JPH0664301A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To positively remove ink remaining on a recording body after transfer. CONSTITUTION:On the surface of a recording body 1, a latent image is formed by a method in which the surface is heated by a thermal head part 5 in contact with a liquid and a backward contact angle in accordance with the heating temperature is formed. Ink it brought into contact with the latent image to form a visible image. The visible image is transferred to recording paper 6. In this recorder, after transfer, a residual image remaining on the recording body 1 is removed by an adhesive member 11 having adhesive properties at a room temperature or under heat.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a novel recording apparatus, and more particularly to a recording apparatus capable of reliably removing residual ink on a recording medium after transfer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An offset printing apparatus is well known as a method for forming an image by dividing a surface of a recording material into a liquid adhesive area and a non-liquid adhesive area. Further, the applicant of the present invention discloses in JP-A-3-178478 that selectively or selectively and reversibly the surface of a recording medium having a surface which has a low receding contact angle when heated and brought into contact with a liquid by an easy means. A recording device is proposed in which a desired pattern area can be formed selectively (that can be repeatedly used).

FIG. 10 shows an example of a recording apparatus proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-178478, which heats a surface of a recording material with a recording material containing a coloring material to form a visible image according to the heating temperature. It is a figure which shows the structural example. This recording apparatus includes a belt member 50 coated with a recording material having a surface having a receding contact angle that is reduced when brought into contact with a liquid in a heated state, and a pair of conveying rollers 5 that rotate the belt member 50 in a stretched state.
1, 52 and one of the conveyance rollers 51, which is provided near the lower side of the conveyance roller 51 and selectively heats it according to a recording signal, and visualizes the latent image by using the ink 53 containing a coloring material in the latent image forming liquid. The thermal head portion 54, a transfer roller 56 which is provided so as to face the other conveying roller 52 and conveys a recording paper 55 as a recording material in a state of being in pressure contact with the belt member 50, and a transfer roller 56 after being transferred to the recording paper 55. It has a cleaner part 57 for removing the recording material, and a heater part 58 for erasing the latent image formed by being selectively heated by the thermal head part 54 by heating the entire surface.

In this recording apparatus, the latent image corresponding to the image signal is formed by heating the recording material of the belt member 50 based on the image signal supplied to the thermal head portion 54, and the ink in the thermal head portion 54 is also formed. 5
By 3, the latent image formation is visualized at the same time. The area of the belt member 50 which is a visible image is conveyed to the position of the transfer roller 56 by the conveying rollers 51 and 52, and is transferred to the recording paper 55 that is conveyed in synchronization. Then, the residual ink on the belt member 50 is cleaned by the cleaner unit 57, and the latent image is erased by the heater unit 58 to prepare for the next image formation.

As described above, the latent image formation by selective heating, visualizing (developing), transfer to recording paper, cleaning, and latent image erasing by whole surface heating are repeatedly performed as one cycle, thereby continuously recording paper. It is possible to provide a recording device capable of forming a desired image on 55.

[0006]

In the recording apparatus as described above, the cleaner section 57 as a residual ink removing means.
Used a means for absorbing liquid ink with a porous agent such as a sponge or a means for scraping ink with a member such as a blade. If the ink remaining after the transfer of the recording paper 55 remains liquid, the above-mentioned cleaning means such as a sponge or a blade is effective, but in the above-mentioned recording apparatus, the transfer is performed in order to improve the transferability to the recording paper 55. In many cases, heating is performed. In such a case, the ink dries at the time of transfer, and the remaining ink becomes solid and adheres to the surface of the recording material of the belt member 50. In such a case, the means for sucking the liquid ink by the porous material has no effect, and when the adhered ink is removed by the means for scraping the ink with a member such as a blade, the recording layer of the recording medium may be peeled off. there were. That is, there is currently no effective removing means when the residual ink adheres to the surface of the recording material.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in a recording apparatus adopting the recording method proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-178478, after transfer, the residual ink on the recording medium is surely removed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus which can be removed so that a good image can be obtained.

[0008]

The invention according to claim 1 is
A latent image is formed by heating a recording material having a surface that has a receding contact angle that decreases when brought into contact with a liquid at a heating temperature and a surface of the recording material that is in contact with a liquid or vapor or a solid that becomes a liquid by heating. Image forming means for forming a visible image, a developing means for forming a visible image by bringing a recording material containing a coloring material into contact with the latent image formed by the latent image forming means, and transferring the visible image to a recording paper. And a cleaning device for removing the residual image recording agent remaining on the recording medium after transfer with an adhesive member having an adhesive property at room temperature or at the time of heating. The latent image forming process by the latent image forming unit and the developing process by the developing unit may be integrally performed.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the after-image recording agent remaining on the recording material after transfer is removed by a tacky adhesive member at room temperature or at the time of heating, the cleaning means removes the residual image recording agent on the recording material. Since the residual recording agent of No. 1 is removed, it is possible to reduce the load on the recording medium and achieve good cleaning. In particular, there is an advantage that a sufficient cleaning effect can be obtained even with respect to the recording material fixed on the recording material by heating or natural drying.
Further, by using the cleaning by the adhesive member in the recording device in which the latent image forming process and the developing process are integrally performed, it is possible to receive both the downsizing of the device and the high quality of the printed image.

[0010]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. This recording apparatus has a belt member 1 having a surface coated with a recording body having a surface that has a receding contact angle that decreases when brought into contact with a liquid in a heated state.
A pair of conveying rollers 2 and 3 for rotating the belt member 1 in a stretched state, and a heating roller provided near the lower side of one conveying roller 2 for selectively heating according to a recording signal and containing a coloring material. A thermal head unit 5 that visualizes a latent image by using the ink 4, and a transfer roller that is provided so as to face the other transport roller 3 and transports a recording paper 6 as a recording material in a state of being pressed against the belt member 1. 7, a cleaner unit 8 for removing the ink after being transferred to the recording paper 6, and a heater unit for erasing the latent image formed by being selectively heated by the thermal head unit 5 by heating the entire surface. 10 and 10.

The cleaner portion 8 is composed of an adhesive member 11 which exhibits adhesiveness at room temperature or heating, and a heater 12 for heating which is provided if necessary. After the visible image is transferred to the recording paper 6 in the cleaner unit 8, the heater unit 1
It is provided at a position before the latent image is erased by 0, the adhesive member 11 is brought into direct contact with the surface of the recording medium, and after the contact, the adhesive member 11 is peeled off to remove the residual ink from the recording medium. It is desirable that the relative speed between the recording material and the adhesive member 11 at the time of contact is zero in order to prevent deterioration of the recording material. In addition, the temperature at the time of contact is heated to room temperature or a temperature at which the tackiness can be exhibited in accordance with the tacky member to be used.

2 and 3 are views showing an example of a concrete structure of the adhesive member. Figure 2 shows residual ink 2
The adhesive member used to remove 5 from the recording medium 24 is disposed after use. In the cleaner section 8 having this structure, the adhesive tape supply section 2 in which the adhesive tape 23 having the adhesive layer formed on the tape having the releasability on one side is wound in advance.
0, a winding unit 21 for winding the adhesive tape, and a contact roller 22 for contacting the recording body 24 during winding.
The contact roller 22 brings the adhesive tape 23 into contact with the recording body 24 to thereby form the recording body 24.
The upper ink 25 is removed. Then, the adhesive tape 23 having the ink 25 attached thereto is wound up by the winding unit 21 and is collectively discarded.

FIG. 3 shows a method of cleaning the ink 25 on the recording medium 24 by forming an adhesive member on the surface of the roller 31. This method is particularly effective in the case of a member that can exhibit adhesiveness by heating, and the ink 25 on the roller 31 can be satisfactorily removed by cleaning after the adhesive member cools to room temperature and loses its adhesiveness. As a means for cleaning the ink 25 on the adhesive member, a method of providing a counter blade 32 that abuts the roller 31 as shown in FIG. 4 or a method of using a rough roller 41 as shown in FIG. A method of scraping or washing with a sponge 42 impregnated with a solvent such as water as shown in FIG. 6 is preferable. The degree of adhesion may be adjusted according to the ink composition. As an approximate guide, the adhesive strength of commercially available "Scotch Tape (registered trademark)" (manufactured by Sumitomo 3M) is good.

Next, the operation of the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The latent image corresponding to the image signal is formed by heating the recording body of the belt member 1 based on the image signal supplied to the thermal head unit 5 and the latent image is simultaneously formed by the ink 4 supplied to the thermal head unit 5. Visualize it. The region of the belt member 1 which is a visible image is conveyed to the position of the transfer roller 7 by the conveying rollers 2 and 3, and is transferred to the recording paper 6 which is conveyed in synchronization. The residual ink on the belt member 1 is the adhesive member 1 of the cleaner unit 8.
1 is cleaned, the latent image is erased by the heater unit 10, and the image is prepared for the next image formation.

The structure of the adhesive member is such that an adhesive layer 45 is formed on a holding film 44 such as a film or a sheet as shown in FIG. 7, or an adhesive layer 45 is formed on a substrate 46 such as a roller as shown in FIG. The formed member or the member 4 as shown in FIG.
The whole 8 may be a film, sheet, or roller of an adhesive member. It is desirable that the contact pressure between the adhesive member and the recording material is as low as possible, since the recording material is not deteriorated. Further, after the residual ink is removed by the adhesive member, another cleaning may be performed, for example, the recording medium may be washed with a solvent-impregnated sponge such as water.

As a material exhibiting adhesiveness at room temperature or when heated at about 60 ° C, the glass transition point is 15 ° C.
The following acrylic resins, polyurethane resins, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resins, etc. are available. Materials having a glass transition point of 20 ° C. or higher, silicone resins, and the like are materials that exhibit adhesiveness at about 80 ° C. or higher. By removing the residual ink on the recording material by using the adhesive member in this manner, even the solidified ink can be reliably removed, and the residual ink on the recording material can be reliably removed by a simple method. It has the advantage that it can be done.

[Specific Example 1] (Preparation of Recording Material) Fluorine-containing acrylate material VISCOAT 17F (Osaka Organic Chemical Industry) was polymerized by solution polymerization in 1-1-1 trichloroethane to prepare Freon 113 (Mitsui). It was diluted with Fluorochemicals) and spin-coated on a polyimide seamless film (Toray Dupont: Kapton, diameter 30 mm) as a recording medium substrate. Then, it was dried at 130 ° C. for 1 hour to produce a recording material.

(Ink used) Aqueous black ink (water + dye + ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer resin) was used, and the latent image forming liquid was common to the ink. (At the time of transfer) Heat at 60 ° C.

(Heating source) A thermal head was used, and the recording density was 8 dots / mm. (Adhesive member) Commercially available "Scotch tape (registered trademark) (Sumitomo 3M)" was used.

(Structure of Recording Device) The structure shown in FIG. (Results) As a result of carrying out the above-mentioned constitution, all the ink remaining on the recording material could be removed.

[Specific Example 2] (Preparation of Recording Material) A polymer produced by solution polymerization of Fluorine-containing acrylate material VISCOAT 17F (Osaka Organic Chemical Industry) in 1-1-1 trichloroethane was Freon 113 (Mitsui). It was diluted with Fluorochemicals) and spin-coated on a polyimide seamless film (Toray Dupont: Kapton, diameter 30 mm) as a recording medium substrate. Then, it was dried at 130 ° C. for 1 hour to produce a recording material.

(Ink used) Aqueous black ink (water + dye + ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer resin) was used, and the latent image forming liquid was common to the ink. (At the time of transfer) Heat at 60 ° C. (Heating source) Using a thermal head, recording density is 8do
It was set to t / mm.

(Adhesive member) A roller made of polyurethane resin having a glass transition point of 20 ° C is used, and the contact point is 80 ° C.
Heated to. (Recording device configuration) The configuration shown in FIG.

(Results) As a result of carrying out the above-mentioned constitution, all the ink remaining on the recording medium could be removed. After the removal, the surface of the adhesive roller was cleaned with a sponge containing water so that it could be used repeatedly.

[0025]

As described above, the invention according to claim 1 is
By having a cleaning unit that removes with an adhesive member having an adhesive property, it is possible to achieve better cleaning as compared with the conventional configuration, and it is possible to obtain an excellent image.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an adhesive cleaner unit of the recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an adhesive cleaner unit of the recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a cleaner unit using a blade.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a cleaner unit using a rough surface roller.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a cleaner unit using a solution-impregnated sponge.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example in which an adhesive member is formed on a sheet.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example in which an adhesive member is formed on a roller.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example in which the entire member is an adhesive member.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Belt Member 4 Ink 5 Thermal Head Part 6 Recording Paper 7 Transfer Roller 8 Cleaner Part 11 Adhesive Member 12 Heater

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A recording medium having a surface having a receding contact angle which is reduced when brought into contact with a liquid at a heating temperature, and heating the surface of the recording medium in contact with a liquid or vapor or a solid which becomes a liquid by heating. A latent image forming means for forming a latent image, a developing means for forming a visible image by bringing a recording material containing a coloring material into contact with the latent image formed by the latent image forming means, and a visible image A recording device having a transfer means for transferring the recording medium onto a recording sheet, and a cleaning device for removing an afterimage recording agent remaining on the recording medium after transfer with an adhesive member having an adhesive property at room temperature or during heating. Recording device.