JPH02261658A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To optimize a transfer amount of powder ink to a base material independently of variation of ambient temperature by a method wherein in an ink-ribbon-less thermal transfer system or a sublimate system image recorder an applied amount of powder ink to a carrying material is regulated based on information obtained by measurement of temperature. CONSTITUTION:Information from a temperature measuring device 12 is inputted to a controller 13, and voltage corresponding to a decided optimum applicated thickness of colored powder ink 2 is applied to an opposed electrode with a DC variable power source E1 to form an applicable electric field. By regulating an applicable amount of the colored powder ink 2 to the carrying material 1 is regulated by conforming to variation of the ambient temperature thereby, and the transfer amount to a base material 9 is optimized. Further, by controlling a number of revolution of an applicable sleeve 4 based on a signal of the temperature measuring device 12, the applicable amount of the colored powder ink 3 to the carrying material 1 is regulated by controlling the number of rotations of an applying sleeve 4 based on a signal of the temperature measuring device 12, and the transfer amount can be also optimized thereby.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an ink ribbonless thermal transfer type or sublimation type image recording apparatus.

[Conventional technology]

The above-mentioned image recording device electrostatically applies colored powder ink onto a conveying body in which a film is laminated on an endless belt, and heats the back side of this conveying body with a thermal head to print on the surface of the conveying body. It is generally known that an image is recorded by transferring coated powder ink onto a support such as plain paper.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional image recording apparatus described above, a fixed amount of colored powder ink is applied to the surface of the conveying body and a fixed amount of heat is applied by the thermal head regardless of changes in the environmental temperature. When the temperature is high, too much transfer heat is applied to the colored powder ink because the colored powder ink is adapted to the temperature, resulting in excess colored powder ink being transferred to the support. When the environmental temperature is low, the transfer heat of the colored powder ink is insufficient, and as a result, a sufficient amount of the colored powder ink is not transferred to the support. There is a problem in that the image is not transferred and the created image may be blurred.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides an image recording device that can obtain stable images without bleeding or blurring even when the environmental temperature changes, and has a low lining cost. The purpose is to provide.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve this object, an image recording apparatus according to the present invention applies powder ink to the surface of a conveying body through a rotatable coating sleeve while forming an applied electric field between the coating sleeve and the conveying body. An ink ribbonless thermal transfer type or sublimation type image processing device that electrostatically applies powder ink and heats the back surface of the conveying body to transfer the powder ink coated on the conveying body to a support. , a temperature measuring device that measures the environmental temperature and sends a signal; and based on the signal sent from the temperature measuring device, at least the electric field for applying the powder ink to the conveying body or the rotation speed of the application sleeve. It is equipped with a control device that controls one of the two.

[Effect]

According to the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration, at least one of the electric field for applying powder ink to the conveying body and the rotation speed of the application sleeve is controlled based on the information obtained by the temperature measuring device. Adjusting the amount of powder ink applied to the carrier, thereby changing the transfer heat capacity of the powder ink applied to the conveying body in response to changes in environmental temperature, and changing the amount of heating supplied to the powder ink. Therefore, the amount of powder ink transferred to the support can be optimized.

〔Example〕

An embodiment embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

This image recording apparatus has a colored powder ink 2 which is transported along the running direction of a conveying body 1 in which a film is laminated on an endless belt.
It mainly consists of an application part, a transfer part, and a cleaning part.

This colored powder ink 2 is made by powdering a solid ink made of a mixture of pigment and wax, which is generally used as a thermal transfer recording material, and a sublimation dye, which is generally used as a sublimation recording material. It is made by adding an electron-donating dye such as nigrosine or a charge control material such as a quaternary ammonium salt, and is stored in a case 3 that opens at the top and bottom, and is charged to a positive potential by frictional charging.

A rotatable application sleeve 4 is disposed at the lower end opening of the case 3 so as to close the opening with a small gap. facing the surface.

Further, below the application sleeve 4, opposing electrodes 5 are provided which are connected to the DC variable power source E1 and sandwich the carrier 1 therebetween.

This DC variable power source E1 is for applying a negative voltage of opposite polarity to the charged powder ink 2 to the counter electrode 5, and by controlling this voltage, the colored powder ink 2 is transferred to the carrier 1. This control device 13 is connected to a temperature measuring device 12 that measures the surrounding environmental temperature and sends a signal to the control device 13.

This allows information from the temperature measuring device 12 to be transmitted to the control device 1.
3, and a voltage corresponding to the determined optimum coating thickness of the colored powder ink 2 is applied to the counter electrode 5 by the DC variable power source E1.
is applied to form an appropriate application electric field, thereby adjusting the amount of the colored powder ink 2 applied to the carrier 1 in accordance with changes in the environmental temperature, and applying the colored powder ink 2 to the support 9.
The structure is such that the amount of transfer to is optimized.

That is, due to a change in the environmental temperature, the optimum amount of transfer heat for the colored powder ink 2 changes, and thereby the amount of the colored powder ink 2 transferred to the support 1 changes.

Therefore, by changing the coating amount (coating thickness) of the colored powder ink 2 on the carrier 1 in accordance with various temperatures, the transfer heat capacity of the colored powder ink 2 applied to the carrier 1 can be changed. In this way, the amount of colored powder ink 2 transferred is kept constant.

For example, when the environmental temperature is high, the electric field for applying the colored powder ink 2 is increased to increase the coating thickness. As a result, the transferred heat capacity of the applied colored powder ink 2 becomes large, and an excessive amount of colored powder ink is prevented from being transferred, thereby making it optimal.

Conversely, when the environmental temperature is low, the electric field for applying the colored powder ink 2 is reduced to reduce the coating thickness. As a result, the transfer heat capacity of the applied colored powder ink 2 becomes small, and the amount of transferred colored powder ink is prevented from becoming too small, making it optimal.

A thermal head 7 is provided on the lower running part of the conveyor 1 for applying heat in contact with the back surface of the conveyor 1. A platen roller 10 is provided for rotationally conveying a support 9 on which an image is formed by thermal transfer.

The conveying body 1 is supported in endless circulation by four guide rollers 8, and is configured to be rotationally driven by the guide rollers 8. On the other hand, a cleaning device 11 is provided with its tip in contact with the carrier 1 for removing colored powder ink 2 that has adhered to the surface of the carrier 1 and remains without being transferred.

The operation of the above embodiment will be explained below.

First, when the coating sleeve 4 is rotated via a motor (not shown), the colored powder ink 2 stored in the case 3 is charged to a positive potential by frictional charging with the coating sleeve 4.

After this colored powder ink 2 charged to a positive potential rides on the surface of the coating sleeve 4, a negative voltage is applied to the counter electrode 5 by the DC variable power source E1, and a coating electric field is formed, and the colored powder ink 2 moves toward the counter electrode 5. The carrier 1 is electrostatically drawn in.
Spread evenly on top.

At this time, the magnitude of the voltage applied to the counter electrode 5 from the DC variable power source E1 is controlled by the control device 13 based on the information from the temperature measuring device 12 as described above, and the colored powder ink is adjusted according to the change in the environmental temperature. Since the coating thickness of 2 is determined to form an optimal coating electric field, the amount of colored powder ink 2 transferred can be optimized in accordance with changes in environmental temperature.

Then, the conveying body 1 coated with the colored powder ink 2 is driven by a guide roller 8 and conveyed to the transfer area,
Here, a carrier 1 is electrostatically coated with a colored powder ink 2.
is heated from the back side by a thermal head 7 and thermally transferred onto a support 9 held by a platen roller 10 to form an image on the support 9.

The colored powder ink 2 remaining without being transferred is further transferred to the conveying body 1.
It is removed from the carrier 1 by a cleaning device 11 provided on the downstream side in the driving direction, and the carrier 1 returns to the position of the coating sleeve 4 and is used repeatedly.

In the above embodiment, the control device 13 changes the voltage from the DC variable power source E1 based on the signal from the temperature measuring device 12 to control the applied electric field. Based on application sleeve 4
The rotation speed of the conveyor 1 is controlled, and by changing this rotation speed, the conveyor 1
It is also possible to adjust the amount of colored powder ink 2 applied to the surface of the substrate so that the amount of colored powder ink 2 transferred is optimal.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the detailed description above, according to the present invention, the amount of powder ink transferred to the support can be optimized regardless of changes in the environmental temperature, and stable images without bleeding or blurring can be achieved. There are effects that can be obtained at low running costs.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawing is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. 1... Conveyor, 2... Colored powder/body ink, 4...
Application sleeve, 5... Counter electrode, 7... Thermal head, 9... Support body, 10... Platen roller, 1
1...Cleaning device, 12...Temperature measuring device, 1
3...Control device, El...DC variable power supply.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Powder ink is electrostatically applied to the surface of the conveying body via a rotatable coating sleeve while forming a coating electric field between the coating sleeve and the conveying body, and heating is applied to the back surface of the conveying body. In an ink ribbonless thermal transfer type or sublimation type image processing apparatus that transfers the powder ink coated on the conveying body to a support body, a temperature measuring device that measures an environmental temperature and sends a signal; An image recording device characterized by comprising a control device that controls at least one of the electric field for applying powder ink to the conveying body or the rotation speed of the application sleeve based on the signal sent from the temperature measuring device. .