JPH01159668A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily form two-color images with the color of an ink coloring agent and a different color by mixing the magnetic capsule ink of the different color into the ink, combining the application of a current and magnetization in a recording electrode and using it. CONSTITUTION:The fluid ink 2 contains the magnetic capsule ink of the color different from the ink coloring agent. The fluid ink 2 is shifted by ink shifting means 1 and 3 and ink images 2a whose colors are respectively different and whose transfer characteristic is changed can be formed by impressing only electric energy or simultaneously impressing the electric energy and magnetic energy on the ink 2 according to image signals. Thus, the two-color recording can be accomplished by transferring the ink image 2a on a medium to be recorded 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image recording device, and particularly to an image recording device that can record a color image on a recording medium at low cost using fluid ink.

[Prior Art] Today, among the recording methods for information processing, those that can record on plain paper include impact printers, electrophotography, laser beam printers, and thermal transfer printers.
Various formats have been developed.

Among these, thermal transfer type recording devices are widely used because they have low noise and can be miniaturized. This recording method uses an ink ribbon made by coating hot-melt ink on a base sheet, heats the ink ribbon in an image pattern with a recording head, and transfers the molten ink to recording paper. This has advantages such as low noise, relatively small size of the device, and low device cost.

However, in the conventional thermal transfer method described above, when manufacturing an ink ribbon, it is necessary to apply heat-melting ink onto a heat-resistant base sheet in a complicated process, and this ink ribbon cannot be used for one recording. There were problems such as high running costs because the devices had to be disposed of only after being used.

Therefore, as a means to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present applicant has developed a method of transferring fluid ink in the form of a film using an ink transfer means, selectively applying a predetermined amount of energy to this ink, and making it sticky in the form of an image pattern. proposed a recording apparatus that forms an ink image to which is applied and transfers this ink image onto a recording medium (Japanese Patent Application No. 81-175191).

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

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the above-mentioned apparatus is intended for monochrome printing, and there is a problem in that sufficient consideration has not been given to colorization.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus that further develops the above-mentioned apparatus, enables multicolor recording, and can obtain images of multiple colors with a simple configuration.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image recording apparatus that is capable of transferring fluid ink to a recording medium in response to selective application of energy. includes an ink colorant and a magnetic capsule ink of a different color, an ink transport means for transporting the fluid ink, and an electrical energy application means for selectively applying electrical energy to the ink transported by the ink transport means. a magnetic energy applying means for selectively applying magnetic energy to the ink transferred by the ink transporting means; and a magnetic energy applying means for selectively applying magnetic energy to the ink transferred by the ink transporting means; It is characterized by having a transfer means.

[Function] According to the present invention, fluid ink is transferred by the ink transfer means, and by applying only electric energy or both electric energy and magnetic energy to the ink according to an image signal, different colors can be obtained. An ink image with changed transfer characteristics is formed. Then, by transferring this ink image to a recording medium, two-color recording can be obtained.

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

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, to explain the general structure of the whole, an ink transport roller 1 serving as an ink transport means moves in the direction of arrow A (counterclockwise) while transporting fluid ink 2 with it attached to its surface.
It is rotatably installed.

The ink 2 has a fluid film-forming property and does not normally have tackiness as described later, but has a property of tackiness when a predetermined energy, for example, electric energy is applied. Therefore, when the ink transfer roller 1 rotates, the ink 2 is transferred to the ink transfer roller l by the coating means 3.
is transferred in the direction of arrow A with a constant layer thickness on the surface.

The ink 2 formed in a certain layer on the surface of the ink transport roller 1 is applied with electric energy alone or together with magnetic energy in an image pattern by an energy application means 4 controlled by a control means, and this energy application causes it to become sticky. A colored ink image 2a is formed.

This sticky ink image 2a comes into contact with an intermediate transfer roller 5, which is an intermediate transfer medium, rotating in the direction of arrow B (clockwise) and is transferred onto the surface of the roller 5. On the other hand, the ink 2 that has not been transferred to the intermediate transfer roller 5 is re-accommodated in the ink reservoir 3a as the ink transfer roller 1 rotates.

The ink image 2b transferred to the intermediate transfer roller 5 moves as the roller 5 rotates clockwise, and the ink image 2b is transferred to the intermediate transfer roller 5.
A recording medium (for example, plain paper, plastic sheet, etc., hereinafter referred to as "recording paper") is conveyed between the transfer roller 7, which is in pressure contact with the transfer roller 7 and is rotatable in the direction of arrow C (counterclockwise). ) is transferred to 8.

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

The ink transfer roller 1 is made of a material capable of transferring fluid ink 2, which will be described later, by forming a film on its surface, and is made of a cylindrical conductor made of stainless steel, aluminum, or metal such as iron. , is configured to be rotatable at a constant speed in six directions indicated by arrows by a driving means.

The surface of the ink transfer roller 1 made of the above-mentioned material may be a smooth surface, but is preferably appropriately roughened in order to further improve the transferability of the fluid ink 2.

Next, the fluid ink 2 transferred by the ink transfer roller 1 will be explained. This ink 2 has a fluid film forming property in which it flows under the application of a certain external force and forms an ink film. Specifically, as the ink transfer roller 1 rotates, an ink layer is formed on the surface of the roller 1 and is transferred. 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 such properties is an ink having a gel state in a broad sense in which the solvent is retained by a cross-linked structure substance, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 17519/1988, which the applicant previously filed.
Inks described in No. 1 or No. 62-131586 are preferred.

Such an ink 2 has fluid film-forming properties, but is substantially sticky and becomes sticky when a predetermined energy (for example, electrical energy, thermal energy, etc.) is applied. have a property. Note that "adhesiveness" herein refers to selective adhesiveness, and when the ink 2 is brought into contact with an object such as the intermediate transfer roller 5, 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 transport roller 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 roller 5, there is no substantial impact on the ink layer. Not transcribed. This is because in gel ink, the solvent is held in a crosslinked structure (
It is considered that the ink is not transferred to the intermediate transfer roller 5 (except for some amount of solvent).

When electrical energy is applied to the gel ink,
It is thought that changes in the crosslinked structure etc. impart tackiness to these fluid inks in response to the application of energy.

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

As the range of viscoelasticity, for example, the ink 2 has a diameter of 2
A sample of 5 mm 5 thickness 2 m + n is given a sinusoidal strain r with an angular velocity of 1 rad/sec in the sliding direction, and the stress σ and phase shift δ are detected to determine the complex modulus of elasticity G*.G umbrella = σ /r=G"+iG"G': Storage modulus G": Loss modulus G": Ratio between storage modulus G' and loss modulus G" The value of G"/G' is approximately 0.1
-10 is preferably used.

In the complex elastic modulus, if the G''/G' is less than 0.1, the behavior as a plastic body will be insufficient, and the ink coating on the ink transfer roller 1 will be insufficient, and the G''/G' will be less than 0.1. This is because if the value of ' exceeds lO, the behavior as an elastic body becomes insufficient, and elastic recovery from the energy application means 4 to the intermediate transfer roller 5 becomes insufficient.

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

In this example, water-soluble phthalocyanine is mixed as a coloring agent in the above-mentioned fluid film-forming ink 2, and brown Magnetner (registered trademark) is diffused as a magnetic capsule ink.

Therefore, in a normal state, the ink 2 as a whole has a black color due to a mixture of the blue colorant of the water-soluble phthalocyanine and the brown colorant of the magnetic toner.

An example of the formulation of the ink 2 used here is as follows.

(Parts by weight) Ethylene glycol 80 parts Water
16 parts Polyvinyl alcohol 20 parts (Aji Nippon Gosei GL-03
) Magnetner (brown) 3 parts (Canon PC
(registered trademark) toner) 20% borax aqueous solution 10 parts lN-Na0
) I Part 4 KCu
3 parts p) I 10 buffer
5 parts (Kishida Chemical, main component Na
) Ico, , Na0II, water) 3 parts of water-soluble phthalocyanine (coloring agent) Next, the coating means 3 is disposed upstream of the energy application means 4 with respect to the rotational direction of the ink transport roller 1, and This is for coating the surface of the ink 2 with a constant thickness. In this embodiment, the coating means 3 is composed of a rotating roller member, as shown in FIG. 1, and the outer peripheral surface of the roller member 3 is separated from the surface of the ink transport roller 1 by about 0.3 to 3 mm.

The layer thickness is regulated by the roller member 3, and the thickness of the ink layer formed on the surface of the ink transfer roller 1 is different from that of the roller member 3 when the transfer roller 1 is at high speed (for example, at a peripheral speed of 50 mm/s or more). The distance is slightly smaller than the distance from the ink transport roller 1. Therefore, in this case, it is desirable to set the distance between the roller member 3 and the ink transport roller 1 to be slightly larger 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 roller 1 depends on the fluidity or viscosity of the ink 2, the material or roughness of the surface of the ink transfer roller 1, the rotation speed of the roller 1, etc. Although it varies depending on the situation, at the ink transfer position where the ink transport roller 1 faces the intermediate transfer roller 5, the distance is approximately 0.1 to 5 m+s, more preferably 0.5 to 3 m.
It is preferable that it is about m.

If the layer thickness of this ink 2 is less than 0.1 mm, it will be difficult to form a uniform ink layer on the ink transfer roller 1, and if the layer thickness exceeds 5 mm, the surface layer of the ink layer will not have a uniform peripheral speed. However, it becomes difficult to convey the ink 2, and it becomes difficult to energize the ink transfer roller 1 from the energy applying means 4 via the ink 2.

Next, the energy applying means 4 may be explained. Although thermal energy may be applied using a conventional thermal head, in this embodiment, from the point of view of energy efficiency, the recording electrode 4 is used to apply electrical energy. is applied.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the recording electrode 4 has a structure in which a plurality of electrode elements 4b made of a magnetic metal such as iron are mounted on a base 4a made of glass epoxy, alumina, glass, etc.
are arranged in a line, and an insulating film 4c made of, for example, polyimide is provided on a portion of the electrode element 4b other than the tip, that is, a portion other than the portion that contacts the ink 2, and an ink transfer roller. 1 by grounding the roller 1.
The configuration is such that current can be passed between the ink 2 and the electrode element 4b via the ink 2. The portion of the electrode element 4b exposed from the insulating bamboo skin [4c] is preferably plated with gold, platinum, rhodium, or the like, and from the viewpoint of durability, platinum plating is more preferable.

This electrode element 4 is located near the rear end of the electrode element 4b.
A coil 4d for magnetizing b is wound around the coil 4d.

When the recording electrode 4 is arranged, it is preferable to arrange it so that the electrode element 4b is slightly submerged in the ink layer formed on the ink transport roller 1, as shown in FIG. The amount of penetration is set to about 0 to imm, more preferably about 0.1 to 0.5 mm. By slightly penetrating the ink layer in this way, the energizing effect can be further enhanced.

The above recording electric f! A driver A is connected to the electrode element 4b of No. 4, and a driver B is connected to the coil 4d, and both are respectively driven with electricity. A control means 10 is connected to driver A and driver B.

Next, the intermediate transfer roller 5 is used to transfer the ink image 2a that has been given adhesiveness by applying the energy, and has a cylindrical member that contacts the surface of the ink transfer roller 1 by about 0.
It is arranged above the ink transport roller 1 with an interval of 1 to 3 mm, contacts the ink layer formed on the ink transport roller 1, and is configured to be rotatable in the direction of arrow B by a driving means (not shown).

The surface of the intermediate transfer roller 5 may be made of the same material as the surface of the ink transfer roller 1, but the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 5 may be plated with chrome plating or the like. Alternatively, it is preferable to improve smoothness, stain resistance, or ease of cleaning by coating with silicone resin, fluororesin, polyethylene resin, or the like. Also, in order to improve the transferability of the ink 2 at the ink transfer position, it is preferable that the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 5 be made smoother than the surface of the ink transfer roller I.

Next, the transfer roller 7 is for transferring the ink image 2b transferred and formed on the intermediate transfer roller 5 to the recording paper 8, and is a cylindrical piece of nitrile rubber, silicone rubber, etc. on a metal shaft. The recording paper 8 is pressed against the intermediate transfer roller 5 with a pressing force of approximately 0.1 to 5 kgj/cm by a formed spring or the like (not shown), and rotates in the direction of arrow C as the intermediate transfer roller 5 rotates. It is configured to hold the colored ink image 2b on the surface and to transfer the colored ink image 2b formed on the intermediate transfer roller 5 onto the recording paper 8.

Next, the operation when using the recording apparatus configured as described above will be explained.

When each member is driven and the ink transfer roller 1 is rotated in the direction of arrow A, the fluid ink 2 colored black by mixing and diffusion is formed in a layer on the surface of the ink transfer roller 1 by the coating member 3, and the ink transfer roller 1 is rotated in the direction of arrow A. It is transferred as the transfer roller 1 rotates.

This ink 2 is transferred to the recording electrode 4.
At the energy application position in contact with the control means lO
A patterned voltage corresponding to the image signals of the first color and the second color is applied from the recording electrode 4 controlled by the recording electrode 4, and in response to this, a current flows from the electrode element 4b to the ink transfer roller 1 via the ink 2. For example, the crosslinking structure in the ink 2 changes due to an electrochemical reaction, and selective tackiness is imparted to the ink 2.

At this time, a patterned voltage corresponding to the second color image signal is also applied to the coil 4d. Then, the electrode element 4b to which the voltage is applied is magnetized, and the magnetic capsule 2-1 near the tip of the electrode material 4b is attracted to the TL pole material 4b.

This situation is shown in FIG. That is, in the state shown in FIG. 4(a), the electrode material 4b is non-magnetized, and the magnetic capsules 2-1 are evenly dispersed in the fluid ink 2. When the electrode material 4b is magnetized in this state, the brown magnetic capsules 2-1 are attracted to the electrode material 4b and concentrate on the surface layer of the ink 2, so that the surface layer becomes brown.

Therefore, when the driver A energizes only the electrode material 4b, a black ink image 2a is obtained, and when the driver A and driver B energize the electrode material 4b and the coil 4d, a brown ink image 2a is obtained.

The ink image 2a selectively imparted with adhesiveness is further conveyed in the direction of the arrow from the contact portion of the recording electrode 4, reaches the transfer position where the intermediate transfer roller 5 comes into contact, and based on the aforementioned adhesiveness, the ink image 2a is conveyed in the direction of the arrow B. The ink image 2b is transferred and developed on the intermediate transfer roller 5 rotating in the direction, and the ink image 2b is transferred to the surface of the roller 5.

The image is then transferred onto recording paper 8 to obtain a two-color recorded image.

An example of the control procedure by the control means 10 in the present embodiment will be explained based on the flowchart of FIG. 5.

When the control starts, first in step Sl it is determined whether or not there is image information, and if there is, the color is determined in step S2. When black is specified, step S3
The process advances to step S4 to energize only driver A, and in other cases, the process advances to step S4 to energize both driver A and driver B. Then, in step S5, the energization is ended, and the process returns to step Sl for the next image information processing.

According to this embodiment, since multi-color recording is performed using one recording electrode by switching between energization only and energization and magnetization depending on the image information, an image without color shift can be obtained, and one recording Since only electrodes are required, the configuration is simple and can be realized at low cost.

In the above embodiment, the ink colorant was blue and the magnetic capsule was brown, but the present invention is not limited to this combination. For example, the ink colorant may be a pigment such as red or yellow. Of course, paint may be used and the magnetic capsules may also be made in other colors, such as blue.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, it is possible to selectively apply energy for energization and magnetization to one electrode of the recording electrode for each pixel. The recording head may be used to perform the printing, or the printing may be performed using a block of pixels.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, magnetic capsule inks of other colors are mixed into the ink, and the ink colorant is mixed with the recording electrode by using a combination of energization and magnetization. A two-color image of one color and another color can be easily formed.

[Brief Description of the Drawings] Fig. 1 is a side sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the recording electrode portion thereof, and Fig. 3 is a part of the recording electrode. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the behavior of magnetic capsule ink, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a control procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Ink transfer roller, 2... Fluid ink, 3... Coating roller, 4... Recording electrode, 4b... Electrode material, 4d... Coil, 6... Intermediate transfer roller , 7...Transfer roller. ] UA shows off its best talent in January! Front view Figure 1 Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An image recording device capable of transferring fluid ink to a recording medium in response to selective application of energy, wherein the fluid ink includes magnetic capsule ink of a different color from an ink colorant, an ink transfer means for transferring the fluid ink; an electric energy applying means for selectively applying electric energy to the ink transferred by the ink transfer means; A magnetic energy applying means for selectively applying magnetic energy to the ink, and a transfer means for transferring the ink whose transfer characteristics have changed in response to the selective application of the energy to a recording medium. Features of the image recording device.