JPH05221119A - Recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a recording apparatus capable of obtaining an image of good image quality by preventing the coating irregularity of a recording agent and the surface contamination of a recording body in obtaining an image by visualizing the latent image formed on the recording body on which the latent image is formed by the change of the sweepback contact angle of the surface of the recording body by heating in the contact state with a liquid to transfer the visible image to recording paper. CONSTITUTION:The surface of a recording belt 1 is heated in a heating part 4 and, after a latent image is formed on the recording belt, a recording agent is supplied to the surface of the recording belt by a recording agent applying means 5. The recording agent is supplied to the surface of the recording belt 1 from a slit 5A under gravity by a server 5E to become a stable fluid layer F on the recording belt 1. The recording agent flows as it is along with the movement of a developing roller 3 and flows in a recording agent receiving tray 5C to be recovered. The recovered recording agent is carried to the server 5E through a pump 5D to be reutilized.

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 (solution or dispersion liquid) contained therein is supplied to make it visible so that it can be transferred in good condition on plain paper.

[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 cost, and make 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. Furthermore, according to the method of (3), the information recording member used there is stable after recording, but before recording, there is a possibility that the physical structure changes due to temperature change. Therefore, there is a problem with storability. In addition to this, since a means for applying a heat pulse and then quenching is adopted for erasing the recorded information pattern,
Repeated image formation has a disadvantage that the complexity cannot be imitated.

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). A method of forming a latent image showing a receding contact angle according to the method, visualizing the latent image with a recording agent solution or a dispersion liquid containing a colorant, and then transferring the visible image to a recording paper is provided. A device related to this has been proposed (West German Patent Publication 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. ,
A large number of copied images can be easily obtained, and different copied images can be continuously obtained.

[0006]

However, in such a recording apparatus, since a mechanical roller is used to apply the recording material to the recording material, there is a problem such as abrasion on the roller surface or the recording material surface. Occur. Further, since the recording material is rubbed on the surface of the recording medium by the roller, the surface of the recording material may be soiled or the recording material may not be evenly attached to cause unevenness. Further, the recording material may overflow or leak at the end of the roller, in which case the side surface of the recording material becomes dirty, which has an unfavorable effect on obtaining an image of good quality. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of obtaining an image with more stable image quality by preventing the developing surface from being soiled when the recording material is attached to the recording material and stabilizing the quality of the developing surface. To do.

[0007]

The first aspect of the present invention is to selectively heat the surface of the following recording material (A) in contact with the following contact material (B), or the recording material (A) Recording the recording material (B) that forms a latent image showing the receding contact angle according to the heating temperature on the surface of the recording material (A) by contacting the surface of the recording material with the contact material (B) in a selectively heated state. A means for supplying the surface of the body (A), a means for selectively heating the surface of the recording body (A) according to an image signal, a means for applying a recording agent for visualizing the latent image, and a recording body (A) In a recording apparatus having a unit for transferring the recording agent adhered on the recording sheet and a unit for erasing the latent image of the recording medium (A), the recording agent applying unit transfers the recording agent from above onto the recording medium surface. It is characterized in that it is supplied so as to form a fluid layer on it. (A) A recording material having a surface layer having a property that the receding contact angle is reduced 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.

The second aspect of the present invention is to selectively heat the surface of the recording material (A) by selectively heating the surface of the recording material (A) in contact with the following contact material (B). 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 contacting it with the contact material (B) in the heated state is applied to the surface of the recording material (A). A means for supplying, a means for selectively heating the surface of the recording material (A) according to an image signal, a means for applying a recording agent for making the latent image visible, and a recording material.
(A) In a recording apparatus having a unit for transferring the recording agent adhered onto the recording sheet and a unit for erasing the latent image of the recording medium (A), the recording medium applying unit is arranged in the recording medium moving direction. The recording material is supplied from the vertical direction so as to form a linear flow in the width direction of the recording medium. (A) A recording material having a surface layer having a property that the receding contact angle is reduced 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.

A third aspect of the present invention is to selectively heat the surface of the recording material (A) by selectively heating the surface of the recording material (A) in contact with the following contact material (B). 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 contacting it with the contact material (B) in the heated state is applied to the surface of the recording material (A). A means for supplying, a means for selectively heating the surface of the recording material (A) according to an image signal, a means for applying a recording agent for making the latent image visible, and a recording material.
(A) In a recording apparatus having a unit for transferring the recording agent adhered on the recording sheet to the recording sheet and a unit for erasing the latent image of the recording medium (A), the unit for applying the recording agent is from a lower portion or a side portion. It is characterized in that the recording agent is supplied so as to form a laminar flow which is blown out in an upward or oblique direction. (A) A recording material having a surface layer having a property that the receding contact angle is reduced 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 such an apparatus of the present invention, if a recording material such as a liquid ink is used, the contact material (B) supply means can be omitted because it is visualized at the same time as the latent image formation. .. In the device of the present invention, the surface of the recording medium (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.

[0011]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below based on examples. 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" referred to in (1) means that when a solid formed by depositing a compound on a support or a solid formed by the compound itself is heated in air, the hydrophobic group on the surface moves toward the air (free). 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.

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

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.

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. Instead of the dish, a sponge-like porous body containing a liquid may be used.

As a heating means for forming a latent image, in addition to contact heating by 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).

When the transfer of one image information is completed, the surface of the recording medium (A) is heated in the absence of liquid or vapor (in air, in vacuum or in an inert gas) (heating temperature: 50-). Thirty
0 ° C, preferably 100 to 180 ° C, heating time: 1 msec to
If the latent image is erased for 10 seconds, preferably 10 milliseconds to 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 using electromagnetic waves such as a laser or an infrared lamp is desirable. The heating may be performed only on the latent image portion, but may be performed on the entire surface of the recording material (A). Rather, it is more preferable to heat the entire surface because the device structure 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.
Although it depends on the material of the surface of (A), it is desirable that the temperature is not lower than the decomposition temperature and not higher than the decomposition temperature at which the receding contact angle of the material on the surface of the recording material (A) becomes low.

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.

The recording agent (comprising a solution or a dispersion) is selected from among the recording agents used in conventional print recording methods such as writing ink, ink jet recording ink, printing ink and electrophotographic toner. It is possible to select and use one that is compatible with the device of the present invention.

As a more specific and preferable example, for example, the water-based ink is mainly composed of water, a wetting agent, a water-soluble ink mainly containing a dye or water, a pigment, a polymer compound for dispersion, and a wetting agent. An aqueous pigment dispersion ink, an emulsion ink in which a pigment or a dye is dispersed in water using a surfactant, and the like are used.

The recording apparatus of the present invention is characterized by the recording agent applying means, and the flow of the recording agent is brought into contact with the recording medium as it is without using a mechanical roller. The recording agent applying means used in the present invention is roughly classified into the following three types. (i) A recording material is brought into contact with the recording material by supplying the recording material from above so as to form a fluid layer on the surface of the recording material. (ii) A recording material is brought into contact with the recording material by supplying the recording material so as to form a linear flow in the width direction of the recording material from a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the recording material. (iii) A recording agent is brought into contact with a recording medium by supplying the recording agent so as to form a layered flow that blows upward or obliquely.

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing an example of the construction of a recording apparatus using the recording agent applying means of the type (i) above.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view, and FIG. 3 is a side view showing how the recording material is supplied and collected. Here, the recording body belt 1 is stretched by two rollers 2 and 3, and around the recording body belt 1, a heating unit 4 for forming a latent image, a recording agent applying unit 5, a transfer roller 6, and a remaining portion. A cleaner 7 is provided for removing the recording material. The latent image erasing means is not shown. P is a recording paper, and F is a fluid layer of a recording agent. The recording agent applying means 5 is composed of a slit 5A, a recording agent remover 5B, a recording agent tray 5C, a pump 5D, a recording agent server 5E and a recording agent supply pipe 5F. The slit 5A has an elongated shape extending in the width direction of the recording belt 1 (direction perpendicular to the moving direction). The slit width depends on the rotation speed of the developing roller 3. That is, if the rotation speed of the developing roller 3 is high, a predetermined amount of recording material must be supplied in such a short time. If the slit width is too large, the recording material will overflow from the recording belt 1 and the inside of the device will be soiled. Therefore,
Usually, the slit width is preferably about 0.5 to 0.1 mm.

The operation of the above construction will be described. After the surface of the recording belt 1 is heated by the heating section 4 in accordance with the image signal to be recorded and a latent image is formed, the recording agent is recorded by the recording agent applying means 5. It is supplied to the surface of the body belt 1. The recording agent is gravitationally supplied from the slit 5A to the surface of the recording belt 1 by the server 5E to form a stable fluid layer F on the recording belt 1. The recording material flows as it is along with the movement of the developing roller 3, flows into the recording material receiving tray 5C, and is collected. The collected recording material is removed from the recording material by a filter or the like via the pump 5D, transported to the server 5E, and reused. The visualized image formed on the recording belt 1 by contact with the recording material is transferred onto the recording paper P by the transfer roller 6. Then, the cleaner 7 removes the residual recording material, the latent image erasing means (not shown) erases the latent image, and the process moves to the next recording cycle. In this way, a stable developing surface can be obtained.

In the above description, the recording agent was allowed to flow out from the slit 5A by gravity, but a known means may be used to provide a certain blowing speed. In this case, the Reynolds number is set to be smaller than 1000 so as to blow out in a laminar flow. When it is 1000 or more, the recording material flowing out from the slit 5A becomes a turbulent flow, and a very good effect cannot be expected. In this apparatus, it is preferable to use a water-based ink as a recording material in terms of peeling from the recording belt 1. Further, in the above description, the recording material removing device 5 is provided between the developing roller 3 and the recording material receiving tray 5C.
B is provided, which also helps stabilize the image quality on the developing surface.

In the above apparatus, the recording medium belt 1 in the recording material application portion is arranged so that the straight line connecting the axes of the rollers 2 and 3 is inclined from the horizontal direction as shown in the figure.
If the surface is inclined relative to the horizontal direction, the fluid layer F formed by the recording material flowing out from the slit 5A is further stabilized.
This inclination angle θ is preferably up to about 15 degrees. If it is too large, the developing agent is not developed and the recording agent flows into the recording agent receiving tray 5C. Further, the contact with the recording belt 1 becomes unstable. Such an arrangement can be easily carried out inside the apparatus, whereby the backflow and spilling of the recording material on the surface of the recording belt are reduced, and more stable image quality can be obtained.

Further, in the above apparatus, as shown in FIG. 4, a pair of blades 9 may be provided on the side surface of the recording material belt 1 where the recording material flows. By doing so, when the amount of the recording agent flowing out from the slit 5A is large, it is possible to prevent the recording agent from overflowing from the side surface of the recording body belt and contaminating the inside of the apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an example of the construction of a recording apparatus using the recording agent applying means of the above type (ii), viewed from the bottom, FIG.
FIG. In these figures, the same elements as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. 5'is a recording material applying means, 5A '
Is an annular nozzle, 5B 'is a recording material drop, and F'is a recording material flow. This configuration example is different from the configuration example of FIG. 1 in that
The respective elements are arranged so that the moving direction of the recording body roller 1 is always parallel to the horizontal plane, and the slit 5A is provided.
Instead, an annular nozzle 5A 'is used, and a recording material remover 5B' is provided at the position shown. The annular nozzle 5A 'has its ejection port oriented parallel or slightly toward the recording body,
A jet of the recording agent having an outflow velocity is discharged above the surface of the recording belt 1 by using gravity, and the flow F ′ of the recording agent is perpendicular to the moving direction of the recording belt 1 as shown in the figure. Form along the direction. As a result, a stable developing surface can be obtained. The recovery and reuse of the recording agent after contact with the recording belt 1 is the same as in the case of the apparatus of FIG. It is conceivable that the recording material belt 1 is set in the moving direction as shown in FIG. 1 and the recording material is discharged from the horizontal direction by the annular nozzle, but in this case, the contact is not made well when the developing roller rotates at a high speed. .. In addition, if the annular nozzle 5A ′ is too close to the recording belt 1 in the configuration of FIGS. 5 and 6, the recording material may not flow to the lower side of the recording belt 1, so an appropriate distance may be set. is necessary. The Reynolds number of the recording agent discharged from the annular nozzle 5A ′ is preferably up to 1000 as in the above case, and if it is larger than that, turbulent flow occurs, and development cannot be performed very cleanly. Further, in order to prevent the recording agent from scattering at the time of discharging the recording agent, a blade 10 may be provided around it as shown in FIG.

Further, in the above apparatus, the annular nozzle 5A '
Instead of the above, a recording agent supply member 11 as shown in FIG. 8 may be used. This member 11 causes the recording material to flow between the double circular tubes whose outer part is cut off in the axial direction, and a linear recording material flow F ′ is brought into contact with the recording material belt 1 through the cutout part 12. It is what makes them. Even in this case, a stable linear flow of the recording material can be created, and the scattering of the recording material can be prevented. The flow velocity of the recording agent in the double circular tube may be as fast as not disturbed, and has a considerable degree of freedom. Therefore, the development can be performed without depending on the rotation of the developing roller. Furthermore, this member also makes it possible to discharge the recording material onto the recording belt from the horizontal direction.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a constitutional example of a recording apparatus using the recording agent applying means of the above type (iii) as seen from the side, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a slit nozzle. In these figures, the same elements as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. 1 '
Is a recording medium (which also serves as a developing roller), 5 ″ is a recording agent applying unit, 5A ″ is a slit-shaped nozzle, and F ″ is a layered flow of the recording agent. In this configuration example, the slit-shaped nozzle 10 moves the recording agent upward. The recording material 1'is brought into contact with the surface of the recording material 1 '. The recording material that has not come into contact with the recording material 1'falls downward due to gravity, and falls on the receiving tray 5C. By this means, in addition to the above-mentioned advantages, space can be saved inside the device, which is useful for downsizing of the device. The recording agent blown out from the slit is not related to the discharge speed so much, and the adjustment is easier than the others, and the size of the slit can be adjusted according to the rotation of the developing roller. Also record Even if the amount of the supply is too large in this case it is not a serious problem.

In the above apparatus, the recording agent was blown upward from below to form a layered flow of the recording agent. However, the slit-shaped nozzle 5 "is arranged in the form as shown in FIG. The flow F ″ may be brought into contact with the recording body 1 ′.

[0041]

According to the recording apparatus of the present invention, in order to apply the recording agent to the recording medium, the flow of the recording agent is brought into contact as it is without using a mechanical roller as in the prior art. By the recording agent applying means having such a structure, the stain on the developing surface can be reduced more than ever, and an image with more stable image quality can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing a configuration example of a recording apparatus using a first type recording agent applying unit.

2 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which a recording material is supplied and collected.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of blades installed on both sides of a recording belt.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an example of the configuration of a recording apparatus using a second type recording agent application unit as viewed from the bottom.

6 is a perspective view of the device of FIG.

7A is an explanatory perspective view of a blade provided around the flow of a recording agent, and FIG. 7B is a plan view.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a recording agent supply member using a double circular pipe.

FIG. 9 is a side view schematically showing a configuration example of a recording apparatus using a third type recording agent applying unit.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a slit nozzle.

FIG. 11 is a side view schematically showing a configuration example of a recording apparatus using a modified example of the third type recording agent application unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Recording Body Belt 1'Recording Body 3 Developing Roller 4 Heating Part for Forming Latent Image 5, 5 ', 5 "Recording Agent Applying Means 5A Slit 5A' Annular Nozzle 5A" Slit Nozzle 5B, 5B 'Recording Agent Dropping 5C Recording agent tray 5D Pump 5E Server 6 Transfer roller 7 Cleaner 9, 10 Blade 11 Double circular tube with cutout

Claims (4)

[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
To the surface of the recording material (A), a means for selectively heating the surface of the recording material (A) according to an image signal, a means for applying a recording agent for visualizing the latent image, and a recording material ( In a recording apparatus having a unit for transferring the recording agent adhered on the recording medium (A) onto a recording sheet and a unit for erasing the latent image of the recording medium (A), the recording medium application unit records the recording medium from above. A recording apparatus which supplies the fluid so as to form a fluid layer on the body surface. (A) A recording material having a surface layer having a property that the receding contact angle is reduced 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 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
To the surface of the recording material (A), a means for selectively heating the surface of the recording material (A) according to an image signal, a means for applying a recording agent for visualizing the latent image, and a recording material ( In a recording apparatus having means for transferring the recording agent adhered on the recording sheet onto the recording sheet and means for erasing the latent image of the recording medium (A), the means for applying the recording agent is perpendicular to the moving direction of the recording medium. A recording apparatus for supplying a recording agent from any direction so as to form a linear flow in the width direction of a recording medium. (A) A recording material having a surface layer having a property that the receding contact angle is reduced 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. 3. 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
To the surface of the recording material (A), a means for selectively heating the surface of the recording material (A) according to an image signal, a means for applying a recording agent for visualizing the latent image, and a recording material ( In a recording apparatus having a means for transferring the recording agent adhered on the recording medium (A) onto a recording sheet and a means for erasing the latent image of the recording medium (A), the recording agent applying means records the recording agent from the bottom or side. A recording apparatus, which supplies the agent so as to form a laminar flow that blows upward or obliquely. (A) A recording material having a surface layer having a property that the receding contact angle is reduced 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. 4. The recording material 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 combined into one unit. Recording device described.