JPH052926Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Technical field of the invention] The invention is an optical printing method in which a latent image corresponding to the content of a document is formed on photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording paper by exposure with a beam of light from a light source, and then pressure development is performed. It relates to pressure developing devices such as printers and copying machines.

[Background of the idea]

Photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording paper uses a support consisting of microcapsules whose hardness changes depending on the amount of light exposure and a color developer that develops color from the dye precursor when it comes into contact with the dye precursor contained in the microcapsules. It is a recording medium coated on top. To form an image on this photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording paper, first exposure is performed in accordance with the content of the document to be recorded. Here, when the dye precursor is a photocurable type, the exposed portion is hardened and the unexposed portion is not softened. In the case of a photo-softening type, exposed areas soften, while unexposed areas exhibit high hardness. Therefore, the exposure state is reversed depending on the type of these photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording papers. In either case, an image is formed based on the hardness distribution of the microcapsules. Next, the microcapsules of the light-sensitive and pressure-sensitive recording paper on which the image has been formed are pressed and destroyed by a pressure roll, and a color is developed by a reaction between a dye precursor and a color developer, and development is performed.
In this case, if the pressure developing device for pressurized development is unable to apply the desired pressure, the degree of destruction of the microcapsules will be uneven, resulting in uneven color density on the recording paper. Incidentally, the same situation applies to a transfer type in which a color developer and microcapsules are coated on separate sheets on photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording paper.

[Prior art]

Generally, an optical printing apparatus that uses recording paper such as photosensitive pressure-sensitive recording paper uses a linear light source such as a fluorescent lamp to form a latent image by exposing the document to light with an amount corresponding to the amount of light. A pressure roll is used to develop the photosensitive pressure sensitive recording on which the latent image has been formed. The pressure roll is supported by shafts at both ends thereof, and a desired pressure is often applied via the frame by a mechanical spring. Therefore, the device becomes large and it is difficult to change the pressurizing force. Further, a difference in pressure occurs near the center of the pressure roll. This pressure difference causes uneven color development in the developed image. Naturally, this tendency is even more pronounced when a light- and pressure-sensitive recording paper with uneven exposure is subjected to pressure development using an ordinary pressure roll.

[Purpose of invention]

An object of the present invention is to provide a pressure developing device in which the pressurized state can be controlled and a desired pressure can be easily obtained.

[Structure of the idea]

The object of the present invention is to provide a pressure developing device having the configuration described in the claims for utility model registration, that is, a pressure roller device that performs pressure development, in which both of a pair of pressure rolls are applied in the direction of the pressing force between the pressure rolls. A pressure developing device characterized in that a piezoelectric member that expands and contracts is provided, a voltage is applied to one piezoelectric member from a voltage source, and the voltage from the other piezoelectric member is detected by a voltage detection section. will be achieved.

〔Example〕

1 and 2 show an embodiment of the pressure developing device according to the present invention. In the figure, a pressure roll 1 presses a photosensitive pressure recording paper on which a latent image has already been formed between a pressure roll 1 and a partially illustrated lower pressure roll 2. A pressure roll contact member 3 is provided above the pressure roll 1, and is in smooth contact with the roll bearing, for example. Furthermore, a piezoelectric member 4 made of a piezoelectric material is arranged on the contact member 3. This piezoelectric member 4 has an intermediate piezoelectric material 4a sandwiched between two electrodes 4b. In such a configuration, the piezoelectric material 4a
When an appropriate voltage is applied to both electrodes 4b of the piezoelectric member 4, the direction is selected to expand and contract in the direction of the arrow.
Such a structure is also provided on the lower pressure roll 2.

In such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 3, a voltage is applied to one piezoelectric member 4 from a voltage source 5, and a voltage from the other piezoelectric member 4 is detected by a voltage detection unit 6. Connecting. now,
An appropriate voltage is applied to one, for example, the upper piezoelectric member 4, so as to increase the pressing force between the pressure rolls 1 and 2. In this case, the lower piezoelectric member 4 generates a voltage, which is detected by the detection section 6. Based on the magnitude of this detected voltage, it is determined how much pressure is between the pressure rolls 1 and 2, and according to the result, the voltage applied to the upper piezoelectric member 4 is automatically adjusted to an appropriate value. can do.

In FIG. 4, in order to reduce the torque when the recording paper is caught between the pressure rolls 1 and 2, the voltage of the upper piezoelectric member 4 is controlled before the recording paper reaches between the rolls, and the voltage is applied between the rolls. This is where the gap is formed. Such adjustment can be achieved very easily by appropriately controlling the voltage of the voltage source 5.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which recording paper is inserted between the pressure rolls 1 and 2. Note that since the piezoelectric member used for the piezoelectric member 4 is reversible, pressurization and voltage detection can be arbitrarily changed, or both can be made to function as a pressurizing section at the same time.

In this embodiment, five piezoelectric members are used on the upper and lower sides, but piezoelectric members may be provided only on either the upper or lower sides. In this case, it is possible to select whether to function as a pressure section or a pressure detection section. It goes without saying that the number of piezoelectric members, the arrangement interval, etc. can be arbitrarily selected. In addition, by configuring each piezoelectric member to be able to operate separately, it is also possible to configure the pressure roll so that, for example, the pressure force near the center of the pressure roll is greater than that at the center.

[Effect of idea]

According to the configuration of the present invention, the pressure acting between the pressure rolls of the pressure developing device can be easily and arbitrarily adjusted to a desired state from the outside. Therefore, it is possible to maintain good image quality of images recorded in the pressure developing device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of a pressure developing device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1. 3 to 5 are explanatory diagrams showing the operating state of the pressure developing device according to the present invention. The correspondence of the main reference symbols in the figure is as follows. 1...
... Pressure roll, 2 ... Pressure roll, 3 ... Pressure roll contact member, 4 ... Piezoelectric member, 5 ... Power supply section,
6... Voltage detection section, 7... Recording paper.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] A pressure roll that performs pressure development in a pressure development device that performs pressure development after forming a latent image corresponding to the content of a document on light-sensitive and pressure-sensitive recording paper by exposing it to a luminous flux from a light source. Both of the pair of pressure rolls of the device are provided with piezoelectric members that expand and contract in the direction of the pressure between the pressure rolls, and a voltage is applied to one piezoelectric member from a voltage source, and the voltage from the other piezoelectric member is applied as a voltage. A pressure developing device characterized in that it is configured to be detected by a detection section.