JPH0545844A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize the output of excellent image quality while developing pressure is reduced in an image recorder that a microcapsule whose mechanical intensity is changed by reacting to light and a powder body are used. CONSTITUTION:A holding and transfer roller 42 which pressures a microcapsule paper 35 carrying the microcapsule and which is provided with a holding layer which can holds a containing dye precursor is arranged. Since the dye precursor is held and transferred on an image receiving body 38 side after it is pressured and discharged, the image recorder having the excellent image quality with small blotting is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording device such as a printer or a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a method for forming an image on an image receptor by using microcapsules whose mechanical strength changes in response to light and powder which cooperates with the inclusions of the microcapsules to form an image. Is proposed. Further, as an apparatus embodying this method, a microcapsule paper carrying microcapsules whose mechanical strength changes in response to light, and a microcapsule that develops color by reacting with a dye precursor that is an inclusion of microcapsules An apparatus for forming an image on an image receptor such as plain paper using a colorant is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-149847. In this apparatus, the microcapsule paper and the image receptor are superposed and pressed through a powdery color developer. Then, the dye precursor flows out from the microcapsules destroyed by the pressure, reacts with the color developer to form an image-formed product, and the image-formed product is fixed on the image receiving body.
In this way, an image is formed on the image receptor which is plain paper.

In the above-mentioned image forming apparatus, since the image receptor is pressed together with the microcapsule paper, the plastic, ceramics, and glass that may be damaged by the pressure, the corrugated paper whose shape is remarkably changed by the pressure, and the like. Cloth etc. could not be used as an image receptor.

As a measure against the problem, the inventor does not directly pressure develop an image receptor such as paper, but only develops the developer powder and microcapsule paper under pressure to form an image,
Attempts have been made to transfer the forming layer to the image receptor, and good results have been achieved.

[0005]

However, in this apparatus, since the developer powder and the capsule paper are superposed and pressed together for development, there is an advantage that the pressurization pressure can be reduced. Since the pressurization is performed by sandwiching the developer powder, the demand for further reduction of the pressurizing pressure and simplification of the developing device cannot be met. The inventors have further tried to press only the capsule paper to release only the dye precursor contained therein, and then bring it into contact with the developer to form an image. According to this method, since the pressure target is only the capsule paper, it is possible to minimize the pressure, but the dye precursor caught by the smooth pressure roller will bleed on the roller, The image quality was degraded.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and only the capsule paper is used as an object to be pressed during the pressure development, so that the pressing pressure can be reduced and the image quality can be reduced. Another object is to provide an excellent image recording device.

[0007]

In order to achieve this object, the image recording apparatus of the present invention uses microcapsules mainly containing a photopolymerizable compound which cures in response to light and a dye or a pigment. Then, after the exposure, at least the capsule is pressure-developed to release the inclusion, and then transferred to an image receptor to form an image. Further, it is characterized in that the means for pressurizing and developing the microcapsules is provided with a mechanism capable of temporarily holding the inclusions.

[0008]

The pressurizing pressure can be reduced by the image recording apparatus of the present invention having the above structure. Moreover, since the pressure developing means is provided with the holding mechanism, the dye precursor does not bleed and the image quality does not deteriorate.

[0009]

EXAMPLE An example embodying the present invention will be described below.
An image forming apparatus using a microcapsule paper containing a dye precursor and carrying microcapsules that cure in response to light, and a developer that is a powder that reacts with the dye precursor and contributes to color development. A description will be given with reference to the drawings. Figure 1
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of this image forming apparatus.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes an exposure unit 10 provided on the upper portion thereof, a microcapsule paper conveying unit 30 provided on the left portion, and a development transfer unit 40 provided on the central portion.
The color developer applying section 2 disposed below the developing and transferring section 40.
0, and an image receptor transport unit 60 provided at the bottom.

The exposure unit 10 includes a halogen lamp 11 as an exposure light source, a platen glass 15 for holding a document 12, a platen cover 13, a filter 14 for adjusting a color tone of an image, and a microcapsule paper 35. It is composed of a light shielding plate 19 which prevents exposure. The microcapsule paper transport unit 30 includes a microcapsule paper supply cartridge 31, transport rollers 32 and 33 for transporting the microcapsule paper, and a microcapsule paper recovery cartridge 34.

The color developer coating section 20 is mainly composed of a color developer coating unit 26 for coating a color developer. The developer applying unit 26 carries a developer and holds the capsule paper 3
A carrier roller 21 for forming an electric field between the carrier roller 21 and
A supply roller 22 for supplying the developer to the carrying roller 21, and an agitator 23 for stirring the developer.
And a regulation member 24 that regulates the amount of the color developer on the carrying roller 21, and the stored color developer toner 25. The carrying roller 21 and the supply roller 22 are grounded. Further, a positive voltage is applied to the conductive layer of the capsule paper 35.

The pressure developing unit 40 is composed of two rollers, that is, a pressure roller 41 and a holding transfer roller 42.
Both rollers 41, 42 are installed so as to sandwich the microcapsule paper 35 coated with the color developer in the gap. Here, the holding transfer roller 42 will be described. Figure 2
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the holding transfer roller 42. The holding transfer roller 42 has a holding layer 44 formed on the surface of a cored bar 43 made of iron or aluminum. For the holding layer 44, a polymer material such as a so-called fluorine compound such as Teflon or a silicon compound, or a material such as ceramics such as alumina or zirconia can be used. Porous bodies made of these materials may be used. In this embodiment, a porous PTFE membrane having an average pore diameter of 3 microns, a porosity of 85% and a thickness of 80 microns is formed and used. The holding transfer roller 42
The transfer roller 46 is disposed in contact with the. The transfer roller 42 cooperates with the holding transfer roller 42 to perform pressure transfer to the image receiving body 38 described later.

The image receiving body transport section 60 includes a transport roller 6
4, 65, 66 are installed. Here, the image forming layer 29 and the image receiving body 38 are configured to be superposed by the transport rollers 65 and 66. Further, between the transport rollers 66 and 67, a heat roller 50 incorporating a halogen lamp is installed so as to contact the image forming layer, and a backup roller 51 is installed so as to contact the image receiving body 38. The backup roller 51 and the heat roller 50 are opposed to each other with the microcapsule paper and the image receptor interposed therebetween.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. The microcapsule paper supply cartridge 31 and the recovery cartridge 34 are driven, and the microcapsule paper 35
Is conveyed to the lower part of the exposure unit. In the exposure unit 10, the halogen lamp 11 is turned on. The platen glass 15 holding the original moves. The light emitted from the halogen lamp 11 passes through the transparent platen glass 15 and reaches the original 12 placed on the glass. Therefore, the platen glass 1
An exposure operation of the document is performed by moving 5. The light reflected from the document passes through the filter 14 for adjusting the color tone of the image and is imaged on the microcapsule paper 35. In this way, the exposed microcapsules are cured and a chemical latent image is formed on the microcapsule paper 35. The microcapsule paper 35 is a transport roller 32.
According to the above, it is conveyed to the pressure developing unit 40.

In the pressure developing unit 40, the microcapsule paper 35 on which the chemical latent image is formed is pressed by a pair of pressure rollers 41 and 42. By this pressurization,
The uncured microcapsules of the microcapsule paper 35 are destroyed, and the dye precursor contained therein flows out. Then, the dye precursor flows into the holding layer 44 formed on the holding transfer roller 42 and is held therein. At this time, since the holding layer 44 is formed of an extremely fine porous body,
The dye precursor does not bleed and can be retained in good condition. Further, the pressurizing pressure required to flush away the dye precursor is basically required to pressurize only the capsules, so that it can be reduced.

Further, when the holding transfer roller 42 rotates, it faces the developer applying section 20. In the developer applying section 20, the agitator 23 and the supply roller 22 of the developer applying unit 26 rotate. With this rotation, the developer 25 is charged and carried on the carrying roller 21. The color developer placed on the carrying roller 21 is held by the holding transfer roller 4
Face 2 The developer carried on the carrying roller 21 receives an electrostatic force due to an electric field formed between the carrying roller 21 and the holding transfer roller 42, and flies toward the holding transfer roller 42. Therefore, on the holding layer 44,
An electrostatic coating layer of the color developer 25 will be formed. The holding transfer roller 42 moves, and the portion coated with the color developer is sent to the transfer roller 46.

The image receptor 38 is supplied to the inside of the apparatus from a supply port 61 provided on the right side of the apparatus. Holding transfer roller 42
The transfer roller 46 and the transfer roller 46 are pressed against each other with the image receiver 38 interposed therebetween. Due to this pressurization, the dye precursor and the developer 25 contained in the holding layer 44 of the holding transfer roller 42 are transferred to the image receiving member 38.
The image is formed on the image forming layer 29 by being transferred to the side and developing a color.
The image quality of this image forming layer 29 is also good for the reasons described above.

Further, the image receptor 38 is transported toward the right side of the apparatus by the function of the image receptor transport unit 60. The image receiving body 38 is transported between the heat roller 50 and the backup roller 51 by the action of the transport rollers 66 and 67. At this time, the halogen lamp of the heat roller 50 is turned on, and the image receiving body 38 is heated by the radiant heat. The image receiving body 38 is heated, and the image-formed product 29 is also heated and softened or melted. Since the image receiving body 38 is heated, the softened or melted image forming material 29 penetrates into the image receiving body 38 and is fixed by heating. The image receiver 38 on which the image is formed in this manner is output to the outside of the device through the image receiver output port 62 at the upper left part of the device.

In the image forming apparatus of this embodiment described above, the dye precursor is transferred from the holding layer to the image receptor only by pressurization, but the transfer efficiency is increased by heating during transfer. Means may be added. The transfer efficiency can be increased by applying a magnetic field or an electric field by improving the magnetic properties and electrical properties of the inclusions.
Further, the powder applied to the apparatus is not limited to the color developer, but may be any powder that contributes to the image formation in cooperation with the inclusion of the microcapsule such as the absorbent, the fixing accelerator, and the color development accelerator. .. Further, the microcapsules containing the dye precursor as in the present embodiment are not limited to the microcapsules, and may be microcapsules containing a dye or a pigment. In this case, since no color developer is required, an absorber, a fixing accelerator, an adhesive or the like may be used as the powder that contributes to image formation. Further, in the case of a capsule having a dye or pigment, the effect of the present invention can be sufficiently exerted even if the addition of powder is omitted.

[0021]

As is apparent from the above description, the pressurizing pressure can be reduced by the image recording apparatus of the present invention.
Moreover, since the pressure developing means is provided with the holding mechanism, the dye precursor does not bleed and the image quality does not deteriorate.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a configuration of an image recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a holding transfer roller.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image recording device 20 Developer application unit 25 Developer 35 Microcapsule paper 38 Image receptor 40 Development transfer part 42 Holding transfer roller 44 Holding layer 46 Transfer roller

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A microcapsule containing a photopolymerizable compound which cures in response to light and a dye or a pigment as main inclusions, and after exposure, at least the capsules are pressure-developed to release the inclusions, and then the image is received. An image recording device characterized by being transferred to a body to form an image. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for pressurizing and developing the microcapsules is configured to be able to temporarily hold the inclusions.