JPH05241311A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the image forming device which can prevent the image stains and noises by the transfer of broken capsule walls or the microcapsule toners failing to make contribution to color development by curing to an image receiving paper side with simple constitution. CONSTITUTION:The microcapsule toners 1 which are charged by the friction are applied onto an intermediate belt 38 by the flying electric field formed between a carrying roller 36 and a high-voltage roller 42 and binders 2 are applied thereon by a binder applying device 45. The binders 2 are heated by a binder heater 46 and are softened and in succession the binders are cooled by a binder cooler 47, by which the detachment of the microcapsule toners 1 from the intermediate belt 38 is prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a microcapsule, more specifically, a copy using a microcapsule which contains at least a coloring material such as a leuco dye, a colored dye or a pigment as an encapsulation and whose strength changes in response to light. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a machine and a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a photosensitive medium coated with microcapsules containing a dye precursor and a photocurable substance is exposed on the basis of image information, and the microcapsules are cured to form a chemical latent image on the photosensitive medium. Then, the image receiving paper on which the color developing agent which reacts with the dye precursor and develops color in advance and the photosensitive medium are superposed and pressed, and the chemical latent image is developed by pressure to form an image receiving paper. An image forming apparatus of a type that fixes an image is known.

As a type of photo-curing, there is a method in which a photopolymerization initiator and a polymerizable compound are used, and microcapsules are photopolymerized and cured by irradiation of image light to obtain a chemical latent image, for example, JP-A-57-179836. No. 62-150238
It is disclosed in the publication.

Further, as a method for improving the sensitivity of photopolymerization and hardening by improving the above-mentioned constitution, a photosensitive silver halide, a reducing agent and a polymerizable compound are used to form a latent image on the photosensitive silver halide by irradiation of image light. There is a method in which an image nucleus is formed and then heat-polymerized and cured by heating to obtain a chemical latent image.
No. 1-278849 and JP-A-62-232652.

In any of the above image forming apparatuses,
Image formation was possible only on special paper having a developer layer on the surface.

As a different example of the image forming apparatus using the above-mentioned photosensitive medium, the present applicant has overlaid the photosensitive medium on which the above-mentioned chemical latent image is formed and the image receiving paper which is plain paper with the developer layer in the middle. We have devised a device that pressurizes together and forms an image on plain paper. An image forming apparatus using a photosensitive medium carrying microcapsules containing a colored dye instead of the above dye precursor is disclosed in JP-A-62-232652.

However, in any of the above image forming apparatuses, the photosensitive medium used is a medium in which a plastic film such as PET is used as a support and photosensitive microcapsules are carried on the surface thereof.

The photosensitive medium is collected after use and discarded in a lump, or is cut and discarded every time an image is formed. Therefore, the support that is originally not necessary for forming an image, which is a plastic film, is consumed, so that the cost of consumables becomes high and the image forming cost becomes high.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the applicant of the present invention converts a photosensitive microcapsule into a toner, and coats it on a support by an image forming process such as a well-known electrophotographic method. An image forming apparatus having such a structure that only one is consumed is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 3-124919.

In the above image forming apparatus, image formation is performed as follows.

First, triboelectrically charged photosensitive microcapsule toner is applied onto a support by flying using a direct current electric field, and by exposing it to image light, the microcapsule toner is exposed to light in accordance with image information. By polymerizing and curing, and applying pressure to the image receiving paper, the dye / pigment of the inclusion is transferred to the image receiving paper side (this process is called pressure development, abbreviated as genre), and the capsule wall or The microcapsule toner that hardens and does not contribute to color development is removed with a cleaner or the like. As a result, the desired image is formed on the image receiving paper.

[0012]

However, in the conventional image forming apparatus as described above, at the time of pressing, the broken capsule wall to be removed which remains on the support and does not contribute to color development by hardening. In addition, the microcapsule toner is transferred to the image receiving paper side, which causes a problem that stains and noise are caused on the formed image.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is based on transferring the broken capsule wall remaining on the support or the microcapsule toner that has not contributed to color development to the image receiving paper side. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing image stains and noise with a simple configuration.

[0014]

In order to achieve this object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises an immobilizing agent which adheres to the support by losing its fluidity due to an external action such as light irradiation and heating. And a fixing means for fixing the fixing agent applied on the support by the fixing agent applying means.

[0015]

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention having the above structure, the immobilizing agent applying means applies the immobilizing agent onto the support, and the immobilizing means fixes the immobilizing agent onto the support. Let

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a configuration showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus embodying the present invention.

The microcapsule toner 1 used in the image forming apparatus 10 of the embodiment is composed of a wall material portion and a liquid component which is an inclusion thereof, and the liquid component cures in response to at least a predetermined wavelength. It contains a photocurable substance and a pigment as a coloring material.

Examples of the photocurable substance include polymerizable compounds such as N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone, bisphenol A diacrylate and methacrylate, tripropylene glycol diacrylate and methacrylate, polyethylene glycol diacrylate and methacrylate, penta. Examples include erythritol triacrylate and methacrylate, dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate and methacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate and methacrylate, oligoester acrylate and methacrylate, and the like. Further, these polymerizable compounds may be used alone or as a mixture of two or more kinds. Usually, these polymerizable compounds and a photopolymerization initiator are used in combination.

The photopolymerization initiator is one which is sensitive to light and initiates the polymerization of the resin. For example, benzophenone, benzoylalkyl ethers such as benzoylisopropyl ether, Michler's ketone, metal arene compounds,
2,4-diethylthioxanthone and the like can be mentioned.

The binder 2 used in the image forming apparatus 10 of the embodiment is made of a natural / synthetic polymer which is softened by heating and hardened by cooling in the form of powder toner having a particle size of 1 to 20 μm. Is polypropylene, polymethylmethacrylate, polyethylene, polystyrene,
Thermoplastic resins such as polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, polyacetal, polycarbonate, and polyphenylene oxide, thermosetting resins such as epoxy resin, diallyl phthalate resin, phenol resin, unsaturated polyester resin, and natural rubber can be used.

The image forming apparatus 10 of the embodiment is an image forming apparatus 1 described in the following embodiment according to an image information signal.
A control unit 12 is provided to control all movable parts and light emitting parts (hereinafter abbreviated as movable parts) in 0 so as to operate properly for image formation.

The control unit 12 sends a command to a driver, a switch or the like connected to the movable part or the like while monitoring the operating conditions of the movable part or the like with a sensor or the like to control the movable part or the like. is doing.

In the image forming apparatus 10, a document supporting glass 16 is attached to the upper surface of the casing 14. The document is sandwiched between the document supporting glass 16 and the document retainer 18 and held so that the image surface faces downward.

Below the document supporting glass 16, a light source lamp 20 for illuminating the document, a solid-state image pickup device 22 for reading the reflected light from the document, and reflected light from the document on the solid-state image pickup device. An optical system 24 for forming an image and an arithmetic element 26 for converting an electric signal generated by the image light being formed on the solid-state image sensor into an image information signal.
A scanner unit 28 having a and is provided.

When a copy start button (not shown) is pressed, the scanner unit 28 moves in the direction of an arrow 30 by a motor (not shown) or the like according to an instruction from the control unit 12 while moving the original document. A reading operation is performed, and the read image information signal is transferred to the control unit 12.

The microcapsule toner 1 is stored in the toner case 32 while being shielded from light. The supply roller 34 has a cylindrical shape with a diameter of about 10 mm and is made of urethane sponge. The charging blade 35 is
The carrying roller 36 is a nylon resin plate material having a thickness of about 1 to 2 mm, and a metal core rod having a diameter of about 25 mm is coated with a nylon resin having a thickness of about 200 to 1000 μm. The metal core rod of the carrying roller 36 is grounded.

The supply roller 34 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 in response to a command from the control unit 12, and the carrier roller 36 also rotates in the direction of arrow 37.

By rotating the supply roller 34, the microcapsule toner 1 is pulled out from the toner case 32, and at this time, the charging blade 35 and the microcapsule toner 1 rub, and the microcapsule toner 1 is charged.

The intermediate belt 38 is made of a silicone sponge having excellent releasability and is wound around a metal intermediate belt driving roller 40 and a high pressure roller 42, and the intermediate belt controlled by the control unit 12 is used. It is driven in the direction of arrow 44 by the drive roller 40. The high-pressure roller 42 has a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the microcapsule toner 1 and is 1 kV in order to fly the triboelectrically charged microcapsule toner 1 from the carrying roller 36 and coat it on the intermediate belt 38. Apply a high DC voltage.

The supply roller 34 and the carrying roller 36 are always in friction with each other, and due to this friction, the charging blade 35 is placed on the surface of the carrying roller 36 charged to the opposite polarity to the microcapsule toner 1. The microcapsule toner 1 frictionally charged by is electrostatically adsorbed and carried.

The microcapsule toner 1 carried on the carrying roller 36 is acted upon by the electric field generated between the core rod of the carrying roller 36 and the high-pressure roller 42, which are grounded, and thereby the intermediate belt. 38 is electrostatically applied.

On the microcapsule toner 1 electrostatically applied on the intermediate belt 38, the binder 2 is applied by the binder application device 45.

The binder 2 coated on the support by the binder coating device 45 is the binder heating device 4
It is softened by being heated at 6, and the softened material is mixed with the surface of the intermediate belt 38 and the microcapsule toner 1.
The softened material is hardened by flowing into the gap between them and subsequently being cooled by the binder cooling device 47.
The microcapsule toner 1 can be fixed so as not to come off from the intermediate belt 38.

The binder applicator 45 comprises a binder case 48 and a binder supply roller 50 connected to a motor (not shown) controlled by the control unit 12.

The binder supply roller 50 is a metal or resin roller having a groove having a depth of about 1 mm and a width of about 1 mm in the longitudinal direction. When the binder supply roller 50 is rotated by a command from the control unit 12, the binder 2 in the binder case 48 enters the groove and is carried on the binder supply roller 50 and directly faces the intermediate belt 38. At this position, the microcapsule toner 1 drops from the groove due to gravity, so that the binder 2 is scattered on the intermediate belt 38.

The microcapsule toner 1 fixed on the intermediate belt 38 as described above corresponds to the control unit 1 according to the image information read by the scanner section 28.
2 is exposed by the exposure source 58 controlled by 2 and arrow 60
Is pressed by the pressing transfer roller 62 rotating in the direction of, and only the microcapsule toner 1 that has not been photopolymerized and cured is destroyed, and the inclusion containing the coloring material is carried on the pressing transfer roller 62. To be done.

The debris of the microcapsule toner 1 remaining on the intermediate belt 38 after pressing and the microcapsule toner 1 photopolymerized and cured are removed by sliding with a cleaning blade 64, and are left in the dust box 66. Thrown away

The image receiving paper 70 stored in the image receiving paper cassette 68 is fed out by the paper feed roller 72, and the arrow 78 is fed by the paper guide 74 and the paper guide roller 76.
Is guided in the gap between the nip roller 80 rotating in the direction of and the compression transfer roller 62, and is nipped and pressed by the nip roller 80 and the compression transfer roller 62,
The inclusion containing the coloring material carried on the pressure transfer roller 62 is transferred onto the image receiving paper 70, and the image is transferred onto the image receiving paper 7.
Form on 0.

The image receiving paper 70 having the formed image.
Is guided by the paper discharge roller 82 and discharged to the exit tray 84.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in detail above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, static electricity was used as the application means for the microcapsule toner.
A mechanical / chemical action other than static electricity, such as magnetism or physical adsorption, may be used.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, as the binder applying means, the powdered binder is dispersed by gravity, but the same electrostatic means as the microcapsule toner applying means in the above-mentioned embodiment is used. In addition to the flying method, a method in which a magnetic material is mixed in a binder powder and magnetically applied using a magnet, or a binder is preheated or dissolved in a suitable solvent to form a liquid or gas , You may take the method of spraying this.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the binder having the property of being softened by heating and then hardened by cooling is used, but the same light as the inclusion of the microcapsule toner in the above-mentioned embodiment is used. It may be composed of a polymerized curable substance that does not overlap with the wavelength of the microcapsule toner having a sensitive wavelength. For example, if the microcapsule toner has sensitivity in the visible region, the binder may have sensitivity in the ultraviolet region.

Further, in the above embodiment, the binder coating was performed after the microcapsule toner coating, but the binder coating may be performed before the microcapsule toner coating, or the binder coating and the microcapsule toner coating may be performed. May be performed at the same time. At this time, the binder applying means and the microcapsule toner applying means may be the same or different.

Further, in the above embodiment, the fixing of the microcapsule toner on the support with the binder was carried out before the image exposure, but it may be carried out after the image exposure.

[0047]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, image stains and noise caused by transferring the broken capsule wall or the microcapsule toner that has hardened and did not contribute to color development to the image receiving paper side. Can be prevented with a simple configuration.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a configuration showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Micro Capsule Toner 2 Binder 28 Scanner Section 34 Supply Roller 35 Charging Blade 36 Supporting Roller 38 Intermediate Belt 42 High Pressure Roller 45 Binder Application Device 46 Binder Heating Device 47 Binder Cooling Device 50 Binder Supply Roller 62 Impression Transfer Roller 80 Nip Roller

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image in which a microcapsule toner composed of an inclusion containing at least a coloring material such as a leuco dye, a colored dye or a pigment, and a wall member containing a resin such as a polymer as a main component is applied to a support. In the forming apparatus, an immobilizing agent applying unit that applies an immobilizing agent that adheres to the support by losing its fluidity due to an external action such as light irradiation and heating, and the immobilizing agent applying unit supports the immobilizing agent. An image forming apparatus comprising: an immobilizing unit that fixes the immobilizing agent applied on the body.