JPH05323559A - Press transfer device for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a press transfer device for an image forming device from which a stable image output with no irregular density and paper creasing, by pressing a photo sensitive member and a transfer member with a uniform pressure distribution during press-transfer. CONSTITUTION:A press transfer device for an image forming device using a photosensitive thermally developing material 1, comprises at least two rollers 101, 102, having such an arrangement that one 102 of the rollers is covered over its outer surface with a thin skin 104, or having such an arrangement that one 102 them is pipe-like packed therein with a soft material, or having both arrangements.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pressure transfer device of a photosensitive transfer type image forming apparatus which exposes an image on a photosensitive member and then superimposes the image on the transfer member to form an image on the transfer member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional pressure transfer device for an image forming apparatus is
It is composed of at least two rollers formed of carbon steel or the like, and the transfer member is superposed on the photosensitive member after the image exposure, and is passed between the pressure-applied rollers so that the photosensitive member is transferred onto the photosensitive member. Of the microcapsules, and the color material contained in the microcapsules was transferred to the transfer member to form an image.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the shape and cylindricity of each roller constituting the pressure transfer device are required to have high accuracy in order to obtain a uniform pressure distribution. The cylindricity required for the second roller is 3 to 5 μm especially when it is composed of three rollers.
Because it was small, it was difficult to make, and the cost was high accordingly. Further, there is a problem in that there is variation in thickness within one transfer member, and pressure unevenness occurs during pressurization.

Therefore, the present invention solves such a problem, and an object thereof is to apply uniform pressure to the photosensitive member and the transfer member at the time of pressure development to eliminate unevenness in density and wrinkles. There is a need to provide a pressure transfer device of stable quality.

[0005]

A pressure transfer device for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises a photosensitive member having a large number of microcapsules on the surface of which at least a photosensitive substance and a coloring material are enclosed, as a transfer member after image exposure. In a pressure transfer device of a photosensitive transfer type image forming apparatus which forms an image on the transfer member by superposing and pressing, (a) the pressure transfer device is composed of at least two rollers, and at least one of them is used. (B) The pressure transfer device is composed of at least two rollers, and at least one of the rollers is formed in a pipe shape, and the pipe is inside the pipe. It is characterized by being filled with a material that is softer than the surface.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the configuration of an image forming apparatus equipped with the pressure transfer device of the present invention will be briefly described with reference to FIG. The photosensitive member 1 is a photosensitive heat-developable material as disclosed in JP-A-61-275572, and is a microcapsule containing a photosensitive silver halide, a reducing agent, a polymerizable compound, and a coloring material on a support. The capsule is coated and stored in the cartridge 7. The photosensitive member 1 is subjected to imagewise exposure and uniform heat development to polymerize the polymerizable compound in the microcapsules to selectively cure the capsules. A document is placed between a document cover 3 and a document table glass 4 which are provided so as to be movable in the direction of arrow A in the figure, and a light beam emitted from a light source lamp 2 irradiates the document.
The reflected light from the original is formed so as to form an image on the photosensitive member 1 that moves on the exposure table 6 through the lens 5, and forms a so-called scan exposure system. The continuous sheet-shaped photosensitive member 1 sent out from the cartridge 7 accommodating the unexposed photosensitive member 1 is exposed on the exposure table 6 to form a latent image, and then passes through the carrying roller 10 and the thermal developing device 20.
Is developed by heating. After exposure, the photosensitive member 1 is sent to the pressure transfer device 100. On the other hand, the transfer member 9 has a surface property capable of transferring the color material, and is sent out from the paper feed tray 8 to the pressure transfer device 100 in the state of cut paper. The photosensitive member 1 and the transfer member 9 sent into the pressure transfer device 100 are the rollers 101, 102 in the pressure transfer device 100.
It is piled up between and is pressurized. At this time, the microcapsules on the photosensitive member 1 are destroyed and the color material inside is transferred to the transfer member 9 to form an image. After pressure transfer,
The photosensitive member 1 is wound around a winding shaft 11, and the transfer member 9 is discharged to a paper discharge tray 12.

Next, a detailed structure of the pressure transfer device 100 according to the present invention will be described in the case where the pressure transfer device is composed of three rollers.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the pressure transfer device of the present invention. The pressure transfer device includes rollers 101, 102, 1
It is composed of 03. The surface of the second roller 102 installed second is covered with a thin skin 104. The thin skin 104 is made of a material such as rubber or plastic and covers the surface of the roller 102 by about 30 to 100 μm.
Covered with a thickness of m. Therefore, the roller 102
Even if there is some variation in the cylindricity, the thin skin 104 can absorb the cylindricity. Also at the same time roller 10
It is possible to absorb some variation in the cylindricity of 1 and 103. Therefore, when the photosensitive member 1 and the transfer member 9 pass between the rollers 101 and 102, it is possible to apply pressure with a uniform pressure distribution. According to the present invention, it was found that the cylindricity of the roller 102 is within the absorption allowable range up to about 10 μm.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing that the roller 102 is formed in a pipe shape. The roller 102 is formed in a pipe shape so that its shape can be subtly deformed in accordance with the applied pressure. Therefore, pressure unevenness can be absorbed and averaged, and pressure can be applied with a uniform pressure distribution. Further, in order to prevent the roller 102 from being crushed by the high pressure at the time of pressurization, a member 105 softer than the pipe is packed in the pipe. The member 105 is made of aluminum, brass, plastic or the like. As a result, it is possible to prevent the nip width between the roller 101 and the roller 102 from increasing, and to prevent the pressure from decreasing.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, if the surface of the pipe-shaped roller 102 of this embodiment is covered with a thin skin 104, pressurization with a more uniform pressure distribution becomes possible.

Although the pressure transfer device of the present invention has been described in the case where the pressure transfer device is composed of three rollers, the pressure transfer device is as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. The same result as described above can be obtained even when it is composed of two rollers.

The photosensitive member which can be used in the present invention is not limited to those described in the examples, and is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-30537.
Examples of the light-sensitive pressure transfer type light-sensitive material can be mentioned.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform pressure development with a uniform pressure distribution when the photosensitive member and the transfer member pass through the pressure transfer device. Therefore, uneven density and wrinkles are less likely to occur, and an image forming apparatus having stable image quality can be provided to the user of the apparatus.

Further, in each roller constituting the pressure transfer device, the cylindricity of the roller can be widened. Particularly, when the second roller is composed of three rollers, the allowable range is widened, so that the shape is easy to make, and the cost is reduced accordingly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus equipped with a pressure transfer device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the pressure transfer device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing a state in which the present invention is composed of two rollers.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing another embodiment in which the present invention is composed of two rollers.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing still another embodiment in which the present invention is composed of two rollers.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photosensitive member 2 Light source lamp 3 Original cover 4 Original table glass 5 Lens 6 Exposure table 7 Cartridge 8 Paper feed tray 9 Transfer member 10 Conveying roller 11 Winding shaft 12 Paper ejection tray 20 Thermal development device 100 Pressure transfer device 101, 102, 103 roller 104 thin skin 105 member

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive transfer which forms an image on the transfer member by superimposing and pressing a photosensitive member having a large number of microcapsules in which at least a photosensitive substance and a coloring material are encapsulated on the surface thereof after the image exposure. In the pressure transfer device of the image forming apparatus, the pressure transfer device is composed of at least two rollers, and the surface of at least one of the rollers is covered with a thin skin. Transfer device. 2. A photosensitive transfer which forms an image on the transfer member by superimposing and pressing a photosensitive member having a large number of microcapsules on the surface of which at least a photosensitive substance and a coloring material are encapsulated inside the transfer member after imagewise exposure. In the pressure transfer device of the image forming apparatus, the pressure developing device is composed of at least two rollers, and at least one of the rollers is formed in a pipe shape, and the inside of the pipe is softer than the pipe surface. A pressure transfer device for an image forming apparatus, characterized in that the members are packed.