JPH04340547A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To form an image without pressurizing an image receiving body such as a plain paper while keeping the texture of the image receiving body in an image forming device where a microcapsule whose mechanical strength is changed by reacting to light and powder which contributes to forming the image in cooperation with the contained substance in the mirocapsule are used. CONSTITUTION:A transfer medium consisting of resin which is easily electrostatically charged to have a reverse polarity to the powder is used. The transfer medium and a photosensitive sheet 33 where the microcapsule is carried are pressured in a state where the powder is held between them, so that an image formed substance obtained by mixing the contained substance flowing out from the microcapsule with the powder is obtained. The image formed substance is formed on the transfer medium by electrostatic force, and then it is transferred on the image receiving body by a thermal transfer means.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a microcapsule whose mechanical strength changes in response to light, and a powder that contributes to the formation of an image in cooperation with the contents of the microcapsule. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that uses an image forming apparatus to form an image on an image receptor.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a method of forming an image on an image receptor uses microcapsules whose mechanical strength changes in response to light and powder that contributes to image formation in cooperation with the contents of the microcapsules. has been devised. In addition, as a device that embodies this method, we have developed a photosensitive sheet that supports microcapsules whose mechanical strength changes in response to light, and a color developer that develops color by reacting with the dye precursor contained in the microcapsules. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-149847 discloses an apparatus for forming an image on an image receptor such as plain paper using a powder containing a powder as a main component.

In this apparatus, the photosensitive sheet is first exposed to light based on image information to form a chemical latent image on the microcapsules. Next, the photosensitive sheet and the image receptor are overlapped and pressed through the powder. The dye precursor flows out from the microcapsules destroyed by pressure and reacts with the powder to form an image, which is fixed on the image receptor. In this way, an image is formed on the image receptor, which is plain paper.

0004

However, the image forming apparatus described above has the following problem because the image receptor itself is pressurized. That is, even if the user uses various image receptors according to his/her preference, the output image receptors are crushed by pressure and become smooth, losing the original texture of each image receptor.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image while maintaining the original texture of an image receptor.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve this object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention uses microcapsules containing at least a dye or a dye precursor and whose mechanical strength changes in response to light. , a powder coating means for applying the powder to a photosensitive sheet or transfer medium carrying the microcapsules using a powder that contributes to the formation of an image in cooperation with the contents of the microcapsules; a pressure transfer means that presses the photosensitive sheet and the transfer medium with the powder sandwiched therebetween in order to drain the inclusions and transfer an image formed in which the inclusions and the powder are mixed onto the transfer medium; , has a thermal transfer means for transferring the image formed on the transfer medium to the image receptor, and the transfer medium is made of a resin that is easily charged to a polarity opposite to that of the powder.

Specifically, when the powder is a negatively charged powder, the transfer medium is made of polyamide, which is easily charged positively,
It is made of either polyacetal or acrylic resin.

[0008]

[Operation] In the image forming apparatus of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, toner-like powder is charged and applied to the photosensitive sheet or transfer medium by electrostatic force in the powder application means. Then, by the pressure transfer means, the contents of the destroyed microcapsules and the powder are mixed to form an image formed object. Here, since the transfer medium is composed of a resin that is easily charged with a polarity opposite to that of the powder, electrostatic attraction acts between the image-formed object and the transfer medium, and the image-formed object is carried on the transfer medium. .

Furthermore, at least one of the image receptor and the photosensitive sheet is heated by the heating transfer means, and the image formed product is melted and becomes sticky. At this time, since the image receptor and the photosensitive sheet are overlapped, the image formed material, which has become sticky due to heating, is transferred to the image receptor. In this way, an image is formed on the image receptor without being pressurized.

0010

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image forming apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of this image forming apparatus.

The image forming device 5 includes a photosensitive sheet in which a base film of polyethylene terephthalate resin having a thickness of about 20 microns supports microcapsules that encapsulate a dye precursor and harden in response to light, and the dye precursor. This is an image forming device that uses powder whose main component is a color developer that contributes to color development by reacting with the body.

The image forming apparatus 5 includes an exposure section 10 provided at the upper part thereof, a powder coating section 20 provided at the right part thereof,
It is comprised of a photosensitive sheet conveying section 30 provided at the left portion, a pressure developing section 40 provided at the center, and a transfer section 60 provided at the bottom.

The exposure section 10 is provided for exposing the photosensitive sheet to light based on image information to form a chemical latent image.
A halogen lamp 11 that is an exposure light source, a document table glass 15 that holds a document 12, a document table cover 13, a filter 14 for adjusting the color tone of an image, and an imaging lens 18.
and a light shielding plate 19 that prevents the photosensitive sheet from being exposed to light.

The powder application section 20 is provided to uniformly apply powder to the photosensitive sheet, and includes a carrier roller 25 that supports the powder and a supply roller 24 that supplies the powder to the carrier roller 25. , an agitator 23 for stirring the powder, and a stored powder 22.

The photosensitive sheet conveying section 30 includes a photosensitive sheet supply cartridge 31, an electrode roller 27 provided for conveying the photosensitive sheet 33 and making the photosensitive sheet 33 face the carrying roller 25, and a photosensitive sheet supply cartridge 31, an electrode roller 27 provided for conveying the photosensitive sheet 33 and making the photosensitive sheet 33 face the carrying roller 25, and a photosensitive sheet supply cartridge 31. It is composed of a recovery cartridge 32. Further, a power source 28 that generates +1 kV is connected to the electrode roller.

The pressure developing section 40 is provided to apply pressure to the photosensitive sheet 33 and the transfer medium 66 to destroy the microcapsules of the photosensitive sheet and cause the dye to flow out, thereby obtaining an image-formed product mixed with powder. , a pair of pressure rollers 41a,
41b.

The transfer section 60 is provided to carry an image formed on a transfer medium and then transfer it to an image receptor. The transfer unit 60 has a built-in metal ground roller 63, the pressure roller 41b, a backup roller 62, an endless belt-shaped transfer medium 66 installed between these rollers, and a halogen lamp or heating resistor. It consists of a heated roller 61. Further, the heat roller 61 and the backup roller 62 are configured to face each other with the image receptor 51 interposed therebetween. Here, the transfer medium 66 is made of a sheet of polyamide resin, which is a resin that is easily positively charged.

The operation of this image forming apparatus 1 will be explained.

The photosensitive sheet supply cartridge 31 and recovery cartridge 32 are driven, and the photosensitive sheet 33 is conveyed to the lower part of the exposure section 10. In the exposure section 10, the halogen lamp 11 is turned on, and the document table glass 15 holding the document 12 moves. The light emitted from the halogen lamp 11 passes through the transparent document table glass 15 and reaches the document 12 placed thereon. Therefore, the document platen glass 1
By moving 5, an exposure operation for the original is performed. The light reflected from the original 12 passes through a filter 14 for adjusting the color tone of the image and an imaging lens 18, and forms an image on a photosensitive sheet 33. In this way, the exposed microcapsules are cured, and a chemical latent image corresponding to the image of the original is formed on the photosensitive sheet 33. This photosensitive sheet 33 is conveyed toward the electrode roller 27.

On the other hand, in the powder application section 20, an agitator 23 and a supply roller 24 rotate. According to this rotation, the powder 22 is supported on the support roller 25. At this time, the powder 22 is negatively charged due to contact friction with the supply roller 24 and the support roller 25. An electric field is formed between the carrier roller 25 and the electrode roller 27 facing the carrier roller. Due to this electric field, the negatively charged powder supported on the supporting roller 25 is
Electrostatic attraction is applied toward the electrode roller 27. Therefore, the powder is applied to the surface of the photosensitive sheet 33, and the powder layer 2
9 is formed.

This photosensitive sheet 33 is conveyed toward a pressure developing section 40.

On the other hand, in the transfer section 60, a transfer medium 66 is sequentially conveyed by rotation of rollers such as a ground roller 63. At this time, the metal ground roller 63
The transfer medium 66 is positively charged because the transfer medium 66 is made of polyamide, which is easily charged positively.

In the pressure developing section 40, the photosensitive sheet 33 on which the chemical latent image and the powder layer 29 are formed and the transfer medium 66 are pressed by a pair of pressure rollers 41a and 41b. Due to this pressurization, the uncured microcapsules of the photosensitive sheet 33 are destroyed, and the dye precursor contained therein flows out and permeates the powder layer 29 to form an image 69.
is formed. Since this image-formed material 69 is composed of the powder, it is negatively charged. Therefore, the image formed object 69 receives electrostatic attraction from the positively charged transfer medium 66. As a result, the image formation 69 is transferred to the transfer medium 66. This transfer medium 66 is conveyed between the heat roller 61 and the backup roller 62.

On the other hand, an image receptor 51 such as plain paper is taken out from the stocker 50 and conveyed between the heat roller 61 and the backup roller 62. When the heat source of the heat roller 61 is energized, the image receptor 51 and the transfer medium 66 are heated. Therefore, the image formed object 69 existing between the two is also heated and softened. The transfer medium 66 has a high surface smoothness, whereas the image receptor 51 is made of fibers and has a low smoothness. Therefore, the softened image formation 69 is separated from the transfer medium 66, penetrates into the image receptor 51, and is transferred. The image receptor onto which the image formation has been transferred in this manner is output to a tray on the right side of the apparatus. The photosensitive sheet 33 is collected into a collection cartridge 32.

In the image forming apparatus of this embodiment described above, powder is applied to the photosensitive sheet.
It may also be modified so that it is applied to a transfer medium. In this case, the ground roller may be replaced with an electrode roller, and the powder coating means may be installed facing the electrode roller.

Further, the thermal transfer means is not limited to the configuration in which a heating source is provided on the image receptor side as in this embodiment, but may be configured to heat from the transfer medium side, or the transfer medium and image receptor may be heated from the side. The configuration may be such that heating is performed from both sides.

[0027] The powder applied to this device is not limited to powder whose main component is a color developer, but also absorbers, fixing accelerators, color development accelerators, etc. that work together with the contents of the microcapsules to form images. Any powder that contributes to formation may be used. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to microcapsules containing a dye precursor as in this embodiment, but may also be microcapsules containing a dye or a pigment. In this case, since a color developer is not required, an absorbent or a fixing accelerator is used as a powder that contributes to image formation.
An adhesive or the like may be used.

[0028]

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above explanation, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the image receptor is not particularly pressurized, an image is formed while maintaining the original texture of the image receptor. . Therefore, it is also possible to use corrugated paper, cloth, or the like as the image receptor, whose shape changes significantly when pressurized.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

5 Image forming device 10 Exposure means 20 Powder application means 30 Photosensitive sheet transport section 33 Photosensitive sheet 40 Pressure developing section 51 Image receptor 60 Transfer section 61 Heat roller

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: A microcapsule containing at least a dye or a dye precursor whose mechanical strength changes in response to light, and a powder that contributes to the formation of an image in cooperation with the content of the microcapsule. In an image forming apparatus that forms an image on an image receptor, a powder coating means charges the powder to a predetermined polarity and applies the powder to a photosensitive sheet carrying microcapsules or a transfer medium, and encapsulates the microcapsules. a pressure transfer means that presses the photosensitive sheet and the transfer medium with the powder sandwiched therebetween in order to flow out the substance and transfer an image formed material in which the inclusions and the powder are mixed to the transfer medium; and a thermal transfer means for transferring the image formed on the transfer medium to an image receptor, and the transfer medium is made of a resin that is easily charged to a polarity opposite to that of the powder. image forming device. 2. The powder in the powder application means has a negative charge polarity, and the transfer medium is made of polyamide, polyacetal, or acrylic resin. The image forming apparatus described in .