JPH01171870A - Multicolor recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent color shift through the construction in which fluid ink imparted stickness by being selectively impressed energy corresponding to an image signal by means of an energy impressing means via an intermediate transfer medium at the same contact position is transferred to the intermediate transfer medium. CONSTITUTION:A recording medium support body 1 is caused to rotate in the direction P so as to transfer a recording medium 2. An intermediate recording medium 3 is caused to rotate in the direction Q which is opposite to the rotating direction of the recording medium support body 1 with its transfer surface being brought into contact with the recording medium 2 at a relative speed of zero. Similar independent ink units, for instance, A-D, transfer several kinds of fluid inks 4a-4d. These ink units are disposed at positions separated from each other at an angle of 90 deg. and are adapted to intermittently move in a predetermined direction P by 90 deg. at a time. In addition, the respective ink units are adapted to be brought into contact with the intermediate transfer medium 3 at the same position so as to transfer an ink image, and are then released therefrom. A light source 8 selectively impresses energy with respect to the ink 4a-4d via the intermediate transfer medium so as to form an image. The ink 4a-4d on the intermediate transfer medium 3 is accurately transferred to coinciding positions on the recording medium 2 in order, the color shift being thus prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a multicolor recording device that is capable of performing color recording on a recording medium at low cost using fluid ink, and particularly relates to a multicolor recording device that uses fluid ink to perform color recording on a recording medium at low cost. The present invention relates to a multicolor recording device that records color images using the multicolor recording device.

[Conventional technology]

Today, among the recording methods for information processing, the ones that can record on plain paper are invacuum printers, electrophotographs, laser beam printers, etc. Various types of printers have also been developed, such as thermal transfer printers.

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 this ink ribbon in an image pattern with a recording head, and transfers the molten ink to recording paper. Therefore, there are advantages such as low noise, relatively small size of the device, and low device cost.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] However, in the above-mentioned 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 must be used for one-time recording and then discarded. However, there were problems such as high running costs.

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, and selectively applying a predetermined energy to this ink to form an image pattern. He proposed a recording device that forms an ink image with adhesive properties and transfers this ink image onto a recording medium (Japanese Patent Application No. 81-175191, Japanese Patent Application No. 62
-125973).

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

Fluid ink as described above, that is, fluid ink that has fluid film-forming properties, but has a property of being substantially sticky as it is, and becomes sticky when energy is applied (Japanese Patent Application No. 1983- No. 175191, patent application 1986-36
No. 904, etc.), a recording device that forms multicolor images by using a plurality of ink units using ink mixed with pigments or dyes has not yet been proposed, but there are no attempts to construct such a device. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of fluid ink units 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d are arranged radially around the rotating intermediate transfer medium 3, and ink units are sequentially injected through the intermediate transfer medium 3. With respect to the transfer medium 2 which is supported by the recording medium support 1 and rotates,
At first, a structure in which fluid ink to which tackiness has been selectively imparted is transferred by applying energy from each of the energy application heads 5a to 5d, and thereby each color is superimposed to form a color image is first considered.

By the way, in order to obtain a color image without color shift, Y
(yellow), 9M (magenta), C (cyan), and BK (black) fluid inks 4a to 4d are sequentially transferred onto the recording medium 2 through the same circumferential position of the intermediate transfer medium 3, respectively. However, in the configuration shown in FIG. 4, each ink unit is arranged radially along the circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer medium 3, so high precision is required for the arrangement and recording timing. Since it is actually extremely difficult to accurately transfer fluid ink to the same location on the intermediate transfer medium 3, color shift is likely to occur.

Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned points, the present invention provides a multicolor recording device that can easily perform color recording without color shift on a recording medium using fluid ink and that can simplify the configuration of an energy application means. The purpose is to

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention uses a plurality of fluid inks that have fluid film-forming properties and can be imparted with tackiness by applying energy. In a multicolor recording device that forms a multicolor image on a recording medium conveyed by a recording medium support via a rotating intermediate transfer medium,
A plurality of ink units each containing a plurality of fluid inks to enable transfer of layers of ink, and a plurality of fluid inks being transferred to an intermediate transfer medium by moving the plurality of ink units. and an ink unit moving means that sequentially brings the ink units into contact at the same contact position, and selects tackiness by receiving selective application of energy according to an image signal at the same contact position by an energy application means via an intermediate transfer medium. The present invention is characterized in that the fluid ink applied thereto is transferred to an intermediate transfer medium.

[Function] With the above configuration, the present invention brings each fluid ink into contact with an intermediate transfer medium at the same contact position (transfer position) by sequentially moving the positions of a plurality of fluid inks, Energy is applied to the fluid ink via the intermediate transfer medium at the contact position, thereby selectively tackifying fluid ink (ink image) being transferred to the intermediate transfer medium. A color image can be formed without color shift, and a single energy application means can be used.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, embodiments of the wooden invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a multicolor recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 2 shows a part thereof in an enlarged manner.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a recording medium support (e.g., a platen roller) rotating in the direction of arrow P, and 2 denotes a recording medium supported by the recording medium support 1 and conveyed (e.g.,
3 is an intermediate transfer medium that rotates in the direction of arrow Q, which is opposite to the recording medium support 1. The intermediate transfer medium 3 transfers the recording medium 2 at a relative speed on its transfer surface (outer peripheral surface).
The ink portion adhering to the transfer surface is transferred to the recording medium 2 as described later.

Further, A, B, C, and D are ink units (recording units) that form images using fluid ink, respectively.
An independent unit of the same construction, on a rotary indexing circular table (not shown) (see reference numeral lO in FIG. 2),
They are installed at predetermined positions separated by an angle of 90 degrees, and are intermittently moved by 90 degrees in a predetermined direction (for example, in the direction of arrow P) by a rotational drive mechanism (for example, a pulse motor, etc.) not shown, so that they remain at the same position. It contacts and leaves the intermediate transfer medium 3, and transfers the ink image to the intermediate transfer medium 3 during the contact.

In the above-mentioned ink units A, B, C, and D, 4a,
4b, 4c, 4d are fluid inks, 6a, 6b, 6c,
6d is an ink transfer roller that rotationally conveys ink, and 7a, 7b, and 7c.

7d is an ink film thickness control roller that controls the film thickness of the ink conveyed by the ink transport roller.

Reference numeral 8 indicates a laser beam generator or an LED (light emitting device) that selectively applies energy via the intermediate transfer medium 3 to the fluid ink 4a to 4d that is uniformly applied to the surfaces of the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d and moves. 9 is a light source such as a diode) light emitting element, and 9 indicates irradiated light from the light source 8.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, as a representative ink unit A.
The recording operation when the recording medium 3 is in contact with the intermediate transfer medium 3 will be explained.

First, to explain the overall general configuration, an ink transport roller 6a serving as an ink transporting means carries fluid ink (for example,
A yellow fluid ink) 4a is placed in an ink container ll in which a portion of the ink is submerged in the ink 4a (in FIG. 2, since the recording operation is in progress, the ink transport roller 6a is It appears to be buried in the ink 4a) and is rotatable in the direction of arrow P (counterclockwise) while feeding the ink 4a in the container ll.

The above-mentioned ink 4a has a fluid film-forming pattern and does not normally have adhesive properties as described later, but when given a predetermined amount of energy,
For example, it has adhesive properties when electrical energy is applied. Therefore, when the ink transfer roller 6a rotates, the ink 4a becomes a constant layer thickness on the surface of the ink transfer roller 6a due to the rotation of the ink film thickness control roller 7a, which is a layer thickness regulating means, in the direction of arrow Q (clockwise). arrow P
8 is sent in the direction.

The ink 4a formed in a certain layer on the surface of the ink transfer roller 6a is applied with the energy of irradiation light in an image pattern by a light source 8 that is blink-controlled by a control means (not shown) at the position of contact with the intermediate transfer medium 3. The ink image 4 has been given adhesiveness by applying this energy.
is formed. That is, as a patterned current corresponding to an image signal is applied to the light source 8, selectively blinking irradiation light (beam) imparts energy to the ink 4a at the contact position via the intermediate transfer medium 3. However, for example, the crosslinking structure in the ink 4a changes due to an electrochemical reaction, and selective tackiness is imparted to the ink 4a. This sticky ink image 4 comes into contact with the intermediate transfer medium 3 rotating in the direction of arrow Q (clockwise) and is transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer medium 3. On the other hand, the ink that has not been transferred to the intermediate transfer medium 3 is stored again in the ink container 11 as the ink transfer roller 6a rotates, and is stirred by, for example, a stirring roll (not shown) and used again.

The ink image 4 transferred to the intermediate transfer medium 3 is transferred to a recording medium support 1 serving as a transfer means that is provided in pressure contact with the intermediate transfer medium 3 and rotatable in the direction of arrow P (counterclockwise), and to the intermediate transfer medium 3. A recording medium conveyed between the medium 3 (for example, plain paper, plastic sheet, etc., hereinafter referred to as "r recording paper")
Transferred to 2.

Further, at this time, the intermediate transfer medium 3 is driven by a motor (not shown) that rotates at a higher speed than the intermediate transfer medium 3 via a gear train that decelerates at an integral multiple of the speed of the motor, and the recording medium 3 The diameter of the support 1 is designed to be an integral multiple of the diameter of the intermediate transfer medium 3, so that the recording medium 2 has a relative speed of 0.
The intermediate transfer medium 3 is configured to be in contact with the intermediate transfer medium 3 at this point.

When the image recording by the ink unit A is completed as described above, the rotary indexing circular table (turntable)
10 rotates counterclockwise by a center angle of 90 degrees, and as a result, the next ink unit B is brought into contact with the intermediate transfer medium 3 at exactly the same contact position where the image recording operation was performed. Moving. Next, light is selectively irradiated from the above-mentioned light source 8 via the intermediate transfer medium 8, and at exactly the same timing that the fluid ink 4a is transferred from the ink unit A to the intermediate transfer medium 3, for example, the intermediate transfer medium 8 is irradiated with light. When the rotation start position of the medium 3 (rotation angle τ position) or when the recording medium 2 reaches a predetermined recording start position due to the rotation of the recording medium support 1, the ink unit B injects fluid ink (for example, magenta). The transfer operation of the color fluid ink) 4b onto the intermediate transfer medium 3 is started. The contents of this transfer operation are the same as in the case of ink unit A described above.

Here, as described above, since the intermediate transfer medium 3 is driven by decelerating the rotation of the high-speed motor by an integral multiple, the circumference of the intermediate transfer medium 3 during one rotation of the intermediate transfer medium 3 is The speed fluctuation at any point is always the same every time the intermediate transfer medium 3 rotates. That is, the speed fluctuation at each point on the circumference of the intermediate transfer medium 3 at the transfer position is exactly the same as when transferring the fluid ink 4a, and furthermore, the speed fluctuation at each point on the circumference of the intermediate transfer medium 3 at the transfer position is exactly the same as when transferring the fluid ink 4a. is completely fixed, the next fluid ink 4b is also transferred in exactly the same way to the location where the previous fluid ink 4a was transferred. The diameter of the recording medium support 1 is an integral multiple of the diameter of the intermediate transfer medium 3, and the recording medium 2 comes into contact with the intermediate transfer medium 3 at zero relative speed. The liquid ink 4b on the intermediate transfer medium 3 is accurately transferred to the position of the previously transferred liquid ink 4a on the recording medium, and color misregistration is avoided. They will be superimposed without causing any difference.

Thereafter, when the image recording by the ink unit B is completed, the rotary indexing circular table 10 is rotated 90 degrees again, and the ink unit C is brought into contact with the intermediate transfer medium 3, and the fluid ink (for example, cyan color fluidity The transfer operation by the ink) 4c is started in exactly the same manner as described above, and when the image recording by this ink unit C is completed, the rotary indexing table lO is rotated 90 degrees again, and the last ink unit D is transferred to the intermediate transfer medium 3. The last fluid ink in contact (
For example, a transfer operation using black fluid ink) 4d is started. When the image recording operation by the ink unit D is completed, the recording medium 2 is removed from the recording medium support 1 and discharged to the outside.

In this way, the plurality of fluid inks 4a to 4d are brought into contact with the rotating intermediate transfer medium 3 at the same position by sequentially rotating and moving to the same contact position, and the energy application position is set at the contact position. Since the fluid ink (ink image) selectively imparted with tackiness by the application of fixed energy is sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer medium 3, a clear color image without color shift can be obtained. Note that, from the viewpoint of energy efficiency, it is preferable that the intermediate transfer medium 3 has a photosensitive film.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention. In this example, an energy application head 5 that applies electrical energy is used as the energy application means instead of the light source 8 described above. At the above-mentioned contact position, the tip of the energy application head 5 is disposed in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer medium 3. Further, the intermediate transfer medium 3 is preferably made of a conductive material having an electric resistance comparable to or higher than the electric resistance of the fluid inks 4a to 4d, and the energy application head 5 is used to apply the energy to the intermediate transfer medium 3 from the same position. Energy is selectively applied to the fluid inks 4a to 4d through the inks, and fluid ink images selectively imparted with tackiness by the application of energy are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer medium 3. Other configurations and effects are substantially the same as those of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, so detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

Next, in order to further facilitate understanding of the present invention, the configuration of the main parts of the above-mentioned multicolor recording apparatus will be explained in detail one by one.

The ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d carry fluid ink 4a to 4d.
In this example, a conductor made of metal such as stainless steel, aluminum, or iron is formed into a cylindrical shape, and is moved by a driving means. It is configured to be capable of driving rotation in the direction of arrow P at a constant speed.

The surfaces of the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d made of the above materials may be smooth, but in order to further improve the transferability of the fluid inks 4a to 4d, they are preferably roughened appropriately. preferable.

Next, the fluid ink 4a to 4d transferred by the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d will be explained.
-4d have fluid film-forming properties that flow under the application of a constant external force to form an ink film, and specifically, as the ink transfer rollers 6a-6d rotate, the rollers 6a-4d 6
An ink layer is formed on the surface of d and has the property of being transferred. Further, the inks 4a to 4d preferably have a property of being able to restore their adhesiveness over time after being cut by an external force. That is, it is preferable that when the ink souls come into contact with each other, the interface disappears and they become one.

Inks 48 to 4d having such properties include inks having a gel state in a broad sense in which the solvent is held by a cross-linked structure substance, or inks having a relatively high viscosity (preferably 5000c).
ps or more) in a solvent with a particle size of preferably 0.1
An ink having a sludge state obtained by dispersing particles (1 to 100 μm, more preferably 1 to 20 μm) is preferably used. Inks having properties of both gel-like inks and sludge-like inks are more preferably used.

Specific examples of this ink include, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 175191/1981 previously filed by the applicant, or Japanese Patent Application No. 175191 filed earlier by the applicant.
Inks described in No. 2-38904 and the like are preferred.

Although such inks 4a to 4d have fluid film forming properties,
A predetermined amount of energy (e.g., electrical energy, thermal energy, etc.) that is substantially sticky as it is.
When is applied, only the area to which it is applied becomes sticky. Note that the adhesion 1 here refers to selective adhesion, and when the inks 4a to 4d are brought into contact with an object such as the intermediate transfer roller 3, the inks 4a to 4d are
This means that a part of 4d separates from the entire ink and adheres to the object, regardless of whether the entire ink is sticky or not.

Therefore, when the ink layer formed on the surface of the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d is not applied with energy, even if the ink 4a to 4d comes into contact with another medium, for example, the intermediate transfer roller 3, It is not substantially transferred to the intermediate roller 3. The reason for this is that in gel ink, the solvent is held in a crosslinked structure (except for a small amount of solvent), so the ink is not transferred to the intermediate transfer roller 3, and the ink is in a sludge state. When the particles are closely arranged at the interface, it becomes difficult for the solvent part of the ink to come into contact with the intermediate transfer roller 3.
It is thought that it is not transferred to .

On the other hand, when energy such as electricity is applied to the above-mentioned gel-like ink or sludge-like ink, the crosslinking structure of the gel-like ink changes, and the particle arrangement state of the sludge-like ink changes. It is thought that these fluid inks are given tackiness in response to the above energy application.

Further, the above-mentioned inks 4a to 4d are transferred to an ink transport roller 6.
When coated on a to 6d, it has properties as a plastic body, and conversely, after being applied with energy by the energy applying means, it may have properties as an elastic body while being transferred to the intermediate transfer roller 3. preferable.

Therefore, the inks 4a to 4d of this embodiment preferably have a certain degree of viscoelasticity (complex elasticity having an elastic term and a viscous term).

The range of the viscoelasticity is, for example, as shown in Fig. 6 (A),
As shown in (B), the inks 4a to 4d are coated with a diameter of 25 m.
m, thickness 2), and put it in the direction of the arrow shown (
If a sinusoidal strain γ with an angular velocity of 1 rad/sec is applied in the shear direction) and the stress 0 and phase shift δ are detected to determine the complex modulus of elasticity G', then G''=0/γ=G'+iG'' G ′ : Storage modulus G″ : Loss elastic modulus The value of ratio G″/G′ between storage elastic modulus G′ and loss elasticity G″ is approximately 0.1.
~IO is preferably used.

In this complex modulus of elasticity, if G''/G' is less than 0.1, the behavior as a plastic body will be insufficient, and the ink coating on the ink transport rollers 6a-, -6d will be insufficient. Furthermore, if the ratio G''/G' exceeds 10, the behavior as an elastic body will be insufficient, and the elastic recovery from energy application to transfer to the intermediate transfer roller 3 will be insufficient.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned sample size and method of applying distortion are values that are considered appropriate for the recording apparatus.

Further, the above-mentioned inks 4a to 4d each contain a different colored colorant, and examples of such ink colorants preferably used in the present invention include the dyes and pigments described below. These may be used alone or in a mixture of two or more.

The pigment or dye is suitably used in an amount sufficient to highly pigment the ink and form a distinct visible image. For example, in the case of pigments as dyes and pigments, about 1% to 40% by weight of the total weight of the ink.
% by weight, but in the case of dyes substantially lower amounts, for example up to 30% by weight.

(a) Black coloring agents include carbon black, magnetite, iron oxide, nigrosine dye, chrome yellow,
Examples include ultramarine blue, DuPont oil red, methylene blue chloride, and phthalocyanine blue.

(b) Colorants for magenta include 2,9-dimethyl-substituted quinacridone and CI 60 in the color index.
Anthraquinone dye described as 710, CI
Disbirds Dread 15, C in color index
Diazo dye described as I 26050, CI
Examples include Solvent Red 19.

(C) As a cyan colorant, copper tetra-4 (octadecylsulfonamide) phthalocyanine, X-
Copper phthalocyanine pigment, CI Pigment Blue, and Anthradan Threne Blue, listed as CI 69810 in the Color Index, Special Blue X
-2137 etc. are mentioned.

(d) Colorants for yellow include 3,3-dichloropenzidine acetoacetanilide which is cyanilide yellow, monoazo pigment listed as CI 12700 in the color index, CR Solvent Yellow 16, Color-1 2.5-dimethoxy-4-sulfocyanilide phenyl-4'-nitrophenylamine sulfonamide, CI Disbursed Yellow 33, listed as Hollon Yellow 6 E/G L N in /Dex Examples include chloro-2,5-dimethoxyacetoacetanilide and permanent yellow FGL.

(e) Other colorants for orange include red yellow lead, molybdenum orange, permanent orange GTR, pyrazolone orange, palkan orange, and indanthrene brilliant orange RK1 benzidine orange G1 indanthrene brilliant orange GK.

For red, Red Garla, Cadmium Red, Boat Fishing, Mercury Cadmium Sulfide, Permanent Red 4R, Lysol Red, Pyrazolone Red, Watchdared Calcium Salt, Lake Red D1 Brilliant Carmine 6B,
, eosin lake, rhodamine lake B, alizarin lake, and brilliant carmine 3B.

For purple, manganese purple, fast violet B1
Examples include methyl violet lake.

Examples of blue include navy blue, cobalt blue, alkali blue lake, Victoria blue lake, phthalocyanine blue, metal-free phthalocyanine blue, partially chlorinated phthalocyanine blue, fast sky blue, and indanthremble-BC.

Examples of green include chrome green, chromium oxide, picment green B1 malachite green lake, and cyanal yellow green G.

In the case of white, examples include zinc white, titanium oxide, antimony white, and zinc sulfide.

Next, the ink film thickness control roller 7a as a layer thickness regulating means
-7d are arranged upstream of the position of the energy application means with respect to the rotational direction of the ink transport rollers 6a-6d, and apply the inks 4a-4d in a constant layer on the surfaces of the ink transport rollers 6a-6d. It is for pressure coating.

In this embodiment, the surface of the ink film thickness control rollers 7a to 7d is approximately 0.3 to 3 m from the surface of the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d.
They are separated by m.

Note that the layer thickness is regulated by the ink film thickness control rollers a to 7d, and the thickness of the ink layer formed on the surfaces of the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d is determined by the balance effect peculiar to the viscoelastic material.
Ink film thickness control rollers 7a to 7d and ink transfer roller 6
The distance is slightly larger than that between a to 6d. Therefore, the ink film thickness control rollers 7a to 7d and the ink transfer rollers 6a to
6d is desirably set to be slightly smaller than the thickness of the ink layer. However, when the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d are at high speed (for example, circumferential speed of 50 non/s or more), the thickness of the coated ink layer is different from that of the ink film thickness control rollers 7a to 7d and the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d.
It may be smaller than the distance between. In this case, it is desirable to set the interval to be slightly larger than the thickness of the coating ink layer.

Further, the layer thickness of the fluid inks 4a to 4d formed on the surfaces of the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d is
4d fluidity or viscosity, ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d
or the surface roughness of the rollers 6a to 6.
Although it varies depending on the rotation speed of d, etc., the ink transfer roller 6
a to 6" at the ink transfer position facing the intermediate transfer medium 3, approximately 0.1 to 5 mm s, more preferably 0.5 to 5 mm.
It is preferably about 3 mm.

If the layer thickness of this ink is less than 0.1 mm, it will be difficult to form a uniform ink layer on the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d, and if the layer thickness exceeds 5 mm, the surface layer of the ink layer will be moved at a uniform circumferential speed. However, it becomes difficult to transport the inks 4a to 4d, and in the case of FIG.
This makes it difficult to energize the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d via the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d.

Next, the energy application head 5 shown in FIG. 3 may be explained. Although it may be configured to apply thermal energy using a conventional thermal head, in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 3, from the point of energy efficiency. Recording electrodes are used to apply electrical energy.

As shown in FIG. 5, each recording electrode 5 has a structure in which a plurality of electrode elements 5B made of metal such as copper are arranged in a row on a base 5A made of glass epoxy, alumina, glass, etc. , an insulating film 5C made of polyimide or the like is provided on a portion of the electrode element 5B other than the tip, that is, a portion other than the portion contacting the ink 4a to 4B, and the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d described above are provided. The rollers 6a to 6d are grounded by a ground (not shown), and current can be passed between the rollers 6a to 6d and the electrode elements 5B via the inks 4a to 4d. In addition, the insulating film 5C of the above-mentioned electrode element 5B
The exposed portion is preferably plated with gold, platinum, rhodium, or the like, and from the viewpoint of durability, platinum plating is more preferable.

Further, as the amount of current applied to the recording electrode 5, for example, the ink 4a
When using guar gum crosslinked with boric acid ions as the crosslinked structure material of ~4d, the amount of current required to destroy this crosslinked structure and cause an electrochemical change may be sufficient. Therefore, the amount of current required to transfer electrons to and from the crosslinking agent, which is added in a small amount of about several hundred ppm to the inks 4a to 4d, is sufficient, and the current flow when applying thermal energy with a thermal head in thermal transfer, etc. is sufficient. °Compared to the amount, approximately 1
It is sufficient to apply a low energy of about /1O, and this application of electrical energy makes the ink sticky.

Next, the intermediate transfer medium 3 is one onto which the adhesive ink image 4 is transferred due to the above-mentioned energy applied thereto, and the cylindrical member (roller) is transferred to each ink transport roller. The ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d are arranged at a position keeping a distance of about 0.1 to 3 mm from the surfaces of the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d.
It is configured to be in contact with the ink layer formed on the surface d and to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow Q by a driving means (not shown).

The surface of the intermediate transfer medium 3 may be made of the same material as the surface of the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d, but the surface of the intermediate transfer medium 3 may be made of chrome plating or the like. It is preferable to improve smoothness, stain resistance, or ease of cleaning by plating or coating with silicone resin, fluororesin, polyethylene resin, or the like.

Further, in order to improve the transferability of the ink 4 at the ink transfer position, it is preferable that the surface of the intermediate transfer medium 3 be made smoother than the surfaces of the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d.

Further, at an ink transfer position where the adhesive ink image 4 is transferred to the intermediate transfer medium 3, the intermediate transfer medium 3
It is also desirable to apply an appropriate shearing force to the layers of ink 4a to 4d sandwiched between the ink transfer rows 96a to 6d and the ink transfer rows 96a to 6d. Therefore, the peripheral speed of the intermediate transfer medium 3 is preferably set to be equal to or smaller than the peripheral speed of the surface layer of the ink layer on the ink transport rollers 6a to 6d. Depending on the characteristics of the non-adhesive ink, the circumferential speed of the intermediate transfer medium 3 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 account the elastic deformation of the ink. good.

Next, the recording medium support (also referred to as a transfer roller) 1 transfers the ink image 4 transferred onto the intermediate transfer medium 3 onto the recording paper 2.
A roller 1 made of nitrile rubber, silicone rubber, etc. formed into a cylindrical shape on a metal shaft is moved by a spring or the like (not shown).
The ink image 4 formed on the intermediate transfer medium 3 is pressed against the intermediate transfer medium 3 with a pressing force of approximately 0.1 to 5 kgf/cm, and rotates in the direction of arrow P as the intermediate transfer medium 3 rotates. is configured to be transferred onto recording paper 2.

As mentioned above, when a predetermined recording is performed by imparting adhesiveness to fluid ink through the electrochemical action of electricity, it is possible to record on plain paper, etc. with a small amount of electrical energy and without wasting ink. It becomes possible. Furthermore, since the ink using the crosslinked structure has elasticity, it can significantly reduce image distortion at the area where energy is applied, and it does not require chemical coloring, so it is compatible with the generally known electrochemical recording method. That is, compared to the electrolytic recording method, which uses color development based on an oxidation-reduction reaction caused by electricity, it is possible to record images with superior stability and durability.

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

Therefore, as in this embodiment, it is possible to easily obtain ink of any color tone using the dyes and pigments mentioned above.

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

(1) Ink transport means In the above-mentioned embodiments, cylindrical ink transport rollers 6a to 6d were used as ink transport means, but belts or sheet-shaped ink transport means may also be used. A transfer member may also be used. This belt or sheet-like ink transport member may be fed out from one side and wound up from the other, but it is preferable to use it repeatedly by making it move endlessly.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d are made of a conductive material, but if the rollers 6a to 6d are not part of an energizing circuit, they do not need to be made of a conductive material, and are made of resin. It may be composed of an insulator such as.

(2) Fluid ink In the above examples, tackiness was imparted by applying energy, and an ink image was formed with the ink to which this tackiness was imparted, but ink to which no energy was applied It is also possible to make the portions sticky and form an ink image using the ink in the portions to which no energy is applied.

(3) Layer thickness regulating means In the above-mentioned embodiment, the ink layer thickness regulating means was constituted by the rotating rollers a to 7d, but instead of these rollers, the tips were arranged at a constant distance from the ink transport rollers 6a to 6d. The layer thickness regulating means may be constituted by a blade member.

Note that the rotational speed of the ink transport rollers 6a to 6d and the ink 4
Due to the viscoelastic properties of a to 4d, the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d
The ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d having an ink layer are replaced when the ink can be coated with a constant layer thickness or when the ink layer previously formed on the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d disappears. In this configuration, the layer thickness regulating means 7a to 7d may not necessarily be provided.

(4) Energy application means In the embodiment described above in FIG. 3, when energizing the inks 4a to 4d, the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d are energized from the recording electrode 5 via the inks 4a to 4d.
- Current may be caused to flow between a large number of electrode elements 5B arranged in a row. In this case, the ink 4a~
The electrochemical change of 4d is formed on the surface of the ink layer where a particularly high pH area and a particularly low pH area are adjacent to each other, so stirring by the stirring means is only effective at the surface layer of the ink layer. It is.

Further, as in the above-described embodiment, when electricity is applied between the recording electrode 5 and the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d, the ink 4a to
In the chemical change of d, a particularly high pH region and a particularly low pH region are formed relatively apart. In this case, when current is applied to the recording electrode 5 according to the image signal, if a current is applied in one direction and then a voltage is applied in the opposite direction, the pH of the image area changes significantly and cross-linking occurs. Immediately after the part where the structure is destroyed, a non-image part is formed where the pH has changed significantly in the opposite direction. Therefore, when the mixture is stirred by a stirring means (not shown), the relaxation due to the diffusion of pl+ ions occurs more quickly, which is effective. Furthermore, such an energization method also prevents the trailing phenomenon of the image that occurs when the recording electrode 5 rubs the image area where the viscosity has decreased.

Furthermore, the energy applying means may apply thermal energy. In this case, it is sufficient to apply Joule heat using a conventionally used thermal head, but if it is necessary to prevent electrochemical electrode reactions, it is necessary to A fast alternating signal may be applied.

When forming an image by applying thermal energy as described above,
The development residue that has not been transferred to the intermediate transfer medium 3 is relaxed by cooling and recovers the crosslinked structure again. However, when it is stirred by a stirring means (not shown), the development residue, which has become a sol, is mixed with other gels. It comes into good contact with the shaped ink, and the recovery of the crosslinked structure is accelerated.

Furthermore, when electricity is applied to ink to generate heat, conventionally the ink contains a conductive phase (often black) to impart conductivity (Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-40627
issue), whereas the color of ink is often limited to black,
Since the inks 4a to 4d according to this embodiment are imparted with conductivity through ionic conduction as described above, inks of any color tone can be freely obtained.

(5) Intermediate transfer medium In the above-mentioned embodiment, the roller 3 was used as the intermediate transfer medium, but like the ink transport means, this does not have to be roller-shaped, and it can transfer a metal or plastic film in one direction. It may be transported, or it may be used as an endless belt.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, a plurality of units of fluid ink are sequentially brought into contact with the intermediate transfer medium at the same contact position by moving them to the same contact position, and the contact Since the fluid ink image to which energy is applied is transferred to the intermediate transfer medium by a single energy applying means fixedly arranged at a position, it is possible to form a high quality color image with extremely no color shift. can get.

Furthermore, in the present invention, since an ink image is formed by applying a predetermined energy to the fluid ink, there is no need for an ink sheet (ink ribbon) having a solid ink layer as in the past, and running costs are reduced. Extremely low recording processing is possible. In addition, if energy is applied by energizing, it becomes possible to record with approximately 1/10 of the current amount compared to thermal transfer recording using a conventional thermal head, which reduces running costs in terms of energy consumption. can be lowered.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a multicolor recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing a reference example of a multicolor recording method; FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of the structure of the energy application head shown in FIG. 3; FIG. (A) and (B) are explanatory diagrams showing a method for measuring the viscoelasticity of fluid ink applicable to the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Recording medium support, 2... Recording medium, 3... Intermediate transfer medium, 4a-4d... Fluid ink, 5... Energy application head, 6a-6d... Ink transfer roller, 7a to 7d... Ink film thickness control roller, 8... Light source, 9... Irradiation light, 10... Index rotary table, 11... Case, 8, B, C, D... Ink unit. 1 ne friend 1 clothes ★minei mokushiya 1 tang 4C lewd and sensual training ``NJgu0 a lot) ii 3.14fu'' 1 sei self daring attack to 1 side zudan energy cedar To Guyi P270,

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) Using a plurality of fluid inks that have fluid film-forming properties and can be imparted with tackiness by applying energy, a recording medium is transferred via a rotating intermediate transfer medium. In a multicolor recording device that forms a multicolor image on a recording medium conveyed by a support, the plurality of fluid inks are stored individually for each ink, and a layer of the ink can be transported. unit, and an ink unit moving means for sequentially bringing the plurality of fluid inks into contact with the intermediate transfer medium at the same contact position by moving the plurality of ink units, The fluid ink selectively imparted with tackiness is configured to be transferred to the intermediate transfer medium by selectively applying energy according to the image signal by the energy applying means via the intermediate transfer medium. A multicolor recording device characterized by: 2) the energy application means is disposed inside the cylindrical intermediate transfer medium or near the intermediate transfer medium;
2. The multicolor recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein energy is applied to the same contact position. 3) Driving the intermediate transfer medium so that the speed fluctuation at any point on the circumference of the intermediate transfer medium during one rotation of the intermediate transfer medium is repeated in the same way every rotation of the intermediate transfer medium. A multicolor recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the multicolor recording apparatus is equipped with a driving means for. 4) The multicolor recording according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the diameter of the recording medium support is an integral multiple of the diameter of the intermediate transfer medium. Device. 5) The intermediate transfer medium is driven by a motor rotating at high speed via a gear train whose reduction ratio is an integral multiple of that of the motor.
A multicolor recording device as described in any of the following paragraphs. 6) Claims 1 to 6 further include a driving means for driving the recording medium support so that the recording medium contacts the intermediate transfer medium at a relative speed of zero. The multicolor recording device according to any one of Item 5. 7) The multicolor recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the intermediate transfer medium has a photosensitive film. 8) Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the intermediate transfer medium is made of a conductive material having an electrical resistance equal to or higher than the electrical resistance of the fluid ink. A multicolor recording device as described in any of the following paragraphs.