths of 450 nm or less), the generation of a hue corresponding to the portion of the irradiated light beam and the wavelength of the light beam is suppressed. Then, by heating the recording medium 12, the recording medium 12 in a region not irradiated with the light beam develops color to form an image.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the recording medium 12 used in this embodiment, a color forming layer composed of first, second and third recording layers 20, 18, and 16 is sequentially laminated on a support 22. Have been. Further, a protective layer 14 is applied to the surface of the third recording layer 16 in order to protect the coloring layer from being damaged. Similarly, a back coat layer 24 is applied to the surface of the support 22. The coloring layers 20, 18, 1
Each of 6 has a photocurable composition containing an electron-accepting and polymerizable vinyl monomer and a photopolymerization initiator, and an electron-donating dye as main components.

Image recording on each recording layer of the recording medium 12 is performed by curing an electron-accepting photocurable composition by exposure, and then uniformly heating the uncured portion with an electron-accepting monomer. It is carried out by contacting an electron donating dye to form a color. At this time, in the cured portion, the contact between the electron-accepting monomer and the electron-donating dye is hindered, and no color is formed. The recording medium 12 of the present embodiment is laminated in three layers, and by making the photosensitive wavelength range of each recording layer different, each layer is exposed at a different wavelength and after development the hue of the exposed layer is changed. Colors independently.

As shown in FIG. 6, for example, the relationship between the exposure amount of a specific coloring layer and the coloring density will be described. After a latent image is formed on the photocurable composition by exposure to ultraviolet light, heating is performed. When forming a visible image by performing
The color density D decreases as the exposure amount E increases.

Here, in this embodiment, the first, second, and third
Are selected so as to be three primary colors, yellow, magenta, and cyan in the subtractive color mixture. That is, the first recording layer is a Y layer 2 having a yellow color hue.
0, M layer 18 in which the second recording layer has a magenta color hue
And the third recording layer is set to the C layer 16 which is a cyan color hue. As a result, the C layer 16, the M layer 18, and the Y layer 20 are colored according to the exposure amount of the light beam having the wavelength to be exposed on the recording medium 12. Therefore, if recording is performed as described above, a full-color image can be recorded on the recording medium 12.

Next, a digital color printer 10 applicable to the present invention will be described with reference to the schematic structure shown in FIG.

A carriage 52 for the recording medium 12 protrudes from the right side surface of the casing 50 in FIG. This transfer table 5
2, the recording medium 12 is conveyed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3 by inserting the leading end of the recording medium 12 into the casing 50 with the recording layer facing upward.

A pair of transport rollers 54 is disposed downstream of the transport table 52 so as to pinch and transport the recording medium 12. A plurality of guide plates 56 are sequentially arranged on the downstream side of the transport roller 54 so that the recording medium 12 is guided. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 3, the recording medium 12 is conveyed by the plurality of guide plates 56 in a substantially C shape.

The transport roller 54 is connected to a rotating shaft of a motor (not shown). The motor is connected to the control device 26, and the rotation of the motor in the forward and reverse directions is controlled by the control device 26 in accordance with insertion or unloading of the recording medium 12.

A pair of transport rollers 58 are provided between each of the plurality of guide plates 56. These transport rollers 58 are connected by a belt, and the belt is connected to a rotating shaft of a motor 66. The motor 66 is connected to the control device 26,
In the direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3).

In the middle of the conveyance path of the recording medium 12, the rollers 6 corresponding to the side of the recording medium 12 where the coloring layer is not formed are provided.
0 is arranged. The roller 60 is connected to a rotation shaft of a motor 68 via a drive belt. Motor 6
8 is rotated in one direction by a signal from the control device 26.

A roller 61 is provided corresponding to the roller 60 so that the recording medium 12 can be nipped and conveyed by the roller 60 and the roller 61. The exposure unit 28 is provided on the downstream side of the rollers 60 and 61 and on the side of the recording medium 12 where the color forming layer is formed. The exposure unit 28 includes a laser device, and an image can be formed on the recording medium 12 by a laser beam emitted from the exposure unit 28. The exposure unit 28 includes a controller 26
Are connected, and when an image signal is supplied from the control device 26 to the exposure unit 28, a light beam is emitted according to the image signal, and the recording medium 12 is exposed. Also,
The color density of the recording medium 12 can be changed by the exposure amount of the laser beam emitted from the exposure unit 28.

Downstream of the rollers 60 and 61, a pair of guide plates 62 are provided.
Of the recording medium 12 (color-forming layer side of the recording medium 12)
A long hole is formed so that scanning exposure can be performed. The roller 60,
The recording medium 12 carried out from 61 is guided to the transport roller 64.

A photoelectric sensor 70 is provided upstream of the rollers 60 and 61, and the recording (exposure) of an image is started a predetermined time after the photoelectric sensor 70 detects the leading end of the recording medium 12. Be started.

A pair of transport rollers 64 is disposed downstream of the rollers 60, and the recording medium 12 is transported by the transport rollers 64.
It is to be sandwiched between. The transport roller 64 is connected to a rotating shaft of a motor (not shown),
6 to rotate in one direction in response to a signal.

On the downstream side of the transport roller 64, the heat developing section 4
6 is provided, and a pair of heat rollers 48 are built in the heat developing section 46. Driving means (not shown) is connected to the heat roller 48, and rotation is controlled by a signal from the control circuit 26. This allows
The heat roller 48 nips and conveys the recording medium 12. The heater (not shown) and the temperature sensor (not shown) of the heat roller 48
The control device 26 controls the heating of the heat roller 48 to a predetermined temperature.
Therefore, the exposed recording medium 12 is thermally developed by passing through the thermal development unit 46.

A guide plate 63 is provided downstream of the heat developing section 46.
Is provided, and the thermally developed recording medium 12 discharged from the thermal developing section 46 is guided in the direction of the transport roller 54. Recording medium 12 guided in discharge direction
Is transported to the vicinity of the transport roller 54. Here, by reversing the transport roller 54, the recording medium 12 guided and guided by the guide plate is nipped and transported onto the transport table 52.

Here, the exposure section 28 of the digital color printer 10 will be described. The exposure section 28 forms three latent images corresponding to the colors Y, M, and C by exposing three light beams having different wavelengths at one time.

As shown in FIG. 1, the exposure unit 28
Laser devices 72 and 7 for emitting a laser beam modulated to a predetermined wavelength by a G element (second harmonic generation element) or the like.
4 and 76 are provided. The laser devices 72, 74, 7
6 is driven by drivers 78a, 78b, 78c, the laser device 72 outputs an ultraviolet laser beam L1 having a wavelength of, for example, 355 nm, and the laser devices 74 and 76 have wavelengths of 390 nm, 410 nm, respectively. It outputs laser beams L2 and L3. The laser beam L
The wavelengths of 1, L2, and L3 correspond to the C, M, and Y colors that develop when the recording medium 12 is exposed and thermally developed.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the laser device 72
Is provided with a semiconductor laser 72a, and in this embodiment,
The semiconductor laser 72a has a multimode wavelength of 809 nm and emits a laser beam with a power of 1 W. The laser device 72 converts the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 72a into a lens 72b, a rare-earth-doped paramagnetic solid-state laser Nd: YuO ₄ 72c, and a KTP 72.
d, the laser beam is emitted to the mirror 72f through the BBO 72e, and a laser beam having a wavelength of 355 nm and a power of 5 mW transmitted through the mirror 72f is emitted. Each element is provided with a high reflection coat (HR) and an antireflection coat (AR). Nd: YuO ₄ 72c, 1064 nm HR on the left and 1064 nm AR, KT on the right
532 nm HR, 1064 nm AR,
The right side is 532 nmAR, 1064 nmAR, and BBO72e. The left side is 1064 nmAR, 355 nmHR, 532 nmA.
R, right side is 355nmAR, 1064nmAR, 532nmA
R, 1064 nm HR, 532
nmHR, 355 nmAR.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the laser device 74 includes a semiconductor laser 74a.
The semiconductor laser 74a has a single mode wavelength of 780 nm.
And a device that emits a laser beam with a power of 100 mW is used. The laser device 74 includes a semiconductor laser 72
The laser beam emitted from a is radiated through a lens 74b to a LiTiO ₃ 72c which is a domain-inverted waveguide, and a laser beam having a wavelength of 390 nm and a power of 6 mW transmitted through the LiTiO ₃ 72c is emitted.

Similarly, the laser device 76 includes a semiconductor laser 76a as shown in FIG. 2 (3). In this embodiment, the semiconductor laser 76a has a single mode and a wavelength of 8 nm.
A laser beam having a wavelength of 20 nm and emitting a power of 100 mW is used. The laser device 76 converts the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 76a into a lens 76b.
LiTiO ₃ 76 which is a waveguide of domain inversion through
c and radiated at a wavelength of 410 after passing through LiTiO ₃ 76c.
A laser beam having a power of 6 mW and a wavelength of 6 nm is emitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, a collimator lens 82a and a cylindrical lens 84 which convert the laser beam L1 into a parallel light beam are provided on the laser beam emitting side of the laser device 72.
a and a reflection mirror 86 are arranged in order, so that the laser beam L1 emitted from the laser device 72 reaches the optical path 88. A collimator lens 82b, a cylindrical lens 84b, and a dichroic mirror 90a are provided on the laser beam emission side of the laser device 74.
Are arranged in order, so that the laser beam L2 emitted from the laser device 74 reaches the same optical path 88 as described above. Similarly, a collimator lens 82c, a cylindrical lens 84c, and a dichroic mirror 90b are arranged in this order on the laser beam emitting side of the laser device 76, and the laser beam L2 emitted from the laser device 76 travels to the same optical path 88 as described above. It is configured to lead.

The laser beam L reaching the same optical path 88
The light beams L1, L2, and L3 are reflected by two reflection mirrors 92, and then are incident on a polygon mirror 94. The polygon mirror 94 rotates in the direction of the arrow, and the laser beams L1, L2, and L3 reflected by the polygon mirror 94 pass through the fθ lens 96, are reflected by the cylindrical mirror 98 for correcting surface tilt, and are reflected on the recording medium 12. In the direction of arrow A. The recording medium 12 is transported by the transport rollers 64 and the like in a sub-scanning direction (direction of arrow B) substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction (see FIG. 3). Therefore, the recording medium 12
Is irradiated with a light beam corresponding to an image for one line by main scanning. Then, the recording medium 12 is sequentially sub-scanned by one image, so that a light beam corresponding to the image is emitted. Quartz that transmits ultraviolet light is used for the lens and dichroic mirror used above.

The control device 26 includes a driver 78a,
78b and 78c, and each driver is connected to the semiconductor laser of the laser device. Further, the digital color printer 10 includes a heater and a roller 48 (see FIG. 3), and an image is formed on the recording medium 12 by heat of the heat roller 48. At this time, coloring of the recording medium 12 at the portion irradiated with the laser beam emitted from the laser device is suppressed.

Next, the control device 26 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. A host computer 30 is connected to the control device 26.

The host computer 30 stores image data as digital image signals, and the digital image signal supplied from the host computer 30 is input to the conversion circuit 32.

Here, in the case of subtractive color mixing, Y, M, C
It is known that each color becomes black by mixing at a predetermined mixing ratio. For example, black (character) data can be converted and output by outputting black (character) data as the same density for each of Y, M, and C colors. Therefore, the conversion circuit 32 converts the input digital image signal into Y, M
, And C, and then converts the converted Y, M, and C signals into the corresponding frame memory 3.
4a, 34b and 34c.

The frame memories 34a, 34b, 34
In c, an image signal for one image of a corresponding color is stored. Further, the host computer 30 includes the controller 4
0, and the controller 40 receives a horizontal synchronization signal and a vertical synchronization signal from the host computer 30. The horizontal synchronization signal and the vertical synchronization signal are
The data is output to the conversion circuit 32 and the frame memory 34 and is synchronized.

YMC output from frame memory 34
The signal, that is, the image density data is converted to a YMC color drive value corresponding to the color density by a look-up table (hereinafter, LUT) 36, and then output to buffers 43a, 43b, and 43c corresponding to the YMC color. .

The look-up table (LUT) is
It depends on the characteristics of the recording medium 12. For example, the Y layer 16
As shown in FIG. 7, the characteristic of the color density D with respect to the exposure E according to the image density data is not optimal. As a result, even if recording is performed to obtain a desired color density, the color density of the recording medium 12 differs, and an image having a desired density cannot be obtained. For this reason, the relationship between the exposure amount E and the color density D with respect to the exposure amount E is optimized. For example, with the exposure amount Ea, the recording medium 12 has the color density Da. Since the desired color density D at this exposure amount Ea is the density Da ', the exposure amount Ea' is required. Therefore, a table is prepared for obtaining the drive values of the semiconductor laser such that the color density D becomes the exposure amount Ea 'corresponding to the density Da' in the exposure amount Ea. That is,
As shown in FIG. 8, the driving value of the semiconductor laser (for example, the optimum color density is obtained according to the image density data)
Drive pulse width, drive current, etc.) and image data
UT. This LUT is prepared for each color of YMC.

As shown in FIG. 4, the buffers 43a, 43a
Each of 3b and 43c is connected to the controller 40. A horizontal synchronizing signal and a vertical synchronizing signal are input from the controller 40 to each of the buffers 43a, 43b, and 43c, and the values stored in each buffer based on the horizontal synchronizing signal and the vertical synchronizing signal are output to each of the drivers 78a, 78.
b, 78c.

The drivers 78a, 78b and 78c drive the laser devices 72, 74 and 76 according to the input values. As a result, the recording medium 12 is irradiated with a light beam, and an image is recorded so as to be capable of coloring.

The controller 40 is connected to a motor 68 via a driver 69, and sends a signal to rotate the roller 60. The controller 40 is connected to the heater of the heat roller 48 via a heater driver 49, and controls the heat roller 48 to a predetermined temperature. As the recording medium 12 passes through the heat roller 48, the image of the recording medium 12 recorded by the laser beam emitted from the laser device is developed.

In this manner, the Y, M and C exposure recordings are performed simultaneously by one scanning, and an image is formed by thermal development.

Hereinafter, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 9 according to a flowchart stored in the control device.

First, when the main routine shown in FIG. 9 is executed, in step 102, the apparatus is initialized. At the time of this initialization, the heat roller 48 of the heat developing section 46 is raised to a temperature at which the heat energy capable of coloring the recording medium 12 can be supplied. When the initialization is completed, the process proceeds to step 104. In step 104, the pixel data D (i) is fetched, and the process proceeds to step 106. In step 106, the input image data is converted into data (Y, M, C) corresponding to the color at the time of recording.
When the conversion of the image data is completed, in step 108 each of the converted image data is stored in the corresponding frame memories 34a to 34c. In step 110,
It is determined whether or not reading of all pixel data has been completed. If not completed, the process returns to step 104 to repeatedly execute conversion of pixel data for one screen.

When the conversion of the pixel data is completed, step 1 is executed.
12 and read the image data of one pixel, and
With reference to T36, the operation value of each semiconductor laser 80 is stored in each of the buffers 43a, 43b, 43c. Therefore,
Pixel data of YMC color for forming one pixel is held in the buffers 43a to 43c. In step 114, each of the semiconductor lasers 80a, 80b, and 80c corresponding to each of the colors to be developed is simultaneously driven in accordance with the operation value, thereby performing one-pixel image recording.
When the image recording of one pixel is completed, the process proceeds to step 116,
It is determined whether or not the irradiation of the light beam for one line (main scanning) has been completed. If the irradiation has not been completed, the process returns to step 112 and the recording is repeated until the recording for one line is completed. When the recording for one line is completed, the process proceeds to step 118, where it is determined whether or not the irradiation of the light beam for one sub-scan, that is, for one screen has been completed. Then, recording is repeatedly performed until the irradiation of one screen is completed. When the irradiation of one screen is completed, the process proceeds to step 120, where the recording medium 12 is thermally developed, and an image is formed on the recording medium 12.

As described above, in this embodiment, the recording medium 12
By simultaneously turning on a laser device for emitting laser beams of three wavelengths corresponding to the colors to be formed, and performing main scanning and sub-scanning, the three YMC color images in one image are formed on the recording medium 12. Since the recording is performed simultaneously on the hue, it is possible to omit the process of repeating the process for each color to be developed, such as performing the thermal recording on a recording medium having a plurality of thermal recording layers. Can be recorded. Therefore, the processing steps can be simplified.

Further, since the color density of the recording medium is controlled by controlling the exposure amount of the laser beam based on the image data output from a control device such as a host computer, the input gradation data and the like are controlled. Accordingly, fine exposure amount control can be performed. This makes it possible to easily record an image based on a digital image signal from the control device, and furthermore, to express an image with subtle gradations that cannot be obtained by thermal recording using a recording head such as a thermal head. Further, by irradiating a laser beam having a wavelength corresponding to the color forming layer of the recording medium, a dye image colored in a color corresponding to the wavelength of the laser beam is formed on the recording medium 12. Since the wavelength of this laser beam can be easily selected, only a dye image corresponding to the wavelength of the laser beam can be formed, and color mixing of a color image generated on the recording medium 12 due to the overlap of wavelengths is reduced. effective.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a digital color printer has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and information is recorded on a recording medium (for example, an optical memory) by a light beam. It can also be applied to writing devices. In this case, information can be recorded at a high density by irradiating the laser beam finely. Further, by using a light beam having a wavelength in the ultraviolet region, the light beam can be made thinner than a light beam generated by a light beam in the visible region, so that the density of information can be further increased.

In the above embodiment, the image data is Y,
Although an example has been described in which data is converted into data of three colors of M and C by calculation, the data may be configured by an electric circuit combining a digital-to-analog conversion circuit and an amplification circuit.

In the above embodiment, LiTiO ₃ was used as the domain-inverted waveguide material in FIGS. 2 (2) and (3).
TP or LiNbO ₃ may be used. FIG.
In (1), a laser having a wavelength of 355 nm is output, but in order to output another wavelength, the following may be performed.
In order to obtain a wavelength of 340 nm, LiTiO ₃ 72C is converted to Y
b: The wavelength may be changed to YAG and the HR and AR coat wavelengths can be changed according to the embodiment. In order to obtain a wavelength of 373 nm,
The LiTiO ₃ 72C may be changed to Nd: YAG, the semiconductor laser 72a may be changed to a 2 W output laser, and the HR and AR coating wavelengths may be changed according to the embodiment.

In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the wavelength of the semiconductor laser was modulated using a small and simple SHG element to obtain a predetermined wavelength, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, a predetermined wavelength may be obtained by using another laser device and a discharge tube.

In the above embodiment, the driver is used to drive the semiconductor laser. However, the output of the laser beam is performed by using a modulation element (for example, an acousto-optic element) for directly modulating the intensity of light and a modulation circuit. May be modulated.

In the above embodiment, the image is YMC
Although an example in which a color image is formed by three color dye images has been described, the present invention is not limited to the number and hue of colors to be formed, but may be applied to a single recording medium that forms a specific color. The present invention may be applied. Furthermore, 2
The present invention may be applied to a recording medium in which a recording medium capable of emitting a color or more colors is combined.

In the above embodiment, the case where a photosensitive and heat-sensitive photopolymerizable photosensitive material is used as a recording medium has been described. However, the present invention can be easily applied to a transfer type photopolymerizable material.

An example of the transfer type will be described below. [Example 2] A 100 µm PET film was coated with the following coating solution by a spin coater (wheeler) and dried to obtain a photosensitive adhesive layer having a dry film thickness of 0.5 µm.

Polyester resin 1.5 superimposed part (Toyobo Co., Ltd. product name, Byron 200) Fluorine surfactant 0.3 superimposed part (Sumitomo 3M Co., Ltd. product name, Florard FC-430) Photopolymerization Initiator 1.5 superposition part [2-trichloromethyl-5- (p-styrylstyryl) 1,3,4 oxadiazole] methyl ethyl ketone 200 superposition part methoxypropyl acetate 100 superposition part

Next, a 25 μm PET film was coated with a coating solution having the following composition by a spin coater and dried.
An 8 μm photosensitive adhesive layer was obtained.

Copper phthalocyanine pigment 6 overlapping portions (Pigment Blue 15: 4) Binder 15 overlapping portions (benzyl methacrylate / methacrylic acid / acrylic acid copolymer: copolymer composition ratio 50/35/15, molar ratio) Photopolymerizable monomer 9 overlapping portions (pentaerythritol tetraacrylate) fluorinated surfactant 0.5 overlapping portions (Sumitomo 3M Co., Ltd. product name, Florard FC-430) n-propanol 200 overlapping portions methanol 75 overlapping portions methoxypropanol 25 overlapping portions

Next, the photosensitive color material layer film was laminated on the photosensitive adhesive layer film through a laminator (heat roll surface temperature: 120 ° C.) (lamination speed: 900 mm / min).

Next, this laminate was irradiated with the ultraviolet laser beam (wavelength 390 nm) shown in FIG. The condition at that time is that the laser beam diameter is 10μ.
m, the scanning linear velocity was 2 m / sec, and 5 mW above the sample surface. After exposure, the support of the photosensitive color material layer film was peeled off, a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape was laminated on the photosensitive layer, and then the adhesive tape was peeled off at room temperature. The transfer material was adhered, and the color material layer in the non-irradiated portion was peeled off on the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape. As a result, an image corresponding to the laser irradiation was formed on the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape.

[0069]

[0070]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an ultraviolet wave is provided.
Multi-layer recording material capable of forming images with light of near-wavelength
Easily create images based on input digital data
And print multiple colors
Obtaining full-color images without color mixing when forming images
It has an excellent effect that it can be produced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of an exposure unit of a digital color printer to which the present invention can be applied.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show the configuration of a laser device in the exposure unit shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a laser device that emits a laser beam having a wavelength of 355 nm;
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a laser device that emits a laser beam of 0 nm, and FIG. 3C is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a laser device that emits a laser beam having a wavelength of 410 nm.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a digital color printer to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control device of the digital color printer according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a recording medium used in an example of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between an exposure amount and a color density in a specific color forming layer of a recording medium used in the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an exposure amount (image data) and a color density in a specific color of a recording medium.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between image data (exposure amount) and a drive value for a specific color of a recording medium.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a control main routine of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 digital color printer 12 recording medium 26 control device 28 exposure unit 46 heat development unit 72 laser device 74 laser device 76 laser device

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yonosuke Takahashi 200 Onakazato, Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture Inside Fuji Shashin Film Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-2-179767 (JP, A) JP-A-63- 252743 (JP, A) Hikaru 3-32863 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A with the dye image by irradiating light in the visible wavelength range below a wavelength in the ultraviolet wavelength region is formed near
Depending on the amount of light beam exposure near the ultraviolet wavelength range,
Multiple recording materials with different color density or color development area
After recording the image based on the image data on the recording medium,
By heating by the step, the light beam of the wavelength
Used in image recording devices that develop colors according to the amount of exposure,
An image recording method for forming a full-color image on a recording medium, comprising: a light having a different wavelength near an ultraviolet wavelength corresponding to each photosensitive wavelength region of the recording material of the recording medium based on input image data. An image recording method, wherein a plurality of color images are recorded by independently changing beam exposure amounts.