JPH08207328A - Recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To speed up highly detailed, high-quality printing and enable printing out irrespective of kinds of recording papers, by providing a recording apparatus with a second fixing means for transferring a temporary recording image to a recording paper from an intermediate transfer body together with a reception layer, etc. CONSTITUTION: A laser light, 11 is cast, from a recording means 10 in the direction shown by an arrow at a position corresponding to a required output, image pixel on a recording medium 4 sent by a recording medium feed roller 9a. A part of a thin film functional layer 3 on the recording medium 4 where the laser light 11 is cast is melted, whereby a through hole is formed at the position corresponding to the required image pixel. In taxis case, an oscillation wavelength of the laser light 11 is matched with an absorbance of the thin film functional layer 3 to improve the light-heat, conversion efficiency of the laser light 11. The recording means 10 may be constituted of a laser-scanning mechanism comprising a laser oscillation device such as a semiconductor laser or the like casting the laser light 11, an intensity distribution means, an optical lens, a polygon mirror, etc.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applicable to the printing industry that requires high-speed output of high-quality images, the office industry, the printer industry based on personal requirements, low-priced general-purpose output devices that use various types of recording paper, and the like. The present invention relates to a recording device that uses a recording medium for obtaining an output image on recording paper that can meet a wide range of needs up to the consumer products industry.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In thermal melting type recording, which is one type of conventional thermal transfer recording system, as shown in FIG. 2, a main wax such as carnauba wax or ester wax, or a heat melting resin is used as a thermal transfer recording medium 103. Etc. as a binder material,
A hot melt type coloring ink 102 to which a coloring agent such as a pigment or a dye, a softening agent and a regulator is added is applied on a substrate 101 such as polyethylene terephthalate.

Here, the base material 101 is relatively thick so as to maintain its mechanical strength during transportation, and its back surface is subjected to heat-resistant and lubricative treatment with respect to a thermal head. Then, in this heat melting type recording apparatus, thermal energy is supplied from the thermal head to the position of the thermal transfer recording medium corresponding to the desired output printing or image, and the viscosity of the hot melt type colored ink 102 at that position is changed.
At the same time, pressure is applied from a thermal head or the like to cause the viscosity of the hot melt type colored ink 102, that is, the hot melt type colored ink 102 at a position corresponding to a desired output print or image to adhere and penetrate onto the thermal transfer recording paper. . Thereafter, the thermal transfer recording medium and the thermal transfer recording paper are peeled off with the colored ink cooled, so that desired output printing or an image can be obtained on the thermal transfer recording paper.

Such a conventional thermal transfer recording apparatus has a simple recording mechanism in which thermal energy and pressure are applied to a thermal transfer recording medium from a thermal head.
The recording mechanism condensed in an extremely short time makes it possible to obtain relatively high-quality printed or output images on recording paper. Further, the print or image output on the recording paper has high sharpness and high density output print quality, and is excellent in durability and environmental resistance.

Furthermore, the thermal transfer recording apparatus is also compact and maintenance-free.

[0006]

However, in the conventional thermal transfer recording apparatus, the output printing quality tends to depend on the thermal transfer recording medium, the specifications of the recording head, the mechanism around the recording head, and the assembly accuracy. In order to obtain output printing, the heating elements of the thermal head in the recording apparatus are applied and controlled according to the output image pixels. Therefore, the ink on the thermal transfer recording medium is supplied with heat energy from the back surface of the thermal transfer recording medium to the hot-melt type colored ink with the thermal transfer recording medium sandwiched therebetween. In order to effectively use the heat energy in the output image pixel area under the application control without diverging the heat energy to the entire surface of the base material of the thermal transfer recording medium and the hot melt type colored ink layer, a constant concentration of the hot melt type colored ink is set. Improvements have been made to reduce the thickness of the base material of the thermal transfer recording medium or the hot-melt type colored ink layer itself, within a range in which the ink adhesion to the thermal transfer recording paper is not impaired. However, due to the thinning of the hot-melt type colored ink layer, the requirement for high smoothness specifications for recording paper has risen, and along with this, special paper and special specifications have been developed, which is a portable market requirement for recording paper. This is contrary to the case of plain paper, which is not preferable.

Also in the thermal head, various improvements have been made in order to improve the adhesion of the colored ink to the recording paper and to improve the output printing quality. For example, the convex glaze of the thermal head, the uniformization of the protective film height in the sub-scanning direction of the heating element, the optimization of the shape and thickness of the heating element, or the improvement of the temperature rise / fall characteristics of the heating element, the sub-scanning direction The heat resistance values have been made uniform, the resistance values have been made higher, the resolution has been made higher, and the thermal head materials have been optimized. However, the thermal head heat accumulation phenomenon, etc. between adjacent heating elements in the sub-scanning direction of the thermal head, and especially between the output image pixels in the main scanning direction during continuous or high speed output printing, adversely affects the formation of output image pixel dots on the recording paper. There is a situation in which the pixel dot reproducibility on the recording paper is deteriorated. That is, the current situation is that the high-definition output printing quality and the high-speed recording device have fallen behind.

Furthermore, the thermal transfer recording medium in the recording apparatus, the main components such as the thermal head and the platen roller, and the print sample etc. in which the contact state and the pressure from the thermal head to the thermal transfer recording medium or the recording paper are actually output are evaluated. It is necessary to make fine adjustments and perform proper and highly accurate assembly.

Higher definition printing quality expected in the future,
Due to the need for higher speeds and use of plain paper, improvements have been made in recording head materials, thermal transfer recording media, printing control, etc.
Further, there have been proposed a heat-sensitive energization method, a laser thermal transfer method, a multi-ribbon recording method, a method using a microcapsule, etc., but the results have not been sufficiently improved.

An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus using a recording medium capable of high-definition and high-quality printing at high speed and capable of output printing regardless of recording paper.

[0011]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the recording medium of the present invention comprises a base material and a hot-melt type colored ink containing a coloring material and a binder material as main components on the base material. It is composed of a colored ink layer formed by coating and a thin film functional layer formed on the colored ink layer, and the thin film functional layer undergoes microfabrication or changes in viscosity characteristics depending on the amount of light or heat energy supplied from the outside. It is characterized by

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a recording device using the recording medium is provided with a recording means for supplying light or heat energy for fine processing or changing viscosity characteristics to at least the thin film functional layer, and desired printing. Alternatively, an intermediate transfer member for primary recording of an image, a receiving layer fixing means for fixing one screen of a light-transmitting receiving layer for receiving at least a coloring material of the colored ink layer on the intermediate transfer member, and a hot for the colored ink layer A fixing head that performs heat control for activating the melt-type coloring ink, and a hot-melt-type coloring ink that is activated by the fixing head while press-contacting the receiving layer on the intermediate transfer member and the recording medium are transferred to the intermediate transfer member. Fixing means for transferring to the recording paper the fixing layer having the primary recording image, and the fixing layer on the substrate. And configured to have a form receptive layer sheet.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, as a second structure of a recording apparatus using the recording medium, a recording medium sheet in which the receiving layers are arranged in a frame sequential manner of the recording medium stack and a fine film in the thin film functional layer are provided. Recording means for supplying light or heat energy for changing processing or viscosity characteristics, an intermediate transfer body for primary recording of desired prints or images, and fixing one screen portion of the receiving layer on the recording medium sheet to the intermediate transfer body. , A fixing head that performs heat control for activating the hot-melt type colored ink of the colored ink layer, and the fixing head that activates the fixing layer on the intermediate transfer member and the recording medium stack on the recording medium sheet while being pressed against each other. The fixing means for transferring the condensed hot melt type colored ink to the intermediate transfer member to form a primary recording image, and the receiving layer having the primary recording image are transferred to the recording paper. And configured to have a fixing roller for.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, as a third structure of a recording apparatus using the recording medium, the receiving layers are arranged in a frame sequential manner of the recording medium stack, and the receiving layers are arranged in a frame sequential manner. Recording medium sheet, recording means for supplying light or heat energy for fine processing or viscosity characteristic change to the thin film functional layer, intermediate transfer member for primary recording of desired print or image, and receiving layer on the recording medium sheet A fixing head for fixing one screen portion on the intermediate transfer member and performing thermal control for activating the hot melt type colored ink of the colored ink layer, a receiving layer on the intermediate transfer member, and a recording medium on the recording medium sheet. Fixing means for transferring the hot melt type colored ink activated by the fixing head to the intermediate transfer body while pressing the laminated layer to form a primary recording image, and a recording paper. Causes pre fix the receiving layer of one screen, and configured to have a fixing roller for transferring a receiving layer having a primary recording images on the recording paper.

[0015]

With the above-described structure, one screen of the receiving layer is fixed on the intermediate transfer member by the receiving layer fixing means. For recording media, overcoating is performed on the hot-melt type colored ink layer containing a natural wax coated on the base material of the recording medium as a main component binder material and a pigment or dye coloring agent and a softening agent added. The thin film functional layer applied in 1. is provided.

The material for forming the thin film functional layer of this recording medium undergoes a chemical change according to the amount of light or heat energy supplied from the recording means, and is subjected to fine processing or a change in viscosity characteristic. In the case of a thin film functional layer having a characteristic of being microfabricated, light or heat energy is selectively applied to a position corresponding to a desired print or image of the thin film functional layer. At this time, the thin film functional layer area which is irradiated with light from the recording means or is contacted with the recording means and receives heat is affected by the amount of light or heat energy, resulting in holes due to melt evaporation, explosive erosion, or back flow. Fine processing such as processing is performed.

In the case of a thin film functional layer having a change in viscosity characteristic, the material of the thin film functional layer is dry-dried out due to the balance between the surface tension in the molten state and the cohesive force, and hole processing is performed on the thin film functional layer. Through this hole, the hot-melt type colored ink of the recording medium moves to the receiving layer on the intermediate transfer member and is adhered to form the primary recorded image of the desired print or image, and the receiving layer having this primary recorded image is recorded. Since it moves to the paper, penetrates, and adheres, the desired print or image is obtained on the recording paper. At this time, when a recording unit that emits light is used, the recording process can be performed at an extremely high speed because the latent image can be formed in a non-contact manner.

Further, the imaging optical system from the recording means to the recording medium, the wavelength of the light emitted from the recording means, the output of the recording means, the number of times of irradiation, or the pulse width and the modulation intensity of the irradiation light at the time of pulse modulation are appropriate. By setting to, it is possible to obtain an appropriate microfabricated shape such as a circularized irradiation area. That is, since it is possible to obtain a minute area region that constitutes an output image pixel, it is possible to perform recording processing with extremely high resolution. When a recording means for supplying heat is used, the thin film functional layer is brought into direct contact with the thin film functional layer for processing with good heat transfer efficiency. When a plurality of recording means are used, a plurality of scanning is performed on the thin film functional layer of the recording medium, so that the writing / recording time per recording paper is significantly reduced.

In the recording apparatus of the present invention, in the process of fixing the receiving layer to the intermediate transfer body, the receiving layer sheet is heated and pressed against the intermediate transfer body by the receiving layer fixing means to soften or melt the receiving layer. One screen of the receiving layer is transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer body.
Retained. In the process of transferring and fixing the hot melt type colored ink to the receiving layer on the intermediate transfer member, the fixing head heats and activates the hot melt type colored ink on the base material of the recording medium to a temperature not lower than the transition point. At that time, the receiving layer on the intermediate transfer member and the thin film functional layer side of the recording medium processed by the recording means are faced to each other and adhered by the pressure bonding means. As a result, the activated hot-melt type colored ink in the molten state migrates, penetrates, and adheres to the receiving layer only from the finely processed through-holes of the thin film functional layer, and only the fine transfer areas of the desired output image pixel components. Thus, a primary recording image will be formed.

On the contrary, in the area where the thin film functional layer remains unprocessed by the recording means, the transfer of the hot melt type colored ink to the receiving layer does not occur. At that time, since the transfer of the hot melt type colored ink to the receiving layer is always carried on the intermediate transfer member, the primary recording image can be stably formed regardless of the type of the recording paper. . In particular, by setting the receptive layer to be fixed to have a uniform surface, the contact state of the hot melt type colored ink with the receptive layer is always made uniform, so that a higher-definition image can be obtained. Becomes

Next, in the process of transferring and fixing the primary recording image onto the recording paper, the primary recording image is transferred and fixed onto the recording paper by the fixing roller together with the receiving layer. At that time, the control of the pressure bonding force, the pressure bonding time, the peeling means, etc. is easier than when using a conventional thermal head. In addition, since a uniform primary recording image is already formed on the receiving layer, it is possible to faithfully reproduce desired characters or images without depending on the recording paper, and to perform fixing control.

Unlike the conventional thermal transfer recording method in which an ink layer is heated and melted, the present invention changes the viscosity characteristic of the recording medium itself. Therefore, unlike the conventional thermal transfer recording device, there is no inconvenience that the ink in the portion that should not be printed is melted under the influence of heat and transferred to the recording paper. That is, by using the recording apparatus of the present invention, higher-definition output printing and images can be obtained.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a recording medium used in the recording apparatus of the present invention. The recording medium 4 has a laminated structure of a substrate 1, a hot melt type colored ink layer 2 and a thin film functional layer 3. The substrate 1 is a base film such as polyethylene terephthalate which has been subjected to a back surface treatment in which heat resistance and lubricity are incorporated. The hot melt type colored ink layer 2 formed on the base material 1 contains a pigment or dye serving as a colorant such as carbon black, a natural wax such as carnauba wax or ester wax as a main component, or a heat-meltable resin. It is added to the binder material and further mixed with a softening agent and the like.

The thin film functional layer 3 formed on the hot melt type colored ink layer 2 is one which undergoes fine processing or changes in viscosity characteristics by light or heat energy from the recording means. The thin film functional layer 3 is made of a chalcogen-based tellurium material, a chalcogenite material, a selenium-added chalcogenite material, an alloy-based film of a composite of tellurium and an organic resin, or an organic material containing a cyanine dye, a phthalocyanine dye, an anthraquinone dye, or the like. It is configured to have a high absorption coefficient for light supplied from the optical recording head to improve the photothermal conversion rate, and to have low thermal conductivity, film formability and film stability.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the receiving layer sheet used in the recording apparatus of the present invention. The receiving layer sheet 7 includes the base material 1,
It has a laminated structure of a peeling layer 5 and a receiving layer 6. Substrate 1
Can be made of the same material as the base material 1 of the recording medium 4. The peeling layer 5 formed on the base material 1 facilitates peeling from the base material 1 when the receiving layer 6 is transferred and held on an intermediate transfer body described later.

For the release layer 5, a silicone resin, a fluorine resin or the like can be used. The thickness of the release layer 5 is 0.1
μm to 10 μm is preferable, and 0.5 μm to 5 μm is particularly preferable. If it is thinner than 0.1 μm, a sufficient peeling effect cannot be obtained, and if it exceeds 10 μm, the peeling effect does not significantly change, and the heat energy for fixing the receptor layer is wasted. The receiving layer 6 formed on the peeling layer 5 is for transferring and holding the image on an intermediate transfer member so that a desired image or character is primarily recorded.

The receiving layer 6 has a light-transmitting property and is made of a saturated polyester resin (Vylon 200, T manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.).
g = 67 ° C.): 20 parts by weight, saturated polyester resin (Vylon 200 manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd., Tg = 67 ° C.): 2 parts by weight, silicone oil (KF manufactured by Shin-Etsu Silicone Co., Ltd.)
96): 2 parts by weight, toluene: 80 parts by weight, methyl ethyl ketone: 20 parts by weight with a solution of wire bar # 2
At 0, it is applied to a polyethylene terephthalate film of 9 μm and dried to prepare a film having a thickness of 10 μm. The thickness of the receptor layer is usually preferably 2 μm to 100 μm, and particularly 10 μm.
μm to 50 μm is preferable. If the thickness is less than 2 μm, the receiving layer 6 cannot have sufficient tensile strength, and depending on the type of recording paper, the receiving layer 6 may be stretched or torn during transfer, resulting in a large deterioration in the image quality of the recorded matter. This is because if the thickness is 100 μm or more, a large amount of heat is required to fix the image on the intermediate transfer member, and the amount of light that is transmitted in the thickness direction for viewing a recorded image through the receiving layer decreases, making it difficult to determine.

FIG. 4 is a sectional structural view of the first embodiment of the recording medium sheet used in the recording apparatus of the present invention. The recording medium sheet 8a has a laminated structure of a release layer 5 and a receiving layer 6 on a base material 1, and a hot melt type colored ink layer 2 in the order of its surface,
The laminated structure of the thin film functional layer 3 is arranged. Portions of the recording medium sheet 8a having the same functions as those of the recording medium 4 and the receiving layer sheet 7 are designated by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the second embodiment of the recording medium sheet used in the recording apparatus of the present invention. The recording medium sheet 8b comprises a base 1, a laminated structure of a release layer 5 and a receiving layer 6, a layered structure of the releasing layer 5 and a receiving layer 6 in the frame order, and a hot melt type colored ink in the frame order. Layer 2,
The laminated structure of the thin film functional layer 3 is arranged. In the recording medium sheet 8b of FIG. 5, parts having the same functions as those of the recording medium 4 and the receiving layer sheet 7 are designated by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a first configuration of a recording apparatus using the recording medium 4 described above. In FIG. 6, the laser light 11 is emitted from the recording unit 10 in the arrow direction to a position corresponding to a desired output image pixel on the recording medium 4 delivered from the recording medium supply roller 9a. In the thin film functional layer 3 on the recording medium 4, the thin film functional layer 3 in the portion irradiated with the laser beam 11 melts, so that a through hole is formed at a position corresponding to a desired image pixel. Here, the oscillation wavelength of the laser beam 11 and the absorption coefficient of the thin film functional layer 3 are matched to improve the photothermal conversion efficiency of the laser beam 11.

Further, the recording means 10 is a laser oscillating device such as a semiconductor laser for irradiating laser light, an optical lens system and a polygon mirror for optimizing the irradiation light intensity distribution of the laser light, the image forming light spot shape and the like. It can be configured by a laser beam scanning mechanism. In the present recording device, as the recording means for applying the light energy to the recording medium, a type of irradiating the above laser beam or the like can be used,
An image can be latently formed on the thin film functional layer 3 at a position corresponding to a desired output image pixel without contact and at high speed. A thermal head of the type used in conventional thermal transfer recording can be used as the recording means for applying heat energy to the recording medium.

Further, by moving the receiving layer fixing means 15 composed of a heat roller or the like in the direction of arrow 23,
The receptor layer sheet 7 is heated and pressed against the drum-shaped intermediate transfer body 13, and the receptor layer 6 is conveyed by rotation of the intermediate transfer body 13 in the direction of arrow 27. At this time, the receiving layer 6 is softened or melted and fixed and held on the surface of the intermediate transfer body 13. After the receiving layer 6 for one screen is fixed and held on the intermediate transfer body 13, the receiving layer fixing means 15 moves in the direction of the arrow 22, and the contact of the receiving layer sheet 7 to the intermediate transfer body 13 is released. The base material 1 of the layer sheet 7 is fed together with the release layer 5 by the receiving layer winding roller 16.

Furthermore, the recording medium 4 in which fine through holes are formed on the thin film functional layer 3 is a recording medium supply roller 9
a or the recording medium take-up roller 9b
Is driven and conveyed in the direction, and is carried into the fixing head 12. Here, the thin film functional layer 3 in which the through hole of the recording medium 4 is formed and the receiving layer 6 on the intermediate transfer body 13 conveyed by the rotation of the intermediate transfer body 13 in the direction of the arrow 27 are in close contact with each other. The fixing head 12 is moved and pressed, and the fixing head 12 heats the recording medium 4 from the base material 1 side of the recording medium 4.

In this embodiment, heat rollers are used as the receiving layer fixing means 15 and the fixing head 12, but the present invention is not limited to this. The fixing head 12 is set to a temperature equal to or higher than the transition point of the hot melt type colored ink layer 2, and the hot melt type colored ink layer 2 is activated here. The activated hot melt type colored ink layer 2 is applied to the thin film functional layer 3 by pressing the fixing head 12.
Of the intermediate transfer member 13 to flow, permeate and adhere to the receiving layer 6 on the intermediate transfer member 13. That is, the hot-melt type colored ink 2 is formed as the primary recording image 14 at a position corresponding to a desired output image pixel on the receiving layer 3 for one screen. After that, in the direction of arrow 21, the fixing head 1
2 is moved, and the contact of the recording medium 4 with the intermediate transfer body 13 is released. At the time of color recording, the hot-melt type colored ink 2 passes through the through-holes of the thin film functional layer 3 for each color material, and is fixed and adhered on the same receiving layer 3 in an overlapping manner.

Finally, the fixing roller 17 composed of a heat roller or the like is moved in the direction of the arrow 25 and the primary recording image 14 is formed.
The recording paper 18 is heated while being pressed against the receiving layer 6 having the pressure. The recording paper 18 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow 28 according to the rotation of the intermediate transfer body 13 in the direction of the arrow 27, and the primary recording image 14
Is transferred onto the recording paper 18 together with the receiving layer 6 to finally obtain a desired image on the recording paper 18. Then, the fixing roller 17 moves in the direction of the arrow 24, and the contact of the recording paper 18 with the intermediate transfer body 13 is released. The above process is repeated to record each image.

In this embodiment, the receiving layer 6 is temporarily held on the intermediate transfer body 13 and thermal transfer recording is carried out on the receiving layer 6, so that a stable recorded image can be obtained regardless of the type of recording paper. Can be done. Moreover, since the receiving layer 6 is transferred onto the recording paper 18 for recording, the uniform recorded image can be obtained regardless of the type of the recording paper 18. Further, since the recording image is covered with the receiving layer 6, the image quality of the recording image is not deteriorated by rubbing with a finger or the like. Furthermore, the receiving layer 6
By adding an ultraviolet absorber to the, it is possible to suppress the fading due to light, particularly when a dye is used as a coloring material.
This UV absorber contains phenyl salicylates-2, 4
-Dihydroxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4
For example, -n-octoxybenzophenone can be used. Further, in color recording, color overlapping recording is performed on the same receiving layer 6, but since the receiving layer 6 is held by the drum-shaped intermediate transfer member 13, it is possible to perform overlapping recording without color misregistration and image quality is improved. To do.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the recording apparatus using the recording medium sheet 8a shown in FIG. 4 in which the portion having the structure of the recording medium 4 (recording medium laminated portion) and the light transmissive receiving layer 6 are formed in the surface sequence thereof. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example. The same parts and parts having the same functions as those of the recording device shown in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 7, a laser beam 11 is emitted from the recording means 10 to a position corresponding to a desired output image pixel on the thin film functional layer 3 of the recording medium sheet 8a sent from the recording medium supply roller 9a. To irradiate. It is shown in FIG. 6 that in the thin film functional layer 3 on the recording medium sheet 8a, the thin film functional layer 3 in the portion irradiated with the laser beam 11 is melted and a through hole is formed at a position corresponding to a desired image pixel. It is the same as the recording device.

FIG. 6 also shows that the oscillation wavelength of the laser light 11 and the absorption coefficient of the thin film functional layer 3 are matched to improve the photothermal conversion efficiency of the laser light 11 and the structure of the recording means 10. It is the same as the recording device. Therefore, also in the present embodiment, the recording means 10 of the type that irradiates the above laser beam or the like is used, and an image is hidden in the thin film functional layer 3 at a position corresponding to a desired output image pixel without contact and at high speed. Can be made to image. A thermal head of the type used in conventional thermal transfer recording can be used as the recording means for applying heat energy to the recording medium.

Further, the recording medium sheet 8a is driven and conveyed in the direction of arrow 26 by the recording medium supply roller 9a or the recording medium take-up roller 9b to fix the receiving layer 6 on the recording medium sheet 8a to the fixing head 12 and the intermediate transfer member 13. To the narrow space. Then, the fixing head 12 is moved in the direction of arrow 20, the receiving layer 6 is heated and pressed against the intermediate transfer body 13, and the receiving layer 6 is conveyed by the rotation of the intermediate transfer body 13 in the direction of arrow 27. At this time, the receiving layer 6 is softened or melted and fixed and held on the surface of the intermediate transfer body 13. Receptive layer 6 for one screen
After being fixed and held on the intermediate transfer body 13, the fixing head 12 moves in the direction of the arrow 21 and the contact of the recording medium sheet 8a with the intermediate transfer body 13 is released.

Further, the recording medium sheet 8a is driven and conveyed in the direction of arrow 26 by the recording medium supply roller 9a or the recording medium take-up roller 9b to form a recording medium laminated portion in which fine through holes are formed on the thin film functional layer 3. Then, the fixing head 12 and the intermediate transfer member 13 are carried into a narrow space. Here, the thin film functional layer 3 in which the through holes of the recording medium laminated portion are formed
And the fixing head 12 is moved and pressed again in the direction of arrow 20 so that the intermediate transfer body 13 and the receiving layer 6 on the intermediate transfer body 13 that has returned to the narrow space by the rotation in the direction of arrow 27 come into close contact with each other. , The base material 1 by the fixing head 12
The recording medium sheet 8a is heated from the side. Although a heat roller is used as the fixing head 12 in this embodiment, the fixing head 12 is not limited to this.

The fixing head 12 is set to a temperature equal to or higher than the transition point of the hot melt type colored ink layer 2, and the hot melt type colored ink layer 2 is activated here.
The activated hot melt type colored ink layer 2 flows through the through holes of the thin film functional layer 3 to the receiving layer 6 on the intermediate transfer body 13 by the pressure of the fixing head 12,
Penetrates and adheres. That is, the hot melt type colored ink 2 is formed as the primary recorded image 14 at the position on the receiving layer 6 for one screen corresponding to the desired output image pixel. After that, the fixing head 12 is moved in the direction of arrow 21,
The contact of the recording medium sheet 8a with the intermediate transfer body 13 is released. At the time of color recording, the hot-melt type colored ink 2 is passed through the through holes of the thin film functional layer 3 for each color material, and is fixed and adhered on the same receiving layer 6 in an overlapping manner.

Finally, the fixing roller 17 composed of a heat roller or the like is moved in the direction of arrow 25, and the primary recording image 14 is formed.
The receiving layer 6 having a pressure and the recording paper 18 are heated while being pressed against each other. According to the rotation of the intermediate transfer body 13 in the direction of arrow 27, the recording paper 18 is conveyed in the direction of arrow 28, and the primary recording image 1
4 and the receiving layer 6 are transferred onto the entire surface of the recording paper 18 to finally obtain a recorded product of a desired image. After that, the fixing roller 17 moves in the direction of the arrow 24 to move the recording paper 18 onto the intermediate transfer body 13.
Contact is released. The above process is repeated to record each image.

In this embodiment, similar to the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to obtain a uniform recorded image regardless of the type of recording paper. Further, in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 7, since the fixing head 12 is also used as a receiving layer fixing means of the receiving layer 6 to the intermediate transfer body 13, the structure is simple as compared with the embodiment of FIG. It is possible to reduce the size and cost of the recording device.

FIG. 8 shows a portion having the structure of the recording medium 4 (recording medium laminated portion) and the light-transmissive receiving layer 6 in the frame order.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a recording apparatus using the recording medium sheet 8b shown in FIG. 5 in which the light-transmitting other receiving layer 6 is formed in the frame order. The same parts and parts having the same functions as those of the recording apparatus shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 8, the laser light 11 is emitted from the recording means 10 to the position corresponding to a desired output image pixel on the thin film functional layer 3 of the recording medium sheet 8b sent from the recording medium supply roller 9a. To irradiate. As shown in FIG. 6, in the thin film functional layer 3 on the recording medium sheet 8b, the thin film functional layer 3 in the portion irradiated with the laser beam 11 is melted and a through hole is formed at a position corresponding to a desired image pixel. It is the same as the recording device. Further, the oscillation wavelength of the laser light 11 and the absorption coefficient of the thin film functional layer 3 are matched to each other,
The light-heat conversion efficiency of No. 1 and the structure of the recording unit 10 are the same as those of the recording apparatus shown in FIG.

Therefore, the recording means 1 is also used in this embodiment.
An image of the type that irradiates the above laser light or the like is used as 0, and an image can be latently formed on the thin film functional layer 3 at a position corresponding to a desired output image pixel in a non-contact manner at high speed. A thermal head of the type used in conventional thermal transfer recording can be used as the recording means for applying heat energy to the recording medium.

Further, the recording medium sheet 8b is driven and conveyed in the direction of arrow 26 by the recording medium supply roller 9a or the recording medium take-up roller 9b to fix the receiving layer 6 on the recording medium sheet 8b to the fixing head 12 and the intermediate transfer member 13. To the narrow space. Then, the fixing head 12 is moved in the direction of the arrow 20, the receiving layer 6 is heated and pressed against the intermediate transfer body 13, and the receiving layer 6 is conveyed by the rotation of the intermediate transfer body 13 in the direction of the arrow 27. At this time, the receiving layer 6 is softened or melted and fixed and held on the surface of the intermediate transfer body 13. After the receiving layer 6 for one screen is fixed and held on the intermediate transfer body 13, the arrow 21
The fixing head 12 moves in the direction, and the contact of the recording medium sheet 8b with the intermediate transfer body 13 is released.

Then, the receiving layer 6 on the intermediate transfer member 13
Is moved to the position of the fixing roller 17 in accordance with the rotation in the direction of the arrow 27, and then the fixing roller 17 composed of a heat roller or the like is moved in the direction of the arrow 25 to move the receiving layer 6 and the recording paper 18 on the intermediate transfer body 13 Heat while pressing. At this time, one screen of the receiving layer is transferred onto the recording paper 18 while the recording paper 18 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow 28. Then, the fixing roller 17 moves in the direction of the arrow 24, and the contact of the recording paper 18 with the intermediate transfer body 13 is released. Then, the recording paper 18 on which the receiving layer has been transferred is rewound by one screen in the direction of arrow 29.

Next, the recording medium sheet 8b is moved to the arrow 26 by the recording medium roller 9a or the recording medium winding roller 9b.
The second receiving layer 6 arranged in the surface-sequential manner on the recording medium sheet 8b is carried in the fixing head 12 and the narrow gap portion of the intermediate transfer body 13 in the direction. Then, the fixing head 12
Is moved in the direction of the arrow 20, and the second receiving layer 6 is heated and pressed against the intermediate transfer member 13, and the arrow 27 of the intermediate transfer member 13 is moved.
The receptive layer 6 is conveyed by rotating in the direction. At this time, the receiving layer 6 is softened or melted and fixed on the surface of the intermediate transfer member 13.
Retained.

After the receiving layer 6 for one screen is fixed and held on the intermediate transfer body 13, the fixing head 12 moves in the direction of arrow 21 and the contact of the recording medium sheet 8b with the intermediate transfer body 13 is released. . Furthermore, the recording medium sheet 8b is driven and conveyed by the recording medium supply roller 9a or the recording medium take-up roller 9b in the direction of the arrow 26, and the recording medium laminated portion in which fine through holes are formed on the thin film functional layer 3 is fixed. The head 12 and the intermediate transfer body 13 are carried into the narrow space.

Here, the thin film functional layer 3 having the through holes of the recording medium laminated portion and the intermediate transfer member 13 returned to the narrow gap portion by the rotation of the intermediate transfer member 13 in the direction of the arrow 27.
The fixing head 12 is moved again in the direction of the arrow 20 so as to be pressed so that the recording medium sheet 8b is heated from the side of the substrate 1 by the fixing head 12 so as to be in close contact with the upper receiving layer 6. Although a heat roller is used as the fixing head 12 in this embodiment, the fixing head 12 is not limited to this.

The fixing head 12 is set to a temperature equal to or higher than the transition point of the hot melt type colored ink layer 2, and the hot melt type colored ink layer 2 is activated here.
The activated hot melt type colored ink layer 2 flows through the through holes of the thin film functional layer 3 to the receiving layer 6 on the intermediate transfer body 13 by the pressure of the fixing head 12,
Penetrates and adheres. That is, the hot melt type colored ink 2 is formed as the primary recorded image 14 at the position on the receiving layer 6 for one screen corresponding to the desired output image pixel. After that, the fixing head 12 is moved in the direction of arrow 21,
The contact of the recording medium sheet 8b with the intermediate transfer body 13 is released. At the time of color recording, the hot-melt type colored ink 2 is passed through the through holes of the thin film functional layer 3 for each color material, and is fixed and adhered on the same receiving layer 6 in an overlapping manner.

Finally, the fixing roller 17 composed of a heat roller or the like is moved in the direction of arrow 25, and the primary recording image 1
The receiving layer 6 having 4 and the receiving layer on the recording paper 18 previously transferred are heated while being pressed. As the recording paper 18 is conveyed in the direction of arrow 28 as the intermediate transfer member 13 rotates in the direction of arrow 27, the primary recording image 14 is entirely transferred onto the recording paper 18 in such a manner that it is sandwiched between the receiving layers 6 and finally desired. Obtain a recorded image. Then, the fixing roller 17 moves in the direction of the arrow 24, and the contact of the recording paper 18 with the intermediate transfer body 13 is released. The above process is repeated to record each image. In the present embodiment, similar to the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to obtain a uniform recorded image regardless of the type of recording paper. Further, in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the fixing head 12 is also used as a means for fixing the receiving layer 6 to the intermediate transfer body 13, so that the recording paper 1 is different from the embodiment in FIG.
The structure is simple without being affected by the unevenness of 8, and the recording apparatus can be downsized and the cost can be reduced.

Further, in the recording apparatus of this embodiment, the receiving layer 6 is previously transferred onto the recording paper 18 before the primary recording image 14 is transferred onto the recording paper 18. Therefore, the recording paper 1
Regardless of the unevenness of the surface of No. 8, the primary recording image is transferred onto the receptive layer having high smoothness, and plain paper having low cost can be used as the recording paper.

Next, variations of this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a recording medium sheet is used in which receiving layers are arranged in a frame-sequential manner, and then a recording medium laminated portion is arranged in a frame-sequential manner. The recording device is configured such that after transfer, the next receiving layer forms a primary recording image on the intermediate transfer body and then transfers it to recording paper.

However, according to the present invention, the receiving layer is first transferred onto the recording paper for the purpose of correcting irregularities on the surface of the recording paper in order to obtain a better recorded image. Therefore, the following constitution may also be adopted. It is possible. That is, in the frame order, the first
Using the recording medium sheet having the receiving layer, the recording medium laminated portion, and the second receiving layer, the first receiving layer is transferred onto the intermediate transfer member, and then the primary recording image is formed thereon, and The second receiving layer is transferred onto it. After that, a recording apparatus having a structure in which the first receiving layer, the primary recording image, and the second receiving layer on the intermediate transfer member are collectively transferred to a recording paper is also possible.

In the above-mentioned receiving layer sheet, the receiving layer is repeatedly arranged in the longitudinal direction of the sheet, and in various recording medium sheets, the receiving layer and the recording medium laminated portion, or
It goes without saying that the two receiving layers and the recording medium laminated portion form one set and are repeatedly arranged in the longitudinal direction. Of course, in the case of color print recording, in the recording medium sheet, the number of recording medium laminated portions is not one, and, for example, cyan,
It has respective recording medium laminated portions of magenta and yellow.

Further, in the recording apparatus shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 6 to 7, the case of heating from the receiving layer fixing means 15 or the fixing roller 17 is shown, but a heating element is provided on the surface or inside of the intermediate transfer body 13. It is also possible to provide and heat the energization at the time of transferring and fixing the receiving layer 6 or the recording paper 18 from the side of the intermediate transfer body 13.

Furthermore, the intermediate transfer member 13 or the recording paper 1
It is not always necessary to heat at the time of fixing / transferring the receiving layer 6 to the sheet 8. In the case of transfer / fixing to the intermediate transfer member 13, the pressing force is increased and the receiving layer 6 is heated without heating due to the peeling effect of the peeling layer.
Can also be transferred and fixed. In the case of transfer / fixing onto the recording paper 18, due to the flexibility of the receiving layer 6, the receiving layer 6 is inserted into the surface of the recording paper 18 only by pressing, and transfer / fixing without heating
It can also be fixed.

Further, in the recording apparatus of the present invention described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, when the semiconductor laser diode or the like which is an element of the recording means irradiates light of a specific wavelength, heat generating means such as a heat roller or heat control. The recording sensitivity can be improved by applying a thermal bias to the recording medium by means such as means. This can be realized by configuring the roller 30 with a heat roller in FIGS. 6 to 8, for example.

Further, when the specific wavelength light is irradiated, the entire surface exposure including the light in the specific wavelength range absorbed by the thin film functional layer is given as an optical bias, so that the thin film functional layer itself generates heat, and the thermal bias of the thermal bias is increased. Because the effect occurs,
It is possible to improve the recording sensitivity. The structure for obtaining such an effect is shown below.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of the structure of the recording section for obtaining the optical bias effect. It is driven by the driving device 201, as shown in FIG.
The semiconductor laser 202 having the oscillation wavelength region characteristic shown by 0 emits a laser beam having a specific oscillation wavelength. This laser light is condensed to an appropriate beam diameter by a condenser stage 203 composed of an optical system such as a lens, and irradiated onto a recording medium 206 via a main scanning means 204 composed of a polygon mirror or the like. The recording medium 206 has a thin film functional layer containing, for example, a dye having an absorption wavelength region characteristic shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the irradiation of the laser beam onto the recording medium 206 in the main scanning direction is controlled by the main scanning means 204, and the irradiation in the sub scanning direction is controlled by the sub scanning means 207 which moves the recording medium. Of course, it is not limited to this.

In this embodiment, the laser light recording medium 206 is used.
Optical bias device 205 including a light source such as a lamp having the emission wavelength range characteristic shown in FIG.
From this, optical energy is given to the recording medium 206. The irradiation light from the optical bias device 205 generates heat in the thin film functional layer, and the same recording sensitivity improving effect as that due to the thermal bias effect can be obtained. In the case of the optical bias, unlike the case of the thermal bias, heat is generated in the thin film functional layer itself by the irradiation light, so that there is no thermal waste and a highly efficient bias effect can be obtained.

As described above, the recording apparatus of the present invention using the recording medium of the present invention has the needs expected from the market in the future, such as high resolution, high print quality, high speed printing, ecological property and colorization on various recording papers. Such requirements can be obtained with a simple device configuration that does not require a complicated mechanism or component such as an electrophotographic recording method.

[0066]

As described above, the present invention provides a coloring ink comprising a recording medium as a base material and a hot-melt type coloring ink having a coloring material and a binder material as main components applied on the base material. The following effects in a recording device using a recording medium comprising a layer and a thin film functional layer formed on the colored ink layer and finely processed or viscosity characteristics changed by the amount of light or heat energy supplied from the recording means. There is.

(1) The recording medium has a structure in which the colored ink layer is sandwiched between the substrate and the thin film functional layer, and has a mechanical strength higher than that of the conventional recording medium. Further, since the heat stress from the recording means, the fixing head, etc. is small in the recording mechanism, the recording medium can be thinned. (2) Since the colored ink in the recording medium is activated by the heat energy from the fixing head, output printing can be performed at extremely high speed by performing desired printing or writing according to an image from the recording means to the thin film functional layer. You can do it.

(3) Like the conventional thermal transfer recording apparatus, the ink in the area that should not be printed is affected by heat and partly melts to transfer to the recording paper. The effect of poor dot reproducibility is eliminated. That is, higher-definition output printing can be obtained.

(4) Since the receiving layer is held on the intermediate transfer member and the desired recording image is primarily heat-transfer-recorded on this receiving layer, stable recording characteristics can be obtained regardless of the type of recording paper. . (5) By setting the receiving layer to be fixed on the intermediate transfer member so as to have a uniform surface, the state where the colored ink is primarily recorded is always made uniform, and a higher-definition image can be obtained.

(6) In the process of transferring the primary recording image formed on the intermediate transfer body to the recording paper, the fixing roller transfers the primary recording image together with the receiving layer to the recording paper. Means are easier than when using a conventional thermal head. (7) The recorded image transferred onto the recording paper is covered with the receiving layer, and the image of the recorded image is not deteriorated by rubbing with a finger or the like.

(8) By constantly equalizing the transfer amount (or thickness) of the colored ink in the primary recording image, stable and high quality of color output printing can be achieved especially by subtractive color mixing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a recording medium of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a conventional recording medium.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a receiving layer sheet of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing an example of a recording medium sheet of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the recording medium sheet of the present invention.

6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a recording apparatus of the present invention using the receiving layer sheet shown in FIG.

7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a recording apparatus of the present invention using the recording medium sheet shown in FIG.

8 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a recording apparatus of the present invention using the recording medium sheet shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a configuration explanatory view for explaining a configuration for obtaining an optical bias effect of the recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of emission wavelength region characteristics of a semiconductor laser diode in the recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of absorption wavelength region characteristics in the recording medium of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of emission wavelength region characteristics of light emitted from an optical bias device in the recording apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Base Material 2 Hot Melt Type Colored Ink Layer 3 Thin Film Functional Layer 4,206 Recording Medium 5 Release Layer 6 Receiving Layer 7 Receiving Layer Sheet 8a, 8b Recording Medium Sheet 9a Recording Medium Supply Roller 9b Recording Medium Winding Roller 10 Recording Means 11 Laser light 12 Fixing head 13 Intermediate transfer member 14 Primary recording image 15 Receiving layer fixing means 16 Receiving layer sheet winding roller 17 Fixing roller 18 Recording paper 101 Base material 102 Hot melt type colored ink layer 103 Thermal transfer recording medium 201 Driving device 202 Semiconductor Laser 203 Condensing means 204 Main scanning means 205 Optical bias means 207 Sub scanning means

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Reference number within the agency FI Technical indication location B41M 5/40 B41J 3/20 109 J 7416-2H B41M 5/26 E (72) Inventor Ju Sato Tokyo Metropolitan Koto 6-31-1 Kameido, Tokyo Seiko Electronics Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A substrate, a colored ink layer formed by applying a hot-melt type colored ink containing a coloring material and a binder material as main components on the substrate, and a colored ink layer formed on the colored ink layer. A thin film functional layer, wherein the thin film functional layer is at least one recording medium that undergoes microfabrication or changes in viscosity characteristics by light or heat energy supplied from the outside, another base material, and another base material A light receiving layer sheet composed of a formed light receiving layer is provided, and light or heat energy for microfabrication or viscosity characteristic change is supplied onto the thin film functional layer at a position corresponding to a desired image pixel. On the recording means, the intermediate transfer body, the receiving layer fixing means for fixing the receiving layer on the intermediate transfer body, and the receiving layer fixed on the intermediate transfer body, the fine processing or the viscosity characteristics are changed. Thin film functional layer A first fixing unit that transfers at least the coloring material of the colored ink layer through a sheet to form a primary recording image; and a second fixing unit that transfers the primary recording image together with the receiving layer from the intermediate transfer member to a recording sheet. A recording device comprising a fixing unit. 2. A base material, a light transmissive receiving layer formed on the base material, and a colorant and a binder material as main components formed on the base material adjacent to the receiving layer. And a thin film functional layer formed on the colored ink layer, wherein the thin film functional layer is finely divided by light or heat energy supplied from the outside. At least 1 that changes in processing or viscosity characteristics
Using a recording medium sheet composed of two recording medium portions, a recording means for supplying light or heat energy for fine processing or viscosity characteristic change on the thin film functional layer at a position corresponding to a desired image pixel, and an intermediate transfer Of the colored ink layer through a thin film functional layer on which the finely processed or the viscosity characteristics are changed, and the receiving layer fixed on the intermediate transfer body and the receiving layer fixed on the intermediate transfer body. At least a first fixing unit for transferring a color material to form a primary recording image, and a second fixing unit for transferring the primary recording image together with the receiving layer from the intermediate transfer member to a recording sheet. A recording device characterized by. 3. A base material, a first light-transmissive receiving layer formed on the base material, and formed adjacent to the first receiving layer, and formed on the base material. A second receptive layer having a light-transmitting property, and a hot-melt type color ink formed adjacent to the second receptive layer and having a coloring material and a binder material as main components are applied to the base material. And a thin film functional layer formed on the colored ink layer, the thin film functional layer being subjected to fine processing or a change in viscosity characteristic by light or heat energy supplied from the outside. Using a recording medium sheet composed of
Recording means for supplying light or heat energy for fine processing or viscosity characteristic change on the thin film functional layer at a position corresponding to a desired image pixel, an intermediate transfer body, and the first receiving layer on the intermediate transfer body. After the fixing, the first receiving layer is fixed on the recording paper, the second receiving layer is fixed, and the fine processing is performed on the second receiving layer fixed on the intermediate transfer member. Alternatively, a first fixing unit that transfers at least the coloring material of the colored ink layer through a thin film functional layer having a changed viscosity characteristic to form a primary recording image, and the primary recording image together with the second receiving layer, A recording apparatus comprising: a second fixing unit that transfers the image from the intermediate transfer member onto the first receiving layer on the recording paper. 4. A base material, a first light-transmitting receiving layer formed on the base material, and a coloring material formed on the base material adjacent to the first receiving layer. A colored ink layer formed by applying a hot-melt type colored ink containing a binder material as a main component and a thin film functional layer formed on the colored ink layer, and the thin film functional layer was supplied from the outside. At least one recording medium portion that undergoes microfabrication or changes in viscosity characteristics due to light or heat energy; and a second light-receiving receptive layer that is formed adjacent to the recording medium portion and that is formed on the base material. Using a recording medium sheet composed of
Recording means for supplying light or heat energy for fine processing or viscosity characteristic change on the thin film functional layer at a position corresponding to a desired image pixel, an intermediate transfer body, and the first receiving layer on the intermediate transfer body. At least the coloring material of the colored ink layer is transferred onto the first receiving layer, which is fixed and fixed on the intermediate transfer member, through the thin film functional layer having the finely processed or viscosity characteristics changed, and primary recording is performed. Forming an image and fixing the second receiving layer on the primary recorded image;
Fixing unit, and a second fixing unit that transfers the first receiving layer, the primary recording image, and the second receiving layer from the intermediate transfer member onto the recording paper. Recording device. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a receiving layer sheet having a release layer formed between the base material and the receiving layer is used. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a recording medium sheet having a release layer formed between the base material and the receiving layer is used.