JPH022022A - Recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a high-grade image by providing a recording part having the first and second energy applying means for applying energies to a transfer recording medium, a transfer part for transferring an image to a medium to be recorded, a heat and pressure applying means for applying heat and pressure to the medium to be recorded and a vibration means. CONSTITUTION:A transfer recording medium 1 is successively delivered from a supply roll 2, and light and heat are applied to a transfer recording layer 1b corresponding to image signals of blue, magenta and white in a recording part 3 and a recording head 1b is controlled to form a negative image on a transfer recording layer 1b. Subsequently, said image is transferred to recording paper 8 in a transfer part as an image of magenta and blue and the transfer recording medium 1 is subsequently released from the recording paper 8 by a release roller 5 to be taken up by a take-up roll 6 and the recording paper 8, to which an image of a desired color is transferred, is fed between the color mixture roller 13a and press roller 13b of a heat and pressure applying means 13 to receive the application of heat and pressure while shearing force is applied to the image forming material transferred to the recording paper 8 by the vibration of the color mixture roller 13a brought into contact with the image transfer surface under pressure. As a result, the destruction of the image forming material is advanced to make a bluish purple image sharp and image grade is enhanced.

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 recording devices 71 is a thermal transfer recording device π. 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 ribbon is exposed to that heat? 8. The ink ribbon and the recording paper are superimposed so as to be in contact with the recording paper, and the ink ribbon and the recording paper are conveyed between a thermal head and a platen, and a pulse according to an image signal is applied from the support side of the ink ribbon by a thermal head. In this method, an ink image corresponding to the heat printing phase is recorded on the recording paper by applying a certain amount of heat and pressing the two to transfer the fused ink onto the recording paper.

The recording device 7 has been widely used in recent years because it is small and lightweight, makes no noise, and can record on Azusa 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 can be performed on recording paper with high smoothness, there is a possibility that the quality of recording will deteriorate if 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 install multiple thermal heads or 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 and complicated. There is a problem with this.

<Means for solving the problem> Therefore, the applicant used a photothermal sensitive material, and when thermal energy and light energy were applied, the reaction of the material proceeded rapidly and the transfer characteristics became irreversible. proposed a technology to form an image based on the difference in characteristics according to the image signal and transfer it to a recording medium (Japanese Patent Application No. 1986-1).
No. 20080, No. 60-120081, No. 60-13
No. 1411, No. 60-134831, No. 6 (1-15
No. 0597, 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. (A multicolored image can be obtained.)

The present invention is a further development of the above-mentioned technology, and improves the coverage of the image transferred to the recording medium, and also improves the mixing of each color in multicolor recording H to obtain a high-quality image. The purpose is to provide two records that can be shared.

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. a conveyance means for conveying the transfer recording medium; a recording section having a first energy applying means for applying the second energy, and a second energy applying means for applying the second energy; and a recording section for transferring an image formed on the transfer recording medium to a recording medium. a transfer unit for applying heat and pressure to the recording medium that has passed through the transfer unit; It is characterized by the provision of a vibration means for causing minute vibrations in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the medium.

Further, as another means, a predetermined portion of the heat pressure applying means,
That is, it is characterized in that an elastic body is provided in a portion that comes into contact with the recording surface side of the recording medium.

According to the means described in F, when the transfer recording medium and the recording medium are placed 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 cough image is transferred to the recording medium in the transfer section.

Further, heat and pressure are applied to the recording medium to which the image has been transferred by a thermopressure applying means, and the transferred image is fixed.
At this time, the heat-pressure applying means minutely vibrates in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording medium, thereby promoting color mixing of the transferred image, thereby obtaining a high-quality image.

<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, l is a long sheet-like transfer recording medium, which is wound into a roll and used as a supply roll 2 on the device main body M.
The tJl is removably included in the tJl.

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

Therefore, first, the leading edge of this transfer recording medium l is placed on the supply roll 2.
The peeling roller 5. 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, by rotating the transfer roller 4a while applying torque to the take-up roll 6 in the direction of the arrow C using a known drive means, the transfer recording medium 1 is fed out in the direction of the arrow a, and is attached to the circumferential surface of the take-up roll 6. It is wound up one after another.

During 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 configuration of each of the above sections 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.

To explain an example thereof, as shown in FIG. 2, the transfer recording layer 1b uses the components shown in Table 1 below as the core 1c, and the components shown in Table 2 as the core ld, and microcapsules are formed by the method shown below. An image forming element having a shape is formed.

Table 2 A mixture of 20 parts by weight of methylene chloride was mixed with 200° of water in which 1 g of gelatin was dissolved and a cationic or nonionic surfactant with an HLB value of at least 10.
8,000~10,000 by homomixer under C heating
Stir at 0 rpm to emulsify to obtain oil droplets with an average particle size of 26-.

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

Add 20ml of water in which 1g of gum arabic was dissolved,
A microcapsule slurry is obtained by adding Nll, O1+ (ammonia) water while cooling slowly to make the pH above 11, and slowly adding 1.0 ml of a 20% glutaraldehyde aqueous solution to harden the capsule walls.

After that, solid-liquid separation is performed using a Nunche filter, and 3 times using a vacuum dryer.
It is dried at 5° C. for 110 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, which is formed to have a particle size of 7 to 15 pI11 and an average particle size of about topm.

That is, the image forming element having the components Log shown in Tables 1 and 2 formed in this manner is first adhered onto a support la using an adhesive If to obtain a transfer recording medium 1. To explain this in more detail, for example, Nippon Gosei Al1%
An adhesive 1f prepared by dissolving 3 cc of toluene in the polyester adhesive Polyniscoo LP-022 (solid content 50%) lee is applied onto a support la made of a polyethylene terephthalate film with a thickness of about 6 mm. Thereafter, the solvent is removed by drying to a thickness of about 1 μm. 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, a pressure of about 1 kgf/cffl and thermal energy of about 80'C are applied to firmly fix the image forming element onto the support la, thereby forming the transfer recording medium 1.

The photoinitiator in the image forming element shown in Table 1 absorbs light in the 4jF region to start a reaction, and becomes magenta in color when forming an image, as shown in the light absorption characteristics shown in FIG. Further, 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 generates heat on the surface of the recording head 3a according to the image signal with a width of 0.2 am and 8 dots/Ryu's A-4.
Line-type heat generating element rows 3b for each size are arranged, and as described above, the heat generating element row 3b is caused by the back tension when the support la side of the transfer recording medium 1 is conveyed.
It is configured to be pressed against with a predetermined pressure. 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 tb side facing the recording head 3a, two fluorescent lamps 3c and 3d, which are 2OW type light irradiation means having spectral characteristics as shown in FIG. They are also located approximately 15 to 35 m5 apart.

Furthermore, a transfer recording medium l is in pressure contact with the recording head 3a.
The temporary slit 3e is kept at a distance of about 0.50 from the transfer recording medium 1 and has an aperture 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. 2
1.

In this embodiment, a 20W health line fluorescent lamp PL205E manufactured by 1I21 Toshiba is used as one of the fluorescent lamps 3c having the spectral characteristics shown in graph A of FIG. The other fluorescent lamp 3d with spectral characteristics is II@Toshiba's 20W fluorescent lamp FLIOA70E.
I am using 39.

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 as shown in FIG. 4b.

The transfer roller 4a is composed of an aluminum roller whose surface is coated with silicone rubber having a thickness of 11 mm and a hardness of 70 degrees, and the surface is maintained at a temperature of 90 to 100 degrees Celsius by a built-in 800W halogen heater 4c. It is composed of

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

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 a pair of registration rollers 10a and 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 unit 4 in synchronization so as to overlap the image area of the transfer recording medium 1 ( It is configured.

The recording paper 8 on which the image has been transferred by the transfer section 4 is discharged through the thermopressure applying means 13, and at this time, heat and pressure are applied to the recording paper 8 by the thermopressure applying means 13.

This heat pressure applying means 13 is arranged on the recording paper 8 more than the transfer section 4.
The color mixing roller 13a and the pressure roller 13b are arranged in pressure contact with the cough roller 13a.

The color mixing roller 13a is an aluminum roller whose surface is coated with Teflon (registered trademark) resin to a thickness of approximately 25 μm.A 300W sheathed heater 13c is provided inside, and the surface of the color mixing roller 13a is heated by the cough heater 13c. The temperature is maintained at 150°C to 160°C.

Further, the pressure roller 13b is made of a silicone rubber roller with a thickness of 3 mm, and is configured to come into pressure contact with the color mixing roller 13a using a spring or the like (not shown) with a pressing force of 0.1 to O-3 kgf/Cm. There is.

Further, the color mixing roller 13a and the pressure roller 13b are configured to be rotatable in the directions of arrows d and e, respectively, by a color mixing motor to be described later. At this time, both rollers 13a and 1 are driven by a drive transmission system (not shown) connected to the color mixing motor.
The rotational speed of the roller 3b is controlled to be the same as the speed at which the recording paper 8 is conveyed by the transfer roller 4a.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 13, the color mixing roller 13a is rotatably attached via a bearing unit 4, and a vibration unit 15 serving as a vibration means consisting of a voice coil 15a and a magnetic circuit 15b connects the bearing unit 14. It is attached through. When the vibrating unit 5 is driven, the color mixing roller 13a generates an amplitude Q at a frequency of 100 fiz in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording paper 8 (direction of arrow r).
, it is designed to generate minute vibrations of 3sm. Furthermore, the first
In Figure 3, 13h is a color mixing roller drive gear connected to the drive transmission system of the color mixing motor.

Next, a recording method using the recording apparatus 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.

The motor is driven to sequentially feed out the transfer recording medium l from the supply roll 2, and an image is formed by applying light and heat to the transfer recording layer 1b of the transfer recording medium l 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 transfer recording layer 1b 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 heat generating element corresponding to magenta of the image signal is not energized, but the portion corresponding to white (recording paper 8 is white) and blue of the image signal is energized for 25 m5, and with a delay of 5 ms, the fluorescent lamp 3C is turned on. irradiate uniformly.

The irradiation time at this time is 45 m5.

Next, for blue recording, after 50 seconds have elapsed after the end of the light irradiation, that is, 100 is after the energization start time,
This time, in the heating element row 3b, the heating element corresponding to the blue color of the image signal is not energized, but the portion corresponding to the white and magenta image signal is energized for 25m5, and after 5 hours, the fluorescent lamps 3d are uniformly turned on. irradiate. The irradiation time at this time was also 4
It is 5m5.

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 lb, and the transfer recording medium is synchronously transferred at a repetition period of 200 m5/line. 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. 10 is a sequence for sending out each signal. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the recording operation, and FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram of the temperature control system of the transfer roller 4a.

As shown in Fig. 6, this control system is an 80M2 computer that stores control programs and various data for, for example, a CPU 20a such as a microprocessor, and an AgCPU 20a.
0b, and a RAM 20c which is used as a work area for the CPU 20a and temporarily stores various data.
A control unit 20, an interface 21, an operation panel 22, an image forming timing generator 23, a feeding motor driver 24, a transport motor driver 25, a color mixing motor driver 40, a vibration unit driver 42, etc.
Registration sensor 26, each fluorescent lamp lighting device 27.2
Consists of 8.

The control section 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. The control unit 20 also generates a motor ON signal for the feeding motor 30, a motor ON signal for the transport motor 31, a motor ON signal for the color mixing motor 41, and a page signal through the interface 21.

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 Figure 7, the magenta line synchronization signal and the blue line synchronization signal have a cycle of 200m5 and a duty ratio of 50%.
This is a signal whose phase is shifted by 180°.

Then, a page signal sent from the control unit 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 clock of 25 KIIz from the rising edge of the magenta and blue line synchronization signals, and a clock of 172
This is a signal that stops after generating 8 clocks (approximately 69 m5) (note that 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 blackboard, etc.) 32 receives a page synchronization signal from the jk formation timing generator 23, magenta and blue line synchronization signals, and a video clock, and generates a page synchronization signal. When the magenta line synchronization signal becomes r high j, both magenta signals are synchronized with the video clock when the magenta line synchronization signal is high j, and the blue image signal is synchronized with the video clock when the blue line synchronization signal is r high. Send each item one by one.

Furthermore, what about the magenta and blue line synchronization signals mentioned above? Hi j
During this period, when the video clock is at rest, a strobe signal that goes high is generated.

The enable signal returns 25m5F high from the rising edge of the magenta and blue line comrade signals, and returns 25m3 f high j within the period of the first magenta line synchronization signal high j when the page synchronization signal becomes r low. 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 r high λ with a delay of 5 minutes from the rising edge of the first enable signal, and the 45
This is a signal that becomes T row j after m5, and this signal is repeatedly generated for every other enable signal. Also, turn on the fluorescent light 3d.
The signal is generated in the same manner with a delay of 100m5 with respect to the ON signal of the fluorescent lamp 3C.

The recording head 3a and the fluorescent lamp 3C3d are driven by the above signal, and the recording head 3a shifts the image signal from the external image signal generator 32 internally using the video clock from the image forming timing generator 23. Import into register. 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 heated according to both signals in the latch register by an enable signal from the image forming timing generator 23. The element 3b is energized, and simultaneously with the energization, the next two signals are 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. The corresponding fluorescent lamp 3C3d is turned on.

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 control unit 20 is high, the feed motor 30 is driven to rotate the feed roller 9, registration roller pair 10a, and fob to feed the recording paper 8.
is transported at a constant speed.

Further, the conveyance motor driver 25 is configured to turn on the conveyance motor from the control unit 20 via the interface 21.
When the signal is high, 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.

Furthermore, the color mixing motor driver 41 is also controlled by the control section 20.
When the color mixing motor ON signal is "high j", the color mixing motor 41 is driven, and the color mixing motor 1 is
3a and the pressure roller 13b are rotated.

At this time, as described above, the rotational peripheral speed of both rollers 13a and 13b is rotationally controlled by the drive transmission system so that it becomes the same speed as the conveyance speed of the recording paper 8 by the transfer roller 4a.

Here, the timing of each signal sent by the control section 20 via the interface 21 is as shown in FIG. Incidentally, if the times T and -T in Fig. 8 are given by the distance between each member and -L as shown in Fig. 9, then the transfer recording medium 1 or the recording paper 8 is conveyed as follows. This is the time it takes to

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 l 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.

L4: Conveyance distance of the recording paper 8 from the peeling roller 5 to the color mixing roller 13a.

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

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

T3: Length of recording paper 8 (for example, 2 for A4 size)
The time required to convey the transfer recording medium l by 97 m1).

T4: Time required to transport the transfer recording medium 1 a distance of L+ +L.

T: Time required to convey the recording paper 8 a distance of L4.

That is, when the first author 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. At the same time as this drive body stops, the conveyance 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.

Here, the control section 2 sends out each signal as shown in FIG.
To explain the operation of 0, the control unit 20 inputs the magenta line synchronization signal via the interface 21,
The number of pieces is counted using the software Unique Rank. That is, the magenta line synchronization signal is 2 as described above.
Since the period is 00m5, the control section 20 can manage the time by counting the signals.

The controller 20 has a Siegen table as shown in FIG.
Then, while counting magenta line synchronization signals, sequentially refer to the sequence table
An N signal, a conveyance motor ON signal, a page signal, and a color mixing motor ON signal are sent out, and the drive of each member is controlled by each signal.

In this embodiment, the sequence table has a 4-bit structure as shown in FIG. 10, and consists of a total of 3497 words from the 0th to the 3496th word, where bit 0 is the feed motor ON signal and bit 1 is the feed motor ON signal. The transport motor ON signal, focus 2 corresponds to the page signal, and focus 3 corresponds to the color mixing motor ON signal, respectively.

In addition, the numbers in the upper part of Figure 8 are the magenta line synchronization signal at the time when the registration sensor signal becomes r high, and the number of the magenta line synchronization signal at each time (signal This shows the number of tt!

Next, a series of operations of the control unit 20 having the above-mentioned functions will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG.
L), when pressed, sends out a feeding motor ON signal (S2). Next, wait until the registration sensor signal becomes "r high" (S3), and substitute O into R indicating the rask number in the sequence table (S4). Next, wait for the magenta line synchronization signal to be "low J" (S5), and then wait for it to become "high J" (S6).Thereby, the rising edge of the magenta line synchronization signal is detected.The edge is detected. Then, refer to the nth sequence table and turn on the feeding motor for bits O to 3, respectively.
It is sent as a signal, a transport motor ON signal, a page signal, and a color mixing motor ON signal (S7). Next, 1 is added to the value of R (S8), and it is determined whether the value of R is greater than 3496 by 1'11 (S9). If the value of R is less than or equal to 3496, step Returning to S5, recording is continued, and if the value is larger, recording is terminated.

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. It is converted into E2 and compared with the reference voltage E0 by the comparator 35. The comparison output is passed through the relay driver 36, and the relay 37 outputs an electric current.
Controls energization of the halogen heater 4C from Es.

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 E2 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, 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 "high", 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.
held at °C. Note that this control system is constantly operating when the power switch of the device is on, and the switch on the operation panel
The surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a is controlled to be 90 to loO'c before the start button is pressed.

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

Thereafter, the transfer recording medium 1 and the recording paper 8 are separated by a peeling roller 5, the transfer recording medium 1 is taken up by a take-up roll 6, and the recording paper 8 on which the image of the desired color has been transferred is subjected to thermal pressure application. It is conveyed between the color mixing roller 13a and the pressure roller 13b which constitute the means 13.

In this heat pressure applying means 13, the color mixing roller 13a is heated to 150 to 160°C by a heater 13c, and the frequency of 20011z,
It vibrates minutely in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording paper 8 with an amplitude of about 0.1. Therefore, the recording paper 8 is
, 13b, heat and pressure are applied to the image forming element transferred to the recording paper 8, and a shearing force is applied to the image forming element transferred to the recording paper 8 due to the vibration of the color mixing roller 13a that is in pressure contact with the image transfer surface. This energy promotes destruction of the capsule-shaped image forming elements and promotes color mixing at the boundaries of each image forming element.

To specifically explain this color mixing state, Fig. 14 (A) (
As shown in B), the blue-violet image transferred to the recording paper 8 by the transfer section 4 is formed by transferring the blue image forming element 16a and the magenta image forming element 16b.

When this image passes through the thermopressure applying means 13, FIG.
), (B), the image forming elements 16a, 16b are destroyed by the heat, pressure, and shearing force, and the coverage range is improved, and each image forming element 16a, 16
As the color mixing progresses at the boundary b, the blue-violet image becomes clearer and the image quality improves.

Note that the surface temperature of the color mixing roller 13a is set at 150 to 160°C.
The temperature control circuit for maintaining the temperature at °C is similar to the temperature control circuit for the transfer roller 4a shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1A, the surface temperature of the color mixing roller 13a is detected by a thermistor 13d provided on the surface of the color mixing roller 13a, and the heater 13c is turned on and off.

A three-color image of blue, magenta, and bluish-purple is clearly recorded in one shot on the recording paper 8 that has passed through the heat-pressure applying means 13 as described above, and is discharged onto the discharge tray 11.

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, the material for the support 1a may also be polyamide, polyimide, condenser paper, cellophane, or the like.

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, but harmful components have physical properties that change 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 changes in physical properties.

The polymerization component contained in the sensitive component is a component that causes a polymerization reaction or crosslinking reaction, and examples thereof include monomers, oligomers, and polymers.

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 the polymerizable monomer include ethylene glycol diacrylate and propylene glycol diacrylate.

Furthermore, when the polymerizable hexamer or oligomer is used, cellulose acetate succinate, methyl methacrylate-hydroxyethyl methanelylate copolymer, etc. may be contained in order to improve layer-forming properties.

A reaction initiator is added depending on the heart change to cause the reaction of the polymerization components. 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 in which a transferred image is formed by receiving both light and thermal energy, a reaction occurs between a reaction initiator and a polymerization component that act in response to the above-mentioned photonic energy. 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, perforation 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 l2-hencyanthraquinone 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 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.Furthermore, the above waxes can be used in IT+1! Alternatively, two or more types may be used in combination.

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 1, and the support 1a side Although the configuration is such that heat is applied according to the image signal from the beginning, as another embodiment, a configuration may be adopted in which heat is uniformly applied and a predetermined light is irradiated according to the image signal.

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 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, in addition to the above-mentioned method using the fluorescent lamp 3C3d, 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. .

Further, if necessary, a fixing means for fixing the image of the recording medium onto which the image has been transferred by the transfer section 4 may be provided in the conveying direction of the recording medium and on the downstream side of the thermopressure applying means 13. good.

(4) Recording medium The recording medium is not limited to the above-mentioned recording paper; for example, an overhead projector (○HP
) can also be used.

(5) Heat pressure application means Color mixing roller 13a constituting the heat pressure application means 13 described above
was constructed by coating Teflon resin directly on the surface of the aluminum roller, but as shown in FIG.
3a2 is coated with about Q, 5+n, and a Teflon resin layer 13a is on the surface! It may be configured by coating.

As mentioned above, the color mixing roller 13 presses against the recording surface of the recording paper 8.
When the surface of a is covered with an elastic material, as shown in Fig. 16,
Even if there are irregularities in the image, the color mixing roller 13a reliably comes into pressure contact with the recording surface. Therefore, better images can be obtained.

In the above embodiment, the surface of the color mixing roller 13a is coated with a Teflon resin layer to prevent the offset of the image transferred to the recording paper 8.
As shown in FIGS. (A) and (B), the image transferred to the color mixing roller 13 may be removed by a cleaning mechanism.

The structure shown in FIG. 17 (^) is that a felt par 13e made of aromatic polyamide resin fibers is coated with 5,000 to 1
The color mixing roller 13a is impregnated with 0.0OOcs of silicone oil and is pressed against the color mixing roller 13a. In this way, the surface of the color mixing roller 13a that has come into contact with the image on the recording paper 8 is cleaned by the felt par 13e, and offset of the image forming element is prevented.

The configuration shown in FIG. 17(B) is such that a cleaning heald 13f made of aromatic polyamide resin fibers made into a web and impregnated with silicone oil in the same manner as described above is pressed against a color mixing roller 13a by a pressing roller 13g. Therefore, the same effect as in the case of FIG. 17(A) can be obtained.

Furthermore, instead of the voice coil type vibration unit described above, a bolted Langevin type piezoelectric vibrator 15c is attached to the vibration unit 5, as shown in FIG. 18, and power is applied to the vibrator 15c through a slip ring 1.5d. It may also be supplied. In this case, the vibration frequency is 1
It is best to make minute vibrations at a frequency of about 5 to 50 kHz.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the vibration frequency is 200Hz.
, the amplitude was set to 0.3, but it goes without saying that the vibration frequency and amplitude of the color mixing roller 13a are not limited to the above values.

<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.

In addition, by applying heat and pressure to the recording medium onto which the image has been transferred, and by slightly vibrating the heat-pressure application means, it is possible to improve the coverage range of the image, and when applied to multicolor recording, each color It is possible to further improve color mixing and obtain a high-quality image.Furthermore, by providing an elastic body in the part of the heat pressure applying means that contacts the recording surface side of the recording medium to which the image is transferred, the image can be improved. Even if there are irregularities, the application of heat and pressure and vibration by the heat-pressure applying means are performed reliably, and a higher quality image can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 (A) and (B) are overall schematic explanatory diagrams of an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of the structure of a transfer recording medium, and Figure 3 is an optical 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 the operation, Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between each member, Figure 1O is an explanatory diagram of the sequence table for sending out each signal, Figure 11 is a flowchart of the recording operation, and Figure 12 is the transfer roller. 4a is an explanatory diagram of the temperature control system; Fig. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration in which a vibration unit is attached to the color mixing roller;
Figures (A) and (B) are explanatory diagrams of the image state before the recording paper passes through the heat and pressure applying means, and Figures 15 (A) and (B) are illustrations of the image state after the recording paper passes through the heat and pressure applying means. Explanatory diagram of image state, 1st
Figure 6→→-÷ is an explanatory diagram of the structure and function of a color mixing roller provided with an elastic material on its surface, and Figures 17 (A) and (B) are explanatory diagrams of an embodiment in which a cleaning member is provided on the color mixing roller. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which the color mixing roller is vibrated by a piezoelectric vibrator. 1 is a transfer recording medium, 1a is a support, ■b is a transfer recording layer,
lc and ld are the core, 1e is the shell, 1f is the adhesive, 2 is the supply roll, 2a is the supply roll shaft, 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 a peeling roller, 6 is a take-up roll, 7 is a cassette, 8 is recording paper, 9 is a feeding roller, 10a, 10b are registration rollers, 11 is an ejection tray, 12a, 12b and 12c are guide rollers, 13 is a heat pressure applying means, 13a is a color mixing roller, 13b is a pressure roller, 13c is a heater, 13d is a thermistor, 13e is a felt bar, 13f is a cleaning belt, 13g is a pressure roller, 13h is a Gear for driving the color mixing roller, 14 is a bearing unit, 15 is a vibration unit, 15a is a voice coil, 15b is a magnetic circuit, 15c is a piezoelectric vibrator, 15d is a slip ring, 16 is a blue image forming element, 16b is a magenta color image Formation element body, 20 is Agobu, 20a is CPtJ
, 20b is a ROM, 20c is a RAM, 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 registration sensor 26a is an LE
D, 26b is a phototransistor, 27°28 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, 36 is a relay driver, 3
7 is a relay, 40 is a konshoku motor driver, 41 is a color mixing motor, and 42 is a vibration unit driver.

Claims (4)

[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 recording medium that has passed through the transfer section. A thermopressure applying means that rotates in contact with a medium to apply heat and pressure to the recording medium; and a vibration that causes the thermopressure applying means to minutely vibrate in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording medium. A recording device comprising: means. (2) The recording apparatus according to (1), wherein the thermopressure applying means has an elastic body at a portion that contacts the recording surface side of the recording medium. (3) The recording device according to claim (1) or claim (2), wherein a layer is formed on the surface of the thermopressure applying means that comes into contact with the recording medium to which the image transferred to the recording medium is not transferred. . (4) The recording device according to any one of claims (1) to (3), wherein the first energy is heat and the second energy is light.