JPH0195067A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform recording without leaving recording information on a used transfer recording medium, by erasing an image left on a transfer recording layer after that image formed on a transfer recording medium is transferred to a medium to be recorded. CONSTITUTION:The operator presses a start button on a operation panel 22 to drive a feed motor and feed a recording paper 8. When the leading edge of the paper reaches a register sensor 26, the motor stops and at the same time a transfer motor is driven to transfer a transfer recording medium 1 in an arrow (a) direction and form a transfer image in a recorder 3. A feed motor transfer the recording paper 8 at the same speed as that of the transfer recording medium 1 to align it with the head edge of the transfer image at a transfer section 4, driving the transfer motor to transfer the image in the transfer section 4. A separation roller 5 separates the medium 1 from the paper 8, the latter being discharged into a discharge tray 11 by a pair of discharge rollers 13a, 13b. An image left on the medium 1 is scraped off by a contact member 14a vibrating in an erasing section and the medium is taken up by a take-up roller 6.

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.

<Prior 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 device, it is necessary to repeat transfer to overlap the colors. For this purpose, it is necessary to provide multiple heat ends, or to make the recording paper make complicated movements such as stopping and reversing, which not only makes color misalignment unavoidable, but also makes the entire device large and complicated. There is a problem with this.

<Means for solving the problem> 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. proposed a technology for forming an image based on the difference in characteristics according to the image signal and transferring it to a recording medium (Japanese Patent Application No. 1200-1983).
No. 80, No. 60-120081, No. 60-13141
No. 1, No. 60-134831, No. 1 (io-15059)
No. 7, No. 60-199926, 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-mentioned technology, and aims to provide a recording device capable of recording without leaving recorded information on a used transfer recording medium.

For this purpose, the means of the embodiment described below is a transfer recording medium having a transfer recording layer whose transfer characteristics change by applying a first energy and a second energy different from the first energy. and a first energy applying means for applying the first energy to the transfer recording medium, which is provided along the conveyance path of the transfer recording medium conveyed by the conveyance means. and a second for applying the second energy.
a recording section having an energy imparting means; a transfer section for transferring an image formed on the transfer recording medium in the recording section to a recording medium; and an image remaining on the transfer recording layer after passing through the transfer section; The feature is that an erasing means for erasing is provided.

<Operation> According to the above means, when the transfer recording medium and the recording medium are set in the apparatus and recording is performed, multiple types of energy are applied to the transfer recording medium in the recording section to form an image. The image is transferred to the recording medium in the transfer section.

Furthermore, although a negative image remains on the transfer recording layer after the image is transferred to the recording medium, since this image is erased by the erasing means, no recorded information remains on the transfer recording layer.

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

FIG. 1(A) is a cross-sectional schematic explanatory diagram of the recording device, and the first
Figure (B) is a perspective explanatory 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 end of this transfer recording medium l is connected to the supply port 2.
The peeling roller 5. It is deflected by a guide roller 12c, passes through an erasing means 14, and reaches a 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 winding roll 6 in the direction of arrow C using a known driving means,
By rotating the transfer roller 4a, the transfer recording medium 1 is fed out in the direction of the arrow a, and is sequentially wound around the circumferential surface of the take-up roll 6.

Incidentally, during the winding, a constant pack 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 1 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 structure of each part will be explained in detail. First, the transfer recording medium l is made up of a sheet-like support la as shown in FIG.
A transfer recording medium having a property of forming an image when both thermal energy and light energy are applied is attached thereon.

To explain an example thereof, as shown in FIG. 2, the transfer recording layer 1b uses the components shown in Tables 1 and 2 as cores lc and Id, and microcapsule-shaped image forming elements are formed by the following method. It forms.

(Left below) Table 1 Table 2 In other words, 10 g of the ingredients shown in Tables 1 and 2 are first mixed with 20 parts by weight of methylene chloride, and then mixed with a surfactant such as a cationic or nonionic surfactant with an HLB value of at least 10 or more. Mix 1 g of gelatin with 200 d of water and mix at 60°C with a homomixer at s, ooo ~ 10,00 Orpm.
Stir to emulsify and obtain oil droplets with an average particle size of 26μ.

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

Add 2 (ld) of water in which gum arabic Ig was dissolved,
After cooling slowly, add NH40H (ammonia) water to adjust the pH to 11 or higher to obtain a microcapsule slurry, and prepare a 20% glutaraldehyde aqueous solution 1.
0- is added slowly to harden the capsule wall.

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 1e, and is formed to have a particle size of 7 to 15-1 and an average particle size of 10. The image forming element thus formed is adhered onto a support la using an adhesive to form a transfer recording medium 1.

To explain this in more detail, adhesive 1f made by dissolving polyester adhesive Polyester LP-022 (solid content 50%) iced at a rate of 3 cc of toluene manufactured by Nippon Gosei Kagaku Kogyo ■ in a thickness of 6 pta. The mixture is coated on a support la made of a polyethylene terephthalate film. After that, the solvent was removed by drying and the thickness was measured, and it was found that it was about 1.
It was 4. This adhesive 1f has a glass transition point of 115°C.
Therefore, a slight tack remains even at room temperature, and the image forming element formed as described above can be easily attached 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.
They were mixed at a ratio of 1:1, and this was sprinkled to adhere. Thereafter, when the excess image forming element was brushed off, the image forming element was disposed on the adhesive layer in approximately one layer and at a ratio of 90%.

Thereafter, a pressure of about 1 kg/cJ and thermal energy of about 80° C. are applied to firmly fix the image forming element on the support la to form a transfer recording medium l.

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 as a first energy to the transfer recording medium 1, and a light unit for applying optical energy as a second energy to the transfer recording medium 1. It consists of an irradiation means.

The heating means consists of a line-type heating element array 3b for A-4 size, 8 dots/1 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 be pressed against the heating element array 3b with a predetermined pressure due to the 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 located approximately 15 to 35 m5 apart.

Furthermore, the transfer recording medium l is in pressure contact with the recording pad 3a.
The slit plate 3e is kept at a distance of about 0.5 mm from the transfer recording medium 1, and the opening width is 1.2 mm 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 set up to look like a crane.

In this embodiment, a 20W health line fluorescent lamp FL203E 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 1×1 and a hardness of 70 degrees, and the surface is maintained at 110 to 120 degrees Celsius by a built-in 800W halogen heater 4C. It is configured as follows.

The pressure roller 4b is made of an aluminum roller coated with silicone rubber having a hardness of 70 degrees, and is applied with a pressure force of 6 to 7 kgf/cm against the transfer roller 4a 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. The LED 26a and the phototransistor 2 are fed by the registration roller pair lOa+10b.
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 section 4 synchronously so as to overlap the image area of the transfer recording medium 1. has been done.

The erasing means 14 is disposed downstream of the peeling roller 5 in the conveying direction of the transfer recording medium l, and its configuration includes a contact member 14a.
, an electrostrictive element 14b, and a case 14c. As shown in FIG. 14, the contact member 14a is constituted by a plate-like member having a sharp edge with a length substantially the same as the width of the transfer recording medium 1, and a Langevin-type electrostrictive vibrator is attached to the contact member 14a, for example. An electrostrictive element 14b consisting of the like is attached, and the contact member 14a is
is configured to be able to vibrate in the lateral direction of the contact member 14a (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 14). Furthermore, the contact member 14a
As shown in FIG. 1, the edge portion of the contact member 14a is attached so as to be in contact with the transfer recording layer 1b of the transfer recording medium l under a certain degree of tension, and a case 14c is provided below the contact member 14a. ing.

Therefore, when the contact member 14a vibrates in a direction parallel to the conveyance direction of the transfer recording medium 1 due to the driving of the electrostrictive element 14b while the transfer recording medium 1 is conveyed, the components of the transfer recording layer 1b (image forming element etc.) The removed material is Case 14
It is configured so that it accumulates within c.

Next, a recording method performed using the recording apparatus η configured as described above will be explained.

Note that this embodiment shows an example in which heat is applied in accordance with an image signal and light is applied uniformly.

An image is formed by driving the motor to sequentially feed out the transfer recording medium 1 from the supply roll 2, and 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 recording layer 1b 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 layer is no longer transferred to the recording paper 8. . Therefore, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 5, when recording magenta color, the heating element array 3
Of b, the heating element corresponding to the magenta of the image signal is not energized, but the part corresponding to the white of the image signal (recording paper 8 is white) is energized for 25m5, and the fluorescent lamp 3c is turned off with a delay of 5+ws. irradiate in a similar manner. The irradiation time at this time was 30
Let it be m5.

Next, when recording blue color, after 50 m5 have passed after the end of the light irradiation, that is, 100 m5 after the start time of the energization,
This time, in the heating element row 3b, the heating elements corresponding to the blue of both signals are not energized, and the portions corresponding to the white of both signals are energized.
11 ISO energization is performed, and after 5 hours, fluorescent lamp 3d is uniformly irradiated. The irradiation time at this time was also 30 m5 as described above.

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 the transfer recording medium is synchronously transferred at a repetition period of 200a+s/1ine. Transport 1.

Here, a control system according to this embodiment for performing the above recording operation will be specifically explained with reference to FIGS. 6 to 12. In addition, Fig. 6 is a block diagram of the control system, Figs. 7 and 8 are timing charts of recording operation, Fig. 9 is a diagram showing the relationship between each member, and Fig. 1O is a sequence for sending out each signal. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the recording operation, and FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the temperature control system for the transfer roller 4a.

As shown in FIG. 6, this control system includes a CPU 20, an interface 21, an operation panel 22, an image forming timing generator 23, a feed motor driver 24, a transport motor driver 25, a registration sensor 26, and each fluorescent lamp lighting device. It consists of 27.28.

The CPU 20 receives various information (for example, recording density, number of recording sheets,
(recording size, etc.), a signal from the registration sensor 26, and a magenta line synchronization signal generated by the image forming timing generator 23. Further, the CPU 20 generates, via the interface 21, a motor ON signal for the feeding motor 30, a motor ON signal for the transport motor 31, a page signal, and a vibration ON signal for the electrostrictive element 14b.

The image forming timing generator 23 divides the clock of the internal crystal oscillator and generates various signals (magenta line synchronization signal, blue line synchronization signal, page synchronization signal, video clock, enable signal, strobe signal, fluorescent lamp ON signal, etc.) ) occurs.

As shown in FIG. 7, the magenta line synchronization signal and the blue line synchronization signal are signals having a cycle of 200, a duty ratio of 50%, and a phase shift of 1800.

Then, a page signal sent from the CPU 20 via the interface 21 is latched at the rising edge of the magenta line synchronization signal to generate a page synchronization signal.

The video clock generates a 25KHz clock from the rising edge of the magenta and blue line synchronization signals, and
(The recording head 3a of this embodiment has 1728 pixels per line.)

Further, an external image signal generator (for example, a facsimile, an image scanner, an electronic whiteboard, etc.) 32 receives a page synchronization signal, magenta and blue line synchronization signals, and a video clock from the image forming timing generator 23, and generates a page synchronization signal. When the magenta line synchronization signal is r high J, the magenta image signal is synchronized with the video clock, and when the blue line synchronization signal is r high 1, both blue signals are synchronized with the video clock. Send one by one.

Furthermore, the period during which the magenta and blue line synchronization signals are "r high" and the video clock is inactive is r.
Generates a strobe signal that goes high.

The enable signal repeats 25 m5 r high j from the rising edge of the magenta and blue line sync signals, and repeats 25 m r high j within the r high 1 period of the first magenta line sync signal when the page sync signal becomes °r low. j It ends with a high student. This enable signal corresponds to the energization signal to the heating element 3b corresponding to the image signal shown in FIG.

Further, the image forming timing generator 23 generates a fluorescent lamp ON signal. The ON signal of the fluorescent lamp 3c becomes "high" with a delay of 5 seconds from the rise of the first enable signal, and then
This is a signal that becomes "r low after sweetfish," and this occurs repeatedly for every other enable signal. Further, the ON signal of the fluorescent lamp 3d is generated in the same manner with a delay of 100 m5 with respect to the ON signal of the fluorescent lamp 3C.

The recording head 3a and fluorescent lamp 3c are activated by the above signal.

3d, the recording head 3a takes in an image signal from an external image signal generator 32 into a shift register inside the head using a video clock from an image forming timing generator 23. The captured image signal is latched in a latch register in the head by a strobe signal from the image forming timing generator 23, and then, by an enable signal from the image forming timing generator 23, a heating element is activated according to both signals in the latch register. 3b is energized, and at the same time as the energization, the next image signal is taken into the shift register 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 image forming timing generator 23, and at the time when the ON signals for the respective fluorescent lamps 3c and 3d are r high. Compatible fluorescent lamp 3c.

Turn on 3d.

An image is formed on the transfer recording medium 1 by the above control.

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 onto the recording paper 8 will be explained.

The feed motor driver 24 is connected to the interface 21
When the feed motor ON signal from the CPU 20 is r high 1, the feed motor 30 is driven, and the feed roller 9 and the pair of registration rollers 10a and 10b are rotated to rotate the recording paper 8.
is transported at a constant speed.

Further, the transport motor driver 25 is configured to turn on the transport motor from the CPU 20 via the interface 21.
When the signal is r high 1, the conveyance motor 31 is driven to rotate the transfer roller 4a, and the pressure roller 4 rotates as a result of this.
The transfer recording medium 1 and recording paper 8 are conveyed at a constant speed by the cooperative action with b.

Here, the timing of each signal sent by the CPU 3O via the interface 21 is as shown in FIG.

Incidentally, when the time T and ~T4 in FIG. 8 are given by the distance between each member as shown in FIG. This is the time required for

L: 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.

L2: Conveyance distance of the transfer recording medium 1 from the pressure contact portion to the peeling roller 5.

L3: Conveyance distance of the recording paper 8 from the Ni-registration sensor 26 to the pressure contact portion.

Tl: Time required to transport the transfer recording medium 1 a distance of L IL 3.

T2: Time required to transport the recording paper 8 a distance of L3.

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

T4: Time required to transport the transfer recording medium 1 the distance IL.

That is, when the operator presses the start button on the operation panel 22, 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. Simultaneously with this driving body stopping, the conveying motor 31 is driven to convey the transfer recording medium 1 in the direction of 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.

The feed motor 30 is driven for a time T2 after the time T has elapsed since the transfer recording medium 1 started to be conveyed, and the feeding motor 30 is driven for a time T2 to convey the recording paper 8 at the same speed as the transfer recording medium 1, and then stops. 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.

Further, the vibration ON signal of the electrostrictive element 14b is synchronized with the conveyance motor ON signal, and becomes "rhigh" when the transfer recording medium l is being conveyed.

Here, the CPU 2 sends out each signal as shown in FIG.
To explain the operation of 0, the CPU 20 inputs a magenta line synchronization signal via the interface 21,
The number of pieces is counted by a software counter. That is, the magenta line synchronization signal is 2 as described above.
Since the period is 00 ma, the CPU 20 can manage the time by counting the signals.

The CPU 20 has a sequence table as shown in FIG. 10 inside, and when the registration sensor signal is high
Then, while counting magenta line synchronization signals, sequentially refer to the sequence table
N signal, transport motor ON signal, page signal, vibration ON
It sends out signals and controls the drive of each member based on the respective signals.

In this embodiment, the sequence table has a 3-bit configuration as shown in FIG. 10, and consists of a total of 2417 words from the 0th to the 2416th word, where bit 0 is the feed motor ON signal and bit 1 is the feed motor ON signal. The transport motor ON signal, the vibration ON signal, and bit 2 correspond to the page signal, respectively.

In addition, the numbers in parentheses at the top of Fig. 8 indicate the magenta line synchronization signal at the time when the registration sensor signal becomes r high 1 as number 0, and the number of the magenta line synchronization signal at each time point (signal number). number).

Next, a series of operations of the CPU 20 having the above-mentioned functions will be explained using the flowchart of FIG. 11. First, it is detected whether or not the start button on the operation panel is pressed. A feed motor ON signal is sent (S2). Next, wait until the registration sensor signal becomes "r high" (S3), and substitute 0 into R indicating the rask number of the sequence table (S4). Next, wait until the magenta line synchronization signal is r row 1 (S5),
After that, wait until r becomes high 1 (S6). This detects the rising edge of the magenta line synchronization signal. When the edge is detected, the eighth bit of the sequence table is referred to, and bits 0 to 2 are sent out as a feed motor ON signal, a transport motor ON signal, a vibration ON signal, and a page signal, respectively (S7). Add 1 to the value of R (S8) and determine whether the value of R is greater than 2416 (S9). If the value of H is smaller than or equal to 2416, return to step S5 and record. Continue and end recording if 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 33 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.
1 and a resistor 34 into a voltage E2, which is compared with a reference voltage E0 by a comparator 35. The comparison output is passed through a relay driver 36, and a relay 37 controls the energization of the halogen heater 4C from the electric current [E].

Here, the driving principle of the temperature control configuration will be described. The thermistor 33 has a property that its resistance value decreases as the temperature rises. Therefore, as the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a increases, the resistance value of the thermistor 33 decreases, and the voltage Ex decreases. Conversely, if the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a decreases, the thermistor 33
The resistance value increases and the voltage E2 also increases.

Therefore, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 13, by setting the value of the reference voltage E0 to the value of the voltage E2 corresponding to the temperature of the transfer roller 4a at 115°C, the power switch is turned on.
(S21), if the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a is lower than 115°C, the comparison output becomes r high 1 and the halogen heater 4C becomes energized (S22.5
23) The surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a increases. Conversely, if the temperature is higher than 115°C, the comparison output becomes r row 1 and the halogen heater 94c is not energized (S22.524).
, the surface temperature decreases. Due to the above control, the transfer roller 4
The surface temperature of a is maintained at 110-120°C. still,
This control system operates constantly when the power switch of the apparatus is turned on, and is controlled so that the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a reaches 110 to 120 DEG C. before the start button on the operation panel is pressed.

An image is formed on the transfer recording medium 1 as described above, and the image is transferred to the recording paper 8 in the transfer section 4 as a two-color image of magenta and blue.

Thereafter, the transfer recording medium 1 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. On the other hand, the image transferred to the recording paper 8 remains on the transfer recording medium 1 immediately after being separated from the recording paper 8. However, this remaining transferred image is scraped off by the vibrating contact member 14a in the erasing section 14, and the image is taken up onto the winding roll 6 with the remaining image erased. Therefore, even if the wound up used transfer recording medium 1 is discarded as it is, there is no risk of recorded information leaking from the transfer recording medium 1.

As described above, two-color recording is performed in one shot, and recorded information is erased from the transfer recording medium 1.

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

(1) Transfer recording medium In the above embodiments, two-color recording was explained, but as disclosed by the applicant in Japanese Patent Application No. 61-128814, the colorant and light that constitute the image forming element are By appropriately selecting the type of initiator, selecting a light source with a wavelength that causes the photoinitiator to react, and using the process related to the above application, monochromatic, multicolor or full-color recorded images of three or more colors can be created. You can also get it.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the transfer recording layer 1 of a polymeric material containing a colorant is transferred by light energy and thermal energy.
Although an example has been shown in which the image is transferred and recorded onto the recording paper 8 by changing the softening point temperature of b, the image may be transferred and recorded depending on the difference in adhesive properties or sublimation properties to the recording paper 8. Alternatively, the recording paper 8 may be made to have color development properties.
The transfer recording medium 1 may be provided with a layer that changes the color development characteristics of the transfer recording medium 1, and an image may be obtained by transferring the image formed on the transfer recording medium 1 to the recording paper 8.

Furthermore, the first energy and second energy applied to the transfer recording layer 1b are not limited to the above-mentioned heat and light energy, and images may be formed by, for example, ground energy such as pressure energy. .

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 a plurality of types of energy to form a transferred image. For example, 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 by applying multiple types of energy.

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 a monomer,
Oligomers or polymers may be mentioned.

Examples of the monomer or oligomer include polyvinyl cinnamate, p-methoxycinnamic acid-succinic acid half ester, etc., or those having a reactive group at the terminal or side chain of epoxy resin, unsaturated polyester resin, etc. It will be done.

Examples of the polymerizable monomer 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 polymerization component to react. As the reaction initiator, radical initiators such as Ab 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 occurs through the reaction between the reaction initiator that acts upon receiving the light energy and the polymerization component. The types of reaction initiator and polymerization component may be selected so as to provide a combination in which the rate is highly dependent on temperature.

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 recognizable 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, organic 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 tb may contain stabilizers such as hydroquinone and p-methoxyphenol.

Furthermore, an exacerbating agent such as p-nitroaniline or 1,2-benzoanthraquinone may be included in the transfer recording layer in order to enhance the activation of the reaction initiator with respect to energy.

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 waxes such as spermaceti wax, mineral waxes such as montan wax, or synthetic waxes made of fatty acids, fatty acid amides, esters, etc. can be used, and one or more of the above waxes can be used. It is also possible to use a mixture of i or more.

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.

(2) Recording section In the above embodiment, in the recording section 3, light of a predetermined wavelength corresponding to a desired color is uniformly irradiated from the transfer recording layer 1b side of the transfer recording medium l, and the support 1a side Although the configuration is such that heat is applied according to the image signal from the image signal, as another embodiment, a configuration may be adopted in which heat is uniformly applied and predetermined light is irradiated according to both signals.

Furthermore, if the support 1a is made of a translucent material, the support 1a can be made of a transparent material.
A configuration may be adopted in which light is irradiated from the a side and heat is applied from the transfer recording layer 1b side.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment, light irradiation and heat application were performed between the supports 1a and 1a, but image formation was still possible even if both light irradiation and heat application were separately performed from one side of the support 1a. It is possible.

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.

Incidentally, in the above-mentioned embodiment, optical energy and thermal energy were applied to the transfer record N1b at the same time, but even if the configuration is such that optical energy and thermal energy are applied separately, both energies are applied as a result. Any configuration is sufficient.

(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. .

Further, if necessary, a fixing means for fixing the image on the recording medium to which the image has been transferred by the transfer unit 4 may be provided in the conveying direction of the recording medium and on the downstream side of the peeling roller 5. .

(4) 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.

(5) Erasing means In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the transfer recording layer 1b is scraped off by the vibrating contact member 14a as the erasing means 14.
It may be configured as shown in FIG.

In the erasing means 14 shown in FIG. 15, a contact member 14a having a sharp edge is attached so as to be in contact with the transfer record Jailb of the transfer recording medium 1 under a certain degree of tension as in the previous embodiment, and the contact member 14a A case 14c is provided below. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the support Ia of the transfer recording medium 1 that is in contact with the contact member 14a is
A heating means is provided on the side. This heating means is configured such that a heater (for example, a halogen lamp or the like) 14d is surrounded by a reflective shade (for example, a bright aluminum disguise or the like) 14e so that the heat from the heater 14d is efficiently applied to the transfer recording medium 1.

In the above configuration, when the heater 14d is turned on in synchronization with the conveyance of the transfer recording medium 1, the transfer recording medium 1 near the contact member 14a is heated to about 90 to 100°C, and the heated By rubbing the transferred recording layer 1b with the contact member 14a, the components of the transfer recording layer 1b can be easily scraped off, and the remaining image can be erased from the transfer recording medium 1.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the contact member 14a is made of a sharp edged plate-like member, but the contact member does not need to be limited to this. For example, it may be made of a member whose surface has been roughened. The components of the transfer recording layer 1b may be scraped off by rotating a processed scraping roller.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, the present invention sequentially forms an image on a transfer recording medium and transfers this image to a recording medium, so it is possible to directly image a recording medium with relatively low surface smoothness. can be recorded 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.

In addition, by erasing the remaining image information on the transfer recording medium using the erasing means, confidential information and personal information will not be leaked even if the used transfer recording medium is disposed of as is. has the effect that p1 becomes simple.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 (^) + (B) is an overall schematic explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the structure of a transfer recording medium, and Fig. 3 is a light absorption characteristic of a photoinitiator in the transfer recording medium. Figure 4 is a graph showing the spectral characteristics of the light irradiation means, Figure 5 is a timing chart for applying heat and light, Figure 6 is a block diagram of the control system, Figures 7 and 8 are recording Timing chart of operation, Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between each member, Figure 10 is an explanatory diagram of a sequence table for sending out each signal, Figure 11 is a flowchart of recording operation, and Figure 12 is a transfer roller. 4a is an explanatory diagram of the temperature control system, FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the temperature control operation, FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the erasing means, and FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the erasing means. 1 is a transfer recording medium, 1a is a support, 1b is a transfer recording layer,
IC, ld is a core, 1e is a shell, 1f is an adhesive, 2 is a supply roll, 2a is a supply roll axis, 3 is a recording section, 3a is a recording head, 3b is a heating element array, 3c, 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 a peeling roller, 6 is a take-up roll, 7 is a cassette, 8 is a recording paper, 9 is a feeding roller, 10a, 10b are registration rollers, 11 is an ejection tray, 12a+ 12b+ 12c is a guide roller,
13a, 13b are discharge rollers, 14 is an erasing means, 14a
14b is a contact member, 14b is an electrostrictive element, 14c is a case, 14
d is a heater, 14e is a reflector, 20 is a CPU, 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 conveyance motor driver, 26 is a registration sensor, 2
6a is an LED, 26b is a phototransistor, 27.2
8 is a fluorescent lamp lighting device, 30 is a feeding motor, 31 is a transport motor, 32 is an external image signal generator, 33 is a thermistor, 34 is a resistor, 35 is a comparator, 3G is a relay driver, and 37 is a relay.

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) A conveying means for conveying a transfer recording medium having a transfer recording layer whose transfer characteristics change by applying a first energy and a second energy different from the first energy; , a first energy applying means for applying the first energy to the transfer recording medium, which is provided along a conveyance path of the transfer recording medium conveyed by the conveyance means; and a first energy applying means for applying the first energy to the transfer recording medium; a recording section having a second energy applying means for applying energy; a transfer section for transferring an image formed on the transfer recording medium in the recording section to a recording medium; and a transfer recording section that passes through the transfer section. A recording device comprising: erasing means for erasing an image remaining on the layer. (2) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first energy is heat and the second energy is light. (3) The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the erasing means includes a member that contacts the transfer recording layer. (4) The recording device according to claim 3, wherein the recording device is configured to vibrate the contact member. (5) The recording device according to claim 3, wherein the erasing means includes heating means.