JPH0379358A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable simple high precise recording to be performed at high speed by a method wherein ink is applied to an irregular surface of an image forming component by rotating an ink supply roller, and the ink is fixed to an depressed part by impressing voltage between the ink supply roller and a counter electrode. CONSTITUTION:An ink supply roller 1 is formed by a sponge or the like, which keeps conductive ink and can be rotated. An image forming component 2 is poro in wettability to the ink, is composed of insulating materials has an irregularity 7 on its surface, and can be moved in a specific direction by bringing the surface into contact with the ink supply roller 1. A counter electrode 3 is arranged opposed to the ink supply roller 1 on a rear surface side of the image forming component 2. A power source 4 impresses voltage between the ink kept with the ink supply roller 1 and an integrated linear counter electrode 3. Since the image forming component 2 has an insulation property and the ink is electrically conductive herein, electrostatic force acts on the ink and the ink is fixed to a depressed part 7a of the image forming component 2 from the ink supply roller 1 against surface tension. When recording paper is stuck fast to the surface of the image forming component 2, recording is high precisely performed at high speed thereby.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] This invention relates to a recording device that performs recording using electrostatic force acting on the ink by applying a voltage between conductive ink and a counter electrode, which has a simple structure and high performance. The aim is to provide a compact recording device that can perform fine recording at high speed, and includes an ink supply roller that rotates while holding conductive ink,
an image forming member that is made of a material that has poor wettability with the ink and has an insulating property, has an uneven surface, and is movable in a fixed direction while the surface is in contact with the ink supply roller; The ink supplying apparatus includes a counter electrode disposed on the back side facing the ink supply roller, and a power source that applies a voltage between the ink held by the ink supply roller and the counter electrode. Further, in the above structure, a photoreceptor is used as the counter electrode, the image forming member is provided on the surface of the photoreceptor, and an exposure means facing the ink supply roller is provided on the back side of the photoreceptor. Also good.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that performs recording using electrostatic force acting on the ink by applying a voltage between the conductive ink and a counter electrode.

[Conventional technology]

As recording devices, many systems have been proposed and put into practical use. For example, in the area of high-speed recording, there is electrophotography, and in the area of small size and low cost, there is wire dot inkjet thermal transfer, etc., and each is used depending on its characteristics.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

An electrophotographic recording device is capable of high-definition and high-speed recording, but the printing process is complicated, making the device large and expensive. This problem is particularly noticeable when coloring.

On the other hand, each wire dot inkjet thermal transfer system has a simple structure and can be easily miniaturized and colored, but further improvements are desired in terms of high speed and high definition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a compact recording device that has a simple structure and can perform high-definition recording at high speed.

[Means to solve the problem]

FIG. 1 is a diagram explaining the principle of the present invention, in which 1 is an ink supply roller, 2 is an image forming member, 3 is a counter electrode, and 4 is a power source.

The ink supply roller 1 is made of, for example, sponge,
It holds conductive ink and can be rotated in the direction of the arrow.

The image forming member 2 is made of a material that has poor ink wettability (contact angle θ≧90°) and has an insulating property, and has unevenness 7 on its surface, and the surface contacts the ink supply roller 1 in a certain direction. (to the left in the figure). This figure shows an example in which the image forming member 2 is formed on an insulating film 5 such as polyethylene terephthalate.

The counter electrode 3 is disposed on the back side of the image forming member 2 facing the ink supply roller 1. In this figure, an example is shown in which the counter electrode 3 is supported by the platen 8.

The power source 4 is for applying voltage between the ink held by the ink supply roller 1 and the counter electrode 3.

In the above configuration, a photoreceptor is used as the counter electrode, the image forming member 2 is provided on the surface of the photoreceptor, and an exposure means facing the ink supply roller 1 is provided on the back side of the photoreceptor. You can also do it.

[For production]

During recording, t moves the image forming member 2 to the left and rotates the ink supply roller 1 clockwise.
Ink is applied to the uneven surface of the image forming member 2. Since the image forming member 2 is made of a material that has poor wettability to ink, the ink does not adhere to the image forming member 2 during this application.
Does not remain on the surface. Here, when a voltage is applied by the power source 4 between the ink supply roller 1 and the counter electrode 3, an electrostatic force is applied to the ink because the image forming member 2 has insulation properties and the ink has conductivity. acts, the ink 6 is torn off from the ink supply roller 1 against the surface tension and fixed in the recess 7a of the image forming member 2.

In this case, an image is formed by forming the counter electrode 3 in an integrated line shape and applying a voltage to any position of the counter electrode 3.

After the image is formed, when the recording paper is brought into close contact with the surface of the image forming member 2 using a roller (not shown) or the like, the ink is transferred to the recording paper and recording is accomplished.

In the case of the latter configuration in which a photoreceptor is used as the counter electrode, the amount of ink adhesion is controlled by the amount of charge generated on the surface of the photoreceptor by light irradiation by an exposure means. Other functions are the same as described above.

〔Example〕

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the structure of the recording device of this example, and in the figure, 1
1 is a roller, and 12 is a recording paper. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same members as in FIG. 1.

The image forming member 2 is made by applying a photosensitive polymer to an insulating film 5 of polyethylene terephthalate having a thickness of 6 μm, and then
It is constructed by forming unevenness 7 by exposure and etching.

The overall thickness is 20 μm, the pitch is 20 μm, and the recesses 7a
It is slightly wider than the convex portion 7b.

As for the physical properties of the ink 6, wettability with respect to the photosensitive polymer, surface tension, and viscosity are important, and these must be adjusted in total. Especially regarding wettability, θ≧90@
If θ<90°, an image cannot be formed by electrostatic force. Here, a solution in which 1% by weight of the dye was dissolved in a solvent containing a 1:1 mixture of water and glycerin was used. This ink has a surface tension of 67.4 dyne/cm at θζ90°.

The ink supply roller 1 may be any roller as long as it absorbs and retains ink, but here a sponge roller is used.

The counter electrode 3 was produced by providing a large number of metal electrodes densely on the platen 8.

The ink supply roller 1 and the counter electrode 3 are fixed facing each other as shown in the figure, and the image forming member 2 is moved to form an ink image as described above. At this time, the voltage applied by the power source 4 is pulsed. By changing the pulse width with
It is possible to perform gradation recording on a dot by dot basis by controlling the amount of ink that adheres to the image forming member 2. Furthermore, similar gradation recording is possible by keeping the pulse width constant and changing the voltage value.

The ink image formed on the image forming member 2 is transferred to the roller 11
By pressing the recording paper 12 against the surface of the image forming member 2, the image is transferred to the recording paper 12 and recording is accomplished. In this case, the feeding speed of the recording paper 12 in the direction of the arrow is:
It is set to be the same as the moving speed of the image forming member 2.

Since the image forming member 2 is generally used repeatedly, a cleaning means is required to clean the image forming member 2 after transfer. As this cleaning means, although not shown, a sponge roller that easily absorbs ink, similar to the ink supply roller 1, is used, and after the transfer, the sponge roller is brought into contact with the surface of the image forming member 20 and rotated once to perform cleaning. Make it.

Recording using this method can be performed with high precision and high speed. Furthermore, the structure of the device is simple and can be miniaturized.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the structure of the recording apparatus of this example. As shown in this figure, in this example, a drum-shaped photoreceptor 21 is used as the counter electrode, and an exposure means 22 facing the ink supply roller 1 is provided inside the photoreceptor 21 (on the back side). . The photoreceptor 21 includes a transparent electrode 23 and a photosensitive layer 24.
The image forming member 2 is provided on the surface of the photosensitive layer 24. The power source 4 is the same as that in the previous example, and applies a voltage between the ink held on the ink supply roller 1 and the transparent electrode 23 of the photoreceptor 21.

When forming an ink image, the photoreceptor 21 and the ink supply roller 1 are rotated in the directions of the arrows, and a constant voltage is applied by the power source 4. Then, by performing irradiation with the exposure means 22 in a predetermined pattern at a predetermined time, the ink 6 adheres to the predetermined recess 7b and an ink image is formed as in the previous example.

In this case, it is also possible to perform gradation recording by controlling the amount of ink adhesion based on the amount of charge generated on the surface of the photoreceptor by the light irradiated by the exposure means 22.

The transfer to the recording paper 12 by the roller 11 and the surface cleaning of the image forming member 2 after the transfer are performed in the same manner as in the previous example.

In this example, the same effect as in the previous example can be obtained.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a compact recording device that has a simple structure and can perform high-definition recording at high speed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram explaining the principle of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram explaining the structure of a recording device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically explaining the structure of the recording device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, 1 is an ink supply roller, 2 is an image forming member, 3 is a counter electrode, 4 is a power source, 7 is an uneven surface, 21 is a photoreceptor, and 22 is an exposure means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An ink supply roller (1) that rotates while holding conductive ink, and an ink supply roller (7) that is made of a material that has poor wettability to the ink and has an insulating property and has an uneven surface. an image forming member (2) whose surface is in contact with the ink supply roller (1) and is movable in a fixed direction; and a back surface of the image forming member (2) facing the ink supply roller (1). A recording device characterized by comprising: a counter electrode (3) disposed at the ink supply roller (1); and a power source (4) for applying a voltage between the ink held by the ink supply roller (1) and the counter electrode (3). Device. 2. Using a photoreceptor (21) as a counter electrode, the photoreceptor (
The image forming member (2) is provided on the surface of the photoreceptor (21), and an exposure means (22) facing the ink supply roller (1) is provided on the back side of the photoreceptor (21). The recording device according to claim 1.