JPH01110970A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable high-quality images to be stably obtained irrespectively of the environmental temperature for a recorder, by sequentially performing formation of an image on a transfer recording medium and transfer of the image to a recording material, and controlling the quantity of energy supplied to the transfer recording medium according to the atmospheric temperature for the recorder. CONSTITUTION:A transfer recording layer has such a property that when the layer is supplied with light of a predetermined wavelength and heat, the softening temperature thereof is raised, namely, transferring characteristics thereof are irreversibly changed so that it can not be transferred onto a recording paper 8. Therefore, an image is formed in the transfer recording layer by driving a motor to sequentially paying out a transfer recording medium 1 from a payout roll 2 and supplying the light and heat to the transfer recording layer 1b of the medium 1 according to an image signal at a recording part 3. In forming the image, the quantity of thermal energy supplied to the medium 1 is controlled by setting the heating time of heat generating elements 3b to be shorter or longer as the atmospheric temperature in the vicinity of the recording part is higher or lower.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Field of Industrial Application> The present invention relates to a recording device that can be used in printers, copying machines, facsimile machines, and the like.

<Prior Art> In recent years, with the rapid development of the information industry, various information processing systems have been developed, and recording devices suitable for each information processing system have also been developed.

One of the above-mentioned recording devices is a thermal transfer recording device. In this method, recording is performed on a recording paper using an ink ribbon made by coating a ribbon-shaped support with a heat-melt ink made by dispersing a colorant in a heat-melt binder.

That is, the ink ribbons are stacked so that their heat-melting ink layers are in contact with the recording paper, and the ink ribbon and the recording paper are conveyed between a thermal head and a platen, and the ink ribbon is transferred from the support side of the ink ribbon to the thermal head. By applying pulse-shaped heat according to the image signal and pressing the two together and transferring the molten ink to the recording paper, an ink image corresponding to the heat application is recorded on the recording paper. .

The above recording apparatus has been widely used in recent years because it is small and lightweight, makes no noise, and can record on plain paper.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, conventional thermal transfer recording devices are not without problems.

The reason is that in conventional thermal transfer recording devices, the transfer recording performance, that is, the image quality, is greatly affected by the surface smoothness of the recording paper.
Although good image recording is performed on recording paper with high smoothness, there is a possibility that the quality of image recording will deteriorate when recording paper with low smoothness is used.

Furthermore, when attempting to obtain a multicolor image with a conventional thermal transfer recording device, it is necessary to repeat transfer to overlap the colors. For this purpose, it is necessary to install multiple thermal heads or to make complicated movements such as stopping and reversing the recording paper, which not only makes color misalignment unavoidable, but also makes the entire apparatus thick and 15cm thick.
There are problems such as clutter.

Means for Solving Problems〉 Therefore, the present applicant used a photothermal sensitive material, and when thermal energy and light energy were applied, the reaction of the material proceeded rapidly and violently, and the transfer characteristics became irreversible. proposed a technology to form an image based on the difference in the characteristics according to the image signal and transfer it to a recording medium (Japanese Patent Application No. 60-120).
080 No. 1 No. 60-120081, No. 60-1314
No. 11, No. 60-134831, No. 60-15059
No. 7, No. 60-199926, etc.).

According to this technology, it is possible to record high-quality images even on recording media with low surface smoothness, and when applied to multicolor recording, it is possible to make complex movements on the recording medium. It is possible to obtain multi-colored images without any problems.

The present invention is a further development of the above technology, and aims to provide a recording device that can stably obtain high-quality images regardless of the environmental temperature of the device.

For this purpose, the means of the embodiment described below is a transfer recording medium having a transfer recording layer whose transfer characteristics change by applying a first energy and a second energy different from the first energy. and a first energy applying means for applying the first energy to the transfer recording medium, which is provided along the conveyance path of the transfer recording medium conveyed by the conveyance means. and a second for applying the second energy.
a recording section having an energy imparting means; a transfer section for transferring an image formed on the transfer recording medium in the recording section to a recording medium; The present invention is characterized in that it is provided with a control means for controlling the amount of energy applied to the transfer recording medium in the transfer recording medium.

<Operation> According to the above means, when the transfer recording medium and the recording medium are set in the apparatus and recording is performed, multiple types of energy are applied to the transfer recording medium in the recording section to form an image. The image is transferred to the recording medium in the transfer section.

Additionally, the amount of energy applied in the recording section is controlled according to the ambient temperature of the device, and a predetermined amount of energy is applied to the transfer recording medium regardless of the ambient temperature, making it possible to obtain high-quality images. Become.

<Example> Next, an embodiment of the present invention to which the above means is applied will be described.

FIG. 1(A) is a cross-sectional schematic explanatory diagram of the recording device, and the first
Figure (B) is a perspective explanatory view.

In the figure, l is a long sheet-like transfer recording medium, which is wound into a roll and used as a supply roll 2 on the device main body M.
It is removably incorporated into the.

That is, this supply roll 2 is removably loaded onto a rotatable shaft 2a provided in the main body M of the apparatus.

First, the leading end of this transfer recording medium l is connected to the supply port 2.
The peeling roller 5. It is directed by the guide roller 12c and brought to the take-up roll 6, and its tip is locked to the take-up roll 6 by means such as a gripper (not shown). Thereafter, by rotating the transfer roller 4a while applying torque to the take-up roll 6 in the direction of the arrow C using a known drive means, the transfer recording medium 1 is fed out in the direction of the arrow a, and is attached to the circumferential surface of the take-up roll 6. It is wound up one after another.

Incidentally, during the winding, a certain bank tension is applied to the supply roll 2 by, for example, a hysteresis brake (not shown), and this tension and the guide rollers 12a, 12b cause the transfer recording medium 1 to move toward the recording head 3a. It is configured to be conveyed while being pressed against the object at a certain pressure and at a certain angle.

Next, the configuration of each part will be explained in detail.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the transfer recording medium 1 has a transfer recording layer 1 having the property of forming an image when both thermal energy and light energy are applied on a sheet-like support la.
It is made by attaching b.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 2, the transfer recording layer 1b was prepared using the components shown in Table 1 below as the core lc, and the components shown in Table 2 below as the core 1d, and by the method shown below. It is formed by forming an image forming element in the form of a microcapsule.

In other words, the log of the ingredients shown in Table 1, Table 5, and Table 2 are first mixed with 20 parts by weight of methylene chloride, and a surfactant such as a cationic or nonionic surfactant with an HL B value of at least 10 or more and 1 g of gelatin are added. Mix with dissolved water 200 + d and heat at 60°C
8,000 to 10゜000 using a homomixer under heating
Stir with rpn+ to emulsify to obtain oil droplets with an average particle size of 26-.

Stirring is further continued at 60°C for 30 minutes, and the methylene chloride is distilled off to give an average particle size of about 10-.

8114011 (ammonia).
A microcapsule slurry is obtained by adding water to raise the pH to 1 or higher, and 1.0 ml of a 20% glutaraldehyde aqueous solution is slowly added to harden the capsule walls.

After that, solid-liquid separation was performed using a Nusoche filter, and 3
It is dried for 5°C for 110 hours to obtain a microcapsule-shaped image forming element.

This image forming element has cores lc and l shown in Tables 1 and 2.
d is a microcapsule covered with a shell le, and is formed to have a particle size of 7 to 154 mm, with an average particle size of about 10 mm.

The image forming element formed in this manner is adhered onto a support la using an adhesive 1f to obtain a transfer recording medium 1. To explain this in more detail, for example, Nippon Gosei Kagaku Kogyo ■
Polyester adhesive Polyester-LP-022 (
An adhesive 1f prepared by dissolving 3 cc of toluene in ice (solid content 50%) is applied onto a support la made of a polyethylene terephthalate film with a thickness of 6 pm.

Thereafter, the solvent is removed by drying to a thickness of about 1 pm.

Since this adhesive If has a glass transition point of 115°C, a slight tack remains even at room temperature, making it possible to easily adhere the image forming element formed as described above to the support 1a. .

Next, a microcapsule-shaped image forming element using the materials shown in Tables 1 and 2 obtained as above as a core material was prepared.
Mix in a ratio of 1 part and sprinkle this on to adhere. Thereafter, when excess image forming elements are brushed off, the image forming elements are arranged on the adhesion layer in approximately one layer and at a rate of 90%.

After that, about 1kg/co! The image forming element is firmly fixed on the support la by applying a pressure of about 80° C. and thermal energy of about 80° C. to form the transfer recording medium 1.

The photoinitiator in the image forming element shown in Table 1 absorbs light in the band shown in the graph in the light absorption characteristics shown in FIG. 3, starts a reaction, becomes magenta during image formation, and The photoinitiator in the image-forming element shown in Table 2 absorbs light in the band shown in graph B in FIG. 3 to start a reaction, and the color becomes blue during image formation.

Next, the recording section 3 will be explained. The recording unit 3 includes a heating means for applying thermal energy as a first energy to the transfer recording medium 1, and a heating means for applying optical energy as a second energy to the transfer recording medium 1. It is composed of a light irradiation means.

The heating means is composed of a line-type heating element 3b arranged on the surface of the recording head 3a, which generates heat according to the image signal, and has a width Q of 2 am and 8 dots/mm for A-4 size. The support la side of the transfer recording medium 1 is configured to be pressed against the heating element 3b with a predetermined pressure due to back tension during conveyance. It should be noted that both of the above-mentioned signals are emitted from a control unit of a facsimile, an image scanner, an electronic blackboard, etc., depending on the purpose.

On the other hand, on the transfer recording layer lb side facing the recording head 3a, two fluorescent lamps 3c and 3d, which are 2OW type light irradiation means having spectral characteristics as shown in FIG. They are also located approximately 15 to 35 meters apart.

Furthermore, the transfer recording medium 1 is in pressure contact with the recording head 3a.
The slit plate 3e is kept at a distance of approximately Q,5 vsm from the transfer recording medium 1, and has an aperture width of l, so that the direct light from the fluorescent lamps 3c and 3d is irradiated only on the area directly above the row of heating elements. It is set up so that there are two seals.

In this example, a 20W fluorescent lamp FL20SE manufactured by Toshiba is used as one of the fluorescent lamps 3C having the spectral characteristics shown in graph 8 of FIG. 4, and the characteristics shown in graph B are used. As the other fluorescent lamp 3d having spectral characteristics, a 20W fluorescent lamp FLIOA70E39 manufactured by Toshiba is used.

Further, the amount of thermal energy applied to the transfer recording medium 1 in the recording section 3 is configured to be changed according to the ambient temperature of the recording section 3 by a control means. As a control method, in this embodiment, the ambient temperature of the device is detected, and if the temperature is high, the time for which electricity is applied to the heating element 3b is shortened.
On the other hand, when the temperature is low, the amount of heat generated by the heating element 3b is controlled by lengthening the energization time.

A control configuration for this purpose will be specifically explained with reference to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 shows a signal system 14 of the recording head 3a, which will be described later.
and an enable signal generating section 15.

The enable signal generating section 15 includes a thermistor 15a for detecting the ambient temperature near the recording pad 3a through which the transfer recording medium 1 passes, and a temperature detection circuit 15b for generating the temperature detected by the thermistor 15a as a temperature signal A.
and a triangular wave generation circuit 15c that generates a triangular wave signal B.
and a comparator 15d for comparing the two signal levels.

The temperature detection circuit 15b detects the ambient temperature near the recording section 3 based on the temperature information from the thermistor 15a attached to the recording section 3, and detects a level corresponding to the ambient temperature as shown in FIGS. 14(A) and CB). Temperature signal A is sent to comparator 15
d. Further, the triangular wave generating circuit 15c is shown in FIG.
The comparator 15 receives the triangular wave signal B as shown in A) and (B).
d.

In the comparator 15d to which both the signals A and B are supplied, the 14th
As shown in Figures (^) and (B), an enable signal having a width corresponding to the level of the temperature signal A with respect to the triangular wave signal B is generated, and the enable signal is transmitted to the gate H4a of the recording head 3a.
supply to. In other words, when the ambient temperature is high, Fig. 14 (
As shown in 8), the temperature signal A becomes high level and the corresponding enable signal width becomes small. Conversely, when the ambient temperature is low, the temperature signal A becomes high as shown in Fig. 14 (B). The level becomes low, and the corresponding enable signal width increases.

As described above, when the ambient temperature near the recording section is high, the heat generation time of the heating element 3b is shortened, and when the ambient temperature is low, the heat generation time is lengthened, thereby reducing the amount of thermal energy to the transfer recording medium 1. Control. This will lead to the record rad 3
The structure is such that the peak temperature of the heat applied from a to the transfer recording layer 1b is constant regardless of the ambient temperature.

Next, the transfer section 4 will be explained. The transfer section 4 is disposed downstream of the recording section 3 in the conveyance direction of the transfer recording medium 1, and as shown in FIG. 4b.

The transfer roller 4a is composed of an aluminum roller whose surface is coated with silicone rubber having a hardness of 70 degrees, and whose surface is maintained at 90 to 100 degrees Celsius by a built-in AOOW halogen heater 4C. It is composed of

The pressure roller 4b is made of an aluminum roller coated with silicone rubber having a hardness of 70 degrees to a thickness of one inch, and the pressing force with the transfer roller 4a is increased to 6 to 7 +rf by a pressure means (not shown) such as a spring. /cs*.

Furthermore, recording paper 8 as a recording medium loaded in the cassette 7
is the feed roller 9. The LED 26a and the phototransistor 2 are fed by the registration roller pair 1OatlOb.
By detecting the leading edge of the recording paper 8 by a registration sensor 26 consisting of 6b and controlling the feeding timing, the recording paper 8 is fed to the transfer unit 4 in synchronization so as to overlap the image area of the transfer recording medium l. has been done.

Next, a recording method using the recording apparatus configured as described above will be explained.

Note that this embodiment shows an example in which heat is applied in accordance with an image signal and light is applied uniformly.

The transfer recording layer 1b has a property that when light and heat of a predetermined wavelength are applied, the softening point temperature increases, that is, the transfer characteristics change irreversibly, and the transfer recording layer 1b is no longer transferred to the recording paper 8. . Therefore, the transfer recording medium 1 is sequentially fed out from the supply roll 2 by driving the motor, and the transfer recording medium 1 is applied with light and heat to the transfer recording 1i1b of the transfer recording medium 1 in the recording section 3 according to the image signal, thereby making the transfer recording. An image is formed on Jilb.

Specifically, in this energy application step, for example, when the ambient temperature near the recording section detected by the thermistor 15a is 2.
In the case of 0"C, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 5, when recording magenta color, the heating element 3
Of b, the heating element 3b corresponding to magenta of the image signal is not energized, and the element 3b corresponding to the white of the image signal (recording paper 8 is white) is energized at 20+ws, and the end of energization is used as a reference. For about 30 minutes before that, a fluorescent light 3C was illuminated on Mr. This forms a magenta negative image.

Next, when recording blue color, 100 minutes from the energization start time.
After m, this time, among the heating elements 3b, the heating element 3b corresponding to the blue of the image signal is not energized, but the element 3b corresponding to the white of both signals is energized at 20@s, and the end of the energization is determined. The fluorescent lamp 3d is uniformly irradiated for the first 30 times as a reference. This forms a blue negative image.

In the manner described above, the recording head 3a is controlled according to both the blue, magenta, and white signals to form a negative image on the transfer recording layer 1b, and the transfer recording medium is synchronously transferred at a repeating cycle of 200m5/1ine. Transport l.

In the above-mentioned image formation, the heating element row 3b was energized for 20 sheets (when the ambient temperature was 20° C.), but this energizing time was controlled by the above-mentioned control means depending on the ambient temperature near the recording section 3. It changes accordingly. Therefore, regardless of the environmental temperature in which the device is placed, the peak temperature of the thermal energy applied to the transfer recording medium 1 by the recording section 3 is constant, and furthermore, when the environmental temperature of the device is low, the peak temperature of the thermal energy applied to the transfer recording medium 1 is constant. Since the amount of thermal energy applied increases, the transfer recording medium 1 is preheated in advance, and high-quality images are stably formed.

Here, the control structure of the signal system and conveyance system for performing the recording operation will be specifically explained with reference to FIGS. 6 to 12. In addition, Fig. 6 is a block diagram of the control system, Figs. 7 and 8 are timing charts of recording operation, Fig. 9 is a diagram showing the relationship between each member, and Fig. 10 is a sequence for sending out each signal. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the recording operation, and FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the temperature control system for the transfer roller 4a.

As shown in FIG. 6, this control system includes, for example, a CPU 30a such as a microprocessor, and a ROM 20b that stores control programs for the CPU 20a and various data.
, a control unit 20 equipped with a RAM 20c, etc., which is used as a work area for the CPU 20a and temporarily stores various data, etc., an interface 21, an operation panel 22, an image forming timing generator 23, a feed motor driver 24, and a conveyor. It consists of a motor driver 25, a registration sensor 26, and respective fluorescent lamp lighting devices 27 and 28.

The control section 20 receives various information (for example, recording density, number of recording sheets,
(recording size, etc.), a signal from the registration sensor 26, and a magenta line synchronization signal generated by the image forming timing generator 23. The control unit 20 also generates a motor ON signal for the feeding motor 30, a motor ON signal for the transport motor 3, and a page signal through the interface 21.

The control unit 20 takes in the input information according to a program stored in the ROM 20a, generates the output information in a predetermined order to be described later, and drives each control object such as the recording head 3a and the motor. At that time, necessary information obtained from time to time is stored in the RAM 20b.

The image forming timing generator 23 divides the clock of the internal crystal oscillator and generates various signals (magenta line synchronization signal, blue line synchronization signal, page synchronization signal, video clock, strobe signal, fluorescent lamp ON signal, etc.) do.

As shown in FIG. 7, the magenta line synchronization signal and the blue line synchronization signal are signals with a frequency uJ] of 200Ll, a duty ratio of 50%, and a phase shift of 180°.

Then, a page signal sent from the control unit 20 via the interface 21 is latched at the rising edge of the magenta line synchronization signal to generate a page synchronization signal.

The video clock generates a 25KH2 clock from the rising edge of the magenta and blue line synchronization signals, and 1728
(The recording head 3a of this embodiment has 1728 pixels per line.)

Further, an external image signal generator (for example, a facsimile, an image scanner, an electronic whiteboard, etc.) 32 receives a page synchronization signal, magenta and blue line synchronization signals, and a video clock from the image forming timing generator 23, and generates a page synchronization signal. "From the moment it becomes high 1, when the magenta line synchronization signal is r high 1, the magenta image signal is synchronized to the video clock, and when the blue line synchronization signal is r high 1, the blue image signal is synchronized to the video clock. Send one by one.

In addition, the magenta and blue line synchronization signals r high
A strobe signal that is "high" is generated during the period when the video clock is at rest.

The enable signal is generated from the rising edge of the magenta and blue line synchronization signals by the enable signal generator 15 described above.
``high j'' is repeated for a time corresponding to the level of the temperature signal for the triangular wave signal B at It ends with.

Further, the image forming timing generator 23 generates a fluorescent lamp ON signal. The ON signal of the fluorescent lamp 3c is a signal that is r high j for 30 m5 before the first fall of the enable signal, and this signal is repeatedly generated every other enable signal. Further, the ON signal for the fluorescent lamp 3d is generated in the same manner as described above based on the fall of the enable signal generated next to the enable signal that generates the ON signal for the fluorescent lamp 3C.

Therefore, the surface temperature of the transfer recording Nlb heated by the recording head 3a is the peak temperature (85 in the case of FIG. 14).
'C) Fluorescent light 3c.

From 3d onwards, optical energy is applied to the transfer recording layer 1b, and the cores lc and ld react effectively.

The recording head 3a and the fluorescent lamp 3c are activated by the above signal.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 13, the recording head 3a receives an image signal from an external image signal generator 32 and uses a video clock from an image forming timing generator 23 to generate an image inside the head. The data is taken into the shift register 14b. The captured image signal is sent to the image forming timing generator 23
The latch register 14c in the head is latched by the strobe signal from the head, and then the latch register 14c is latched by the enable signal from the enable signal generator 15.
According to the image signal in c, the heating element 3b is energized via the driver 14d for a time corresponding to the ambient temperature, and simultaneously with the energization, the following two signals are taken into the shift register 14b by the video clock.

Further, the lighting devices 27 and 28 for the fluorescent lamps 3c and 3d receive the ON signals for the fluorescent lamps 3c and 3d from the image forming timing generator 23, and turn on the ON signals for the respective fluorescent lamps 3c and 3d at r-high 1. Compatible fluorescent lamp 3c.

Turn on 3d.

An image is formed on the transfer recording medium 1 by the above control.

Next, conveyance control of the transfer recording medium 1 and the recording paper 8 for transferring the image formed on the transfer recording medium 1 onto the recording paper 8 will be explained.

The feed motor driver 24 is
The feed motor ON signal from the control unit 20 via r
When high 1, the feed motor 30 is driven and the feed roller 9
Then, the pair of registration rollers 10a and 10b are rotated to convey the recording paper 8 at a constant speed.

Further, the conveyance motor driver 25 is configured to turn on the conveyance motor from the control unit 20 via the interface 21.
When the signal is r high 1, the conveyance motor 31 is driven to rotate the transfer roller 4a, and the pressure roller 4 rotates as a result of this.
The transfer recording medium 1 and recording paper 8 are conveyed at a constant speed by the cooperative action with b.

Here, the timing of each signal sent by the control section 20 via the interface 21 is as shown in FIG. Incidentally, when the times T and -T in FIG. 8 are calculated by the distance between each member as shown in FIG. This is the time it takes to

Ll: From the recording head 3a to the transfer roller 4a -
Conveyance distance of the transfer recording medium l to the pressure contact portion with the pressure roller 4b.

L2: Conveyance distance of the transfer recording medium 1 from the pressure contact portion to the peeling roller 5.

L: Conveyance distance of the recording paper 8 from the Ni-registration sensor 26 to the pressure contact portion.

T: Time required to transport the transfer recording medium l a distance of -L.

T! : Time required to convey the recording paper 8 distance.

T: Length of recording paper 8 (for example, 29 for A4 size)
The time required to convey the transfer recording medium 1 by 7m5).

T4: Time required to convey the transfer recording medium l a distance of Lt +Lx.

That is, when the operator presses the start button on the operation panel 22, the feeding motor 30 is driven, feeds the recording paper 8, and stops driving when the leading edge of the recording paper 8 touches the registration sensor 26. Simultaneously with this driving body stopping, the conveying motor 31 is driven to convey the transfer recording medium l in the direction of the arrow a in FIG. A forming step is performed.

The conveyance motor 31 stops after the image forming time T has elapsed and further after a time T4 has elapsed.

Incidentally, after the time T+ has elapsed since the transfer recording medium 1 started to be conveyed, the feeding motor 30 is driven for a time T2 to convey the recording paper 8 at the same speed as the transfer recording medium 1, and then stops. As a result, the leading edge of the recording paper 8 matches the leading edge of the transfer image formed on the transfer recording medium 1 in the transfer unit 4, and is conveyed by the drive of the conveyance motor 31 while being in close contact with the transfer recording medium 1.

Here, the control section 2 sends out each signal as shown in FIG.
To explain the operation of 0, the control unit 20 manually inputs the magenta line synchronization signal via the interface 21,
The number of pieces is counted by a software counter. That is, the magenta line synchronization signal is 2 as described above.
Since the fertilizer cycle is 00, the control unit 20 can manage the time by counting the signals.

The control unit 20 has a sequence table as shown in FIG. 10 inside, and when the registration sensor signal is high
Then, while counting magenta line synchronization signals, sequentially refer to the sequence table
Sends N signal, transport motor ON signal, page signal,
The drive of each member is controlled by each signal.

In this embodiment, the sequence table has a 3-bit configuration as shown in FIG. 10, and consists of a total of 3217 words from the 0th to the 3216th word, where bit 0 is the feed motor ON signal and bit 1 is the feed motor ON signal. The transport motor ON signal and focus 2 correspond to the page signal, respectively.

In addition, the numbers in parentheses at the top of Figure 8 are the magenta line synchronization signal at the time when the registration sensor signal becomes high J, and the number of the magenta line synchronization signal at each time point (signal number). number).

Next, a series of operations of the control unit 20 having the above-mentioned functions will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG.
1) If pressed, sends a feed motor ON signal (S2). Next, the resist sensor signal is r high j
Wait until the Rask number is reached (S3), and then assign 0 to R indicating the rask number in the sequence table (S4). Next, wait until the magenta line synchronization signal is r row 1 (S5), and
After that, wait for r high j (S6). This detects the rising edge of the magenta line synchronization signal. When the edge is detected, the Rth of the sequence table is referred to, and bits 0 to 2 are sent out as a feed motor ON signal, a transport motor ON signal, and a page signal, respectively (37), and then the value of R is transmitted. Add 1 to (3
8), determine whether the value of H is greater than 3216.
9) If the value of H is smaller than or equal to 3216, the process returns to step S5 to continue recording, and if it is larger, the recording is terminated.

The image formed as described above is thermally transferred to the recording paper 8 in the transfer section 4, and the temperature control of the transfer roller 4a is configured as shown in FIG.

The thermistor 33 in FIG. 12 is arranged so as to be in contact with the surface of the transfer roller 4a, and its resistance value changes depending on the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a. It is converted into E2 and compared with reference voltage E0 by comparator 35. The comparison output is connected to the power supply E via the relay driver 36 and by the relay 37.
, controls the energization of the halogen heater 4C.

Here, the driving principle of the temperature control configuration will be described. The thermistor 33 has a property that its resistance value decreases as the temperature rises. Therefore, as the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a increases, the resistance value of the thermistor 33 decreases, and the voltage E2 decreases. Conversely, if the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a decreases, the thermistor 33
As the resistance value increases, the voltage E also increases. Therefore, the value of the reference voltage E0 is changed to the voltage E! corresponding to the temperature of 95° C. by the transfer roller 4a!
By setting the value to , when the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a is lower than 95° C., the comparison output becomes "rhigh", the halogen heater 4c is energized, and the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a increases. On the other hand, when the temperature is higher than 95°C, the halogen heater 4c is not energized and the surface temperature decreases. By the above control, the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a is maintained at 90 to 100°C. Note that this control system is operated only when the power switch of the device is turned on.
When it is N, the transfer roller 4a is constantly operating, and the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a reaches 90 degrees before the start button on the operation panel is pressed.
The temperature is controlled to be ~100°C.

An image is formed on the transfer recording medium 1 as described above, and the image is transferred to the recording paper 8 in the transfer section 4 as a two-color image of magenta and blue.

Thereafter, the transfer recording medium 1 and the recording paper 8 are separated by the peeling roller 5, and the recording paper 8 on which the image of the desired color has been recorded is
The ejection tray 11 is moved by the ejection roller pair 13a, 13b.
to be discharged.

As described above, the application of thermal energy is controlled according to the ambient temperature, and high-quality two-color recording is performed in one shot.

<Other Embodiments> Next, other embodiments of each part of the above-mentioned embodiment will be described.

(1) Transfer recording medium In the above embodiments, two-color recording was explained, but as disclosed by the applicant in Japanese Patent Application No. 61-128814, the colorant and light that constitute the image forming element are By appropriately selecting the type of initiator, selecting a light source with a wavelength that causes the photoinitiator to react, and using the process related to the above application, monochrome, multicolor (three or more colors), or full color can be produced. Recorded images can also be obtained.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the transfer recording layer 1 of a polymeric material containing a colorant is transferred by light energy and thermal energy.
Although an example has been shown in which the image is transferred and recorded onto the recording paper 8 by changing the softening point temperature of b, the image may also be transferred and recorded depending on the difference in the attaching characteristics or sublimation characteristics to the recording paper 8. Alternatively, the recording paper 8 may be made to have color development properties.
The transfer recording medium 1 may be provided with a layer that changes the color development characteristics of the transfer recording medium 1, and an image may be obtained by transferring the image formed on the transfer recording medium 1 to the recording paper 8.

Furthermore, the first energy and second energy applied to the transfer recording layer 1b are not limited to the above-mentioned heat and light energy, and for example, an image may be formed using force energy such as pressure energy. 6. In addition to the above-mentioned polyethylene terecrate, for example, polyamide, polyimide, condenser paper, cellophane paper, etc. can be used as the material for the support 1a.

Further, as the transfer recording layer 1b, any transfer recording layer can be used as long as the physical properties can be changed by a plurality of types of energy to form a transferred image. For example, a transfer image can be formed by using a transfer recording layer whose physical properties such as melting temperature, softening point, glass transition point, and viscosity change by applying multiple types of energy.

The image forming element forming the transfer record IJ1b contains a sensitive component and a coloring component. It is preferable to use a substance that starts with , or a substance that causes a rapid change in the reaction rate of physical property change.

The polymerization component contained in the sensitive component is a component that causes a polymerization reaction or a crosslinking reaction, such as a monomer,
Oligomers or polymers may be mentioned.

Examples of the monomer or oligomer include polyvinyl cinnamate, p-methoxycinnamic acid-succinic acid half ester, etc., or those having a reactive group at the terminal or side chain of epoxy resin, unsaturated polyester resin, etc. It will be done.

Examples of the polymerizable monomer include ethylene glycol diacrylate and propylene glycol diacrylate.

Further, when using the above polymerizable monomer or oligomer, cellulose acetate succinate, methyl methacrylate-hydroxyethyl methanelylate copolymer, etc. may be included in order to improve layer-forming properties.

A reaction initiator is added as necessary to cause the polymerization component to react. As the reaction initiator, radical initiators such as azo compounds, organic sulfur compounds, carginyl compounds, and halogen compounds are preferable.

In particular, in the structure of the transfer recording layer when a transferred image is formed by receiving both light and thermal energy, the reaction speed is determined by the reaction between the reaction initiator and the polymerization component, which act in response to the above-mentioned light energy. The type of reaction initiator and polymerization component should be selected so that the combination has a large temperature dependence.

For example, polymerizable prepolymers with functional groups such as methacrylic esters or acrylic ester copolymers,
Examples include a combination of a photosensitive crosslinking agent such as tetraethylene glycol diacrylate and a reaction initiator such as benzophenone and Michael's ketone.

The coloring component is a component contained in order to form an optically recognizable image, and various pigments and dyes are used as appropriate. Examples of such pigments and dyes include non-Ia pigments such as carbon black and yellow lead, Victoria Blue Lake,
Examples include organic pigments such as fast sky blue, coloring agents such as leuco dyes, and phthalocyanine dyes.

In addition, the transfer recording layer 1b may contain stabilizers such as hydroquinone and p-methoxyphenol.

Furthermore, the transfer recording layer may contain a sensitizer such as p-nitroaniline or 1,2-benzoanthraquinone to enhance the activation of the reaction initiator with respect to energy.

Further, in addition to the coloring agent and the sensitive component, a resin, wax, or liquid crystal may be mixed as a binder in the transfer recording layer 1b.

Examples of the resin used as the binder include polyester resins, polyamide resins, and the like, and these resins may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Examples of wax binders include vegetable waxes such as candelilla wax and carnauba wax;
Animal waxes such as spermaceti wax, mineral waxes such as montan wax, or synthetic waxes made of fatty acids, fatty acid amides, esters, etc. can be used, and one or more of the above waxes may be mixed. May be used.

Further, examples of the liquid crystal used as a binder include cholesterol hexanoate, cholesterol decanoate, and the like.

When microcapsules are used in the image forming element constituting the transfer record [1b], the core portion contains the above-mentioned materials, but the materials used for the wall material of the microcapsules include gelatin, gum arabic, Examples include cellulose-based materials such as nitrocellulose and ethylcellulose, and polymer-based materials such as polyethylene and polystyrene.

(2) Recording section In the above embodiment, in the recording section 3, light of a predetermined wavelength corresponding to a desired color is uniformly irradiated from the transfer recording Nib side of the transfer recording medium 1, and from the support la side. Although the configuration has been described in which heat is applied according to the image signal, as another embodiment, a configuration may be adopted in which heat is uniformly applied and predetermined light is irradiated according to the image signal.

Furthermore, if the support 1a is made of a translucent material, the support 1a can be made of a transparent material.
A configuration may be adopted in which light is irradiated from the a side and heat is applied from the transfer recording layer 1b side.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, light irradiation and heat application were performed with the support 1a in between, but image formation is also possible by performing both light irradiation and heat application from one side of the support 1a. be.

Further, as the heating means, in addition to the method using the recording head 3a described above, a method of selectively heating using a YAG laser and a polygon mirror, etc. may be used.

Further, as the light irradiation means, the above-mentioned fluorescent lamp 3c is used.

In addition to the method using 3D, for example, a method using an LED array, a method using a xenon lamp and a filter matching the light absorption characteristics of the material, etc. can be used.

Incidentally, in the above embodiment, light energy and thermal energy were applied to the transfer recording layer 1b at the same time, but even if the optical energy and thermal energy are applied separately, the resulting image energy is Any configuration that is given is acceptable.

(3) Means for controlling the amount of thermal energy applied In the embodiment described above, the amount of thermal energy applied to the transfer recording medium 1 is controlled by controlling the width of the enable signal and changing the energization time to the heating element 3b. However, as another embodiment, the voltage applied to the heating element 3b may be changed depending on the ambient temperature while keeping the energization time constant. The pressure roller 4b is not limited to a roller-shaped roller, but may be any structure that can obtain a desired pressure, such as a rotating belt.

Furthermore, if necessary, a fixing means for fixing the image on the recording medium onto which the image has been transferred by the transfer section 4 may be provided downstream of the peeling roller 5 in the conveying direction of the recording medium.

(5) Recording medium The recording medium is not limited to the above-mentioned recording paper; for example, an overhead projector (OHP)
Of course, plastic sheets etc. can also be used.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, the present invention sequentially performs the formation of an image on a transfer recording medium and the transfer of this image to a recording medium, so that an image can be formed even on a recording medium with a relatively low surface smoothness. Recording can be performed well. Furthermore, when the present invention is applied to multicolor recording, a multicolor image can be obtained without making any complicated movements on the recording medium.

Furthermore, by controlling the amount of energy applied to the transfer recording medium according to the ambient temperature of the apparatus, high-quality images can be stably obtained regardless of the environmental temperature of the apparatus.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 (A) and (B) are overall schematic explanatory diagrams of an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of the structure of a transfer recording medium, and Figure 3 is an optical absorption characteristic of a photoinitiator in the transfer recording medium. Figure 4 is a graph showing the spectral characteristics of the light irradiation means, Figure 5 is a timing chart for applying heat and light, Figure 6 is a block diagram of the control system, Figures 7 and 8 are recording Timing chart of operation, Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between each member, Figure 10 is an explanatory diagram of a sequence table for sending out each signal, Figure 11 is a flowchart of recording operation, and Figure 12 is a transfer roller. 4a is an explanatory diagram of the temperature control system; FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration for controlling the amount of heat generated by the recording head;
4(A) and 4(B) are signal explanatory diagrams showing how the enable signal changes depending on the ambient temperature. 1 is a transfer recording medium, 1a is a support, ■b is a transfer recording layer,
lc and ld are the core, 1e is the shell, 1r is the adhesive, 2 is the supply roll, 2a is the supply roll shaft, 3 is the recording section, 3a is the recording head, 3b is the heating element array, 3c and 3d are fluorescent lamps,
3e is a slit plate, 4 is a transfer section, 4a is a transfer roller, 4
b is a pressure roller, 4C is a heater, 5 is a peeling roller, 6 is a take-up roll, 7 is a cassette, 8 is a recording paper, 9 is a feeding roller, loa, 10b is a registration roller, 11 is an ejection tray, 12a, 12b and 12c are guide rollers, 13
a, 13b are discharge rollers, 14 is a signal system, 14a is a gate, 14b is a shift register, 14C is a latch, 14d
is the driver, 15 is the signal generator for the power supply, 15a
is a thermistor, 15b is a temperature detection circuit, 15c is a triangular wave generation circuit, 15d is a comparator, 20 is a control unit, 20a is C
P.U. 20b is a ROM, 20c is a RAM, 21 is an interface, 22 is an operation panel, 23 is an image forming timing generator, 24 is a feed motor driver, 25 is a transport motor driver, 26 is a registration sensor, 26a is an LE
D, 26b is a phototransistor, 27.28 is a fluorescent lamp lighting device, 30 is a feeding motor, 31 is a transport motor,
32 is an external image signal generator, 33 is a thermistor, 34 is a resistor, 35 is a comparator, 36 is a relay driver,
37 is a relay.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A conveying means for conveying a transfer recording medium having a transfer recording layer whose transfer characteristics change by applying a first energy and a second energy different from the first energy; , a first energy applying means for applying the first energy to the transfer recording medium, which is provided along a conveyance path of the transfer recording medium conveyed by the conveyance means; and a first energy applying means for applying the first energy to the transfer recording medium; a recording section having a second energy applying means for applying energy; a transfer section for transferring an image formed on the transfer recording medium in the recording section to a recording medium; A recording apparatus comprising: a control means for controlling the amount of energy applied to the transfer recording medium in the recording section according to the ambient temperature. (2) The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the first energy is heat and the second energy is light. (3) The recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the energy controlled by the control means is an amount of thermal energy.