JPH05201122A - Recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent scumming from occurring in a picture, even if a latent image is formed frequently, by directly or indirectly cooling a contact material existing in the vicinity of a recording body. CONSTITUTION:In a constitution where a thermal head 3 is applied from the surface side of a recording material 1, the supply port 8 of a contact material B is provided in the vicinity of the heater element 31 of the thermal head 3. For the purpose of cooling the thermal head 3, e.g. a member 9 with large thermal diffusivity is caused to adjoin the head. For the purpose of cooling the contact material B, also, the container of the contact material B is constituted by the member 9 with large thermal diffusivity or the member 9 with large thermal diffusivity is provided in the vicinity of the recording body 1. Thus, scumming is prevented and high-quality of picture is obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a novel recording device,
More specifically, the surface of the recording medium having a specific property is selectively and reversibly formed so that a region having a receding contact angle corresponding to the heating temperature is formed, and a coloring material is applied to this region (latent image). The present invention relates to an apparatus useful for a recording system in which a recording agent (used in the form of a solution or a dispersion) contained therein is supplied to make it visible, and the image can be transferred in good condition to plain paper or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An offset printing method using a lithographic printing plate is a typical means for dividing a surface into a liquid adhesive area and a non-liquid adhesive area for use in image formation. However, in this offset printing method, it is inevitable that the apparatus becomes large in size by incorporating the plate making process from the original plate and the printing process from the printing plate (printing plate) into one device. For example, even in a relatively small office offset plate making printing machine, in many cases, the plate making apparatus and the printing apparatus are separate.

In order to eliminate such a defect of the offset printing method, a liquid adhesive area and a non-liquid adhesive area can be formed according to image information, and can be repeatedly used (reversible Recording methods and devices have been proposed. Some of them are as follows. (1) Aqueous development method After applying a charge to the hydrophobic photoconductor layer from the outside, it is exposed to form a pattern having a hydrophobic portion and a hydrophilic portion on the surface of the photoconductor layer, and only the hydrophilic portion is formed. Aqueous developer is attached and transferred to paper (Japanese Patent Publication No. 40-18992, Japanese Patent Publication No. 40-18993)
(Japanese Patent Publication No. 44-9512, JP-A No. 63-264392, etc.). (2) Method utilizing photochemical reaction of photochromic material The layer containing materials such as spiropyran and azo dye is irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and these photochromic compounds are hydrophilized by photochemical reaction [for example, "Polymer Papers", No. 37 Volume 4
No., 287 (1980)]. (3) Method utilizing the action of internal biasing force The amorphous state and the crystalline state are formed by physical change,
Forming areas where liquid ink is attached / not attached (Japanese Patent Publication No. 54-41)
No. 902).

According to the method (1), after the water-based ink is transferred onto paper or the like, the hydrophilic portion is erased by the charge removal, and another image information can be recorded. That is, one original plate (photoconductor) can be repeatedly used. However, since this method is based on the electrophotographic process, charging → exposure →
It requires a long process of development → transfer → static elimination, and has the drawbacks that it is difficult to downsize the device, reduce the cost, and make it maintenance-free. According to the method (2), the hydrophilicity and the hydrophobicity can be freely and reversibly controlled by selectively changing the irradiation of ultraviolet rays and visible light, but the reaction time is very long because of poor quantum efficiency. However, the recording speed is slow and the stability is lacking, and it is the fact that it has not reached the practical level yet. Further, according to the method of (3), the information recording member used there is stable after recording,
Before recording, there is a possibility that the physical structure may change due to the temperature change, so that there is a problem in storage stability.
In addition to this, since a means of applying a heat pulse and then quenching is adopted for erasing the recorded information pattern, there is a disadvantage that repeated image formation cannot avoid complexity.

The inventors of the present invention have conducted research and studies to solve the conventional drawbacks and inconveniences. As a result, a specific recording medium (a recording medium having a surface with a receding contact angle that decreases when heated and brought into contact with a liquid, simply referred to as "recording medium" or "recording medium (A)" for convenience) and contact Use a material (liquid, vapor or solid that turns into a liquid or generates liquid or vapor at a temperature below the receding contact angle reduction start temperature referred to in recording body (A)), and contact the surface of recording body (A) with contact material (B) To the heating temperature on the surface of the recording material (A) by selectively heating the surface of the recording material (A) or by contacting the surface of the recording material (A) with the contact material (B). Related to a method of forming a latent image showing a receding contact angle corresponding to the latent image, visualizing the latent image with a recording material containing a coloring material, and subsequently transferring the visible image to a recording paper. Suggested device
(West German Published Patent No. 4010275). According to the method proposed here, the latent image and the visible image can be formed on the recording medium, the visible image can be transferred to the plain paper, and the latent image can be erased very easily and reversibly. Of course, a large number of copied images can be easily obtained, and different copied images can be continuously obtained.

[0006]

By the way, in the above-mentioned proposed recording apparatus, as mentioned above, the latent image is formed by a thermal head, a laser beam or the like. This is done by heating (Fig. 7). In addition,
In FIG. 7, 1 is a recording medium, 2 is a latent image forming liquid (contact material), 3 is a thermal head, 4 is a recording agent, 5 is a transfer roller, and 4a is ink droplets (recording) attached to the latent image (S). Agent droplets), 4a 'represent the image transferred to the recording paper P.

However, when a latent image is formed frequently by the apparatus shown in FIG. 7, the latent image forming liquid 2 near the recording body 1 and the thermal head 3 itself warm up, and finally a latent image of the recording body 1 is formed. This often causes inconveniences such as heating up to the non-heated area in the liquid, which causes scumming and deteriorates the image quality. Further, such inconvenience is more likely to be manifested when the recording material is also used for forming a latent image (the thermal head is arranged in the recording material).

An object of the present invention is to propose a recording apparatus in which background stain does not occur in an image even if a latent image is formed frequently.

[0009]

The present invention provides the following recording medium
By selectively heating the surface of (A) in contact with the following contact material (B) or by contacting the surface of the recording material (A) with contact material (B) The means for supplying the contact material (B) that forms a latent image showing a receding contact angle according to the heating temperature on the surface of the recording material (A) by the Means for selectively heating a latent image to form a latent image in response to a signal, means for applying a recording agent for visualizing the latent image, and means for transferring the recording agent adhered on the recording medium (A) to a recording sheet In the recording device provided with
It is characterized in that a means for directly or indirectly cooling the contact material (B) existing in the vicinity of the recording body (A) is further provided. (A) A recording material having a surface layer having a property that the receding contact angle decreases when it is heated and brought into contact with a liquid. (B) A liquid, a vapor, or a solid that becomes a liquid or generates a liquid or a vapor at a temperature at which the receding contact angle of the recording medium (A) starts to decrease.

In the apparatus of the present invention, as described above, the latent image is formed by heating the surface of the recording material in the presence of the contact material (B), but at that time, the latent image is formed in the vicinity of the recording material (A). Means are provided to prevent the temperature rise of the contact material (B).

In the apparatus of the present invention, the recording agent (:
If a liquid ink 4 or the like is used as the solution or the dispersion), the supply means of the contact material (B) can be omitted. In the device of the present invention, the surface of the recording material (A) on which the latent image is formed is contacted with a contact material.
By heating in the absence of (B), the latent image can be erased and reversible image formation can be achieved.

The present invention will be described in more detail below. When the recording medium (A) used in the apparatus of the present invention is heated in contact with a liquid, its receding contact angle becomes low even after cooling, and the receding contact angle becomes high due to heating in the absence of liquid. A member having a function, at least the surface of which is formed. The surface of the recording material (A) having such a function is (1) a member containing an organic compound having a surface self-alignment function of a hydrophobic group, or (2) an organic compound having a hydrophobic group and having a hydrophobic group. Is a member whose surface is oriented.

The "surface self-orientation function" mentioned in (1) means that when a solid compound formed on a support or a solid formed by the compound itself is heated in the air, the hydrophobic group on the surface becomes free (to the free side). It means that it has a property of being oriented toward the surface side). This also applies to (2). Generally, in an organic compound, the hydrophobic group has a property of being easily oriented toward the hydrophobic atmosphere. This is a phenomenon that occurs because the interfacial energy at the solid-gas interface tends to decrease. Further, this phenomenon tends to occur as the molecular length of the hydrophobic group becomes longer, but this is because the mobility of the molecule upon heating increases as the molecular length becomes longer.

More specifically, it has a hydrophobic group at the end.
If it is a molecule (that is, lowering the surface energy), it will be on the air side.
It is easy to orient to the surface (free surface side). Similarly, (-CH ₂
-) The linear molecule containing n (-CH ₂ CH ₂ - has a partial planar structures), each other molecular chain is easily oriented. Further, in the molecule containing (-Ph-) n, the -Ph- portion has a planar structure, and the molecular chains are easily oriented. Note that −Ph−
Is a p-phenylene group (hereinafter the same). Particularly, a linear molecule containing an element having a high electronegativity such as fluorine has a high self-aggregating property, and the molecular chains are easily oriented.

Summarizing the results of these investigations, it is more preferable that a straight-chain molecule having a molecule having a high self-aggregating property or a molecule having a planar structure and having a hydrophobic group at the terminal, or such a straight chain molecule is used. It can be said that the compound containing a chain molecule has a high surface self-orientation function.

As is clear from the above description, there is a relation between the surface self-orientation state and the receding contact angle, and also between the receding contact angle and the liquid adhesion. That is, the adhesion of the liquid on the solid surface occurs mainly by the tacking of the liquid on the solid surface. This tacking can be regarded as a kind of frictional force when a liquid slides on a solid surface. Therefore, the "receding contact angle" θr in the present invention includes cos θr = γ (γs-γse-πe + γf) / γev (where γ: surface tension of solid in vacuum γse: solid-liquid interfacial tension γev liquid Surface tension when is in contact with its saturated vapor πe: Equilibrium surface tension γf: Friction tension γs: Surface tension of a solid without an adsorbed layer) (Saito, Kitazaki et al. Vol. 22, No. 12, 1986). Therefore, when the value of θr decreases, the γf value increases. That is, the liquid does not easily slide on the solid surface, and as a result, the liquid adheres to the solid surface.

As can be inferred from these mutual relationships,
The liquid adhesion depends on the degree of the receding contact angle θr, and the receding contact angle θr is determined by how the member having the surface self-orienting function on the surface. Therefore, in the apparatus of the present invention, the recording material (A) is necessarily a member having a surface self-aligning function on the surface because of the necessity of forming a desired pattern area on the surface and / or visualizing with a recording agent. Must be selected.

In short, the contact material (B) is a liquid or a vapor from the beginning, or produces a liquid as a result at a temperature below the temperature at which the receding contact angle θr of the recording medium (A) is lowered. It is solid. The vapor here is at least on the surface of the recording material (A) or near the surface thereof, at least a part of which is condensed to form a liquid, and the liquid can wet the surface of the recording material (A). Is enough. On the other hand, the solid here is a liquid, a liquid is generated, or a vapor is generated at a temperature at which the receding contact angle θr is reduced or lower. The vapor generated from the solid is condensed on the surface of the recording medium (A) or in the vicinity thereof to generate a liquid, as in the case described above.

More specifically, these contact materials (B) are as follows.

That is, as the liquid which is one of the contact materials (B), in addition to water, an aqueous solution containing an electrolyte, ethanol, n-
Alcohols such as butanol, polyhydric alcohols such as glycerin and ethylene glycol, polar liquids such as ketones such as methyl ethyl ketone, straight chain hydrocarbons such as n-nonane and n-octane, and cyclic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane. , Non-polar liquids such as m-xylene and aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene. Also, a mixture of these may be used, and various dispersions and liquid inks can also be used. More desirably, polar liquids are superior.

As the vapor which is another one of the contact materials (B), in addition to water vapor, any liquid vapor of the contact material (B) can be used. In particular, organic vapor such as ethanol vapor and m-xylene vapor can be used. Examples include vapors of compounds (including those in a spray state). The temperature of this organic compound vapor needs to be lower than the melting point or softening point of the compound forming the surface of the recording material (A).

Other solids as the contact material (B) are higher fatty acids, low molecular weight polyethylene, polymer gels (polyacrylamide gel, polyvinyl alcohol gel), silica gel, compounds containing water of crystallization, etc. can give.

The most desirable contact material (B) of the present invention has a viscosity of 1000 cp or less, or a surface tension in the range of 30 to 70 dyn / cm.

As a means for supplying the contact material (B), for example, a plate is provided below the recording medium (A) so that the liquid is filled and the recording medium (A) is always in contact with the liquid in the plate. Alternatively, the simplest configuration is to place it in a dish. Other,
A porous body containing a liquid may be considered.

As a heating means for forming a latent image, in addition to contact heating with a heater, a thermal head, etc., an electromagnetic wave is used.
There is non-contact heating by (the light from the light source such as a laser light source and an infrared lamp is condensed by a lens). Among these, heating with a thermal head is most preferable.

When the transfer of one image information from the recording medium (A) to the recording paper is completed, the recording medium (A) is recorded in the absence of liquid or vapor (in air, in vacuum or in an inert gas). The surface is heated (heating temperature: 50 to 300 ° C, preferably 100 to 18
0 ° C, heating time: 1 msec to 10 sec, preferably 10 msec to
If the latent image is erased by 1 second), the recording medium (A) can be used repeatedly.

As a heating source for erasing the latent image, a contact heating source such as a heater or a thermal head or a non-contact heating source by electromagnetic waves such as a laser or an infrared lamp is desirable. Heating may be performed only on the latent image portion, but heating the entire surface of the recording medium (A) is more preferable because the apparatus configuration can be simplified.

The latent image erasing means is provided at a position where the surface of the recording medium (A) is substantially cooled during the time until the latent image is formed again after heating for erasing. The heating temperature required to erase the latent image is as described above. A temperature below the point is desirable.

As the recording paper (transferred material), a transparent or opaque resin film, plain paper, synthetic paper, ink jet recording paper, type paper or the like can be used.

As the recording agent, among the recording agents used in conventional print recording methods such as writing ink, ink jet recording ink, printing ink, and electrophotographic toner,
A device compatible with the device of the present invention can be selected and used. More specific and preferable examples are water,
Wetting agent, water-soluble ink mainly composed of dye, water, pigment, polymer compound for dispersion, water-based pigment dispersion ink mainly composed of wetting agent, or pigment or dye was dispersed in water using a surfactant. Emulsion, ink, etc. are used.

Although the relationship between the receding contact angle and the liquid adhesion has been described so far, these matters are described in detail in the above-mentioned West German Laid-Open Patent No. 4010275.

In the apparatus of the present invention, the latent image forming liquid (when the recording agent also serves as the latent image forming liquid, the recording agent).
Is provided with a cooling means, which circulates the latent image forming liquid to replace part or all of the latent image forming liquid in the vicinity of the recording medium, and releases heat from the thermal head and / or the latent image forming liquid. It is possible that

The latent image forming liquid (here, for convenience, "contact material"
(B) ”shall apply)
(i) (ii) (iii) etc. (i) As shown in FIG. 1, the magnet member 61 is placed in the container for the contact material (B) 2 and the magnet roller 62 located at the bottom of the container is rotated. (ii) As shown in FIG.
(B) may be circulated. (iii) As shown in FIG. 3, in the configuration in which the thermal head 3 is applied from the front side of the recording body 1, the supply port 8 of the contact member (B) is provided in the vicinity of the thermal element 31 of the thermal head 3.

To cool the thermal head 3, for example,
As shown in FIG. 4, the members 9 having a large thermal conductivity may be adjacent to each other. To cool the contact material (B), for example, as shown in FIG. 5, a container of the contact material (B) may be composed of a member 9 having a large thermal conductivity, or as shown in FIG. A member 9 having a large thermal conductivity may be provided near the body 1. Here, the member 9 having a large thermal conductivity is 0.01c.
A material having a temperature conductivity of m ² / s or more (preferably 0.1 cm ² / s or more) is preferable, and specific examples thereof include metals such as Al and Ni. In order to enhance the heat radiation effect, it is also effective to form a part of a member having high thermal conductivity into a fin shape or to forcibly remove heat with air or the like. Of course, a configuration in which circulation and heat dissipation are combined may be used.

EXAMPLES Next, the present invention will be described more specifically by way of examples.

Example 1 Recording Material: Fluoropolymer TG702 (manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd.) Recording Substrate: Polyimide film (manufactured by Nitto Denko, thickness about 20 μm) Latent image forming means: Thermal head (200 dpi) Latent image formation Liquid: Water Device configuration: device in which the latent image forming part shown in FIG. 3 is combined in FIG. 7 Recording agent: water-based black ink (implementation result) After a recording medium and a recording device were produced based on the above configuration and conditions, When different images were recorded continuously, a good image without background stain was obtained.

Example 2 Device Configuration: The same as Example 1 except that the latent image forming part (latent image forming part: Al having a large thermal conductivity was Al) shown in FIG. 4 was combined in FIG. A recording body and a recording device were created. (Results of Execution) When the same operation as in Example 1 was performed,
A good image without the same background stain was obtained.

[0038]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the background stain is surely prevented and a high quality image can be obtained. According to the invention of claim 2, it is possible to easily obtain a large number of different copies. According to the invention of claim 3, the recording device can be simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a main part of a device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a main part of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a main part of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a main part of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a main part of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing still another example of the main part of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the entire device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Recording Material 2 Contact Material (B) 3 Thermal Head 4 Recording Agent (4a 'Image) 5 Transfer Roller 7 Pump 8 Contact Material (B) Supply Port 9 High Thermal Conductivity Member 61 Magnet Member 62 Magnet Roller

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. The following contact material (B) is applied to the surface of the following recording medium (A).
To the heating temperature on the surface of the recording material (A) by selectively heating the surface of the recording material (A) or by contacting the surface of the recording material (A) with the contact material (B). Contact material (B) that forms a latent image with a receding contact angle
A means for supplying the surface of the recording material (A), and means for selectively heating the surface of the recording material (A) to form a latent image,
A recording material applying means for making the latent image visible, and a recording material (A)
In the recording apparatus provided with a means for transferring the recording material adhered on the recording paper, a means for directly or indirectly cooling the contact material (B) existing in the vicinity of the recording body (A) is further provided. A recording device characterized by the following. (A) A recording material having a surface layer having a property that the receding contact angle decreases when it is heated and brought into contact with a liquid. (B) A liquid, a vapor, or a solid that becomes a liquid or generates a liquid or a vapor at a temperature at which the receding contact angle of the recording medium (A) starts to decrease. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for erasing the latent image on the recording medium (A) behind the transfer means. 3. A recording material solution or a dispersion liquid is used as the contact material (B), whereby the means for supplying the contact material (B) and the means for applying the recording material are integrated.
The recording device described.