JPH06191068A - Thermal recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a thermal recorder which can record a black border by a simple and low costed structure. CONSTITUTION:A acousto-optical modulator 26 modulates the output of a laser generator 24 according to the scanning time of the surface of a thermalrecording material, and outputs specific thermal energy under coloring thermal energy to an image part of a thermal recording material S, and a laser beam giving the coloring thermal energy to a part other than the image part. A semiconductor laser 12 outputs a laser beam modulated with a signal of gradation image to be recorded on the image part of the thermal recording material S according to the scanning time of the thermal recording material surface, and an unmodulated laser beam of specific thermal energy to the part other than the image part of the thermal recording material S. Then, one laser beam L is produced by combining respective output beams of the semiconductor laser 12 and the acousto-optical modulate 26, and the thermal recording surface is irradiated therewith. Therefore, a black border is formed around the image in addition to the desired image on the thermal recording material surface.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal recording apparatus capable of blackening the periphery of an image portion by heating a thermal recording material using auxiliary heating means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Thermal recording apparatuses for imparting thermal energy to a thermal recording material to record an image or the like have been widely used. In particular, a laser has emerged which enables high-speed recording by using a laser as a heat source (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 50-23617).
JP-A-58-94494, JP-A-62-77983
No. JP-A-62-78964).

The present applicant has applied a color developing agent, a color developing agent and a light absorbing dye on a support as a heat sensitive recording material which is applied to such a thermal recording apparatus and is capable of recording a good image with high quality. The present invention has developed a material that develops a color at a density according to the applied heat energy, and has also developed an apparatus for recording on this heat-sensitive recording material using a laser beam, and has filed a patent application (Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 3). -62684, Japanese Patent Application No. 3-187
494).

In this heat-sensitive recording material, a support contains at least a basic dye precursor, and heat-melting microcapsules, a color developer and a light absorbing dye are dissolved in an organic solvent which is hardly soluble or insoluble in water. After that, it has a heat-sensitive layer formed by applying a coating liquid containing an emulsion that has been emulsified and dispersed.

The basic dye precursor has a property of developing a color by donating an electron or accepting a proton such as an acid, and is usually almost colorless, and lactone, lactam, sultone, spiropyran, ester, A compound having a partial skeleton such as amide, which is opened or cleaved by contact with a color developer, is used. Specifically, there are crystal violet lactone, benzoyl leuco methylene blue, malachite green lactone, rhodamine B lactam, 1,3,3-trimethyl-6′-ethyl-8′-butoxyindolinobenzospiropyran and the like.

[0006] As a developer for these color formers,
An acidic substance such as a phenol compound, an organic acid or a metal salt thereof, and an oxybenzoic acid ester is used. The developer preferably has a melting point of 50 ° C. to 250 ° C., and particularly preferably a water-insoluble phenol or organic acid having a melting point of 60 ° C. to 200 ° C. Specific examples of these color developers are described in, for example, JP-A-61-291183.

The light-absorbing dye is preferably a dye which absorbs little light in the visible light region and has particularly high absorption in the infrared region. The dyes include cyanine dyes, phthalocyanine dyes, pyrylium / thiopyrylium dyes, azurenium dyes, squarylium dyes, N
Metal complex salt dyes such as i and Cr, naphthoquinone dyes / anthraquinone dyes, indophenol dyes, indoaniline dyes, triphenylmethane dyes, triallylmethane dyes, aminium dyes, diimmonium dyes, and nitroso compounds be able to.

By the way, in the heat-sensitive recording material, for example,
When recording medical images obtained by radiography,
A so-called black border in which the outer frame of the image is blackened is formed. The black border, by framing the outer frame of the recorded image in black, prevents light leakage from the periphery of the thermosensitive recording material when observing with a Schaukasten, makes the recorded image clear and easy to see. It is for doing. Therefore, the higher the density of the black border, the more effective it is.

[0009]

However, in order to record a high-density black border, heat energy higher than that for recording an image is required. Therefore, a high-output light source is required to record the black border, which disadvantageously increases the cost of the entire apparatus.

Therefore, the present invention is a thermal recording apparatus for recording an image on a thermosensitive recording material that develops a color at a density according to the applied thermal energy, and is capable of recording a black border with a simple and inexpensive structure. The purpose is to provide a device.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a thermal recording apparatus according to the present invention is a thermal recording apparatus for recording an image on a thermal recording material which develops a color at a density according to applied thermal energy. Auxiliary heating for applying heat energy less than the coloring heat energy to the image portion of the heat-sensitive recording material according to the scanning time of the surface of the heat-sensitive recording material and applying heat energy for coloring to the portion other than the image portion of the heat-sensitive recording material. And heating means for supplying coloring heat energy corresponding to a gradation image signal to at least an image portion of the thermosensitive recording material in synchronism with the scanning time.

In the above-mentioned thermal recording apparatus, the semiconductor laser as a heating means is a beam modulated by a gradation image signal to be recorded or non-modulated of a predetermined thermal energy according to the scanning time of the surface of the thermal recording material. A beam is output, and the auxiliary heating means includes a laser beam generator and a modulator, and the modulator modulates the output beam of the laser beam generator according to the scanning time of the surface of the thermal recording material, thereby A beam of predetermined low heat energy or a beam of color heat energy less than the color heat energy is output, and each output beam of these semiconductor laser and modulator is combined into one beam so that the surface of the heat-sensitive recording material is irradiated. May be.

In this case, the auxiliary heating means is disposed in contact with or close to the heat-sensitive recording material conveyed in the sub-scan in a state where the upstream side and the downstream side of the recording section are sandwiched, and is substantially orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction. A portion having a predetermined width in the sub-scanning direction at least at the front end portion and a portion having a predetermined width in the sub-scanning direction at the rear end portion of the heat-sensitive recording material with respect to the heating portion. The color heat energy may be applied to.

[0014]

According to the above-mentioned thermal recording apparatus, the heat energy immediately before the color development is applied to the image portion of the heat-sensitive recording material by the auxiliary heating means, and at the same time, the heating means emits the color heat energy corresponding to the desired image. Is added to the thermal recording material. On the other hand, the auxiliary heating means applies the coloring heat energy to the portion of the thermosensitive recording material other than the image portion, and the unmodulated output from the heating means is also added thereto. As a result, a desired image is recorded on the heat-sensitive recording material by the auxiliary heating unit and the heating unit, and a black border surrounding the periphery of the image portion is formed. When forming the black border, since the coloring heat energy is applied to the periphery of the image portion of the heat-sensitive recording material by the total output of the auxiliary heating means and the heating means, a high heat energy light source is not required as the heating means, and the cost is low. With the configuration, it is possible to record a sufficiently high density black border.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A thermal recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 indicates a thermal recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. This thermal recording device 10 has an arrow B
The thermal recording material S, which is sub-scanned and conveyed in the sub-direction, is main-scanned in the direction of arrow A by the laser beam L to record an image or the like.

In this case, as the heat-sensitive recording material S, a material having a color-developing agent, a color-developing agent and a light-absorbing dye on a support, and coloring at a density according to the applied heat energy, for example,
Japanese Patent Application No. 3-62684 and Japanese Patent Application No. 3-1874 mentioned above.
It is preferable to use those described in No. 94 and the like.

The heat-sensitive recording material S develops color in accordance with the applied heat energy, and more specifically, it develops color as a function of preheat temperature and preheat time. That is, the characteristics of concentration with respect to temperature and time are as shown in FIG. Therefore, when the color of the thermosensitive recording material S is to be developed, there are a method of increasing the temperature by keeping the time constant and a method of making the temperature longer by keeping the temperature constant, and either method may be used.

The thermal recording apparatus 10, the laser beam from the semiconductor laser 12 as a heating unit for outputting the L _1, a collimator lens to a parallel beam of the laser beam L ₁ 14
And a polygon mirror 18 for deflecting the laser beam L _1.
A fθ lens 20, a mirror 22, and a laser functioning as an auxiliary heating means for applying heat energy less than coloring heat energy to the heat-sensitive recording material S depending on time, or applying coloring heat energy required for black recording. Beam generator 24
And an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) that modulates the intensity of the laser beam L ₂ output from the laser beam generator 24.
26, and a combining mirror 28 for combining the laser beam L ₂ output from the acousto-optic modulator 26 with the laser beam L ₁ with respect to the polygon mirror 18. The outputs of the semiconductor laser 12 and the laser beam generator 24 are controlled by a controller 34 via drivers 30 and 32, respectively.

The thermal recording apparatus 10 of this embodiment is basically constructed as described above, and its operation will be described below.

The control unit 34 controls the laser through the driver 32.
It drives the beam generator 24 and outputs the laser beam.
Mu L₂Is modulated by the acousto-optic modulator 26. Modulated
Laser beam L₂Is a predetermined value for the thermal recording material S.
Apply thermal energy. Here, the laser beam L₂
2B shows the output characteristics. Acousto-optic modulator 26
Is, for example, the time T in one scan line.₁~ T₂, T₃~
T_FourBetween, low heat energy less than coloring heat energy
Laser beam L so that the signal a of₂Modulate
The thermal energy immediately before color development is applied to the thermal recording material S.
To pay. Further, the acousto-optic modulator 26 has one scan line.
Medium time T₀~ T₁, T₂~ T₃, T_Four~ T _FiveIn between
So that the signal b of the coloring heat energy is output.
Dome L₂To modulate. Thus, the acousto-optic modulator 26
Outputs the output from the laser beam generator 24 as a function of time.
A laser beam of low heat energy less than the color heat energy
L₂Or to record the black border 36
Laser beam L of necessary coloring heat energy₂To.
Laser beam modulated by the acousto-optic modulator 26
Mu L₂To the polygon mirror 18 via the combining mirror 28
be introduced.

The controller 34 also drives the semiconductor laser 12 via the driver 30. The semiconductor laser 12 outputs a laser beam L ₁ modulated according to the gradation of the image recorded on the thermosensitive recording material S. Here, the output characteristics of one scanning line of the laser beam L ₁ for scanning the thermal recording material S are shown in FIG. In the figure, the signals in the time T _{1 to} T ₂ and the time T _{3 to} T ₄ in one scanning line are the gradation image signals I modulated according to the desired image. In addition, time _{T 0 ~T 1, T 2 ~T} 3, T 4 ~
During T ₅ , the signal c is output. The laser beam L ₁ thus modulated passes through the combining mirror 28 through the collimator lens 14 and is introduced into the polygon mirror 18.

The laser beam L ₂ modulated by the acousto-optic modulator 26 and the laser beam L ₁ directly modulated and output from the semiconductor laser 12 are combined by a combining mirror 28 to form a laser beam L. Form. This laser beam L is the laser beams L ₁ and L
₂ of each of the output signal is superimposed, for example, FIG. 2 (C)
The output characteristics are as shown in.

The laser beam L is reflected by the reflecting surface of the polygon mirror 18 rotating at a high speed, guided to the heat-sensitive recording material S via the fθ lens 20 and the mirror 22, and conveyed in the sub-scan direction in the direction of arrow B. Thermal recording material S
Is scanned in the direction of arrow A. Then, an image is recorded on the thermosensitive recording material S.

Here, the times T _{0 to} T ₁ , T _{2 to} T ₃ , T
_{Between 4 and} T ₅ , the black border 36 is formed by a high output signal b + c obtained by adding the signal c of the laser beam L _{1 and} the signal b of the laser beam L ₂ . In this case, the semiconductor laser 12 does not need to have a sufficient output to form the black border 36. Therefore, the black border 36 can be formed by the semiconductor laser 12 having a relatively low output.

Further, between the time _{T 1 ~T 2, T 3 ~T} 4, image signals of the laser beam L ₁ of the gradation image signal I and the laser beam L ₂ of the signal a and is summed I + a is formed To be done. In this case, the heat-sensitive recording material S is given heat energy immediately before color development by the signal a of the laser beam L ₂ , and an image of a predetermined density is formed by the gradation image signal I.

As described above, the image recorded on the heat-sensitive recording material S is, as shown in FIG. 1, a black border 3 composed of an outer frame in which an image colored in a desired gradation is blackened.
Surrounded by 6. As a result, for example, when observing a medical image or the like using the Schaukasten, the black border 36 prevents light leakage from the thermal recording material S,
The recorded image can be seen clearly. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the image recorded on the thermosensitive recording material S is described as being divided into two, but the image is recorded on the thermosensitive recording material S. It is also possible to form the black border so as to surround the periphery of one image, or to form the black border so as to surround the periphery of a plurality of images.

In addition, although the laser is used as the auxiliary heating means in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and a thermal head or the like may be used as the auxiliary heating means and the heating means.

Further, a thermosensitive recording material (not shown) having a matrix of electrodes may be used. This heat-sensitive recording material is formed by laminating a striped electrode layer having a large number of electrode lines parallel to the main scanning direction, a conductive layer, a striped electrode layer parallel to the sub-scanning direction, and a photosensitive material layer. It was formed. Then, by selecting a predetermined electrode from among the plurality of electrodes of each striped electrode layer and energizing it, it is possible to generate heat in the conductive layer at a desired portion where the electrodes intersect. in this case,
A desired image is obtained by applying heat energy to the light-sensitive material layer via the conductive layer, or applying color forming heat energy that forms a black border, and also applying color forming heat energy according to the gradation of the image. be able to. In the heat-sensitive recording material having this matrix-shaped electrode, since heat energy is not applied to the entire surface of the heat-sensitive recording material, a large current is not required and the cost is low.

By the way, when a desired image is to be recorded with higher accuracy by irradiating the thermal recording material S with the laser beam L, in order to avoid the positional fluctuation of the thermal recording material S at the time of recording, before and after the recording portion. It is important to transport the paper by sandwiching it with rollers.

Therefore, next, a thermal recording apparatus 40 according to the second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C. In the embodiments described below, the semiconductor laser 12, the collimator lens 14, the polygon mirror 18, and the fθ lens 20 shown in FIG.
The optical system reaching the reflection mirror 22 will be described as a laser beam irradiation mechanism 42.

When the laser beam irradiating mechanism 42 irradiates the laser beam L ₁ on the heat-sensitive recording material S to record a desired image, the heat-sensitive recording material S is nipped by the preheating roller 44 and the pair of conveying rollers 46 and 48. It will be in the state where it was done. That is, until the time when the thermal recording material S is nipped by the transport roller 48 and the preheating roller 44 on the downstream side (see FIG. 3B), the laser beam irradiation mechanism 4 is provided.
The laser beam L ₁ is not irradiated from 2 to the heat-sensitive recording material S. This is because the heat-sensitive recording material S is not securely held between the conveying rollers 46 and 48 and the preheating roller 44, and therefore the heat-sensitive recording material S is
This is because the tip of the laser beam is warped upward and the position of the recording portion of the laser beam L ₁ is displaced. Similarly, from the time when the rear end of the thermal recording material S is separated from the upstream transport roller 46 (see FIG. 3C), the laser beam L ₁
The heat-sensitive recording material S is not irradiated with.

As described above, since the laser beam L ₁ is irradiated at the stage where the thermal recording material S is securely held by the upstream and downstream transport rollers 46 and 48, the laser beam is applied to the surface of the thermal recording material. The beam L ₁ causes a portion where a gradation image cannot be recorded. That is, the X portion shown in FIG. 3B (hereinafter referred to as the front end portion of the thermal recording material S) and the Y portion shown in FIG. 3C (hereinafter referred to as the rear end portion of the thermal recording material S) are non-recorded portions. .
Therefore, in the following embodiment, the recorded image is made easy to see by blackening the unrecordable portion.

The thermal recording apparatus 40 according to the second embodiment includes conveying rollers 46 and 48 arranged upstream and downstream of the thermal recording material S irradiated with the laser beam L ₁ by the laser beam irradiation mechanism 42. The heat-sensitive recording material S is provided between the preheating roller 44 that gives heat energy less than the coloring heat energy, the upstream-side conveying roller 46, and the recording portion to which the laser beam L ₁ is irradiated. And an infrared lamp 49 for applying coloring heat energy required for black recording on predetermined portions of the front end portion and the rear end portion of the recording material S. The transport rollers 46, 48, the preheating roller 44, and the infrared lamp 49 are arranged over a predetermined length in the sub-scanning direction of the thermosensitive recording material S, respectively. In this case, the preheating roller 44 and the infrared lamp 49 function as auxiliary heating means for the heat-sensitive recording material S. In the embodiments described below, the same components as those of the thermal recording device 40 shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Therefore, the preheating roller 44 is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow, and the upstream conveying roller 46 is used.
The heat-sensitive recording material S is sandwiched between the preheating roller 44 and the preheating roller 44. At that time, the preheating roller 44 is urged to apply a predetermined heat energy less than the coloring heat energy to the heat-sensitive recording material S. Then, the infrared lamp 49
Is applied to irradiate infrared rays onto the tip portion of the heat-sensitive recording material S. As a result, the range of X at the tip of the thermal recording material S which is not irradiated with the laser beam L ₁ is blackened.

Then, when the X range is blackened, the infrared
The line lamp 49 is turned off, and the tip of the thermal recording material S is lowered.
Of the transporting roller 48 on the flow side and the preheating roller 44
When the laser is transported between the two and is pinched (see FIG. 3B), the laser
A black border is formed from the beam irradiation mechanism 42.
Laser beam L having high output coloring heat energy for ₁
Also, the coloring heat energy corresponding to the gradation image signal is applied to the recording unit.
Laser beam L having ₁Illuminated, black border
Also, the desired image is recorded. Here, the laser beam
Laser beam irradiated from the beam irradiation mechanism 42 to the recording unit
L₁The output characteristics of are as shown in FIG. Ie, time
Interval T₀~ T₁, T₂~ T₃, T_Four~ T_FiveAmong the high output
A black border is formed by the signal d of
₁~ T₂, T₃~ T_FourThen, a desired image is recorded. Previous
Laser beam L₁Black border formed by
Is continuous in the range of X at the tip of the thermal recording material S.
And a part of a predetermined width at both ends in the main scanning direction
It is recorded in the part of the specified width located between the recorded images.
Be done. In this case, the laser beam L₁Formed by
The black border is a thermal recording
Taking as an example the case of recording two images divided into material S
The same applies to the embodiments described below.
Detailed description thereof will be omitted.

While the laser beam irradiating mechanism 42 irradiates the thermal recording material S with the laser beam L ₁ , the infrared lamp 49 is turned off. The heating of the heat-sensitive recording material S by the preheating roller 44 may be performed immediately before or substantially at the same time as the irradiation of the laser beam L ₁ .

After the desired image is recorded on the heat-sensitive recording material S, when the heat-sensitive recording material S is separated by the upstream conveying roller 46, the infrared lamp 49 is urged again to move the heat-sensitive recording material S after the heat-sensitive recording material S. The Y range of the end portion is blackened. Therefore, on the thermal recording material S, an image is recorded on the image recording portion by the laser beam L ₁ , and a black border adjacent to the image recording portion and having a predetermined width in the main scanning direction is recorded. And the infrared lamp 4
As a result, black borders are formed at the leading and trailing end portions of the heat-sensitive recording material S other than the image recording portion. As a result, a black border is formed so as to surround the image recording portion recorded on the thermal recording material S.

Next, the thermal recording apparatus 50 according to the third embodiment.
Are shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C. In this embodiment, FIGS.
It differs from the thermal recording device 40 shown in C in that the infrared lamp 49 is removed. In this case, the preheating roller 44 functions as an auxiliary heating means.

The thermal recording apparatus 50 according to this embodiment having the above structure operates as follows. Thermal recording material S
The front end portion of the preheating roller 44 is rotated via a rotation control means (not shown) from the time when it is sandwiched between the upstream conveyance roller 46 and the preheating roller 44 until the state shown in FIG. 5A is reached. Decelerate speed. That is, the preheating roller 44 in the state during image recording
By decelerating the rotation speed of the recording medium for a predetermined time, the thermal energy to the thermal recording material S is increased and applied, and the coloring thermal energy required for black recording to the thermal recording material S is applied to the tip. The X range of the part is blackened (see FIG. 5A).

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5B, after the desired image is recorded on the heat-sensitive recording material S by the laser beam L ₁ , the rotation speed of the preheating roller 44 is decelerated, so that the heat-sensitive recording material S is reduced. The Y range of the rear end portion is blackened (see FIG. 5C). In this way, a black border can be formed on the thermal recording material S.

Next, the thermal recording apparatus 60 according to the fourth embodiment.
Are shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C. In this embodiment, FIGS.
Instead of the infrared lamp 49 of the thermal recording device 40 shown in C, the heating element 62 and the support plate 64 are arranged opposite to each other in front of the upstream transport roller 46. The heating element 62 is composed of, for example, a heating plate, and has a width in the sub-scanning direction corresponding to the width of the portion (X portion in FIG. 3B or Y portion in FIG. 3C) where the gradation image is not recorded on the thermal recording material S. However, it is formed over a predetermined length in the main scanning direction. Further, the heating element 62 is displaced in the direction of the arrow under the action of a displacement means (not shown), and the support plate 64 fixed to the apparatus main body
The heat-sensitive recording material S is pressed between and.

The thermal recording apparatus 60 according to this embodiment is basically constructed as described above, and its operation will be described below.

A laser beam L _{1 is applied} to the thermal recording material S.
Before irradiating and recording, the heat generating element 62 is displaced in the direction of the arrow by driving a displacement means (not shown), and the tip portion of the heat-sensitive recording material S is sandwiched between the heat generating element 62 and the support plate 64 (see FIG. 6A). ). As a result, the coloring heat energy supplied from the heating element 62 causes the tip of the thermal recording material S to become black. Similarly, the rear end portion of the heat-sensitive recording material S is sandwiched by the heating elements 62 to be blackened (see FIG. 6C). In this way, black borders can be formed on the front end portion and the rear end portion of the heat-sensitive recording material S except for the image recording portion and the black border portion which are recorded by the laser beam L ₁ .

In this embodiment, the heating element 62 and the support plate 64 are arranged in front of the upstream conveying roller 46, and the black border is printed before the desired image is recorded on the thermal recording material S. However, the heating element 62 and the support plate 6 are provided downstream of the transport roller 48 on the downstream side.
4 may be arranged and a black border may be formed after an image is recorded.

Next, the thermal recording apparatus 70 according to the fifth embodiment.
Are shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C. In this embodiment, a pair of nip rollers 72 and 74 are arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side of the recording portion where the laser beam L ₁ of the thermal recording material S is irradiated, and an infrared heater 76 is provided between the nip rollers 72 and 74. It is arranged. In this case, the infrared heater 76 functions as an auxiliary heating means, and the infrared heater 76 is provided instead of the preheating roller 44 shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C.

Therefore, when the front end portion and the rear end portion of the thermal recording material S approach the infrared heater 76 (FIG. 7A,
In FIG. 7C), the rotational speed of the nip rollers 72 and 74 holding the thermosensitive recording material S is reduced to a predetermined speed, whereby the coloring heat energy required for black recording is supplied to the thermosensitive recording material S, and black A border is formed.

Next, a thermal recording apparatus 80 according to the sixth embodiment is shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C. In this embodiment, FIGS. 6A to 6C are used.
The difference is that a felt member (for example, non-woven fabric) 82 containing water is provided in place of the heating element 62 in the thermal recording device 60 shown in FIG. The felt member 82 is
The thermosensitive recording material S has a width corresponding to the width in the sub-scanning direction of the portion that is not recorded, and is formed so as to extend in the main scanning direction.

FIG. 10 shows the relationship between the color density and the laser power when the humidity of the thermal recording material S changes.
Shown in. As is clear from FIG. 10, the thermosensitive recording material S has a characteristic that the sensitivity of the thermosensitive recording material S increases as the humidity increases. Therefore, by utilizing the above characteristics, the felt member 82 is pressed against the portion where the image is not recorded before the image is recorded by the laser beam L ₁ , so that the humidity of the portion where the image is not recorded can be increased. Yes (see Figure 8A). Therefore, the preheating roller 44 supplies a predetermined amount of heat energy less than the coloring heat energy to the high humidity portion, and the infrared lamp 49 irradiates infrared rays to blacken the portion. In this case, FIGS.
The infrared lamp 4 as compared with the thermal recording device 40 shown in C
The black border can be formed by suppressing the coloring heat energy of the infrared rays emitted from No. 9 to a low output.

[0050]

According to the thermal recording apparatus of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

That is, the auxiliary heating means applies a predetermined heat energy less than the coloring heat energy to the image portion of the heat-sensitive recording material, and the heating means generates the coloring heat energy corresponding to the desired image. Granted to. On the other hand, the auxiliary heating means applies coloring heat energy to a portion other than the image portion. As a result,
A desired image is recorded on the heat-sensitive recording material via the auxiliary heating means and the heating means, and a black border is formed in a portion other than the image portion.

In this case, the auxiliary heating means applies predetermined heat energy less than the coloring heat energy to the image portion of the thermosensitive recording material, and also applies coloring heat energy to the portion other than the image portion to black. By forming the border, the black border can be recorded with a simple and inexpensive structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a thermal recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2A to 2C are respectively an output characteristic diagram of a semiconductor laser, an output characteristic diagram of an acousto-optic modulator that modulates a preheating laser, and an output characteristic diagram in which the signals of both are superimposed.

FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C are schematic configuration diagrams showing a thermal recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing output characteristics of a laser beam irradiation mechanism.

5A to 5C are schematic configuration diagrams showing a thermal recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

6A to 6C are schematic configuration diagrams showing a thermal recording apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

7A to 7C are schematic configuration diagrams showing a thermal recording apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

8A to 8C are schematic configuration diagrams showing a thermal recording apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a characteristic diagram of the density of the thermal recording material with respect to temperature and time.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing the relationship between laser power and color density when the humidity of the thermosensitive recording material changes.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 ... Thermal recording device 12 ... Semiconductor laser 18 ... Polygon mirror 24 ... Laser beam generator 26 ... Acousto-optic modulator 34 ... Control unit 36 ... Black border 44 ... Preheating roller 46, 48 ...
Conveying rollers 49 ... infrared lamp 62 ... heating element 72, 74 ... nip roller 76 ... infrared heaters 82 ... felt member S ... thermosensitive recording material L, L _1, L ₂ ... laser beam

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location 9305-2C B41J 3/20 109 A 116

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A thermal recording apparatus for recording an image on a thermosensitive recording material that develops a color at a density according to applied thermal energy, wherein the coloring thermal energy is applied to an image portion of the thermosensitive recording material in accordance with the scanning time of the surface of the thermosensitive recording material. An auxiliary heating means for applying a heat energy of less than and for applying a coloring heat energy to a portion other than the image portion of the heat-sensitive recording material, and gradation in at least an image portion of the heat-sensitive recording material in synchronization with the scanning time. A thermal recording device comprising: a heating unit that supplies colored heat energy corresponding to an image signal. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary heating means includes a laser beam generator and a modulator, and the modulator causes the output beam of the laser beam generator to scan the surface of the thermosensitive recording material. A thermal recording device which outputs a beam of a predetermined low thermal energy or a beam of colored thermal energy less than the coloring thermal energy to the thermosensitive recording material by modulating in accordance with the above. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating means includes a semiconductor laser, and the semiconductor laser is modulated by a gradation image signal to be recorded according to a scanning time of the surface of the thermosensitive recording material. A thermal recording device, which outputs a focused beam or an unmodulated beam having a predetermined thermal energy. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating means includes a semiconductor laser, and the semiconductor laser is modulated by a gradation image signal to be recorded according to a scanning time of a surface of a thermosensitive recording material. Beam or an unmodulated beam of predetermined heat energy, the auxiliary heating means includes a laser beam generator and a modulator, the modulator scanning the output beam of the laser beam generator over the surface of the thermosensitive recording material. By modulating according to time, a beam of a predetermined low heat energy or a color heat energy of less than the color heat energy is output to the heat-sensitive recording material, and each output beam of the semiconductor laser and the modulator is one. The thermal recording device is characterized in that the thermal recording material surface is combined with the above-mentioned beam and irradiated onto the surface of the thermal recording material. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary heating means is disposed in contact with or close to a heat-sensitive recording material that is sub-scanned and conveyed in a state where the upstream side and the downstream side of the recording section are nipped, A portion having a predetermined width in a direction substantially orthogonal to the scanning direction, and having a predetermined width in the sub-scanning direction at least at the front end and in the sub-scanning direction at the rear end of the heat-sensitive recording material. A thermal recording device, wherein coloring heat energy is applied to a portion having a predetermined width.