JP3057303B2 - 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 a novel recording method,
Specifically, a region showing a receding contact angle according to the heating temperature is selectively and reversibly formed on the surface of the recording medium having a specific property, and a coloring agent is applied to this region (latent image). The present invention relates to a recording method in which a contained recording agent is supplied so as to be visualized, and this is transferred in a satisfactory state to a transfer target such as plain paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A typical example of means for dividing a surface into a liquid-adhesive region and a non-liquid-adhesive region for image formation is an offset printing method using a planographic printing plate. . However, in this offset printing method, incorporation of a plate making process from an original plate and a printing process from a printing plate (printing plate) in one device inevitably increases the size of the device. For example, even in a relatively small office offset plate making and printing machine, in many cases, the plate making device and the printing device are usually separate.

In order to eliminate such a defect of the offset printing method, a liquid-adhesive area and a non-liquid-adhesive area corresponding to image information can be formed and can be used repeatedly (having reversibility). 2.) Recording methods or devices have been proposed. Some of them are as follows. (1) Aqueous development method After applying a charge to the hydrophobic photoconductor layer from the outside, exposure is performed to form a pattern having a hydrophobic part and a hydrophilic part on the surface of the photoconductor layer, and only the hydrophilic part is formed. Transfer to paper etc. by attaching aqueous developer (Japanese Patent Publication No. 40-18992, Japanese Patent Publication No. 40-18993)
JP-B-44-9512 and JP-A-63-264392). (2) A method utilizing photochemical reaction of photochromic material A layer containing a material such as spiropyran or azo dye is irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and the photochromic compound is hydrophilized by the photochemical reaction (for example, “Polymer Papers” No. 37). Volume 4
Issue, p. 287 (1980)]. (3) Method using the action of internal biasing force An amorphous state and a crystalline state are formed by physical change,
Construct the area where liquid ink adheres and adheres (Japanese Patent Publication No. 54-41)
No. 902).

According to the method (1), after the aqueous ink is transferred onto paper or the like, the hydrophilic portion is erased by static elimination, and another image information can be recorded. That is, it is possible to repeatedly use one master (photoconductor). However, since this method is based on the electrophotographic process, it requires a long process of charging → exposure → development → transfer → charge elimination, and has the drawback that it is difficult to reduce the size, cost, and maintenance of the device. . According to the method (2), hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity can be freely and reversibly controlled by selectively changing irradiation with ultraviolet light and visible light, but the reaction time is extremely low due to poor quantum efficiency. It has a drawback of being long, slow in recording speed, and lacking in stability, and has not yet reached a practical level. Furthermore, according to the method (3), the information recording member used there is stable after recording, but may have a physical structure change due to temperature change before recording. Therefore, there remains a problem in storage stability. In addition to this, since a means for applying a heat pulse and then quenching for erasing the recorded information pattern is employed, there is a disadvantage in that repeated image formation cannot be avoided.

The inventors of the present invention have conducted research and studies for solving the conventional disadvantages and disadvantages. as a result,
Specific recording medium (A) (recording body having a surface whose receding contact angle decreases when heated and brought into contact with liquid) and contact material (B) (retraction as referred to in liquid, vapor or recording medium (A)) A liquid or a liquid or a vapor-generating solid below the temperature at which the contact angle begins to drop), and contact the surface of the recording material (A) with the contact material (B).
By selectively heating in the state of being in contact with the recording material (A) or the contact material (B) while the surface of the recording medium (A) is selectively heated.
To form a latent image having a receding contact angle corresponding to the heating temperature on the surface of the recording medium (A), and visualizing this latent image with a recording agent. A method for transferring a visual image to a transfer object and an apparatus related thereto have been proposed (Japanese Patent Publication No. 4010275).

According to the method proposed here, it is extremely easy to form a latent image and a visible image on a recording medium, transfer the visible image to a transfer medium such as plain paper, and erase the latent image. And reversibly, it is possible not only to easily obtain a large number of copied images, but also to continuously obtain different copied images.

[0007]

However, in this recording method, when the latent image formation and the visualization are performed separately, the contact material adhered to the latent image in the latent image forming area is developed in a state where the contact material adheres to the latent image. There is a problem that the recording material enters the recording area and is mixed into the recording material. When the attached contact material is mixed with the recording agent, if the contact material and the recording agent are different, the components of the recording agent are naturally changed, and even if the two are the same, the component ratio is changed. In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable to evaporate the contact material attached to the latent image. However, according to this method, there is a possibility that the latent image may be erased due to excessive heating. Therefore, in order to spontaneously evaporate the adhered contact material, it is necessary to increase the time between the latent image formation and the visualization, and to reduce the moving speed of the recording medium,
Alternatively, it is conceivable to increase the distance between the latent image forming area and the visualized area. However, if the moving speed of the recording medium is decreased, the recording speed is decreased, and if the interval between them is increased, the size of the apparatus is increased.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to prevent the contact material adhered to the surface of the recording medium in the latent image forming area from being mixed into the recording agent in the visualized area in the above-mentioned recording method. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording method capable of reducing a change in the component ratio.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a recording medium having a surface in which a receding contact angle is reduced when the recording medium is brought into contact with a liquid in a heated state, the liquid, the vapor, and the receding in the recording medium. The temperature at which the receding contact angle of the surface of the recording medium starts to fall in response to an image signal in a state in which the material becomes a liquid at a temperature equal to or lower than the temperature at which the contact angle decreases, or is in contact with a contact material selected from a liquid or a solid that generates vapor By selectively heating as described above, or selectively heating the surface of the recording medium according to an image signal, the heating unit on the recording medium surface is at or above the temperature at which the receding contact angle of the recording medium surface starts to decrease. By bringing the recording material into contact with the contact material in a held state, a latent image having a receding contact angle corresponding to the heating temperature is formed on the surface of the recording medium, and then a recording agent is supplied and adhered to the latent image for visualization. After you got The recording method for transferring a visual image to a transfer member, a recording method characterized by wiping the contact material on the recording surface with the latent image forming region and the visible region is provided.

Further, according to the present invention, the surface of a recording medium having a surface in which the receding contact angle is reduced when heated and brought into contact with a liquid, the liquid, the vapor, and the receding contact angle in the recording medium are reduced. In the state of being in contact with a contact material selected from liquids or liquids or vapor-generating solids at the starting temperature or lower, the recording material surface is selectively selectively moved to a receding contact angle lowering temperature or higher according to an image signal. Or the surface of the recording medium is selectively heated in accordance with an image signal, and the heating portion of the recording medium surface is maintained at a temperature at or above a temperature at which the receding contact angle of the recording medium decreases. Forming a latent image having a receding contact angle corresponding to the heating temperature on the surface of the recording medium, and then supplying and adhering a recording agent to the latent image to visualize the recording material. Received visible image In a recording method of transferring a latent image after transferring a visible image to a photoreceptor and further erasing the latent image after the transfer of the visible image by heating in the absence of the contact material, the recording medium may be disposed between a latent image forming area and a visualized A recording method is provided, characterized by wiping said contact material on a surface.

That is, in the method of the present invention, since the contact material on the surface of the recording medium is wiped between the latent image forming area and the visualized area, the latent image is formed on the latent image forming area. The contact material thus mixed is prevented from being mixed into the recording material in the visualized region, and the components of the recording material and changes in the component ratio can be reduced.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail. The recording medium used in the present invention is a member having a function of reducing the receding contact angle after cooling when heated in contact with a liquid, and increasing the receding contact angle by heating in the absence of liquid. In which at least the surface is formed. The recording medium having such a function has a surface (1) a member containing an organic compound having a surface self-orientation function of a hydrophobic group, or (2) an organic compound having a hydrophobic group, the surface of which has a hydrophobic group. It is a member oriented to.

[0013] The "surface self-orientation function" referred to in (1) means that when a solid formed by forming a certain compound on a support or a solid formed by a certain compound itself is heated in the air, the hydrophobic group on the surface is changed to the air side (free surface). Side). This can be similarly applied to (2). Generally, in an organic compound, a hydrophobic group has a property of easily moving toward a hydrophobic atmosphere. This is fixed
This is a phenomenon that occurs because the surface energy of the air interface decreases. This phenomenon is more likely to occur as the molecular length of the hydrophobic group becomes longer. This is because the longer the molecular length, the higher the mobility of molecules during heating.

More specifically, it has a hydrophobic group at a terminal.
Molecules (that lower surface energy)
(Free surface side) and easy surface orientation. Similarly, (−CH ₂
-) The linear molecule containing n (-CH ₂ CH ₂ - has a partial planar structure), molecular chains with each other easily oriented. Also,
In the molecule containing (-Ph-) n, the -Ph- portion has a planar structure, and the molecular chains are easily oriented. Note that -Ph-
p-phenylene group (the same applies hereinafter). In particular, a linear molecule containing an element having a high electronegativity such as fluorine has a high self-aggregation property, and the molecular chains are easily oriented.

To summarize the results of these studies, more preferably, a linear molecule having a molecule having a high self-aggregating property or a molecule having a planar structure and having a hydrophobic group at a terminal, or such a linear molecule is used. The compound containing the compound can be said to be a compound having a high surface self-alignment function.

As is apparent from the above description, the surface self-alignment state is related to the receding contact angle, and also between the receding contact angle and the liquid adhesion. That is, the adhesion of the liquid on the solid surface occurs mainly by tacking of the liquid on the solid surface. This tacking can be considered as a kind of frictional force when a liquid slides on a solid surface. Accordingly, the “receding contact angle” θr in the present invention is given by cosθr = γ (γs−γse−πe + γf) / γev (where γ: surface tension of solid in vacuum γse: solid-liquid interfacial tension γev: (Saito, Kitazaki et al., "The Adhesion Society of Japan") holds that the surface tension when a liquid is in contact with its saturated vapor πe: Equilibrium surface tension γf: Friction tension γs: Surface tension of solid without adsorption layer Magazine, Vol.22, No.12, 1986).

Accordingly, the value of γf increases as the value of θr decreases. That is, the liquid is less likely to slide on the solid surface, and as a result, the liquid adheres to the solid surface. As can be inferred from these mutual relations, the liquid adhesion depends on the receding contact angle θr, and the receding contact angle θr is determined by any member having a surface self-orienting function on the surface. Therefore, in the apparatus used in the present invention, the recording medium is formed with a desired pattern area on its surface.
A member having a surface self-orientation function on the surface must be selected inevitably due to the need for visualization with a recording agent.

The relationship between the receding contact angle and the liquid adhesion has been described in detail so far, but these matters are described in more detail in the above-mentioned German Patent Publication No. 401,275.

The structure of the recording medium is roughly classified into a structure formed by the surface member itself and a structure formed by forming the surface member on a support (preferably a heat-resistant support). In the embodiment, the surface member itself is formed into a film shape, a plate shape, or a column shape. In the embodiment, the shape of the support may be any of a belt shape, a plate shape, and a drum shape, and is selected according to the use application of the device. In particular, the drum shape is excellent in that dimensional accuracy in the device can be obtained. As the heat-resistant support, resins such as tetrafluoroethylene, silicone, polyimide, polycarbonate, epoxy, melamine, phenol, polyester, polyacetal, urea, and polyethylene terephthalate, as well as Ni, Al, Cu, Cr,
Metals such as Pt and metal oxides are preferred. These supports may be smooth, rough or porous.

The contact material is, in short, a liquid or a vapor from the beginning, or a receding contact angle θ referred to as a recording medium.
A solid that results in a liquid below the temperature at which r begins to drop. At least a part of the vapor is condensed on or near the surface of the recording medium to generate a liquid, and it is sufficient that the liquid can wet the surface of the recording medium. On the other hand, the solid here becomes a liquid, generates a liquid, or generates a vapor at or below the temperature at which the receding contact angle θr starts to decrease. The vapor generated from the solid condenses on or near the surface of the recording medium to produce a liquid, as in the case described above.

More specifically, these contact materials are as follows. That is, as the liquid which is one of the contact materials, in addition to water, an aqueous solution containing an electrolyte, alcohols such as ethanol and n-butanol, polyhydric alcohols such as glycerin and ethylene glycol, and ketones such as methyl ethyl ketone are available. Polar liquids, n-nonane, linear hydrocarbons such as n-octane, cyclic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane,
Non-polar liquids such as aromatic hydrocarbons such as m-xylene and benzene. Further, a mixture of these may be used, and various dispersion liquids and liquid inks may be used. More desirably, polar liquids are better.

The vapor which is another contact material is as follows.
In addition to water vapor, any liquid vapor of the contact material can be used, and in particular, vapors of organic compounds such as ethanol vapor and m-xylene vapor (including those in a spray state) can be used. The temperature of the organic compound vapor must be lower than the melting point or softening point of the compound forming the surface of the recording medium.

Other solids which are other contact materials include higher fatty acids, low molecular weight polyethylene, and polymer gels.
(Polyacrylamide gel, polyvinyl alcohol gel), silica gel, compounds containing water of crystallization, and the like.

As a supply means for bringing the contact material into contact with the surface of the recording medium, for example, a dish is provided below the recording medium so that the recording medium is filled with liquid so that the recording medium always contacts the liquid in the dish. The configuration arranged in the dish is the simplest configuration. Instead of a dish, a sponge-like porous body containing a liquid may be used. The latent image forming means using light or an electron beam is basically the same as the above configuration.

As a heating means for forming a latent image, in addition to contact heating using a heater, a thermal head, or the like,
There is non-contact heating by (light from a light source such as a laser light source or an infrared lamp is condensed by a lens).

[0026] After the latent image formation, the recording material to the latent image supplied deposited visualized (hereinafter referred to as development) is performed, supplying the recording material, as a means for attaching, sponge-like impregnated with a recording agent It is simple to arrange a roll having a porous body or a dish filled with a recording agent in the traveling direction of the recording member, and always keep the recording agent in contact with the recording member.

As the recording agent, a solution or a dispersion containing a colorant is used. For example, a recording ink which has been used in a conventional printing recording system such as writing ink, ink jet recording ink, printing ink, and electrophotographic toner. From the agents, those suitable for the method of the present invention can be selected and used.

[0028] Once more an example of a specifically preferred ones,
For example, as a water-based ink, water, a wetting agent, a water-soluble ink mainly containing a dye, water, a pigment, a polymer compound for dispersion, a water-based pigment-dispersed ink mainly containing a wetting agent, and a surfactant using a pigment or a dye are used. Emulsion inks and the like dispersed in water, and oil-based inks include those in which an oil-soluble dye is dispersed in an organic solvent and those in which a pigment or dye is emulsified in an oil base.

[0029] After the latent image formation and development, for example, adhesion recording agent on the recording material (visible image), by providing a means for direct contact with the transferred object (recording paper) by capillary action of the transfer member, the It is transferred to a transcript. The transfer position may be any position on the recording medium after development, but is preferably a position where transfer is performed immediately after development.

As the object to be transferred (recording paper), a transparent or opaque resin film, plain paper, synthetic paper, ink jet recording paper, type paper and the like can be used.

When a large number of copies of the same image information are to be made after the transfer, a developing process for supplying and adhering the above-mentioned recording agent to the latent image after the transfer and a process for transferring the obtained visible image to an object to be transferred are performed. Achieved by repeating.

When the transfer of one piece of image information is completed, the surface of the recording medium is heated (in air, in a vacuum, or in an inert gas) in the absence of liquid or vapor (heating temperature: 50 to 50 ° C.).
300 ° C, desirably 100 to 180 ° C, heating time: 1
When the latent image is erased for a period of milliseconds to 10 seconds, preferably 10 milliseconds to 1 second), the recording medium can be used repeatedly.

As a heating source for erasing a latent image, a contact heating source such as a heater or a thermal head, or a non-contact heating source using electromagnetic waves such as a laser or an infrared lamp is desirable. Heating may be performed only on the latent image portion, or may be performed on the entire surface of the recording medium. Rather, heating over the entire surface is more desirable because the device configuration can be simplified.

The latent image erasing means is provided at a position where the surface of the recording medium is substantially cooled after heating for erasing and before forming a latent image again. The heating temperature necessary for erasing the latent image is as described above, but differs depending on the material of the surface of the recording medium. However, in any case, it is desirable that the temperature be equal to or higher than the starting temperature at which the receding contact angle of the material on the recording medium becomes low and equal to or lower than the decomposition point.

In the present invention, as described above, the operation of wiping the contact material on the surface of the recording medium between the latent image forming area and the visualized area is performed.

[0036] Specific examples of basic configuration in this regard to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which a contact material (hereinafter simply referred to as a liquid) adhering on a latent image is wiped off with a blotting paper wound around a roller. FIG. 2 shows a configuration in which blotting paper is supplied from one roller and wound by the other roller. The blotting paper may be replaced once or may be used repeatedly. FIG. 3 shows a configuration in which a liquid is wiped off with a porous body.

[0037] To explain the context of the implementation of the present invention when using the device configured as described above, for example, in FIG. 1, in accordance with an image signal First, heat the surface of the recording body 1 via the liquid 2 from the thermal head 11 Layer, where a latent image 3 is formed. As the recording body 1 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the latent image 3
The liquid 2 adhering to the top is wiped off by the blotting paper 22 wound on the rotating roller 21. Subsequently, the roller 12
Is supplied onto the latent image 3, and the adhered recording material 4 is then transferred to a transfer target 5 (recording paper) at a transfer section.

[0038] After transfer, repeating the development without using a latent image erasing infrared lamp 14, the printing of the same image information is performed. When the latent image is erased using the infrared lamp 14, another image information can be recorded and printed. In addition,
In the drawing, 13 denotes a transfer roller, 23 denotes a blotter feeding roller, 24 denotes a blotter winding roller, and 25 denotes a porous body.

In the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the wiping member 22 or 25 may be pressed against the recording medium 1 or may be spaced so that the liquid 2 can be wiped off.
More preferably, a configuration in which the recording medium 1 is soft enough to not damage the recording medium 1 is pressed against the recording medium 1. In the case of this configuration, the liquid 2 can be more reliably wiped without damaging the recording medium 1. With such a configuration, the liquid 2 hardly remains on the recording medium 1 immediately after the wiping portion. Of course, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the configurations shown in FIGS.

As the wiping member (sucking member),
Basically, any material may be used as long as it absorbs the liquid 2, and more preferably soft enough not to damage the recording medium 1. As the blotting paper, either sheet-like or film-like may be used.
Filter paper, a coat, a filter, etc. are used. Rubber, polyurethane, sponge, felt and the like are used as the porous body. The smaller the pore size, the better. When the liquid 2 is aqueous, a hydrophilic one of the above materials is used.
When is oily, the use of lipophilic ones makes it easier for the liquid 2 to be absorbed by the wiping member, so that wiping can be performed efficiently.

[0041]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following Examples, but it should not be construed that the present invention is limited thereto.

The assembled recording apparatus using the recording material of Example 1 The following materials were subjected to recording under the following conditions.

[0043] (i) the recording layer material: fluorine-containing polymer (TG
702: Daikin Industries, Ltd.) (ii) Latent image forming liquid: pure water (iii) Recording agent: aqueous black ink (iv) Suction member: coated paper (Mitsubishi coated paper NM) (v) Device configuration: shown in FIG. Configuration

[0044] (implementation results) wipe immediately, remaining pure water was not observed on the recording medium, image recording is performed satisfactorily for a long time.

[0045] except for changing the Example 2 using wicking member as described below was carried out recorded in the same manner as in Example 1.

[0046] (i) wicking member: a porous body made of PVA sponge [Bell Eater KE (D): Kanebo Ltd.] (ii) Device Configuration: the configuration shown in FIG. 3

[0047] (implementation result) after wiping, residual pure water is not observed on the recording medium, image recording is performed satisfactorily for a long time.

[0048] In Comparative Example 1, except for not setting the wicking member was subjected to recording in the same manner as in Example 1, mixed in pure water ink remaining on the recording body, the ink is pale That is, the image density has become thin.

[0049]

According to the recording method of the present invention, as described above,
In a recording method of forming a latent image having a receding contact angle according to a heating temperature on a recording medium surface, a configuration is adopted in which a contact material on the recording medium surface is wiped between a latent image forming area and a visualized area. Therefore, according to the method of the present invention, the contact material adhered to the latent image in the latent image forming area is prevented from being mixed into the recording material in the developing area, and the change in the components and the component ratio of the recording material can be reduced. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram including an apparatus configuration example showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram including another example of a device configuration showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram including another example of a device configuration showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 recording medium 2 contact material (liquid) 3 latent image 4 recording material (ink) 5 transfer medium (recording paper) 11 thermal head 12 recording material supply roller 13 transfer roller 14 latent image erasing infrared lamp 21 roller 22 blotting paper 23 Roller for blotting paper supply 24 Roller for blotting paper winding 25 Porous body

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-178478 (JP, A) German Patent Application Publication 4010275 (DE, A1) Photo Industry Separate Volume Imaging Part 2 Photo Industry Publishing Company (July 20, 1988) Issued) 16-25 (Description on cleaning, see Fig. 2 and 12) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41M 5/00 B41C 1/055

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A surface of a recording medium having a surface in which a receding contact angle is reduced when heated and in contact with a liquid, and a liquid, a vapor, and a liquid at a temperature not more than a temperature at which the receding contact angle in the recording medium starts to decrease. In the state of being in contact with a contact material selected from a solid or a liquid or a vapor-generating solid, by selectively heating the recording body surface to a temperature equal to or higher than a drop start temperature of a receding contact angle according to an image signal, Alternatively, the surface of the recording medium is selectively heated in accordance with an image signal, and the heating unit on the recording medium surface contacts the contact material in a state where the receding contact angle of the recording medium surface is maintained at or above a decrease start temperature. By forming a latent image having a receding contact angle according to the heating temperature on the surface of the recording medium, and then supplying a recording agent to the latent image to visualize the latent image, the obtained visible image is formed. Recording method to transfer to the transfer object Wherein the contact material on the surface of the recording medium is wiped between a latent image forming area and a visualized area. 2. A surface of a recording medium having a surface in which a receding contact angle is reduced in a heated state and when brought into contact with a liquid, and a liquid, a vapor, and a liquid at a temperature not more than a temperature at which the receding contact angle in said recording medium starts to decrease. In the state of being in contact with a contact material selected from a solid or a liquid or a vapor-generating solid, by selectively heating the recording body surface to a temperature equal to or higher than a drop start temperature of a receding contact angle according to an image signal, Alternatively, the surface of the recording medium is selectively heated in accordance with an image signal, and the heating unit on the recording medium surface contacts the contact material in a state where the receding contact angle of the recording medium surface is maintained at or above a decrease start temperature. By forming a latent image having a receding contact angle according to the heating temperature on the surface of the recording medium, and then supplying a recording agent to the latent image to visualize the latent image, the obtained visible image is formed. Transfer to transfer target, more possible In a recording method in which a latent image after visual image transfer is erased by heating in the absence of the contact material, the contact material on the surface of the recording medium is wiped between a latent image forming area and a visualized area. A recording method characterized in that: