JPH03123352A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To form an image without irregularities on various kinds of developing sheets different in material and thickness by changing the rotary speed and / or pressure of pressure rollers in response to a signal from a developer sheet selecting mechanism. CONSTITUTION:A light / pressure sensitive recording medium 17a carrying light / pressure sensitive microcapsules and the developer sheet 17b carrying developer are passed through pressure rollers 11 and 12, and a visible image is formed on the sheet 17b. At this time, one of three switches possessed by the developer sheet selecting mechanism 25 is turned on based on whether the material of the sheet 17b is paper or plastic film and how thick the sheet 17b is when it is the paper, and the medium 17a and the sheet 17b are pressurized with a preset speed and pressure.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application 1] The present invention relates to an image forming device used in an optical printing device such as a printer or a copying machine. This invention relates to an image-forming I&W device that develops images by overlapping a pressure recording medium and a color developer sheet and applying pressure.

[Prior art 1] Conventionally, photosensitive and pressure-sensitive microcapsules containing a dye precursor, a photocurable resin that is a photosensitive substance, a sensitizer, a photopolymerization initiator, etc., undergo a color developing reaction with the dye precursor. A photosensitive pressure-sensitive recording medium coated with a color developer that causes a color change is known. Suitable for copying paper, etc., for example, JP-A-58-
This is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 23025, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-88739, and the like. According to such a photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium, the photosensitive pressure sensitive microcapsules are photocured in the areas of the surface that are exposed to light, and remain uncured in other areas. Therefore, when the surface of this photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium is selectively exposed to light and then pressurized by a pressure roller, the uncured photosensitive and pressure sensitive microcapsules are crushed and the dye precursor and color developer are developed. A reaction occurs and a predetermined copy image is obtained. Therefore, if this photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium is used as copying paper, high quality prints with excellent resolution and sharpness can be obtained, and unlike conventional copying machines that use plain paper, toner powder is It has the advantage of being easy to maintain since it does not use any. The above-mentioned photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording media are of the so-called self-coloring type, but in addition to this, there are also transfer type recording media described in JP-A-62-143044, JP-A-62-150242, etc. Photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording media have also been proposed. This transfer type photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium itself is coated with the aforementioned photosensitive and pressure sensitive microcapsules, but no developer is coated, and the developer is attached to the developer sheet. It is coated. During development, an image is realized and recorded on the developer sheet by pressing the exposed photosensitive pressure-sensitive recording medium and the developer sheet in a superimposed state. This also has the same benefits as the self-coloring type,
α is obtained.

Image forming apparatuses using the transfer type photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 63-231382 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 63-1.
No. 93150, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-212929, etc. These include an exposure means that performs an exposure process on a photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium according to optical information and forms a latent image;
Pressure means for stacking a color developer sheet and the photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium and applying pressure to form a developed image on the color developer sheet, and heating for accelerating the reaction between the dye precursor and the color developer. We have measures in place.

Generally, when forming an image using a photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium and a color developer sheet, development is performed by passing the medium between a pair of pressure rollers, as will be described later with reference to FIG.

[Issues to be solved by the inventionff11 In conventional image forming apparatuses, the pressure applied to this pressure roller is constant, and for example, if a developer sheet with a thin paper thickness is used, sufficient color development may not occur, or If a thick developer sheet is used, not only the contents of the photosensitive pressure-sensitive microcapsules but also the capsule wall soil will be transferred to the developer sheet, seriously disturbing the image.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is an image forming apparatus that develops images by overlapping a photosensitive pressure-sensitive recording medium and a color developer sheet and pressurizing them. paper, plastic film, etc.)
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a beautiful image forming device for many types of color developer sheets having different thicknesses, densities, coefficients of friction, etc.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve this object, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention changes at least one of the rotational speed and the pressing force of the pressure roller according to a color developer sheet selection input signal. This is achieved by an image forming apparatus characterized by having a variable pressure roll mechanism.

[Operation] According to the present invention having the above configuration, beautiful images can be formed on various types of color developer sheets.

[Example] Before disclosing an example according to the present invention, a conventional device will be outlined.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the main parts of an image forming apparatus according to the prior art. In the figure, the pressure roll 1.2 is supported by upper and lower arms 3.4, and is adjusted by a pressure adjustment mechanism 5 and a compression spring 6. A photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium 7a on which a latent image has been formed by optical processing in a latent image forming device (not shown) is overlapped with a color developer sheet 7b, and both pressure rolls 1 rotate as shown by arrows 8. and 2 as shown by the arrow 9, it is applied with a predetermined pressure and developed, and a visible image appears on the color developer sheet 7b.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, in which both pressure rolls 11 and 12, and upper and lower 7-mm 13 and 14 are the same as in the conventional apparatus.

The pressure roll 11 has both end shafts supported by an upper arm 13 via bearings, and the pressure roll 12 is similarly supported by a lower arm.

These upper and lower arms 13 and 14 are configured to be rotatable at point A at their tips.

The pressing force of the pressure rolls 11 and 12 is controlled by a pressure adjustment mechanism at the rear ends of the upper and lower arms 13 and 14. This pressure X 1!1n6N is constituted by the port 15 and the spring 16 whose length is limited by the spring retaining nut 20. When the compression state of the spring 16 changes, the upper and lower arms 1
3 and 14, the tightening state of the rear end changes with point A at the tip as the fulcrum. As a result, the pressing force changes.

In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the pressure roll 1
1 and 12 with additional flexibility to vary the pressure force. This mechanism includes a motor 21, a driving gear 22, and a driven gear 23 connected to the port 15, and is configured to rotate the port 15. This motor is conveniently a step motor.A first controller 24 is connected to the step motor 21, which generates a suitable pulse output, and instructs the motor to rotate forward or reverse. For this controller 24, color developer sheet selection 8! A signal according to the settings of the mechanism 25 is input, and a corresponding output is given to the motor 21.

As a result, a pressing force is applied between the upper and lower arms 13 and 14 according to the compressed state of the spring 16, and the pressing force can be freely changed at any time before or after development.

In this embodiment, the color developer sheet F selection m structure consists of switches for selecting one of three, respectively S, , S.
2. S, S, is set for a color developer sheet of paper with a thickness of approximately 110μ, and the setting value is a pressing force of 45
Kg/cm, speed 50III@/sec ms2
is set for a paper developer sheet with a thickness of approximately 80 μl, and the setting values are a pressing force of 40 K g/cm and a speed of 60 a.
theory/sec. S is set to a color developer sheet made of plastic film with a thickness of 115 μm, and the set values are a pressing force of 30 kg/cm and a speed of 40 a/s.
It is ee. The user turns on any switch from 81 to S according to the color developer sheet on which the image is to be output.
and cry. Each setting value is determined based on the characteristics of each color developer sheet, but in general, if the color developer sheet is made of a homogeneous material like a film than if it is made of a rough material like paper, the pressing force may be lower.

Further, it is more convenient for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention to be provided with a second controller 26 that can arbitrarily change the rotation speed of the pressure roller drive motor (not shown) using the developer sheet selection fivI2s. Advantageous and appropriate image output is possible by using either the rotational speed control or the above-mentioned pressing force control, either alone or at the same time.

[Effect of the Invention J As is clear from the detailed description above, according to the present invention, many types of color developers with different materials (paper, synthetic paper, plastic films, etc.), thicknesses, densities, coefficients of friction, etc. It becomes possible to easily form a beautiful image on a sheet.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
and a connection diagram, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing main parts of an image forming apparatus according to the prior art. 7a, 17a...photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium, 7b, 17b・
・Developer sheet.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Photosensitive and pressure-sensitive microcapsules are supported on the surface, mainly containing a dye precursor that develops color by reacting with a color developer and a photosensitive substance whose mechanical strength changes when sensitive to light. A latent image is formed on a light-sensitive and pressure-sensitive recording medium formed by a photosensitive pressure-sensitive recording medium, which is exposed to light in accordance with optical information, and the image is developed by overlapping and pressing a color developer sheet on which the color developer is supported. An image forming apparatus comprising: a pressure roll mechanism that changes at least one of the rotational speed and pressure of a pressure roller in response to a color developer sheet selection input signal.