JPH01188366A - Recording device and ink coating recording - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable ink replacement to be performed easily by transporting liquid ink, applying energy to ink in accordance with an image signal and increasing the thickness of an ink layer to be formed on an ink transport means for replacement of the ink transport means. CONSTITUTION:If a recording start signal is input, an ink transport roller 1, a coating roller 4, an intermediate transfer roller 6, and transport rollers 9a-9d rotate respectively to coat an ink layer on the roller 1 and transport recording paper 8. If the tip of the recording paper 8 reaches a position for a regist sensor 13, the transport of the recording paper 8 is once suspended. An ink image 2a is formed on the ink layer by energization for recording of a recording head 5 in compliance with an image signal, and the recording paper is synchronously transported to transfer the ink image 2a to the recording paper 8. When ink 2 is replaced, the roller 4 is caused to rotate at higher speed than during recording to send out the ink held up in an ink fountain 3. Thus an ink layer is applied on the ink transport roller 1 in such a manner that the thickness increases from t1 to t2. The roller 4 is parked in a state where all the ink 2 is coated on the roller 1, then the roller 1 with a coat of different color ink is installed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a recording device and an ink coating recording method that are capable of recording at low cost.

<Prior art> Today, various types of information processing recording methods have been developed that can record on plain paper, such as impact printers, electrophotography, laser beam printers, and thermal transfer printers. ing.

Among these, thermal transfer type recording devices are widely used because they have low noise and can be miniaturized7. 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 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 conventional thermal transfer method described above, when manufacturing an ink ribbon, it is necessary to apply heat-melting ink on a heat-resistant base sheet in a complicated process. Furthermore, this ink ribbon is used only once for recording and has to be disposed of, which poses problems such as high running costs.

<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 transported in a layered manner by an ink transport means, and a predetermined energy is selectively applied to this ink. They have proposed a recording apparatus that forms an ink image with adhesive properties in an image pattern and transfers this ink image onto a recording medium (Japanese Patent Application No. 175191/1984, etc.).

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 forms 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.

The present invention further develops the recording device, and includes:
It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording device and an ink coating recording method in which the fluid ink can be easily replaced without getting the operator's hands dirty.

Means according to the embodiment described below for this purpose is a recording device capable of transferring fluid ink to a recording medium in response to selective application of energy, comprising an ink reservoir for retaining the fluid ink; an ink transport means for transporting the fluid ink; a coating means for supplying the fluid ink in the ink reservoir onto the ink transport means; and transport of ink by the ink transport means rather than the coating means. energy applying means for selectively applying energy to the ink transported by the ink transporting means; and energy applying means for selectively applying energy to the ink transferred by the ink transporting means; a transfer means for transferring the ink to the ink transfer means, and a means for coating the ink transfer means with the ink staying in the ink reservoir by making the ink layer coated on the ink transfer means thicker than that during recording. It is characterized by the fact that it has been established.

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

In addition, by increasing the thickness of the ink layer coated on the ink transport means, the ink remaining in the ink reservoir can be coated on the ink transport means and the ink transport means can be replaced, making it easier to replace the ink. I can do it. Therefore, recording can be easily performed by replacing the ink with a different color ink.

<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 a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of the recording device according to the first embodiment, and FIG.
The figure is a perspective explanatory view thereof.

First, to explain the overall general configuration, an ink transfer roller 1 serving as an ink transfer means is provided so as to be rotatable in the six directions of arrows (counterclockwise direction) while transferring fluid ink 2 contained in an ink reservoir 3. It is being

The ink 2 has fluid film-forming properties and is substantially non-adhesive under normal conditions, but becomes adhesive when a predetermined energy such as electrical energy is applied. Therefore, when the ink transfer roller 1 rotates, the coating means 4 coats the surface of the ink transfer roller 1 with ink with a constant thickness. is coated and transferred as the ink transfer roller 1 rotates.

The ink 2 formed in a certain layer on the surface of the ink transfer roller 1 is applied with energy controlled by a control means, and electric energy or the like is applied in an image pattern by an applying means 5, and this energy application makes it sticky. An applied ink image 2a is formed. This ink image 2a comes into contact with an intermediate transfer roller 6, which is an intermediate transfer medium, rotating in the direction of arrow B (clockwise direction) in FIG. 1, and is transferred onto the surface of the roller 6.

The ink image 2a transferred to the intermediate transfer roller 6 is transferred to a transfer roller 7 constituting a transfer means provided in pressure contact with the intermediate transfer roller 6 and rotatable in the direction of arrow C (counterclockwise direction) in FIG. The recording paper 8 on which a predetermined image has been recorded is transferred onto a recording medium (for example, plain paper, plastic sheet, etc., hereinafter referred to as "recording paper J") 8 that is conveyed between the intermediate transfer roller 6 and the conveyance roller pair 9a. , 9b in the direction of the arrow (to the right in FIG. 1).

On the other hand, the ink 2 that has not been transferred to the intermediate transfer roller 6 is stored again in the ink reservoir 3 as the ink transfer roller 1 rotates and is used again.

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

First, the ink transfer roller 1 is made of a material that can transfer fluid ink 2, which will be described later, by forming a layer on its surface.
It is detachably attached to the device body. In this embodiment, as the ink transfer roller 1, a conductive member made of metal such as stainless steel, aluminum, or iron is formed into a cylindrical shape with an outer diameter of 40 nm, and is driven and rotated at a constant speed in the direction of arrow A. It is configured as possible.

The surface of the ink transport roller 1 made of the above-mentioned material may be a smooth surface 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 transferred by the ink transfer roller l 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. As the ink transfer roller 1 rotates, an ink layer is formed on the surface of the roller 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 the above-mentioned 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. 175191/1988, which the applicant previously filed.
The inks described in No. 62-131586 or the like are preferred.

Such ink 2 has fluid film-forming properties, but has a property of being substantially sticky, and becomes sticky when electrical energy or the like is applied thereto. Note that the "adhesiveness j" herein refers to selective adhesion, and when the ink 2 is brought into contact with an object such as the intermediate transfer roller 6, 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 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 6, the ink layer is not applied to the intermediate transfer roller 6. is not substantially transferred. This is considered to be because the gel-like ink is not transferred to the intermediate transfer roller 6 because the solvent is held in a crosslinked structure (except for a small amount of the solvent).

On the other hand, when electric energy or the like is applied to the gel-like ink, it is thought that the crosslinked structure changes, thereby imparting tackiness in accordance with the energy application.

Further, when the ink 2 is coated on the ink transfer roller 1, it has properties as a plastic body, and conversely, after being applied with energy by the energy applying means 5, it becomes an elastic body between the time when it is applied to the intermediate transfer roller 6. It is preferable to have the following properties.

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 2 mm.
1 sample, and move it in the direction of the arrow shown (slip direction)
When a sinusoidal strain T with an angular velocity of 1 rad/see is applied to , and the stress σ and phase shift δ are detected to obtain six complex elastic moduli, 0 quintillion - σ/γ=G'+iG'G';Storage Elastic modulus G#: Loss elastic modulus The value of the ratio G''/G' between the storage elastic modulus G' and the loss elastic modulus G'' is approximately 0.
1 to 10 is preferably used.

In the complex modulus of elasticity, the value of G''/G' is 0.1
If the value is less than 10, the behavior as a plastic body will be insufficient, and the ink coating on the ink transfer roller 1 will be insufficient, and if the value of G''/G' exceeds 10,
This is because the behavior as an elastic body is insufficient, and elastic recovery between the energy applying means 5 and the intermediate transfer roller 6 is insufficient.

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

In this example, the fluid ink 2 was composed of the following components.

Component A was uniformly dissolved while being heated to 80 to 90° C., and then component B was added and stirred to obtain gel-like ink 2.

An ink reservoir 3 is formed adjacent to the ink transport roller 1 and the coating roller 4, and the ink 2 is configured to be able to stay in the ink reservoir 3.

Next, the coating means 4 is disposed upstream of the energy application means 5 in the rotational direction of the ink transport roller 1, and is for coating the surface of the ink transport roller 1 with the ink 2 in a constant thickness. It is. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, this coating means 4 is constructed by rotatably providing a stainless steel coating roller 4 having an outer diameter of about 3 Qmm and rotating it in the direction of arrow E (clockwise direction) in FIG. The ink transfer roller 1 is configured to coat the surface of the ink 2 with the ink 2.

The rotating shaft of the coating roller 4 is attached to an arm 4a, and the arm 4a is configured to be retractable in the direction of arrow G by, for example, operating a handle, about the rotating shaft 4b.

Ink transport roller 1 by the coating roller 4
The layer thickness of the ink 2 formed on the surface of the ink 2 varies depending on the composition of the ink 2, the gap between the ink transport roller 1 and the coating roller 4, the rotational speed of both, etc., but during recording, the ink transport roller 1 is connected to the intermediate transfer roller. At the ink transfer position opposite to 6, it is preferable that the volume is about 0.1 to 5 fl, more preferably about 0.5 to 3 m1.

In this embodiment, during recording, the circumferential speed of the ink transport roller 1 is 20 Ryuhachi ec, and the circumferential speed of the coating roller 4 is 24 ec.
Itg P7-t on the surface of the ink transfer roller 1 by setting the gap between the two to 1.0-■ mm/sec.
An ink layer with I of about IJmm was formed.

Next, the energy application means 5 will be explained. Although this may be a conventional thermal head for selectively applying thermal energy, from the point of view of energy efficiency, in this embodiment, the recording head 5 is composed of a large number of electrodes. It is configured to apply electrical energy using the

As shown in FIG. 4, the recording head 5 has a structure in which a plurality of electrodes 5b made of a metal such as copper are arranged in a line on a base 5a made of an insulating material such as glass epoxy, alumina, or glass. An insulating film 5c made of polyimide or the like is provided on a portion of the electrode 5b other than the tip, that is, a portion other than the portion that contacts the ink 2, and an electrode element (an electrode exposed from the insulating film) is provided on the tip. tip part) 5d. As shown in FIG. 1, energy application by the recording head 5 is applied to each electrode 5 according to an image signal transmitted from a control means via a flexible signal cable 5e.
By applying electricity to the ink transfer roller 1, which is grounded by the ground wire 10, through the layer of ink 2 that is in contact with the electrode element 5d, electrical energy is applied to the layer of ink 2. . Note that the electrode element 5d
The portion is preferably plated with gold, platinum, rhodium, or the like, and from the viewpoint of durability, platinum plating is more preferable.

Further, the recording head 5 is biased toward the ink transport roller 1 by a biasing means 11 so that the electrode element 5d reliably contacts the ink layer on the ink transport roller 1. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, in the recording head 5, the base portion of the recording head 5 is attached so as to be swingable about a shaft 11a, and the head tip portion is moved in the direction of arrow F by a pressing spring llb, that is, ink The transfer roller is urged in one direction with a constant urging force. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the electrode element 5d contacts the ink layer 2 with a biasing force f,
In addition, it penetrates the ink layer having viscoelasticity by a depth d. The biasing force f is the ink 2 to be used.
It may be set appropriately depending on the viscoelastic properties of the ink layer, the thickness of the ink layer, the recording speed, the current supply conditions, etc., but if the amount of penetration is 0 to 0.
It is preferable to set it to about 1-1, more preferably about 0 to 0.51, in order to further enhance the energization effect.

In this embodiment, the recording head 5 in the longitudinal direction 2ICI11
30gf/c+n (30X2
1 = 630 gf), and the penetration ID into the ink layer is 0.
．． 05~Q, set to 1mm.

Further, when the recording head 5 is urged in the direction of the ink transport roller 1 as described above, if the ink f multi-feed roller 1 is not coated with the ink 2, the electrode element 5d
may come into direct contact with the ink transfer roller 1, causing the electrode element 5d to be chipped, or furthermore, when electricity is applied during recording, an excessive current flows from the electrode element 5d directly to the ink transfer roller 1, causing the electrode element 5d to become welded. It is possible that the drive circuit will be destroyed. Therefore, in order to eliminate the above-mentioned inconvenience, it is preferable to provide a regulating means for preventing the recording head 5 from coming into direct contact with the ink transport roller 1.

In this embodiment, a stopper pin 12 is provided as a regulating means, and when an ink layer is not formed on the ink transport roller 1, the recording head 5 is biased by a spring Ilb.
contacts the stopper pin 12 to prevent the electrode element 5d from directly contacting the ink transfer roller 1. Specifically, the stopper pin 12 is arranged so that when the recording head 5 comes into contact with the stopper pin 12, the gap S between the surface of the ink transfer roller 1 and the tip of the recording head 5 is about 0.51. ing.

Here, the amount of current applied when recording is performed with the recording head 5 in precise contact with the ink layer coated on the ink transport roller l by the biasing means 11 and the regulating means 12 will be explained. When polyvinyl alcohol crosslinked with boric acid ions is used as the ink, the amount of current required to cause the electrochemical change in the ink 2 may be sufficient. The amount of current is approximately l/1010 compared to the amount of current applied when thermal energy is applied by a thermal head in thermal transfer, for example.
The ink 2 becomes sticky due to the application of zero or low energy.

Next, the intermediate transfer roller 6 is used to transfer the ink image 2a that has been given adhesiveness by applying the energy, and in this embodiment, the intermediate transfer roller 6 is a stainless steel cylindrical member with an outer diameter of 301. The surface of the ink transfer roller 1 and about 1.0
It is arranged above the ink transfer roller 1 at a distance of ~1.2 mm, contacts the ink layer coated on the ink transfer roller 1, and is configured to be rotatable in the direction of arrow B by a driving means. .

The material constituting the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 6 is as follows:
Although it is possible to use a material similar to the material forming the surface of the manual ink multi-feeding roller 1, the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 6 may be plated with chrome plating or the like, or coated with silicone resin, fluororesin, or polyethylene resin. It is preferable to improve smoothness, stain resistance, or ease of cleaning by coating the surface with a coating material such as 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 6 be made smoother than the surface of the ink transfer roller 1.

Next, the transfer roller 7 constitutes a transfer means for transferring the ink image 2a transferred and formed on the intermediate transfer roller 6 to the recording paper 8, and in this embodiment, the transfer roller 7 is formed on a metal shaft. A transfer roller 7 made of nitrile rubber, silicone rubber, etc. formed into a cylindrical shape is pressed against the intermediate transfer roller 6 with a pressing force of about 0.1 to 5 kgf/cm using springs or the like (not shown). As the transfer roller 6 rotates, it rotates in the direction of the arrow C, and conveys the recording paper 8 in the direction of the arrow in cooperation with the intermediate transfer roller 6.
The ink image 2a formed on the intermediate transfer roller 6 is configured to be transferred onto the recording paper 8.

In FIG. 1, reference numerals 9a, 9b, 9c, and 9d are conveyance rollers that convey the recording paper 8 in response to recording operations. Reference numeral 13 denotes a registration sensor consisting of a light emitting element 13a and a light receiving element 13b, which detects the recording paper 8 being conveyed. Further, reference numeral 14 denotes a cleaning means provided so as to contact the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 6 with felt or the like on the downstream side in the rotational direction of the intermediate transfer roller 6 than the pressure contact position of the transfer roller 7. This is to remove the remaining ink from the intermediate transfer roller 6 when the remaining ink is generated during transfer onto the paper 8 .

Further, the thickness of the ink layer coated on the ink transfer roller 1 is changed by changing the rotational speed of the coating roller 4 using a control JTn means.

That is, since the ink 2 has fluidity, when the rotational speed of the coating roller 4 is increased relative to the rotation of the ink transfer roller 1, as shown in FIGS. 6(A) and 6(B), the ink is The amount of ink 2 retained in the reservoir 3 that is sent out increases, and the thickness of the ink layer coated on the ink transfer roller 1 increases. At this time, the recording head 5 and intermediate transfer roller 6, which are urged against the ink layer by springs or the like, are pushed back in the direction of arrow H in FIG. 6(B) as the thickness of the ink layer increases.

Therefore, when replacing the ink 2, if the coating roller 4 is rotated at a faster circumferential speed than during recording, the ink stays in the ink reservoir 3 as shown in FIG. 6(B). The remaining ink 2 disappears, and all the ink 2 is coated on the ink transport roller 1 with a constant layer thickness tz (Lz>L+).

In this embodiment, when the gap between the ink transfer roller 1 and the coating roller 4 is set to 1.0 mm and the circumferential speed of the ink transfer roller 1 is rotated at 15 μm/sec, the coating roller The relationship between the circumferential speed and the ink layer thickness of No. 4 is shown in FIG. Therefore, as mentioned above, during recording, the coating roller 4 is moved at a circumferential speed of 24 mm/sec.
The coating roller 4 was rotated so that the ink layer thickness L1 was about 1.2 mm, but the circumferential speed of the coating roller 4 was adjusted to about 3 Qms/
If the ink transfer roller 1 is rotated at a speed of about 2 to 3 seconds,
During the rotation, the ink layer thickness L2 becomes approximately 1,311 mm, and the ink 2 that had stayed in the ink reservoir 3 disappears and is completely coated on the ink transfer roller.

Next, a control means for driving each member of the recording apparatus will be briefly explained.

This system? As shown in FIG. 8, the 'f1 means is a ROM 20 that stores control programs and various data for the CPU 20a, such as a microprocessor, for example.
b, and a control unit 20 equipped with a RAM 20c, etc., which is used as a work area for the CPU 20a and temporarily stores various data, etc., an interface 21, an operation panel 22, each motor (ink transfer roller drive motor 23, coating roller It consists of a driver 27 for driving a drive motor 24, an intermediate transfer roller drive motor 25, a conveyance motor 26 for driving a conveyance roller, and a recording head drive driver 28.

The control section 20 receives various information (for example, recording density, number of recording sheets,
(recorded size, etc.), and a signal from the registration sensor 13 and an image signal from the external device 29 are input. Further, the control unit 20 controls motor ON/OFF for driving each motor 23 to 26 via an interface 21.
A signal and an image signal are output, and each member is driven by the signal.

Next, the operation of recording using the recording apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 9(A).

When the recording start signal is input manually using the recording start switch, etc. (
Sl), each motor 23 to 26 is driven to rotate the ink transfer roller 1, coating roller 4, intermediate transfer roller 6, and conveyance roller 9a to 9d in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, respectively;
An ink layer is coated on the ink transport roller 1, and the recording paper 8 is transported (32 to S5).

Next, when the leading edge of the recording paper 8 reaches the position of the register I/sensor 13, the conveyance of the recording paper 8 is temporarily stopped (S6, S7).
. Then, the recording head 5 is energized for recording according to the image signal to form an ink image 2a on the ink layer, and at the same time as the image is formed, the leading edge of the ink image 2a passes through the intermediate transfer roller 6 and contacts the roller 6. When reaching the pressure contact portion with the transfer roller 7, the recording paper 8 is forwarded so that the leading edge of the recording paper 8 reaches the pressure contact portion, and the ink image 2a is transferred onto the recording paper 8 (S8, S9). .

To explain the recording process in more detail, when the coating roller 4 rotates in the direction of arrow E at a circumferential speed of 24 sn/sec while the ink transport roller 1 rotates at a circumferential speed of 20 mm/sec in the direction of arrow E, the fluidity The ink 2 is coated on the surface of the ink transfer roller 1 in a layer having a thickness of 1.2 ms, and is transferred as the ink transfer roller 1 rotates.

0; I The ink 2 to be transferred is applied with a patterned voltage according to the image signal from the recording head '5 controlled by the control means at the energy application position where the ink 2 contacts the recording head 5. In the example, +15■ is applied, and in response, a current flows from the electrode element 5d through the ink 2 to the ink transfer roller 1, and the crosslinked structure changes due to an electrochemical reaction in the ink 2. An ink image 2a is formed in which the ink 2 is given selective tackiness.

The selectively adhesive ink image 2a is further transported in the direction of arrow A from the contact portion of the recording head 5, and when this ink image 2a comes into contact with the intermediate transfer roller 6, it moves in the direction of arrow B based on the adhesiveness described above. The ink is transferred and developed onto an intermediate transfer roller 6 that rotates in the direction, and an ink image 2a is formed on the surface of the roller 6.

The ink image 2a transferred onto the intermediate transfer roller 6 is
The ink image is conveyed as the roller 6 rotates, comes into pressure contact with the recording paper 8 conveyed to the ink image transfer position, and is transferred onto the recording paper 8. Furthermore, the recording paper 8 on which the ink image 2a has been transferred and recorded is discharged in the direction of the arrow. If the ink image 2a is not sufficiently fixed, a known fixing means such as heating or pressure may be provided on the downstream side of the ink image transfer position on the recording paper 8.

On the other hand, of the ink 2 transferred by the ink transfer roller 1, the portion of the ink to which no energy is applied and the portion 2a+ of the ink to which energy is applied on the surface of the ink are not transferred to the intermediate transfer roller 6. The ink is then conveyed in the direction of arrow A, stored again in the ink reservoir 3, and reused.

Incidentally, even if the transfer development is not complete as described above, the undeveloped ink, that is, the ink 2a' remaining after development is stirred in the ink reservoir 3 and returns to a fluid ink without tackiness. Therefore, even if the ink 2 re-accommodated in the ink reservoir 3 is used repeatedly, ghosts and the like will not occur.

One page is recorded by the above process (SIO), and if there is a next page to be recorded, the process returns to step 6 to continue recording from the next page onwards. When the recording is completed, the operation of the recording head is stopped and the ink image is is transferred to the recording paper 8, the driving of each motor 23 to 26 is stopped (Sll-
313).

Next, to explain the case where the ink 2 is replaced with ink of a different color, for example, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. In this case, the ink transfer roller 1 is rotated at a circumferential speed of 2 ON/sec according to a signal from the control unit 20, and the coating roller 4 is rotated at a circumferential speed of 80 mm/see, which is higher than that during recording.
(S22.523).

As a result, as shown in Fig. 6 (A) and (B),
The ink 2 staying in the ink reservoir 3 is sequentially sent out, and the ink transfer roller 1 is coated with an ink layer that gradually becomes thicker from L2 to L2.

Then, all the ink 2 staying in the ink reservoir 3 is coated on the ink transfer roller 1 (S24
), the driving of the ink transport roller 1 and coating roller 4 is stopped (S25).

With all the ink 2 coated on the ink transfer roller 1 as described above, the coating roller 4 is retracted by rotating the arm 4a in the direction of arrow G, as shown in FIG. 6(C). and remove the ink transport roller 1 in the direction of arrow J. The ink transfer roller l is shown in FIG. 6(D).
As shown in FIG. 2, both ends of the rotating shaft 1a are supported by a pair of hook-shaped bearings 16 having a notch 16a provided in the main body of the device, and a through hole 17a of the frame 17 is inserted into the fitting hole 1b of the shaft 1a. By fitting the bin 18 therewith, it is rotatably attached without falling off. Therefore,
The ink transport roller 1 can be removed from the main body of the apparatus by pulling out the pin 18 and removing the shaft 1a from the bearing 16 through the notch 16a. After removing the ink transfer roller l as described above, attach the ink transfer roller 1 coated with ink 2 of a different color to the main body of the apparatus, and rotate the arm 4a in the opposite direction of arrow G to transfer the ink. The roller 1 and the coating roller 4 are set so as to maintain a predetermined gap.

When recording with the replaced ink 2, if the ink transport roller 1 and coating roller 4 are rotated at the recording speed, the ink transport roller 1 has a layer thickness as shown in FIG. 6(^). An ink layer of Ll is coated, and an ink reservoir 3 is formed, making it possible to record in different colors.

Various methods can be considered for detecting whether all the ink 2 remaining in the ink reservoir 3 has been coated on the ink transfer roller 1 in step S24, but in this embodiment, the ink transfer roller l is coated with a number of When rotated, ink reservoir 3
This is done by detecting the number of rotations of the ink transfer roller 1, since the ink 2 inside disappears.

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 of energization. It becomes possible to record on plain paper etc. without waste.

In addition, since the ink using the crosslinked structure does not require chemical coloring, the image is more stable than the generally known electrochemical recording method, that is, the electrolytic recording method that develops color based on the oxidation-reduction reaction caused by electricity. It can record with excellent durability and durability.

Furthermore, the conductivity of ink 2 is imparted by ionic conduction, and since a wide range of ionic substances (many solutions are transparent) can be used as electrolytes for this purpose, ink of any color can be obtained by using dyes and pigments, etc. This can be done easily.

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

(1) Ink transfer means In the above embodiment, a cylindrical ink transfer roller 1 is used as the ink transfer means, but a belt or sheet-like transfer member may also be used as the ink transfer means. You may also use This belt or sheet-like ink transport member may be let out from one side and wound up from the other, but by making it move endlessly,
It is preferable to use it repeatedly.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the ink transport roller 1 was made of a conductive material, but as will be described later, when the roller 1 is not part of a current-carrying circuit, it is not necessary to make it of a conductive material, and resin, etc. It may be composed of an insulator.

(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 ink portions to which no energy was applied Alternatively, the ink may be made to have adhesive properties, and an ink image may be formed using the ink in the areas to which no energy is applied.

(3) Coating means In the embodiment described above, the coating roller 4 was rotated in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 1, but the rotation direction may be set in the opposite direction. In this way, the thickness of the ink layer formed on the surface of the ink transfer roller 1 can be made 1 compared to the case where the roller is rotated in the direction of arrow E.

Further, the coating means need not be limited to a roller-like one, for example, a blade or the like may be used.

(4) Configuration for eliminating ink remaining in the ink reservoir In the above embodiment, by rotating the coating roller 4 at a higher speed than during recording, all the ink remaining in the ink reservoir 3 is removed from the ink transfer roller 1. However, even if the ink transport roller l is rotated at a higher speed than during recording instead of the coating roller 4, the ink layer coated on the ink transport roller l will be thicker, and the ink reservoir 3 will be coated. It is possible to coat all the ink 2 onto the ink transfer roller l by causing the ink 2 in the ink to disappear.

Furthermore, if both the ink transport roller 1 and the coating roller 4 are rotated at a higher speed than during recording, the ink layer thickness can be increased more effectively, and the ink reservoir 3 can be quickly increased.
It becomes possible to coat the ink transfer roller 1 with all the ink 2 by causing the ink 2 inside to disappear.

Further, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the rotational speed of the coating roller 4 or the ink transport roller 1 is set higher than that during recording, and all the ink 2 is coated on the ink transport roller 1. Even when the rollers 1.4 are rotated at the same speed as during recording, it is possible to change the ink layer thickness by changing the gap between both rollers 1.4.

The fluid ink 2 is coated on the ink transport roller 1 in a layer thickness corresponding to the gap between the ink transport roller 1 and the coating roller 4. That is, if the gap is narrow, the coated ink layer will be thin, and if the gap is wide, the ink layer will be thick.

Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, the coating roller 4 is configured as a coating unit 15, and the unit 15 is configured to be slidable in the direction of the arrow. In the above configuration, during recording, the gap between both rollers 1 and 4 is set to al, as shown in FIG. The thickness is set to be tl.

When replacing the ink 2, see FIG. 10(B).

As shown in (C), when the unit 15 is slid in the direction of the arrow, the gap between the ink transfer roller l and the coating roller 4 changes from a to a2 (az>a).
l). Therefore, in this state, both rollers 1 and 4 are moved as shown in Fig. 10 (
Even if the ink transfer roller 1 is rotated at the same speed as in case ^), the ink layer thickness L2 coated on the ink transfer roller 1 will be the same as the layer thickness 1.
The ink 2 in the ink reservoir 3 disappears and is completely coated on the ink transport roller 1. Thereafter, as in the embodiment described above, the arm 4a is rotated as shown in FIG. Just do it.

In another embodiment, the gap between the ink transport roller l and the coating roller 4 can be widened even if the arm 4a is slightly rotated in the direction of the arrow G, without forming the coating roller 4 as a unit 15 as described above. This allows the ink transfer roller 1 to be coated with all the ink 2 and replaced with a new ink transfer roller 1.

(5) Energy application means In the embodiment described above, when energizing the ink 2, the ink transfer roller 1 is energized from the recording head 5 through the ink 2. A current may be passed between them.

Furthermore, although the energy applying means described above applies electrical energy, it may also 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, the cycle is sufficiently fast compared to the signal application period. An alternating signal may be applied.

When forming an image by applying thermal energy as described above,
The remaining developed material that has not been transferred to the intermediate transfer roller 6 is cooled to be linked to restore the crosslinked structure and become reusable.

In addition, when electricity is applied to ink to generate heat, conventionally the ink contains conductive powder (mostly black) to give it conductivity (Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-40627). In most cases, the ink is limited to black, but since the ink 2 according to this embodiment is imparted with conductivity through ionic conduction as described above, an ink of any color can be used.

(6) Intermediate transfer medium In the above embodiment, the intermediate transfer roller 6 was used as the intermediate transfer medium, but like the ink transfer means, this also does not need to be roller-shaped to transfer a metal or plastic film in one direction. It may also be used in an endlessly held manner.

Further, the intermediate transfer medium is not only disposed at a constant interval from the ink transport roller 1, but may also be configured to apply pressure to the ink 2 on the ink transport roller 1, for example.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the ink may be directly transferred from the ink transport roller 1 to the recording paper 8 without providing an intermediate transfer medium.

(7) Cleaning means In the above-mentioned embodiment, an example was shown in which the cleaning means 14 was provided to remove the remaining ink transferred to the recording paper 8 from the intermediate transfer roller 6, but the ink image 2a on the recording paper 8 was
If the image is completely transferred, it is not necessarily necessary to provide the cleaning means (4).

(8) Recording medium Examples of the recording medium include so-called plain paper, coated paper, etc.
Alternatively, a film made of plastic such as polyester or metal such as aluminum may be used.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, the present invention forms an ink image by applying a predetermined energy to fluid ink.
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, if energy is applied by energizing, it becomes possible to record with about 1/10 the amount of energization compared to thermal transfer recording using a conventional thermal head, which reduces running costs in terms of energy consumption. I can do it.

Furthermore, by coating all of the ink on the ink transport means using the ink layer thickness changing means, the ink can be replaced without getting the operator's hands dirty, and it is possible to replace the ink when there is little ink remaining in the ink transport means. This makes it easy to replace the ink with a different color ink.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory perspective view thereof, and FIG. 3 (A). (B) is an explanatory diagram showing the method of measuring viscoelasticity, Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the recording head, and Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the state of contact between the energized recording head and the ink layer. (A) , (
B), (C), and (D) are explanatory diagrams of the state in which all ink is coated on the ink transfer roller and replaced;
70 is a graph showing the relationship between the ink layer thickness and the rotational speed of the coating roller; FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the drive control system; FIGS. 9(A) and (B) are flowcharts of the operation;
Figures 10 (^), (B), and (C) are explanatory diagrams of an example in which the gap between the ink transport roller and the coating roller is widened to coat all the ink on the ink transport roller, and Figure 11 is an intermediate transfer It is an explanatory view of an example which does not provide a roller. 1 is an ink transfer roller, 1a is a shaft, 2 is a fitting hole, 2 is an ink, 2a is an ink image, 3 is an ink reservoir, 4 is a coating roller, 4a is an arm, 4b is a shaft, 5 is a recording head, 5a 5b is an electrode, 5c is an insulating film, 5d is an electrode element, 5e is a signal cable, 6 is an intermediate transfer roller, 7
8 is a transfer roller, 8 is a recording paper, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d are conveyance rollers, 10 is a ground wire, 11 is an urging means, 12 is a stone bar pin, 13 is a registration sensor, 13a is a light emitting element, 13b is a light receiver element, 14 is a cleaning means,
15 is a unit, 16 is a bearing, 16a is a notch, I7
is a frame, 17a is a through hole, 18 is a pin, 20 is a control unit, 20a is a CPU, 20b is a ROM, 20c is a RAM
, 21 is an interface, 22 is an operation panel, 23-
26 is a motor, 27 and 28 are drivers, and 29 is an external device.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A recording device capable of transferring fluid ink to a recording medium in response to selective application of energy, comprising an ink reservoir for retaining the fluid ink, and a reservoir for transporting the fluid ink. an ink transporting means; a coating means for supplying the fluid ink in the ink reservoir onto the ink transporting means; and a coating means disposed downstream of the coating means in the direction in which the ink is transported by the ink transporting means; an energy applying means for selectively applying energy to the ink transferred by the ink transporting means; a transfer means for transferring the ink, the transfer characteristics of which have changed in accordance with the selective application of the energy, to a recording medium; Recording characterized by comprising: control means for coating the ink transport means with the ink staying in the ink reservoir by increasing the thickness of the ink layer coated on the ink transport means than during recording. Device. (2) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means comprises means for rotating the ink transport means or the coating means faster than during recording. (3) Coating a fluid ink whose transfer characteristics change with energy application from an ink reservoir onto an ink transfer means, and applying energy to the coated ink according to an image signal to form an ink image whose transfer characteristics change. and an ink coating recording method for transferring the ink image to a recording medium, wherein when replacing the fluid ink, the ink transfer means is coated with the ink staying in the ink reservoir, and then the ink transfer means is coated with the ink remaining in the ink reservoir. Ink coating recording method replacing means.