JPH02123355A - Image forming method and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To well form an image on an arbitrary body to be formed with images without spending labor by transferring the sensible image formed on a color developing medium onto an image transfer film and roll-depositing the sensible image formed on the image transfer film onto the above-mentioned body. CONSTITUTION:The photosensitive pressure-sensitive medium 2 deposited with photosensitive microcapsules into which a dye precursor material and photosensitive resin are included on the front layer is exposed by original image light to form a latent image thereon. The color developing medium 3 deposited with a color developing agent which causes a color forming reaction with the dye precursor material and a thermosensitive adhesive agent on the surface layer and the photosensitive pressure-sensitive medium 2 are superposed on each other and are pressurized to form the sensible image on the color developing medium 3. The image transfer film 4 deposited with a hot meltable material and the color developing medium 3 are then superposed on each other and are pressurized under heating, by which the sensible image of the color developing medium 3 is transferred onto the image transfer film 4. This image transfer film 4 and the body 12 to be formed with images are superposed on each other and are pressurized under heating to roll-deposit the sensible image onto the body 12 to be formed with images. The image formation is thus executed. The images are formed without sending labor and without increasing thickness in this way.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a method for forming an image on any image-forming object such as a postcard, plain paper, cloth, or plastic film.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, an image forming method using photosensitive pressure-sensitive paper is known, for example, from Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 173981/1983. The image forming method is as follows. That is, a latent image is formed by irradiating light based on image information on a light-sensitive and pressure-sensitive paper whose surface layer supports microcapsules containing a dye precursor, a photosensitive resin, and a photopolymerization initiator. ■I,
The photosensitive resin in the exposed areas is cured by the irradiation light, and the non-irradiated areas are not cured. Next, a color developing medium carrying a color developer that reacts with the dye precursor to form a color and a photosensitive pressure sensitive medium on which the latent image is formed are superimposed,
By applying pressure, unhardened microcapsules are destroyed, and the dye precursor and color developer react to develop color, and a developed image appears on the color development medium.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in such an image forming method, although an image can be formed on a color developing medium, it is not possible to directly form an image on ordinary paper such as a postcard, cloth, plastic film, etc. I can't.

Therefore, when trying to form an image on a postcard or cloth, -
One possible method is to first form an image on a color developing medium and then glue the color developing medium onto postcards or fabrics, but that requires a lot of time and effort since the image must be glued each time. Furthermore, since prepaid cards have a thickness limit, there is a problem in that if the color developing medium is pasted, the thickness exceeds the limit. Another method is to apply a color developer to the prepaid card itself, use the prepaid card itself as a color developing medium, and place it on a photosensitive pressure sensitive body and pressurize it to form a developed image on the prepaid card itself. If this is done, there will be no problem with the thickness limitation, but there will be a problem that the prepaid card itself will be deformed because it will be pressurized.

In view of the problems with conventional image forming methods, the present invention provides an image forming method that can form images on arbitrary objects such as postcards and cloth without requiring much effort and without increasing the thickness. The purpose is to

[Means and effects for solving the problems] The present invention as claimed in claim 1 provides a method for producing a photosensitive pressure-sensitive medium in which photosensitive microcapsules containing a dye precursor and a photosensitive resin are supported on the surface layer. The photosensitive pressure-sensitive medium is superimposed on a color developing medium whose surface layer carries a color developer and a heat-sensitive adhesive capable of forming a latent image and causing a color reaction with the dye precursor and pressurizes the medium. to form a visible image on the developing medium, and by overlaying the developing medium and an image transfer film carrying a heat-melting substance and applying heat and pressure, the developed image on the developing medium is transferred to the image transfer film. This is an image forming method in which the image transfer film and the image-forming object are superimposed and heated and pressed to transfer the visible image onto the image-forming object.

Claim 20: The present invention provides an exposure unit for forming a latent image by exposing a photosensitive pressure-sensitive medium having a surface layer supported by photosensitive microcapsules containing a dye precursor and a photosensitive resin to original image light; A color developing medium having a color developer and a heat-sensitive adhesive supported on the surface layer that can cause a color reaction with the dye precursor and the photosensitive pressure-sensitive medium are superimposed and pressed by a pressure roller to form the color developing medium. A pressure unit that forms a visible image, an image transfer film carrying a heat-fusible substance, and the developing medium are superimposed, heated and pressed by a heated pressure roller, and then cooled, whereby the developing medium is developed. A transfer section that transfers an image onto the image transfer film, and a superposition of the image transfer film and the image-forming object, heating and pressing with a pressure heating roller and then cooling.
The image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that transfers the visible image onto the image forming object.

[Examples] The present invention will be described below based on drawings showing examples thereof.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

In this image forming apparatus 1, a photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 2, which is an example of a photosensitive pressure sensitive medium, is wound around a shaft 21 in the form of a roll paper. The leading edge of the photosensitive and pressure sensitive paper 2 passes between pressure rollers 8.8 adjusted to 500 kg/cm2,
．． 23 and is wound onto a winding shaft 24. An exposure section X is provided in the middle of the transfer of the photosensitive and pressure sensitive paper 2. That is, in this exposure section X, a lamp 6 . Further, a pressure section Y is provided at the tip of the exposure section X (here,
(The forward direction means the right direction in FIG. 1). In the pressure section Y, the color developing medium 3 is wound around a shaft 31, and its tip runs parallel to the photosensitive and pressure sensitive paper 2 via a roller 33 and passes between the pressure rollers 8.8. are doing.

Furthermore, an image transfer section Z is provided at the tip of the pressure section Y.

In the image transfer section Z, the leading edge of the color developing medium 3 is
It passes between heating rollers 9 and 9 set at 0.degree. C., and is wound onto a winding shaft 32 via a separating roller 11.

Further, the image transfer film 4 is wound around a shaft 41, and its leading end passes between the heating rollers 9.9. A cooling fan IO (H) is installed in front of the heating roller 9.9.

Furthermore, an image forming section W is provided beyond the image transfer section Z. In the image forming section W, the leading edge of the image transfer film 4 passes between heating rollers 13 and 13 set at 140.degree. C., and is wound around a winding shaft 42. A sheet feeder 16 is attached to the rear of the heating roller 13, which feeds the image forming object 12 set in the form of a cut sheet one by one. Further, a cooling fan 14 is provided in front of the heating roller 13. 15 is a sheet discharge tray.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 2. As shown in FIG.

This photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 2 may be any known one, but for example, it may be one in which photosensitive microcapsules 121 containing a dye precursor and a photosensitive resin are supported on a base material 122 of polyethylene terephthalate film. be.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the color developing medium 3. This color developing medium 3 may be any known medium, but for example, it is one in which a color developing agent 131 containing a heat-sensitive adhesive is supported on a base material 132 of high-quality paper.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the image transfer film 4. This image transfer film 4 has a heat-fusible substance 141 supported on a base material 142 such as a polyethylene terephthalate film. The heat-melting substance 1 of this image transfer film 4
41, when superimposed with the color developing medium 3 and hot-pressed,
It has very strong adhesion to the color developer 131, while the base material 1
42, a material with relatively weak adhesive force is used. For example, the heat-melting substance 141 may include styrene/acrylic copolymer, vinyl alcohol/vinyl acetate copolymer, vinyl alkyl ether/maleic anhydride copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, etc. , vinyl resins such as ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers,
Acrylic resins such as polyethyl acrylate, polybutyl methacrylate, and methyl polycyanoacrylate, styrene resins, polyamide resins, and the like can be used.

In addition, in FIGS. 2 to 4, the dimensions are exaggerated to make the explanation easier to understand.

As the image forming object 12, for example, a plastic sheet is used.

Next, the image forming method of the present invention will be explained together with the operation of the image forming apparatus.

First, in the exposure section X, light irradiated by the lamp 6 is reflected on the original 5, and the reflected image light is imaged on the photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 2 by the lens 7. As a result, the original image is formed on the photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 2 as a latent image.

In this way, the photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 2 on which the latent image has been formed through the exposure process is sequentially fed forward, is overlapped with the color developing medium 3 in the pressure section Y, and is pressed by the pressure roller 8. be done. By this pressure treatment, the unexposed photosensitive microcapsules 121 of the photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 2 are destroyed, and the dye precursor contained therein is extruded and reacts with the color developer 131 of the color developing medium 3 to develop color. Then, a developed image is formed on the developing medium 3.

The developed color developing medium 3 is further conveyed forward, overlapped with the image transfer film 4, and heated and pressed by the heating roller 9. This heat-pressure treatment causes the Va coloring agent 131 of the color developing medium 3 and the heat-melting substance 141 of the image transfer film 4 to adhere to each other. After that, cooling fan 1o
After cooling, only the base material 132 of the color developing medium 3 is wound onto the winding shaft 32 along the separation roller 114.

On the other hand, the image transfer film 4 which has received the developer 131 in this manner is conveyed forward and is superimposed on the image forming object 2 made of a plastic sheet. Further, the image transfer film 4 is heated by the heating roller 13, and the image transfer film 4 and the image forming object 12 are bonded together using a heat-sensitive adhesive contained in the color developer 131. And cooling fan 1
4, the image transfer film 40 is cooled, and only the base material 142 of the image transfer film 40 is separated and wound onto the winding shaft 42. The color developing material 131 and the heat-melting substance 141 are
It remains glued to the second side. In this case, by changing the composition of the heat-melting substance 141, the color developer 131 and the heat-melting substance 141 bonded to the image forming object 12 are separated, and the heat-melting substance 141 is separated. and base material 1
42 may be wound around the winding shaft 42.

In this way, at least the image forming object 1 is separated from the base material 14.2 of the image transfer film 4 and a developed image is formed.
2 is discharged onto the discharge tray 15.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above explanation, the present invention has the following effects:
The developed image formed on the color developing medium is transferred to an image transfer film,
The developed image formed on the image transfer film can be transferred to any image forming object such as a postcard or cloth, so it is possible to transfer the image onto any object to be imaged, such as a postcard or cloth, without requiring much effort and without increasing the thickness.
An image can be formed on an object to be imaged.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a simplified side view of a photosensitive pressure-sensitive medium used in the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the invention. FIG. 4 is a simplified side view of the image transfer film used in the same example. l... Image forming section @ 2... Photosensitive pressure sensitive medium 3...
・Developing medium 4... Image transfer film 8... Pressure roller 9... Pressure and heating roller 12... Image forming body 13... Pressure and heating roller X... Exposure section
Y: Pressure section Z: Image transfer section W: Image forming section Applicant: Brother Industries, Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A photosensitive pressure-sensitive medium having a surface layer supported by photosensitive pressure-sensitive microcapsules containing a dye precursor and a photosensitive resin is exposed to original image light to form a latent image, and the dye precursor and color are developed. A color developing medium in which a color developer and a heat-sensitive adhesive capable of causing a reaction are supported on the surface layer, and the photosensitive pressure-sensitive medium are overlapped and pressed to form a developed image on the color developing medium, and a heat-meltable image is formed on the color developing medium. The image transfer film carrying the substance and the color developing medium are superimposed and heated and pressed, the developed image of the color developing medium is transferred onto the image transfer film, and the image transfer film and the image-forming object are bonded together. An image forming method comprising the steps of superimposing the images and applying heat and pressure to transfer the visible image onto the image forming object. (2) an exposure unit that forms a latent image by exposing a photosensitive pressure-sensitive medium having a surface layer supported by photosensitive microcapsules containing a dye precursor and a photosensitive resin to original image light; and the dye precursor. A color developing medium having a color developer and a heat-sensitive adhesive supported on the surface layer capable of causing a color reaction with the light-sensitive pressure-sensitive medium is superimposed and pressed by a pressure roller to form a developed image on the color developing medium. The image transfer film carrying a heat-fusible substance and the color developing medium are superimposed, heated and pressed by a heated pressure roller, and then cooled, thereby converting the developed image of the color developing medium into an image. By superimposing the transfer part to be transferred onto the transfer film, the image transfer film and the object to be imaged, heating and pressing with a pressure heating roller, and then cooling.
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming section that transfers the visible image onto the image forming object.