JP3251065B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus using a recording medium having a surface whose receding contact angle decreases when it is brought into contact with a liquid in a heated state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The present applicant has previously used a recording medium having a surface in which the receding contact angle is reduced when the recording medium is brought into contact with a liquid in a heated state. The recording medium is selectively heated while being in contact with a contact material selected from liquids or liquids or vapor-generating solids at or below the temperature at which the receding contact angle starts decreasing, or the surface of the recording medium is heated. By selectively contacting the contact material with the contact material in a heated state, a region (a desired pattern region, referred to as a latent image or a latent image region) having a receding contact angle corresponding to the heating temperature is formed on the surface of the recording medium. A recording method characterized in that the surface of the recording medium in which the receding contact angle decreases in a heated state and when contacted with a liquid, and in a state where the liquid recording agent containing a color developing material is in contact with the recording method Selective heating or recording By contact with the recording material while selectively heating the surface, it was proposed a recording method for forming a visible image corresponding to the heating temperature on the recording surface (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-178478).

That is, the invention described in the above-mentioned publication uses a member having a surface having a receding contact angle which is low (increases liquid adhesion) when heated and brought into contact with a liquid, as the recording medium. The present invention provides a recording method in which a desired pattern area (latent image area) can be selectively or selectively and reversibly formed on the surface of the recording medium by an easy means. By supplying a recording agent (for example, liquid ink), a good visible image can be obtained from the beginning, and this visible image can be fixed on the surface of the recording medium as it is, or the visible image can be transferred to plain paper without fixing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording method in which a clear image with gradation is obtained by fixing the image. Further, according to the invention, in all of the processes such as formation / erasing, visualization, and transfer of a desired pattern region (latent image), a recording medium having excellent storage stability and stability is used to reversibly form a plurality of images. A recording method is provided in which the above steps can be performed.

[0004] As described in detail in the above-mentioned publication, the receding contact angle of the recording medium is reduced when the recording medium is brought into contact with a contact material such as liquid or vapor in a heated state (the liquid adhesion is high). However, if the recording medium surface is heated in the absence of the contact material, no interaction with the contact material occurs, and the recording medium returns to the original receding contact angle and the latent image is erased. (Image removal). Therefore, by providing a means for heating in contact with the contact material and a means for heating in the absence of the contact material, it is possible to form a recording apparatus capable of easily performing recording and erasing.

[0005]

By the way, in the above-mentioned recording method, in principle, the recording medium is a liquid (contact material, recording material, etc.).
It is configured to be in contact with However, there is a problem that the recording medium is charged by contact charging when the recording medium comes into contact with the liquid or when the liquid separates from the recording medium (contact charging, peeling charging). That is, when the recording medium is charged, when the ink is applied on the recording medium after development, the ink may move due to static electricity, which may cause disturbance of an image. Therefore, the present inventors have previously proposed an invention in which conductivity is imparted to a recording medium or a substrate of the recording medium in order to prevent electrification of the recording medium (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-16 / 1994).
No. 3085). However, the method of imparting conductivity to the recording body has a risk of impairing the original function of the recording body such as a change in wettability due to heat due to the addition of a conductive agent to the recording body, and also makes the recording body substrate conductive. This may lead to an increase in the cost of the recording medium. In particular, when the recording method proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-178478 is applied to a simple printing apparatus, the recording medium may be disposable, so that it is not desirable to increase the cost of the recording medium. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus that can suppress image disturbance due to static electricity by preventing charging of a recording body in a manner that does not increase the cost of the recording body. I do.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to a recording apparatus having a surface having a reduced receding contact angle and increased liquid adhesion when heated and in contact with a liquid. And selectively heating the recording medium in contact with a contact material consisting of liquid or vapor or a solid which becomes liquid by heating , according to the heating temperature.
A latent image is formed in the heating section by a method of reducing the receding contact angle, and a visible image is formed by contacting the latent image with a recording material containing a coloring material and developing the latent image. In a recording apparatus having means for recording an image by transferring to a recording paper, an antistatic agent is added to the contact material and / or the recording agent and / or the cleaning liquid.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned recording apparatus, a latent image formation and a development are simultaneously performed by using a recording material containing a coloring material as a contact material. A recording apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the recording apparatus according to the first or second aspect, further comprising means for transferring a visible image to a recording sheet and then erasing (removing) the latent image by heating. .

[0008]

In the recording apparatus of the present invention, the charging of the recording medium can be suppressed by adding an antistatic agent to the contact material and / or the recording agent and / or the cleaning liquid. The problems that occur can be eliminated.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a recording apparatus showing one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a thermal head as a selective heating means, 2 denotes a belt-shaped recording body, 3 denotes a latent image forming liquid holding member that holds a latent image forming liquid as a contact material and contacts the recording body, Denotes a developing sponge for holding a recording agent containing a color material (hereinafter referred to as ink), 5 denotes a recording paper, 6 denotes a cleaner for cleaning, 7 denotes a heater for removing an image,
Reference numeral 8 denotes a recording medium feed roller, and reference numeral 9 denotes a transfer roller. In this recording apparatus, the latent image forming liquid is brought into contact with the surface of the recording medium 2 by the latent image forming liquid holding member 3 and is selectively heated by the thermal head 1 , and the receding contact angle is increased according to the heating temperature.
A latent image is formed on the heating section by a method of reducing the latent image, and this latent image is developed with the ink of the developing sponge 4 to form a visible image on the surface of the recording medium 2, and the visible image is transferred to the recording paper 5. It is recorded. Further, after the surface of the recording medium 2 after the transfer is cleaned by the cleaner 6, the heater 7 for removing the image is used.
And the latent image is erased (de-imaged). In the apparatus configuration of FIG. 1, if a liquid ink is used as the latent image forming liquid, the latent image formation and the development can be performed simultaneously, so that the development sponge 4 can be omitted and the configuration can be simplified.

Here, in the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem of the charging of the recording medium, the recording medium is immersed in a liquid (that is, a latent image forming liquid and / or ink and / or a cleaning liquid) in contact with the recording medium 2. Materials that suppress body electrification (hereinafter,
(Referred to as an antistatic agent). Thereby, the charging of the recording medium can be suppressed. As the antistatic agent, a surfactant, an ester, a higher alcohol, or the like is generally used. Also, charging can be suppressed by imparting conductivity to the liquid that comes into contact with the recording medium.

The surfactant includes anionic, cationic, nonionic and amphoteric surfactants. Examples of the anionic type include alkyl sulfonates, alkyl naphthalene sulfonates, sodium alkyl sulfosuccinates, sulfonates of naphthalene formaldehyde condensates, polyoxyethylene fatty alcohol ether sulfates, dialkyl sulfosuccinates, and N-acyl monkeys. Cosinate,
There are polyoxyethylene alkyl ether phosphate, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether phosphate and the like. Examples of the cationic system include dimethyldialkylammonium chloride, alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride, and alkyltrimethylammonium chloride. Nonionics include polyoxyethylene fatty alcohol ether, N, N-bis (2-hydroxyethyl) fatty amine, polyoxypropylene polyoxyethylene block polymer, polyoxyethylene stearamide, fatty acid, diethanolamine condensate, and the like. . Amphoteric systems include alkyl imidazolinium betaines,
Alkyldiaminoethyleneglycine hydrochloride, β-alkylaminopropionate, betaine alkyldimethylaminoacetate, and the like.

Examples of esters include glycerin fatty acid ester, sorbitan fatty acid ester, propylene bricol fatty acid ester, sucrose fatty acid ester, citric acid (mono, di or tri) stearyl ester, polyglycerin fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene glycerin fatty acid Esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyethylene (or polypropylene) glycol fatty acid esters, lactic acid of glycerin and propylene glycol, fatty acid esters, and lactic acid esters of fatty acids. Examples of higher alcohols include ethanol, 2-butanol, and diethylene glycol. Further, in order to impart conductivity to the liquid in contact with the recording medium, a method of adding an acid, an alkali, a salt, or the like may be used. In the recording apparatus of FIG. 1, an image removing process is generally provided downstream of the cleaning process, and heating is performed by the image removing heater 7 or the like. Since the recording medium is neutralized by this heating, it is not necessary to add an antistatic agent to the cleaning liquid. However, an antistatic agent may be added just in case.

Hereinafter, more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described. [Example 1] Recording medium: Fluorine-containing acrylate material TG-702 (manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd.) was diluted three times in volume ratio with Freon 113, and this diluted solution was applied to a polyimide film (Toray DuPont, thickness 12.5 μm). It was coated and then dried at 130 ° C. for 30 minutes to prepare. Liquid: pure water Antistatic agent: anionic surfactant TCP-5 (sodium polyoxyethylene (5) cetyl ether phosphate,
(Nikko Chemicals Co., Ltd.) Result: After contacting the recording medium with the liquid to which the antistatic agent was added, the surface potential was measured to be about -80 V. The ink moved even when the ink was placed on the recording medium. And there was almost no influence of charging. [Comparative Example 1] Recorded body, liquid: the same as in Example 1 Result: After the recorded body was brought into contact with a liquid to which an antistatic agent was not added, the surface potential was measured. When ink was placed on the top, the ink moved due to charging.

Example 2 Recording medium: Fluorine-containing acrylate material Biscoat 17F
(Osaka Organic Chemical Industry) solution-polymerized (solution 1-1-1 trichloroethane) was diluted with Freon 113, and this diluted solution was coated on a polyimide film (Toray DuPont, thickness 12.5 μm) and dried to prepare a film. . Latent image forming liquid: glycerin Ink: aqueous black dye ink Antistatic agent: cationic surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) Result: The recording cycle of latent image formation, development, transfer, and image removal was repeated. No good printing was possible.

Example 3 Recording medium: Fluorine-containing acrylate material Biscoat 17F
(Osaka Organic Chemical Industry) solution-polymerized (solution 1-1-1 trichloroethane) was diluted with Freon 113, and this diluted solution was coated on a polyimide film (Toray DuPont, thickness 12.5 μm) and dried to prepare a film. . Latent image forming liquid: glycerin Ink: aqueous black dye ink Antistatic agent: Nonionic surfactant BT-12 (polyoxyethylene (12) secondary ether, manufactured by Nikko Chemicals Co., Ltd.) Result: latent image formation, development, transfer, The recording cycle of image elimination was repeated, but good printing could be performed without any influence of charging.

Example 4 Recording medium: Fluorine-containing acrylate material Biscoat 17F
(Osaka Organic Chemical Industry) solution-polymerized (solution 1-1-1 trichloroethane) was diluted with Freon 113, and this diluted solution was coated on a polyimide film (Toray DuPont, thickness 12.5 μm) and dried to prepare a film. . Latent image forming liquid: glycerin Ink: water-based black dye ink Antistatic agent: ethanol Result: The recording cycle of latent image formation, development, transfer, and image removal was repeated, but good printing was performed without the influence of charging.

Example 5 Recording medium: Fluorine-containing acrylate material TG-702 (manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd.) was diluted three times in volume ratio with Freon 113, and this diluted solution was mixed with a polyimide film (Toray DuPont, thickness 12.1). 5 μm) and then dried at 130 ° C. for 30 minutes. Latent image forming liquid: Glycerin Ink: Water-based black dye ink Antistatic agent: Sodium hydroxide Result: The recording cycle of latent image formation, development, transfer, and image removal was repeated. Was.

Example 6 Recording medium: Fluorine-containing acrylate material Biscoat 17F
(Osaka Organic Chemical Industry) solution-polymerized (solution 1-1-1 trichloroethane) was diluted with Freon 113, and this diluted solution was coated on a polyimide film (Toray DuPont, thickness 12.5 μm) and dried to prepare a film. . Latent image forming liquid: glycerin Ink: water-based black dye ink Antistatic agent: sodium chloride Result: The recording cycle of latent image formation, development, transfer, and image removal was repeated, but there was no influence of charging, and good printing was performed. .

[0019]

As described above, in the recording apparatus of the first aspect, the antistatic agent is contained in the contact material (latent image forming liquid, etc.) and / or the recording agent (ink) and / or the cleaning liquid. By adding the compound, the charging of the recording medium can be suppressed, so that problems caused by the charging of the recording medium, such as movement of the developed ink on the recording medium due to static electricity, can be solved, and good recording can be performed. .

According to the recording apparatus of the second aspect, the first aspect
In addition to the operation and effect of (1), the formation of the latent image and the development can be performed simultaneously, so that the configuration can be simplified. Further, in the recording apparatus according to the third aspect, since a means for erasing (removing) the latent image by heating after transferring the visible image to the recording paper is provided, the recording medium is formed in an endless belt shape or the like. Since the recording cycle of latent image formation, development, transfer, and image removal can be repeatedly executed, it can be used as a printer or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a recording apparatus showing one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Thermal head (Hot source for latent image formation) 2 ... Recording body 3 ... Latent image forming liquid holding member 4 ... Developing sponge 5 ... Recording paper 6 ... Cleaner 7 ...・ Image removal heater 8 ・ ・ ・ Recorder feed roller 9 ・ ・ ・ Transfer roller

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tsuneo Kurotori 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Ricoh Co., Ltd. (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41L 19/00 B41M 5/00 B41M 1/00-1/12

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A recording medium having a surface in which the receding contact angle is reduced and the liquid adhesion is increased when the recording medium is brought into contact with a liquid in a heated state. Selectively heats the solid contact material in contact with it and recedes according to the heating temperature
A latent image is formed on the heating section by a method of reducing the angle, and a visible image is formed by developing the latent image by contacting a recording material containing a colorant with the latent image. A recording apparatus having means for transferring and recording an image, wherein an antistatic agent is added to the contact material and / or the recording agent and / or the cleaning liquid. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a latent image formation and development are performed simultaneously using a recording material containing a coloring material as a contact material. 3. A recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, after transferring the visible image onto a recording sheet, the recording apparatus characterized in that it comprises means for erasing (excluding images) the latent image by heating.