JPH05134333A - Printer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the repetitive use of a sheet-like recording medium without requiring replenishment of consumables, such as toners, and the maintenance by using the sheet-like recording medium contg. a photochromic material. CONSTITUTION:The sheet-like recording medium 8A contg. the photochromic material is to the arrow direction moved by a feed mechanism and is first irradiated with visible light for erasing from a visual light source 16 at the time of passing under an erasing unit 15 and the previusely recorded information are erased. The recording medium is then recorded with image information by the UV light for recording part an LCS panel 12 from a UV light source 14. The LCS panel is a panel-shaped liquid crystal element which changes the transmittance of light by controlling the molecular orientation of the liquid crystal by the signals of images at every picture element. The UV light from the light source 14 is subjected intensity modulation by the LCS panel and is further imaged as one-dimensional various intensity patterns on the sheet-like recording medium by a lens array 13.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer device using a liquid crystal for recording image signals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A liquid crystal printer (also called a liquid crystal shutter printer or LCS (Liquid Crystal Shutter) printer) is a device that prints and records an image by utilizing the optical characteristics of liquid crystal, and is a high-class printer device. Known as. In the normal case, as a non-impact page printer capable of recording on plain paper, it belongs to the type having the highest printing speed and the highest printing quality among the printer devices.

The structure of a conventional liquid crystal printer will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. 3 and 4 are, for example, "Optical Printer Design" WHITE SERIES6, supervised by Yoshisuke Takekita,
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a conventional printer device shown on page 144 of Trikeps Co., Ltd., issued on October 31, 1985, and a cross-sectional view of an LCS unit thereof.

In FIG. 3, 1 is a photosensitive drum, 2 is a charger, 3 is an LCS unit, 4 is a developing roll, 5 is a transfer section, 6 is a cleaner, 7 is a paper feed roller, 8 is plain paper,
9 is a fixing roller.

In FIG. 4, 10 is a light source, 11 is a guide lens, 12 is an LCS panel, and 13 is a lens array.

Next, the operation of the above-mentioned conventional example will be described. The image data as an electric signal is input to the LCS panel 12 as a signal for each scanning line. The LCS panel 12 is a long and narrow panel liquid crystal element, and a predetermined voltage is applied to each corresponding liquid crystal molecule alignment control electrode according to the value of each pixel in the scanning line of the image data, and as a result, the liquid crystal element is formed. The light transmittance of a portion corresponding to each pixel (hereinafter, referred to as “pixel”) is changed. Due to this change in transmittance, the intensity of light reaching the LCS panel 12 from the light source 10 through the guide lens 11 is changed for each pixel, and the lens array 13 forms a one-dimensional intensity pattern on the photosensitive drum 1. It is imaged. And
A latent image for one scanning line of the image is formed.

The latent image of the entire image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1 by repeating the above-described processing corresponding to each scanning line of the image data while rotating the photosensitive drum 1 little by little. After that, the processes of developing, transferring, fixing, and cleaning are sequentially performed, and at the same time, paper is fed to print and record an image on the plain paper 8. Since this process is the same as the principle of normal electrophotography, description thereof will be omitted.

Since the conventional liquid crystal printer is constructed as described above, it basically requires a print recording component similar to that of the electrophotography. In other words, the photosensitive drum 1 is used, and a corona charging device, a toner supply device, etc., which are not shown, are required, which is not only complicated and expensive as a printer device, but also requires maintenance such as plain paper 8 and toner replenishment. Required.

However, when considering the application as a printer device, there is a tendency that the ratio of the document or image output as a print record from a computer, a word processor, an image transmission device, an image storage device, etc., is retained as it is. This is not for saving the data calculated and processed by the computer or the document information created by a word processor, but for printing the data temporarily for confirmation of the contents, facsimile reception or database search. This is because there is a unavoidable situation in which the printed result is unavoidable regardless of whether the result is necessary or not to save.

The above-mentioned confirmation and judgment can be carried out by displaying a small amount of information on a display device such as a CRT. However, due to the progress of informationization in society such as OA (office automation), electronic information devices can be used. As the amount of information handled increases, the need for using print records as temporary output will continue to increase.

On the other hand, when information that really needs to be stored is stored in an electronic file device that has emerged due to technological advances in magnetic recording and optical recording because of the size of the space required for storage and the convenience of retrieving it when necessary. Is generally expected to increase.

Considering the social environment as described above, it is not necessary to store most of the information output of the electronic information equipment as shown in some examples, but it is possible to use plain paper with a conventional printer device. It is extremely uneconomical to print on.
Furthermore, because it has high-speed, high-quality printing performance like conventional liquid crystal printers, it is often used for printing that should not be necessary, and maintenance is frequently required for that purpose, which is very wasteful. I have to.

[0013]

The conventional printer apparatus as described above has a problem that maintenance such as replenishment of plain paper and toner is required. Further, there is a problem that it is extremely uneconomical to print on plain paper although most of the information output does not need to be stored originally.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and basically has a simple configuration, and information that does not require maintenance and need not be saved is erased from a recording medium and recorded. An object of the present invention is to obtain a printer device that can repeatedly use a medium.

[0015]

A printer device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes the following means and operates either one of the recording means. [1] A light source that emits visible light and ultraviolet light, a liquid crystal shutter unit that controls transmission of light from the light source based on an image signal, and the image signal by coloring and erasing the transmitted light Recording means for recording and erasing the image signal on the first recording medium by the visible light and the ultraviolet light, the first recording medium having a first recording medium containing a photochromic material capable of repeatedly performing recording and erasing. [2] Second recording means for recording the image signal on the second recording medium by another recording method.

A printer device according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises the following means, and normally stores the received image signal in the storage means and operates the first recording means, and stores it in the storage means at the time of request. The read image signal is read and the second recording means is operated. [1] First recording means for recording and erasing an image signal on a first recording medium containing a photochromic material by visible light and ultraviolet light. [2] Second recording means for recording the image signal on the second recording medium by another recording method. [3] Receiving means for receiving the image signal. [4] Storage means for temporarily accumulating the received image signal.

[0017]

In the printer device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the image signal is recorded and erased on the first recording medium containing the photochromic material by the visible light and the ultraviolet light by the first recording means. Further, the image signal is recorded on the second recording medium by another recording method by the second recording means, and either one of the recording means is operated.

In the printer device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the image signal is recorded and erased on the first recording medium containing the photochromic material by the visible light and the ultraviolet light by the first recording means. Further, the second recording means records the image signal on the second recording medium by another recording method. Further, the receiving means receives the image signal, and the storing means temporarily stores the received image signal. Then, at the normal time, the received image signal is accumulated by the storage means and the first recording means is operated, and at the time of request, the image signal stored in the storage means is read and the second recording means is operated. ..

[0019]

【Example】

Example 1. The configuration of the first recording means according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention, in which an LCS panel 12 and a lens array 13 are exactly the same as those of the conventional device described above. The second recording means is a conventional liquid crystal printer device using plain paper, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, 3A is a recording unit (LC
S unit), 8A is a sheet-shaped recording medium containing a photochromic material, 14 is an ultraviolet light source, 15 is an erasing unit, and 16 is a visible light source.

By the way, the light source of the present invention according to claim 1 is composed of the ultraviolet light source 14 and the visible light source 16 in the first embodiment of the present invention described above, and the liquid crystal shutter means of the present invention is the first embodiment. The first recording medium of the present invention, which includes the LCS panel 12 and the lens array 13, corresponds to the sheet-shaped recording medium 8A in the first embodiment.

Next, the operation of the above-mentioned first recording means of the first embodiment will be described. The sheet-shaped recording medium 8A containing the photochromic material is moved in the arrow direction by a feeding mechanism (not shown) corresponding to a sheet feeding roller. By this movement, the recording medium 8A is first irradiated with visible light for erasing from the visible light source 16 when passing under the erasing unit 15, and if there is previously recorded information, it is erased. Then, the initial state is set.

Next, when passing under the recording unit 3A, image information is recorded by the recording ultraviolet light transmitted from the ultraviolet light source 14 through the LCS panel 12.

The LCS panel 12 is a panel-like liquid crystal element that changes the light transmittance by controlling the molecular orientation of the liquid crystal for each pixel in accordance with an image signal, like the one used in a normal liquid crystal printer. Image data is L for each scanning line
By being input to the CS panel 12, the light transmittance of each pixel of the LCS panel 12 changes, whereby the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light source 14 undergoes intensity modulation, and the lens array 13 further produces a one-dimensional intensity pattern. As a result, an image is formed on the sheet-shaped recording medium 8A. Since this image causes the photochromic material contained in the recording medium 8A to develop color, the image is directly recorded on the recording medium 8A by repeating the above processing as the recording medium 8A moves.

This photochromic material is a material that reversibly photoisomerizes, and develops color (for example, by irradiation with ultraviolet light).
It develops blue or green) and is erased by irradiation with visible light. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing changes in light absorption characteristics of a benzothiazoline spiropyran, which is an example of such a photochromic material. This material develops blue color due to the change in characteristics as shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the horizontal axis represents wavelength (nm) and the vertical axis represents absorbance.

In the photochromic material, since the color development by ultraviolet light is high speed, it is possible to increase the printing speed as a printer device. On the other hand, since the color is erased by irradiation with visible light, if the recorded color is exposed indoors or outdoors, the color gradually disappears.However, with a material with high recording stability, it can be recorded under visible light with an indoor intensity. Since it is possible to obtain record retention for several hours or several days, there is practically no problem as a recording medium for printout for temporary confirmation and judgment of contents.

For example, as the photochromic material,
Spiropyran-based, azobenzene-based, fulgide-based, thioindigo-based, polycyclic aromatic compounds and the like can be applied. Then, these are preferably applied to the surface of a polymer film or paper together with a transparent binder such as a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin to form the sheet recording medium 8A.

The sheet-shaped recording medium 8A can be handled by a printer apparatus in almost the same manner as paper, such as feeding a medium cut by a feeding roller and cutting a roll-shaped medium by a cutter. Also, you can take out the recorded media to the output stacker, carry it to another place like a paper, or set the media in the paper feed stacker or cut sheet feeder to automatically feed it. It is also possible to do so. Here, if a medium on which information that may be erased is recorded is fed to the printer device described in the present embodiment, the information is erased by visible light irradiation and then re-recorded by ultraviolet light. It is nothing but the repeated use of.

The conventional liquid crystal printer basically requires the same print recording component as that of the electrophotography.
This is a complicated and expensive printer device, and requires maintenance. As described above, the first recording unit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention records the print record as a temporary output with the light source of two wavelengths without using the complicated photosensitive drum, corona charging device, and toner supply device. Can print on media. Further, since the recording medium uses a photochromic material, it can be used any number of times.

That is, since the sheet-shaped recording medium 8A used in the first recording means of Example 1 of the present invention contains the photochromic material, it develops color when irradiated with ultraviolet light and is irradiated with visible light. It has the property of decoloring. When an image is recorded as a printer device, the intensity of the ultraviolet light from the light source is controlled by the LCS panel for each pixel based on the image signal to irradiate the medium to erase the image, as in the conventional liquid crystal printer device. Performs both recording and erasing functions by irradiating the medium with visible light from the same or different light source. Note that, conversely, the same applies when ultraviolet light is used for erasing and visible light is used for recording. Further, the printer device has a simple and inexpensive structure as compared with a conventional device using an electrophotographic system, does not require maintenance such as replenishment of consumable items such as toner, and is economical in that a recording medium can be repeatedly used. Is obtained.

The first embodiment of the present invention is added to the conventional liquid crystal printer device using plain paper described in FIG. 3 to integrate necessary components of the printer device using a reusable recording medium, It is configured such that whether to supply the image signal input to the conventional printer component or the printer component corresponding to the first recording means of the present invention can be switched manually or by a control signal from the outside. Then, if the purpose is to make a test shot or confirm the information content, print and record using a recording medium that can be used repeatedly, and use plain paper only when truly storing or carrying for a long time is necessary. The economic efficiency can be further improved. In other words, the amount of consumables used decreases, recording paper such as used plain paper is not piled up and scattered, and it is also laborious to dispose of used recording paper. The overall operation of the device, such as the absence of it, becomes very rational.

Example 2. Although the first embodiment described above shows the configuration in which only one recording unit 3A is provided, a plurality of recording units are provided side by side, and light sources having different emission wavelengths are used as the light sources, while the coloring wavelength is set on the recording medium. If a structure is used in which multiple types of different photochromic materials are applied in layers, color (multicolor) image recording can be realized.

Example 3. In the first embodiment described above, the recording unit 3A is provided with the LCS panel 12 that controls the transmission of light from the ultraviolet light source 14 for each pixel, but in the erasing unit 15, the light from the visible light source 16 is simply used as it is. The case of irradiating 8A has been described. This is the recording medium 8
This means that A is uniformly erased over the entire surface. On the other hand, if the erasing unit 15 is also provided with an LCS panel or a lens array that controls the transmission of light from the visible light source 16 for each pixel, it is only necessary to uniformly erase the recording medium 8A. Instead, it is possible to specify only the portion to be erased and to partially erase it.

Example 4. In the first embodiment described above, the case where the visible light source 16 is used as the erasing light source and the ultraviolet light source 14 is used as the recording light source has been described. However, these are used in reverse, and the entire surface of the recording medium is the ultraviolet light source as the erasing light source. After color development, a strong visible light source such as a laser may be used as a recording light source for partial erasing of the color-unnecessary portion to record and display an image on the recording medium.

Example 5. Further, in all of the above-described first to fourth embodiments, the light source has the configuration in which the visible light source and the ultraviolet light source are provided separately, but a single light source that emits light from the ultraviolet light region to the visible light region is used. It goes without saying that the intended purpose can be achieved by using the above light source and separating the ultraviolet light and the visible light by using a filter.

Example 6. Further, the printer device according to the present invention can be used as a terminal device of an information system by combining it with a receiving device for broadcasting or communication. For example, the printer device according to the present invention is used for a reception / recording portion of a facsimile device, and a facsimile receiving device is further provided with a storage medium such as a magnetic disk.

Alternatively, the printer device according to the present invention is incorporated with a receiving device of a facsimile device, and the printer device is provided with a storage medium such as a magnetic disk.

With respect to the received contents to be received, the received code data is stored and accumulated in a storage medium such as a magnetic disk, and is decoded as an image and printed and recorded on a recording medium which can be repeatedly used. The recipient takes out the printed image from the output stacker (whether immediately after receiving it or not), and if the information does not need to be saved, the recording medium is supplied so that it can be reused. Return it to the paper stacker. If the information needs to be stored, the received code data is read from a storage medium such as a magnetic disk, and this time, it is printed and recorded on plain paper.

If the storage medium such as a magnetic disk has a sufficiently large capacity, sequential erasure (storing new information on the oldest stored information) practically eliminates the erasing operation by the receiver.

If the above-mentioned device is installed, for example, as a receiving device for an electronic newspaper in a home or an office desiring to subscribe to a newspaper, it is multiplexed with a television broadcast wave or broadcast by using a free broadcast time at night. The newspaper information transmitted by the facsimile data can be received. This not only allows newspaper information to be transmitted very quickly, it also saves the physical delivery of newspapers as in the past, and allows the recording medium that has been read to be erased and reused. It is also possible to prevent used newspapers from collecting in place.

[0041]

As described above, the printer device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a light source for generating visible light and ultraviolet light, and a liquid crystal shutter for controlling transmission of light from the light source based on an image signal. Means and a first recording medium containing a photochromic material capable of repeating recording and erasing of the image signal by coloring and erasing by receiving the transmitted light, the visible light and the ultraviolet light A first recording means for recording and erasing the image signal on the first recording medium, and a second recording means for recording the image signal on a second recording medium by another recording method,
Since I tried to operate one of the recording means,
Basically, it has a simple structure, information that does not require maintenance and need not be saved can be erased from the recording medium and the recording medium can be used repeatedly, and the entire operation of the device is very rational. It has the effect of becoming a thing.

As described above, the printer apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention includes the first recording means for recording and erasing the image signal on the first recording medium containing the photochromic material by the visible light and the ultraviolet light. The recording medium further includes: a second recording unit that records the image signal on a second recording medium by another recording method; a receiving unit that receives the image signal; and a storage unit that temporarily stores the received image signal. In normal times, the received image signal is stored in the storage unit and the first recording unit is operated, and when necessary, the image signal stored in the storage unit is read to operate the second recording unit. As a result, with a simple configuration, information that does not require maintenance and need not be saved can be erased from the recording medium and the recording medium can be used repeatedly. And, an effect that the entire operation of the apparatus becomes very reasonable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a part of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing light absorption characteristics of a recording medium used in Example 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a conventional printer device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an LCS unit of a conventional printer device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3A recording unit 8A sheet recording medium 12 LCS panel 13 lens array 14 ultraviolet light source 15 erasing unit 16 visible light source

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A light source for generating visible light and ultraviolet light, a liquid crystal shutter means for controlling transmission of light from the light source on the basis of an image signal, and coloration and erasing by receiving the transmitted light. There is provided a first recording medium containing a photochromic material capable of repeatedly recording and erasing an image signal, and the first recording medium is provided with the visible light and the ultraviolet light.
Recording means for recording and erasing the image signal on and from the recording medium, and second recording means for recording the image signal on the second recording medium by another recording method. A printer device for operating a printer. 2. A receiving means for receiving an image signal, and a storage means for temporarily storing the received image signal, wherein the received image signal is normally stored in the storage means and the first recording is performed. 2. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the printer unit is operated to read the image signal stored in the storage unit to operate the second recording unit when requested.