JPH09106147A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an adverse influence from being exerted on surrounding environment by electromagnetic noise when the device is used and to hardly necessitate the cost of maintenance. SOLUTION: This device is provided with an optical system 8 capable of emitting light corresponding to a two-dimensional image to be printed; an X-ray tube 3 receiving the light from the optical system 8 by an incident surface 31, converting it to a photoelectron, making the photoelectron irradiate the inside of an emitting surface 32 and discharging soft X-rays to the outside; a discharging direction regulating means 4 attached to the emitting surface 32 of the X-ray tube 3 and regulating the discharging of the soft X-rays to be in a fixed direction 3; an electric field generating means generating electric field between the regulating means 4 and a recording medium 2 and attracting an ion generated by the emission of the soft X-rays to the printing surface of the recording medium; a developing means 6 sticking a colorant to an area electrified by the attraction of the ion; and a fixing means 7 fixing the stuck colorant.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing a two-dimensional image such as characters and figures on a predetermined recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, various printers such as thermal printers and leather printers are known.
For example, a laser printer is an electrophotographic printer, is capable of high-speed printing, has a high printing resolution, and does not require special paper. Therefore, it is used as a printing device such as an OA device. Widely used. As shown in FIG. 3, this laser printer is composed of a control unit a for controlling an image to be printed and a recording unit b in which an electrophotographic recording system is combined with an optical system having an extremely high condensing property by laser light. Has been done. In this recording section b, a photosensitive drum d is arranged adjacent to a recording paper c that is moved in a predetermined direction, and is rotatably provided along the moving direction of the recording paper c. A charging device e, a laser exposure device f having an optical system, a developing device g, a transfer device h, a static eliminator i and a cleaner j are sequentially arranged along the photosensitive drum rotation direction, and the recording paper c is exposed to light. The fixing device k is arranged adjacent to the downstream side of the drum.

According to the recording unit b, the electrostatic ion l is uniformly attached to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum d rotated by the charging device e by corona discharge, and the laser exposure device h receives the signal from the control unit a. While the laser light m is turned on and off by the scanning, the electrostatic ions l in the portion irradiated with the laser light m are removed by scanning in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum d. Toner n (colored fine particles) charged in the opposite polarity is attached to form a visible image. Then, the toner n contacts the surface of the recording paper c at the position where the recording paper c and the photosensitive drum d contact each other. At that time, the electrostatic ion o is attached to the back surface of the recording paper c by the transfer device h, and the toner n is transferred to the front surface of the recording paper c by the attachment. After the transfer, the fixing device k fuses the toner n with heat or pressure. On the other hand, static electricity ions 1 remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum after transfer are discharged by the static eliminator i, and toner n remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum is removed by the cleaner j. By repeating such a series of steps continuously, a two-dimensional image such as a desired character or image is printed and recorded on the recording paper c.

[0004]

However, the conventional printing technique using the laser printer has the following problems. First of all, when the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum d is charged with electrostatic ions 1, corona discharge of the charger e ionizes oxygen molecules in the atmosphere to generate ozone, which is not good for environmental hygiene. Secondly, it is necessary to install an ozone filter in order to avoid ozone generation, the printing apparatus becomes large in size, and the filter needs to be replaced every predetermined period of use. Thirdly, dust is generated at the time of corona discharge of the charger e, and if the dust adheres to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum,
This may cause damage to the drum or noise in the recorded image. Fourth,
Electromagnetic waves are generated during corona discharge of the charger e, and electromagnetic noise may adversely affect measuring instruments and the like around the apparatus. Fifth, the photosensitive drum is a consumable item and needs to be replaced regularly, which requires time and money to maintain the apparatus.
In addition, the recording process in the device is long and
Since it has a complicated mechanism, it easily breaks down.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, does not have an adverse effect on the surrounding environment at the time of use, is excellent in maintainability of use, has a short printing time, and can be miniaturized. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing device capable of performing the above.

[0006]

That is, the present invention provides an optical system capable of emitting light corresponding to a two-dimensional image to be printed in a printing apparatus for printing a required two-dimensional image on a recording medium, and an optical system thereof. An X-ray tube that receives light from the system at the incident surface, converts it into photoelectrons, and irradiates the photoelectrons to the inside of the emission surface to emit soft X-rays to the outside, and a soft tube attached to the emission surface of the X-ray tube. Emission direction regulation means for regulating the emission of X-rays in a fixed direction, and an electric field is generated between the emission direction regulation means and the recording medium to adsorb ions generated by the emission of soft X-rays to the printing surface of the recording medium. It is characterized in that it is provided with an electric field generating means, a developing means for adhering a coloring material to a region charged by adsorption of ions, and a fixing means for fixing the adhering coloring material.

According to such an invention, the light corresponding to the two-dimensional image to be printed is emitted from the optical system, and the light is X-ray.
It is incident on the incident surface of the linear tube and converted into photoelectrons. The photoelectrons move toward the emission surface by the electric field in the X-ray tube, collide with the emission surface, are converted into X-rays, and are emitted to the outside of the X-ray tube. At this time, since the emission of X-rays is limited to the emission parallel to the predetermined direction by the capillary plate, the above-mentioned two-dimensional image is maintained even when the X-rays are emitted. Then, air is ionized and ionized by the X-rays emitted between the capillary plate and the recording medium, and those ions of a predetermined polarity are adsorbed on the printing surface of the recording medium by the electric field generated by the electric field generating means, and printed. The area of the two-dimensional image to be charged is charged. Then, the charged area is colored by the developing means and the fixing means.

According to the present invention, the above-mentioned optical system scans the laser beam one-dimensionally and makes it enter the X-ray tube, and the recording medium is transferred to the X-ray tube in synchronization with the scanning of the laser beam. It is characterized by According to such an invention, since the recording medium is transferred in synchronization with the scanning of the laser beam, it is possible to print a two-dimensional image only by controlling the emission direction of the laser beam to be a primary element, that is, linear. Become.

The present invention is also characterized in that the above-mentioned optical system two-dimensionally makes laser light incident on the X-ray tube. According to such an invention, without moving the recording medium,
The required two-dimensional image can be printed on the recording medium.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the above-mentioned discharge direction regulating means is a capillary plate having a large number of through holes. According to such an invention, of the soft X-rays emitted by the X-ray tube, only those in a predetermined direction can be reliably guided to the print medium side.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example of an embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description is omitted.

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the printing apparatus 1. FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the printer 1. In FIG. 1, an X-ray tube 3 is arranged adjacent to a printing surface 21 of a printing paper 2 which is a printing medium fed in a fixed direction (downward in FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 2, the X-ray tube 3 is for forming a charging area 22 corresponding to a two-dimensional image to be printed on the printing surface 21 of the printing paper 2, and is arranged in the transfer direction of the printing paper 2. On the other hand, they are arranged laterally and are provided so as not to contact the printing surface 21. The printing medium is not limited to the printing paper 2, but may be other materials such as a film material and an ion-reactive paper.

As shown in FIG. 2, the X-ray tube 3 has an entrance surface 31 and an exit surface 32 facing each other, and these surfaces 31, 3 are provided.
2 is an electron tube in which an internal space 33 in a vacuum state is formed between the two, and the incident surface 31 has Cs-I, Cs-Te, and Ga.
It is made of a material capable of obtaining a photoelectric effect such as As or an alkali metal compound, and is a transmissive photoelectric surface that receives light and converts it into photoelectrons. On the other hand, inside the emission surface 32, a target 32a made of a heavy metal such as tungsten is arranged and receives the photoelectrons emitted from the photocathode 31a to receive the backside (X
The structure is such that soft X-rays are emitted to the outside of the ray tube 3).
This soft X-ray has no effect on the human body,
A material having an energy of about 1 to 20 KeV is used.
The distance between the incident surface 31 and the target 32a is, for example, about 2 m.
Targets 32a that are separated by about m and are electrically grounded
On the other hand, a voltage of about −10 kV is applied to the incident surface 31 by the power source 34.
Is being applied by. Therefore, due to the potential difference, a strong electric field is formed from the incident surface 31 toward the target 32a, and the emission position of photoelectrons from the incident surface 31 and the incident position on the target 32a do not change.

In FIG. 2, a capillary plate 4 is attached to the outside of the emission surface 32 of the X-ray tube 3. The capillary plate 4 is a member for restricting the soft X-rays scattered and emitted from the emission surface 32 only in a predetermined direction. That is, in the capillary plate 4, a large number of through holes 41 having a hole diameter of several μm to several tens of μm are arranged and opened toward the front and back thereof, and only the soft X-rays emitted parallel to the through holes 41 are formed. It has a structure to pass through. The capillary plate 4 is arranged so as to be substantially parallel to the printing paper 2, and is separated from the printing paper 2 by a predetermined distance, for example, about 1 mm.

On the back side of the printing surface 21 of the printing paper 2, as shown in FIG. 2, an electrode plate 5 is arranged substantially parallel to the above-mentioned capillary plate 4. The electrode plate 5 is for generating an electric field in the space between the capillary plate 4 and the recording paper 2, is connected to the power source 51, and has a potential of about -1 kV with respect to the ground level, for example. on the other hand,
The aforementioned capillary plate 4 is connected to the power source 42,
For example, the potential is about +1 kV with respect to the ground level. Therefore, an electric field is formed from the electrode plate 5 toward the capillary plate 4, and the positively charged substance existing in the space between the capillary plate 4 and the recording paper 2, for example + ions, moves to the printing paper 2 side. Negatively charged material,
For example-the ions move to the capillary plate 4 side. In addition, between the electrode plate 5 and the printing paper 2,
An organic sheet (insulating sheet) may be provided to secure the dielectric strength.

In FIG. 1, a developing unit 6 is arranged adjacent to the printing paper 2 and downstream of the X-ray tube 3 in the transportation of the printing paper. The developing device 6 is a device for adhering colored particles, for example, powdery toner, which is a coloring material, to the charging area 22 formed on the printing paper 2 by the X-ray tube 3, and a well-known device is adopted. Toner is arranged in the vicinity of the surface of the printing surface 21 of the printing paper 2 to be transferred, and as the toner passes through the charging area 22 of the printing paper 2,
The toner is moved to the charging area 22 by electrostatic attraction. As the colored particles, not only powdery particles but also liquid particles are used.

Further, a fixing device 7 is arranged adjacent to the printing paper 2 and downstream of the developing device 6 from the transfer of the printing paper. Fixer 7
Is a device that melts the above-mentioned toner by heat or pressure to fix it on the printing paper 2, and is arranged close to the printing surface 21 of the printing paper 2, and a known one is adopted.

In FIG. 2, an optical system 8 for emitting a laser beam B is provided in front of the entrance surface 31 of the X-ray tube 3.
The optical system 8 is for making the laser light B incident on the incident surface 31 of the X-ray tube 2, and is composed of, for example, a laser light source 81, a controller 82, and a mirror 83. Control unit 82
Is a member for on / off controlling the laser light B emitted from the laser light source 81, and is a member for outputting to the laser light source 81 a two-dimensional image to be printed that is converted into an electrical signal.
The laser light B is emitted from the laser light source 81 based on the signal from the control unit 82.

The mirror 83 is a member that reflects the laser light B from the laser light source 81 to make it parallel lines and makes the laser light B incident on the entrance surface 31 of the X-ray tube 3 one-dimensionally, that is, linearly. For example, the mirror 83 is composed of a polyhedron whose peripheral surface is a reflecting plate, and the rotation of the mirror 83 causes the angle between the incident laser beam B and each peripheral surface to change periodically. The structure is such that the laser light B can be parallelized toward the X-ray tube 3. On the other hand, the rotation speed of the mirror 83 and the transfer speed of the printing paper 2 are set in accordance with the electric signal from the control unit 82, and the rotation of the mirror 83 and the transfer of the printing paper 2 can form a two-dimensional image. So that they are in sync with each other.

Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 1 will be described.

In FIG. 1, an electric signal obtained by converting a two-dimensional image to be printed into a signal is continuously output from a control unit 82 and input to a laser light source 81, and the laser light source 81 is in accordance with the signal.
The laser light B is emitted intermittently while being turned on and off. The laser beam B changes the angle of the reflection surface of the mirror 8
3 is incident on the X-ray tube 3 and is linearly incident on the horizontally long incident surface 31 of the X-ray tube 3. The incidence on the incident surface 31 is repeated due to the periodic angle change of the reflecting surface of the mirror 83.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2, when the laser light B is incident on the outside of the incident surface 31, photoelectric conversion is performed, and photoelectrons are generated inside the incident surface 31 according to the laser light B. At that time, the incident surface 31 is placed in the internal space 33 of the X-ray tube 3.
Since a strong electric field is formed toward the target 32a from the above, the photoelectrons immediately move from the incident surface 31 to the target 32a, and the photoelectrons move while the laser beam B remains in the incident state. The photoelectron is target 3
By entering the target 2a, soft X-rays are emitted to the back side of the target to be entered and emitted from the emission surface 32 of the X-ray tube 3. The soft X-rays are radially emitted from the emission surface 32, but only the soft X-rays emitted in a predetermined direction by the capillary plate 4 attached to the emission surface 32 pass through the capillary plate 4. That is, except for the soft X-rays emitted in parallel with the through holes 41 of the capillary plate 4, they are not reflected by the front surface of the capillary plate 4 (the surface facing the X-ray tube 3) and penetrate. Therefore, the incident state of the laser beam B on the incident surface 31 of the X-ray tube 3 is maintained as it is, and the soft X-ray is emitted from the capillary plate 4.

Due to the emission of the soft X-rays, dust and air in the atmosphere are ionized and ionized. That is, positive and negative ions are generated at the same time between the capillary plate 4 and the printing paper 2, and the electric field moving from the printing paper 2 side to the capillary plate 4 side causes the positive ions to move to the printing paper 2 side, as shown in FIG. Negative ions move linearly to the capillary plate 4 side without recombination or scattering. At that time, since the energy of the soft X-ray is very small, oxygen molecules in the atmosphere are not ionized to become ozone and no harmful substances are generated.

The positive ions are printed on the printing surface 21 of the printing paper 2.
A charged area 22 that is attached to the positively charged area is formed. This charging region 22 is scanned by the laser beam B once (X-ray tube 3
Of the incident surface 31) is one-dimensional,
Since the printing paper 2 is transported at any time in synchronization with the scanning of the laser beam B, it becomes two-dimensional one by one. And
The charged area 22 is formed in the same shape as the two-dimensional image to be printed. Then, the printing paper 2 having the charged area 22 is sequentially transferred to the position of the developing device 6, and toner is attracted to the charged area 22 by electrostatic attraction to form a visible image. At that time, even if the charged region 22 is formed by positive ions attached in a dot shape, the charged region 22 has a predetermined range (a range larger than the positive ion), and therefore the charged region 22 is charged. The toner will be adsorbed on the entire surface without being sparse. Further, the printing surface 21 is transferred to the position of the fixing device 7, the toner on the printing paper 2 is fused, and printing of the required two-dimensional image is completed.

According to such a printing apparatus 1, since no charger for generating ozone such as corona discharge is used, environmental hygiene will not be deteriorated by using the apparatus. Further, since the ozone filter and the photosensitive drum are not required, the device can be downsized. In addition, since no corona discharge is used, no electromagnetic wave is generated when the device is used, and electromagnetic noise does not affect surrounding electronic devices. Also,
Since regular consumables such as photosensitive drums are not used, there is almost no cost to use and maintain the device. Furthermore, this printing device 1
Can be used as a printing means for a word processor, a personal computer or the like, and can also be used by being incorporated in a copying machine or the like.

Next, various examples of other embodiments of the printing apparatus 1 will be described.

The above-mentioned optical system 8 may be one that two-dimensionally makes the laser beam B incident on the X-ray tube 3. For example,
The entrance surface 31 and the exit surface 32 of the X-ray tube 3 are formed in a predetermined area, that is, an area capable of printing all or part of a two-dimensional image to be printed at one time, and the optical system is formed on the entrance surface 31. At 8, the laser beam B is made to enter the surface (two-dimensionally) in the main scanning and the sub-scanning sequentially. Such an optical system 8
According to the printing apparatus having the above, a required two-dimensional image can be printed without moving the printing paper 2 at the time of printing.

Further, the printing apparatus 1 described above may be one in which the charged area 22 is formed by irradiating soft X-rays from the back side of the printing surface 21. That is, the X-ray tube 3 and the optical system 8 are arranged on the back side of the printing surface 21, and the charging area 22 can be formed from the back side of the printing surface 21 as described above. Even with such a printing device, a required two-dimensional image can be printed by adsorbing toner and developing and fixing the toner by the developing device 6 and the fixing device 7 arranged on the printing surface 21 side of the printing paper 2.

Further, the above-mentioned optical system 8 may be any other one as long as it can irradiate the light which is the signalized two-dimensional image to be printed on the X-ray tube 3. For example, it is configured such that light obtained by converting a two-dimensional image to be printed into a signal using an LED array or the like is incident on the X-ray tube 3 one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally. Even with such a printing device, a desired two-dimensional image can be printed on the printing paper 4.

Further, the printing device 1 described above may be used as a color printing device. For example, three X-ray tubes 3 of the printing apparatus 1 are provided for printing the three color components of red, yellow, and blue, which are sequentially arranged along the printing paper 2, and are controlled by the control unit 82 of the optical system 8. Has a structure in which a separation signal of each color component corresponding to a two-dimensional image of a color to be printed is output to the laser light source 81. According to such a printing apparatus, the laser light B corresponding to the red, yellow, and blue decomposition signals is incident on each X-ray tube 3, and the red, yellow, and blue color components are respectively applied to the printing positions of the printing paper 2. Charged areas 22 are formed, and each time each charged area 22 is formed, development and fixing of each color are performed, and a two-dimensional image of color can be printed.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

That is, since a charger that generates ozone like corona discharge during printing is not used, there is no fear of deteriorating environmental hygiene due to its use. Further, since the ozone filter and the photosensitive drum are not required in the structure, the device can be downsized. Further, since corona discharge is not performed during use, electromagnetic waves are not generated and electromagnetic noise does not affect electronic devices in the surroundings. Further, since the photosensitive drum rotation step and the like are not required at the time of printing, the printing time can be shortened. Further, since the periodical consumables such as the photosensitive drum are not used, the use and maintenance cost of the apparatus is little.

If the above-mentioned optical system scans the laser beam one-dimensionally and makes it enter the X-ray tube, and the recording medium is transferred to the X-ray tube in synchronization with the scanning of the laser beam, the laser beam is emitted. It is possible to print a two-dimensional image by only controlling the ejection direction of a linear element, that is, linearly.

Further, if the above-mentioned optical system has a structure in which the laser light is two-dimensionally incident on the X-ray tube, a required two-dimensional image can be printed on the recording medium without transferring the recording medium.

Furthermore, if a capillary plate having a large number of through holes is used for the emission direction regulating means, only soft X-rays emitted from the X-ray tube in a predetermined direction are surely transferred to the print medium side. It can be guided and the required two-dimensional image can be printed clearly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a printing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing device, 2 ... Printing paper, 21 ... Printing surface, 3 ... X-ray tube, 31 ... Incident surface, 32 ... Exit surface, 33 ... Internal space, 4
... capillary plate, 41 ... through hole, 5 ... electrode plate,
6 ... Developing device, 7 ... Fixing device, 8 ... Optical system, 81 ... Laser light source, 82 ... Control unit, 83 ... Mirror, B ... Laser light

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tsutomu Inazuru 1126, Nomachi, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture 1126 Hamamatsu Photonics Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. In a printing apparatus for printing a required two-dimensional image on a recording medium, an optical system capable of emitting light corresponding to the two-dimensional image to be printed, and an incident surface receiving light from the optical system. Convert to photoelectrons,
Also, an X-ray tube that irradiates the inside of the emission surface with the photoelectrons and emits soft X-rays to the outside, and an emission direction regulation that is attached to the emission surface of the X-ray tube and regulates the emission of the soft X-rays in a certain direction Means, an electric field generating means for generating an electric field between the emission direction restricting means and the recording medium, and adsorbing ions generated by the emission of the soft X-rays to the printing surface of the recording medium, A printing apparatus, comprising: a developing unit that attaches a coloring material to an area that is charged by adsorption, and a fixing unit that fixes the attached coloring material. 2. The optical system scans a laser beam one-dimensionally and makes it enter an X-ray tube, and the recording medium is transferred to the X-ray tube in synchronization with the scanning of the laser beam. The printing device according to claim 1. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical system two-dimensionally makes laser light incident on the X-ray tube. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge direction regulating means is a capillary plate having a large number of through holes.