JPH0215265A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To coat a desired position, to increase contrast between the image area and image nonforming area, and to obtain a sharp character by coating with developer by using a developer developing means. CONSTITUTION:When the light, which irradiates an original 3 from a light source 9, is image-formed onto a photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording medium 1 through a filter unit 10 and image forming lens 4, a microcapsule is held on the medium 1, and is selectively exposed and cured; thereby the latent image of the original 3 on the medium 1 is created. As it does so, the filter unit 10 to correct a color is constituted of red, green, and blue; with respect to the lens 4, the one whose image forming magnification is variable is employed; the speed at which the original 3 is exposed and scanned varies with a change in the image forming magnification, so that the size of the image on the medium 1 is altered. As a rotation drum 11 is rotated, the destaticizer 16 and the electrifier, 17 are activated so that a periphery is uniformly electrified; a polygon mirror 23 is then irradiated with single wavelength light according to picture and character signals transmitted from a laser beam control circuit 22; thereby the latent image with a high contrast is formed onto the drum 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms a composite image of an image and characters using a photosensitive pressure sensitive recording method and a toner transfer method.

[Conventional Technique WI] Conventionally, when combining images and text using the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording method, mask originals were created separately for the image and text parts of the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium. However, when exposing the image part, mask the text part,
When exposing a text area, the image area was masked and exposure was performed twice while paying attention to the alignment of both mask masters.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, aligning the original mask is very troublesome, and as a result of using the mask overlapping the original image and text, it is impossible to synthesize white text with the image. However, it was not possible to synthesize black or colored text over the image. Furthermore, when copying characters, the edges of the characters may become unclear because the copying uses reflection or transmission of light from the original.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that does not require troublesome positioning when combining an image and characters, can add colored characters, and can also make the outline of the characters clear.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides an exposure means for exposing a light-sensitive pressure-sensitive recording medium carrying microcapsules containing a dye precursor to light based on image information, and an exposure means for exposing a light-sensitive recording medium carrying microcapsules containing a dye precursor to light, and an exposure means for developing color by acting with the dye precursor. A developer adhering means for adhering a color developer to the recording medium, and a recording medium to which the developer has been adhered by the developer adhering means and the photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium are brought into pressure contact to develop the color. A pressure developing means for forming images and characters on the recording medium, a toner adhering means for adhering toner to the recording medium based on character information, and a toner applying means for forming images and characters on the recording medium by the developer adhering means. The above object is achieved by comprising a fixing means for fixing the developer image and the toner characters formed on the recording medium by the toner adhering means.

[Function] The present invention exposes a photosensitive pressure-sensitive recording medium carrying microcapsules containing a dye precursor to light based on image information using an exposure means, and interacts with the dye precursor using a developer attachment means. A developer for color development is attached to the recording medium, and a pressure developing means brings the recording medium to which the developer has been attached by the developer attaching means and the photosensitive pressure-sensitive recording medium into pressure contact. An image or a character is formed on the recording medium by developing color using a toner adhering means, toner is applied to the recording medium based on the character information, and a fixing means is used to form an image or a character on the recording medium based on the character information. The developer image formed on the recording medium and the toner characters formed on the recording medium are fixed by the toner adhering means.

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

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

In the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording system section of the image forming apparatus, a light source 9
The light from the original 3 is irradiated onto the original 3, and the light passes through the filter unit 10 and the imaging lens 4, and then enters the cartridge 5.
The image is formed on a photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium 1 supplied from. Further, a pressure developing roller 7 and a heat fixing roller 8, which press and develop the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium 1 and the recording medium 2 in close contact with each other, are arranged below the cartridge 5. 6 is a take-up reroller that winds up the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium 1, and 31 is a take-up reroller that winds up the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium 1, and 31 is used to eject the recorded recording medium 2 to the outside or return it to its original position in order to form an image or character again. Switched floating roller for sending back. On the other hand, in the electrophotographic unit of the image forming apparatus, the laser light control circuit 22 is a circuit that transmits a predetermined digital image exposure signal to the laser light source 21. The following equipment is arranged around the photosensitive drum 110, which is irradiated with laser light from the laser light source 21. A black toner developing means 12 as an example of a toner adhesion means for forming a black toner character image based on character information, and a color developer as an example of a developer adhesion means for electrostatically developing a color developer. A developer developing means 13, a transfer roller 14 for transferring a black toner image and a developer image onto the recording medium 2, a cleaning means 15 for collecting both toners, a static eliminator 16, and a charging device connected to a high voltage power source HVO. The containers 17 are arranged clockwise in this order.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained. Original 3 from light source 9
The irradiated light passes through the filter unit 10 and the imaging lens 4, and is imaged on the photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium 1. Microcapsules are supported on the imaged photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium 1, and by selectively exposing and curing the microcapsules with the light, a latent image of the document 3 is formed on the photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium 1. is formed. Original 3 and photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium 1
During this time, the document 3 is moved by a drive means (not shown) and the document 3 is slipped!・Exposed to light. Further, a filter unit 10 for color correction is inserted because the spectral radiation amount of the light source 9 and the sensitivity of the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium 1 are different.

This color correction filter unit 10 is composed of three colors: red, green, and blue.

Further, the imaging lens 4 has a variable imaging magnification, and the exposure scanning speed for the original 9 is changed in conjunction with the change in the imaging magnification, so that the image formed on the photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium 1 is changed. The size is changed. In this way, the photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium 1
A latent image of the document 3 is formed thereon.

On the other hand, as the photosensitive drum 11 rotates, a static eliminator 16 removes residual charges, and a charger 17 uniformly charges the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 110.

The laser light source 21 irradiates a polygon mirror 23 driven by a scanner motor 24 with single wavelength light in accordance with image and character signals sent from a laser light control circuit 22 . In this case, the image information is transmitted by reading images of three sides of the document using, for example, an image scanner (not shown). The polygon mirror 23 converts the light into
By rotating, the light is irradiated onto the photosensitive tram 11 for scanning exposure.

Due to the exposure, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 11 due to the electrostatic contrast between the unexposed area and the exposed area.

The black toner developing means 12 is provided with a hopper that stores the black toner 12b and a developing sleeve 12a that sends out the black toner 12b. The black toner developing means 12 adheres the black toner 12b to the unrecorded portion of the photosensitive drum 11 by electrostatic adhesion to visualize the latent image. Further, the color developer developing means 13 is provided with a hopper containing a color developer 13b and a developing sleeve 13a for sending out the color developer 13b. The developer developing means 13 attaches the developer 13b to the unexposed portion of the photosensitive drum 11 by electrostatic adhesion to visualize the latent image. The developed image thus obtained is transferred onto a predetermined recording medium 2 by a transfer roller 14 to which a negative high voltage Hv2 is applied. Then, the cleaning blade 15a of the cleaning means 15 collects the residual toner 15b attached to the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 110.

The black toner developing means 12 and the color developer developing means 13 are not operated at the same time as described below.

That is, in the -th exposure of the photosensitive drum 11 by the laser light source 21, image information regarding photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording is transmitted, and an electrostatic area to be coated with a color developer is formed on the photosensitive drum 11. .

In that case, use the changeover switch SW to
No developing bias is applied to the black toner developing sleeve 12a, and on the contrary, a negative high potential Hvl is applied to the color developer developing sleeve 13a. Note that the side to which the developing bias is not applied is grounded. Therefore, when the photosensitive drum 11 rotates, the developer is applied to the electrostatic area, and no black toner is attached. The color developer coated on the photosensitive drum 11 is transferred by the transfer roller 14 onto the recording medium 2 that has been transported.

In the pressure developing means 7, the recording medium 2 and the photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium 1 on which the latent image has been formed are brought into close contact with each other and pressurized. As a result, the uncured microcapsules in the unexposed areas of the photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording medium 1 are crushed, and the dye precursor flows out from inside and interacts with the color developer attached to the recording medium 2 to develop color. do.

The photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium 1 after pressure development is wound up and collected by a winding roller 6, and the color developer developed on the recording medium 2 is fixed by a heat fixing roller 8.

When the floating roller 31 is at the ejection position, the colored recording medium 2 is ejected to the outside as it is. If it is on the paper feed side, the colored recording medium 2 is transported along the guide plate 32 and returned to its original position. In this way, the colored recording medium 2 is transferred again between the photosensitive drum 11 and the transfer roller 14.

On the other hand, by rotating the photosensitive drum 11 for the second time, image formation using the black toner 12b is performed. That is, signals of a black toner image and characters are transmitted from the laser light control circuit 22, and an electrostatic latent image thereof is formed. On the other hand, a negative high voltage HVI is applied to the black toner developing means 13 by the changeover switch sw. Therefore, as the photosensitive drum 110 rotates, the black toner 12b is attached to the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 and is visualized. The black toner 12b formed on the photosensitive drum 11 is transferred by a transfer roller 14 to the recording medium 2, which has already been colored and is being transferred.

In this way, the recording medium 2 onto which the color developer 13b and the black toner 12b have been transferred is transferred to the heat fixing roller 8,
Here, the black toner 12b is fixed.

At this time, the recording medium 2 passes between the pressure developing rollers 8, but in this case, the nip of the pressure developing rollers 8 is released and the recording medium 2 is not pressurized.

In this way, the recording medium 2 on which images and characters have been formed using the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording method and the electrophotographic method is discharged out of the apparatus by the floating roller 31.

Note that the image forming apparatus according to the above embodiments of the present invention can be used only by the photosensitive pressure sensitive recording method or only by the electrophotographic method.

Further, as the toner in the electrophotographic method, it is also possible to use a color toner other than black.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above explanation, in the present invention, the developer is applied by the developer developing means, so that it can be applied to a desired position. In addition, in the case where a color developer is applied based on the image information of the original, even if the non-image area of the photosensitive recording medium becomes exposed to light due to light leakage, the image will remain in the area where the color developer is not applied. This has the advantage that the contrast between the image area and the non-image area can be increased, and the characters can be seen clearly, compared to the case where a color developer is applied to the entire surface of the recording medium.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 1... Photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium 2... Recording medium 7...
・Pressure developing means 8...Fixing means 11...Photosensitive drum 12...Black toner developing means 12b...
Black toner 13... Color developer developing means 13b...
・Developer applicant: Brother Industries, Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An exposure means that exposes a photosensitive pressure-sensitive recording medium carrying microcapsules containing a dye precursor to light based on image information, and a color developer that interacts with the dye precursor to develop color attached to the recording medium. A color developer adhering means is brought into pressure contact with a recording medium to which a color developer is attached by the color developer adhering means and the photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium to develop color and form images and characters on the recording medium. a pressure developing means for applying toner, a toner adhering means for adhering toner to the recording medium based on character information, and a developer image formed on the recording medium by the developer applying means and the toner adhering means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a fixing means for fixing toner characters formed on a recording medium by a fixing means.