JPH01110971A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance transferring characteristics and enable recording of images with favorable quality, by selectively applying electrical energy to an ink fed, and transferring to a transfer recording material the ink changed in the transferring characteristics thereof according to the selective application of electrical energy. CONSTITUTION:A pattern of voltage according to a recording signal is applied to an ink 2 being fed, at a position for applying energy by a recording head 6. According to this, an electric current flows from each electrode 6b to an ink-feeding roll 1 through a conductive medium 5 and the ink 2, causing a change in, for example, the crosslinked structure of a gel form ink 2 due to an electrochemical reaction in the ink 2, resulting in that the ink 2 is provided with selective tackiness, and a latent image of the ink in a sol state is formed. The latent ink image is brought to a transferring position for making contact with an intermediate transfer roll 7, where the latent image is transferred onto the roll 7 by the tackiness to be developed into an ink image 2a. The ink image 2a is pressed between a recording paper 9 fed to an ink image transferring position and a transfer roll 8, and is transferred onto the recording paper 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a recording device for recording an image on a transfer medium.

<Background Art> In recent years, with the rapid development of the information industry, various information processing systems have been developed, and recording methods and recording devices have been developed and adopted for each information system. Among these, representative plain paper recording methods include electrophotography and laser beam printers derived from electrophotography, inkjet printers, thermal transfer printers, and impact printers (using wire dots, daisy foils, etc.).

Among these, it is possible to reduce noise and downsize, so
Thermal transfer type recording devices are widely used. This recording method uses an ink ribbon made by coating a base sheet with hot-melt ink, heats the ink ribbon in an image pattern with a recording head, and transfers the molten ink onto recording paper. This method has the advantage that a relatively small-sized device is used and the cost of the device can be reduced.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> However, in the above conventional thermal transfer method,
When manufacturing ink ribbons, hot-melt ink must be applied on a heat-resistant base sheet in a complicated process, and the ink ribbons are used only once for recording and must be thrown away. There was a problem that running costs were high.

<Means for Solving the Problems> Therefore, as a means for solving the above problems, the present applicant has developed a method in which fluid ink is transferred in the form of a film using an ink transfer means, and a predetermined amount of energy is applied to this ink. A recording apparatus has been proposed in which an ink image is selectively applied to form an ink image with adhesive properties, and this ink image is transferred onto a transfer medium (Japanese Patent Application No. 175191/1982).

According to this recording device, there is no need to use an ink ribbon as in the conventional thermal transfer method, and only ink that forms an ink image is transferred to the transfer medium, and ink that does not form an ink image can be repeatedly used. This is something that can be done.

An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus that is a further development of the recording apparatus described above, and is capable of improving transfer characteristics and obtaining recorded images with good image quality.

For this purpose, the means according to the embodiment described below is a recording device capable of transferring fluid ink to a transfer medium in response to selective application of electrical energy, and includes an ink transport for transporting the fluid ink. means and
an electrically conductive medium conveyed while being in contact with the ink transferred by the ink transfer means; and an energy application means for selectively applying electrical energy to the ink transferred by the ink transfer means via the conductive medium. and a transfer means for transferring the ink, the transfer characteristics of which have changed in accordance with the selective application of the electrical energy, to a transfer medium.

<Operation> According to the above means, an ink image with changed transfer characteristics is formed by transporting fluid ink by the ink transport means and applying electric energy to the ink according to an image signal. Predetermined recording is performed by transferring the ink image onto a transfer medium.

Further, since the electrical energy is applied through a conductive medium, the ink is not rubbed by the energy applying means, and distortion of the ink image is prevented.

<Example> Next, an example of a recording apparatus to which the above means is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment, and a second leap is a perspective view of the main part thereof.

First, the general structure of the entire apparatus will be described. An ink transport roll 1 serving as an ink transport means is provided so as to be rotatable in the direction of arrow A while transporting fluid ink 2 contained in an ink reservoir 3.

The ink 2 has fluid film-forming properties, and is substantially non-adhesive under normal conditions, as will be described later, but has the property of becoming adhesive when a predetermined energy, for example electrical energy, is applied. There is. Therefore, when the ink transfer roll 1 rotates, the ink 2 is transferred to the surface of the ink transfer roll 1 with a constant layer thickness by the layer thickness regulating means 4 in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Energy applying means 6 is applied to the ink layer via a conductive medium 5 that is conveyed in the direction of arrow B while contacting the ink layer.
When electrical energy is applied in an image pattern, a sticky latent ink image is formed corresponding to the pattern.

The latent ink image comes into contact with an intermediate transfer roll 7, which is an intermediate transfer medium rotating in the direction of arrow C, and is transferred and developed on the surface of the intermediate transfer roll 7, thereby forming an ink image 2a. On the other hand, the ink 2 that has not been transferred to the intermediate transfer roll 7 is re-accommodated in the ink reservoir 3 as the ink transfer roll 1 rotates and is used again.

The ink image 2a transferred to the intermediate transfer roll 7 is transferred between the intermediate transfer roll 7 and a transfer roll 8 serving as a transfer means which is provided in pressure contact with the intermediate transfer roll 7 and is rotatable in the direction of the arrow. The recording paper 9 on which a predetermined image has been recorded is transferred to a transfer medium (for example, plain paper, plastic sheet, etc., hereinafter referred to as "recording paper J") 9, which is conveyed by a pair of conveyance rollers 10a and 10b, and then transferred to a recording medium 9, which is conveyed by a pair of conveyance rollers 10a and 10b. , llb in the direction of arrow E.

Further, in the above configuration, a cleaning roller 12 is provided upstream of the energy application position of the conductive medium 5 to clean ink etc. that has come into contact with the conductive medium 5 and adhered to the surface of the medium 5. Similarly, a cleaning roller 13 is provided downstream of the contact position between the intermediate transfer roll 7 and the recording paper 9 and upstream of the contact position between the intermediate transfer roll 7 and the ink transport roll 1. is provided in contact with the surface of the acid intermediate transfer roll 7.

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

First, the ink transfer roll 1 is made of a material that can transfer fluid ink 2, which will be described later, by forming a layer on its surface.
In this example, stainless steel, aluminum,
Alternatively, a conductor made of metal such as iron is formed into a cylindrical shape, and is configured to be driven and rotated by a motor 27 at a constant speed in the direction of arrow A.

The surface of the ink transport roll 1 made of the above-mentioned material may be a smooth surface, but it is suitable for transporting the fluid ink 2.

It is preferable that the surface be appropriately roughened in order to further improve the supporting property.

Next, the fluid ink 2 transported by the ink transport roll 1 will be explained. This ink 2 flows under the application of a certain external force and has fluid film forming properties to form an ink film (Ji). Specifically, as the ink transport roll 1 rotates, an ink layer is formed on the surface of the roll 1 and is transported. Further, it is preferable that the ink 2 has a property of being able to restore its adhesiveness over time after being cut by an external force. That is, it is preferable that the ink lumps have a property such that when they come into contact with each other, the interface disappears and they become one piece.

The ink 2 having the above-mentioned properties may be an ink having a gel state in a broad sense in which the solvent is held by a cross-linked structure substance, or particles (preferably having a particle size of 0.5 cps) in a relatively high viscosity (preferably 5000 cps or more) solvent. An ink having a sludge state obtained by dispersing 1 to 100 n, more preferably 1 to 20 n) is preferably used. Inks having properties of both gel-like inks and sludge-like inks are more preferably used. As a specific example of this ink 2, for example, the ink described in Japanese Patent Application No. 175191/1982 or Japanese Patent Application No. 36904/1982 previously filed by the applicant of the present invention is preferable.

Although such ink 2 has fluid film-forming properties, it does not substantially have tackiness, and when a predetermined energy (for example, electrical energy, thermal energy, etc.) is applied, tackiness is imparted to it. It has the following characteristics. Note that the "adhesiveness" here refers to selective adhesion, and when the ink 2 is brought into contact with an object such as the intermediate transfer roll 7, a part of the ink 2 separates from the entire ink and adheres to the object. It doesn't matter whether the ink is sticky or not.

Therefore, when the ink layer formed on the surface of the ink transfer roll 1 is in a state where no energy is applied, even if the ink 2 comes into contact with another medium, for example, the intermediate transfer roll 7, the ink layer is not applied to the intermediate transfer roll 7. is not substantially transferred. This is because in gel ink, the solvent is held in a crosslinked structure (except for a small amount of solvent), so it is thought that the ink is not transferred to the intermediate transfer roll 7. Furthermore, in the case of ink in a sludge state, particles are arranged closely at the interface, making it difficult for the solvent portion of the ink to come into contact with the intermediate transfer roll 7 (and therefore not being transferred to the intermediate transfer roll 7).

On the other hand, when energy is applied to the gel-like ink or sludge-like ink, the crosslinking structure of the gel-like ink and the particle arrangement state of the sludge-like ink change, resulting in It is thought that adhesiveness is imparted to the fluid ink in accordance with the application of energy.

Furthermore, when the ink 2 is coated on the ink transfer roll 1, it has properties as a plastic body, and is given energy by the reverse double energy application means 6, and then reaches the intermediate transfer roll 7. It is preferable that the material has properties as an elastic body.

For this reason, the ink 2 of this embodiment preferably has a certain degree of viscoelasticity (complex elasticity having an elastic term and a viscous term).

The range of viscoelasticity is shown in FIG. 3(A), for example.

As shown in (B), ink 2 has a diameter of 25 mm and a thickness of 21 mm.
Using a rheometer RMS-800 (manufactured by Rheometrics, USA), a sine γ with an angular velocity of 1 rad/sec was applied to the sample in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, and the stress σ and phase shift δ were When the complex elastic modulus G11 was determined by detection (the measurement was performed at 25° C.).

G*=σ/7=G'+1G- G゛: Storage modulus G'': Loss modulus storage modulus G
′ and the loss modulus G′″, the value of the ratio G”/G” is approximately 0.1.
-10 is preferably used.

In the complex modulus of elasticity, the value of G"/G' is 0.1
If the value of G''/G' exceeds 10, the behavior as a plastic body will be insufficient, resulting in insufficient ink coating on the ink transport roll 1, and if the value of G''/G' exceeds 10, the behavior as an elastic body will be insufficient. This is because elastic recovery between the energy applying means 6 and the intermediate transfer roll 7 becomes insufficient.

The size of the sample and the method of applying distortion are values that are considered appropriate for the recording apparatus.

Next, the layer thickness regulating means 4 is disposed upstream of the energy applying means 6 with respect to the rotational direction of the ink transport roll 1, and is configured to coat the surface of the ink transport roll 1 with the ink 2 at a constant thickness. It is something. In this embodiment, the layer thickness regulating means 4 is composed of a blade member as shown in FIG.
It is spaced approximately 0.3 to 3 inches apart from the surface of the surface.

The layer thickness is regulated by the blade member 4, and the thickness of the ink layer formed on the surface of the ink transfer roll 10 is controlled by the thickness of the ink layer formed on the surface of the ink transfer roll 10 due to the balance effect peculiar to the viscoelastic body. In this case, it is desirable that the distance between the blade member 4 and the ink transport roll 1 be set slightly smaller than the thickness of the ink layer to be set.

The layer thickness of the fluid ink 2 formed on the surface of the ink transfer roll 1 depends on the fluidity or viscosity of the ink 2, the material or roughness of the surface of the ink transfer roll 1, or the rotational speed of the roll 1. At the ink transfer position where the ink transport roll l faces the intermediate transfer roll 7, the distance is approximately 0.1 to 5 mm, more preferably 0.5 to 3 mm, although it varies depending on the situation.
It is preferably about the size of a Seiichi.

If the N thickness of the ink 2 is Q, less than 1 mm, it will be difficult to form a uniform ink layer on the ink transfer roll 1, and if the layer thickness exceeds 51 mm, the surface layer of the ink layer will be moved at a uniform circumferential speed. However, it becomes difficult to transport the ink 2, and it is also difficult to energize the ink transfer roll l from the energy applying means 6 via the 1ift medium 5 and the ink 2.

Next, the conductive medium 5 will be explained. The conductive medium 5 is interposed between the ink layer on the ink transport roll 1 and the energy application means 6, and is made of conductive materials such as polyacetylene, polythiophene, polypyrrole, and polythiazyl. Sheets are made of materials filled with conductive polymers such as polyparaphenyl, resins such as polyimide, polyamide, polyacrylamide, polycarbonate, epoxy, polyester, etc., and conductive substances such as metal powders such as nickel and copper, metal foils, and carbon. It is preferable to use a material formed into a shape, or a material made by soaking paper or porous resin in an electrolyte solution, such as potassium chloride (KCj), to make it conductive. This conductive medium 5 is tensioned appropriately by a driving roller 14a driven by a motor 28, a driven roller 14.1) and an energy applying means 6, and is stretched at the same circumferential speed as the ink transport roll l. It rotates in the direction of arrow B.

The volume resistivity of the conductive medium 5 is preferably approximately equal to the volume resistivity of the ink 2 used.゛Also, in order to reduce the crosstalk of the conductive medium 5, it is desirable to make the volume resistivity of the conductive medium 5 smaller than the surface resistivity. It is preferable to use

Further, the thickness of the conductive medium 5 is preferably thin in order to sharpen the image.Furthermore, the surface of the conductive medium 5 is thin in order to prevent the ink 2 that has become a sol from being transferred to the conductive medium 5 by energization. It is preferable to finish as smooth as possible.

As a material that satisfies the above-mentioned conditions, for example, conductive VoreTex (which is made of fluorinated resin impregnated with carbon, etc.) is used.
Product name: Japan Voretex side), etc.
A material with low surface tension (to which ink 2 does not adhere) can be used.

Next, the energy application means 6 will be explained. This is for selectively applying electric energy to the ink 2, and is for selectively applying electric energy to the ink 2.
It is arranged so as to be in contact with the conductive medium 5 at the contact position ff with the upper ink layer.

In this embodiment, an energized recording head as shown in FIG. 4 is used as the energy application means 6. The head 6 has a structure in which a large number of electrodes 6b are provided in a pattern on an insulating substrate 6a, and an insulating resin film 6c is formed on the surface so that the electrodes 6b are exposed at the tip of the head 6. The tip of the head 6 has a curvature to facilitate sliding contact with the conductive medium 5.

The material constituting the substrate 6a is preferably alumina ceramic or glass epoxy, and the material of the electrode 6b is a metal such as gold, silver, platinum, palladium, copper, aluminum, carbon, or an alloy of these metals. A material that is resistant to sliding is preferably used.

The method of energization is as follows: the recording head 6 is used as an anode, the ink transport roll 1 is grounded with a ground wire 15, and the roll 1 is
is used as a cathode, and electricity is applied between the two through a conductive medium 5 and ink 2.

For example, when using guar gum crosslinked with borate ions as the crosslinked structure material of the ink 2, the amount of current applied to the electrode 6b is the amount required to destroy this crosslinked structure and cause an electrochemical change. The amount of current applied is sufficient. Therefore, the amount necessary to transfer electrons to and from the crosslinking agent added in a small amount of about several hundred ppm to ink 2 is sufficient, and compared to the amount of current applied when applying thermal energy with a thermal head in thermal transfer, etc. Therefore, it is sufficient to apply a low energy of about 1/10, and by applying this energy, the ink 2
becomes sticky.

Next, the intermediate transfer roll 7 is to which the energy is applied and the sticky ink latent image is transferred,
The cylindrical member is approximately 0.1 cm from the surface of the ink transfer roll 1.
It is arranged above the ink transport roll 1 with an interval of ~3fi, contacts the ink layer formed on the ink transport roll 1, and is configured to be rotatable in the direction of arrow C by a motor 29.

The material constituting the surface of the intermediate transfer roll 7 is as follows:
Although it is possible to use a material similar to the material forming the surface of the ink transfer roll 10, the surface of the intermediate transfer roll 7 may be plated with chrome plating or the like, or made of silicone resin, fluororesin, polyethylene resin, etc. It is desirable to coat the intermediate transfer roll 7 to improve smoothness, stain resistance, or ease of cleaning. the surface with the ink transfer roll
It is preferable to make the surface smoother than that of the surface.

Furthermore, at the ink transfer position where the sticky ink latent image is transferred to the intermediate transfer roll 7, an appropriate shearing force is applied to the layer of ink 2 sandwiched between the intermediate transfer roll 7 and the ink transport roll 1. It is also advisable to put it on. Therefore, it is preferable that the circumferential speed of the intermediate transfer roll 7 is set to be equal to or smaller than the circumferential speed of the surface layer of the ink layer on the ink transfer roll l. In some cases, the circumferential speed of the intermediate transfer roll 7 may be set to be approximately equal to or slightly larger than the circumferential speed of the surface layer of the ink layer, taking into consideration the elastic deformation of the ink.

Next, the transfer roll 8 constitutes a transfer means for transferring the ink image 2a transferred and formed on the intermediate transfer roll 7 to the recording paper 9, and has a metal shaft made of nitrile rubber or silicone rubber. A transfer roll 8 formed into a cylindrical shape is pressed against the intermediate transfer roll 7 with a pressing force of about 0.1 to 5 kgf/α by a spring or the like (not shown), and synchronized with the rotation of the intermediate transfer roll 7. The recording paper 9 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow E by cooperation with the intermediate transfer roll 7, and the ink image 2a formed on the intermediate transfer roll 7 is transferred to the recording paper 9. It is configured as follows.

Incidentally, reference numeral 16 in FIG. 1 is a detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the recording paper 9 and the position of the leading edge of the recording paper 9.

Further, 17 is the exterior of the recording device.

Next, the drive control means of the device will be briefly explained.

As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 5, a recording signal from an external device 20, typified by an information creation device such as a document reader or word processor, or an information transmission device such as a facsimile, is transmitted through an interface (1/F) 21. CPU 24 having ROM 24a and RAM 24b via
and stored in the RAM 24b. The recording signal is then supplied to the recording control section 22 of the recording head 6 via the CPU 24, and the electrode 6b of the recording head 6 is energized in accordance with the information. On the other hand, when a signal from the external device 20 or the console section 23 consisting of a recording start switch etc. is input to the CPU 24, the program stored in the ROM 24a is read out, and the drive control section 25 and driver 2
The motor 27 drives the ink transport roll 1 via the motor 6, the motor 2 drives the drive roller 14a for transporting the conductive medium 5, the motor 29 drives the intermediate transfer roll 7, and the motor 30 drives the ink transfer roll 1. The transfer roll 8 is driven to drive each part in synchronization with the drive of the recording head 6, and at the same time the motor 31 is driven to transport the recording paper 9.

The driving section of the recording head 6 serially inputs a recording signal from the external device 20 etc. to a shift register 32 with a latch function, as shown in FIG.
This is sequentially transferred, and at the end of 1547 minutes of transfer, the recording signal of the line is held while recording one line. The recording signal is serial-parallel converted and selectively energized through the transistor array 33 to each electrode 6b connected to the array 33.

Next, Section 7 regarding the case where the device having the above configuration is used.
This will be explained using the flowchart shown in the figure.

First, it is determined whether or not recording has started. If recording has started, the ink transport roll 1 is rotated in the direction of arrow A, and in synchronization with this rotation, the conductive medium 5, intermediate transfer roll 7, and transfer roll 8 are rotated, respectively. Rotate and also transport roller pair IQa, 1
0b is rotated to convey the recording paper 9 (Sl-32).

As the ink transfer roll 1 rotates, the fluid ink 2
is formed into a layer of a constant thickness on the surface of the ink transfer roll 1 by the blade member 4, and is transferred.

The transferred ink 2 is applied with a patterned voltage according to the recording signal at the energy application position by the recording head 6, and in response to this, a current flows from each electrode 6b to the conductive medium 5 and the ink 2. The ink latent image flows through the ink transfer roll 1 through the ink transfer roller 1, and the cross-linked structure in the gel ink 2 changes due to an electrochemical reaction, and the ink 2 is given selective tackiness, resulting in an ink latent image in a sol state. It is formed(
33-S4).

This ink latent image is further transported in the six directions of arrows from the energy application position, reaches the transfer position where it comes into contact with the intermediate transfer roll 7, and is transferred and developed on the intermediate transfer roll 7 rotating in the direction of arrow C due to the above-mentioned adhesiveness. The intermediate transfer roll 7
The ink is transferred upward to form an ink image 2a (S5).

The ink image 2 transferred onto this intermediate transfer roll 7
A is transferred with the rotation of the intermediate transfer roll 7, and is transferred to the recording paper 9 by the action of the transfer roll 8, and is pressed against the recording paper 9, which is conveyed to the ink image transfer position (S6 ). The recording paper 9' on which the ink image 2a is transferred and a recorded image is formed is discharged in the direction of arrow E. However, if the ink image 2a is not sufficiently fixed, the recording paper 9' is discharged from the ink image transfer position of the recording paper 9. A known fixing means, such as heating or pressurizing, may be provided on the downstream side.

In step S7, it is determined that the recording has ended, and the RAM 24b is
If there is still information to be recorded, the process returns to step S2, and if no information remains, the process is ended and the process is completed.

By repeating the above steps, a predetermined mark is written on the recording paper 9! Three images are formed.

Further, in step S4, the portion of the ink 2 to which no energy has been applied among the ink 2 transferred by the ink transfer roll 1 is transferred in the direction of the arrow without being transferred to the intermediate transfer roll 7, and is transferred to the ink reservoir 3. stored inside and used again.

As mentioned above, in the recording apparatus of this embodiment, predetermined recording is performed by imparting tackiness to the fluid ink 2 through the electrochemical action caused by electricity supply, so that the ink can be used with small electrical energy. It becomes possible to record on plain paper etc. without waste. Furthermore, since the ink using the crosslinked structure has elasticity, it can significantly reduce image distortion at the energy application area, and does not require chemical coloring, so it can be used with the electrochemical method known for -Jn. Compared to a conventional recording method, that is, an electrolytic recording method that uses color development based on an oxidation-reduction reaction caused by electricity, it is possible to record images with superior stability and durability.

Further, the conductivity of the ink 2 is imparted by ionic conduction, and a wide range of ionic substances (many solutions are transparent) can be used as electrolytes for this purpose.

Therefore, it is possible to easily obtain ink of any color tone using dyes and pigments.

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

(1) Ink transport means In the above-mentioned embodiment, an example was shown in which a cylindrical ink transport roll 1 was used as the ink transport means, but a belt or sheet-like ink transport member may also be used as the ink transport means. You may also use

This belt or sheet-like ink transport member may be fed out from one side and wound up from the other.
It is preferable to use it repeatedly by making an endless motion.

(2) Fluid ink In the above embodiments, tackiness was imparted by applying energy, and an ink image was formed using the ink to which tackiness was imparted, but the portions to which no energy was applied Make it sticky.

In this way, an ink image may be formed using the ink in the portion to which no energy is applied.

(3) Layer thickness regulating means In the above embodiment, the layer thickness regulating means was constituted by a blade member, but instead of the blade member, the ink transport roll 1
The layer thickness regulating means may be configured by arranging rotating rolls spaced apart from each other at a constant interval.

In addition, depending on the rotational speed of the ink transfer roll 1 and the viscoelasticity of the ink 2, the degree to which the ink 2 can be coated on the ink transfer roll 1 with a constant layer thickness, or the ink layer previously formed on the ink transfer roll 1 disappears. In this case, in a configuration in which the ink transport roll I is replaced with a new one having an ink layer, the r5 thickness regulating means 4 does not necessarily need to be provided.

(4) Conductive medium In the above embodiment, the conductive medium 5 was formed in the shape of an endless belt, but as shown in FIG. It may be wound around rollers 41a and 41b, and wound from one take-up roller 41a (or 41b) to the other take-up roller 41b (or 41a).In addition, in FIG. 8, 41a is not shown. The drive roller is driven by a drive system that does not
41b is a driven roller.

In the above configuration, cleaning means for the conductive medium 5 can be made unnecessary, and new conductive medium 5 can always be cleaned.
Since it is possible to use the transfer method, it is possible to transfer a clear image.

Furthermore, the conductive medium 5 may be constituted by a rotating drum as shown in FIG. This drum-shaped anisotropic conductor made of glass containing carbon powder is configured to rotate at the same circumferential speed as the ink layer on the ink transport roll 1 by a drive system (not shown). Even in this case, since the recording head 6 does not come into direct contact with the ink layer, distortion of the image can be prevented, and by using the drum-shaped conductive medium 5, the entire apparatus can be configured compactly.

(5) Intermediate transfer medium In the above-mentioned embodiment, the intermediate transfer roll 7 was used as the intermediate transfer medium, but like the ink transfer means, this also does not need to be in the form of a roll to transfer a metal or plastic film in one direction. Alternatively, it may be used as an endless belt.

<Experimental Results> Next, the experimental results of recording using the recording device described above will be shown.

Recording was performed as follows using the recording apparatus shown in the example of FIG.

First, fluid ink 2 was composed of the following components.

After uniformly mixing the above ingredients while heating them at 70°C, by leaving them at room temperature, a gel-like ink with high water retention is created.
Moreover, a product with an amorphous shape (having fluidity) was obtained. At this time, it was preferable to adjust the pH to 7 to 11 using an acid or an alkali.

It is presumed that in the gel ink, the OH groups of polyvinyl alcohol are crosslinked by boric acid ions.

The ink transfer roll 1 was a stainless steel cylindrical roll with a diameter of 40 nm and rotated at a circumferential speed of 50 strokes/see.

Further, as the conductive medium 5, an endless belt-like sheet having a volume resistivity of about 1 Ω·1, a thickness of 300 mm and a width of 200 mm was moved at a rate of 50 mm/see.

The recording head 6 in contact with the conductive medium 5 is used as an anode,
When electricity was applied with an applied voltage of 30 V and an applied pulse width of 3 ms using the ink transfer roll l as a cathode, the ink 2 near the anode became acidic, and the area near the cathode became alkaline, forming an ink latent image in the acidified part. It was possible to obtain a recorded image in which the ink latent image was transferred to the intermediate transfer roll 7 and transferred well to the recording paper 9.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, the present invention applies electric energy to fluid ink to form an ink image, thereby achieving the following effects.
There is no need for an ink sheet having a solid ink layer as in the past, making it possible to perform recording at extremely low running costs.

In addition, since energy is applied by electricity, it is 1/1 compared to thermal transfer recording using a conventional thermal head.
Recording can be performed with an amount of current of about 0, and running costs can be reduced in terms of energy consumption as well.

Furthermore, by applying energy to the fluid ink through a conductive medium, it is possible to obtain a recorded image with high image quality without distortion of the recorded image or staining of the recording head. It has become possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main parts thereof, FIGS. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the recording head, FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the drive control means, FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the recording head drive circuit, FIG. 7 is a flowchart, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are electrical conductivity diagrams. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the medium. 1 is an ink transport roll, 2 is ink, 2a is an ink image,
3 is an ink reservoir, 4 is an N thickness regulating means, 5 is a conductive medium, 6
is an energy application means, 6a is a substrate, 6b is an electrode, 6C
1 is a resin film, 7 is an intermediate transfer roll, 8 is a transfer roll, 9 is a recording paper, 10a, 10b are conveyance roller pairs 2, lla,
llb is a discharge roller pair, 12.13 is a cleaning roll, 14a is a drive roller, 14b is a driven roller, 15 is a ground, 16 is a detection sensor, 17 is an exterior of the device, 20
21 is an external device, 21 is an interface, 22 is a recording control unit, 23 is a console unit, 24 is a CPU, and 24a is a ROM
, 24b is a RAM, 25 is a drive control unit, 26 is a driver, 27 is an ink transfer roll motor, 28 is a drive roller motor, 29 is an intermediate transfer roll motor, 3
0 is a transfer roll motor, 31 is a transport and ejection roller pair motor, 32 is a shift register, 33 is a transistor array, and 418.41b is a take-up roll.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A recording device capable of transferring fluid ink to a transfer medium in response to selective application of electrical energy, comprising: an ink transport means for transporting the fluid ink; and an ink transport means for transporting the fluid ink. a conductive medium conveyed in contact with the ink conveyed by the means; energy applying means for selectively applying electrical energy to the ink conveyed by the ink conveyance means via the conductive medium; A recording apparatus comprising: a transfer means for transferring the ink, the transfer characteristics of which have changed in response to selective application of energy, to a transfer medium.