JPH01241465A - Recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To save a thermal energy and to improve a recording speed, by a method wherein formation of an image on a transfer recording medium and transfer thereof on a medium to be recorded are conducted to obtain a multicolored image, and when the transfer characteristic of image formation elements of two kinds or more is varied, a thermal energy is given while a plurality of kinds of optical energies are given simultaneously. CONSTITUTION:An image is formed when a light and a heat are given to a transfer recording layer 16 of a transfer recording medium 1 in accordance with image signals in a recording unit 3. A softening point temperature of the transfer recording layer 1b rises when the light and the heat of prescribed wavelengths are given and then transfer onto recording paper 8 stops. For magenta color recording, a heating element corresponding to magenta of an image signal in a heating element array 3b is not electrified, but elements for white and blue of image signals are electrified, while a fluorescent lamp 3c is lighted for uniform irradiation. As for blue color recording, elements for white and magenta of image signals are electrified, while a fluorescent lamp 3d is lighted for uniform irradiation. In the case when there is a full-white line on a recording line, all the heat elements 3b are heated while the fluorescent lamps 3c and 3d are lighted simultaneously for irradiation. Thereby a thermal energy to be impressed is saved and a recording speed is improved. The transfer recording medium 1 is conveyed and the transfer is made therefrom on the recording paper 8 in a transfer unit 4.

Description

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Measures to Solve the Problems> Therefore, the present applicant uses a photothermal sensitive material, and when thermal energy and light energy are applied, the reaction of the material proceeds rapidly and the transfer characteristics change irreversibly. We would like to propose a technology for forming an image based on the difference in characteristics according to the image signal and transferring it to a recording medium.
No. 80, No. 60-120081, No. 60-13141
No. 1, No. 60-134831, No. 60-150597
No. 60-199926, JP-A-62-11618
No. 6.

No. 62-116188, etc.).

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

The present invention is a further development of the above-described technology, and aims to provide a recording device that can save thermal energy applied in accordance with both signals and improve recording speed in multicolor recording. It is something to do.

For this purpose, the means described in the following embodiments is an image forming element whose transfer characteristics change when thermal energy and light energy are applied thereto, which exhibits different color tones, and whose transfer characteristics change depending on the color tone. a conveyance means for conveying a transfer recording medium having a plurality of types of image forming elements having different energy application conditions; and a conveyance means provided along a conveyance path of the transfer recording medium conveyed by the conveyance means. , a recording section having a heating means for applying the thermal energy to the transfer recording medium and a light irradiation means for applying light energy according to the type of the image forming element; and the transferred transfer medium. When changing the transfer characteristics of two or more types of image forming elements when forming an image by selectively applying the thermal energy and the light energy to a recording medium, changing the transfer characteristics of the image forming elements. and a transfer section for transferring the image formed on the transfer recording medium in the recording section to the recording medium. It becomes a feature.

<Operation> According to the above means, when the transfer recording medium and the recording medium are set in the apparatus and recording is performed, predetermined thermal energy and light energy are applied to the transfer recording medium in the recording section to form an image. The cough image is then transferred to a recording medium in a transfer section.

Further, when changing the transfer characteristics of two or more types of image forming elements during the recording, by simultaneously applying thermal energy and multiple types of light energy,
It is possible to save thermal energy and improve recording speed.

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

[First embodiment]

Figure 1 (A) is a record'! FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view at the jt position, and FIG. 1(B) is a perspective view.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a transfer recording medium in the form of a long sheet, which is wound into a roll and used as a supply roll 2 in the apparatus main body M.
It is removably incorporated into the.

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

First, the leading edge of this transfer recording medium I is transferred to the supply roll 2.
Guide roller 12 a + transfer roller 4 a and pressure roller 4 via recording head 3 a and guide roller 12 b
Peeling roller 5 from between b. It is directed by the guide roller 12c and brought to the take-up roll 6, and its tip is locked to the take-up roll 6 by means such as a gripper (not shown). Thereafter, while applying torque to the take-up roll 6 in the direction of arrow C using a known driving means, the transfer roller 4 is
By rotating a, the transfer recording medium 1 moves in the direction of arrow a.
The paper is unwound in the direction and sequentially wound around the circumferential surface of the winding roll 6.

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

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

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

An example of this is as shown in FIG. 2.
R1b is formed by forming a microcapsule-shaped image forming element by the following method using the components shown in Table 1 below as the core 1c and the components shown in Table 2 as the core 1d.

Table 2: First, 10 g of the ingredients shown in Tables 1 and 2 are mixed with 20 parts by weight of methylene chloride, and then a cationic or nonionic surfactant having an HL B value of at least 10 and 1 g of gelatin are dissolved in water. Mix at 200 d and heat at 60°C with a homomixer for s, ooo ~ 10,000 rp.
Stir at - to emulsify to obtain oil droplets with an average particle size of 26-.

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

To this was added 20IR1 of water in which 1g of gum arabic was dissolved, and while slowly cooling, +11140)1 (ammonia) water was added to make the pH over 11 to obtain a microcapsule slurry, and 1.0 d of a 20% glutaraldehyde aqueous solution was added. Add slowly to harden the capsule walls.

After that, solid-liquid separation was performed using a Nutsche filter, and 3
It is dried at 5°C for 10 hours to obtain a microcapsule-shaped image forming element.

This image forming element has cores lc and l shown in Tables 1 and 2.
d is a microcapsule covered with a shell le, and is formed to have a particle size of 7 to 15n and an average particle size lOn.

The image forming element thus formed is adhered onto a support la using an adhesive If to obtain a transfer recording medium l. To explain this in more detail, for example, Nippon Gosei Kagaku Kogyo ■
Bo+j ester adhesive polyester LP-022 manufactured by
An adhesive If prepared by dissolving lee (solid content 50%) in a proportion of 3 cc of toluene is applied onto a support la made of a polyethylene terephthalate film having a thickness of 6 μm. Thereafter, the solvent is removed by drying to a thickness of about 1-. Since this adhesive if has a glass transition point of 115°C, a slight tack remains even at room temperature, making it possible to easily adhere the image forming element formed as described above to the support 1a. .

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

Thereafter, the image forming element is firmly fixed on the support la by applying a pressure of about 1 krf/cj and thermal energy of about 80° C. to form the transfer recording medium 1.

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

Next, the recording section 3 will be explained. The recording unit 3 includes a heating means for applying thermal energy serving as a first energy to the transfer recording medium l, and a light unit for applying light energy serving as a second energy to the transfer recording medium l. It consists of an irradiation means.

The heating means consists of a line-type heating element array 3b for A-4 size, 8 dots per square inch, with a width of 0.2 mm, which generates heat in response to both signals on the surface of the recording head 3a. As described above, the support la side of the transfer recording medium 1 is configured to come into contact with the heating element array 3b with a predetermined pressure due to back tension during conveyance. The image signal is generated from a control unit of a facsimile, an image scanner, an electronic blackboard, or the like, depending on the purpose.

On the other hand, on the transfer recording layer lb side facing the recording head 3a, two fluorescent lamps 3c and 3d, which are 20W type light irradiation means having spectral characteristics as shown in FIG. They are also spaced approximately 15 to 35 fins apart.

Furthermore, the transfer recording medium 1 is in pressure contact with the recording head 3a.
The slit plate 3e is kept at a distance of about 0.5*m from the transfer recording medium 1 and has an opening width of 1 so that the direct light from the fluorescent lamps 3c and 3d is irradiated only on the area directly above the row of heating elements.
．． It is provided so that the distance is 2 mm.

In this embodiment, a 20W health line fluorescent lamp PL205E manufactured by Toshiba is used as one of the fluorescent lamps 3c having the spectral characteristics shown in graph A of FIG. As the other fluorescent lamp 3d having spectral characteristics, a 20W fluorescent lamp FLIOA70E39 manufactured by Toshiba is used.

Next, the transfer section 4 will be explained. The transfer section 4 is disposed downstream of the recording section 3 in the conveyance direction of the transfer recording medium 1, and is in pressure contact with a transfer roller 4a that rotates in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. and a pressure roller 4b.

The transfer roller 4a is composed of an aluminum roller whose surface is coated with silicone rubber having a thickness of 70 degrees and a hardness of 70 degrees, and has a built-in 800 W halogen heater 4c.
The surface is maintained at a temperature of 90 to 100°C.

The pressure roller 4b is an aluminum roller coated with silicone rubber having a hardness of 70 degrees to a thickness of 11 mm, and the pressing force with the transfer roller 4a is 6 to 7 kgf/c+i by a pressure means (not shown) such as a spring. is set to .

Furthermore, recording paper 8 as a recording medium loaded in the cassette 7
is the feed roller 9. It is fed by the registration roller pair 10a and iob, and the LED 26a and the phototransistor 2
By detecting the leading edge of the recording paper 8 by a registration sensor 26 consisting of 6b and controlling the feeding timing, the recording paper 8 is fed to the transfer unit 4 in synchronization so as to overlap the image area of the transfer recording medium l. has been done.

Next, a case will be described in which the recording apparatus configured as described above is used.

In this embodiment, heat is applied in accordance with the image signal and light is applied uniformly to change the transfer characteristics of the image forming element. The following will be explained separately: a case in which at least one blue image signal exists, and a case in which neither magenta nor blue image signals exist within one rask (a line in which no image forming element is transferred to the recording paper 8). .

The transfer recording medium 1 is sequentially fed out from the supply roll 2 by driving the motor, and an image is formed by applying light and heat to the transfer recording layer 1b of the transfer recording medium 1 in the recording section 3 according to the image signal. . The transfer record Nlb has a property that when light and heat of a predetermined wavelength are applied, the softening point temperature increases, that is, the transfer characteristics change irreversibly, and the transfer record Nlb is no longer transferred to the recording paper 8. Therefore, if at least one of magenta and blue signals exists in the rask to be recorded, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. The heating element corresponding to the magenta of the image signal is not energized, and the portion corresponding to the white (recording paper 8 is white, that is, the portion where the image forming element is not transferred) and blue of the image signal is energized for 25 tms. , the fluorescent lamp 3c is uniformly irradiated with a delay of 5 ms. The irradiation time at this time is 45 m5. As a result, the image forming element exhibiting a magenta color ("■" in Figure 6)
''), the element bodies to which heat and light energy of a predetermined wavelength are applied (the element elements shaded with diagonal lines in FIG. 6(A)) no longer have transferability.

Next, when recording blue color, after 50 chapters have passed after the end of the light irradiation, that is, 100 hours after the start time of energization, the heating elements corresponding to the blue color of both signals in the heating element row 3b are energized. Instead, 25m5 of electricity is applied to the portions corresponding to white and magenta of the image signal, and after 5 hours, the fluorescent lamp 3d is uniformly irradiated. The irradiation time at this time was also 45
It is kudzu. As a result, among the image forming elements that exhibit blue color (r■ in Figure 6), the elements to which heat and light energy have been applied (the diagonally shaded elements in Figure 6 (B)) have transferability. I won't.

In the manner described above, the recording head 3a is controlled according to the blue, magenta, and white image signals to form a negative image on the transfer recording layer 1b, and transfer recording is performed synchronously at a repeating cycle of 200+ms/line. Transport medium 1. Therefore, the transfer section 4
The image forming element transferred to the recording paper 8 in this process is shown in FIG.
It will be as shown in C).

If the image signals in the rask to be recorded next are all white, that is, if the transfer characteristics of the two types of image forming elements are changed so that no image forming element in one line is transferred,
As shown in the timing chart of FIG. 5(B), all heating elements are energized for 25 times, and with a delay of 5 m from the start of energization, both fluorescent lamps 3c and 3d are simultaneously turned on for 45+ m.
s is turned on to uniformly irradiate two types of light energy that cause two types of image forming elements to react. As a result, Figure 6C
As shown in D>, all the image forming elements in one line no longer have transferability.

A white negative image is formed on the transfer recording layer 1b in the manner described above, and the transfer recording medium 1 is conveyed synchronously at a repeating period of 100a+s/line. Therefore, in this case l
The time required to change the transfer characteristics of the line image forming element is 1/2 compared to the case of FIG. 5(A),
It becomes possible to double the recording speed per line. Furthermore, compared to the case of FIGS. 6(^) and (B) in which heat and light energy are individually applied to two types of image forming elements, the heating element 3b does not need to generate heat redundantly, so the thermal energy is You can also save.

Here, the control means according to this embodiment for performing the above recording operation will be specifically explained with reference to FIGS. 7 to 12. 7 is a block diagram of the control means, FIG. 8 is a flowchart of recording control, FIGS. 9(A) and (B) are timing charts of recording and conveyance operations, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between each member. 11 is a sequence table for sending out each signal, and FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram of a temperature control system for the transfer roller 4a.

As shown in FIG. 7, this control system includes, for example, a CPU 20a such as a microprocessor, a ROM 20 that stores control programs for the EiCPU 20a, and various data.
b, and a control unit 20 including a RAM 20c used as a work area for the CPU 20a, an interface 21, an operation panel 22, an image forming timing generator 23,
Feed motor driver 24, transport motor driver 25, registration sensor 26, and respective fluorescent lamp lighting devices 2
7.28, white line detectors 33a, 33b, logic circuit 2
9a to 29h, a line memory 34.1 to 2 frequency divider 32, 100ss delay devices 35a and 35b, and switches SW1 and SW2.

The control unit 20 receives various information (for example, recording density, number of recording sheets,
(recording size, etc.), a signal from the registration sensor 26, and a line synchronization signal generated by the image forming timing generator 23 are input. Further, the control unit 20 generates a motor ON signal for the feeding motor 30, a motor ON signal for the transport motor 31, and a page signal via the interface 21.

The clock of the crystal oscillator inside the image forming timing generator 23 is frequency-divided to generate various signals (line synchronization signal, page synchronization signal, video clock, enable signal, strobe clock, fluorescent lamp ON signal, etc.).

When the white line detection signal is r row j, the line synchronization signal has a cycle of 200 m5 and the first 10 tas period is "
At high j, the latter 130a+s is a rectangular wave of r row 1, but at the middle 100 m5 of the period, if the white line detection signal is high j, the line synchronization signal generator is initialized, and at that point The page signal sent from the control unit 20 via the interface 21 is latched at the rising edge of the line synchronization signal to generate a page synchronization signal.

The video clock is 25 minutes from the rising edge of the line synchronization signal.
Generates a kHz clock and has 1728 clocks (approximately 69m5
) is a signal with a period of 100 m5 that generates a clock and then pauses (note that the recording head 3a of this embodiment has 1728 pixels per line).

The image forming timing generator 23 receives r of the line synchronization signal.
A strobe signal is generated that is "high" during a high 1 period and a period when the video clock is at rest.

Enable clock is Zhou! In tlIrooms, the first 25m5 is an r high J square wave signal.

An image forming timing generator 23 generates a fluorescent lamp ON clock. This is a rectangular wave signal with a period of 100 m5, in which the first 5111s is "r low" and the next 45a+s is "high".

Furthermore, the image forming timing generator 23 includes a feed motor 30 which is a pulse motor, a feed motor driver 24 that drives a transport motor 31, a transport motor, and a driver 2.
Generates a motor clock to be supplied to 5.

The motor clock is divided by a 1/2 frequency divider 32,
The clock before frequency division and the clock after frequency division are selected by switch 1, and the logical product of the clock and the feed motor ON signal is supplied to feed motor driver 24 via AND circuit 29a.

Further, the AND of the clock and the transport motor ON signal is supplied to the transport motor driver 25 via the AND circuit 29b.

When the feed motor ON signal and the transport motor ON signal are "r high" according to the above-mentioned signals, each motor driver 24.
25 is clocked to clock each motor 30.31
rotates, but if the white line detection signal is r row 1 and the switch S-1 is connected to the Oj side, it is driven by the clock of the l/2 frequency divider 32, and at this time the recording paper 8
The transfer recording medium 1 is transported at a speed of 0.62 w/sec. On the other hand, when the white line detection signal is "r high" and the switch SWI is connected to the "1" side, 1/2
It is driven by the clock before being divided by the frequency divider 32, and at this time, the recording paper 8 and the transfer recording medium 1 are
, 25 dragons/sec.

Further, an external image signal generator (for example, a facsimile, an image scanner, an electronic whiteboard, etc.) 36 receives a page synchronization signal, a line synchronization signal, and a video clock from the image forming timing generator 23, and the page synchronization signal is From the time when the line synchronization signal is r high j, 1728 magenta image signals and 1728 blue image signals each are sent out in synchronization with the video clock.

The magenta image signal is temporarily stored in a shift register within the recording head 3a, and the front cylinder signal is temporarily stored in the line memory 24. Furthermore, in parallel with the memory mentioned above.

The blue white line detectors 33a, 33b detect whether or not the stored image signals are all white. If all the image signals are white, it becomes "high" at the falling edge of the line synchronization signal, and at the next falling edge. r row", and the respective detection outputs are sent to the image forming timing generator 23 and the switch SWI by the AND circuit 29e as the AND of the width detection signal as a white line detection signal.

The switch SW2 is controlled by the line synchronization signal, and is connected to the rlJ side when the line synchronization signal is "high", and as mentioned above, the magenta picture signal from the external picture signal generator 36 is sent to the shift register in the recording hand 3a as a video clock. are stored in sync with the Also, when the switch SW2 line synchronization signal is r row j, it is connected to the 01 side, and the image signal of the line memory 34 is synchronized with the video clock and sent to the recording head 3.
It is stored in the shift register in a.

The enable clock is ANDed by the AND circuit 29f with the page synchronization signal delayed by the Looms delayer 35a, and is supplied to the recording head 3a as an enable signal. This enable signal corresponds to the energization signal for the heating element 3b corresponding to the image signal shown in FIG.

The ON signal for the fluorescent lamp 3c is obtained by performing an AND operation on the fluorescent lamp ON clock from the image forming timing generator 23 and the signals from the 100+*s delay units 35a and 35b using an AND circuit 29c.

The ON signal of the fluorescent lamp 3d is set to 100 by the negative circuit 29g.
inverting the output of the m5 delay device 35b and obtaining a logical sum of the inverted signal and the white line detection signal by a logical sum circuit 29h;
The logical sum signal and the fluorescent lamp are turned on by the logical product circuit 29d.
It is obtained by performing an AND operation between the clock and the signal of the Looms delay device 35a.

The recording head 3a and the fluorescent lamps 3c and 3d are activated by each of the above signals.
The recording head 3a is driven by a switch S.
The image signal from W2 is taken into the shift register inside the henodo using the video clock from the image forming timing generator 23, and the taken image signal is sent to the image forming timing generator 23.
The heating element 3b is latched in the latch register in the henode by the strobe signal from the AND circuit 29f, and then the heating element 3b is energized according to the image signal in the latch register by the enable signal from the AND circuit 29f, and at the same time, the shift register is energized. The next image signal is captured by the video clock.

Further, the lighting devices 27 and 28 for the fluorescent lamps 3c and 3d receive ON signals for the fluorescent lamps 3c and 3d from the AND circuits 29c and 29d, and the ON signals for the respective fluorescent lamps 3c and 3d are set to "high j".
At the time point, the corresponding fluorescent lamps 3c and 3d are turned on.

Next, differences in the sequence depending on the white line detection signal will be explained.

When the white line signal is rQJ, that is, when there is at least one of magenta and blue image forming elements to be transferred to the recording paper 8 within one raster, control is performed at the timing shown in FIG. 5(A), and When the white line signal is 111, that is, 1
If there is no image forming element to be transferred to the recording paper 8 within the raster, control is performed at the timing shown in FIG. 5(B).

To explain this more specifically, first, when the white line detection signal is rlJ, the white line detection signal causes the switch S to
WI is sent to the rlJ side. As a result, the transport motor 31 rotates at twice the speed when the switch SWI is set to the rQJ side, and transports the transfer recording medium 1 at twice the speed. At the same time, the heating element 3b is energized for 25 hours, and 5 mm after the energization, the fluorescent lamps 3c and 3d are simultaneously turned on for a period of 45 times.

At this time, the switch 2 is set to the rlJ side by the line synchronization signal from the image forming timing generator 23, and the page synchronization signal, line synchronization signal, and video clock signal are supplied to the external image signal generator 36, A magenta image signal is sent from the external image signal generator 36 to the recording head 3a.
The blue image signal is input into the shift register and all-white detector 21 in the line memory 24 and all-white detector 22, respectively.

Next, when the white line detection signal is rOJ, the switch SWI is set to the rOJ side according to the white line detection signal.
/2 frequency divider 32 is activated to transport the transfer recording medium l at a speed 1/2 of that when the white line detection signals are rl and H, and at the timing shown in FIG. 5 (^). Drive control.

That is, at the same time as the conveyance, an energization signal from the AND circuit 29f and a fluorescent lamp ON signal from the AND circuit 29c cause the rad 3 to be recorded in response to the magenta image signal for the first 25n period.
Selectively energize each heating element of a, and from the energization 51
After 1S, the fluorescent lamp 3C is turned on at 45 nm. At the same time as this energization, the line synchronization signal causes the switch SW2 to be set to the "01" side for the first half of the Loom period shown in FIG. Transfer to shift register.

Furthermore, during the period of 100ffi in the latter half of FIG. 5(A), the AND circuit 29f selectively energizes each heating element in response to the image signal 25 times before the period, and 5ms after the energization, the fluorescent lamp 3d is turned on. A5 sweetfish lights up. At this time, the switch SW2 is set to the 111 side, and the signal generator 2
0, a page synchronization signal, a line synchronization signal, and a video clock are sent to an external image signal generator 36, and a magenta image signal is sent from the external image signal generator 36 to a shift register and a white line detector 33a in the recording head 3a. The blue image signal is taken into the line memory 34 and the white line detector 33b, respectively.

An image is formed on the transfer recording medium 1 under the control as described above.

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

The feed motor driver 24 drives the feed motor 30 when the feed motor ON signal from the AND circuit 29a is "high 1", and drives the feed roller 9 and the registration roller pair 10.
a and 10b are rotated to convey the recording paper 8 at a constant speed.

Further, when the conveyance motor ON signal from the AND circuit 29b is r high J, the conveyance motor driver 25 drives the conveyance motor 31 to rotate the transfer roller 4a, and the pressure roller 4b rotates as a result of this. The transfer recording medium 1 and the recording paper 8 are conveyed at a constant speed by the cooperative action.

Here, the timing of each signal output by the control section 20 via the interface 21 is as shown in FIGS. 9(A) and 9(B). Incidentally, times T1 to T4 in FIG. 9(B) are the first
As shown in Figure 0, the distance between each member is L1 to L.

In this case, the time required for conveying the transfer recording medium 1 or the recording paper 8 is as follows.

LI: Conveyance distance of the transfer recording medium 1 from the recording head 3a to the pressure contact portion between the transfer roller 4a and the pressure roller 4b.

L! : Conveyance distance of the transfer recording medium l from the pressure contact portion to the peeling roller 5.

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

T1: Time required to transport the transfer recording medium 1 a distance of L + Ls.

T8! The time required to convey the recording paper 8 distance.

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

T4: Time required to transport the transfer recording medium l a distance of +L.

That is, when the operator presses a start button on an operation panel or the like, the feeding motor 30 is driven, feeds the recording paper 8, and stops driving when the leading edge of the recording paper 8 touches the registration sensor 26. At the same time as this drive body stops, the conveyance motor 31 is driven to convey the transfer recording medium l in the direction of the arrow a in FIG. A forming step is performed.

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

Note that the feeding motor 30 operates at a time T1 after the transfer recording medium 1 starts to be conveyed. The recording paper 8 is conveyed at the same speed as the transfer recording medium 1 and then stopped. As a result, the leading edge of the recording paper 8 matches the leading edge of the transfer image formed on the transfer recording medium 1 in the transfer unit 4, and is conveyed by the drive of the conveyance motor 31 while being in close contact with the transfer recording medium 1.

Here, the control section 2 sends out each signal as shown in FIG.
0 inputs a line synchronization signal and counts its number. That is, the line synchronization signal is SW 1 kar
I J (7) (!: Kiha 100 IaS period, rO
'', the period is 200 m5, so the control section 20 can manage the time by counting the signals.

The control f711 section 20 has a sequence table as shown in FIG.
After reaching high j, sequentially refer to the sequence table while counting the line synchronization signal and turn on the feed motor.
A signal, a conveyance motor ON signal, and a page signal are sent out, and the drive of each member is controlled by each signal.

In this embodiment, the sequence table has a 3-bit structure as shown in the 1nth word, and consists of a total of 3217 words from the 0th to the 3216th word, where bit 0 is the feed motor ON signal and bit 1 is the conveyance motor ON signal. The motor ON signal, bit 2, corresponds to the page signal, respectively.

In addition, the numbers in parentheses at the top of Fig. 9 indicate the line synchronization signal at the time when the registration sensor signal becomes "r high" as the 0th line synchronization signal, and the numbers of the line synchronization signals at each time point (
(number of signals).

Next, a series of operations of the control unit 20 having the above-mentioned functions will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG.
), if pressed, sends the feed motor ON signal (
S2), Next, wait until the register sensor signal becomes r high J (S3), assign 0 to R indicating the rask number of the sequence table (S4), then confirm that the line synchronization signal is "low 1". Wait for (S5), then press "Hi" after
(S6), thereby detecting the rising edge of the line synchronization signal. When the edge is detected, refer to the Rth edge in the sequence table and set bit 0.
-Bit 2 is sent as a feed motor ◯N signal, a transport motor signal, and a page signal, respectively (S7). Next, 1 is added to the value of R (S8), and it is determined whether the value of R is greater than 3216 (S9). If the value is smaller than or equal to 3216, the process returns to step S5. Continue recording, and end recording if the value is larger.

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

The thermistor 37 in FIG. 12 is arranged so as to be in contact with the surface of the transfer roller 4a, and its resistance value changes depending on the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a. ! and is compared with the reference voltage E0 by the comparator 39. The comparison output is connected to the power supply E by a relay 41 via a relay driver 40.
, controls the energization of the halogen heater 4c.

Here, the driving principle of the temperature control configuration will be described. The thermistor 37 has a property that its resistance value decreases as the temperature increases. Therefore, as the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a increases, the resistance value of the thermistor 37 decreases, and the voltage E8 decreases. Conversely, if the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a decreases, the thermistor 37
The resistance value of increases and the voltage Ex also increases. Therefore, the value of the reference voltage E0 is changed to the voltage E corresponding to the transfer roller 4a at 95°C.
By setting the value to 2, when the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a is lower than 95° C., the comparison output becomes r-high 1, the halogen heater 4C is energized, and the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a increases. On the other hand, when the temperature is higher than 95°C, the halogen heater 4C is not energized and the surface temperature decreases. Due to the above control, the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a is 90 to 100.
kept at ℃. Note that this control system operates constantly when the power switch of the device is on, and is controlled so that the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a reaches 90 to 100°C before the start button on the operation panel is pressed. .

As described above, an image is formed on the transfer recording medium 1, and the cough image is transferred to the recording paper 8 in the transfer section 4 as a multicolor image of magenta, blue, and white.

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

When multicolor recording is performed in one shot as described above and there is an all-white line in the recording line, all the heating elements 3b are made to generate heat, and the fluorescent lamps 3c and 3d are irradiated at the same time to apply heat. This makes it possible to save thermal energy and improve recording speed.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment described above, the fluorescent lamp 3c when an all-white line occurs
, 3d control switching and the speed switching of the transport motor 31 were shown as examples using hardware, but as the processing speed of microprocessors has improved in recent years, it has become possible to perform the switching control using software. .

This embodiment will be described as a second embodiment. FIGS. 13 and 14 are block diagrams and flowcharts for this purpose.

To explain the difference from the first embodiment, the line synchronization signal sent from the image forming timing generator 23 is generated by the line synchronizing signal within the image forming timing generator 23, and is normally 7s high. After that, a rectangular wave "13hs r low" is generated repeatedly, and when the line synchronization initial signal is given, 70+
It has the function of repeatedly generating a square wave of 1sr high J, 130m5r low.

The video clock, enable signal, strobe signal, and motor clock are the same as in the first embodiment described above.

The control unit 20 sends out a line synchronization initial signal and control signals for the switches SWI and SW2 via the interface 21, and inputs an all-white signal. Furthermore, the control section includes a timer 20d that measures the passage of time.

Next, software for generating the timing chart of FIG. 9(A) using the above configuration will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 14.

First, when a start signal from the start button is detected in step S21, the feeding motor 30 is turned on in step S22, and then the registration sensor 266 is turned on in step S23.
Wait for < r high j, and then the sensor 26
When becomes r high j, the rask number R is set to O in step S24, and the switch SW2 is set to r in step 325.
lj side, and a page signal is sent out in step 326.

Next, in steps 327 and 328, the rising edge of the line synchronization signal is detected in the same manner as in the first embodiment,
In step S29, the timer 20d is cleared (T-0), and the timer 20d measures the passage of time based on this point in time.

The control section 20 has a table similar to that of the first embodiment described above, and in step 330, it sends out the feed motor clock, transport motor clock, and page signal according to the table. Thereafter, the control is performed as follows according to the value of the rask number R. That is, the rask number R is detected in step S31, and if R-0, the process moves to step S35, and if R=1 to 2375, the process moves to step 332. Transition. Further, in the case of R-2376, the process moves to step S44, and in the case of R>2316, the process moves to step S345.

To explain this separately for each case, in the case of R=0, in step 335, at the time T=90ms, that is, the period when the line synchronization signal is "r high" ends, and the magenta and blue image signals are input. The all-white signal is detected when the If the all-white signal is detected, the process moves to step 543. In step 343, T = Looms
At the point in time, initialize the line synchronization generator and proceed to step S3.
Move to 9. In this step S39, the rask number R=
I'? +1, and if the rask number R is R>3216 in step S40, the process returns to step 32B.

Further, if the all-white signal is not detected in step S35, the process moves to step S36 and the switch SW2 is turned to r.
Set on the QJ side, and in step 337 T-105a+
The period fluorescent lamp 3C of the s-150 monk S is turned on, and the process moves to step 338, and at the time of T=190+s, the switch 5112 is set to the ``rl'' side, and the process moves to step S39.

Next, in the case of R=1 to 2375, an all-white signal is detected in step S32, and if an all-white signal is detected, the process moves to step S41 to simultaneously apply the magenta and blue image forming elements. To perform non-transfer processing, set the switch SWI to the rl3 side and drive the motor at twice the speed.
In step S42, the period of T=5 to 50 as is the fluorescent lamp 3c,
Turn on 3d at the same time. Thereafter, the process moves to step S43 and the same process as described above is performed.

On the other hand, if the all-white signal is not detected in step S32, the process moves to step S33, and the switch S-l is turned to rO.
j side, and in step S34, the fluorescent lamp 3d is ONL for the period T-5 to T-50-3, and the process moves to step S35, where the same process as in the case of R=00 described above is performed.

Next, in the case of R=2376, that is, for one line when processing corresponding to A4 size recording paper is completed, the fluorescent lamp 3d is turned ONL for a period of T=5 to 50w5 (S44), and set to R-R+1 in step S39. Return to step S8.

Next, in the case of R>2376, since the transfer image forming process in the recording section 3 has been completed, switch button 1 is set to the rlJ side in step S45, and T-100m5 is set in step S46.
At this point, the line synchronization generator is initialized and the motor is rotated quickly to speed up the transfer process to the recording paper.

Then, the process moves to step S39, and it is determined whether or not R>3216, and if No, the process returns to step S8, and YES is selected.
If , terminate.

The image formed as described above is transferred onto the recording paper 8 by the transfer section 4.

[Other Examples]

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

(1) Control means In the above-mentioned embodiment, a case was described in which multicolor recording was performed using two types of image forming elements each exhibiting a different color tone, but the present invention is limited to the case where there are two types of image forming elements. In other words, when performing multicolor recording using two or more types of image forming elements each exhibiting a different color tone, two or more types of image forming elements do not need to be transferred to the recording paper 8 as an image signal in one line. If there is, it is possible to save thermal energy and improve the recording speed by simultaneously irradiating two or more fluorescent lamps to change the transfer characteristics of the image forming element that does not transfer. it is obvious.

The same applies to the case where a recorded image is formed using a mixture of two or more color tones.

For example, an image forming element exhibiting a red tone (hereinafter referred to as r-red-purple element 1) and an image forming element exhibiting a cyan tone (hereinafter referred to as r-cyan element j) are used, and red, cyan, and black (referred to as r-cyan element j) are used. When forming a multicolor recorded image of white (an area where both the violet and cyan elements are transferred) and white (an area where no image forming element is transferred), both signals within one line are the white and black images. When it is a signal, in order to form a black image, a fluorescent light to change the transfer characteristics of the red-violet body and a fluorescent light to change the transfer characteristics of the cyan body are irradiated simultaneously, and the recording head It is only necessary to energize the heating element in accordance with the white and black image signals.In this case as well, it is possible to save thermal energy and improve the recording speed.

(2) Recording section In the above-mentioned embodiment, if the support 1a is made of a light-transmitting material, light can be irradiated from the support 1a side and heat can be applied from the transfer recording layer 1b side. It's okay.

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

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

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

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

In the above-mentioned embodiment, light energy and thermal energy were applied to the transfer recording layer 1b at the same time. However, even if the optical energy and thermal energy are applied separately, the result is that both energies are applied separately. Any configuration that is given is acceptable.

(3) Transfer unit The transfer unit 4 is not limited to a roller-like configuration such as the transfer roller 4a and the pressure roller 4b, but may be configured as long as it can obtain a desired pressure, such as a rotating belt, for example. .

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

(4) Transfer recording medium In the above-mentioned embodiment, an image is transferred and recorded onto the recording paper 8 by changing the softening point temperature of the transfer recording layer 1b made of a polymeric material containing a colorant using light energy and thermal energy. Although an example has been shown in which the image is transferred and recorded, it is also possible to transfer and record the image depending on the adhesion property to the recording paper 8 or the difference in the sublimation property.

Alternatively, the transfer recording medium 1 is provided with a layer that imparts color development to the recording paper 8 and changes the color development characteristics of the recording paper 8.
The image may be obtained by transferring the image formed on the transfer recording medium 1 to the recording paper 8.

In addition to the above-mentioned polyethylene terephthalate, for example, polyamide, polyimide, capacitor paper, cellophane paper, etc. can also be used as the material for the support 1a.

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

The image forming element constituting the transfer recording layer 1b contains a sensitive component and a coloring component, and the sensitive component exhibits changes in physical properties when multiple energies such as light and heat energy are applied. It is preferable to use a material that starts to respond or a material that rapidly changes the reaction rate of physical property change.

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

Examples of the heptamers or oligomers include polyvinyl cinnamate, p-methoxycinnamic acid-succinic acid half ester, epoxy resins, unsaturated polyester resins, etc. having reactive groups at the terminal or side chains. Can be mentioned.

Examples of polymerizable polymers include ethylene glycol diacrylate and propylene glycol diacrylate.

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

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

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

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

The coloring component is a component contained in order to form an optically z'U2 image, and various pigments and dyes are used as appropriate. Examples of such pigments and dyes include inorganic pigments such as carbon black and yellow lead, pigments such as Victoria Blue Lake and Fast Sky Blue, and colorants such as leuco dyes and phthalocyanine dyes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Further, when changing the transfer characteristics of two or more types of image forming elements during the recording, by simultaneously applying thermal energy and multiple types of light energy,
This makes it possible to save thermal energy and further improve the recording speed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 (A) and (B) are overall schematic explanatory diagrams of the first embodiment, Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of the structure of the transfer recording medium, and Figure 3 shows the light absorption characteristics of the photoinitiator in the transfer recording medium. The graph shown in Fig. 4 is a graph showing the spectral characteristics of the light irradiation means, Fig. 5 (^),
(B) is a timing chart for applying heat and light, No. 6
The figure is an explanatory diagram showing changes in the transfer characteristics of the image forming element due to energy application, Figure 7 is a block diagram of the control section, Figure 8 is a flowchart of the recording operation, and Figures 9 (^) and (B) are the recording A timing chart of the operation, FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between each member, FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a sequence table for sending out each signal, FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the temperature control system of the transfer roller 4a, FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the second embodiment, and FIG. 14 is its flowchart. (2) is a transfer recording medium, 1a is a support, 1b is a transfer recording layer,
lc and ld are the core, 1e is the shell, 1 is the adhesive, 2 is the supply roll, 2a is the supply roll axis, 3 is the recording section, 3a is the recording head, 3b is the heating element array, 3c and 3d are fluorescent lamps,
3e is a slit plate, 4 is a transfer section, 4a is a transfer roller, 4
b is a pressure roller, 4C is a heater, 5 is an IJI # roller, 6 is a take-up roll, 7 is a cassette, 8 is a recording paper, 9
10a and 10b are the feeding rollers, 10a and 10b are the registration rollers, and 11
12a+12b+12c is a guide roller, 13a and 13b are discharge rollers, 20 is a control unit, 2
0a is CPU, 20b is ROM, 20c is RAM, 20
d is a timer, 21 is an interface, 22 is an operation panel, 23 is an image forming timing generator, 24 is a feed motor driver, 25 is a transport motor driver, 26
is a resist sensor, 29a to 29h are logic circuits, 30
31 is a feeding motor, 32 is a l/2 frequency divider, and 33a. 33b is a white line detector, 34 is a line memory, 35
a and 35b are delay devices, 36 is an external signal generator, 37 is a thermistor, 38 is a resistor, 39 is a comparator, 40 is a relay driver, and 41 is a relay.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A plurality of image-forming elements whose transfer characteristics change when thermal energy and light energy are applied thereto, which exhibit different color tones, and in which the energy application conditions for changing the transfer characteristics depending on the color tone are different. a conveyance means for conveying a transfer recording medium having a seed image forming element; and a conveyance means for conveying the thermal energy to the transfer recording medium provided along a conveyance path of the transfer recording medium conveyed by the conveyance means. a recording section having a heating means for applying light energy and a light irradiation means for applying light energy according to the type of the image forming element; When forming an image by selectively applying , when changing the transfer characteristics of two or more types of image forming elements, applying two or more types of light energy to change the transfer characteristics of the image forming elements. What is claimed is: 1. A recording apparatus comprising: a control means for simultaneously applying images; and a transfer section for transferring an image formed on the transfer recording medium by the recording section to a recording medium. (2) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance means is configured to increase the conveyance speed of the transfer recording medium when simultaneously applying the two or more types of optical energy.