JPH024531A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To record a satisfactory multicolor image even on a medium to be recorded and having a relatively low surface smoothness by applying a plurality of types of energies to a recording medium to be transferred by a recording unit to form an image, and transferring it to a medium to be recorded while applying it with a micro pressure vibration. CONSTITUTION:A recording medium 1 to be transferred from a supply roll 2 is uniformly radiated with a light having a predetermined wavelength from fluorescent lamps 3c, 3d by selectively driving heat generating element row 3b of a recording head 3a to a transfer recording layer made of a microcapsule layer to be magenta- and blue-reacted in a recording unit 3 to form a negative image. Then, it is superposed with a recording sheet 8 fed by a sheet feed roller 9, fed to a transfer unit 4, applied by pressure with predetermined heat and micro vibration between a transfer roller 4a having a heater 4c and a pressure roller 4b, and an image is transferred into a recording sheet 8. Thus, a satisfactory multicolor image can be recorded even on the medium to be recorded having a relatively low surface smoothness.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Field of Industrial Application> The present invention relates to a recording device that can be used in printers, copying machines, facsimile machines, and the like.

<Prior Art> In recent years, with the rapid development of the information industry, various information processing systems have been developed, and recording devices suitable for each information processing system have also been developed.

One of the above-mentioned recording devices is a thermal transfer recording device. In this method, recording is performed on a recording paper using an ink ribbon made by coating a ribbon-shaped support with a heat-melt ink made by dispersing a colorant in a heat-melt binder.

That is, the ink ribbons are stacked so that their heat-melting ink layers are in contact with the recording paper, and the ink ribbon and the recording paper are conveyed between a heating end and a platen, and heat is applied from the support side of the ink ribbon. An ink image corresponding to the applied heat is recorded on the recording paper by applying pulsed heat corresponding to the image signal using a head and transferring the melted ink to the recording paper by pressing the sound of rain. It is.

The above-mentioned recording device has been widely used in recent years because it is small and lightweight, makes no noise, and can perform recording in the same manner as in the past.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, conventional thermal transfer recording devices are not without problems.

The reason is that in conventional thermal transfer recording devices, the transfer recording performance, that is, the image quality, is greatly affected by the surface smoothness of the recording paper.
Although good image recording is performed on recording paper with high smoothness, there is a possibility that the quality of image recording will deteriorate when recording paper with low smoothness is used.

In addition, when attempting to obtain a multicolor image with a conventional thermal transfer recording device, it is necessary to repeat the transfer so that the C colors do not match. 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 present applicant uses a photothermal sensitive material, and when thermal energy and light energy are applied, the reaction of the material proceeds rapidly and the transfer characteristics change irreversibly. He proposed a technology to form an image based on the characteristics described in 1Iif depending on the image signal and transfer it to a recording medium (Japanese Patent Application No. 1, 1983).
No. 20080, No. 60 120081, No. 60-
No. 131411, No. 60-134831, No. 60-1
No. 50597, No. 60-199926, etc.).

According to this technology, it is possible to record high-quality images even on recording media with low surface smoothness, and when applied to multicolor recording, it is possible to make complex movements on the recording medium. It is possible to obtain multi-colored images without any problems.

The present invention is a further development of the above-mentioned technology, and even if the surface smoothness, size, thickness, etc. of the recording medium change, the coverage of the image transferred to the recording medium is adjusted according to these changes. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording device capable of obtaining high-quality images by improving color mixing of each color in multicolor recording.

For this purpose, the means of the embodiment described below is a transfer recording medium having a transfer recording layer whose transfer characteristics change by applying a first energy and a second energy different from the first energy. and a first energy applying means for applying the first energy to the transfer recording medium, which is provided along the conveyance path of the transfer recording medium conveyed by the conveyance means. and a second for applying the second energy.
a recording section having energy imparting means; a transfer section for transferring the image formed on the transfer recording medium in the recording section onto the recording medium; and a thermal pressure applying means for applying pressure with minute vibrations, and a selection means for changing the energy application parameter of the recording thermal pressure applying means according to the type of the recording medium. It becomes a feature.

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

Further, when a predetermined amount of heat and pressure is applied to the recording medium after the image has been transferred, accompanied by minute vibrations, color mixing of the transferred image is promoted.

Further, at this time, depending on the type of the recording medium, the energy application parameters of the thermopressure applying means, such as heating temperature,
By changing at least one of pressure, frequency, and vibration amplitude, it is possible to obtain higher quality images regardless of the type of recording medium.

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

[First example]

FIG. 1(A) is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 1(B) is a perspective explanatory view.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a transfer recording medium in the form of a long sheet, which is wound into a roll and used as a supply roll 2 in the apparatus main body M.
It is removably incorporated into the.

That is, this supply roll 2 is removably loaded into a rotatable support 2a provided on the main body M of the apparatus.

First, the leading edge of this transfer recording medium 1 is placed on the supply roll 2.
Transfer roller 4a and pressure roller 4b pass through guide roller 12a, recording head 3a and guide roller 12b.
From between the peeling roller5. It is directed by the guide roller 12c to reach 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, while applying torque to the take-up roll 6 in the direction of arrow C using a known driving means, the transfer roller 4a is
Each time the transfer recording medium 1 is rotated in the direction of the arrow a, the transfer recording medium 1 is fed out in the direction of the arrow a and is sequentially wound around the circumferential surface of the take-up roll 6.

Incidentally, during the winding, a certain puncture 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 I to reach the recording position. 3 A is configured to be generally fed while being in pressure contact with 3a at a constant pressure and at a constant angle.

Next, the configuration of each section in section 111 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 onto a sorted 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 IC, and the components shown in Table 2 as the core Id, and microcapsules are formed by the method shown below. An image forming element having a shape is formed.

In Table 1, 10 g of the ingredients shown in Tables 1 and 2 were first mixed in 20 parts of methylene chloride, and 1 g of gelatin and a surfactant such as cationic or nonionic with an LTJ value of at least 10 were dissolved. 200m1 of water! Mix & mix, 60
°CJJII 'iKs lower homo poor mixer o, o
Stir at oo~10,000 rpm to emulsify to obtain oil droplets with an average particle size of 2 Gμm.

Stirring was continued for an additional 30 minutes at 60°C, and the methylene chloride was distilled off to give an average particle size of about 1OμIn.

Add 20ml of water in which gum arabic Ig was dissolved,
After cooling slowly, add NI+, 011 (ammonia) water and bring the pH to 111 or higher.
Ita 1 cocapsule slurry was obtained, glutaraldehyde 2
Slowly add 0% water/&l, Oml to harden the capsule wall.

After that, solid-liquid separation is performed using a Sunche filter, and 3
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 one-inch microcapsule covered with a shell le, and is formed to have a particle size of 7 to 15 μm and an average particle size of about 0 μl.

The image forming element formed in this manner is adhered onto a support la using an adhesive 1f to obtain a transfer recording medium 1. To explain this in more detail, for example, Nippon Gosei Kagaku Kogyo (
(Polyester adhesive Polynisku +, p-0 manufactured by Xun
An adhesive 1f made of rock chips (in a ratio of 3 cc of toluene to 22 (50% solids) lee) is applied onto a support la made of a polyethylene terephthalate film of 6 pIm. After that, remove the solvent by drying and reduce the amount by approximately lμ.
Make it to. This adhesive 1f has a glass transition point of -15°
Since it is C, a slight tack remains even at room temperature, and the image forming element formed as described above can be easily attached to the support 1a.

Next, a microcapsule-shaped image forming body using the core material shown in Tables 1 and 2 obtained as above 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/cal and thermal energy of about 80° C. are applied to firmly fix the image forming element on the support Ia to form a transfer recording medium I.

11; The photoinitiator in the image forming element shown in Table 1 of Section I is:
In the light absorption characteristics shown in Figure 3, light in the band shown in the graph is absorbed and a reaction is initiated, resulting in a magenta color when forming an image.
In addition, the photoinitiator in the image forming element shown in Table 2 absorbs light in the band shown in graph B in FIG. 3 and starts a reaction.
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 l, and a heating means for applying optical energy as a second energy to the transfer recording medium l. It is composed of a light irradiation means.

The heating means has a width of 0.2 mm and an A of 8 dots per inch, which generates heat on the surface of the recording head 3a in accordance with the image signal.
-4 size, line type heating element rows 3b are arranged, and as described above, the support la side of the transfer recording medium l is pressed against the heating element rows 3b with a predetermined pressure by the pack tension during conveyance. It is configured. The image signal is generated from a control unit of a facsimile, an image scanner, an electronic blackboard, or the like, depending on the purpose.

On the other hand, on the transfer recording layer lb side facing the recording head 3a, two fluorescent lamps 3c and 3d, which are 2OW type light irradiation means having spectral characteristics as shown in FIG. They are also located approximately 15-35 am apart.

Furthermore, the transfer recording medium 1 is in pressure contact with the recording head 3a.
The temporary slit 3e is kept at a distance of about 0.51 m from the transfer recording medium 1, and the opening width is 1.2 m so that the direct light from the fluorescent lamps 3c, 3d is irradiated only on the area directly above the row of heating elements.
It is designed to serve as an intestine.

In this embodiment, as one of the fluorescent lamps 3c having the spectral characteristics shown in graph A in FIG. As the other fluorescent lamp 3d having the spectral characteristics shown, a 20W fluorescent lamp FLIOA70R39 manufactured by Toshiba is used.

Next, the transfer section 4 will be explained. The transfer section 4 is disposed downstream of the recording section 3 in the conveyance direction of the transfer recording medium l, and is in pressure contact with a transfer roller 4a that rotates in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. and a pressure roller 4b.

The surface of the transfer roller 4a is made of an aluminum roller with a thickness of 70 degrees and a hardness of 70 degrees, and the surface is maintained at 90 to 100 degrees Celsius by a built-in 800 W halogen heater 4C. is configured to be

The pressure roller 4b is an aluminum roller coated with silicone rubber having a hardness of 70 degrees, and has a pressing force of 6 to 7 kgf/c+I+ with the transfer roller 4a due to pressure means (not shown) such as a spring. is set to .

Furthermore, recording paper 8 as a recording medium loaded in the cassette 7
is the feed roller 9. It is fed by the registration roller pair Oa and job, and the LED 26a and phototransistor 2
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 l. has been done.

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 is disposed on the downstream side in the conveyance direction, and is composed of a color mixing roller 13a and a pressure roller 13b that is in pressure contact with the color mixing roller 13a.

The color mixing roller 13a is an aluminum roller surface coated with approximately 25μI of Teflon (registered trademark) resin, and a 300W sheathed heater +3c is provided inside, and the surface of the color mixing roller 13a is heated by the heater 13c. The temperature is maintained at 120°C to 200°C. The electrical circuit of the sheathed heater 13c is provided with a volume, and the amount of current applied to the sheathed heater 13c can be changed by changing the volume by the operator.

Therefore, the surface temperature of the color mixing roller 13a is from 120°C to
The direction can be changed appropriately between 200'C.

The pressure roller 13b is made of silicone rubber with a thickness of 3 cm, and has a pressure of 0.1 to 0.3 kg f/c+ due to the color mixing roller 13a and a spring (not shown).
They are configured to be pressed together with a pressing force of o.

Furthermore, the color mixing roller 13a and the pressure roller 13b are configured to be rotatable in 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 is attached to the bearing unit. It is attached via 14. When the vibrating uniform eye 5 is driven, the color mixing roller 13a is configured to vibrate minutely at a vibration frequency of 200 Hz and an amplitude of about 0.1 m in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording paper 8 (in the direction of arrow f).

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 transfer recording medium 1 is sequentially fed out from the supply roll 2 by driving the motor, and an image is formed by applying light and heat to the transfer recording layer 1b of the transfer recording medium 1 in the recording section 3 in accordance with an image signal. Ru. 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 heating element corresponding to the magenta of the image signal is not energized, but the portion corresponding to the white (recording paper 8 is white) and blue of the image signal is energized for 25n+s, and with a delay of 5ms, the fluorescent lamp 3c is turned on. irradiate uniformly.

The 11 hours of light at this time is 45 ns.

Next, when recording blue color, after 1j11 light irradiation is completed,
After 1 ns has elapsed, that is, from the energization start time, 10
After 0m5, 7 of both signals in the heating element row 3b
The heat generating element corresponding to
After s, fluorescent lamps 3 (!1α) are emitted uniformly.The irradiation time at this time is also 45 +ns as before.

In the following manner, the recording head 3a is controlled according to the image signals of +'t, magenta, and white to form a negative image on the transfer recording layer lb, and the image is transferred in a recirculation period of 200m5/1ine. The transfer recording medium l is conveyed synchronously.

The control system according to this embodiment for controlling the -F recording operation will now be explained in its entirety with reference to FIGS. 6 to 12. Figure 6 is a control system professional.

Figures 7 and 8 are timing charts of the recording operation, Figure 9 is a diagram showing the relationship between each member, Figure 10 is the Nogenstable that sends out each signal, and Figure 11 is the recording operation. The flow of -f-yard, Fig. 12 is transfer +7-ra 4a
Temperature system? It is a circuit diagram of the 111 series.

As shown in FIG. 6, this control system includes, for example, a CI'LJ20a such as a microphone processor, and a ROM20 that stores control programs and various data for the CPU20a.
b, and a RAM 20c'' which is used as a work area for the CPU 20a and also temporarily stores various data.
a control unit 20 with a controller, an interface 21, an operation panel 22, an image forming timing generator 23, a feed motor driver 24, a V-rotation motor driver 25, ? f
U color mode - driver 40 movement unit 1 driver 42, resist sensor 26, each fluorescent lamp lighting device 2
Consists of 7.28.

The control unit 20 is operated via the interface 2I.
Various information from the mirror 22 (for example, records (seismic intensity, record size, record "nice, etc."), signals from the registration sensor 26, and magenta line synchronization signals generated by the image forming timing generator 23 are manually input. Said system?311 part 20
is the motor ON signal of the feeding motor 30, the motor ON signal of the transport motor 31, and ? via the interface 21. A motor ON signal and a page signal for the Konshiki motor 41 are generated.

The image forming timing generator 23 divides the clock of the internal crystal oscillator and outputs various signals (magenta line synchronization signal, blue line synchronization signal, page synchronization signal, video clock, enable signal, strobe signal, fluorescent lamp ON signal, signals, 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 position ill is shifted by 180°.

Then, the 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 signal.

The video clock generates a clock of 25KllZ from the rising edge of the magenta and blue line signal, and 172
8 (69 m5) [This is a signal that pauses after generating a cock (The recording head 3a in the example of Kiminotsu 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, magenta and blue line synchronization signals, and a video clock signal from the image forming timing generator 23, and the page synchronization signal is r From the moment when the magenta line sync signal is r high, both magenta signals are synchronized with the video clock, and when the blue in sync signal is r high, the blue image signal is synchronized with the video clock, and 1728 images are generated. Send one by one.

Furthermore, r high j of the magenta and blue line synchronization signals written in L
During the period when the video clock is inactive, a strobe signal that becomes high J is generated.

The enable signal repeats 25m5f high j from the rising edge of the magenta and blue line synchronization signals, and the first line when the same page 1υj signal becomes r low.
25In'l between jU1 of high J of the in-sync signal
The process ends with the occurrence of f-high J. This enable signal is the fifth
This corresponds to the energization signal to the heating element 3b corresponding to both signals in the figure.

Further, the image forming timing generator 23 generates a fluorescent lamp ON signal. The ON signal of the fluorescent lamp 3c becomes "high j" with a delay of 5 ms from the rise of the first enable signal, and then
After 5 m5, the signal becomes low j, and this occurs repeatedly every other enable signal.
Is the N signal +i? Turn on the ON signal of the fluorescent lamp 3C.
The same thing happens with an ooms delay.

The recording head 3a and the fluorescent lamp 3C3d are driven by the above signal, and the recording head 3a receives the image signal from the external image signal generator 32, and outputs the video signal from the image forming timing generator 23 to the video recorder 7). Import into internal shift register. Both captured signals are latched into a launch register in the head by a strobe signal from the image forming timing generator 23, and then are latched in the launch register in the head by an enable signal from the image forming timing generator 23 according to both signals in the launch register. The heating element 3b is energized, and at the same time, the next image signal is taken into the shift register by the video clock.

Further, the lighting devices 27 and 28 for the fluorescent lamps 3c and 3d receive ON signals for the fluorescent lamps 3c and 3d from the image forming timing generator 23, and turn ON signals of the respective fluorescent lamps 3c and 3d at "high j". Compatible fluorescent lamp 3c.

Turn on 3d.

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

Next, conveyance control of the transfer recording medium 1 and the recording paper 8 for transferring the image formed on the transfer recording medium 1 to 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 j", the feed motor 30 is driven, and the feed roller 9 and the pair of lens rollers 10a and lob are rotated 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.

Further, the color mixing motor driver 40 similarly controls the control unit 20.
When the color mixing motor ON signal from
a 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 of the 13 items sent out by the control unit 20 via the interface 21 is as shown in FIG.

In addition, when the distance between each member is calculated as shown in FIG. 9 and the time period T1 to T in FIG. 8 is -L, the transfer recording medium l or the recording paper 8 is conveyed as shown below. This is the time required for

Ll: Conveyance distance of the transfer recording medium l from the recording gutter 3a to the pressure contact portion between the transfer roller 4a and the pressure roller 4b.

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

3 Conveyance distance of the recording paper 8 from the Ni registration sensor 26 to the pressure contact section 1111.

L4:! , the conveyance distance of the recording paper 8 from the separation roller 5 to the color mixing roller 13a.

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

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

T: Length of recording paper 8 (for example, 29 for A4 size)
The time required to convey the transfer recording medium 1 by 7m5).

T4: Time required to transport the transfer recording medium l, +I,2 distance.

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

That is, when the operator presses the start button on the operation panel 22, the feeding motor 30 is driven, feeds the recording paper 8, and stops driving when the leading edge of the recording paper 8 touches the registration sensor 26. 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 the arrow a of No. 111a, and the page signal becomes "r high" during the time T3, and the transfer image forming process is performed in the recording section 3. will be held.

The conveyance motor 31 stops after the image forming time T3 has elapsed and further after a time T4 has elapsed.

Incidentally, after the time T has elapsed since the start of conveyance of the transfer recording medium 1, the feeding motor 30 is driven for a time 'F2 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 0; I transfer recording medium l in the transfer unit 4, and the conveyance motor 3
It is transported by the drive of

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 by a software counter. 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 control unit 20 has a sequence table as shown in FIG. 10 inside, and the registration sensor signal? Yes"
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, bit 2 corresponds to the page signal, and bit 3 corresponds to the color mixing motor ON signal.

Also, is the number in parentheses at the top in Figure 8 the registration sensor signal? The magenta line synchronization signal at the time when it becomes "high" is designated as the 0th, and the number (number of signals) of the magenta line synchronization signal at each time point is shown.

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 the feed motor 〇N signal 2 (S2). Next, wait until the registration sensor signal becomes r high J (S3), and substitute 0 to R indicating the rask number of the sequence table (S4). Next, wait for the magenta line synchronization signal to be "r low" (S5), and wait for it to become "high J" after reaching low (S6).Thereby, the rising edge of the magenta line synchronization signal is detected. When detected, refer to the first jj!l L of the sequence table and send out the bit ON bit 3 as a feeding motor ON signal, a transport motor ON signal, a page signal, and a color mixing motor ON signal, respectively (S7).Next, 17
1 is added to the value of R (S8), and r? The value of is 349
Determine whether it is greater than 6 (S9), r? If the value is smaller than or equal to 3496, the process returns to step S5 to continue recording, and if it is larger than 3496, 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 reference voltage E0 by comparator 35. The comparison output is passed through a relay driver 36, and a relay 37 controls the energization of the halogen heater 4c from T and source E.

Here, the driving principle of the temperature control configuration will be described. The thermistor 33 has a property that its resistance value decreases as the temperature rises. Therefore, as the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a increases, the resistance value of the thermistor 33 decreases, and the voltage E2 decreases. Conversely, if the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a decreases, the thermistor 33
The resistance value of increases and the voltage E2 also decreases. 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, if the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a is lower than 95°C, the comparative output will be ? HI", the halogen heater 4C is energized, and the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a rises. Conversely, if the temperature is higher than 95°C, /S・
The Dken heater 4C is not energized and its surface temperature drops. Due to the above control, the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a is 90~90.
It is held at 100°C. This control system is constantly operating when the power switch of the device is on, and is controlled so that the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a reaches 90 to 100''C before the start button on the operation panel is pressed. .

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

after that,? The transfer recording medium 1 and the recording paper 8 are separated by 211 by the II ill roller 5, the transfer recording medium 1 is taken up by the take-up roll 6, and the recording paper 8 on which the image of the desired color has been transferred is transferred to a thermopressure applying means. Color mixing roller 1 configuring 13
3a and the pressure roller 13b.

In this thermopressure applying means 13, the color mixing roller 13a is heated to a predetermined temperature by a heater 13c, and is driven by a voice coil 15a at a frequency of 20011z and an amplitude of approximately O2.
1, the recording paper 8 is slightly vibrated in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. Therefore, when the recording paper 8 passes between the rollers 13a and 13b, heat and pressure are applied, and the image transferred to the recording paper 8 is formed by the vibration of the color mixing roller 13a that is in pressure contact with the image transfer surface. A shearing force is applied to the element body.

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>(
1 transferred to the recording paper 8 by the transfer unit 4 as shown in B).
The purple image 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, as shown in FIG.
As shown in A) and (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, 1
Color mixing at the boundary 6b progresses, making the blue-purple image clearer and improving the image quality.

The amount of heat applied to the recording paper 8 by the thermopressure applying means 13 is changed as appropriate depending on the smoothness, size, thickness, etc. of the recording paper 8.

Specifically, when the smoothness of the recording paper 8 is low, the amount of heat applied to the recording/&8 is increased, and when the smoothness is high, the amount of heat applied is decreased.

This is because when the smoothness of the recording paper 8 is low, the unevenness of the surface of the recording paper is large and tends to impede the color of the image forming element transferred to the recording paper 8. Therefore, the amount of heat applied by the color mixing roller 13a It increases the temperature and promotes +iiJ in color by nuclear heat. In addition, when the surface of the recording paper is highly smooth, colors are likely to be mixed between the image forming elements described in 111. Therefore, the amount of heat applied by the color mixing roller 13a is reduced to prevent excessive color mixing.

Further, when the size of the recording paper 8 is large, the heat application rate is increased, and when the size is small, the heat application rate is decreased. Similarly, if the recording paper 8 is thin, the heating star is set to be large, and if the recording paper 8 is thick, the heating star is set to be small.

This is because if the size, especially the width, of the recording paper 8 differs, the area in which the color mixing roller 13a contacts the recording paper 8 will differ, and the effective pressure applied by the color mixing roller 13a and the pressure roller 13b will differ. This is because the degree of color mixing between the image forming elements transferred to the recording paper 8 may change. Therefore, when the effective pressure is low, the amount of heat applied by the color mixing roller 13a is set to be high, and when the pressure is high, the amount of heat applied is set to be low.

Further, the change in the effective pressure is the same even when the thickness of the recording paper 8 is different. Therefore, depending on the thickness of the recording paper 8, the amount of heat applied by the color mixing roller 13a is set to the optimum value, as in the case described in 7 above.

The temperature control circuit for maintaining the surface temperature of the color mixing roller 13a at a set temperature is the same as the temperature control circuit for the transfer roller 4a shown in FIG.
), the surface temperature of the color mixing roller 13a is detected by a thermistor +3d provided on the surface of the color mixing roller 13a, and the heater 13c is turned on and off.

Record ♀1 (
A three-color image consisting of blue, magenta, and bluish-violet is clearly recorded on the tray 8 and discharged onto the discharge tray 11.

[Other Examples]

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

(1) Transfer recording medium 1111 In the above embodiment, the two-color recorder H was used as an example, but as disclosed by the applicant in 1988-12881.4, the image forming element 711 colors, or 3 or more colors, depending on the type of coloring agent and photoinitiator that constitute the nIJ photoinitiator, and a light source with a wavelength that corresponds to the nIJ photoinitiator, and the use of the psitohys according to the above application. It is also possible to obtain multicolor or full-color recorded images.

In the embodiment described above, the transfer recording layer of the polymeric material r1 containing a coloring agent is formed by optical energy and thermal energy! Although we have shown an example of transferring and recording the curvature onto paper 8 by changing the softening point temperature of b, the adhesion 1 of recording paper 8
It is also possible to transfer and record images based on differences in five characteristics or sublimation characteristics. The bite is to impart color development to the recording paper E), to provide a layer on the transfer recording medium 1 that changes the color development characteristics of the recording paper 8, and to transfer the image formed on the transfer recording medium 1 to the recording paper 8. It may be configured such that an image is obtained by transferring the image to 8.

Further, the first energy and the second energy applied to the transfer recording layer 1b (=1) are not limited to the above-mentioned heat and light energy, and for example, an image can be formed by energy such as pressure energy, etc. Yoshishi'C is also good.

In addition to the above-mentioned polyethylene terephthalate 1-, the material for the support 1 may be, for example, polyamide, or polyimide 1. Condenser paper, sheet paper, sheet paper, etc. can also be used.

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 energies and a transfer image can be formed. Transfer a)' can be formed by using a transfer recording layer whose physical properties such as melting temperature, softening point, glass transition point, r7i degree, etc. can be changed by applying multiple types of energy.

The image forming element constituting the transfer recording layer 1b contains a sensitive component and a coloring component, and the sensitive component exhibits changes in physical properties when multiple energies such as light and heat energy are applied. It is preferable to use a material that starts to respond or a material that rapidly changes the reaction rate of physical property change.

The polymerization component contained in the sensitive component is a polymerization reaction or crosslinking +, i! It is a component that causes a reaction, such as a polymer, an oligomer, or a polymer.

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

Examples of the 1rr polymerizable monomer include ethylene glycol diacrylate and propylene glycol diacrylate.

When the polymerizable monomer or oligomer is used, cellulose acetate-1 succinate, methyl methacrylate-hydroxyethyl methanelylate copolymer, etc. may be included in order to improve layer-forming properties.

A reaction initiator is added as necessary to cause the polymerization component to react. As the reaction initiator, radical initiators such as azo compounds, organic sulfur compounds, carginyl compounds, and halogen compounds are preferable.

In particular, in the structure of the transfer recording layer when a transferred image is formed by receiving both light and thermal energy, the reaction speed is determined by the reaction between the reaction initiator and the polymerization component, which act in response to the above-mentioned light energy. The type of reaction initiator and polymerization component should be selected so as to have a large temperature dependence.

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 diacryl μ-1, and a reaction initiator such as hensifhenone and migeler'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 RN materials and dyes include inorganic pigments such as carbon black and yellow lead, Victoria Blue Lake,
Examples include colorants such as Ja-containing pigments such as Fast Sky Blue, leuco dyes, and phthalocyanine dyes.

In addition, the transfer record Pi1b may contain a stabilizer such as hydroquinone or p-methoxyphenol.

Furthermore, the transfer recording layer may contain an enhancer such as p-nitroaniline and 12-hencyanthraquinone to enhance the energy activation of the reaction initiator.

Furthermore, in addition to the colorant and the sensitive component, a resin, Wanx 1J32, 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.

In addition, binders for Wankusu Rippage include, for example, vegetable waxes such as candelilla wax and carnauba wax, animal waxes such as spermaceti wax, mineral waxes such as Montan wax, or fatty acids, fatty acid amides, esters, etc. Synthetic waxes and the like may be used, and one or more of the above waxes may be used in combination.

Further, examples of the liquid crystal used as a binder include nylsterol hexanoate, cholesterol decanoate, and the like.

When microcapsules are used for the image 1 forming element constituting the transfer recording layer 1b, the core portion contains the material described in 1i, but the material f used for the wall material of the microcapsules , gelatin and gum arabic, nitrocell [cose, cellulose types such as ethyl cellulose, and polymer types such as polyethylene and polystyrene.

(2) Recording section In the above-mentioned embodiment, in the recording section 3, light of a predetermined wavelength corresponding to a desired color is uniformly irradiated from the transfer recording Jilb side of the transfer recording medium 1, and from the support la side. Although the configuration has been described in which light intensity is applied in accordance with the image signal, as another embodiment, a configuration may be adopted in which heat is uniformly applied and predetermined light is irradiated in accordance with both signals.

Furthermore, if the support 1a7il is made of a light-transmitting material, light can be irradiated from the support 1a side, and the transfer recording layer can also be used as a transfer recording layer. A configuration may be adopted in which heat is applied from the b 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 throat 3a described above, a method of selectively heating using a YAC laser and a polygon mirror, etc. may be used.

Further, as the light irradiation means, the above-mentioned fluorescent lamp 3c is used.

In addition to the method using 3D, for example, a method using an LED array, or a method using a xenon lamp and a filter that matches the light absorption characteristics of the material, etc. can be used. Although it is configured to apply the optical energy and the thermal energy at the same time, a configuration in which the optical energy and the thermal energy are applied separately may be used as long as both energies are applied as a result.

(3) Transfer unit The transfer unit 4 is not limited to a roller-like structure such as the transfer roller 4a and the pressure roller 4b, but may be of any configuration that can obtain the desired pressure, such as a rotating heald. .

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

(4) Recording medium The recording medium is not limited to the above-mentioned recording paper, but includes, for example, overhead projector, lid (OHP), etc.
Of course, plastic sheets etc. can also be used.

(5) Heat-pressure applying means In the embodiment described above, an example was described in which the surface temperature of the color mixing roller 13a was changed as a parameter of the heat-pressure applying means 13.
As another embodiment, the vibration frequency or amplitude of the color mixing roller 13a may be changed depending on the type of recording paper 8.

For example, the vibration unit driver 42 is shown in Fig. 16 (^)
As shown, an oscillator 42a, an amplifier 42b, a power supply 42c
Consisting of Then, when the color mixing motor ON signal from the interface 21 enters the vibration unit driver 42, the color mixing roller 13a starts to vibrate, the FA2C2a starts oscillating, and the electric signal amplified by the amplifier 42b is transmitted to the vibration unit 15, causing vibration. It is configured to start. Therefore, by attaching a volume 42a1 to the oscillator 42a and making the volume 42a+ef2, the vibration frequency can be changed. It is possible to obtain the same effect as in the embodiment described above.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 16 (13), a volume 42b1 is attached to the 42-width amplifier 42b of the vibrating unit, and by operating the volume 42b, the amplitude of the electrical signal output to the vibration unit 5 can be changed. , the amplitude of the color mixing roller 13a may be changed depending on the type of recording paper 8.

The vibration frequency or amplitude change is set so that the color mixing roller 13a applies greater vibrational energy to the recording paper 8 when the smoothness of the recording paper 8 is low, when the size is large, or when the thickness is thin. On the other hand, if the recording paper 8 has a high smoothness, a small size, or a thick thickness, settings may be made so that a small amount of vibrational energy is applied.

Furthermore, the settings of the parameters do not necessarily have to be varied selectively; if the setting values are changed by combining appropriate parameters according to the type of recording paper 8, the color mixing performance of the image can be further optimized. This is preferable because it allows you to achieve the following.

Further, in the above embodiment, the surface of the color mixing roller 13a is coated with a Teflon resin layer to prevent offset of the image transferred to the recording paper 8, but as shown in FIGS. 17(A) and 17(It). The image transferred to the color mixing roller 13;J may be removed by a cleaning mechanism.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 17 (8), a felt par 13e made of aromatic polyamide resin fibers is coated with 5,000 to +
Impregnated with 0,000 cs silicone oil (
It is in pressure contact with the R color roller L3a. In this way,
The surface of the color mixing roller 13a in contact with the image on the recording paper 8 is 01
1. While being cleaned with the felt bar 13e,
Offset of the image forming element is prevented.

In addition, in the configuration shown in FIG. 17(B), the aromatic polyamide sebaceous fiber is made into a sea urchin shape and is impregnated with silicone oil in the same manner as described above. 13 and 1, and 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, the vibration unit 15 is equipped with a bolted Langevin type piezoelectric vibrator 15c as shown in FIG. 18, and power is supplied to the vibrator 15c by a slip ring 15d. 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 first embodiment described above, the vibration frequency was set to 200
112. The amplitude was set to Q and 14 m, but the color mixing roller 13a
It goes without saying that the vibration frequency and amplitude of 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 the image onto a recording medium, so that an image can be formed even on a recording medium with relatively low surface smoothness. can be recorded well. Furthermore, when the present invention is applied to multicolor recording, a multicolor image can be obtained without making any complicated movements on the recording medium.

Furthermore, by applying predetermined pressure, heat, and vibration to the recording medium onto which the image has been transferred, at appropriate values depending on the type of recording medium, the coverage range of the image can be improved.
When applied to multicolor recording, it improves the mixing of each color,
It is possible to obtain high-quality images.

[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 The timing chart of the operation, Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between each member, Figure 10 is an explanatory diagram of the sequence table that sends out each signal, Figure 11 is a flowchart of the recording operation, and Figure 12 is a transcription diagram. Fig. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the temperature control system of the roller 4a, and 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 of No. 11 when the recording paper passes through the thermopressure applying means, and Figures 15 (A) and ([
1) is an explanatory diagram of the image state after the recording paper passes through the Tanoh pressure applying means, and Fig. 16 (A) and (It) are blocks of the vibrating triher unit 1 of the embodiment in which the vibration frequency and amplitude of the color mixing roller are changed. Figure 17 (A), (B)
18 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which a cleaning member is provided on a 119-color roller, and FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which a color mixing roller is vibrated by a piezoelectric vibrator. l is a transfer recording medium, la is a support, 1b is a transfer recording layer,
lc and ld are cores, le is shells, lf is adhesive, 2 is a supply roll, 2a is a supply roll shaft, 3 is a recording section, 3a is a recording head, 3b is a 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 a recording paper, 9 is a feeding roller, IOa, 10b is a registration roller, 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, +3d is a thermistor, 13e is a felt bar, 13r is a cleaning belt, 13g is a press 1-J- 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, 16a is a blue image forming element, 16b is a magenta image forming element, 20
is a control unit, 20,1 is a CPU, 20b is a ROM, 20
c 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
26a is a resist sensor, 26a is an LED, 2(ib is a phototransistor, 27.28 is a fluorescent lamp lighting device, 30 is a feed motor, 31 is a transport motor, 32 is an external image signal)
33 is a thermistor, 34 is a resistor, 35 is a comparator, 36 is a relay driver, 37 is a relay, 4
0 is l Konshiki motor driver, 41 is l Konshiki motor 42 is vibration unit driver, 42a; oscillator,
・12b is amplifier 1, 12c is power supply, 42a+, 42
b+ is a volume.

Claims (3)

[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 for contacting the medium and applying heat and pressure with minute vibrations; and a selection means for changing energy application parameters of the thermopressure applying means according to the type of the recording medium. A recording device characterized by having the following. (2) The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the energy application parameter in the thermopressure application means is at least one of heating temperature, pressure, vibration frequency, and vibration amplitude. (3) The recording device according to claim (1) or claim (2), wherein the first energy is heat and the second energy is light.