JPH04226464A - Image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve a conventional method in which a multicolor image is formed through the use the fact that the evaporating speed of a pigment incorporated in a polymerized part and an unpolymerized part is different, and further to offer an image forming method in which plural images are formed on one image receiving sheet without being deviated. CONSTITUTION:An image forming medium 130 and an image receiving body 6 are superimposed on a supporting member 50, exposed by an exposing means 20, by the rotation of the member 50, and further, heated by heating/developing departments 23, 24, and 25. Further, the superimposed medium 130 and the image receiving body 6 are exposed by an ultraviolet light source 28 on a polymerizing/exposing part, to form the unpolymerizing part 131a and the polymerizing part thereon, and then, separated by the rotation of the member 50, to be sent out. In a transfer part, superimposing on a protective sheet 33 is carried out, and heating is carried out by a heating roller 31. Consequently, a thermal diffusible pigment in the unpolymerizing part 131a is transferred to the image receiving body 6, and the image is formed thereon.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming method for dry processing an image forming medium containing silver halide to form an image, and an image forming apparatus for carrying out the image forming method.

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Energy used to form or record images includes light, sound, electricity, magnetism, heat, particle beams (electron beams, X-rays), and chemical energy. Electricity, thermal energy, or a combination of these are often used.

For example, image forming methods using a combination of light energy and chemical energy include methods using silver salt photography and diazo copying paper. Further, as a method using a combination of light energy and electric energy, there is an electrophotographic system. Furthermore, methods that utilize thermal energy include methods that use thermal recording paper, transfer recording paper, etc., while methods that utilize electrical energy include electrostatic recording paper, current-carrying recording paper, discharge recording paper, etc. method is known.

[0004] Among the above-mentioned image forming methods, silver salt photography is one that allows high-resolution images to be obtained. However, silver salt photography requires complex development and fixing processes using liquid agents, drying processes for images (prints), and the like.

[0005] Therefore, development of an image forming method that allows image formation to be performed through simple processing is being actively conducted.

For example, a method is known from JP-A-61-69062, etc., in which a dry (thermal) polymerization reaction is caused using a photosensitive reaction of silver halide as a trigger to form an image made of a polymer.

Although this method has the advantage of not requiring complicated wet processing, it has the disadvantage that the polymer formation rate (polymerization rate of the polymerizable compound) is slow and it takes time to form a polymer image. This drawback is that during the heat treatment process, the reaction intermediate (which functions as a polymerization initiator) generated from the reaction between the silver produced from the silver halide by image exposure and the reducing agent is extremely stable and has no activity as a polymerization initiator. This is thought to be because the polymerization reaction is difficult to proceed quickly due to the low

On the other hand, in order to accelerate the polymerization rate, a method in which a thermal polymerization initiator was used in combination was disclosed in JP-A-62-70.
It is disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 836.

[0009] In this method, a latent image is formed by silver nuclei generated from silver halide through image exposure, and by utilizing the catalytic action of the silver nuclei, a reducing agent is heated to have a polymerization inhibiting ability different from that of the reducing agent. By converting it into an oxidant having
This is a method of forming a polymer image according to the difference in polymerization inhibiting ability formed as a result.

However, this method has the disadvantage that it is difficult to obtain good contrast in the polymer image.

[0011] This drawback is that since the redox reaction for producing the oxidant and the polymerization reaction for forming the polymer image occur in the same heat treatment step, these reactions become competitive reactions. This is thought to be because each reaction does not proceed efficiently.

[0012] Furthermore, image formation by this method is extremely unstable; for example, even by changing the amount of the reducing agent by a small amount, the polymerized area can become an exposed area or an unexposed area of the image. Ta.

Furthermore, JP-A-61-75342 discloses that a reducing agent having a polymerization inhibiting ability is consumed in an image form (image-exposed area) during the development process of silver halide to form an oxidized product, and the remaining The polymerization reaction is inhibited in an image-wise manner (image-unexposed area) using a reducing agent, and then light energy is uniformly irradiated from the outside (full-surface exposure) to cause photopolymerization in the area where the reducing agent has been consumed (image-exposed area). A method of generating a polymer image is disclosed.

The above method has advantages such as excellent sensitivity in latent image writing due to the use of silver halide, and efficient separation of each process from image formation writing to full exposure. Obtaining polymer images of sufficient contrast is difficult.

The present applicant has proposed a method of forming a dye image on image-receiving paper by utilizing the difference in the rate of dye evaporation between polymerized and unpolymerized areas (Japanese Patent Application No. 1-205626).
issue).

[0016]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] When forming a multicolor image by utilizing the difference in the rate of dye evaporation between the polymerized part and the unpolymerized part, it is difficult to receive multiple images of different colors into one image. It must be formed on paper. However, it has been an extremely difficult technique to superimpose multiple images of different colors on top of each other without any misalignment.

Furthermore, in this image forming method, it is necessary to ensure that the dye is not transferred to areas on the image receptor where the dye does not need to be transferred.

The present invention is a further improvement of the method of forming an image by utilizing the difference in the rate of dye evaporation between the polymerized and unpolymerized areas, and there is no need to transfer the dye onto the image receptor. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming method in which no dye is transferred to any part of the image.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming method that can form a plurality of images without misalignment when forming a plurality of images on one sheet of image-receiving paper.

[0020]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The image forming method of the present invention comprises: (a) at least a heat-diffusible dye, a photosensitive silver halide,
a step of imagewise exposing an image forming medium containing an organic silver salt, a reducing agent, a polymerizable polymer precursor, and a photopolymerization initiator;
) heating the image forming medium; (c) exposing the image forming medium to polymerization light to form a polymerized portion and an unpolymerized portion in the image forming medium; (d) heating the polymerized portion and the unpolymerized portion; and (e) laminating an image receptor on the unpolymerized area and transferring the heat-diffusible dye in the unpolymerized area to the image receptor. This is the way to do it.

The image forming method of the present invention also includes the steps of (a) imagewise exposing a first medium containing at least a photosensitive silver halide, an organic silver salt, and a reducing agent; (b) a step of exposing the first medium to light; heating the medium; (c) in a state where the second medium containing at least a heat-diffusible dye, a polymerizable polymer precursor, and a photopolymerization initiator is laminated with the first medium; forming a polymerized portion and an unpolymerized portion in the second medium by exposing the medium to polymerization through the first medium; (d) separating the polymerized portion and the unpolymerized portion; The process of
(e) Laminating an image receptor on the unpolymerized area and transferring the heat-diffusible dye in the unpolymerized area to the image receptor.

Furthermore, the image forming method of the present invention includes (a) an image forming method containing at least a heat-diffusible dye, a photosensitive silver halide, an organic silver salt, a reducing agent, a polymerizable polymer precursor, and a photopolymerization initiator. (b) heating the imaging medium; and (c) polymerizing the imaging medium to expose the imaging medium to an image-forming medium. a step of forming a polymerized portion and an unpolymerized portion; (d) a step of separating the polymerized portion and the unpolymerized portion to arrange the unpolymerized portion on the image receptor; and (e) This method is characterized by comprising the steps of: transferring the heat-diffusible dye in the unpolymerized portion to the image receptor; and (f) removing the unpolymerized portion on the image receptor.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The image forming method of the present invention includes the following steps. (a) As shown in FIG. 1(a), a desired image is formed on the image forming medium 100 in which the image forming layer 1 and the protective layer 2 are formed on the substrate 3 in this order, for example from the protective layer 2 side. Expose.

The image forming layer 1 contains at least a heat-diffusible dye, a photosensitive silver halide, an organic silver salt, a reducing agent, a polymerizable polymer precursor, and a photopolymerization initiator. In the image forming medium 100, when the image forming layer 1 is exposed to light and heated (thermal development), the organic silver salt contained in the image forming layer 1 and the reducing agent undergo an oxidation-reduction reaction, and the oxidation generated by the reaction The body becomes a light-absorbing compound. Alternatively, the oxidant produced by the reaction of the organic silver salt with the reducing agent further reacts with the coupler to produce a light-absorbing compound. The image exposure is performed using, for example, a laser beam hv1 that scans according to an image signal. By imagewise exposure, silver nuclei are generated from the photosensitive silver halide in the exposed area 1a, which forms a latent image. The silver nucleus serves as a catalyst for the thermal reaction between the organic silver salt and the reducing agent.

Note that the exposure conditions for writing this latent image are such that the photosensitive halogen contained in the image forming medium is such that the resulting polymer image has desired characteristics such as sufficient contrast. They may be appropriately selected and used depending on the concentration, type, etc. of silver oxide.

Since the image forming method of the present invention uses photosensitive silver halide in the image exposure process, highly sensitive writing is possible.

The protective layer 2 serves to prevent oxygen inhibition of the polymerization reaction and to prevent damage caused by external forces, and is preferably made of a different material from the substrate 3 provided oppositely, as will be explained in detail later. (b) Next, the image forming medium 100 on which the latent image has been formed is heated (thermally developed) as shown in FIG. 1(b). When the image forming layer 1 is heated, the silver nuclei selectively act as a catalyst in the exposed areas 1a, the organic silver salt and the reducing agent react, and the organic silver salt is converted into silver atoms (metallic silver).
At the same time, the reducing agent is oxidized to form the oxidant. This oxidant has light absorbing properties. Alternatively, the oxidant may further react with the coupler to produce an organic compound with light-absorbing properties.

As the heating means, for example, a method using a heating belt, a hot plate, a heat roll, a thermal head, etc., a heating method using electrical heating, laser light irradiation, microwave irradiation, infrared irradiation, etc. can be used.

Heating is carried out by appropriately selecting conditions necessary for the progress of the redox reaction and the production of the light-absorbing organic compound. The heating temperature cannot be generalized depending on the composition of the medium, etc., but it is preferably from 60°C to 200°C, more preferably from 70°C to 15°C.
Heat treatment may be performed at 0° C. for 1 second to 5 minutes, more preferably 3 seconds to 60 seconds. Generally, high temperatures require a short heating time, while low temperatures require a long heating time. (c) Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 1(c), the image forming layer 1 is subjected to polymerization exposure (
hν2). When the entire surface of the image forming layer 1 is subjected to polymerization exposure, the polymerizable polymer precursor is polymerized in the unexposed portions 1b of the image due to the action of the photopolymerization initiator. On the other hand, since a light-absorbing compound exists in the image-exposed area 1a, the wavelength light of the polymerization exposure is absorbed by it, and the unexposed area 1a of the image is exposed to light.
Polymerization does not proceed as compared to b. Therefore, there is a difference in the formation state of the polymer between the image exposed area 1a and the image unexposed area 1b, and a polymer image is formed in the image unexposed area 1b.

In the step (c), the light that completely exposes the image forming layer 1 is exposed to the light by the photopolymerization initiator (in the present invention, the photopolymerization initiator includes the sensitizer). Light of a wavelength that has sensitivity and is absorbed by a light-absorbing compound (
effective wavelength light).

However, light having a wavelength other than the effective wavelength may be used in combination within the range in which a desired polymer image can be obtained. Furthermore, if it is necessary to limit the wavelength range, exposure may be performed using, for example, a cut filter or the like.

[0033] In the present invention, the unpolymerized portion does not mean only a portion that has not been polymerized at all, but also includes a portion where polymerization has not progressed relatively.

Further, in step (c), means may be used to heat the image forming medium simultaneously with the polymerization exposure. This may be done by newly heating or by using the preheating in step (b). (d) When the protective layer 2 and the substrate 3 are separated after the unpolymerized portion, which is the image-exposed portion 1a, and the polymerized portion, which is the unexposed image portion 1b, are formed on the image-forming layer 1, Unpolymerized portions 1a remain, and polymerized portions 1b remain on the protective layer 2 (peel-apart). That is, in the step (d), the unpolymerized portion 1
a and the polymerized portion 1b are separated. This phenomenon occurs because the adhesive strength of the image forming layer 1 to the substrate 3 and the protective layer 2 is different between the unpolymerized portion 1a and the polymerized portion 1b. Unpolymerized part 1
In order to reliably separate the polymerized portion 1b from the protective layer 2
It is necessary that the surface compositions of the substrate 3 and the substrate 3 are not the same.

For example, the protective layer 2 may include various plastic films such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene, polyethylene, cellophane, polyimide, 6,6-nylon, and polystyrene, resins such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polybutyral, etc. Alternatively, a metal selected from light-transparent metals such as Al (e.g., thin layers deposited on the above plastic films and resins) is used, and the base 3 is made of polyester, polycarbonate, polyvinyl acetate, polyester, etc. When a resin selected from resins such as caprolactone or polyvinyl chloride is used, polymerized portions 1b remain in the protective layer and unpolymerized portions 1a remain in the substrate 3. In particular, PVA, polyimide and PET are preferable for the protective layer 2, and polyester is preferable for the substrate. Moreover, when PVA is used for the protective layer 2, PET can be used for the base body 3.

Note that if we focus only on the process of image formation by separation (adhesive transfer) of a polymerized image, such as step (d), for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 38-9663 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 1983-1999 Such a process is disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 32640 and the like. However, the method of the present invention can be said to be superior to the methods disclosed therein in terms of photosensitivity, photosensitive wavelength range, process speed, image processing, and the ability to obtain good color images. (e) The unpolymerized portion 1a on the substrate 3 is laminated with the image receiving layer 6b formed on the substrate 6a of the image receptor 6, and heated appropriately. Then, the heat-diffusible dye 4 in the unpolymerized portion 1a is thermally diffused and transferred to the image-receiving layer 6b, and an image made of the heat-diffusible dye 4 is formed on the image-receiving member 6.

[0037] As for the heating conditions in this step (e), suitable values vary depending on the type of heat-diffusible dye and various other conditions, but desirably 80 to 250°C, preferably 80 to 200°C. be. As the heating means, the same heating means as explained in the step (c) (thermal development step) can be used.

Image receiving layer 6b of image receptor 6 used in step (e)
The thermally diffusive material can be well diffused and transferred to form a desired image, and for example, polyester resin, polycarbonate resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, polycaprolactam resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, etc. can be used. can. For example, paper or PET can be used as the base 6a. If the image-receiving layer 6b alone can maintain sufficient strength, the base body 6a may not be provided.

[0039] In the above explanation, step (a)
Although an example was described in which two types of parts, an exposed part and an unexposed part, were formed, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if image exposure is performed through a film with density gradation in step (a), and thereby a gradation region is formed in the unpolymerized area in step (c), the diffusion of the thermally diffusible substance Since color is selectively suppressed, a color image with high gradations can be easily obtained.

As described above, a monochromatic image is formed on the image receptor. In the case of forming a multicolor image, further, after the step (e) above is completed, steps from (a) to (e) above are performed instead of using an image forming medium containing a heat diffusible dye of another color. Repeat the process. In this way, the number of colors above (a
By repeating the steps from ) to (e) above and superimposing images of each color on one image receptor 6, a multicolor image can be formed. For example, when a multicolor image is formed by overlapping yellow, magenta, cyan, and black images on one image receptor 6, the steps (a) to (e) are repeated four times.

Examples of light sources used in the image exposure and polymerization exposure include sunlight, tungsten lamps, mercury lamps, halogen lamps, xenon lamps, fluorescent lamps, and LE lamps.
D. Laser beams, etc. can be used, and the wavelengths of light used in these processes may be the same or different. Note that even if light of the same wavelength is used, photosensitive silver halide usually has a sufficiently higher photosensitivity than a photopolymerization initiator, so light of an intensity that does not cause photopolymerization in the above image exposure process is used. Sufficient latent image writing is possible. For example, in the image exposure process, approximately 1 mJ/cm on the surface of the medium.
In the polymerization process, exposure is preferably carried out with light of up to 500 mJ/cm 2 on the surface of the medium.

The image forming layer 1 may have a multilayer structure. For example, as shown in FIG. 2(a), an image forming medium 120 in which the image forming layer 10 includes at least a photosensitive layer 11 and a polymer layer 12 may be used. In this case, the photosensitive layer 11 contains at least a photosensitive silver halide, an organic silver salt, and a reducing agent, and the polymerization layer 12 contains at least a heat-diffusible dye, a polymerizable polymer precursor, and a photopolymerization initiator.

The image forming method described with reference to FIG. 1 is also used when forming an image using an image forming medium having a multilayer structure. First, as shown in FIG. 2(a), the photosensitive layer 11 is exposed (hv1) in a desired image. As a result, silver nuclei are generated on the photosensitive silver halide in the exposed area 11a, and this forms a latent image. Note that the generated silver nuclei become a catalyst for the thermal reaction between the organic silver salt contained in the photosensitive layer 11 and the reducing agent.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2(b), in the step (b), when the photosensitive layer 11 on which the latent image has been formed is heated, the silver nuclei selectively act as a catalyst in the exposed area 11a. The organic silver salt and the reducing agent react, and the organic silver salt is reduced to silver atoms, and at the same time, the reducing agent becomes an oxidant.

The heating conditions in this thermal development process are shown in FIG.
This is the same as the case explained in .

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 2(c), in step (c), polymerization exposure (hv2) is performed over the entire surface from the photosensitive layer 11 side to remove the photopolymerization initiator contained in the polymerization layer 12. cleaves and generates radical species. A polymerization reaction occurs due to these radical species, and a polymer portion is formed in the polymer layer 12. At this time, since the amount of light transmitted in the wavelength range absorbed by the photopolymerization initiator is different between the exposed part 11a and the unexposed part 11b, the part 12a corresponding to the exposed part 11a of the polymerization layer 12 and the unexposed part 11b A difference occurs in the state of polymer formation between the portion 12b (the degree of polymerization is higher in the portion 12b corresponding to the unexposed portion 11b than in the portion corresponding to the exposed portion 11a), and a polymer image is formed due to this difference. be done.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2(d), when the protective layer 2 and the substrate 3 are separated in the step (d), an unpolymerized portion 12a remains on the substrate 3, and a photosensitive layer 11 is formed on the protective layer 2. and polymerization part 1
2b remains. In this case as well, it is preferable to use PVA, polyimide, etc. for the protective layer 2, and polyester, etc. for the base 3, as in the case of the method explained in FIG. Figure 2
As shown in (e), in the step (e), the image receptor 6 is placed on the unpolymerized portion 12a on the substrate 3 and heated to transfer the heat-diffusible dye to the image receptor 6. Further, the steps (a) to (e) above are repeated for the required number of colors to form a multicolor image on the image receptor 6.

In the step (d), the unpolymerized part 12a and the polymerized part 1
2b, an intermediate layer 70 may be provided between the photosensitive layer 11 and the polymer layer 12, as shown in FIG. As for the material of the intermediate layer 70, the same material as that of the protective layer 2 listed above can be used.

Furthermore, the image forming medium shown in FIG. 2(a) is
a first medium having a protective layer 2 and a photosensitive layer 11; a substrate 3;
Image formation may be performed separately on the medium and the second medium having the polymerized layer 12 as follows. That is, first, the photosensitive layer 11
Image exposure is carried out in the step (a) and heat development is carried out in the step (b). After the steps (a) and (b) are completed, the photosensitive layer 11 and the polymerized layer 12 are laminated, and as shown in FIG. The steps (c), (d) and (e) explained in 2 may be performed respectively. Alternatively, after the step (a) is completed, the photosensitive layer 11
and the polymer layer 12 are laminated, and then as explained in FIG. 2 (b
), (c), (d) and (e) may be performed respectively.

Further, an image forming medium 130 (FIG. 3(a)) and an image forming medium 140 (FIG. 4(a)) obtained by removing the substrate 3 from the image forming medium shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 2(a), respectively,
Image formation may be performed using a)) as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

That is, with reference to FIG. 3, (a) FIG.
), the image forming layer 131 of the image forming medium 130 is superimposed on the image receptor 6, and the image forming layer 131 is subjected to image exposure (hν
1). The image forming layer 131 is similar to the image forming layer 1 shown in FIG. Therefore, silver nuclei are generated from the photosensitive silver halide in the exposed area 131 by imagewise exposure,
This forms a latent image. (b) Next, the image forming medium 130 on which the latent image has been formed is heated (thermally developed) as shown in FIG. 3(b). As a result, the organic silver salt is reduced to silver atoms (metallic silver) in the exposed portion 131a, and at the same time, the reducing agent is oxidized to become a light-absorbing oxidant. or,
The oxidant further reacts with the coupler to produce an organic compound with light absorbing properties. (c) Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3(c), the image forming layer 131 is subjected to polymerization exposure (hv2). As a result, the image unexposed area 131b is polymerized to become a polymerized area, and the image exposed area 131a remains unpolymerized. (d) When the protective layer 2 and the image receptor 6 are separated, an unpolymerized portion 131a remains on the image receptor 6, and a polymerized portion 131b remains on the protective layer 2. In this case, the image receiving layer 6b of the image receptor 6 is made of the same material as the substrate 3, such as polyester. (e) The unpolymerized portion 131a remaining on the image receptor 6 is heated to transfer the heat-diffusible dye onto the image receptor 6 to form an image. At the time of heating, it is preferable to laminate the protective sheet 33 on the unpolymerized portion 131a and heat it. As the protective sheet 33, for example, PET,
Polyimide etc. can be used. (f) Finally, the unpolymerized portion 131a is removed from the image receptor 6. The unpolymerized portion 131a may be removed by, for example, adhering the unpolymerized portion 131a to the protective sheet 33 and peeling the protective sheet 33 from the image receptor 6.

The unpolymerized portion 131a is easily adhered to the protective sheet 33 by being heated in the step (e), but in order to reliably remove the unpolymerized portion 131a, the surface of the protective sheet 33 is An adhesive layer may also be provided.

As described above, an image 47 is formed on the image receptor 6, but if a multicolor image is to be formed, in the same way as the method explained with reference to FIG. The steps shown in FIGS. 3(a) to 3(f) are repeated using an image forming medium containing a heat-diffusible dye of the color shown in FIG.

When forming an image using the image forming medium 140 shown in FIG. 4, the method for forming an image is similar to that described with reference to FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the image forming layers (the photosensitive layer 141 and the polymer layer 1) of the image forming medium 140 are placed on the image receptor.
42) are stacked, and the photosensitive layer 141 is exposed (hv1) in a desired image. The imaging layer of imaging medium 140 is similar to the imaging layer of imaging medium 120 shown in FIG. Therefore, by image exposure, the exposed area 1
Silver nuclei are generated on the photosensitive silver halide in 41a, which forms a latent image.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, in the step (b), when the photosensitive layer 141 on which the latent image has been formed is heated, the silver nuclei selectively act as a catalyst in the exposed areas 141a. The organic silver salt and the reducing agent react, and the organic silver salt is reduced to silver atoms, and at the same time, the reducing agent becomes an oxidant.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 4(c), when polymerization exposure (hν2) is performed from the photosensitive layer 141 side in the step (c), a portion 142b of the polymerization layer 142 corresponding to the unexposed portion 141b is exposed. Polymerizes to form a polymerized part, and an image exposed part 141a
The portion 142a corresponding to 142a remains unpolymerized.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4(d), when the protective layer 2 and the image receptor 6 are separated in the step (d), an unpolymerized portion 142a remains on the image receptor 6, and the photosensitive layer 2 remains on the protective layer 2. Layer 141 and overlapping portion 142b remain.

The unpolymerized portion 142a on the image receptor 6 is (e)
It is heated in step (f) and finally removed from the image receptor 6 in step (f).

An image is formed on the image receptor 6 through the above steps, but if a multicolor image is to be formed, similar to the method explained with reference to FIG. In lieu of an imaging medium containing thermodiffusible dyes of color, FIG.
Repeat each step shown in a) to FIG. 4(f).

In the image forming medium 140 shown in FIG. 4, between the photosensitive layer 141 and the polymeric layer 142, there is an intermediate layer 70 shown in FIG.
The same one may be provided.

Now, when forming a multicolor image by overlapping multiple images of different colors on one image receptor, it is extremely difficult to overlay the multiple images without shifting each other. , according to the method explained in FIG. 3 or 4,
A plurality of images can be formed on one image receptor by overlapping each other so as not to deviate from each other.

[0062] Below, an image forming method will be described in which even if a plurality of images of different colors are formed on one image receptor, the images can be superimposed without being shifted from each other.

As shown in FIG. 6, the image forming apparatus for carrying out this color image forming method has a cylindrical support member 50 provided inside an exterior case 9 so as to be rotatable about a rotating shaft 50a.

[0064] The supply section of this apparatus includes an image forming medium 13.
A cartridge 14 containing 0 or 140 images and a cartridge 13 containing an image receptor 6 are removably provided.

Rollers 15 and 1 from cartridge 13
The image receptor 6 sent out by the image receptor 6 is chucked by a clip 19 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the supporting member 50, and is fixed at a predetermined position on the outer peripheral surface of the supporting member 50 as the supporting member 50 rotates in the direction of arrow A. . On the other hand, the image forming medium 130 sent out from the cartridge 14 by the rollers 17 and 18 is superimposed on the image receptor 6 and is conveyed to the image exposure section as the support member 50 rotates. Clip 19 is
It is provided in a recess formed in the outer peripheral surface of the support member 50.

In the image exposure section, the image forming medium 130 on the image receptor 6 is imagewise exposed by a light beam 20a from a first exposure means 20, such as a laser. The exposure means 20 is scanned according to the image signal. The support rollers 21 and 22 bring the image receptor 6 and the image forming medium 130 into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the support member 50.

The image forming medium 130 that has been imagewise exposed is sent to the thermal developing section by the rotation of the support member 50, and is heated by heating rollers 23, 24 and a belt 25, which are first heating means.

The developed image forming medium 130 is sent to the polymerization exposure section by rotation of the support member 50. The polymerization exposure section has a light source 28 of an ultraviolet fluorescent lamp, which is a second exposure means, and a light source guide 29, and exposes the image forming layer 131 to ultraviolet light to form unpolymerized areas and polymerized areas in the image forming layer 131. form.

The image receptor 6 and the image forming medium 130 are conveyed to the separation section by the rotation of the support member 50 after the polymerization exposure section, and the unpolymerized portion 131a and the overlapped portion 131b are separated. That is, the protective layer 2 and the overlapping portion 131b of the image forming medium 130 are separated from the image receptor 6 and the unoverlapping portion 131a by the peeling roller 51 and the blade 52, and
is discharged. On the other hand, the image receptor 6 and the image forming medium 130
The unoverlaid portion 131a is conveyed to the transfer portion while being fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the support member 50.

In the transfer section, the unoverlaid portion 131a is overlapped with the protective sheet 33 sent out from the roller 32, and heated by the heating roller 31, which is the second heating means. As a result, the heat-diffusible dye in the unpolymerized portion 131a is transferred to the image receptor 6, and an image is formed on the image receptor 6. Next, the unpolymerized portion 131a is adhered to the protective sheet 33, peeled off from the image receptor 6, and taken up together with the protective sheet 33 by the winding roller 30.

The image receptor 6 on which the image has been formed in the transfer section is conveyed to the discharge section by the rotation of the support member 50.
When the clip 19 is released, the image receptor is ejected onto the image receptor ejection tray 39.

When an image of another color is to be superimposed on the image receptor 6 on which an image has been formed in the transfer section, the image receptor 6 is not ejected in the ejection section, but is transferred by rotating the support member 50. The image receptor 6 on which the image has been formed is transported to a supply section. The image receptor 6 conveyed to the supply section is again overlaid with image forming media containing heat diffusible dyes of different colors, and then transferred to the image exposure section.
The image is conveyed in order to a thermal development section, a polymerization exposure section, a separation section, and a transfer section, and an image is formed again.

In this way, the supply section, the image exposure section, the heat development section,
A color image is formed on the image receptor 6 by repeating the transportation to the polymerization exposure section, the separation section, and the transfer section, and finally the image receptor 6 is discharged onto the discharge tray 39 .

After fixing the image receptor 6 to the support 50 in this way, the image forming medium 130 or 140 is attached to the image receptor 6.
By performing image exposure by overlapping images, even if images of different colors are formed overlappingly on the image receptor 6, the images of each color will not shift.

Next, examples of image forming media that can be used in the image forming method of the present invention will be explained in detail.

The image forming medium used in the present invention consists of a photosensitive silver halide, an organic silver salt, and a reducing agent that react with each other to form a light-absorbing compound upon imagewise exposure and heating, a polymerizable polymer precursor, and a light-absorbing compound. It contains at least a polymerization initiator and a heat-diffusible dye, and the light-absorbing compound absorbs light at a wavelength to which the photopolymerization initiator is sensitive.

Photosensitive silver halides used in the image forming medium include silver chloride, silver bromide, silver chlorobromide, silver iodobromide, silver chloroiodobromide, and the like. It may be subjected to chemical sensitization or optical sensitization treatment similar to that applied to photographic emulsions. That is, as chemical sensitization, sulfur sensitization, noble metal sensitization, reduction sensitization, etc. can be used, and as optical sensitization, methods using conventionally well-known sensitizing dyes can be applied.

As the sensitizing dye, cyanine dyes, merocyanine dyes, trinuclear dyes, etc. are preferably used, such as 3,3'-dicarboxyethyl-2,2'-thiacarbocyanine iodide, 3,3'- diethyl-2,2'
-Thiacarbocyanine iodide, 3,3'-disulfoethyl-2,2'-thiadicarbocyanine bromide, 3,3'-diethyl-2,2'-thiatricarbocyanine iodide, and also Dyes are preferably used.

[0079]

[Image Omitted] Furthermore, the halogen composition within the particles may be uniform or may have a different multilayer structure. Two or more types of silver halides having different halogen compositions, grain sizes, grain size distributions, etc. may be used in combination.

[0080] Organic silver salts used in image forming media include those described in "Fundamentals of Photographic Optics" (1st edition, published in 1982), non-silver salt edition, p. 247, and in JP-A No. 59-55429. Organic acid silver, triazole silver salt, etc. can be used, and it is preferable to use a silver salt with low photosensitivity. For example, aliphatic carboxylic acids, aromatic carboxylic acids, mercapto groups or α-hydrogen-containing thiocarbonyl group compounds,
and silver salts such as imino group-containing compounds.

[0081] Examples of aliphatic carboxylic acids include acetic acid, butyric acid,
Examples include succinic acid, sebacic acid, adipic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, tartaric acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, behenic acid, and camphoric acid, but generally speaking, the lower the number of carbon atoms, the less stable the silver salt is. Therefore, those having an appropriate number of carbon atoms (for example, those in the range of 16 to 26 carbon atoms) are preferable.

Aromatic carboxylic acids include benzoic acid derivatives, quinolinic acid derivatives, naphthalenecarboxylic acid derivatives,
salicylic acid derivatives, gallic acid, tannic acid, phthalic acid,
Examples include phenylacetic acid derivatives and pyromellitic acid.

Compounds having a mercapto or thiocarbonyl group include 3-mercapto-4-phenyl-1,
2,4-triazole, 2-mercaptobenzimidazole, 2-mercapto-5-aminothiadiazole, 2
-Mercaptobenzothiazole, S-alkylthioglycolic acid (alkyl group having 12 to 22 carbon atoms), dithiocarboxylic acids such as dithioacetic acid, thioamides such as thiostearamide, 5-carboxy-1-methyl-2-phenyl-4-thiopyridine , mercaptotriazine, 2-mercaptobenzoxazole, mercaptooxathiazole or 3-amino-5-benzylthio-1,2,4-triazole, and the like, mercapto compounds described in US Pat. No. 4,123,274.

Compounds containing an imino group include benzotriazole or its derivatives described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 44-30270 or 45-18416, such as benzotriazole, alkyl-substituted benzotriazoles such as methylbenzotriazole, 5-chlorobenzo Triazole, etc., halogen-substituted benzotriazoles, butylcarboimidobenzotriazole, etc., nitrobenzotriazoles described in JP-A-58-118639, JP-A-58-115638
1,2,4-triazole, 1H-tetrazole, carbazole, saccharin, imidazole, etc. described in U.S. Pat. Representative examples include derivatives thereof.

[0085] Examples of the reducing agent which becomes a light-absorbing compound through a redox reaction include those represented by the following general formula (I).

[0086]

In the general formula (I), R1 and R2 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl group,
A substituted or unsubstituted alkynyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, an alkoxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted amino group, m represents an integer of 1 to 3, A represents a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted amino group, a divalent alkylidene group, an aralkylidene group, or a trivalent methine group as a monovalent to trivalent linking group.

In the general formula (I), the unsubstituted alkyl groups of R1 and R2 preferably have 1 to 1 carbon atoms.
8 straight chain or branched alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, i-propyl, butyl, t-butyl, i-butyl, amyl, i-amyl, sec-amyl, thexyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl. , nonyl, dodecyl, stearyl, etc.

The substituted alkyl groups of R1 and R2 are:
Preferably an alkoxyalkyl group having 2 to 18 carbon atoms,
These include a halogenoalkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an aminoalkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and examples of alkoxyalkyl groups include methoxyethyl, ethoxymethyl, and ethoxyethyl. , ethoxypropyl, ethoxybutyl, propoxymethyl, propoxybutyl, i-propoxypentyl, t-butoxyethyl, hexyloxybutyl, and the like.

Examples of the halogenoalkyl group include chloromethyl, chloroethyl, bromoethyl, chloropropyl, chlorobutyl, chlorohexyl, and chlorooctyl. Examples of hydroxyalkyl groups include hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl,
Hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, hydroxypentyl, hydroxyhexyl, hydroxyheptyl and the like can be mentioned.

Examples of the aminoalkyl group include aminomethyl, acetylaminomethyl, dimethylaminomethyl, aminoethyl, acetylaminoethyl, dimethylaminoethyl, diethylaminoethyl, morpholinoethyl, piperidinoethyl, diethylaminopropyl, dipropylaminoethyl, acetyl. Aminopropyl, aminobutyl, morpholinobutyl, etc. can be mentioned.

Examples of the alkenyl group for R1 and R2 include vinyl, allyl, prenyl, butenyl, pentenyl, hexenyl, heptenyl, octenyl, and the like.

Examples of the alkynyl group include acetyl, propargyl, butynyl, pentynyl, hexynyl, heptynyl, octynyl and the like.

Examples of the cycloalkyl group include cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and cycloheptyl.

Examples of the aralkyl group represented by R1 and R2 include benzyl, phenethyl, and tolylmethyl.

[0095] Examples of the amino group represented by R1 and R2 include acetylamino, dimethylamino,
Diethylamino, amino, etc.

[0096] Examples of the alkoxyl group represented by R1 and R2 include methoxy, ethoxy and propoxy.

Among the above, preferred substituents for R2 are chlorine atom, bromine atom, methyl, ethyl, i-propyl, t-butyl, sec-amyl, thexyl, ethoxymethyl, ethoxyethyl, chloromethyl, hydroxymethyl, These are aminomethyl, dimethyl-aminomethyl, and benzyl. Preferred substituents as R1 are a chlorine atom,
Methyl, ethyl, i-propyl, t-butyl, amyl,
Thexyl, hydroxyl, chloromethyl, hydroxymethyl, benzyl, and cyclohexyl.

Examples of monovalent substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl groups as A include benzyl, p-methoxybenzyl, p-N,N-dimethylaminobenzyl, p-pyrrolidinobenzyl, p-methyl benzyl, p-
Hydroxybenzyl, p-chlorobenzyl, 3,5-dichloro-4-hydroxybenzyl, 3-methyl-5-t
-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl, o,p-dimethylbenzyl, 3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxybenzyl, 2-hydroxy-3-t-butyl-5-methylbenzyl, naphthylmethyl, etc. .

Substituted or unsubstituted monovalent alkyl groups as A include, for example, methyl, ethyl, i-propyl, N,N-dimethylaminomethyl, N-benzylaminomethyl, methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, hydroxy Examples include methyl, methoxycarbonylethyl, methoxycarbonylmethyl, ethoxycarbonylethyl, diethylphosphonatemethyl, and the like.

Examples of the monovalent substituted amino group include methylamino, dimethylamino, diethylamino, acetylamino, phenylamino, diphenylamino, triadylamino, and the like.

Examples of the divalent alkylidene group include methylene, ethylidene, propylidene, and butylidene.

Examples of the divalent aralkylidene group include benzylidene, p-methylbenzylidene, and p-dimethylaminobenzylidene.

Among these, preferred linking groups as A are monovalent aralkyl groups, divalent alkylidene groups, aralkylidene groups, and trivalent methine groups; monovalent aralkyl groups, divalent alkylidene, and aralkylidene groups are , is a particularly preferred group.

[0104] Next, specific examples of preferable reducing agents among the reducing agents represented by the general formula (I) will be listed, but the present invention is not particularly limited thereto.

2,4-dimethyl-6-t-butylphenol, 2-methyl-4-i-propyl-6-t-butylphenol, 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-dimethylaminophenol, 2,6 -di-t-butyl-4-hydroxymethylphenol, 2-t-butyl-6-benzyl-4-methylphenol, 2,6-di-t-butyl-4
-o-tolylmethylphenol, 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-benzylphenol, 2-t-butyl-4-(
p-methoxybenzyl)-5-methylphenol, 2,
6-dimethyl-4-(α-naphthylmethyl)phenol, 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-(2-hydroxy-3
-t-butyl-5-methylbenzyl)phenol, 2-
t-Butyl-4-(p-chlorobenzyl)-6-cyclohexylphenol, 2-t-butyl-4-(2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzyl)-5-methylphenol, 2-t-butyl- 4-benzyl-6-propargylphenol, 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-(3,5
-dichloro-4-hydroxybenzyl)phenol, 2
,6-di-t-butyl-4-(3,5-dimethyl-4-
hydroxybenzyl)phenol, 2,6-ditexyl-4-(4-hydroxybenzyl)phenol, 2-texyl-4-benzyl-5-methylphenol, 2-allyl-4-benzyl-5-methylphenol, 2-texyl -4-(p-chlorobenzyl)-5-allylphenol, 2-chloro-4-dimethylaminomethylphenol, 2,6-di-i-propyl-4-diethylaminophenol, 2-t-butyl-4-( 2-hydroxy-3
-t-butyl-5-methylbenzyl)phenol, 4,
4'-methylenebis(2,6-di-t-butylphenol), 4,4'-methylenebis(2-t-butyl-5-
methylphenol), 4,4'-methylenebis(2-t
-butyl-6-methylphenol), 4,4'-methylenebis(2-texyl-6-methylphenol), 4,
4'-methylenebis(2-cyclohexyl-6-methylphenol), 4,4'-methylenebis(2-cyclohexyl-6-t-butylphenol), 4,4'-ethylidenebis(2,6-di-t-butylphenol) ), 4
, 4'-ethylidene bis(2-t-butyl-6-methylphenol), 4,4'-ethylidene bis(2-cyclohexyl-6-methylphenol), 4,4'-ethylidene bis(2-texyl-6 -methylphenol), 4
, 4'-propylidene bis (2,6-di-t-butylphenol), 4,4'-butylidene bis (2-t-butyl-6-methylphenol), 4,4'-butylidene bis (2-texyl-6-methyl phenol), 4,4'
-butylidene bis(2-cyclohexyl-6-methylphenol), bis(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)phenylmethane, bis(3,5-di-
t-Butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)(4-methoxyphenyl)methane, bis(3,5-di-t-butyl-4
-hydroxyphenyl)(4-dimethylaminophenyl)methane, tris(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)methane, bis(3-t-butyl-4-
Hydroxy-5-methylphenyl) phenylmethane, etc.

Among these, particularly preferable reducing agents are 2
, 6-di-t-butyl-4-o-tolylmethylphenol, 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-benzylphenol, 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-(2-hydroxy-3
-t-butyl-5-methylbenzyl)phenol, 2,
6-di-t-butyl-4-(3,5-dichloro-4-hydroxybenzyl)phenol, 2-t-butyl-4-
(2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzyl)-5-
Methylphenol, 4,4'-methylenebis(2,6-
di-t-butylphenol), 4,4'-methylenebis(2-t-butyl-5-methylphenol), 4,4'
-methylenebis(2-t-butyl-6-methylphenol), 4,4'-ethylidenebis(2,6-di-t-butylphenol), 4,4'-ethylidenebis(2-t-butylphenol),
-butyl-6-methylphenol), 4,4'-propylidenebis(2,6-di-t-butylphenol), 4
, 4'-butylidene bis(2-cyclohexyl-6-methylphenol), bis(3,5-di-t-butyl-4
-hydroxyphenyl)phenylmethane, bis(3,5
-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)(4-methoxyphenyl)methane, bis(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)(4-dimethylaminophenyl)methane, tris(3, 5-di-t-butyl-4
-hydroxyphenyl)methane.

[0107] As the reducing agent which becomes a light-absorbing compound through a redox reaction, for example, those represented by the following general formula (II) can also be used.

[0108]

[Image Omitted] In the general formula (II), R5 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group,
Represents a cycloalkyl group, an aralkyl group, R3, R
4 and R6 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an amino group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group,
represents an alkoxyl group, nitro group, acyl group, or cyano group; R7 represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; a1 represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, a substituted or Represents an unsubstituted alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, alkoxyl group, or substituted or unsubstituted amino group.

In general formula (II), a1, R3, R4
And the halogen atom of R6 is a fluorine atom,
Examples include chlorine atom, bromine atom, and iodine atom.

a1, R3, R4, R5, R6
The alkyl group for R7 and R7 is preferably a substituted or unsubstituted linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, i-
Propyl, butyl, t-butyl, i-butyl, amyl,
Straight chain or branched hydrocarbon groups such as i-amyl, hexyl, thexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, dodecyl, stearyl, methoxyethyl, ethoxyethyl, ethoxypropyl, ethoxybutyl, propoxybutyl, i-
Straight chain or branched alkoxyalkyl groups such as propoxypentyl, t-butoxyethyl, hexyloxybutyl,
Hydroxyalkyl groups such as hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, hydroxypentyl, hydroxyhexyl, hydroxyheptyl, aminomethyl, dimethylaminomethyl, aminoethyl, dimethylaminoethyl, diethylaminoethyl, morpholinoethyl, piperidinoethyl, amino It is an aminoalkyl or alkylaminoalkyl group such as propyl, diethylaminopropyl, dipropylaminoethyl, aminobutyl, morpholinobutyl.

The cycloalkyl group for a1 and R5 is preferably a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl group having 5 to 18 carbon atoms, such as cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, methylcyclohexyl, dimethylcyclohexyl. , ethylcyclohexyl group, etc.

The amino group for a1, R3, R4 and R6 is a substituted or unsubstituted amino group, such as amino, acetylamino, methylamino, dimethylamino, diethylamino, pyrrolidino, morpholino, benzenesulfonamide, toluenesulfone. These include amide, dipropylamino, and dibutylamino groups.

The aryl group for R3, R4, R6 and R7 is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 1 carbon atoms.
6 aryl groups are preferred, such as phenyl, naphthyl, anthryl, phenanthryl, tolyl, xylyl,
Cumenyl, mesityl, chlorophenyl, methoxyphenyl, fluorophenyl groups, etc.

The a1, R3, R4 and R6 alkoxyl groups are preferably substituted or unsubstituted alkoxyl groups having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, i-propoxy and butoxy.

The aralkyl group for R3, R4, R5 and R6 is preferably a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group having 7 to 19 carbon atoms, such as benzyl, phenethyl, benzhydryl, trityl, phenylpropyl, naphthylmethyl, chlorobenzyl. , dichlorobenzyl, methoxybenzyl, methylbenzyl groups, etc.

[0116] Examples of the acyl group for R3, R4 and R6 include acetyl and propionyl.

Specific examples of the compound represented by the general formula (II) having the above substituents include 4,4'-methylenebis(2-methyl-1-naphthol), 4,4'-methylenebis(2-ethyl -1-naphthol), 4,4'-
Methylenebis(2-t-butyl-1-naphthol), 4
, 4'-methylenebis(2-cyclohexyl-1-naphthol), 4,4'-methylenebis(2-t-butyl-
6-methyl-1-naphthol), 4,4'-methylenebis(2,6-diethyl-1-naphthol), 4,4'-
Methylenebis(2-benzyl-1-naphthol), 4,
4'-methylenebis(2-t-butyl-8-methyl-1
-naphthol), 4,4'-methylenebis(2-methyl-5-chloro-1-naphthol), 4,4'-methylenebis(2-methyl-8-dimethylamino-1-naphthol), 4,4'- Methylenebis(2-methyl-5-benzylnaphthol), 4,4'-methylenebis(2-methyl-5-methoxy-1-naphthol), 4,4'-methylenebis(2-methyl-5-phenyl-1-naphthol) ), 4-(3'-cyclohexyl-4'-hydroxynaphthyl)methyl-2-methyl-1-naphthol, 4-(
3'-t-butyl-4'-hydroxynaphthyl)methyl-2-methyl-1-naphthol, 4-(3'-cyclohexyl-4'-hydroxynaphthyl)methyl-2-t-
Butyl-1-naphthol, 4,4'-benzylidenebis(2-methyl-1-naphthol), 4,4'-benzylidenebis(2-methyl-1-naphthol), 4,4'-
Benzylidene bis(2-t-butyl-1-naphthol)
, 4,4'-ethylidenebis(2-methyl-1-naphthol), 4,4'-ethylidenebis(2-t-butyl-
1-naphthol), bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylnaphthyl)tolylmethane, and the like.

[0118] As another reducing agent which becomes a light-absorbing compound through a redox reaction, those represented by the following general formula (III) can also be used.

[0119]

embedded image In general formula (III), R8 , R9 , R10 and R
11 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkoxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted amino Z represents a divalent group, a2 and a3 represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, an alkoxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted amino group, , at least one of a2 and a3 is a hydroxyl group.

In the general formula (III), R8,
The halogen atoms represented by R9, R10, R11, a2 and a3 are fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine.

In the general formula (III), R8,
The alkyl group represented by R9, R10, R11, a2 and a3 is preferably a straight chain or branched alkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, i-propyl, butyl, t-butyl. ,i
-butyl, amyl, i-amyl, sec-amyl, thexyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, dodecyl, stearyl, etc., and the substituted alkyl group is
Preferably an alkoxyalkyl group having 2 to 18 carbon atoms,
Halogenoalkyl groups having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl groups having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, aminoalkyl groups having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, etc., such as methoxyethyl, ethoxymethyl, ethoxyethyl, ethoxypropyl, ethoxybutyl, Propoxybutyl, i-propoxypentyl, t-butoxyethyl, hexyloxybutyl, chloromethyl, chloroethyl, bromoethyl, chloropropyl, chlorobutyl, chlorohexyl, chlorooctyl,
Hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl, hydroxypentyl, hydroxyhexyl, hydroxyheptyl, aminomethyl, acetylaminomethyl, dimethylaminomethyl, aminoethyl, acetylaminoethyl, dimethylaminoethyl,
Examples include diethylaminoethyl, morpholinoethyl, piperidinoethyl, diethylaminopropyl, dipropylaminoethyl, aminopropyl, acetylaminopropyl, aminobutyl, morpholinobutyl, and the like.

Aryl groups represented by R8, R9, R10 and R11 include, for example, phenyl, naphthyl, anthryl and phenanthryl; examples of substituted aryl groups include tolyl, xylyl, cumenyl, mesityl, chlorophenyl, methoxyphenyl, Such as fluorophenyl group.

Examples of the aralkyl group represented by R8, R9, R10 and R11 include benzyl, phenethyl, benzhydryl, trityl, phenylpropyl,
Examples of substituted aralkyl groups such as naphthylmethyl include chlorobenzyl, dichlorobenzyl, methoxybenzyl, and methylbenzyl.

[0124] R8, R9, R10, R11, a2
The cycloalkyl group represented by and a3 is, for example, a 5-, 6-, or 7-membered cycloalkyl group, which may be substituted with an alkyl group.

[0125] R8, R9, R10, R11, a2
Examples of the alkoxyl group represented by a3 include methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, i-propoxy, benzyloxy, and 2-phenylethoxy.

The substituted or unsubstituted amino group represented by a2 and a3 includes, for example, amino, acetylamino, methylamino, isopropylamino, dimethylamino, phenylamino, diethylamino, cyclopentylamino, cyclopentylmethylamino, cyclohexylamino, piperidino. , pyrrolidino, etc.

Z represents a divalent group, such as an alkylene group or an aralkylene group, specifically methylene, ethylene, propylidene, benzylidene, cinnamylidene, p-hydroxybenzylidene, p-methylbenzylidene, p-dimethylamino Benzylidene and the like are preferred.

Specific examples of compounds represented by the general formula (III) having the above substituents include 2-methyl-4-
(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl-1-naphthol, 2-methyl-4-(3,5-di-t
-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl-1-naphthol, 2-methyl-4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)
Methyl-1-naphthol, 2-methyl-4-p-tolylmethyl-1-naphthol, 2-methyl-4-benzyl-
1-naphthol, 2-t-butyl-4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl-1-naphthol, 2-methyl-4
-(3,5-dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl-1-naphthol, 2-ethyl-4-(3,5-di-
t-Butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl-1-naphthol, 2-methyl-4-(3,5-dimethoxy-4
-hydroxyphenyl)methyl-1-naphthol, 2-
Methyl-4-(3-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)
Methyl-1-naphthol, 2-t-butyl-4-(3-
t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl-1-naphthol, 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-α-naphthylmethylphenol, 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methoxynaphthylmethylphenol, 2-methyl-4-(3
-Chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl-1-naphthol, 2-methyl-4-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)methyl-1-naphthol, 2-ethyl-4-diphenylmethyl-1-naphthol, 2-methyl- 4-(3-
cyclohexyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl-1
-naphthol, 2-methyl-4-(3-phenyl-4-
hydroxyphenyl)methyl-1-naphthol, 2-methyl-4-(3-t-butyl-4-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)methyl-1-naphthol, 2-methyl-
4-benzyl-6-methyl-1-naphthol and the like.

[0129] Note that the above reducing agent (general formula (I), (II)
), (III)), two or more types may be used in combination.

[0130] In addition to the above-mentioned reducing agent, a leuco form of a reducible dye can be used as a reducing agent that becomes a light-absorbing compound. For example, azo dyes, azomethine dyes, triarylmethane dyes, xanthene dyes, azine dyes, indigoid dyes, formazan dyes, nitro dyes,
Examples include nitroso dyes and azoxy dyes, and leuco forms of azomethine dyes, triarylmethane dyes, xanthene dyes, azine dyes, and indigoid dyes are particularly preferred.

Furthermore, in order to improve the stability of these leuco forms, the hydroxyl group or amino group may be acylated or sulfonylated before use. Preferred specific examples of the leuco compound include α-benzoyl-α(p-diethylaminoanilino)acetanilide, α-benzoyl-α-(p-diethylamino-o-methylanilino)aceto-o-chloroanilide, α-benzoyl −α−(p
-diethylaminoanilino)aceto-o-methoxyanilide, crystal violet hydrol, 9-phenyl-2,7-dichloro-3,6-dihydroxyxanthene, 9-phenyl-2,4,5,7-tetrachloro-3, 6-dihydroxyxanthene, 9-phenyl-4
, 5-dimethyl-3,6-dihydroxyxanthene, 9
-phenyl-3-diethylamino-6-hydroxy-7
- Chloroxanthene, etc.

Examples of the reducing agent in which the oxidant produced by the redox reaction reacts with the coupler to produce a light-absorbing compound include, for example, a secondary color developing agent. Preferred secondary coloring agents include, for example, p-aminophenol, p-phenylenediamine, and o-aminophenol.

[0133] Also, hydrazines described in JP-A-56-27132, US Pat. No. 4,021,240
The sulfonamidophenols described in JP-A-59-53831, as well as compounds that generate aromatic primary amines upon heating as described in JP-A No. 59-53831, can also be used as secondary color developing agents. Specific examples of secondary color developing agents that can be preferably used include 4-amino-N,N-diethylaniline, 2-amino-5-diethylaminotoluene, 4-amino-N,N-diethyl-3-(β-hydroxy ethyl)aniline, 4-amino-N,N-bis(β
-hydroxyethyl)-3-methylaniline, p-aminophenol, p-amino-o-cresol, o-aminophenol, o-amino-p-cresol, and the like. These may be used as they are, or may be converted into salts such as hydrochloride, sulfate, phosphate, p-toluenesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, and naphthalenesulfonate.

[0134] As the coupler, α-acylacetamides, pyrazolones, phenols, naphthols, etc. are preferable, and these are described in "Chemistry of Photography" (first edition, Shasha Kogyo Publishing), p. 278-282, or "The Theory of Examples include those described in "The Photographic Process" (4th edition) p. 353-361. Specific examples of couplers include benzoylacetanilide, benzoylaceto-o
-methoxyanilide, benzoylaceto-o-chloroanilide, 1-phenyl-3-[4'-nitrobenzamide]-5-pyrazolone, 1-phenyl-3-[m-(p
-t-amylphenoxy)benzamide]-5-pyrazolone, 2-chloro-1-naphthol, 5-isopropyl-o-cresol, and the like. Also, as a coupler,
Indazolones and cyanoacetyls can also be used.

[0135] The image forming medium used in the present invention may contain a reducing agent that does not become a light-absorbing compound through a redox reaction, to the extent that it does not impede the object of the present invention.

Reducing agents that do not become light-absorbing compounds through redox reactions but can be contained in the image forming medium used in the present invention include, for example, phenols, hydroquinones, catechols, p-aminophenol, and 3-aminophenols. Pyrazolidones, resorcinols, pyrogallols, m-aminophenols, m-phenylenediamines, 5-pyrazolones, alkylphenols, alkoxyphenols, naphthols, aminonaphthols, naphthalenediols, alkoxynaphthols, hydrazines , hydrazones, sulfonamidophenols, aminonaphthols, ascorbic acids, hydroxyindanes,
Ortho bisphenols etc. can be used. Furthermore, leucobase obtained by reducing a dye can also be used as a reducing agent. Examples of the photopolymerization initiator include carbonyl compounds, sulfur compounds, halogen compounds, redox photopolymerization initiators, and peroxide initiators sensitized with dyes such as pyrylium.

Specifically, carbonyl compounds include:
Diketones such as benzyl, 4,4'-dimethoxybenzyl, diacetyl, camphorquinone; e.g.
,4'-bis(diethylamino)benzophenone, 4,
Benzophenones such as 4'-dimethoxybenzophenone; acetophenones such as acetophenone and 4-methoxyacetophenone; benzoin alkyl ethers; such as 2-chlorothioxanthone, 2,4-dichlorothioxanthone, 2,4-diethylthioxanthone, thioxanthone-3 -thioxanthone such as carboxylic acid-β-methoxyethyl ester; carbonic acid and styryl ketone having dialkylamino group; 3,3
'-Carbonylbis(7-methoxycoumarin), 3,3
Examples include coumarins such as '-carbonylbis(7-diethylaminocoumarin).

Examples of the sulfur compound include dibenzothiazolyl sulfide, decylphenyl sulfide, and disulfides.

Examples of the halogen compound include carbon tetrabromide, quinolinesulfonyl chloride, and S-triazines having a trihalomethyl group.

[0140] As the redox type photopolymerization initiator, 3
A combination of a valent iron ion compound (e.g. ferric ammonium citrate) and peroxide, or a combination of a photoreducing dye such as riboflavin or methylene blue and a reducing agent such as triethanolamine or ascorbic acid. Examples include things.

Furthermore, among the photopolymerization initiators (including sensitizers) described above, more efficient photopolymerization can be carried out by combining two or more types of photopolymerization initiators.

Examples of such a combination of photopolymerization initiators include chalcones, styryl ketones, and coumarins having a dialkylamino group, and S having a trihalomethyl group.
- Examples include combinations with triazines and camphorquinone.

[0143] In the medium used in the present invention, a photopolymerization initiator having a photosensitive wavelength range of 370 to 520 nm is preferably used.

In the medium used in the present invention, it is necessary to appropriately select the photopolymerization initiator depending on the light absorption characteristics of the light-absorbing compound produced by the redox reaction of the reducing agent. An example of such a combination of a reducing agent and a photopolymerization initiator is listed below.

For example, as a reducing agent, 4,4'-propylidenebis(2,6-di-t-butylphenol), 4,
4'-butylidene bis(3-methyl-6-t-butylphenol), 4,4'-methylenebis(2,6-di-t
-butylphenol), 4,4'-methylenebis(2-
t-butyl-6-methylphenol), 2,6-di-t
-butyl-4-(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)methylphenol, 2-methyl-4-(3,5
-Dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl-1-naphthol etc., 380nm to 420nm
A photopolymerization initiator sensitive to 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide, benzyl, etc. are preferred.

In addition, as a reducing agent, 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-(2-hydroxy-3-t-butyl-5-methylbenzyl)phenol, 2,6-di-t-butyl-
4-benzylphenol, 2,6-di-t-butyl-4
- When using -o-tolylmethylphenol etc.,
Photopolymerization initiators sensitive to 300 to 380 nm, such as 1-phenyl-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropan-1-one, 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone, benzyl dimethyl ketal, benzophenone,
4-benzoyl-4'-methyl-diphenyl sulfide and the like are preferred. In addition, as a reducing agent, for example, bis(
3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) (
4-dimethylaminophenyl)methane, 4,4'-methylenebis(2-methyl-1-naphthol), 4,4'-
Methylenebis(2-ethyl-1-naphthol), 4,4
'-Methylenebis(2-cyclohexyl-1-naphthol), 4,4'-methylenebis(2-t-butyl-1-
naphthol) etc., 400 to 520n
A photopolymerization initiator sensitive to is preferable.

[0147] As the polymerizable polymer precursor, a compound having at least one reactive vinyl group in one molecule can be used.

The reactive vinyl groups of these compounds are:
In addition to styrene vinyl groups, acrylic acid vinyl groups, vinyl methacrylate groups, allyl vinyl groups, vinyl ethers, substituted or unsubstituted vinyl groups with polymerization reactivity, such as ester vinyl groups such as vinyl acetate, can be mentioned. .

Specific examples of polymerizable polymer precursors satisfying such conditions are as follows.

For example, styrene, methylstyrene, chlorstyrene, bromostyrene, methoxystyrene, dimethylaminostyrene, cyanostyrene, nitrostyrene, hydroxystyrene, aminostyrene, carboxystyrene, acrylic acid, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, acrylic cyclohexyl acid, acrylamide, methacrylic acid, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, propyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, phenyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate, vinylpyridine, N-vinylpyrrolidone, N-vinylimidazole, 2-vinylimidazole, Monovalent monomers such as N-methyl-2-vinylimidazole, propyl vinyl ether, butyl vinyl ether, isobutyl vinyl ether, β-chloroethyl vinyl ether, phenyl vinyl ether, p-methylphenyl vinyl ether, p-chlorophenyl vinyl ether, divinylbenzene, Distyryl oxalate, distyryl malonate, distyryl succinate, distyryl glutarate, distyryl adipate, distyryl maleate, distyryl fumarate, β, β
Distyryl '-dimethylglutarate, distyryl 2-bromoglutarate, distyryl α,α'-dichloroglutarate, distyryl terephthalate, di(ethyl acrylate) oxalate, di(methyl acrylate) oxalate, di(ethyl acrylate malonate) ), malonic acid di(methyl ethyl acrylate), succinic acid di(ethyl acrylate), glutaric acid di(ethyl acrylate), adipic acid di(ethyl acrylate), maleic acid di(ethyl acrylate), fumaric acid di(ethyl acrylate) ,β
, β'-dimethylglutarate di(ethyl acrylate)
, ethylene diacrylamide, propylene diacrylamide, 1,4-phenylene diacrylamide, 1,4-
Phenylene bis(oxyethyl acrylate), 1,4
-Phenylenebis(oxymethylethyl acrylate)
, 1,4-bis(acryloyloxyethoxy)cyclohexane, 1,4-bis(acryloyloxymethylethoxy)cyclohexane, 1,4-bis(acryloyloxyethoxycarbamoyl)benzene, 1,4-bis(acryloyloxymethylethoxycarbamoyl) ) Benzene, 1,4-bis(acryloyloxyethoxycarbamoyl)cyclohexane, bis(acryloyloxyethoxycarbamoylcyclohexyl)methane, di(ethyl methacrylate) oxalate, di(methyl ethyl methacrylate), di(ethyl methacrylate) malonate , malonic acid di(methyl ethyl methacrylate)
, di(ethyl methacrylate) succinate, di(ethyl succinate), di(succinate)
Methyl ethyl methacrylate), glutaric acid di(ethyl methacrylate), adipic acid di(ethyl methacrylate), maleic acid di(ethyl methacrylate), fumaric acid di(ethyl methacrylate), fumaric acid di(methyl ethyl methacrylate), β, β' - Divalent monomers such as dimethylglutarate di(ethyl methacrylate), 1,4-phenylene bis(oxyethyl methacrylate), 1,4-bis(methacryloyloxyethoxy)cyclohexane acryloyloxyethoxyethyl vinyl ether, pentaerythritol tri Acrylate, pentaerythritol trimethacrylate, pentaerythritol tri(hydroxystyrene), dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate, cyanuric acid triacrylate, cyanuric acid trimethacrylate, 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane triacrylate, 1,1,1-triacrylate Methylolpropane trimethacrylate, cyanuric acid tri(ethyl acrylate), 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane tri(ethyl acrylate), cyanuric acid tri(ethyl vinyl ether), 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane tri(toluene diisocyanate) and hydroxyethyl acrylate, trivalent monomers such as condensates of 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane tri(hexane diisocyanate) and p-hydroxystyrene, ethylenetetraacrylamide, propylenetetraacrylamide, etc. Examples include tetravalent monomers.

[0151] As mentioned above, two or more of these polymerizable polymer precursors may be used.

[0152] It is preferable that the image forming layer contains an appropriate binder for the purpose of improving film properties and dispersibility.

Examples of the binder include nitrocellulose, cellulose phosphate, cellulose sulfate, cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose myristate, cellulose palmitate, and cellulose acetate.
Cellulose esters such as cellulose propionate, cellulose acetate and butyrate, cellulose esters such as methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, propylcellulose, and butylcellulose, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone Vinyl resins such as styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer, copolymer resins such as vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polymethyl methacrylate, polymethyl acrylate, polybutyl acrylate, polyacrylic acids, acrylic resins such as polymethacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, and polyacrylonitrile, polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, such as poly(4,4-isopropylidene, diphenylene-co-1,4-cyclohexylene dimethylene carbonate), poly(ethylenedioxy-3,
3'-phenylene thiocarbonate), poly(4,4'
-isopropylidene diphenylene carbonate-co-terephthalate), poly(4,4'-isopropylidene diphenylene carbonate), poly(4,4'-sec
-butylidene diphenylene carbonate), poly(4,
Polyacrylate resins such as (4'-isopropylidene diphenylene carbonate block-oxyethylene), polyamides, polyimides, epoxy resins, phenolic resins, polyolefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, chlorinated polyethylene, and gelatin, etc. natural polymers, etc.

[0154] In addition, color toning agents, antifoggants, alkali generators, autooxidizing agents, and the like may be added to the medium used in the present invention, if necessary.

Examples of heat-diffusible dyes include monoazo dyes, thiazole dyes, anthraquinone dyes, triallylmethane dyes, rhodamine dyes, and naphthol dyes. In general, the lower the molecular weight of a heat-diffusible dye, the greater the heat-diffusibility, and the dye with more polar groups such as carboxyl, amino, hydroxyl, nitro, and sulfone groups has lower heat-diffusivity. Therefore, depending on the degree of polymerization and crosslinking density of the image forming medium, the heating conditions in the transfer step, etc., a dye having a desired thermal diffusivity may be appropriately selected based on the molecular weight and polar group.

[0156] Furthermore, a capsule-shaped pigment powder may be used as the heat-diffusible pigment. Capsule-shaped pigment powder contains a heat-diffusible pigment in the core of the capsule, and when the capsule is ruptured by pressure or heat, the thermo-diffusible pigment begins to diffuse. The average particle size of capsules is 4μm
The thickness is preferably 3 μm or less.

The preferred blending ratio of the above components in the medium used in the present invention is as follows.

[0158] The amount of organic silver salt contained in the image forming layer 1 is 0.3 to 30 g/m2, particularly 0.7 to 15 g/m2.
, more preferably 1.2 to 8 g/m2.

[0159] Further, it is desirable that the photosensitive silver halide be contained preferably in an amount of 0.001 to 2 mol, more preferably 0.05 to 0.4 mol, per 1 mol of the organic silver salt. In addition, the reducing agent is preferably added to 0.0% per mole of the organic silver salt.
It is desirable to contain 0.05 to 3 moles, more preferably 0.2 to 1.3 moles. Furthermore, a polymerizable polymer precursor 10
The amount of photopolymerization initiator is preferably 0.1 to 3 parts by weight.
It is desirable to use 0 parts by weight, more preferably 0.5 to 10 parts by weight. Further, it is desirable to use the photopolymerization initiator preferably in an amount of 0.01 to 10 moles, more preferably 0.5 to 3 moles, per mole of the reducing agent.

The amount of binder contained in the image forming layer 1 is preferably 0 to 10 parts by weight, more preferably 0.5 to 5 parts by weight, based on 1 part by weight of the organic silver salt. This ratio also applies to the photosensitive layer 11. In addition, polymer layer 1
The amount of the binder contained in No. 2, if necessary, is preferably 0 to 10 parts by weight per 1 part by weight of the polymerizable polymer precursor.

The components constituting the photosensitive layer 11 and the polymerized layer 12 shown in FIG. 2 and the mixing ratio of the components can be considered in the same manner as in the case of an image forming medium having a single image forming layer.

[0162] The content of the heat-diffusible dye contained in the image forming layer 1 is the total weight of silver halide, organic silver salt, reducing agent, polymerizable polymer precursor, photopolymerization initiator, and binder contained as appropriate. Preferably 5 to 20 parts
0 parts by weight, more preferably 10 to 100 parts by weight.

[0163] When the polymer layer 12 contains a heat-diffusible dye, the content of the heat-diffusible dye is 5 to 6 with respect to the polymer layer 12.
Approximately 0% by weight is appropriate.

The medium used in the present invention can be formed by dissolving the above components in a solvent together with an appropriately used binder, coating the solution on the protective layer 2 or the substrate 3, and drying the solution.

[0165] The thickness of the image forming layer 1 is 0.1 μm to 2 m.
m, more preferably 1 μm to 0.1 mm. Also,
The thickness of the protective layer 2 and the substrate 3 is preferably about 2 μm to 3 mm.

[0166] The thickness of the photosensitive layer 11 and the polymer layer 12 is 0.
05μm to 1mm, and even 0.3μm to 30μm
m, particularly preferably in the range from 0.6 μm to 10 μm.

As explained above, according to the image forming method of the present invention, when transferring a heat-diffusible dye to an image receptor, since no heat-diffusible dye is present in the non-image area due to peel-apart, the image-receiving material is No unnecessary pigment transfer occurs to the body.

[0168] The present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to Examples below. In addition, in the following examples, "parts by weight" is referred to as "parts by weight".
It was abbreviated as ``Department''.

[0169]

[Example] Example 1 An imaging medium was prepared as follows.

After 2 parts of behenic acid was dissolved in 29 parts of toluene/26 parts of n-butanol, 4 parts of silver behenate was added and emulsified. After this, 0.6 parts of silver bromide was added to this emulsified solution.
Add 0.8 parts of benzoxazinedione, 1.1 parts of 4-methoxynaphthol, and 4 parts of polybutyl methacrylate,
Furthermore, 0.9 parts of Michler's ketone, 0.8 parts of ethyl p-dimethylaminobenzoate, 8 parts of dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate, and 4 parts of chlorinated rubber were added. The solution thus obtained was divided into three equal parts, each with MS-Yellow-V
P 2.6 parts, MS-Magenta-VP 2.2 parts,
2.5 parts of MS-Cyan-VP dye was added to obtain yellow, magenta and cyan coating solutions.

[0171] The above yellow coating liquid was applied to the polyvinyl alcohol side of a PET film (protective layer, thickness 10 μm) coated with polyvinyl alcohol so that the dry film thickness was 7 μm, and then this image was formed. A 25 μm thick PET film (substrate) was laminated on the forming layer to obtain a yellow image forming medium. Magenta and cyan imaging media were similarly prepared.

Now, the yellow image forming medium prepared as described above was fitted with a desired yellow image mask and exposed for 10 seconds from a distance of 5 cm using a 100 W fluorescent lamp having an emission peak at 400 nm.

[0173] Next, the mask was removed from the yellow image forming medium, and the medium was passed through a heat developing device adjusted to 100°C for 20 seconds. Furthermore, a 15W fluorescent lamp with an emission peak of 380 nm was used to illuminate the image forming medium from a distance of 1 cm.
The entire surface was exposed for 30 seconds from the protective layer side.

[0174] Thereafter, this image forming medium was heated at 60°C and 25°C.
When the protective layer and the substrate were separated by passing between a pair of rollers heated and pressurized to kg/cm2, the unpolymerized portion of the image forming layer was adhered to the substrate as an image corresponding to the yellow mask. Ta.

When the magenta image forming medium and the cyan image forming medium were treated in the same manner as the yellow image forming medium using a magenta mask and a cyan mask, respectively, there was no unpolymerized image forming layer on any of the substrates. Each part was glued together.

Next, the image receptor was placed on the unpolymerized portion of cyan and heated between heating rollers at 120° C. at 10 mm/sec. A good cyan image was formed on the image receptor. As the image receptor, one having an image receiving layer of polyester resin on paper was used.

Images were also formed on the magenta unpolymerized area and the yellow unpolymerized area in the same manner as in the case of cyan. The magenta image and the yellow image were sequentially formed on the image receptor on which the cyan image had been formed, overlapping the cyan image. As a result, a good multicolor image was obtained on the image receptor. Example 2 The above ingredients were mixed in a dark room using a homomixer for 50 minutes.
Dispersion was performed for 10 minutes at 00 rpm. then 4
, 0.7 part of 4'-methylenebis(3,5-di-t-butylphenol) was added to obtain Solution A.

[0178] Liquid B was obtained by stirring and mixing the above components for 30 minutes.

[0179] The above liquid B was applied to a PET film (substrate) using an applicator so that the dry film thickness was 3 μm to form a polymerized layer. On the polymerized layer, Liquid A was applied using an applicator to a dry film thickness of 2 μm to form a photosensitive layer. Next, a protective layer similar to that in Example 1 was laminated on the photosensitive layer to obtain an image forming medium.

A desired mask was placed on the protective layer of this image forming medium, and exposed for 1 second from a distance of 5 cm using a 10 W fluorescent lamp having an emission peak at 400 nm.

[0181] Next, the mask was removed from this image forming medium, and the medium was passed through a heat developing device adjusted to 100°C. Further, this image forming medium was placed on a hot plate heated to 60° C., and the entire surface was exposed for 20 seconds from the protective layer side using a 15 W fluorescent lamp having an emission peak of 380 nm from a distance of 3 cm.

[0182] Thereafter, this image forming medium was heated at 60°C for 2
When the protective layer and the substrate were separated by passing between a pair of rollers heated and pressurized to 5 kg/cm2, the unpolymerized portion (red) of the image forming layer was adhered to the substrate as an image corresponding to the mask. Ta.

[0183] Next, the same image receptor as in Example 1 was placed in the unpolymerized area, and heated at 100°C between heating rollers at a distance of 10 mm/cm.
sec. A good red image was formed on the image receptor. Example 3 21 parts of Unidic V-4205 (manufactured by Dainippon Inc.) was used in place of 21 parts of Unidic 16-824 in Example 2, and 1.3 parts of chlorothioxanthone and 0 ethyl p-dimethylaminobenzoate were used. 1.5 parts of Michler's Ketone was used in place of .6 parts, and Kayarad Red B was used in place of 1.5 parts of MS Magenta VP.
(manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.), and in the same manner as in Example 2 except that an image forming medium was produced.

A desired mask was placed on the protective layer of this image forming medium, and exposed for 0.5 seconds from a distance of 3 cm using a 10 W fluorescent lamp having an emission peak at 390 nm.

[0185] Next, the mask was removed from this image forming medium, and the medium was passed through a heat developing device adjusted to 110°C. Further, this image forming medium was placed on a hot plate heated to 60° C., and the entire surface was exposed for 10 seconds from the protective layer side using a 15 W fluorescent lamp having an emission peak of 350 nm from a distance of 3 cm.

Thereafter, image formation was carried out in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the temperature of the heating roller was 110° C., and a good red image was formed on the image receptor. Example 4 The following composition was mixed at 5000 rpm using a homo mixer.
An emulsion was prepared by stirring for 10 minutes.

Next, this emulsion was applied onto the same protective layer as in Example 1 using an applicator so that the dry film thickness was 4 μm.
A photosensitive layer was formed.

[0188] Next, the following composition was thoroughly stirred and dissolved uniformly to prepare a coating liquid.

Next, apply this coating liquid to a dry film thickness of 2 μm using an applicator.
A polymeric layer was formed by coating on the photosensitive layer so as to give an image forming medium.

[0190] A mask was placed on the protective layer of this image forming medium, and it was exposed to light for 1 second from a distance of 5 cm using a 5W fluorescent lamp having an emission peak at 390 nm.

[0191] Next, the mask was removed from this image forming medium, and the medium was passed through a heat developing machine adjusted to 95°C. Then, a PET film (substrate) was placed on the polymerized layer of the image forming medium, and an emission peak of 350 nm was detected from a distance of 1 cm.
The entire surface was irradiated from the protective layer side for 30 seconds using a fluorescent lamp with a power consumption of 15 W. Next, when the protective layer and the substrate were separated, an unpolymerized portion (blue) was adhered to the substrate as an image corresponding to the mask.

Next, the same image receptor as in Example 1 was placed on the unpolymerized area and thermal transfer was performed in the same manner as in Example 2, and a good blue image was formed on the image receptor. Example 5 A multicolor image was created on the same image receptor as in Example 1 using the apparatus shown in FIG.

First, an image forming medium was prepared as follows.

After 2 parts of behenic acid was dissolved in 29 parts of toluene/26 parts of n-butanol, 4 parts of silver behenate was added and emulsified. After this, 0.6 parts of silver bromide was added to this emulsified solution.
Add 0.8 parts of benzoxazinedione, 1.1 parts of 4-methoxynaphthol, and 4 parts of polybutyl methacrylate,
Furthermore, 0.9 parts of Michler's ketone, 0.8 parts of ethyl p-dimethylaminobenzoate, 8 parts of dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate, and 4 parts of chlorinated rubber were added. The solution thus obtained was divided into three equal parts, and 1.2 parts of the capsule-shaped pigment powder prepared by the following method was added to each part.
Further, 0.005 part of N,N'-diethylthiotricarbocyanine iodite was added as a sensitizing dye to each of the coating solutions to prepare three types of coating solutions: yellow, magenta, and cyan.

Capsule-shaped pigment powders of each color were prepared as follows.

After each dye was dissolved in methyl ethyl ketone (ratio of 15 parts of dye to 100 parts of solvent), polymethyl methacrylate was added, and tolylene diisocyanate was further added to this solution as a wall material. This organic solution was added to a 0.3 wt % polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solution (ratio of 200 parts of the polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solution to 100 parts of the above organic solution), and emulsification and dispersion treatment was performed. The thus obtained dispersion was stirred at a temperature of 60° C. for 6 hours to effect hardening. After hardening, mesh treatment and drying
Capsule powders of each heat-diffusible dye with an average particle size of 2.0 μm were prepared.

Coating liquids of each color were applied to the same protective layer as in Example 1 so that the dry film thickness was 7 μm to form an image forming layer, and three types of image forming media of yellow, magenta and cyan were formed. I got it.

The same image receptor as in Example 1 was used. Three types of image forming media and image receptors were each cut into A4 size pieces and housed in cartridges 14 and 13, respectively. The above three types of image forming media were stored so that they were delivered from the cartridge 14 in the order of cyan, magenta, and yellow.

When the power switch is turned on in this manner, the image receptor is fed out from the cartridge 13 in the supply section by the feeding rollers 15 and 16, and the image receptor is fed out from the support member 5 with a diameter of 150 mm.
It was chucked at the 0 clip. Rotation of the support member 50 (
When the image receptor approached the cartridge 14 at a circumferential speed of 10 mm/sec), the cyan image forming medium was sent out from the cartridge 14 by rollers 17 and 18 and superimposed on the image receptor.

The image forming medium on the image receptor is subjected to image exposure by an exposure means 20 (semiconductor laser with a wavelength of 780 nm and an output of 20 mW) operated by an image signal of a cyan image in an image exposure section, and then further exposed by rotation of the support member 50. It was transported to the heat development section.

[0201] In the thermal development section, the image forming medium on the image receptor is
It was heated by heating rollers 23, 24 and belt 25. The temperature of heating rollers 23, 24 and belt 25 is 100
It was ℃. The length of the contact portion where the belt 25 contacts the support member 50 was 150 mm.

Next, the image receptor and the image forming medium were transported to a polymerization exposure section and subjected to polymerization exposure by an exposure means 28 (5 ultraviolet fluorescent lamps with an emission peak of 380 nm, power consumption of 15 W, diameter of 15 mm, and length of 330 mm). The distance from the outer peripheral surface of the support member 50 to the fluorescent lamp tube surface was 10 mm.

Subsequently, when the protective layer was peeled off from the image forming medium using the roller 51 and the blade 52, a polymerized portion remained on the protective layer, and an unpolymerized portion corresponding to the image exposure pattern was formed on the image receiving surface. Thereafter, the image receptor was transported to a transfer section.

In the transfer section, a PET film coated with an adhesive was used as the protective sheet 33. This PET
When the film was laminated on the unpolymerized portion and heated by the heat roller 31, a cyan image was formed on the image receptor. The heating temperature by the heat roller 31 is 120°C, and the pressure is 25kg/
It was cm2.

The unpolymerized portion on the image receptor adhered to the protective sheet 33 by heating, was peeled off from the image receptor, and was wound up on the roller 30 together with the protective sheet 33.

The image receptor on which the cyan image was formed was again conveyed to the paper feeding section.

[0207] The magenta image and the yellow image are also sequentially formed on the image receptor by the same operation as the cyan image, and finally a multicolor image in which the cyan image, magenta image, and yellow image are superimposed on one image receptor is formed. An image was formed. The multicolor image formed as described above was clear with no color shift. Example 6 An image forming medium having a multi-layered image forming layer was prepared as follows.

2.0 parts of behenic acid, 0.2 parts of azelaic acid, 4.0 parts of silver behenate, 9 parts of polyvinyl butyral resin, 0.7 parts of silver bromide, 2,6-di-t-butyl-4 −(3
, 5-dimethyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)phenol 3.2 parts, phthalazinone 1 part, N,N' as a sensitizing dye.
0.005 parts of -diethyl-6,6'-dimethoxy-thiotricarbocyanine iodide and 55 parts of a xylene/n-butanol mixed solvent were mixed to obtain a liquid C.

This C solution was applied onto a PET film (protective layer) so that the dry film thickness was 5 μm to form a photosensitive layer.

A polyvinyl alcohol layer containing colloidal silica was coated on this photosensitive layer to a dry thickness of 2 μm to form an intermediate layer.

5 parts of polymethyl methacrylate, 2 parts of trimethylolpropane triacrylate, 3.5 parts of dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate, 1.2 parts of 2,4-diethylthioxanthone, 1.0 part of ethyl p-dimethylaminobenzoate, and 1.2 parts of the same capsule-shaped pigment powder as in Example 5 was mixed to obtain Liquid D. This solution D was applied onto the intermediate layer to a dry film thickness of 5 μm to form a polymerized layer. In this way, image forming media were created using each of the cyan, magenta, and yellow pigment powders.

When images were formed in the same manner as in Example 5 using the three types of image forming media obtained as described above and the same image receptor as in Example 1, clear images with no color shift were obtained. A multicolor image was obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1A to 1E are partial views showing each step of an example of the image forming method of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A to 2E are partial views showing each step of another example of the image forming method of the present invention.

FIGS. 3(a) to 3(f) are partial views showing each step of another example of the image forming method of the present invention.

FIGS. 4(a) to 4(f) are partial views showing each step of another example of the image forming method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial diagram showing an example of an image forming medium used in the image forming method of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial diagram showing an example of an apparatus for carrying out the image forming method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

6 Image receptor 9 Apparatus exterior 13 Cartridge (for image receptor) 14 Same as above (for image forming medium) 15 Feeding roller 16 Same as above 17 Same as above 18 Same as above 19 Clip 20 Laser light exposure means 20a Laser light beam 21 Support roller 22 Same as above 23 Heating roller 24 Same as above 25 Belt 28 Ultraviolet fluorescent light source 29 Light source guide 30 Take-up roller 31 Heating roller 32 Roller 33 Protective sheet 39 Ejection tray 50 Support member 50a Rotating shaft 51 Peeling roller 52 Blade 55 Tray 130 Image forming medium

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. (a) image-wise exposing an image forming medium containing at least a heat-diffusible dye, a photosensitive silver halide, an organic silver salt, a reducing agent, a polymerizable polymer precursor, and a photopolymerization initiator; (b) heating the image forming medium; (c) exposing the image forming medium to polymerization light to form a polymerized portion and an unpolymerized portion in the image forming medium; and (d) the polymerized portion. and (e) laminating an image receptor on the unpolymerized area and transferring the heat-diffusible dye in the unpolymerized area to the image receptor. Characteristic image forming method. 2. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the steps from step (a) to step (e) are repeated. 3. A polymerization method in which the image forming medium includes a photosensitive layer having at least a photosensitive silver halide, an organic silver salt, and a reducing agent, and at least a heat-diffusible dye, a polymerizable polymer precursor, and a photopolymerization initiator. 2. The image forming method according to claim 1, further comprising a layer. 4. (a) imagewise exposing a first medium containing at least a photosensitive silver halide, an organic silver salt, and a reducing agent; (b) heating the first medium; c) In a state where the first medium and a second medium containing at least a heat-diffusible dye, a polymerizable polymer precursor, and a photopolymerization initiator are laminated, (d) separating the polymerized portion and the unpolymerized portion;
(e) Laminating an image receptor on the unpolymerized portion, and transferring the heat-diffusible dye in the unpolymerized portion to the image receptor. 5. The image forming method according to claim 4, wherein the steps from step (a) to step (e) are repeated. 6. (a) overlaying an image-forming medium containing at least a heat-diffusible dye, a photosensitive silver halide, an organic silver salt, a reducing agent, a polymerizable polymer precursor, and a photopolymerization initiator on an image receptor; imagewise exposing the image forming medium; (b)
) heating the image forming medium; (c) exposing the image forming medium to polymerization light to form a polymerized portion and an unpolymerized portion in the image forming medium; and (d) forming a polymerized portion and an unpolymerized portion in the image forming medium. (e) a step of transferring the heat-diffusible dye in the unpolymerized portion to the image receptor; f) removing the unpolymerized portion on the image receptor;
An image forming method comprising: 7. The image forming method according to claim 6, wherein the steps from step (a) to step (f) are repeated. 8. The image forming method according to claim 6, further comprising a step of fixing the image receptor to a support member before the step (a). 9. The image forming method according to claim 8, wherein the support member is cylindrical, and the image receptor is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical support member. 10. A polymerization method in which the image forming medium includes a photosensitive layer having at least a photosensitive silver halide, an organic silver salt, and a reducing agent, and at least a heat-diffusible dye, a polymerizable polymer precursor, and a photopolymerization initiator. 7. The image forming method according to claim 6, further comprising a layer.