JPH04359238A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image recorder where energy required for forming a latent image on a photosensitive recording medium by an exposing means is reduced and whose exposing means is made simple and compact. CONSTITUTION:This recorder 20 is provided with a capsule paper 50 obtained by applying a microcapsule including a heat developable photosensitive element which reacts to the light of each wavelength such as red, green or blue and is hardened by heating on a sheet, the exposing device 41 which forms a latent image by color-separating and exposing a mask original plate 15 which is made based on image information on the capsule paper 50, a heating device 90 which heats and processes the capsule paper 50 where the latent image is formed by the exposing device 41 and a pressure developing device 70 which develops the image on the capsule paper 50 heated and processed by the heating device 90.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that obtains a color image by subjecting a photosensitive recording medium to color separation exposure of a mask original image created based on image information.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of image recording apparatus has been described in detail in the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 1-321229 filed by the present applicant, and has a configuration as shown in FIG. It has become. This apparatus is a combination of a monochrome laser printer 1 (hereinafter referred to as a printer) and a color image recording apparatus 20' (hereinafter referred to as a recording apparatus), and the printer 1 is stacked on top of the recording apparatus 20'. printer 1
A set of three sheets of paper output from the recording device 20'
It is used as a mask original plate 15. This mask original version 1
5 is an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) tray 12
from the mask original transport path 21 to the positioning device 31
sent to. An exposure device 41 is disposed below the alignment device 31 so as to be movable in the left and right directions along the alignment device 31. ) 42 and a filter unit 44.

On the other hand, capsule paper 5 as a photosensitive recording medium
0 is stored in the cartridge 51 so as not to be exposed to light, and passes from the cartridge 51 between the glass plate 34 of the alignment device 31 and the exposure table 52 to the buffer 55.
, a pressure developing device 70, a separating roller 64, and a driving roller 57 before reaching the winding roller 54. The capsule paper 50 is paired with a receiver 60, which is a recording medium, and is used as a photosensitive paper. A heat fixing device 80 is provided on the path of the receiver 60 after being separated by the separation roller 64.
, and a paper discharge tray 63 are arranged. The basic structure of the capsule paper 50 is, for example, as shown in JP-A No. 62-143044, the main material is a photocurable resin using a photopolymerization initiator, and the capsule paper 50 has red, green, Microcapsules containing a photocurable resin that hardens when exposed to light of each blue wavelength and cyan, magenta, and yellow dye precursors are coated on a base sheet. On the other hand, the receiver 60 is, for example,
As shown in Japanese Patent No. 88739, a color developer is coated on a base paper. Note that the rest of the configuration in FIG. 14 is the same as that of this embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted here.

0004

By the way, in an image recording apparatus having a structure in which only an exposure means is disposed before a pressure development means as described above, a latent image to be pressure developed is formed on a photosensitive recording medium. It was necessary to provide all the energy necessary for the exposure using an exposure means, which resulted in a complex and large-scale exposure means. The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and reduces the energy required to form a latent image on a photosensitive recording medium by an exposure means, and makes the exposure means simple and compact. The purpose is to make something happen.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a photosensitive recording medium, an exposure means for forming a latent image by color-separating exposure on the photosensitive recording medium based on image information, The apparatus includes a heating means for heat-processing the photosensitive recording medium on which a latent image has been formed by the exposure means, and a pressure developing means for visualizing the photosensitive recording medium heat-processed by the heating means.

[0006]

[Operation] In the above structure, a latent image is formed on the photosensitive recording medium by exposing the photosensitive recording medium to color separation light using the exposure means, such as a mask original image created based on image information. The photosensitive recording medium on which this latent image has been formed is heat-treated by a heating means, and the heat-treated photosensitive recording medium is pressure-developed by a pressure-developing means to be visualized.

[0007]

Embodiment A first embodiment embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. The same parts as in the above description are given the same reference numerals. This device includes a monochrome laser printer 1 (hereinafter referred to as printer) and a color image recording device 20.
(hereinafter referred to as a recording device), and the printer 1 is mounted on top of the recording device 20. In the printer 1, a polygon scanner 2 irradiates laser light onto a charged photoreceptor 3, thereby drawing an electrostatic latent image. The photoreceptor 3 on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed is developed by a developing device 4, and the toner image is transferred onto plain paper or an OHP sheet fed from a paper feed cassette 5, and fixed by a fixing device 6. usually,
Printer 1 records data transmitted from a host computer. If a black and white image is required, the output from the printer 1 is fed to a monochrome output tray 11 or an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) tray 12 if a black and white image is required at the paper path switching unit 10, and if a color image is required. In this case, the image is sent to the ADF tray 12 and then taken into the recording device 20. The paper sent to the ADF tray 12 is taken into the recording device 20 one by one by the ADF paper feed roller 13, and the three monochrome printed papers output from the printer 1 form a set and are fed into the recording device 20. These are used as mask original plates 15 (15R, 15G, 15B).

Next, the configuration of the recording device 20 will be explained. A positioning device 31 is provided at the bottom of the main body of the recording device 20, and the ADF tray 12 and the positioning device 31 are connected by a mask original transport path 21. On both the left and right sides of the positioning device 31 are roller pairs 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, gates 28, whose rotational direction can be controlled.
29 and a mask original storage section 17 are arranged. A pair of recurler rollers 16 is disposed in the middle of the mask original transport path 21 to remove curls from the mask original 15 discharged from the printer 1. A mask original discharge tray 18 for discharging the used mask original 15 is provided outside the roller pair 26, 27. Positioning device 31
, a sensor (not shown), a pair of rollers 32 and 33 placed near both left and right ends, and a glass plate 34 placed between them.
It is composed of etc. An exposure device 41 is arranged below the alignment device 31 and is movable in the left-right direction along the alignment device 31. This exposure device 41 has a linear white light source (
42 (hereinafter referred to as a lamp), a reflecting plate 43 that reflects light from the lamp 42, and a filter unit 44 including a red filter 44R, a green filter 44G, and a blue filter 44B.

The capsule paper 50 is housed in a cartridge 51 so as not to be exposed to light. The capsule paper 50 is
A heating device 90 , a movable buffer 55 , a pressure developing device 70 , a separating roller 64 , and a driving roller 57 are passed between the glass plate 34 and the exposure table 52 from inside the cartridge 51 .
It is routed through the winding roller 54 to the winding roller 54. The exposure table 52 is lowered by a cam 53 and has a function of bringing the mask original 15 conveyed onto the glass plate 34 and the capsule paper 50 into close contact. Further, the fixed roller 56 is pressed against the left end of the exposure table 52 when the exposure table 52 is lowered to a predetermined position, and the fixed roller 56 is pressed against the left end of the exposure table 52 to transfer the capsule paper 50 onto the mask original plate.
During the exposure step 5, the exposure table 52 is fixed to the exposure table 52.

The heating device 90 has a function of applying heat to the capsule paper 50 using a built-in heater 91. The capsule paper 50 is paired with a receiver 60, which is a recording medium, and is used as a photosensitive paper. The basic structure of the capsule paper 50 is that microcapsules containing heat-developable photosensitive elements that react to light of red, green, and blue wavelengths and harden when heated are coated on a base sheet. It is what was done. The heat-developable photosensitive element includes cyan, magenta, and yellow dye elements corresponding to each of the reaction lights. The dye elements may be dye precursors of the respective colors or pigments of the respective colors. In contrast, the receiver 60 has a structure in which a dye fixing element is coated on a base paper. When each dye element of the capsule paper 50 is a dye precursor of each color, the dye fixing element uses a color developer corresponding to the dye precursor,
When each pigment element of the capsule paper 50 is a pigment of a respective color, an absorbent suitable for the pigment is used. In addition,
As the heat-developable photosensitive element (thermally developable photosensitive material) and the dye-fixing element (image-receiving material), for example, U.S. Pat. No. 43992
No. 09, No. 4430415, No. 4483914, No. 4500626, No. 4503137, etc., or JP-A-59-154445, JP-A-5
9-165054, JP 59-180548, JP 59-218443, JP 60-120356
It is shown in the publication number etc.

The receiver 60 is set in a cassette 61 so that the surface coated with the dye fixing element faces downward. A suction cup 62 for feeding the receivers 60 one by one is arranged on the upper part of the cassette 61. Pressure developing device 70
consists of a capsule paper 50 on which a latent image has been formed by exposure, and a pair of pressure rollers 71 that overlap the receiver 60 and perform pressure development. The heat fixing device 80 includes a heater 8
1 and an impeller 82, rubber rollers 84, 85, 86 for conveying the receiver 60, and an endless belt 89 installed between rollers 87 and 88. A paper discharge tray 63 is attached to the outside of the device 80.

[0012] In the above configuration, the operation when a plurality of color images are obtained from one set of mask originals will be described next. First, the printer 1 creates a mask original plate 15R for red. This mask original plate 15R is made of capsule paper 50
In order to harden the microcapsules that have a cyan pigment element in the microcapsules that are coated on the surface of the mask, toner, which is a light-shielding image, is placed on the other parts of the mask original plate. Then, the mask original plate 15R outputted from the printer 1
is sent to the ADF tray 12 and fed to the ADF paper feed roller 13.
It is fed into the recording device 20 by. The fed mask original plate 15R passes through the mask original transport path 21 and passes through the roller pair 2.
4 and 22 to the alignment device 31. On the way, the curl of the mask master plate 15R is corrected by the curler roller pair 16. At this time, the gate 28 is at the position indicated by the solid line. The alignment device 31 transports the mask original 15R to a proper exposure position by a pair of rollers 32, and then moves the mask original 15R to a predetermined position using a drive source (not shown) while reading the alignment mark printed on the mask original 15R with a sensor. Align to position. Immediately before positioning, the exposure table 52 is lowered to a predetermined position by the cam 53, and the fixed roller 56 is pressed against the left end of the exposure table 52 to fix the capsule paper 50 to the exposure table 52. After the alignment is completed, the exposure table 52 is further lowered by the cam 53, contacts the glass plate 34 of the alignment device 31, and brings the mask original 15R and the capsule paper 50 into close contact.

When the exposure table 52 comes into close contact with the alignment device 31, the lamp 42 is turned on, the exposure device 41 scans in the direction of arrow A, and the light from the lamp 42 passes through the red filter 44R.
It becomes a red light through the light. The capsule paper 50 is exposed to the red light through the mask original plate 15R. When the exposure is completed, the lamp 42 is turned off and the exposure device 41 moves back in the direction of arrow B. At this time, the filter unit 44 of the exposure device 41 is moved by a drive source (not shown), and the green filter 44G is positioned above the lamp 42. While the exposure device 41 moves backward, the exposure table 52 is raised by the rotation of the cam 53, and the capsule paper 50 is separated from the alignment device 31 and the mask original 15R. The capsule paper 50 contains the capsule paper 5 in the cartridge 51.
Back tension is applied at the center of rotation of the roll 0, and when the exposure table 52 descends, a length corresponding to the amount of descent of the exposure table 52 is pulled out from the storage cartridge 51, and when the exposure is completed, the exposure table When the capsule paper 52 rises, the capsule paper 50 is rewound in a direction to take up the slack. Even after the exposure of the red mask master plate 15R is completed, the exposure table 52 only rises to a predetermined position, and the capsule paper 5
0 remains fixed to the exposure table 52 by a fixed roller 56 pressed against the left end of the exposure table 52.

Next, the green mask original 15G created by the printer 1 is placed in the ADF tray 12, the ADF
When the paper feed roller 13, recurler roller pair 16, and mask original transport path 21 reach just before the roller pair 24, the roller pairs 22, 24, 25, and 27, and the roller pairs 32 and 33 of the positioning device 31 move the mask original. The mask original 15R is rotated in a rightward conveying direction, and at the same time the mask original 15R is sent out from the alignment device 31, the mask original 15G is conveyed to the exposure position and stopped. At this time, gates 28 and 29
is located at the position indicated by the solid line, and the exposed mask original plate 15R is moved to the roller pair 2 with its rear end passing through the gate 29.
7 is stopped, and held on the mask original discharge tray 18 while being sandwiched between the pair of rollers 27. The mask original 15G guided to the alignment device 31 is the mask original 15R.
Similarly to the above case, after alignment with respect to the capsule paper 50 is performed, the exposure table 52 is lowered to bring it into close contact with the capsule paper 50. Thereafter, the lamp 42 is turned on and exposure to green light is performed via the green filter 44G. After the exposure is completed, the exposure table 52 is raised to a predetermined position. The exposure device 41 is moved back to the original position, and a blue filter 44B is placed above the lamp 42.
Move the filter unit 44 so that it is located.

Next, the blue mask original 15B produced by the printer 1 is similarly fed to the recording device 20, and while being conveyed just in front of the roller pairs 24, 22, 25, 26. The pair of rollers 32 and 33 of the alignment device 31 are rotated in a direction to convey the mask original 15G to the right, and the mask original 15G is sent out from the alignment device 31, and the mask original 15B is conveyed to the exposure position and stopped. . At this time, the gate 28 is located at the position shown by the solid line, and the gate 29 is located at the position shown by the broken line, and with the rear end of the exposed mask original 15G passing through the gate 29, the rotation of the roller pair 26 is stopped, and the rotation of the roller pair 26 is stopped. The mask original is held on the mask original discharge tray 18 while being sandwiched between the mask originals 26 and 26. The mask original 15B guided by the alignment device 31 is brought into close contact with the capsule paper 50 by a similar operation. The capsule paper 50 is exposed to blue light through the mask original plate 15B. By the above operations, a latent image of a desired color image is formed on the capsule paper 50.

Next, the exposure table 52 is raised to the initial position, the fixed roller 56 and the left end of the exposure table 52 are separated from each other, and the buffer 55 is moved in the direction of arrow C, thereby removing the unexposed portion of the capsule paper 50. The portion is pulled out from inside the cartridge 51 below the exposure table 52. Then, by lowering the exposure table 52 to a predetermined position again, the fixed roller 56 is pressed against the left end of the exposure table 52.
Capsule paper 50 is fixed to exposure table 52. At this time, the portion of the capsule paper 50 where the latent image is recorded is exactly facing the heating device 90, and the heating process is performed by energizing the heater 91 for a predetermined period of time necessary for the heating process. . Note that since all the microcapsules to be hardened by the heat treatment have been hardened, there is no problem even if the roller of the buffer 55 touches the surface of the microcapsules. Further, the temperature of the heat treatment is preset in the range of 100°C to 160°C, but there are differences in environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity inside and outside the main body of the recording device 20, and differences in the heat capacity of the capsule paper 50. The temperature of the heat treatment and the temperature of the heat treatment may vary depending on various conditions such as differences in the curing conditions due to variations in production lots of the capsule paper 50, differences in the density adjustment of the output image, and differences in the type of receiver 60. Control conditions such as time are always reset to optimal values and controlled. This has the advantage that optimal image quality can always be obtained.

After the predetermined time required for heat treatment has elapsed, the driving roller 57 transports the capsule paper 50 and stops when the leading edge of the latent image reaches the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70. . In addition, in synchronization with the movement of the capsule paper 50, the receiver 60 is sent out from the cassette 61 by the suction cup 62, and after the tip of the receiver 60 is conveyed to a position corresponding to the tip of the latent image on the capsule paper 50, it is stopped. I am made to do so. Next, the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70 is pressed against the roller 71 while being rotated in the direction of the arrow by a drive device (not shown). Capsule paper 50 is receiver 6
The uncured microcapsules on the capsule paper 50 are destroyed by the pressure, and a color image corresponding to the latent image on the capsule paper 50 is developed on the receiver 60. Ru. During pressure development, the capsule paper 50 is fed by rotating the pressure roller 71 of the pressure development device 70 in the direction of the arrow, and the buffer 55 is moved in the direction of the arrow D accordingly.

The capsule paper 50 after pressure development is sequentially wound up by a winding roller 54. Also, the receiver 60
is separated from the capsule paper 50 by the separation roller 64 and guided to the heat fixing device 80. Heat fixing device 8
At 0, the receiver 60 is heated by the heater 81 and the air circulated in the casing 83 by the impeller 82, and the low melting point resin components such as the binder polymer (binder resin) contained in the dye fixing element are heated. The surface of the receiver 60 is made smooth by being melted, and the surface of the receiver 60 has an appropriate level of gloss. At this time, if each dye element of the capsule paper 50 is a dye precursor of a respective color and the dye fixing element of the receiver 60 is a color developer corresponding to the dye precursor, the color image will be printed in the heat fixing device 80. It also promotes color development. In this way, the receiver 60 that has undergone the gloss treatment and/or the color development treatment is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 63. During the above-described series of heating, pressure development, and gloss processing, the capsule paper 50 is held and fixed by the exposure table 52 and the fixed roller 56, so that the latent image of the next color image is exposed at the exposed location. Can be done.

When exposing the second color image, first, the mask original 15B at the exposure position is sent out to the left, and the mask original 1 held at the position of the roller pair 27 is moved to the left.
A pair of rollers 2 is used to feed 5R to the alignment device 31.
4, 22, 25, 27 and the roller pair 32, 33 of the positioning device 31 rotate the mask original 15R so as to convey it to the left. At this time, the gates 28 and 29 are at the positions indicated by solid lines. The mask original 15B is held between the pair of rollers 24, and when its rear end passes through the gate 28, the rotation of the pair of rollers 24 is stopped, and the original mask 15B is held in the mask original transport path 21 while being held between the pair of rollers 24. The mask original 15R sent to the alignment device 31 is aligned and brought into close contact with the capsule paper 50. The capsule paper 50 is exposed to red light through the mask original plate 15R.

Next, the mask original 15R at the exposure position is sent to the left, and the mask original 15G held at the position of the roller pair 26 is sent to the alignment device 31 by the roller pairs 22, 23, 25, 26. The pair of rollers 32 and 33 of the alignment device 31 rotate the mask original 15G so as to convey it to the left. At this time, gate 28,2
9 is at the position of the broken line. Mask original plate 15R has 2 roller pairs.
The rotation of the pair of rollers 23 is stopped at a position where the rear end passes through the gate 28, and the pair of rollers 23 is held in the mask original storage section 17 while being sandwiched between the pair of rollers 24. The mask original 15G sent to the alignment device 31 is aligned and brought into close contact with the capsule paper 50. The capsule paper 50 is exposed to green light through the mask original 15G. Next, the mask original 15G at the exposure position is sent to the right, the mask original 15B held at the position of the roller pair 24 is sent to the alignment device 31, and by performing the same operation, the capsule paper 50 has two A latent image of the second color image is formed. Hereafter, as in the case of the first color image, a series of buffer movements, heating, pressure development,
By repeating the operations of and gloss processing, a color image is formed on the second receiver 60. Furthermore, by repeating the same operation, a predetermined number of color images can be output from one set of mask originals 15.

However, when forming the last color image on the receiver 60, the operations after the formation of the latent color image on the capsule paper 50 are different from those for the first sheet. A little different. That is, after the formation of the last latent color image on the capsule paper 50 is completed, the exposure table 52 is raised to the initial position, the fixed roller 56 and the left end of the exposure table 52 are separated, and buffer 55
by moving the capsule paper 5 in the direction of arrow C.
The unexposed area of 0 is located below the exposure table 52 in the cartridge 5.
drawn from within 1. Since this is the last sheet, the capsule paper 50 is not fixed to the exposure table 52 by lowering the exposure table 52 again. At this time, capsule paper 50
The portion where the latent image is recorded is exactly facing the heating device 90, and heat treatment is performed by energizing the heater 91. After a predetermined time required for the heat treatment has elapsed, the drive roller 57 transports the capsule paper 50 and stops when the leading edge of the latent image reaches the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70. In addition, in synchronization with the movement of the capsule paper 50, the receiver 60 is sent out from the cassette 61 by a suction cup 62, and after the tip of the receiver 60 is conveyed to a position corresponding to the tip of the latent image on the capsule paper 50, it is stopped. I am made to do so.

Next, the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70 is rotated in the direction of the arrow and pressed against the roller 71 by a drive device (not shown). The capsule paper 50 is sent while being pressurized while stacked on the receiver 60, and the capsule paper 50
The upper uncured microcapsules are destroyed by pressure, and a color image corresponding to the latent image on the capsule paper 50 is developed on the receiver 60. During pressure development, the buffer 55 is moved in the direction of arrow D by rotating the pressure roller 71 of the pressure development device 70 in the direction of the arrow. The capsule paper 50 after pressure development is sequentially wound up by a winding roller 54. Further, the receiver 60 is peeled off from the capsule paper 50 by the separation roller 64 and guided to the heat fixing device 80, where the gloss treatment is performed in the same way as in the case of the first color image. Receiver 6
A color image is formed on 0. Note that as the capsule paper 50 on the heating device 90 is conveyed by the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70, the buffer 55 moves in the direction of arrow D. is immediately separated from the heating device 90, so
It has the advantage that the heat treatment can also be stopped immediately. Also,
A feature is that the capsule paper 50 from the vicinity of the exposure table 52 is not inadvertently conveyed until the buffer 55 moves in the direction of arrow D and reaches the right end position indicated by the dotted line in the figure.

Furthermore, after the buffer 55 reaches the right end position shown by the dotted line in the figure, the path of the capsule paper 50 is such that it does not pass over the heating device 90, as shown by the dotted line in the figure. , the unexposed portion of the capsule paper 50 is not subjected to heat development. Therefore, in the development process for the last sheet, after the pressure development of the exposed portion is completed, the unexposed portion on the capsule paper 50 is reversely conveyed by a reverse conveyance mechanism (not shown) and returned onto the exposure table 52. By providing such a mechanism and operation, it is possible to eliminate the waste of heating the unexposed capsule paper 50 from the exposure section to the development section and ending its function as an image recording medium. The rewinding mechanism for the capsule paper 50 allows the pitch between images formed on the capsule paper 50 to be shortened, thereby reducing the cost of the image recording medium per image. Same mask original version 15
After obtaining the required number of color images, each mask original 15 is discharged from the roller pair 27 or the roller pair 26 to the mask original discharge tray 18.

Furthermore, if the next mask original 15 is output from the printer 1 while a series of color images are being exposed, it is stored in the ADF tray 12 and used for exposure of the previous set. After this is completed, the ADF paper feed roller 13 feeds the sheets one by one into the recording device 20. Further, when a mask original output from another monochrome laser printer or a previously used mask original is to be used again, the mask original can be input by setting it on the ADF tray 12. Further, when the buffer 55 is moved in the direction of arrow C after the formation of the color latent image on the capsule paper 50 is completed, the portion of the capsule paper 50 where the latent image is recorded is exactly exposed to the heating device 90. The heating treatment is performed when the capsule paper 50 is brought into contact with the heating device 90, but this is not necessarily the case. Even in this case, since the heating device 90 is placed on the surface of the capsule paper 50 on which the microcapsules are not coated, there is no fear that the microcapsules will be crushed, and the thermal efficiency is better when the heating device 90 is in contact with the microcapsules. is good, so we can expect good results.

Further, although the heat generation distribution of the heater 91 in the heating device 90 is set to be uniform, it is not necessarily limited to this, but rather the speed at which the buffer 55 moves away from the heating device 90 due to the backward movement of the buffer 55 is set to be uniform. differs depending on the location, so
By increasing the amount of heat generated on the left side in the figure of the heating device 90, which moves away quickly, it is possible to provide a more uniform amount of heat in the heat treatment. In addition, a heating device 90 and a heater 91
The arrangement is not necessarily limited to this arrangement; for example, it is also possible to heat the exposure table 52 by arranging a heater inside the exposure table 52 instead of the heating device 90 to perform the heat treatment from during to after the exposure. It will be done. At this time, the energization of the heater is further controlled in accordance with the exposure timing,
It is preferable not to apply electricity during exposure to red light or green light. Furthermore, if a lamp with a large amount of heat such as a halogen lamp is used as the lamp 42 of the exposure device 41, an infrared transmission filter or the like is used instead of removing the heat emitted from the exposure device 41 and heat rays such as far infrared rays. By effectively guiding the capsule paper 50 to the exposure table 52, the capsule paper 50 can be heated, and the burden of heat treatment can be reduced. In particular, it is effective to use heat emitted from the exposure device 41 during exposure to blue light after exposure to red light or green light, or heat rays such as far infrared rays.

Next, a second embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Monochrome laser printer section 1
01 is housed inside the main body of the color image recording device 120. In the printer section 101, a polygon scanner 102 irradiates laser light onto a charged transparent photoreceptor 103, thereby drawing an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image on the transparent photoreceptor 103 is developed by a developer 104 using toner 105 contained therein. The cleaner 106 scrapes off the toner 105 on the transparent photoreceptor 103 and sends the scraped toner 105 back to the developing device 104 through a toner transport path (not shown). Normally, the printer unit 101 records data transmitted from a host computer. This data is basically the original color data separated into the three primary colors of color or light, and is transmitted three times.

Exposure means 1 is provided below the printer section 101.
41 are arranged. This exposure means 141 includes a linear white light source (hereinafter referred to as a lamp) 142 and a lamp 14 provided inside the transparent photoreceptor 103 and illuminating the downward direction from there.
a reflective plate 143 that reflects light from 2, and a transparent photoreceptor 10;
A filter unit 144 consisting of a red filter 144R, a green filter 144G, and a blue filter 144B is arranged at the lower part of the filter unit 3, and the image on the transparent photoreceptor 103 arranged below is formed on the capsule paper 50. Optical system 145 such as a self-focusing rod lens array
It consists of The capsule paper 50 is stored in a cartridge 51 so as not to be exposed to light, and after being pulled out from the cartridge 51, it passes through the point where the optical system 145 forms an image, and is coated with a heating device 190 and a dye fixing element 166. Dye fixing element coating device 180, pressure developing device 70
, separation roller 64, and drive roller 157, and is routed to the winding roller 54.

The main body of the heating device 190 is disposed along the transport path of the capsule paper 50. Inside the heating device 190, a heater 191 made of a ceramic cylinder containing a coiled nichrome wire is provided as a heat generating member. The heater 191 emits light in a wavelength range of 5.6 to 1000 μm, which is usually called far infrared rays. A reflecting plate 192 is attached around the heater 191 so as to efficiently radiate far-infrared rays emitted from the heater 191 to the capsule paper 50. Heating device 190 with capsule paper 50 in between
A lower reflecting plate 193 is provided on the opposite side of the heating device 190 to prevent the far infrared rays from passing through the capsule paper 50 and escape, thereby efficiently reflecting the far infrared rays onto the capsule paper 50. configured to be transmitted. Further, a small window is opened in a part of the lower reflector 193, and a sensor 194 for detecting far infrared rays is provided below this window.

Capsule paper 50 is used as a photosensitive paper in combination with dye fixing element 166 and receiver 160. The basic structure of the capsule paper 50 is the same as that of the first embodiment, in which microcapsules containing a heat-developable photosensitive element (thermally developable photosensitive material) containing a dye element are coated on a base sheet. . In contrast, the dye fixing element 166 (
When each dye element of the capsule paper 50 is a dye precursor of a respective color, a color developer corresponding to the dye precursor is used to make each dye element of the capsule paper 50 a dye precursor of each color. If the pigment is a pigment, use an absorbent suitable for the pigment. The heat-developable photosensitive element and the dye fixing element 166 in the second embodiment are the same as the heat-developable photosensitive element and the dye-fixing element in the first embodiment, respectively. On the other hand, the receiver 160 uses uncoated plain paper, an OHP sheet, etc., and the cassette 61
is set inside. If a glued sheet with an adhesive surface on one side is used for the receiver 160 instead of plain paper, it is possible to easily create a sticker. At the top of the cassette 61,
A suction cup 62 is arranged to feed the receivers 160 one by one. The pressure development device 70 is composed of a capsule paper 50 on which a latent image is formed by exposure and heat treatment and coated with a dye fixing element 166, and a pair of pressure rollers 71 that overlap the receiver 160 and perform pressure development. . A separation roller 64 is provided downstream of the pressure roller 71, and further downstream of the separation roller 64, a pair of rollers 165 for conveying the receiver 160 and a paper discharge tray 63 are provided.

The operation of obtaining a plurality of color images in the above configuration will now be described. When one of the image data separated into three colors is transmitted from the host computer, the printer section 101 first creates a red toner image R on the rotating transparent photoreceptor 103. This data will be needed again later when obtaining the same color image, so by arranging a storage element inside the printer unit 101 and storing the transmitted data in this storage element, The time required for transmission etc. can be saved. This toner image R is a light-shielding image in which toner is placed on other parts of the microcapsules coated on the capsule paper 50 in order to harden the microcapsules having cyan pigment elements. Then, when the lamp 142 is turned on, the red toner image R created on the transparent photoreceptor 103 is converted into a red light image by the rotation of the drive roller 157 through the red filter 144R.
The capsule paper 50 being fed in this direction is exposed to light. The toner image R on the transparent photoreceptor 103 after exposure is
The toner 10 is sequentially scraped off by the cleaner 106 and is also scraped off by a toner transport path (not shown).
5 is sent back to the developing device 104.

When the exposure is completed, the lamp 142 is turned off, the drive roller 157 is stopped, the drive roller 157 is precisely reversed, and at the same time, the core of the cartridge 51 is rotated counterclockwise by a drive source (not shown). By transmitting the driving force, the capsule paper 50 moves in the direction of arrow F.
direction, exactly to the position before the red light exposure took place. During this time, the filter unit 144 of the exposure means 141 is moved by a drive source (not shown), and the green filter 144 is placed below the lamp 142.
44G is located. Subsequently, the printer unit 101
A green toner image G is created on the rotating transparent photoreceptor 103. The created green toner image G is sent in the direction of the arrow E by the drive roller 157 as a green light image through the green filter 144G when the lamp 142 is turned on, as in the case of the toner image R. The capsule paper 50 is exposed to light. The toner image G on the transparent photoreceptor 103 that has been exposed to light is also sequentially scraped off by the cleaner 106 and removed by the developing device 10.
4 will be sent back.

When the exposure is completed, the lamp 142 is turned off, the drive roller 157 is stopped, and the drive roller 157 is precisely reversed, and at the same time, the core of the cartridge 51 is rotated counterclockwise by a drive source (not shown). The driving force is transmitted and rewinding is performed accurately. During this time, the filter unit 144 of the exposure means 141 is moved by a drive source (not shown), and the blue filter 144B is positioned below the lamp 142. Subsequently, the printer unit 101 creates a blue toner image B on the rotating transparent photoreceptor 103. Similarly to the case of toner image R, the created blue toner image B has the lamp 142 turned on and the blue filter 144B.
As an image of blue light, the drive roller 15
7, the capsule paper 50 being fed in the direction of arrow E is exposed. The toner image B on the transparent photoreceptor 103 that has been exposed to light is also sequentially scraped off by the cleaner 106 and sent back to the developing device 104.

While the above exposure for blue is being performed, the heater 191 of the heating device 190 is energized to apply heat to the capsule paper 50 that has been exposed three times, and the heating process is also performed in parallel. It will be done as follows. In addition, capsule paper 5
The microcapsules coated on the substrate 0 react to three colors of light in the visible light region of red, green, and blue, and contain a heat-developable photosensitive element that is cured by heating, so that the microcapsules are emitted from the heater 191. There is no unnecessary exposure to far-infrared light. The temperature of the heat treatment is preset in the range of 100°C to 160°C, and while the sensor 194 detects far infrared rays, the heater 1
91 is controlled by a control circuit (not shown). At this time, differences in environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity inside and outside the main body of the image recording device 120, differences in heat capacity of the capsule paper 50, differences in curing conditions due to variations in production lots of the capsule paper 50, etc., and differences in the output image Differences in concentration adjustment and receiver 16
The temperature of the heat treatment is reset and controlled to the optimum value depending on various conditions such as the difference in the type of 0 and the difference in the transport speed of the capsule paper 50. This has the advantage that good image quality can always be obtained.

Furthermore, a dye fixing element 166 in powder form is applied to the entire capsule side of the heat-treated capsule paper 50 by a dye fixing element coating device 180. This dye fixing element application device 180 is located downstream of the heating device 190 and is used after the capsule paper 50 has been heat-treated, so it does not apply the dye fixing element 166 to the capsule surface side or nip it with rollers. There is no problem even if there is. When the exposure is completed, the lamp 142 is turned off. Further, when the heating treatment of the exposed portion of the capsule paper 50 is completed, the heater 191 is turned off, and the capsule paper 50 is no longer heated by the heater 191. Since the heating device 190 uses a heater 191 that emits far infrared rays, the capsule paper 50 is not exposed to light emitted from the heater 191, and the capsule paper 50 is not heated to turn on/off the heater 191. The microcapsules applied to the capsule paper 50 do not harden and are kept in an unused state except for the portions of the capsule paper 50.

At the same time as the heat treatment is completed, the exposure means 1
41 filter units 144 are instantly moved by a drive source (not shown), and a red filter 144R is located below the lamp 142. Even after the heat treatment is completed, the drive roller 157 does not stop, and the capsule paper 50 continues to be transported and sent to the next pressure developing device 70. On the other hand, the receiver 160 synchronizes with the movement of the capsule paper 50 in advance.
The capsule paper 50 is fed out from the cassette 61 by the suction cup 62, and when the leading edge of the latent image on the capsule paper 50 just reaches the pressure developing device 70, the leading edge of the receiver 160 is also conveyed to the corresponding position. A pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70 is pressed against the roller 71 while being rotated in the direction of the arrow by a drive device (not shown). The capsule paper 50 is the receiver 16
The uncured microcapsules on the capsule paper 50 are destroyed by the pressure, and a color image corresponding to the latent image on the capsule paper 50 is placed on the dye fixing element 166. Developed and at the same time dye fixing element 1
66 is transferred onto the receiver 160. The receiver 160 that has undergone the pressure development process is separated by the separation roller 64.
While being peeled off from the capsule paper 50, the roller pair 16
5 and the paper discharge tray 63.

During the above-mentioned development process, the red toner image R of the second color image is
It is possible to perform exposure processing of a latent image by. That is,
A red toner image R is created by the printer unit 101 on the rotating transparent photoreceptor 103, and when the lamp 142 is lit, it is applied to the pressure developing device 70 as a red light image through the red filter 144R. The capsule paper 50 being fed in the direction of arrow E by the rotation of the roller 71 is exposed. When the exposure is completed, the lamp 142 is turned off, the pressure roller 71 and the drive roller 157 are stopped, and the drive roller 157 is precisely reversed.
At the same time, the capsule paper 50 is accurately rewound in the direction of arrow F by the driving force applied counterclockwise to the core of the cartridge 51 to the position just before exposure to red light is performed. During this time, the filter unit 144 of the exposure means 141 is moved by a drive source (not shown),
A green filter 144G is located below the lamp 142. Subsequently, the printer unit 101 creates a green toner image G on the rotating transparent photoreceptor 103, and thereafter, the toner image G and toner image B are exposed to light in the same manner as in the case of the first image. As a result, a color latent image is formed on the capsule paper 50.

Thereafter, as in the case of the first color image, a dye fixing element 166 in powder form is applied to the entire surface of the capsule side of the heated capsule paper 50 by the dye fixing element coating device 180. Further, the capsule paper 50 is sent to a pressure developing section and the developing operation is continued, whereby a color image is formed on the second receiver 160. Furthermore, by repeating the same actions,
A predetermined number of color images can be output. After the pressure development is completed, the undeveloped portion of the capsule paper 50 is rewound to the position of the exposed area, so that it can be prepared for the next exposure, and the capsule paper 50 can be used without waste. Further, in this second embodiment, the toner 105 developed as a toner image by the developing device 104 on the transparent photoreceptor 103 in the printer section 101 is scraped off by the cleaner 106, and transferred to the developing device by a toner conveyance path (not shown). 104. This configuration has the advantage that the amount of toner 105 that is lost is small, and the maintainability of printer unit 101 is improved.

In the second embodiment, the heat fixing device is omitted, but this is not necessarily the case. Similar to the first embodiment, the heat fixing device is installed after the pressure developing device 70 by the pair of rollers 165. It may also be placed between the two and subjected to gloss treatment. Further, in the second embodiment, the suction cup 62 is used to feed the receivers 160 one by one, but the invention is not limited to this. That is, as in the first embodiment, plain paper or OHP
In the case of the receiver 60 in which a color developer or absorbent is coated on paper such as a sheet, the suction cup 62 is preferable because it has the feature that the coated color developer or absorbent is difficult to peel off.
In the case of the second embodiment and also in the case of the first embodiment, pigments are used in the dye elements of the capsule paper 50, and plain paper or OHP sheets, etc., in which the application of an absorbent to the receiver 60 is omitted, are used.
When using a single piece of paper that is easy to handle, it is not necessary to use the suction cup 62 to feed the paper; instead, a separation rubber roller system, which is generally used to feed paper, can be used. You can.

Next, the dye fixing element coating device 180 will be explained with reference to FIG. First, the configuration of the dye fixing element coating device 180 will be explained. The dye fixing element coating device 180 includes a carrier roller 181 and a carrier roller 1.
81 and the electrode roller 1 arranged at a predetermined distance d.
82 is provided. The powder case 183 is arranged so that a portion of the carrier roller 181 faces inside the case. The carrier roller 181 is grounded, and the electrode roller 182
is connected to a DC power source 184, thereby creating an electric field between both rollers 181 and 182. Further, the application area 18 where the carrying roller 181 and the electrode roller 182 face each other
A rotatable supply roller 186 is located upstream from position 5 in the rotational direction of the carrier roller 181.
It is provided so as to be in pressure contact with the circumferential surface of. A plate-shaped blade 187 is attached between the supply roller 186 and the application area 185 with a predetermined gap from the circumferential surface of the carrier roller 181. This blade 187 regulates the amount of dye fixing element 166 carried on carrying roller 181 . A granular dye fixing element 166 is stored inside the powder case 183, and an agitator 188 for stirring the dye fixing element 166 is rotatably provided. This agitator 188 is rotated by a drive device (not shown).

The operation of the dye fixing element coating device 180 having the above configuration will be explained below. When the recording operation by the main body of the color image recording apparatus 120 starts, the dye fixing element 166 is agitated and charged by the agitator 188, and the dye fixing element 166 is charged by the agitator 188.
86 to the carrier roller 181, and the blade 18
7 regulates the amount supported. This charged dye fixing element 166 is conveyed to a coating area 185 while being attached to a carrier roller 181. The latent image on the capsule paper 50 that has been heat-developed in the heating device 190 is sent to the dye-fixing element coating device 180. An electric field suitable for the polarity of the charged dye fixing element 166 is applied between the rollers 181 and 182 by a DC power source 184, and the electrostatic force generated by this electric field causes the charged dye fixing element 166 to be separated from the carrier roller 181 into the capsule. Flying towards paper 50,
The capsule paper 50 is electrostatically coated with a dye fixing element 166 in layers. Capsule paper 5 coated with dye fixing element 166
0 is then superimposed on the receiver 160 and sent to the pressurizing device 70.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments detailed above, and various changes can be made without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the dye fixing element coating device 180 and the heating device 1 in the second embodiment described above
90 does not necessarily have to be separated, the capsule paper 5
When the distance between the exposure position 0 and the dye fixing element coating device is sufficiently far, and the distance is enough for one image, a dye fixing element coating device 195 shown in FIG. 4 is used as a third embodiment that serves both. It may be. This dye fixing element coating device 1
The configuration of 95 is the same as that of the dye fixing element coating device 180 in the second embodiment, so the same parts as described above are given the same reference numerals and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. The difference is that the electrode roller 196 is a hollow pipe and a halogen heater 197 is installed inside.
A temperature sensor 198 for temperature control is slidably provided on the surface of the holder.

The operation of the dye fixing element coating device 195 having the above configuration includes the operation of the heating treatment by the heating device 190 in the second embodiment, and the operation of the dye fixing element coating device 180 in which the dye fixing element 166 is statically applied to the capsule paper 50. The operation is similar to that of electrocoating. However, in this embodiment, the dye fixing element coating device 195 controls the surface temperature of the electrode roller 196 by energizing the halogen heater 197 in parallel with the operation of electrostatically coating the dye fixing element 166 onto the capsule paper 50. The capsule paper 50 in contact with the electrode roller 196 is heated from the back side by heating the capsule paper 50 in contact with the electrode roller 196 by controlling the temperature to a specified temperature using the temperature sensor 198. In this way, in this embodiment, since the heating treatment can be performed simultaneously with the electrostatic coating operation of the dye fixing element 166, the heating device 190 in the second embodiment is unnecessary, and an inexpensive and compact device can be constructed. It has its features. In the second and third embodiments, the pigment fixing element 166 is coated on the capsule paper 50, but it may be coated on the receiver 160 as well. Further, in the second and third embodiments, the dye fixing element 166 is coated on the entire surface of the capsule paper 50, but it is also possible to selectively coat only the necessary parts.

In place of the heating device 190 in the second embodiment, an image recording device 209 shown in FIG. 5 is used as a fourth embodiment.
The heating device 200 may be the same. The configuration of the fourth embodiment will be described below, but the configuration other than the heating device 200 will be
Since it is the same as the image recording device 120 in the embodiment, the same parts as in the second embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. The heating device 200 is disposed along the conveyance path of the capsule paper 50. A heater 202 made of a halogen lamp as a heat generating member is provided inside the heat roller 201, and a temperature sensor 203 is provided on the surface of the heat roller 201. is slidably disposed, and the temperature of the heater 202 is controlled by a control circuit (not shown). Further, on the opposite side of the heat roller 201 with respect to the capsule paper 50,
A pressure roller 204 is provided to sandwich the capsule paper 50, and is pressed against the heat roller 201 with a predetermined pressure so that the heat from the heat roller 201 is efficiently transferred to the capsule paper 50. There is. Furthermore, the heat roller 201 and the pressure roller 204 are configured so that the pressure contact can be released, and the heat roller 201 is separated from the capsule paper 50 as shown by the dotted line in the figure from the first position where the capsule paper 50 is heated. It is configured to be movable to a second position. At the first position, the heat roller 201 can heat-process the capsule paper 50, and at the second position, the heat roller 201 is located away from the capsule paper 50 and therefore does not perform heat treatment.

The operation of the image recording device 209 having the above configuration is as follows.
The operation of the heating device 200 will be mainly explained. First, the heat roller 201 is in a second position shown by the dotted line in the figure, away from the capsule paper 50, and its surface temperature is measured by the temperature sensor 203.
10 by detecting and controlling the heater 202.
The temperature is controlled to a predetermined temperature in the range of 0 to 160°C. In this state, the following operation is the same as that in the second embodiment, so the explanation will be simplified. However, a toner image for red is created on the transparent photoreceptor 103 by the printer section 101, and the toner image is Capsule paper 50 being fed in the E direction
is exposed to red light by lamp 142. When the exposure is completed, the capsule paper 50 is rewound in the direction of arrow F to the position before exposure. Furthermore, the capsule paper 50 is exposed to green light in exactly the same way as the exposure to red light. Here, if the capsule paper 50 is heated while being exposed to red light or green light, curing of the microcapsules will start, but the heat roller 201 is Since the microcapsules are located at the second position indicated by the dotted line in the figure, which is physically separated from the capsule paper 50, the microcapsules are not inadvertently heated and hardened, and exposure is performed satisfactorily.

Furthermore, in the exposure section, exposure processing using blue light is started for the capsule paper 50 in the same way as in the case of exposure using red light, but at the same time, the heat roller 201
is the first material that can be heat-treated for the capsule paper 50.
be moved to the position of Then, the capsule paper 50 is exposed to blue light in the exposure section, and at the same time, the capsule paper 50 is heated by the heat roller 201 sequentially from the exposed portion. When the heating treatment of the exposed portion of the capsule paper 50 is completed, the heat roller 201 is moved again to the first position.
The capsule paper 50 is moved from the position to the second position shown by the dotted line in the figure, and the capsule paper 50 is no longer heated by the heat roller 201.

In the case of this fourth embodiment, since the heating device 200 has a pressure release mechanism for the heat roller 201, the microcapsules applied to the capsule paper 50 are not hardened except for the portion heated by the heat roller 201. It has the feature of not having any Further, since the heat roller 201 and the pressure roller 204 are provided so as to sandwich the capsule paper 50, the heat roller 201 has a feature that the heat from the heat roller 201 is efficiently transmitted to the capsule paper 50. However, in cases where the surface coated with microcapsules cannot be touched during heat treatment due to reasons such as setting the strength of the microcapsules used in the capsule paper 50, a configuration without the pressure roller 204 may be used. Hereinafter, the explanation will be simplified since it is the same as in the case of the second embodiment, but the dye fixing element 166 in powder form is applied to the entire surface of the capsule surface side of the capsule paper 50 after the heat treatment by the dye fixing element coating device 180. The capsule paper 50 is further sent to the pressure developing section and the developing operation is continued.
A color image is formed thereon. Then, after the pressure development is completed, the undeveloped portion of the capsule paper 50 is rewound to the position of the exposed portion, so that it can be prepared for the next exposure, and the capsule paper 50 can be used without wasting it.

The heating device 190 in the second embodiment includes:
A heating device 210 of an image recording device 219 shown in FIG. 6 may be used as a fifth embodiment. Below, the image recording device 21
The configuration of 9 will be explained, but the configuration other than the heating device 210 is as follows.
Since it is the same as the image recording device 120 in the second embodiment, the same parts as in the second embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. The heating device 210 is a capsule paper 50
A heater 211 made of a ceramic cylinder containing a coiled nichrome wire as a heat generating member is provided inside the heater 211 along the conveyance path. Heater 2
11 emits light with a wavelength in the range of 5.6 to 1000 μm, which is usually called far infrared rays. A reflector plate 212 is attached around the heater 211 to efficiently radiate far-infrared rays to the capsule paper 50. A shutter 213 for blocking far infrared rays is provided between the heater 211 and the capsule paper 50 below the heater 211, and irradiation of the far infrared rays to the capsule paper 50 can be controlled by opening and closing the shutter 213. Heating device 210 for capsule paper 50
On the opposite side, there is a lower reflector 2 with the capsule paper 50 in between.
14 is provided to reflect the far infrared rays so that they do not pass through the capsule paper 50 and escape, so that the far infrared rays are efficiently transmitted to the capsule paper 50. Lower reflector 2
A small window is opened in a part of 14, and a sensor 215 for detecting far infrared rays is provided below this window.

The operation of the image recording device 219 having the above configuration is as follows.
The operation of the heating device 210 will be mainly explained. First, the shutter 213 is closed as shown by the dotted line in the figure. Since the heater 211 does not have a characteristic of rising to a predetermined temperature instantaneously after being energized, it is preheated. The heater 211 is controlled by a control circuit (not shown) by detecting far infrared rays with a sensor 215 so that the temperature on the transport surface of the capsule paper 50 reaches a predetermined temperature in the range of 100 to 160°C. Ru. The operation from this state is the same as that in the second embodiment, so the explanation will be simplified. However, a toner image for red is created on the transparent photoreceptor 103 by the printer section 101, and the toner image is The capsule paper 50 being fed in the direction is exposed to red light by the lamp 142. When the exposure is completed, the capsule paper 50 is rewound in the direction of arrow F to the position before exposure. Furthermore, the capsule paper 50 is exposed to green light in exactly the same way as the exposure to red light. Here, if the capsule paper 50 is heat-treated during preheating or when exposed to red light or green light, curing of the microcapsules will start; During exposure operation with green light, the shutter 213
is closed as shown by the dotted line in the figure, so heater 2
Since the far infrared rays emitted from the microcapsules 11 are physically isolated from the capsule paper 50, the microcapsules are not inadvertently heated and hardened, and exposure is performed satisfactorily.

Furthermore, in the exposure section, the capsule paper 50 is started to be exposed to blue light in the same way as in the case of exposure to red light, but at the same time, the heater 211 is fully energized and the shutter 213 is opened. . Then,
The capsule paper 50 is exposed to blue light in the exposure section and at the same time is heated by far infrared rays emitted from the heater 211 from the exposed portion. When the heating process for the exposed portion of the capsule paper 50 is completed, the heater 211 is turned off, but the heater 211 does not cool down immediately and residual heat remains for a while, so the shutter 213 is turned off again as indicated by the dotted line in the figure. It is closed as shown, and the capsule paper 50 is no longer heated by the heater 211. The microcapsules coated on the capsule paper 50 contain a heat-developable photosensitive element that reacts to three colors of light in the visible light region of red, green, and blue, and hardens when heated. In the case of this example, since the heating device 210 uses a heater 211 that emits far infrared rays, it has a feature that the capsule paper 50 is not exposed to light emitted from the heater 211.

Furthermore, in the case of the fifth embodiment, since the heating device 210 has a shutter 213 between the heater 211 and the capsule paper 50 for blocking far infrared rays, the coating is not applied to the capsule paper 50 except for the heated portion. It has the feature that the microcapsules do not harden and are kept in an unused state. The following explanation will be simplified since it is the same as in the case of the second embodiment, but a powdered dye fixing element 166 is applied by a dye fixing element coating device 180 to the capsule surface side of the capsule paper 50 that has been heated. After being coated on the entire surface, the capsule paper 50 is sent to a pressure developing section and the developing operation is continued, thereby forming a color image on the receiver 160. After the pressure development is completed, the undeveloped portion of the capsule paper 50 is rewound to the position of the exposed portion, so that it can be prepared for the next exposure, and the capsule paper 50 can be used without waste.

The heating device 190 in the second embodiment may be the heating device 220 of the image recording device 229 shown in FIG. 7 as the sixth embodiment. The configuration of the image recording device 229 according to the sixth embodiment will be explained below.
The configuration other than 20 is the image recording apparatus 1 in the second embodiment.
20, the same parts as in the second embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. Heating device 220
are arranged along the transport path of the capsule paper 50. A heater 222 made of a halogen lamp as a heat generating member is provided inside the heat roller 221. The capsule paper 50 is routed so as to be wound around the outer periphery of the heat roller 221, and the contact area between the heat roller 221 and the capsule paper 50 is set to be long so that a sufficient heating time can be maintained. The heat roller 221 is a heating unit 223 that transfers the heat of the heater 222 to the capsule paper 50.
It is composed of two parts: a heat insulating part 224 that blocks heat, and is rotatably held by a drive source (not shown).

[0052] The heat roller 221 is composed of a double cylinder: an outer cylinder that comes into direct contact with the capsule paper 50, and an inner cylinder that is provided inside the outer cylinder. The heating part 223 and the heat insulating part 224 of the outer cylinder are constructed of separate members having different heat transfer coefficients, and the surface of the outer cylinder is coated with a material with good sliding properties. A window with a length corresponding to the heating section 223 is provided in a part of the inner cylinder, and heat is transmitted to the heating section 223 of the outer cylinder through this window. A heat insulating material such as glass wool is filled between the closed part of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder to prevent heat transfer. Also, the capsule paper 50 is placed outside the heat roller 221.
A temperature sensor (not shown) is brought into contact with a slightly shifted position on the axis of the heat roller 221 near where the ends touch.

The operation of the image recording device 229 having the above configuration is as follows.
The operation of the heating device 220 will be mainly explained. The heating section 223 of the heat roller 221 has a surface temperature of 100 to 160°C.
The heater 222 is controlled by a temperature sensor and a control circuit (not shown) so that the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature within the range of
No. 4 is kept below the temperature at which the microcapsules begin to harden. The processing performed on the capsule paper 50 is carried out by the heating device 2.
The image recording device 120 of the second embodiment except for the processing at 20
Since it is the same as that, a brief explanation will be provided here. A red toner image is transferred to the transparent photoreceptor 10 by the printer unit 101.
3, and the toner image is exposed to red light by lamp 142 onto capsule paper 50, which is fed in the direction of arrow E. When the exposure is completed, the capsule paper 50 is rewound in the direction of arrow F to the position before exposure. Next, the capsule paper 50 is exposed to green light in the same way as the exposure to red light. Here, when the capsule paper 5 is exposed to red light or green light,
When 0 is heat-treated, the microcapsules start to harden, but the heat roller 221 does not close to the heat insulating section 2 of the heat roller 221 during the exposure operation with red light or green light.
Since the microcapsules 24 are rotated to a position where they come into contact with the capsule paper 50, the microcapsules are not inadvertently heated and hardened, and exposure is performed satisfactorily.

Next, the exposure section starts exposing the capsule paper 50 to blue light in the same way as in the case of exposure to red light, but at the same time, the heat roller 221 heats the capsule paper 50. The heating portion 223 of the heat roller 221 is rotated to a position where it contacts the capsule paper 50 side. The capsule paper 50 is heated by the heat roller 221 in order from the portion where the exposure to blue light has been completed in the exposure section. When the heat treatment of the exposed portion of the capsule paper 50 is completed, the heat roller 221 is rotated again to a position where the heat insulating part 224 of the heat roller 221 contacts the capsule paper 50 side, and the capsule paper 50 No longer receives heat from 221.

In the case of the sixth embodiment, in the heating device 220, the outer cylinder of the heat roller 221 has a heating section 223 and a heat insulating section 224.
Since the capsule paper 50 has a two-part structure and the rotation is controlled at a predetermined timing, only the necessary portion of the capsule paper 50 can be heated. Therefore, it has the advantage that the microcapsules applied to the capsule paper 50 do not harden except in the heated portion. Furthermore, since the heat roller 221 is arranged so as to have a long contact area with respect to the conveyance path of the capsule paper 50, it has the advantage that a sufficient heating time can be taken. Hereinafter, the explanation will be simplified since it is the same as in the case of the second embodiment.
Powdered dye fixing element 166 is applied to the entire surface of the capsule side of the capsule paper 50 that has been heat-treated by the dye fixing element coating device 180, and the capsule paper 50 is further sent to the pressure developing section to continue the developing operation. By being
A color image is formed on receiver 160. After the pressure development is completed, the undeveloped portion of the capsule paper 50 is rewound to the position of the exposed portion, so that it can be prepared for the next exposure, and the capsule paper 50 can be used without waste.

The heating device 190 in the second embodiment may be the heating device 230 of the image recording device 239 shown in FIG. 8 as the seventh embodiment. The configuration according to the seventh embodiment will be described below. Since the configuration other than the heating device 230 is the same as that of the second embodiment, the same parts as in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the detailed explanation will be given below. Omitted. Heating device 230
are arranged along the transport path of the capsule paper 50. The heating belt 231 is installed between a heat roller 232 and a tension roller 233 and is configured to revolve around both rollers 232 and 233. heat roller 2
A heater 234 made of a halogen lamp as a heat generating member is provided inside the heater 32 . A release roller 235 is provided on the downstream side of the heating device 230, and moves the capsule paper 50 to the position indicated by the dotted line in the figure in order to separate the capsule paper 50 from the heating belt 231 and prevent heat from the heat roller 232 from being transmitted to the capsule paper 50. can do. Further, a temperature sensor 236 is slidably in contact with a portion of the surface of the heat roller 232 that is not touched by the heating belt 231 on the inside of the heating belt 231.
It is arranged so that the surface temperature of 32 can be detected.

The operation of the image recording device 239 having the above configuration is as follows.
The operation of the heating device 230 will be mainly explained. First, the capsule paper 50 is moved away from the heating belt 231 as shown by the dotted line in the figure by lowering the release roller 235. The heat roller 232 has a surface temperature of 1
A temperature sensor 236 detects the surface temperature, and the heater 234 is controlled by a control circuit (not shown) so that the temperature is a predetermined temperature in the range of 00 to 160°C. The operation from this state is the same as that in the second embodiment, so the explanation will be simplified. However, the printer section 101 creates a red toner image on the transparent photoreceptor 103, and the toner image is shown at the arrow E.
The lamp 14 for the capsule paper 50 being sent in the direction
2 to be exposed to red light. When the exposure is completed, the capsule paper 50 is rewound in the direction of arrow F to the position before exposure. Furthermore, the capsule paper 50 is exposed to green light in exactly the same way as the exposure to red light. Here, if the capsule paper 50 is heated while being exposed to red light or green light, curing of the microcapsules will start, but during the exposure operation with red light or green light, the capsule paper 50 When the release roller 235 is lowered, it is physically separated from the heating belt 231 as shown by the dotted line in the figure, so that the microcapsules are not inadvertently heated and hardened. Exposure is performed well.

Furthermore, in the exposure section, exposure processing using blue light is started for the capsule paper 50 in the same way as in the case of exposure using red light, but at the same time, the release roller 23
5 is moved upward to a position where it contacts the heating belt 231 so that the capsule paper 50 can undergo heat treatment. The capsule paper 50 is exposed to blue light in the exposure section, and at the same time, the heating belt 231 heats the capsule paper 50 starting from the exposed portion. When the heating treatment of the exposed portion of the capsule paper 50 is completed, the release roller 235 is lowered again to move the capsule paper 50 away from the heating belt 231 as indicated by the dotted line in the figure, and the capsule paper 50 is is no longer heated by the heat roller 232.

In the case of the seventh embodiment, the heating device 230 is of a belt heating type and has the advantage that the heating time for the capsule paper 50 can be taken for a long time. Furthermore, since it has the release roller 235 and a mechanism for moving the release roller 235, it has the advantage that the microcapsules applied to the capsule paper 50 are not hardened except in the heated portion. Hereinafter, the explanation will be simplified since it is the same as in the case of the second embodiment, but the capsule paper 50 that has been subjected to heat treatment will be described below.
Powdered dye fixing element 166 is applied to the entire surface of the capsule side by dye fixing element coating device 180, and the capsule paper 50 is further sent to the pressure developing section and the developing operation is continued to coat the receiver 160 with color. An image is formed. After the pressure development is completed, the undeveloped portion of the capsule paper 50 is rewound to the position of the exposed portion, so that it can be prepared for the next exposure, and the capsule paper 50 can be used without waste.

The heating device 190 in the second embodiment may be the heating device 240 of the image recording device 249 shown in FIG. 9 as the eighth embodiment. The configuration of the eighth embodiment will be described below. Since the configuration other than the heating device 240 is the same as that of the second embodiment, the same parts as in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be given below. Omitted. The heating device 240 is arranged along the conveyance path of the capsule paper 50. A heater 242 made of a halogen lamp as a heat generating member is provided inside the heat roller 241. The entire surface of the heat roller 241 is covered with short hairs. Two guide rollers 243 are provided on the outside of the heat roller 241 to guide and convey the capsule paper 50. It is arranged so that it can be wrapped around almost the entire circumference. The heat roller 241 and the guide roller 243 are separated by a distance approximately corresponding to the height of the flocking, and the heat roller 241 and the capsule paper 50 are heated by the heat roller 241 while floating by the height of the flocking without directly contacting each other. Ru.

The two guide rollers 243 are attached to the capsule paper guide 244, and the two guide rollers 243 are attached to the capsule paper guide 244, and with the fulcrum as the center of rotation, the first guide roller 243 is located away from the capsule paper 50 as indicated by the dotted line in the figure.
It is configured to be able to reciprocate from the position indicated by a solid line in the figure to a second position where the capsule paper 50 is wound around the heat roller 241. In synchronization with this, the heat roller 241 also moves from a first position away from the capsule paper 50, indicated by a dotted line in the figure, to a second position where the capsule paper 50 is wound, indicated by a solid line in the figure. In the second position, the heat roller 241 can heat-process the capsule paper 50, but in the first position, the heat roller 241 is located away from the capsule paper 50, and therefore does not heat-process the capsule paper 50. Also, the heat roller 241 is
A temperature sensor (not shown) is in contact with a portion on the 41 axis that the capsule paper 50 does not contact.

The operation of the image recording device 249 having the above configuration is as follows.
The operation of the heating device 240 will be mainly explained. First, before the capsule paper 50 is loaded into the device, the guide roller 243
The capsule paper guide 244 and the heat roller 241 are in the first position shown by the dotted line in the figure, and when the capsule paper 50 is loaded into the device, the leading end of the capsule paper 50 is wound around the winding shaft by a predetermined amount. At this point, the guide roller 243 and the capsule paper guide 244 rotate about the fulcrum and move from the first position shown by the dotted line in the figure to the second position shown by the solid line in the figure, and the heat roller 241 also moves. Moving. In addition, the heat roller 241 has a surface temperature of 100 to 160°C.
While detecting the surface temperature of the heat roller 241 with a temperature sensor, the heater 242 is heated to a predetermined temperature within the range of
is controlled by a control circuit (not shown). The operation from this state is the same as in the second embodiment, so the explanation will be simplified. However, a toner image for red is created on the transparent photoreceptor 103 by the printer section 101, and the toner image is moved in the direction of arrow E. The capsule paper 50 being fed is exposed to red light by the lamp 142. When the exposure is completed, the capsule paper 50 is rewound in the direction of arrow F to the position before exposure. Furthermore, the capsule paper 50 is exposed to green light in the same way as the exposure to red light.

Here, if the capsule paper 50 is heated while being exposed to red light or green light, the microcapsules will start to harden.
is the capsule paper 5 during exposure operation with red light or green light.
Since the microcapsules are at the first position shown by the dotted line in the figure, away from 0, the microcapsules are not inadvertently heated and hardened, and exposure is performed satisfactorily. Furthermore, in the exposure section, exposure processing using blue light is started for the capsule paper 50 in the same way as in the case of exposure using red light, but at the same time, the guide roller 243, capsule paper guide 244, and heat roller 241 are It is moved to a second position indicated by a solid line in the figure where heat treatment can be performed. The capsule paper 50 is exposed to blue light in the exposure section and at the same time is heated by the heat roller 241 from the exposed portion. heat roller 2
41 and the guide roller 243 rotate at a speed synchronized with the conveyance speed of the capsule paper 50 and convey the capsule paper 50, so that the capsule-applied surface of the capsule paper 50 touches the heat roller 24.
It will not be crushed by rubbing against 1. Also, heat roller 2
Since the surface of 41 is flocked, heat roller 2
41 and the capsule paper 50 are in soft contact, and the capsule paper 5
0 is heated in the atmosphere in the space sandwiched between the heat roller 241 and the capsule paper guide 244.

When the heating treatment of the exposed portion of the capsule paper 50 is completed, the guide roller 243 and the capsule paper guide 244 move from the second position indicated by the solid line in the figure again to the first position indicated by the dotted line in the figure. The capsule paper 50 is moved to this position, and the capsule paper 50 is no longer heated by the heat roller 241. In the case of the eighth embodiment, the heating device 240 includes a guide roller 243, a capsule paper guide 244, etc., which are mechanisms for wrapping the capsule paper 50 around the heat roller 241 and unwinding it, so that the heating device 240 is heated. It has a feature that the microcapsules applied to the capsule paper 50 do not harden except in the areas where the capsule paper 50 is coated. Further, since it has a guide roller 243 and a capsule paper guide 244, it can be wrapped around almost the entire circumference of the heat roller 241, so it has the advantage of being able to take a long heating time. Furthermore, since the capsule paper guide 244 is provided to cover the heat roller 241 around which the capsule paper 50 is wound, it has the effect of keeping the heat roller 241 warm, and the heat of the heat roller 241 can be used efficiently. It has this feature. Further, since the surface of the heat roller 241 is flocked, the heat roller 241 and the capsule paper 50 do not come into direct contact with each other, and the microcapsule coated surface is not damaged.

The following explanation will be simplified since it is the same as in the case of the second embodiment, but the pigment fixing element coating device 180 coats the capsule paper 50 in powder form on the capsule surface side of the heated capsule paper 50. 166 is applied to the entire surface, and the capsule paper 50 is further sent to a pressure developing section to continue the developing operation, thereby forming a color image on the receiver 160. After the pressure development is completed, the undeveloped portion of the capsule paper 50 is rewound to the position of the exposed portion, so that it can be prepared for the next exposure, and the capsule paper 50 can be used without waste. In addition, the flocking to the heat roller 241 is as follows:
The present invention is not limited to this, and felt or the like may be attached. In addition, if the capsule application surface of the capsule paper 50 is on the guide roller 243 and capsule paper guide 244 side, the guide roller 2
If the portion that comes into contact with the guide roller 243 is heated in advance using a heater or the like provided previously, the microcapsules will not be crushed by the pressure contact between the guide roller 243 and the heat roller 241.

The heating device 190 in the second embodiment may be the heating device 250 of the image recording device 259 shown in FIG. 10 as the ninth embodiment. The configuration according to the ninth embodiment will be described below, but the configuration other than the heating device 250 will be
Since it is similar to the second embodiment, the same parts as in the second embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. Heating device 2
50 is disposed along the conveyance path of the capsule paper 50. A heater 252 and an impeller 253 are built inside the casing 251 of the heating device 250, and the capsule paper 50
A heating table 254 and the like are arranged on the conveyance path. The operation of this image recording device 259 will be explained focusing on the operation of the heating device 250. The heater 252 is installed near the outlet of the impeller 253, and the air blown out by the impeller 253 is heated by the heater 252 to become hot air and blown toward the heating table 254. The hot air circulates inside the casing 251 along the heating platform 254. The temperature of the hot air is determined by a temperature sensor (not shown) on the heating table 2.
The temperature of the surface of 54 is controlled to be constant. A set value for this temperature is determined in advance in the range of 100° C. to 160° C., and the set value is selected depending on the conveyance speed, ambient temperature, output image mode settings, etc.

In the image recording device 259, the capsule paper 5
The processing performed on 0 is the same as that in the second embodiment except for the processing in the heating device 250, so a brief explanation will be given here. A toner image for red is created on a transparent photoreceptor 103 by the printer unit 101, and the toner image is applied to the lamp 1 with respect to the capsule paper 50 being fed in the direction of arrow E.
42 for exposure to red light. When the exposure is finished,
The capsule paper 50 is rewound in the direction of arrow F to the position before exposure. Next, the capsule paper 50 is exposed to green light in the same way as the exposure to red light. Here, if the capsule paper 50 is heated while being exposed to red light or green light, curing of the microcapsules will start, but the heater 252
During the exposure operation with red light or green light, electricity is not applied and the impeller 253 is not rotated, so the temperature of the heating table 254 is low, and the microcapsules of the capsule paper 50 are inadvertently heated. Exposure can be performed satisfactorily without curing starting due to processing. Furthermore, in the exposure section, the capsule paper 5 is
Exposure processing using blue light is started for 0, but at the same time, the heater 252 is energized and the impeller 253 is rotated, so hot air begins to circulate in the casing 251 and the heating table 254 is also heated to a predetermined temperature.

The exposed capsule paper 50 is conveyed from the exposure section so that its back side contacts the heating table 254. At this time, the heating from the heating table 254, which has been previously heated to a predetermined temperature by hot air, and the hot air heated by the heater 252 and forcedly circulated within the heating device 250 by the impeller 253 are efficiently applied to the capsule paper from both the front and back sides. Heat 50. As a result, the latent image formed by exposure on the capsule paper 50 is heat-treated. When the heating treatment of the exposed portion of the capsule paper 50 is completed, the heater 252
Since the current is cut off and the rotation of the impeller 253 is also stopped,
The capsule paper 50 is no longer heated by the heater 252. In the case of this ninth embodiment, the heating device 250 is
54 and forced circulation heating using hot air, the capsule paper 50 can be heated very efficiently and the heating treatment time can be shortened compared to heating the back side only using the heating table 254. Hereinafter, the explanation will be simplified since it is the same as in the case of the second embodiment, but the dye fixing element coating device 1
A powdered dye fixing element 166 is coated on the entire surface by the step 80, and the capsule paper 50 is further sent to a pressure developing section to continue the developing operation, thereby forming a color image on the receiver 160. After the pressure development is completed, the undeveloped portion of the capsule paper 50 is rewound to the position of the exposed portion, so that it can be prepared for the next exposure, and the capsule paper 50 can be used without waste.

The heating device 190 in the second embodiment may be the heating device 260 of the image recording device 269 shown in FIG. 11 as the tenth embodiment. The configuration according to the tenth embodiment will be described below, but the configuration other than the heating device 260 is as follows.
Since this is the same as the second embodiment, the same parts as in the second embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. The heating device 260 is composed of a thermal head 261,
The thermal head 261 is in contact with the non-capsule surface (back surface) of the capsule paper 50 . If the capsule paper 50 is from the non-capsule surface, even if the thermal head 261 directly touches it, there is no risk that the thermal head 261 will crush the microcapsules, and good image quality can be maintained.

The operation of this image recording device 269 will be explained focusing on the operation of the heating device 260. The operation up to the middle is the same as that of the second embodiment, so the explanation will be simplified. However, a toner image for red is created on the transparent photoreceptor 103 by the printer section 101, and the toner image is moved in the direction of arrow E. The capsule paper 50 being fed is exposed to red light by the lamp 142. When the exposure is completed, the capsule paper 50 is rewound in the direction of arrow F to the position before exposure. Furthermore, the capsule paper 50 is exposed to green light in exactly the same way as the exposure to red light. Here, if the capsule paper 50 is heated while being exposed to red light or green light, curing of the microcapsules will start; however, when being exposed to red light or green light, the thermal head 261 is O
Since the microcapsules are in the FF (de-energized state), the microcapsules are not inadvertently heated and cured, and exposure is performed satisfactorily.

Furthermore, in the exposure section, exposure processing using blue light is started for the capsule paper 50 in the same way as in the case of exposure using red light, but at the same time, the thermal head 26
1 is turned ON (energized state). Then, capsule paper 5
0 is exposed to blue light in the exposure section, and at the same time, heat treatment is performed by direct heating of the thermal head 261 from the non-capsule surface sequentially from the exposed portion. If the capsule paper 50 is from the non-capsule side, even if the thermal head 261 touches it directly, there is no risk of crushing the microcapsules, and good image quality can be maintained. Further here,
By creating a temperature difference between ON (energized state) and OFF (de-energized state) of the thermal head 261, a part that will not be heat-treated is created, and if pressure development is performed in this state, the microcapsules in the part that is not heat-treated will not be hardened. , crushed and appears black. Using this, it is also possible to create white characters, black characters, etc. When the heating treatment of the exposed portion of the capsule paper 50 is completed, the thermal head 261 is turned off (de-energized) again, and the capsule paper 50 is no longer heated by the thermal head 261.

The following explanation will be simplified since it is the same as in the case of the second embodiment, but the dye fixing element coating device 180 applies a powdered dye fixing element to the capsule surface side of the capsule paper 50 that has been heated. 166 is applied to the entire surface, and the capsule paper 50 is further sent to a pressure developing section to continue the developing operation, thereby forming a color image on the receiver 160. After the pressure development is completed, the undeveloped portion of the capsule paper 50 is rewound to the position of the exposed portion, so that it can be prepared for the next exposure, and the capsule paper 50 can be used without waste.

The heating device 190 and the pressure developing device 70 in the second embodiment may be the heat processing device 270 of the image recording device 279 shown in FIG. 12 as the eleventh embodiment. The configuration according to the eleventh embodiment will be described below. Since the configuration other than the heating device 270 is the same as the second embodiment, the same parts as in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be given below. Omitted. The heat treatment device 270 also serves as a pressure development device and is disposed along the conveyance path of the capsule paper 50. A heater 272 made of a halogen lamp as a heat generating member is provided inside the first pressure roller 271. Further, a temperature sensor 273 is slidably abutted on the surface of the pressure roller 271 and is disposed so as to be able to detect the surface temperature. 1st for capsule paper 50
On the opposite side of the pressure roller 271, a second pressure roller 274 having the same configuration as the first pressure roller 271, a heater 275, and a temperature sensor 276 are installed so as to sandwich the capsule paper 50 therebetween.
is provided. The first pressure roller 271 is configured to be rotated in the direction of the arrow by a drive device (not shown), and the second pressure roller 274 is rotated relative to the first pressure roller 271 by a drive device (not shown). It is configured to apply a predetermined pressing force.

The operation of the image recording device 279 having the above configuration is as follows.
The operation of the heating device 270 will be mainly explained. The surface temperatures of the first pressure roller 271 and the second pressure roller 274 are measured using respective temperature sensors 273 and 276 so that the respective surface temperatures reach a predetermined temperature in the range of 100 to 160°C. While detecting this, each heater 272, 275 is individually controlled by a control circuit (not shown). The operation from this state to the middle is the same as that of the second embodiment, so the explanation will be simplified. However, a red toner image is created on the transparent photoreceptor 103 by the printer section 101,
The toner image is on the capsule paper 5 that is being fed in the direction of arrow E.
0 is exposed to red light by lamp 142. When the exposure is completed, the capsule paper 50 is rewound in the direction of arrow F to the position before exposure. Next, the capsule paper 50 is exposed to green light in exactly the same way as the exposure to red light. Furthermore, in the exposure section, exposure processing with blue light is started on the capsule paper 50 in the same way as in the case of exposure with red light, but at the same time, the dye is fixed on the capsule surface side of the capsule paper 50 from the part where the exposure has ended. A powdered dye fixing element 166 is coated on the entire surface by the element coating device 180. Even after the blue exposure is completed, the capsule paper 50 continues to be transported and sent to the heat treatment device 270.

On the other hand, the receiver 160 is sent out from the cassette 61 by the suction cup 62 in advance in synchronization with the movement of the capsule paper 50, and when the tip of the latent image on the capsule paper 50 just reaches the heating processing device 270, the tip of the receiver 160 is also transported to the corresponding position. Next, the pressure roller 27 of the heat treatment device 270 is driven by a drive device (not shown).
1 is pressed while being rotated in the direction of the arrow. The capsule paper 50 is stacked on the receiver 160 and is sent under pressure while undergoing heat treatment. The latent image formed on the capsule paper 50 by exposure to light is cured by heat treatment, but the exposed microcapsules remain uncured. 271, a color image corresponding to the latent image on the capsule paper 50 is developed on the dye fixing element 166, and at the same time the dye fixing element 1
66 is transferred onto the receiver 160. The capsule paper 50 that has undergone heat treatment and pressure development treatment is transferred to the driving roller 1.
57.

The following explanation will be simplified since it is the same as in the second embodiment, but the receiver 160 on which the color image has been transferred is guided in the direction of the paper discharge tray 63. After the pressure development is completed, the undeveloped portion of the capsule paper 50 is rewound to the position of the exposed portion, so that it can be prepared for the next exposure, and the capsule paper 50 can be used without waste. In the eleventh embodiment, heaters 272 and 275 are provided inside the pressure rollers 271 and 274 to heat them from the inside, but the pressure rollers 271 and 274 may be heated from the outside. In addition, pressure rollers 271, 274
Although heaters 272 and 275 are respectively provided on both rollers, it is also possible to provide a heater on only one of the rollers without providing both.

Next, a twelfth embodiment is shown in FIG. A cartridge 302 for storing the capsule paper 50 is arranged at the upper right side of the image recording device 300, a cylindrical heating device 303 is arranged at the left side of the cartridge 302, and a heat shield plate 304 rotatably attached inside the cartridge 302. is provided. Inside the cartridge 302 is a cartridge shaft 310 around which the capsule paper 50 is wound. Heating device 30
A pressure roller 305 is disposed to the left of 3, and a winding shaft 306 is disposed further to the left of the pressure roller 305. A receiver 60 is housed below the cartridge 302. Although the developing system is mainly shown in FIG. 13 and the structure of the exposure system is omitted, light 3 containing image information is emitted from above the cartridge 302.
It is now possible to irradiate 08. Further, a dancer roller 309 that is movable from side to side is arranged at the upper left side of the cartridge 302. The capsule paper 50 is transferred from the cartridge 302 to the dancer roller 309, the heating device 303,
The paper is passed through a pressure roller 305 and a take-up shaft 306.

Next, the operation will be explained. First, static exposure of light 308 containing image information is performed on the capsule paper 50. At this time, the dancer roller 309 is located at the right end. After exposure is completed, the cartridge shaft 310 is made rotatable,
With the winding shaft 306 fixed, the dancer roller 30
9 to the left, and the exposed portion of the capsule paper 50 is moved away from the range where the light 308 containing image information is irradiated. Thereafter, the cartridge shaft 310 is fixed, the winding shaft 306 is rotated to the left, and the capsule paper 50 is subjected to heat treatment and pressure development. At this time, the dancer roller 309 gradually moves to the right, so that the capsule paper 50 entering the developing section is separated from the capsule paper 50 in the range where the light 308 is irradiated.
Since the ink can be supplied without moving, it is possible to perform static exposure while performing heat treatment and pressure development at the same time. The dancer roller 309 is gradually moved to the right and returned to the initial position, and after exposure is completed, the dancer roller 309 is moved to the left again to repeat the heating and pressure development processing. Note that the start timing of the heating and pressure development processing is adjusted so that the dancer roller 309 returns to the initial position after the exposure processing is completed.

[0079] The above is the operation of continuous printing, but below, the final printing operation of single-shot printing and continuous printing will be explained. Finish the exposure and move the dancer roller 3
Move 09 to the left, perform heat treatment and pressure development,
When the dancer roller 309 is returned to the initial position,
The cartridge shaft 310 is changed from a fixed state to a rotatable state. Then, while the heat treatment and pressure development continue, the unexposed portion of the capsule paper 50 enters the heating device 303. At this time, the heating device 30 is applied to the unexposed part of the capsule paper 50.
In synchronization with the movement of the capsule paper 50, the rotatable heat shield plate 304 is gradually inserted into the contact surface between the heating device 303 and the capsule paper 50 so that the heat of the heating device 303 and the capsule paper 50 are not transferred. After the pressure development process is completed, the cartridge shaft 310 is rotated clockwise to rewind the unexposed portion of the capsule paper.

Conventionally, in continuous printing, there was a loss between images due to the distance between the exposure processing section and the heat processing and pressure development processing section. Such loss can be reduced by adjusting the boundary between the exposed area and the unexposed area to be at the tip of the range to which the light 308 is irradiated. In addition, in the final print of single-shot printing or continuous printing, the unexposed portion may enter the heating device 303 and be heated, resulting in loss, but as in this embodiment, the rotatable heat shield The operation of step 304 prevents heat from being transmitted to the unexposed portion of the capsule paper 50 entering the heating device 303, thereby preventing heat treatment, and by rewinding the capsule paper 50 after the pressure development process is completed, the capsule paper 50 can be used. The paper 50 can be returned to the exposure range without wasting it, and as a result, the capsule paper 50 can be used efficiently, and so-called running costs can be reduced.

[0081]

As is clear from the above explanation, according to the present invention, a latent image is formed by exposing a photosensitive recording medium to color separation light using an exposure means based on image information. The photosensitive recording medium is heat-treated by an auxiliary developing means, and the heat-treated photosensitive recording medium is developed by pressure development, so that a latent image for pressure development is formed on the photosensitive recording medium. The energy required for this can be supplemented by heat-treating the photosensitive recording medium using an auxiliary developing means. Therefore, the energy required to form a latent image on the photosensitive recording medium by the exposure means can be reduced, and the exposure means can be made simple and compact.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an image recording device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a dye fixing element coating device of the image recording apparatus according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a dye fixing element coating device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an image recording device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an image recording apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an image recording device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing an image recording device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing an image recording apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing an image recording device according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing an image recording apparatus according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing an image recording apparatus according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing an image recording apparatus according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing a conventional image recording device.

[Explanation of symbols]

41 Exposure device 50 Capsule paper 90 Heating device 70 Pressure developing device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive recording medium, an exposure means for forming a latent image by subjecting the photosensitive recording medium to color separation exposure based on image information, and heating the photosensitive recording medium on which the latent image has been formed by the exposure means. An image recording apparatus comprising: a heating means for processing; and a pressure developing means for developing a photosensitive recording medium heat-treated by the heating means.