JPH04299341A - Optical printer and its transferring method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily transfer an image even when a dedicated special image receiving paper coated with color developer is not used. CONSTITUTION:A pair of pressure developing rollers 7 and 7, and a pair of pressure transfer rollers 8 and 8 are arranged in a carrying path for the image receiving paper 9, and a photosensitive film 3 which is exposed by a light source 1 for exposing and the image receiving paper are held between the rollers 7 and 7, and an unhardened capsule 13 is broken and dye is transferred on a photosensitive jacket. A 2nd transfer part is arranged on the upstream side of a 1st transfer part. The 2nd transfer part is constituted of the film with the color developer and the rollers 8 and 8 to transfer the image to the image receiving paper 9. The color is developed by reacting the dye with the color developer by the 1st transfer part.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical printer used as a non-contact type full-color output device using light in the field of office equipment and the like, and a transfer method therefor.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In the field of office equipment and the like, printers that utilize light are widely used as non-contact output devices. Typical devices for these printers will be briefly described. Conventional light-based printers print white, red,
Three color lights, green and blue, were used as light sources for exposure to irradiate the photosensitive dye-containing capsules placed on the sheet. This exposure treatment causes a hardening reaction in the photosensitive outer skin covering the outside of the capsule. In the subsequent process, the dye sealed in the uncured capsules in the unirradiated area is transferred to the special image-receiving paper that is already coated with a color developer that reacts with the dye and reproduces the color. Next, the unexposed capsules are crushed by pressure development. Through this step, the color developer coated on the image-receiving paper and the transferred dye react to develop color and form an image.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The above-mentioned conventional printers require special image-receiving paper coated with a special color developer for the output paper, resulting in higher running costs than plain paper. Furthermore, in order to suppress discoloration of the coated surface of this special coated paper, it is necessary to regulate the storage conditions before use, which poses a problem that it is difficult for users to handle.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the optical printer of the present invention selectively irradiates light to photosensitive dye-containing capsules arranged on a sheet to harden the photosensitive outer skin. A first step that crushes the exposed area and the uncured capsules of the photosensitive outer skin and transfers the encapsulated dye to the receiving paper side.
and a second transfer section that is located upstream of the first transfer section and that transfers a color developer that reacts with the image-receiving paper and the dye to form a color. By selectively irradiating light onto the photosensitive dye-containing capsules placed in the
A step of curing the photosensitive outer skin, a step of crushing the uncured capsules of the photosensitive outer skin to transfer the encapsulated dye to the image receiving paper, and prior to this transfer step, transferring a color developer to the image receiving paper. A transfer method for an optical printer includes steps. Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0005]

[Embodiment] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an optical printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the above-mentioned optical printer, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the process of transferring a color developer to image-receiving paper. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion where the photosensitive dye-containing capsule is crushed by pressure development and the encapsulated dye is transferred to the image-receiving paper. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an exposure light source, and a sheet, for example, a photosensitive film 3, is disposed at a portion of the light source 1 to which light 2 is irradiated. The photosensitive film 3 is provided with a capsule containing a photosensitive dye inside and covered with a photosensitive outer skin. This photosensitive film 3 is transferred from one roll 4 to the other roll 4. The photosensitive film 3 is
A pair of pressure rollers 7, 7 together with the image receiving paper 9 during transport.
(first transfer part). This image receiving paper 9 is made of, for example, general PPC paper, is cut out from a paper cassette 19 by a paper feed roller 11, and is conveyed in the direction of arrow A by paper feed rollers 12, 12. A second transfer section is arranged between the paper feed cassette 19 and the pressure effect roller 7, for example a pair of pressure transfers 8, 8 and a film 5 with a color developer 15 and a pair of rolls 6, 6.
It is composed of. The film 5 is constructed by forming, for example, a color developer 15 and a mounting agent 16 on a base film (or base paper) 18 in this order. This film 5
are arranged so as to be held together with the image receiving paper 9 by the pressure transfer rollers 8, 8. Further, a thermal fixing device 10 is arranged downstream of the pressure roller 7 and facing the image receiving paper 9 . Note that this heat fixing device 10 is desirably placed below the image receiving paper 9. Next, the transfer method will be explained. First, exposure light 2 is irradiated from the exposure light source 1 onto the photosensitive film 3 that is fed in the B direction by a pair of rolls 4, 4. As a result, the photosensitive dye-containing capsules 13 arranged on the photosensitive film 3 are selectively cured by a photocuring reaction. On the other hand, the image receiving paper 9 is fed into the apparatus by a paper feed roller 11 from a paper feed cassette 19, and is conveyed in the direction of arrow A by a paper feed roller 12. As shown in FIG. It is transcribed by . Through this process, the image receiving paper 9 containing the color developer is sent to the pressure developing roller (first transfer section) 7. Then, the exposed photosensitive film 3 is combined with the photosensitive film 3, and the unexposed and uncured capsules of the photosensitive dye-containing capsules 13 on the photosensitive film 3 are crushed, and the encapsulated dye 14 is transferred to the receiver paper as shown in FIG. 9 is transferred. The image receiving paper 9 to which the dye 14 has been transferred is sent to a heat fixing device 10 where it undergoes a coloring reaction and fixing process, and is output to the outside of the apparatus.

[0006]

[Effects of the Invention] By having the above-described configuration, the present invention achieves the following effects. without using special coated paper that is pre-coated with color developer on the receiver paper.
Since the color developer is coated on the image receiving paper immediately before dye transfer, plain paper can be used. In addition, since plain paper can be used, running costs are low, there are few restrictions on paper storage conditions, and it is possible to obtain an apparatus that does not place a burden on the user.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a device configuration diagram of an optical printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Perspective view of the above optical printer

[Figure 3] Enlarged view of the process of transferring color developer to image receiving paper

[Figure 4
] This is an enlarged view of a portion where a photosensitive dye-containing capsule is crushed by pressure development and the encapsulated dye is transferred to image-receiving paper.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Exposure light source 3 Sheet (photosensitive film) 4 roll 5 Film 6 roll 7 Pressure developing roller 8 Pressure transfer roller 9 Receiving paper 10 Heat fixing device 13 Photosensitive dye-containing capsule 14 Transfer dye 15 Color developer layer 16 Adhesive layer

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An exposure section that selectively irradiates light to photosensitive dye-containing capsules arranged on a sheet to harden the photosensitive outer skin, and an exposure section that hardens the photosensitive outer skin by crushing the uncured capsules with the photosensitive outer skin to release the encapsulated dye. a first transfer section that transfers to the image receiving paper side;
An optical printer comprising: a second transfer section that is located upstream of the first transfer section and transfers a color developer that reacts with an image-receiving paper and a dye to develop a color. 2. The optical printer according to claim 1, wherein the second transfer section includes a pair of pressure rollers and a film having a color developer held between the pressure rollers. 3. The optical printer according to claim 1, wherein the image receiving paper is PPC paper. 4. A step of selectively irradiating the photosensitive dye-containing capsules arranged on the sheet with light to harden the photosensitive outer skin, and crushing the uncured capsules of the photosensitive outer skin to remove the encapsulated dye. 1. A transfer method for an optical printer, comprising the steps of transferring a color developer to an image receiving paper, and prior to this transfer step, transferring a color developer to the image receiving paper. 5. The transfer method for an optical printer according to claim 4, wherein the image receiving paper is PPC paper.