JP2917166B2 - Photosensitive and thermal transfer recording apparatus and photosensitive and thermal transfer recording method - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light-sensitive thermal transfer recording apparatus, and more particularly to a light-sensitive thermal transfer recording apparatus capable of recording a high-quality color image on plain paper by a simple developing method. It concerns the device.

[Summary of the Invention]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with respect to image recording, obtaining a color image from a terminal of an information device by a simple method has been demanded with the development of the information industry.

The present invention includes, as a main component, a photopolymerization initiator and a dye that initiates the polymerization of the polymerizable monomer and the polymerizable monomer on the support by visible light energy, and the light-irradiated portion is cured. The unexposed portion forms a latent image using visible light using a light- and heat-sensitive recording material provided with a microcapsule layer containing porous microcapsules so that inclusions can be released by application of heat. It is an object of the present invention to provide a light- and heat-sensitive transfer recording apparatus which can release a dye through a porous microcapsule film using a head, a heat roller or the like, and obtain a high-quality color image on plain paper.

[Conventional technology]

As a conventional thermal transfer sheet, a thermal transfer sheet coated with a hot-melt ink in which a colorant is dispersed in a hot-melt binder on a support on a resin film such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is generally used. However, in such a heat-sensitive transfer recording sheet, since the heat-fusible ink in the heated portion is melted and peeled off from the support, only binary recording can be performed. And an area gradation method such as a dither method or a density pattern method.

In the electrophotographic color recording method, complicated elements such as a photoreceptor, a charging device, a photosensitive device, and toner of each color must be incorporated in one apparatus, and a plurality of processes must be repeatedly performed. Must.

Further, among recording apparatuses using microcapsules, there is an apparatus using a method in which the microcapsules are cured with light, the microcapsules are broken using pressure, and a dye precursor as an inclusion is released.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

As described above, in the thermal transfer recording apparatus using the thermal transfer sheet, when performing the gradation expression, since the area gradation method is used, not only complicated signal processing is required, but also the resolution is reduced. In addition, high-quality images could not be recorded.

Further, in the electrophotographic apparatus, the apparatus becomes complicated and bulky, and the recording energy consumed increases, so that a color image cannot be easily recorded.

Further, in a recording apparatus using a microcapsule, an extremely large pressure is required to break the microcapsule in a developing process, which makes the apparatus complicated and difficult to miniaturize. Further, since a large pressure is used, not only the apparatus but also a recording material such as a receiving paper on which an image is formed is limited, and a color image cannot be easily recorded. Also, because a dye precursor is used,
As the receiving paper for forming a color image, it is necessary to use a special paper coated with a color developer which reacts with a dye precursor to form a color, and it is necessary to take special measures for a paper feeding mechanism or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a light- and heat-sensitive transfer recording apparatus capable of obtaining a continuous-tone high-quality color image on plain paper by a simple method in order to solve such a conventional drawback.

[Means for solving the problem]

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by providing a polymerizable monomer and the polymerization of the polymerizable monomer on a support of a heat-resistant film of about 10 μm of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with visible light of 580 to 780 nm. By energy, a blue photopolymerization initiator to be initiated and a blue porous microcapsule containing a blue dye as a main component, a polymerizable monomer and polymerization of the polymerizable monomer of 460 to 620 nm.
With the visible light energy, a photopolymerization initiator to be started and a red porous microcapsule containing a red dye as a main component, the polymerization of the polymerizable monomer and the polymerizable monomer by the visible light energy of 380 to 520 nm. Using a light- and heat-sensitive recording material provided with a microcapsule layer containing at least two kinds of yellow porous microcapsules containing a photopolymerization initiator to be initiated and a yellow dye as main components, a signal corresponding to a color image is visible. A light- and heat-sensitive transfer recording apparatus for recording a color image on plain paper by a method of forming a latent image using light, developing with heat, and transferring the latent image was used.

(Operation)

The respective photosensitive wavelengths of the porous microcapsules of each color of the light and heat sensitive recording material as described above (580 to 780 nm for blue porous microcapsules, 460 to 620 nm for red porous microcapsules, yellow porous microcapsules) If
(380 to 520 nm) according to the image signal, and the porous microcapsules of each color in the irradiated portion of each photosensitive wavelength are cured corresponding to each photosensitive wavelength.

In addition, in the porous microcapsules of each color in the unexposed portion, the inclusions can be released by application of heat through the pores of the coating of the porous microcapsules. Further, by forcing the irradiation intensity at each photosensitive wavelength, the degree of polymerization of the polymerizable monomer can be controlled, and the amount of the inclusion contained in the porous microcapsules can be controlled. The dyes of each color in the inclusions of the porous microcapsules of each color released in this way are transferred onto plain paper by using a thermal head, a heat roller, etc., and a high-quality color image is transferred and recorded on plain paper. This is a light- and heat-sensitive transfer device capable of performing the following operations.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b) are schematic views of color image recording using the photosensitive and thermal transfer recording apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1 (a), an image signal corresponding to a color image from a signal processing unit 1 is converted into light corresponding to a color image signal by an exposure unit 2, and this light is irradiated on a light and heat sensitive recording material 3 to form a latent image. Let it form. Next, in FIG. 1 (b), the photosensitive / thermosensitive recording material 5 on which the latent image is formed is placed so that the porous microcapsule layer 6 on the photosensitive / thermosensitive recording material faces the receiving paper 7, and the latent image is formed. Heat is applied using the thermal head 8 from the back of the light and heat sensitive recording material. As a result, a color image corresponding to the color image signal can be transferred and recorded on plain paper.

FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b) are schematic diagrams of color image copy recording using the photosensitive and thermal transfer recording apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 2 (a), a color document 10 is irradiated from a light source 11 with light transmitted through an optical filter 12 transmitting the photosensitive wavelength of each porous microcapsule, and the reflected light is condensed using a condensing lens 13. Then, the recording material 14 is irradiated with the light and heat. As a result, a latent image is formed on the recording material. Next, in FIG. 2B, the porous microcapsule layer 17 on which the latent image is formed and the receiving paper 18 of the light and heat sensitive recording material 16 on which the latent image is formed are placed facing each other, and the latent image is formed. Heat-sensitive recording material from the back, heat roller
A color image can be easily copied on plain paper by applying heat and developing with the use of No. 19.

Further, by using the photosensitive and thermal transfer recording apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to control the color separation by the photosensitive wavelength and the continuous tone expression by the light irradiation intensity, and it is possible to easily obtain a high-quality color image on plain paper. A photosensitive and heat-sensitive transfer recording device can be provided.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, the present invention provides a method for initiating polymerization of a polymerizable monomer and the polymerizable monomer on a support of a heat-resistant film of about 10 μm of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) by light energy of visible light. By using a light and heat sensitive recording material provided with a microcapsule layer containing at least two or more types of porous microcapsules containing an initiator and a dye as main components, and irradiating visible light of each photosensitive wavelength according to an image signal The porous microcapsules of each color in the irradiated portion of each photosensitive wavelength are cured corresponding to each photosensitive wavelength. In addition, in the porous microcapsules of each color in the unexposed portion, the inclusions can be released by application of heat through the pores of the coating of the porous microcapsules. Furthermore, by controlling the irradiation intensity of light having each photosensitive wavelength, the degree of polymerization of the polymerizable monomer can be controlled, and the amount of the inclusion contained in the porous microcapsules can be controlled. The dyes of each color in the inclusions of the porous microcapsules of each color thus released are transferred onto a receiving paper using a thermal head, a heat roller or the like. In this way, using a light- and heat-sensitive recording material capable of recording a color image on plain paper according to the present invention,
Providing a small-sized, low-cost photosensitive thermal transfer recording device because a high-quality color image can be obtained on plain paper by a simple method of forming a latent image corresponding to a color image with visible light and developing with heat. can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a color image recording using the photosensitive and thermal transfer recording apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a color image copy recording using the photosensitive and thermal transfer recording apparatus of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Signal processing part 2 ... Exposure part 3 ... Photosensitive thermosensitive recording material 4a ... Porous microcapsule of wavelength λ1 photosensitive 4b ... Porous microcapsule of wavelength λ2 photosensitive 4c ... Porous microcapsule of wavelength λ3 photosensitive Capsule 5: Light and heat sensitive recording material on which latent image is formed 6: Porous microcapsule layer on which latent image is formed 7: Receiving paper 8: Thermal head 9: Color image transfer section 10: Color original 11 Light source 12 Optical filter 13 Condensing lens 14 Photosensitive thermosensitive recording material 15 Porous microcapsule layer 16 Photosensitive thermosensitive recording material on which latent image is formed 17 Latent image formation Porous microcapsule layer 18 Receptor paper 19 Heat roller 20 Color image transfer section

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-81679 (JP, A) JP-A-62-204256 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03D 13 / 00 G03F 7/26

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A microcapsule comprising, on a support, a porous microcapsule containing, as a main component, a polymerizable monomer and a photopolymerization initiator and a dye for initiating polymerization of the polymerizable monomer by visible light energy. In a light and heat transfer recording apparatus for transferring a color image using a light and heat sensitive recording material provided with a layer, an exposure means for polymerizing the porous microcapsules by irradiation of the visible light according to a color image signal to form a latent image And a heat developing means for heating the light and heat sensitive recording material to release the dye from unpolymerized portions of the porous microcapsules, transfer the dye to paper, and develop the heat and heat. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the visible light converted into the visible light corresponding to the color image signal is irradiated on the light and heat sensitive recording material provided with the microcapsule layer containing the porous microcapsules, The thermal microcapsules polymerize to form the latent image, and when the photothermographic recording material is heated, the non-polymerized porous microcapsules release the dye and transfer the dye to the paper. Method. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the degree of polymerization of the porous microcapsules is controlled by the irradiation intensity of the visible light. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the amount of the dye released from the porous microcapsules is controlled by the irradiation intensity of the visible light. 5. The polymerization start wavelength of blue porous microcapsules among the porous microcapsules is 580 nm or more and 780 nm.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein: 6. The polymerization initiation wavelength of red porous microcapsules among the porous microcapsules is 460 nm or more and 620 nm.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein: 7. The polymerization initiation wavelength of the yellow porous microcapsules among the porous microcapsules is 380 nm or more and 520 nm.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein: