JPH0863040A - Image forming method and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain an image forming device which easily forms images by intensification of a light pressure and is capable of controlling movement of an image forming medium by making the light from a light source incident on a transporting body at an angle above the critical angle of a transparent base material. CONSTITUTION: Surface plasmon is generated in the surface of a metallic thin film 206 when the light is made incident from the transparent drum base material 204 side by presence of the metallic thin film 206 on the transparent drum base material 204. Total reflection takes place at the boundary of the transparent drum base material 204 and the metallic thin film 206 and evanescent waves are generated in a dielectric thin film 208 when the light is made incident at the incident angle above the critical angle of the transparent drum base material 204. Surface plasmon resonance takes place when the propagation constant of the surface plasmon and the propagation constant of the evanescent waves coincide with each other. The surface plasmon and the evanescent waves are then intensified by each other and the evanescent waves are intensified. Toners 100 on the dielectric thin film 208 receive the light pressure from these evanescent waves. The evanescent waves are intensified by the surface plasmon resonance and the light pressure that the toner receive is intensified as well.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming method and an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile and a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer using electrophotographic technology is disclosed in, for example, "Basics and Applications of Electrophotographic Technology" (Edited by The Electrophotographic Society, Corona Publishing Co., Ltd., 1988). Then, an electric image is once formed on the photoconductor, an image forming medium is attached on the image, and the image is formed by transferring it to an image forming body such as paper. Therefore, the image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, a charging device, an exposing device, a developing device, a transferring device,
A static eliminator, cleaner, fixing device, etc. were required.

In order to simplify these configurations, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10955, there is an image forming apparatus in which the movement of an image forming medium such as toner is directly controlled by the force of light.

[0004]

By directly controlling the movement of the image forming medium by using the force exerted by light, it is possible to eliminate the photoconductor, the developing device, the transfer device and the static eliminator. Can be realized. However, the light pressure, which is the force exerted by light, is small. Further, in the method of controlling the motion by giving kinetic energy to the image forming medium by the focused laser beam as in the conventional technique, the power of light is small and the irradiation time of light is short. The kinetic energy obtained by is very small. Practically, it is necessary to control the movement of particles in the air or liquid, and the movement of the image forming medium is immediately stopped due to the resistance due to the viscous force of the air or liquid. In the conventional example, when the laser is scanned at a practical image forming speed,
The amount of movement can be achieved only about 1 μm. Therefore, in order to sufficiently move the image forming medium, it is necessary to illuminate one image forming medium for a sufficiently long time, and it is impossible to finish the image formation within a practical time.

An object of the present invention is to increase the light pressure exerted on the image forming medium by increasing the light pressure, and to control the movement of the image forming medium by using the force exerted by the light which is easy to form an image. To provide a device.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention includes a light source and an image forming medium conveying means for conveying an image forming medium, and an image forming medium attached to the image forming medium conveying means. In an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by irradiating light, the image forming medium conveying means includes a carrier formed of a transparent base material, an electrically conductive film, and a dielectric film in this order from the light incident side. The light from the light source is incident on the carrier at an angle equal to or greater than the critical angle of the transparent substrate, and the image forming medium attached to the surface of the dielectric film is irradiated with the light from the light source. An image forming apparatus is provided.

The image forming medium adheres to the recording medium to form an image, and powder such as toner can be used. The transparent body of the image forming medium conveying device may be a drum-shaped member having rigidity, and a belt or film having flexibility may be used. It is desirable to use a metal film as the electrically conductive film, and it is particularly desirable to use a silver film.

Light incident on the carrier at an angle greater than the critical angle of the transparent substrate forms an evanescent wave on the side of the electrically conductive film opposite to the transparent substrate. At this time, it is desirable to set the incident angle of the light to the image forming medium conveying means so that the propagation constant of the surface plasmon generated in the electrically conductive film and the propagation constant of the evanescent wave are substantially equal. At this time, since the light amount of the light reflected from the image forming medium conveying means decreases, the optimum light incident angle can be set by measuring the reflected light amount. By controlling the incident angle of light to the image forming medium conveying means so as to minimize the amount of reflected light, it is possible to always use an optimum incident angle.

When the light is incident on the image forming medium conveying means, it is desirable that the light is incident through an optical member such as a prism. At that time, it is desirable to have a transparent liquid such as oil between the image forming medium conveying means and the optical member.

In the present invention, the image forming medium can be melted and fixed on the recording medium by the light from the light source. Therefore, a removing means for removing the unfixed image forming medium attached to the recording medium is provided. It is desirable to have.

[0011]

The force exerted by light is enhanced by the above means. Light incident from a medium having a high refractive index at an angle equal to or greater than the critical angle generates an evanescent field from the medium having a high refractive index to the medium having a low refractive index. When a metal film is present on the surface of a medium having a high refractive index, surface plasmons are generated on the surface of the metal film. When the propagation constant of the evanescent field and the propagation constant of the surface plasmon coincide with each other as shown in Optics, Vol. 23, pages 191-197 (1994), resonance occurs and surface plasmon resonance occurs. When surface plasmon resonance occurs,
The evanescent wave is enhanced, and the light pressure exerted by the evanescent wave is increased. The light pressure is enhanced by moving the image forming medium under the condition where the surface plasmon resonance occurs. This enhanced light pressure is used to apply a force to the imaging media.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus which controls movement of an image forming medium by using a force exerted by light, which facilitates image formation by increasing light pressure.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. First, the toner supply unit 210 will be described. The non-magnetic one-component toner 100 is charged by frictional charging with the blade 214, and is attracted to the transparent drum 200 by the mirroring force of the charge of the toner generated on the drum 200. The blade 214 functions to make the thickness of the toner layer on the drum 200 substantially constant. An optical system 90 is installed in the drum 200. The optical system 90 uses, as a light source, an LED array 12 including a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) formed at intervals corresponding to the resolution of an image, and uses a rod lens array 32 in which rod lenses are arranged corresponding to the respective LEDs. The beam of the LED array 12 is condensed. The beam is reflected by the mirror 40 and enters the prism 20. Drum 2 having prism 20 and transparent base material
Between 00, there is non-volatile oil. for that reason,
The beam from the prism 20 is efficiently transmitted to the drum 200. A thin metal film is formed on the drum 200, and the beam enters at an angle at which surface plasmon resonance occurs. The toner attached to the outer surface of the drum is
Upon receiving the light pressure by the evanescent wave generated on the outer side of the metal thin film, it is separated from the drum 200 and reaches the paper 150 used as the recording medium. The toner in the toner supply unit 210 is agitated by the agitating roller 216 in order to prevent toner uneven distribution. A semiconductor laser array other than the LED array may be used as the light source.

In the present embodiment, it is not necessary to remove the toner adhering to the drum 200 after the image formation, but if a part of the toner does not leave the transparent drum even when it receives light and it melts and adheres, it adheres. A means for scraping the toner may be provided.

The paper 150 is conveyed below the toner supplying means 210 by the conveying roller 240. Drum 200 and electrode 2
It is possible to weaken the adhesive force of the toner to the drum 200 by applying a voltage having a polarity such that an electrostatic force in a direction of separating the charged toner from the drum is exerted between the toner and the toner 50.
The optical system 90 in the drum is fixed to the entire apparatus, and the drum 200 rotates to supply the toner. The toner that receives the light from the optical system 90 in the drum 200 and is separated from the drum 200 by the light pressure reaches the paper 150. The toner separated from the drum 200 is discharged from the drum 200 and the electrode
It moves by the electric field of the volume. Driving a voltage to the electrode 250 has a role of reducing the adhesive force of the toner and a role of moving the toner. Light pressure is used to strip toner from the drum. The toner separates from the transparent drum by light and is melted by the same energy of light to be fixed on the recording medium. After that, the recording medium is conveyed by the conveying roller 242, the toner on the recording medium is recharged by the charger 256, and reaches the cleaner 220. The cleaner 220 removes unnecessary toner. Since the toner is weakly adhered to the drum 200, the toner that has not received the light is easily scattered, and the toner may be accumulated on the recording medium. However, while the toner that receives the light is melted and fixed on the recording medium, the toner that has not received the light and has accumulated on the recording medium is not fixed and is removed by the cleaner 220.

In this embodiment, a bias cleaner is used as the cleaner. A conductive brush is used as the conductive brush 224 in which a conductive material such as a metal is planted, and a voltage is applied so that the charged toner is attracted to the conductive brush 224, whereby the toner is peeled off from the recording medium, and the conductive brush is removed. 224 attached. The toner attached to the conductive brush 224 moves to the collecting roller 226 by applying a voltage between the conductive brush 224 and the collecting roller 226. The toner attached to the collecting roller 226 is removed by the blade 2
Scraped by 28. The scraped toner is collected by the toner feeding screw 230 in the toner supply unit 212 and is reused. In order to completely collect the toner in the cleaner 220, the toner was recharged by the charger 256 before reaching the cleaner. When the toner charge amount is sufficient, the charger 256 may not be used.

As the cleaner, in addition to the bias cleaner shown in the embodiment, a toner is mechanically removed by a brush roller and is collected from the brush roller by a blower, and the toner is electrostatically collected by a magnetic carrier. It is possible to use a magnet brush method, a suction method using a suction device, or the like.

In addition to the light pressure, the heat is generated by the absorption of light, and the force also acts. Since the toner has a strong light absorbing property, the light incident side is particularly heated by the light absorption. The ambient air is heated by the temperature rise of the toner. Since the toner has a temperature distribution, the temperature of the air on the higher temperature side becomes higher, and the energy of air molecules that collide with the toner becomes larger.
Therefore, the toner moves from the high temperature side to the low temperature side,
It receives so-called light power. Since the toner absorbs light well on the light incident side, the toner receives optical power in the traveling direction of light. That is, the optical power of the light exerts a force in the same direction as the moving force of the toner due to the light pressure, and can effectively act on the movement of the toner. As a result, the toner can move over a distance longer than the movement distance that is expected only by the light pressure. In order to effectively utilize this light power, the toner should absorb light well on the surface.

The scattering and absorption of light by the fine particles can be determined by the so-called Mie scattering equation. Mie scattering is determined by the external environment and the complex refractive index of fine particles, the shape of the fine particles, and the wavelength of the irradiation light. When spherical particles having a radius d are irradiated with light having a wavelength λ, the scattering state is the same when the size parameters represented by x = 2πd / λ are the same. Since the light pressure depends on the light scattering state and becomes proportional to the cross-sectional area of the particle when x ≧ 4, it is desirable that the particle size be equal to or larger than the wavelength of the light to be irradiated. Further, it is not necessary to be larger than the diameter of the condensed light, and 50 μm or less is preferable. Desirably, the thickness is 5 μm to 15 μm.

Toner shapes are often distorted and particle size definitions vary, but in the present invention, the diameter of a sphere of the same weight of toner is used.

In order to make the light pressure uniform, it is desirable that the shape distribution of the toner is small. To form a toner with good uniformity, the toner should have a shape close to a true sphere. The use of the toner produced by the polymerization method is excellent in uniforming the shape. By using an organic resin base material such as polystyrene as the base material of the toner, it is possible to absorb light, generate heat, and melt. It is desirable that the toner has a low softening temperature and a small heat capacity in order to be easily melted by light. It is desirable that the particle size be small in order to reduce the heat capacity.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the drum 200 in this embodiment. A metal thin film 206 of silver, gold, aluminum, copper or the like having a thickness of 2 is formed on a transparent drum substrate 204 made of glass or a transparent plastic such as polycarbonate or PMMA.
It was formed with a thickness of 0 to 100 nm. On the metal thin film 206, a dielectric film 208 having a low refractive index such as MgF ₂ (refractive index 1.38) is formed with a thickness of 20 nm to 1 μm.

LED array 12 provided in the drum 200
The beam from is collected by the rod lens array. The beam 80 is reflected by the mirror 40 and enters the prism 20. In the absence of the prism 20, the beam 80 is totally reflected by the transparent drum base material 204, and the beam does not propagate into the transparent drum base material 204. Between the prism 20 and the transparent drum substrate 204, there is a non-volatile transparent oil 22 having a refractive index intermediate between those of the prism 20 and the transparent drum substrate 204 so that the beam 80 can be efficiently transmitted. . Although the prism 20 and the drum 200 need to rotate relative to each other, the presence of the oil 22 between them allows the beam to be efficiently transmitted to the drum 200. In order to eliminate reflection at the interface, the prism 20 and the transparent drum substrate 20
It is desirable to use the same material as No. 4 and match the refractive index of the oil 22 with the refractive index of each material. It is desirable that the light incident surface of the prism 20 be set at an angle that is substantially perpendicular to the incident beam. The surface plasmon resonance occurs at an incident angle on a specific metal thin film 206. When surface plasmon resonance is occurring, as described below,
Since the reflectance decreases, it is possible to detect whether surface plasmon resonance occurs by measuring the reflected light with the detector 60. The detector 60 monitors the amount of reflected light so that the change in the incident angle of the beam can be corrected by the environmental conditions such as temperature, and the angle of the mirror 40 or the LED array 12
It is desirable to feedback control the position of.

Even if the dielectric film 208 is not provided, the surface plasmon resonance can be generated depending on the incident angle of light, and thus the dielectric film 208 is not always necessary. However, the dielectric film 208 on the surface serves as a protective film in addition to the effect of transmitting the evanescent wave to the toner, and also has the effect of extending the life of the drum 200.
It is desirable to have 208. The metal thin film 206 includes
In addition to metal, a material having electrical conductivity such as a transparent conductive material such as ITO can be used.

Since the drum 200 has the metal thin film 206, a voltage can be applied between the beam irradiation unit and the electrode 250 installed at a position facing the drum 200. The voltage runs so that a force acts in the direction of peeling the charged toner 100 from the drum. In this embodiment, the toner is negatively charged, so a negative voltage is applied to the drum 200 side and a positive voltage is applied to the electrode 250 side.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the surface of the drum 200.
The surface plasmon resonance will be described with reference to this figure.
Due to the presence of the metal thin film 206 on the transparent drum substrate 204, when light enters from the transparent drum substrate 204 side, surface plasmons are generated on the surface of the metal thin film 206. Further, when light is incident at an incident angle θ that is greater than or equal to the critical angle θc of the transparent drum base material 204, total reflection occurs at the interface between the transparent drum base material 204 and the metal thin film 206, and an evanescent wave is generated in the dielectric thin film 208. When the propagation constant of this surface plasmon and the propagation constant of the evanescent wave match, surface plasmon resonance occurs. When the surface plasmon resonance occurs, the surface plasmon and the evanescent wave strengthen each other, so that the evanescent wave is enhanced. Dielectric thin film 208
The upper toner 100 receives light pressure from this evanescent wave. Since the evanescent wave is enhanced by the surface plasmon resonance, the light pressure received by the toner is also enhanced. By thus causing the surface plasmon resonance, the light pressure can be made larger than that of the image forming apparatus using the conventional light pressure, and the toner can be easily moved.

FIG. 4 schematically shows the dependence of the light pressure acting on the toner and the reflectance on the light incident angle θ. The light pressure is positive in the direction in which the toner leaves the dielectric film 208. When the incident angle is changed, surface plasmon resonance occurs at a specific angle θr, and the light pressure acting on the toner increases when the surface plasmon resonance occurs. At this time, the dielectric thin film 20
8 and the evanescent wave in the toner 100 are enhanced, so that the reflectance is reduced. Therefore, the angle at which the surface plasmon resonance occurs can be measured by measuring the reflectance while changing the incident angle θ. The angle at which the surface plasmon resonance occurs is the wavelength of light, the refractive index of the transparent substrate 204, the refractive index and thickness of the metal thin film 206 and the dielectric film 208,
It is determined depending on the refractive index and size of the toner 102. By changing the film thicknesses of the metal thin film 206 and the dielectric film 208, surface plasmon resonance can be generated at an arbitrary θ of θc or more, but the magnitude of the light pressure at the time of resonance depends on the incident angle θ.
Will only be a function. FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of the relationship between the magnitude of light pressure and the incident angle when resonance occurs. Critical angle θ
At c, the light pressure becomes maximum, and as the angle is increased, the light pressure decreases. Further, increasing the angle reverses the direction of force. Therefore, it is desirable to select the film thicknesses of the metal thin film 206 and the dielectric film 208 so that the surface plasmon resonance occurs at an angle close to the critical angle. In the present embodiment, when silver is used as the metal film, 1 m
When irradiated with W light, a maximum force of 8 pN could be exerted. When each material is changed, the magnitude of light pressure changes. Since the light pressure is large when silver or gold is used, it is desirable to use silver or gold as the material of the metal thin film 206.

In order to facilitate the arrangement of the optical system in the drum, it is desirable that the critical angle θc be small. In order to reduce θc, it is preferable that the transparent drum substrate 204 has a large refractive index and the dielectric film 208 has a small refractive index. If glass having a high refractive index is used for the transparent drum substrate 204, the refractive index can be about 1.9.

In order to increase the contact area between the dielectric film and the toner as shown in FIG. 5, the toner should be flat.

FIG. 6 shows the detailed structure of the cleaner used in this embodiment. In the present embodiment, since the negatively charged toner is used, a positive voltage is applied to the conductive brush to the guide 280 and the like so that the conductive brush 224 attracts the charged toner. The toner attached to the conductive brush 224 moves to the collecting roller 226 by applying a positive voltage to the collecting roller with respect to the conductive brush 224. The toner attached to the collecting roller 226 is collected by the blade 2
Scraped by 28. The toner scraped off is collected by the toner feeding screw 230 in the toner supply unit 212 and is reused. Since the toner collected from the paper contains foreign matter such as paper dust, it is desirable to provide a foreign matter removing unit.

FIG. 7 shows the light energy density applied to the toner and the adhesion strength of the toner. The adhesive strength indicates the ratio of the toner remaining on the paper when the toner fixed on the paper is peeled off using an adhesive tape. The toner used has an average particle size of 1
0 μm. In handling the recording medium, the adhesive strength is preferably 50% or more, and the light energy density is 0.1.
65 J / cm ² or more is desirable. At this time, the highest temperature reached on the toner surface is 250 ° C. or higher. Even at the light energy density of 0.5 J / cm ² , the toner is fixed on the paper,
Does not peel off when rubbed. Therefore, 0.5 J / cm ²
Light energy density above (maximum temperature reached on toner surface 170
(° C. or higher), it is possible to distinguish from unfixed toner by a cleaner. The energy that melts one toner is proportional to the volume of the toner, so the toner (density 1.
When converted into energy per unit weight of 1 g / cm ³ ), 2.1 × 10 ⁶ J / kg or more, preferably 2.8 × 10 ⁶
Light energy of J / kg or more may be applied.

In this embodiment, since the photoconductor / fixing device is not used, the structure is simpler than that of the image forming apparatus using the electrophotographic process, and the apparatus can be downsized. Since a fuser is not used, it is not necessary to heat a heat roll with a large heat capacity, power consumption is low, and there is no time to heat the heater at startup, so a quick start can be performed at the same time when the power is turned on. Becomes Since no photoconductor is used, there are few parts to replace due to wear. Since the photoconductor containing a harmful substance such as Se is not used, the environmental impact at the time of disposal is small. Further, since toner is used, the frequency of replacement of the image forming medium is low and the running cost is low as compared with the image forming method using the thermal ink ribbon.

The light source is not limited to that of this embodiment, and a laser or flash lamp may be used. A two-dimensional array spatial modulator including a liquid crystal panel or the like may be used to modulate the light amount. Alternatively, the laser beam may be scanned by a rotating polygon mirror, an acousto-optic device, a galvanometer mirror, etc., and condensed by an fθ lens. At this time, the power of light is 1
00 mW or more is desirable. If 100mW or more, 3
It is possible to print more than one A4 size sheet per minute with a resolution of 00dpi. In the present embodiment, since the light is condensed and used, the resolution of the image is determined by the condensed spot diameter. Therefore, the resolution can be increased by reducing the spot diameter.

A transparent belt may be used in addition to the drum to convey the toner. At this time, the metal film may be formed on the belt or the prism. Although the fixing device is not used in the present embodiment, the fixing device may be provided after the cleaner when the adhesion strength after adhesion after melting is insufficient.

Although the embodiment in which paper is used as the recording medium has been described, a plastic film or the like can be used instead of paper.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a printer using the image forming apparatus of the present invention. Image signal interface 42
Enter through 0. The control circuit 421 controls the optical system, paper feed, cleaner, toner supply, and the like. The control microcomputer 422 receives the image signal from the interface 420, forms image data, and outputs the light modulation control circuit 42.
Send to 3. Further, the control microcomputer 422 instructs the paper feed control circuit 424 about the paper feed timing, receives the paper position signal, and instructs the light modulation circuit 423 about the light emission timing of the light source. The light modulation circuit 423 controls the light intensity of the optical system 91 according to the image data to form an image.
Further, the control microcomputer 422 receives the paper position signal and commands the timing of activating the cleaner controller. Further, when the apparatus is started up and when a predetermined number of sheets are printed, the drum 200 is controlled by the mirror angle control circuit 426 while changing the mirror in the optical system 90.
The amount of reflected light from is detected, and the angle of the mirror is controlled so that the optimum angle is obtained. The mirror angle control circuit 426 is not necessary when the surface plasmon resonance always occurs regardless of the environment. The paper 150 is inserted by the paper feed cassette 290,
It is transported by the transport rollers 230, 232, 234 and discharged.

Since the printer using the image forming apparatus of the present invention can be miniaturized, it can be a desktop type printer. Further, it is not necessary to develop the image data for one sheet in the memory, and it is possible to print only the necessary portion.

As a matter of course, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can also be used in an image forming unit such as a copying machine or a facsimile.

When used in a facsimile, it is necessary to provide at least the document reading means, the image signal communication input / output means, and the communication control means in the image forming apparatus of the above embodiment. When the image forming apparatus of the present invention is used for a facsimile, it is possible to print from the received data without developing the image data of one sheet in the memory unlike the image forming apparatus using the conventional electrophotographic process. The memory capacity can be reduced as compared with the case of using the image forming apparatus using the electrophotographic process.

[0041]

According to the present invention, the force of light acting on the image forming medium is increased by increasing the light pressure, and the movement of the image forming medium is controlled by using the force acting on the image forming medium. The image forming apparatus was realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the drum shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a drum surface of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a relationship between an incident angle of light, light pressure, and reflectance.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a relationship between an incident angle of light and light pressure at resonance.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the cleaner shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a characteristic diagram of a relationship between light energy density and adhesion strength.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a printer using the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of Codes] 12 ... LED array, 20 ... Prism, 32 ... Rod lens array, 40 ... Mirror, 90 ... Optical system, 150 ...
Paper, 200 ... Drum, 210 ... Toner supply means, 21
4, 228 ... Blade, 216 ... Stirring roller, 220 ...
Cleaner, 224 ... Conductive brush, 226 ... Collection roller, 230 ... Toner feed screw, 240, 242, 244
... conveyance roller, 250 ... electrode, 256 ... charger.

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An image forming method for forming an image on a recording medium by irradiating an image forming medium attached to the image forming medium conveying means with light, wherein the image forming medium conveying means comprises a transparent base material from a light incident side. An electrically conductive film, a dielectric film, and a carrier formed in this order; light from the light source is incident on the carrier at an angle equal to or greater than a critical angle of the transparent substrate; and the surface of the dielectric film. An image forming method, wherein an image is formed on the recording medium by the image forming medium separated from the image forming medium conveying means by irradiating the image forming medium adhered to the image forming medium with light from the light source. 2. An image forming apparatus comprising a light source and an image forming medium conveying means for conveying an image forming medium, and irradiating the image forming medium attached to the image forming medium conveying means with light to form an image on the recording medium. In the above, the image forming medium carrying means has a carrying body in which a transparent base material, an electrically conductive film, and a dielectric film are formed in this order from the light incident side, and the light from the light source has a critical angle of the transparent base material. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that it is incident on the carrier at the above angles and irradiates the image forming medium attached to the surface of the dielectric film with light from the light source. 3. An image forming apparatus comprising a light source and an image forming medium conveying means for conveying an image forming medium, wherein the image forming medium attached to the image forming medium conveying means is irradiated with light to form an image. At least the transparent base material and the electrically conductive film are formed in this order in the forming medium conveying means from the light incident side, and the light incident from the transparent base material side is opposite to the transparent base material with respect to the electrically conductive film. While forming an evanescent wave on the side, the incident angle of light to the image forming medium conveying means is set so that the propagation constant of the surface plasmon generated in the electrically conductive film and the propagation constant of the evanescent wave are substantially equal. ,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming medium attached to the image forming medium conveying unit is irradiated with the evanescent wave. 4. The photodetector according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a photodetector for measuring the amount of light reflected from the image forming medium conveying means, and minimizing the amount of reflected light measured by the photodetector. An image forming apparatus for controlling an incident angle of light to the image forming medium conveying means. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electrically conductive film is a metal film. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the metal film is a silver film. 7. The method according to claim 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6,
An image forming apparatus in which light is incident on the image forming medium conveying means through an optical member. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a transparent liquid between the image forming medium conveying unit and the optical member. 9. The image according to claim 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, wherein the image forming medium is fixed to the recording medium by the light of the light source, and the unfixed image is adhered to the recording medium. An image forming apparatus having a removing means for removing a forming medium. 10. A printer according to claim 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, comprising an interface for inputting information and a control circuit for processing the input information. 11. A document reading means for reading image information, an interface for inputting / outputting information, and a control circuit for processing the input information according to claim 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9. Facsimile including and. 12. An image forming medium conveying device for adhering and conveying an image forming medium, wherein a transparent substrate, a metal film and a dielectric film are formed in this order, and the image forming medium provided on the dielectric film. An image forming medium transporting device.