JPH07108711A - Laser sublimation type printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a laser sublimation type printer which can be used continuously with improved heat resistance and improves vaporization efficiency by restricting heat conduction to parts other than liquefied disperse dye. CONSTITUTION:The head part 10 of a laser sublimation type printer is equipped with a solid dye storage tank 11 which stores a solid disperse dye 12, a liquid dye storage tank 15 which liquefies the solid disperse dye 12 in the storage tank 11 and a light-heat conversion agent 21 by heating and stores them, a lens 30 through which a laser beam L is directed from the side where a liquefied disperse dye 12' is vaporized, and a reflective layer 41. In this way, each liquefied sublimating dye 12 ' held in each liquid dye holder 22 is vaporized. The vaporized disperse dyes Y, M, C of the sublimating disperse dyes 12'' are transferred in order of Y M C to the dye receiving layer of photographic paper 50 fed between a plane base 4 and a protective layer 13 to give a color print.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser sublimation type color video system in which a still image of various images such as an image picked up by a video camera or a television image is thermally transferred onto a photographic paper by using a sublimation dye as a disperse dye. The present invention relates to a laser sublimation printer such as a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, the present applicant discloses in Japanese Patent Application No. 5-11241 a laser sublimation type color video printer that does not require an ink ribbon and a thermal head and that saves power, is small in size, and is low in cost. ing. This similar structure will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. Reference numeral 1 denotes a laser sublimation color video printer (laser sublimation printer), in which a photographic printing paper 50 is put on a frame chassis 2 covered with an outer casing 2a. It has a cassette 3 and a plane base 4 for printing. On the side of the photographic paper discharge port 2b in the outer casing 2a, a paper feed drive roller 6a driven by a motor 5 and the like, and a pressure contact driven roller 6b for holding the photographic paper 50 with a light pressure between the paper feed drive roller 6a. It is provided and the outer casing 2
Head drive circuit board 7 and D are provided above cassette 3 in a.
A C power source 8 is provided. The head drive circuit board 7 and the head portion 10 arranged on the plane base 4 are connected via a flexible harness 7a.

The head portion 10 is a solid powder sublimation dye 12Y, 12M, 12C (generally indicated by reference numeral 12) as a solidified disperse dye of yellow (Y), magenta (M) and cyan (C). Each solid dye storage tank 11Y for storing
Between 11M and 11C (generally indicated by reference numeral 11), a wear-resistant protective layer 13 made of a high-strength material located on the lower side, and a head base 14 made of glass, transparent ceramic, or the like located on the upper side. And a sublimable dye 12 in the form of solid powder in each of the solid dye storage tanks 11 attached to the head base 14 side.
Narrow-path liquid dye storage tanks 15 that are heated and liquefied by the above and stored, and vaporization units 17 that vaporize the liquefied sublimable dyes (liquefied disperse dyes) 12 'introduced from the liquid dye storage tanks 15, respectively. Each semiconductor laser chip (laser light source) 18 attached to the head base 14 via a support board 19 and irradiating each vaporization section 17 with laser light L via a lens 30.
It has and.

A check valve 24 is provided at a connection port 23 between each of the solid dye storage tanks 11 and each of the liquid dye storage tanks 15, and a position facing each of the vaporizing parts 17 in each of the liquid dye storage tanks 15 is provided. The liquefied sublimable dye 1 on the side of the vaporizing section 17
Vibrating body for pressurizing and supplying 2 '(dye pressurizing and supplying means)
25 are provided respectively. The vibrating body 25 is composed of a bimorph or a piezo element. The check valve 24 closes the connection port 23 when the vibrator 25 is pressurized and opens the connection port 23 when the pressure is reduced and when no pressure is applied. Sublimable dye 12 in the form of solid powder in each solid dye storage tank 11
Is liquefied by the heater 16 when the check valve 24 is opened to become a liquefied sublimable dye 12 '.
5 is stored.

Further, in the vaporization holes 17a of each of the vaporization parts 17, a transparent heat insulating layer 20 attached to the head base 14 in this order from the upper side, and laminated on the transparent heat insulating layer 20, the light of the laser beam L is absorbed. Photothermal conversion layer 21 ″ that converts into heat
And a liquid dye holder 22 which holds the liquefied liquefied sublimable dye 12 'laminated on the light-heat conversion layer 21 ". The transparent heat insulating layer 20 is formed of a transparent aromatic polyamide resin. The light-heat conversion layer 21 "is a metal thin film formed by vapor deposition or sputtering of a nickel-cobalt alloy. In the liquid dye holder 22, a metal thin film is directly formed on the photothermal conversion layer 21 ″, and the metal thin film is processed into a mesh shape by etching or the like. The heater 16 is a solid powder. Sublimation dye 12
Is to be diffused and transferred to the liquid dye holder 22 while being liquefied by heating.

The printing paper 50 in the cassette 3 of the laser sublimation type color video printer 1 is separated one by one and supplied between the flat base 4 and the head portion 10 and sent to the paper feed drive roller 6a. The head portion 10 sandwiches the photographic printing paper 50 with a pair of light load applying springs 9, 9 and is pressed against the plane base 4 with a light load (about 50 g). Further, a large number of semiconductor laser chips 18 for three colors (Y, M, C) are arranged in three rows in the head section 10 for each pixel, and each liquid dye storage tank 12 (12Y, 12M, 12C) is heated and liquefied. Then, it is quantitatively supplied to each vaporizing section 17. That is, the solid powdery sublimable dyes 12 in the respective solid dye storage tanks 11 are heated to the melting point by the heater 16 to be melted (liquefied), and the respective liquefied sublimable dyes 12 ′ are stored in the respective liquid dye storage tanks 15. Vaporization hole 1 of each vaporization part 17 by the capillary phenomenon
A fixed amount is supplied to the liquid dye holder 22 in 7a. In this state, when one sheet of photographic printing paper 50 is sandwiched between the paper feed drive roller 6a and the pressure contact driven roller 6b, one dot signal is sent to the head section 10 for each line, and each semiconductor laser chip 18 The laser light L generated by the above is converted into heat by each photothermal conversion layer 21 ″. As a result, each liquefied sublimable dye 12 ′ held in each liquid dye holder 22 is vaporized and each vaporized sublimable dye. (Evaporation disperse dye) 12 ″ Y, M and C vaporization sublimation dyes are the flat base 4 and the protective layer 1.
Color printing is performed by sequentially transferring Y → M → C to the dye receiving layer 50a applied to the surface of the photographic printing paper 50 which is sent between the three.

[0007]

In the laser sublimation type color video printer 1 of the prior art described above, each photothermal conversion layer 21 "is heated by the laser light L emitted from each semiconductor laser chip 18, and the heat is liquefied. The sublimable dye (liquefied disperse dye) 12 ′ is vaporized by being transmitted, and at that time, conduction of heat is conducted from the interface between each photothermal conversion layer 21 ″ and each liquefied sublimable dye (liquefied disperse dye) 12 ′ in order to the vaporized surface. When the outermost surface of each liquefied sublimable dye (liquefied disperse dye) 12 'reaches the vaporization temperature, it is vaporized. Further, the heat conduction from each photothermal conversion layer 21 ″ is not limited to each liquefied sublimable dye (liquefied disperse dye) 12 ′, but the transparent heat insulating layer 20 in contact with each photothermal conversion layer 21 ″.
Since it is carried out on all the structures around the circumference, in order to bring the outermost surface of each liquefied sublimable dye (liquefied disperse dye) 12 'to the vaporization temperature, each of the light-heat conversion layers 21''is mainly heated. Although the liquefied sublimable dye (liquefied disperse dye) 12 'is located at the heat conductive equivalent distance to the outermost surface, it is necessary to set the entire volume to the vaporization temperature, which may result in poor thermal efficiency.

In order to minimize heat conduction to structures other than the liquefied sublimable dyes (liquefied disperse dyes) 12 'around the photothermal conversion layers 21 ", the transparent heat insulating layer 2 is used.
There is a drawback that a structure for heat insulation such as 0 is required and the entire head structure is complicated.

Therefore, the present invention provides a laser sublimation printer which can solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0010]

A solid dye storage tank for storing a solidified disperse dye, a liquid dye storage tank for storing the solidified disperse dye in the solid dye storage tank by heating and liquefying it, and a liquid dye storage tank A laser sublimation printer that mixes a photothermal conversion agent that performs photothermal conversion with laser light into the liquefied disperse dye, and transfers the vaporized disperse dye vaporized by the photothermal conversion agent onto photographic paper. Irradiation means for irradiating the disperse dye from the vaporizing side is provided.

[0011]

The laser light emitted from the laser light source is mixed with an irradiation means for irradiating the liquefied disperse dye with laser light and a photothermal conversion agent for performing photothermal conversion in the liquefied disperse dye. The light is converted into heat on the vaporizing surface and on the light-to-heat converting agent in the liquid disperse dye. The liquefied disperse dye vaporizes when it reaches the vaporization temperature due to heat conduction from the photothermal conversion agent. At this time, the liquefied disperse dye on the surface to be vaporized has the highest temperature, and thermal energy is transferred to the surrounding liquefied disperse dye by heat conduction, but only the minimum necessary portion is required for vaporization from the liquefied disperse dye reaching the vaporization temperature. Can be vaporized by heating, and the vaporization rate of the liquefied disperse dye is improved. Further, since the photothermal conversion agent is mixed with the liquefied disperse dye and photothermal conversion is performed near the vaporization surface, a structure such as a photothermal conversion layer is not formed, and the photothermal conversion layer and a structure other than the liquefied disperse dye are The head structure can be simplified because it can be vaporized without performing heat insulation.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The entire structure of the laser sublimation type color video printer 1 of the prior art is cited, the same parts as those of the head part thereof are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a head portion of the first embodiment used in the laser sublimation type color video printer 1, which is yellow (Y), magenta (M) and cyan (C).
Solid powdery sublimation dyes (solidified disperse dyes) 12Y,
12M, 12C (collectively indicated by reference numeral 12) for storing the solid dye storage tanks 11Y, 11M, 11C (collectively indicated by reference numeral 11), and a wear-resistant member made of a high-strength material located below It is formed between the protective layer 13 and the head base 14 made of glass or transparent ceramic, which is located on the upper side,
Sublimable dye 12 in the form of solid powder in each solid dye storage tank 11
Liquid dye storage tanks 15 for storing the liquid dyes by heating and liquefying them by a heater (heating element) 16 made of an electric resistor attached to the head base 14 side, and liquefied sublimable dyes introduced from the liquid dye storage tanks 15. Each vaporizing section 17 for vaporizing the (liquefied disperse dye) 12 ', and each semiconductor laser chip attached to the head base 14 via the support board 19 and irradiating each vaporizing section 17 with the laser beam L via the lens 30. (Laser light source) 18, a check valve 24 provided at a connection port 23 between each solid dye storage tank 11 and each liquid dye storage tank 15,
A vibrating body (dye pressurizing and supplying means) 25 provided at a position facing the vaporizing section 17 in each liquid dye storage tank 15 and pressurizing and supplying the liquefied sublimable dye 12 'to the vaporizing section 17 side.
And the liquefied sublimable dye 1 which is attached to the center of the vaporization hole 17a of each vaporization part 17 on the side of the head base 14 and liquefied by heating.
It is similar to the configuration of the above-mentioned prior art in that it is provided with a liquid dye holder 22 that holds 2'by a capillary phenomenon.

Here, the photothermal conversion agent 21 which absorbs the light of the laser beam L and converts it into heat is mixed with the solidified sublimable dye 12, and when the solidified sublimable dye 12 is heated by the heater 16 and liquefied. Liquefaction sublimable dye 1
2'is uniformly melted. An optical system including a lens 30 is provided between the head base 14 and each semiconductor laser chip 18 so that the laser beam L emitted from each semiconductor laser chip 18 is aligned with the optical axis of the head base 14 via the support board 19. Installed. The lens 30 collects the laser light L emitted and diffused from each semiconductor laser chip 18, passes through the light-transmitting resin 40, and is reflected by the light-reflecting layer 41 formed on the back surface of the protective layer 13. On the liquefied light-to-heat converting agent 21 ', there is used one having a focal length such that its spot diameter is 40 microns or less. That is, the irradiation means for irradiating the laser beam L from the side for vaporizing the liquefied sublimable dye (liquefied disperse dye) 12 'is an optical system including the semiconductor laser chip 18, the lens 30, and the light transmitting resin 40, and the reflection layer 41. It is composed of and.

Further, each liquid dye storage tank 15 and the printing paper 50
The hole diameter of the protective layer 13 is formed so that the opening diameter S of the contact hole is the transfer size (60 to 80 μm) of the vaporized disperse dye 12 ″.

According to the laser sublimation type color video printer 1 of the above embodiment, the solid powder sublimable dye 12 and the photothermal conversion agent 21 in each solid dye storage tank 11 are heated to the melting point by the heater 16. It is melted (liquefied). The liquefied sublimable dyes 12 ′ are vaporized by the vibrating body 25 in the liquid dye storage tanks 15 and the capillary phenomenon.
It is supplied to the liquid dye holder 22 in the vaporization hole 17a at a high speed with the liquefied photothermal conversion agent 21 '. And 1
When color-printing a sheet of photographic paper 50, a 1-dot signal for each line is sent to the head unit 10, and the laser light L generated by each semiconductor laser chip 18 is heated by each liquefied photothermal conversion agent 21 '. Is converted to. As a result, the liquefied sublimable dyes 12 'held in the liquid dye holding bodies 22 are vaporized, and the vaporized disperse dyes Y, M, and C of the vaporized sublimable diffused dyes 12 "are flat base 4 and the protective layer. Thirteen
Y → M → on the dye receiving layer 50a of the printing paper 50 sent between
Each is transferred in order of C and color printed.

Here, the concept of superiority of vaporization energy when vaporizing by heating from the vaporization surface of the liquefied sublimable dye (liquefied disperse dye) will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 2
(A), (b), (c) are types of prior art, which have a photothermal conversion layer 21 "near the interface between each liquefied dye storage tank 15 and the liquefied sublimable dye 12 ', and the bottom of the liquefied sublimable dye 12'. 2 (d) and 2 (e) show the case where the liquefied photothermal exchange agent 21 'is melted in the liquefied sublimable dye 12' and the vaporized surface of the liquefied sublimable dye 12 'is heated and vaporized. When the photothermal conversion layer 21 ″ of FIG. 2 (a) is irradiated with the laser beam L to perform photothermal exchange, energy is transferred to the structures other than the liquefied sublimable dye on the upper surface and the dye on the lower surface by heat conduction, and gradually. The surrounding temperature rises. If this state is continued, heat is further transmitted, and the vaporization surface (surface) of the liquefied sublimable dye becomes a state close to the vaporization temperature as shown in FIG. 2 (b). However, when the vaporization temperature is not reached, vaporization of the liquefied sublimable dye is not yet performed. When the laser light L is further irradiated, the vaporization surface (surface) of the liquefied sublimable dye reaches the vaporization temperature and vaporizes as shown in FIG. 2 (c). On the other hand, in the case of heating and vaporizing by irradiating the laser light L from the vaporizing surface,
As shown in (d), the liquefied photothermal conversion agent performs photothermal conversion on the vaporized surface (surface) of the liquefied sublimable dye, and the temperature of the liquefied sublimable dye on the vaporized surface (surface) begins to rise. Even in this state, heat is conducted to the liquefied sublimable dye other than the vaporization surface (surface), but since the vaporization surface (surface) is heated, the vaporization surface (surface) reaches the vaporization temperature first, and FIG. Begins to vaporize like.

As described above, by providing the irradiation means for irradiating the laser beam L from the side for vaporizing the liquefied sublimable dye (liquefied disperse dye) 12 ', heat is not taken away by the surrounding structures. Only the liquefied sublimable dye 12 'that is desired to be vaporized can be vaporized with the minimum required energy.

Furthermore, it is not necessary to provide a special sectional structure, and the head structure itself can be simplified.

According to the first embodiment, the laser light L from each semiconductor laser chip 18 is condensed by the lens 30 and is reflected by the light reflection layer 41 to be liquefied sublimable dye (liquefied disperse dye) 12 '. Each of the liquefied photothermal conversion agents 21 'in the inside is irradiated with light. However, the head portion 10A of another embodiment shown in FIG.
Laser light L from each semiconductor laser chip 18
May be directly guided to the vaporizing surface of the liquefied sublimable dye (liquefied disperse dye) 12 'by using the optical fiber 42.

Further, as in the head portions 10B and 10C of another embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the vaporizing surface of the disperse dye may be heated by a heating element instead of the laser.
Here, the heating element 61 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B is provided on the upper surface of the liquefied sublimable dye (liquefied disperse dye) 12 ′ around the vaporization holes 17 a of the vaporization section 17 of each liquid dye storage tank 15. It is configured like a donut so that it touches. Furthermore, FIG.
The heating element 62 shown in (a) and (b) is a floating island shape so as to contact the upper surface of the liquefied sublimable dye (liquefied disperse dye) 12 ′ at the center of the vaporization hole 17 a of the vaporization section 17 of each liquid dye storage tank 15. Is configured. Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, the disperse dye is not limited to the sublimation dye, and it is needless to say that the disperse dye can be applied to a monochrome printer as well as a color printer.

The solidified disperse dye used in the present invention,
Liquefied disperse dyes and vaporized disperse dyes are collectively called vaporized dyes, and their definitions are as follows. That is, "in the temperature range from 25 ° C to the decomposition temperature, the vapor pressure is 0.01
A dye having a temperature range above Pascal is defined as a vaporizing dye. However, when the dye molecules are associated with the average number of associations n in the gas phase, the vapor pressure is divided by the average number of associations n to be 0.01 / n pascal or more. "

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, the solid dye storage tank for storing the solidified disperse dye, and the liquid dye storage tank for storing the solidified disperse dye in the solid dye storage tank by heating and liquefying it A laser sublimation printer that mixes a photothermal conversion agent that performs photothermal conversion with laser light into the liquefied disperse dye in the liquid dye storage tank, and transfers the vaporized disperse dye vaporized by the photothermal conversion agent onto photographic paper. By providing the irradiation means for irradiating the laser beam from the side for vaporizing the liquefied disperse dye, heat conduction to structures other than the liquefied disperse dye to be vaporized can be minimized. Therefore, the vaporization efficiency of the liquefied disperse dye can be minimized. Further, it is not necessary to provide a special heat insulating structure on the head itself, and the head structure can be simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory view showing a head portion of a laser sublimation color video printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A to 2E are conceptual diagrams illustrating the heat conduction state of the laser sublimation color video printer of the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory view showing a head portion of a laser sublimation color video printer of another embodiment.

4A is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory view showing a head portion of a laser sublimation color video printer of another embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a donut-shaped heating element used in the head portion.

5A is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory view showing a head portion of a laser sublimation color video printer of still another embodiment, FIG.
(B) is sectional explanatory drawing of the floating island-shaped heat generating body used for the same head part.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a prior art laser sublimation color video printer.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory view showing a head portion of a laser sublimation type color video printer of the prior art.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Laser sublimation type color video printer (laser sublimation printer) 11 ... Solid dye storage tank 12 ... Solid powder sublimation dye (solidified disperse dye) 12 '... Liquefied sublimable dye (liquefied disperse dye) 12 "... Vaporization Sublimation dye (vapor disperse dye) 15 ... Liquid dye storage tank 21 ... Photothermal conversion agent 30 ... Lens (optical system) 41 ... Reflective layer 42 ... Optical fiber 50 ... Printing paper L ... Laser light

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location 9121-2H B41M 5/26 A

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A solid dye storage tank for storing the solidified disperse dye, a liquid dye storage tank for storing and liquefying the solidified disperse dye in the solid dye storage tank by heating, and a liquefied disperse dye in the liquid dye storage tank. A laser sublimation printer that mixes a photothermal conversion agent that performs photothermal conversion with laser light into the inside and transfers the vaporized disperse dye vaporized by the photothermal conversion agent onto photographic paper.The laser light vaporizes the liquefied disperse dye. A laser sublimation printer, characterized in that it is provided with an irradiation means for irradiating from the side where it is made. 2. The laser sublimation printer according to claim 1, wherein the irradiating means for irradiating the laser light from the side for vaporizing the liquefied disperse dye is constituted by an optical system including a lens and a reflecting layer. 3. The laser sublimation printer according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation means for irradiating the laser light from the side where the liquefied disperse dye is vaporized is constituted by an optical system including an optical fiber.