JPH0952436A - Method and apparatus for image recording - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To record stably a high quality ink image by a simple image recording process by a method wherein areas surface-tension of which are different according to image information are formed on the surface of an image forming substrate, and an image is recorded by sticking ink selectively to the area. SOLUTION: A filler such as, for example, silicone rubber or the like having water repellency, surface tension of which is different from that of a surface of an image forming substrate 1 is filled in fine holes of the image forming substrate 1 having many fine holes on the surface, and heat energy of laser beams or the like is added to the surface of the image forming substrate 1 according to image information from an external energy adding device 4 arranged outside. Thereby, the filler expands to be exposed on the surface of the image forming substrate 1, and an area surface tension of which varies according to image information is formed on the surface of the image forming substrate 1. Then, an image is formed by sticking ink selectively to the area with an ink adding roller 5, and the image is transferred onto a material to be transferred 8 with a transfer roller 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a novel image recording method and apparatus applicable to printers, copiers, facsimiles, printers and the like, and more specifically, liquid deposition on the surface of an image forming substrate according to image information. The present invention relates to an image recording method and an apparatus for forming an ink image or a printed matter by forming a conductive region and a non-liquid-adhesive region and selectively adhering ink to the liquid-adhesive region.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a liquid adhesive region and a non-liquid adhesive region are formed on the surface of an image forming substrate of this kind in accordance with image information, and ink is selectively attached to the liquid adhesive region. As a typical image recording method for forming an ink image or a printed matter, there is an offset printing method using a lithographic printing plate without water (fountain solution). But,
In this offset printing method, it is difficult to incorporate the plate making process from the original plate and the printing process from the printing plate (printing plate) into one device, and it is very difficult to downsize the plate making and printing device. There is a plate making process and a printing process
Since it is necessary to perform the two processes separately, the printing process becomes complicated accordingly. For example, even in a relatively small-sized office-use offset plate-making printing machine, the plate-making apparatus and the printing apparatus are often separate.

For the purpose of eliminating the disadvantages of the offset printing method, a liquid adhering region and a non-liquid adhering region are formed according to image information by some means, and these liquid adhering region and Various image recording methods or apparatuses capable of repetitive image recording by a process capable of reversibly forming a non-liquid adhesive area have been proposed for a long time. As specific examples of these image recording methods or apparatuses, as shown below,
[A] Aqueous development system, [B] system utilizing photochemical reaction of photochromic material, [C] system utilizing action of internal biasing force, [D] utilizing receding contact angle change by heating self-orienting compound The method etc. are known.

[A] Aqueous Development Method In this aqueous development method, a hydrophobic photoconductor layer is formed by applying an electric charge to the hydrophobic photoconductor layer from the outside and then selectively exposing the hydrophobic photoconductor layer according to image information. A pattern consisting of a hydrophobic region and a hydrophilic region is formed on the surface of the layer, the aqueous developer is attached only to the hydrophilic region, and the aqueous developer attached only to the hydrophilic region of the photoconductor layer is covered. An image is recorded by transferring the image onto a recording medium, which is a technology that has existed for a long time (Japanese Patent Publication No. 39-4299, Japanese Patent Publication No. 39-29135, Japanese Patent Publication No. 40-18993). JP-B-47-40818 and JP-B-44-95
No. 12, Japanese Patent Publication No. 41-6394, Japanese Patent Publication No. 40
-18992 gazette etc.).

[B] Method Utilizing Photochemical Reaction of Photochromic Material Further, in the method utilizing photochemical reaction of this photochromic material, ultraviolet rays are selectively applied to a layer containing a material such as azobenzene or an azo dye depending on image information. To the layer containing materials such as azobenzene and azo dye,
By causing a cis-trans photoisomerization reaction or selectively irradiating a layer containing a leuco body with ultraviolet rays according to image information, and causing a photoionization reaction in the layer containing a leuco body, these An image is recorded by changing the surface of the material into a hydrophilic region and a hydrophobic region, which is a relatively new technique. (JP-A-2-286
No. 285, No. 2-303885, No. 4-45961, No. 4-45965,
JP-A-4-45977, JP-A-4-234689
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-45982, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-43
070 publication).

[C] Method utilizing the action of internal biasing force Further, the method utilizing the action of this internal biasing force forms an amorphous state and a crystalline state by a physical change, and liquid ink adheres or not. This is a technique for recording an image by forming an adhesion area, which is a technique that has been relatively researched for a long time (Japanese Patent Publication No. 48-43290, Japanese Patent Publication No. 54-6923, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 54923). -41902, U.S. Pat. No. 321,591, etc.).

[D] Method utilizing change in receding contact angle due to heating of self-orienting compound Further, in a method utilizing change in receding contact angle due to heating of the self-orienting compound, the composition is in a heated state and brought into contact with a liquid. At times, a recording material having a surface layer containing a self-orienting compound showing the property of decreasing the receding contact angle is formed. Then, the surface of the recording medium is selectively heated in a state of being in contact with the liquid to form a region showing a receding contact angle corresponding to the heating temperature, and the region where the receding contact angle is changed is exposed. An image is recorded by visualizing it with a recording material containing a colorant and transferring it to a recording medium, which is a relatively new technique (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 378984/1992). Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1080-29882.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-185379, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 4-2
19268 publication).

[0008]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. That is, in the case of the aqueous development method of the above [A], after the aqueous ink is transferred onto the recording medium, the surface of the photoconductor layer is discharged to erase the hydrophilic portion, and another new one is started. Image information can be recorded. In other words, although the original plate having one hydrophobic photoconductor layer can be repeatedly used for different image formation, this aqueous development method is based on the electrophotographic process, and therefore charging → exposure → development →
There is a problem that it requires a long process of transfer → charge removal, and it is difficult to downsize the device, reduce the cost, and make it maintenance-free.

Further, in the case of the method [B] utilizing the photochemical reaction of the photochromic material, by selectively changing the irradiation of the photochromic material with ultraviolet rays and visible light, a hydrophilic region on the photochromic material is formed. Although it is possible to freely and reversibly control the hydrophobic region, the photochromic material has poor quantum efficiency when undergoing a cis-trans photoisomerization reaction or a photoionization reaction. The reaction time when changing to a hydrophobic region is very long, the recording speed is slow, and the surface condition of the photochromic material is unstable.

Further, in the method [C] utilizing the action of the internal biasing force, an image is recorded by forming the amorphous state and the crystalline state by physical changes. Although the information recording member to be used has stability after recording, there is a concern that it may cause an undesired structural change due to a change in environmental temperature or the like before recording, and there is a problem in storage stability. Further, in order to erase the recorded information pattern, it is necessary to rapidly cool after applying a heat pulse, and therefore, there is a problem that complexity is unavoidable in repeated image formation.

Further, in the case of the method utilizing the change of receding contact angle due to heating of the self-orienting compound of the above [D], the self-orienting compound for obtaining a high quality image has a side chain due to its molecular structure. There is a problem that the reaction rate is slow due to steric hindrance such as contact between side chains and side chains, and the performance in repeated image formation is unstable.

As described above, in the case of the various image recording systems described above, in the system in which the image recording characteristics are stable,
In the case where the image recording process is complicated or the image recording process is relatively simple on the contrary, the image recording characteristics are unstable. It was not applicable to copiers, facsimiles, printers, etc.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and its object is to stably record a high quality ink image by a simple image recording process. It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel image recording method and apparatus capable of performing the above.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording method comprising: an image forming substrate having a large number of fine holes on the surface thereof, wherein Materials having different tensions are filled, and energy is externally applied to the surface of the image forming substrate according to the image information, so that the filling state of the filling material filled in the fine holes of the image forming substrate is selectively applied. By changing the area, a region having a different surface tension is formed on the surface of the image forming substrate according to image information, and the ink is selectively attached to a region having a different surface tension on the surface of the image forming substrate to form an image. It is configured to record.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image recording method according to the first aspect, the ink image formed on the surface of the image forming substrate is transferred to a transfer target. After that, by applying external energy, the surface tension of the surface of the image forming substrate is returned to a uniform state, and image formation is repeated.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image recording method according to the first aspect, the filler filled in the fine holes of the image forming substrate is applied to the surface of the image forming substrate. The presence or absence of exposure is configured to be controlled by electrostatic field energy.

Further, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording method according to the first aspect, the filler filled in the fine holes of the image forming substrate is applied to the surface of the image forming substrate. The presence or absence of exposure is controlled by thermal energy.

Further, in the image recording method according to claim 5 of the present invention, in the image recording method according to claim 1, heating of the filler filled in the fine holes of the image forming substrate is performed by electromagnetic waves. It is configured as follows.

The image recording apparatus according to claim 6 of the present invention is an image forming substrate having a large number of fine holes on the surface, and the fine holes of the image forming substrate are filled in the surface of the image forming substrate. And a filler filled with a material having a different surface tension, and a filler filled in the fine pores of the image forming substrate by externally applying energy to the surface of the image forming substrate according to image information. An energy applying unit that selectively changes the state and an ink applying unit that applies ink to a region having a different surface tension formed on the surface of the image forming substrate according to image information are configured. .

By the way, as the image forming substrate, for example, anodized aluminum (alumite) or the like can be used. In the case of this image forming substrate, the thickness of the anodizing layer is, for example, 5 to 100 μm, and preferably 10 to 50 μm in consideration of the uniformity of the thickness and the time and cost of the anodizing treatment. Further, the diameter of the fine pores formed on the surface of the image forming substrate is very small and generally 5 to 40 nm, and most of them are 10 to 30 nm.
Formed. The distance between the adjacent micropores is generally 5 to 70 nm, and most of them are formed to 10 to 50 nm. A material such as synthetic resin, wax, rubber, or oil is filled in the fine pores as a filler, and in this case, the volume change of the filler is considered to be expansion or contraction due to a change in molecular motion due to thermal energy. . In addition,
The filling of the filling material into the fine holes is performed, for example, by applying the filling material to the surface of the image forming substrate in a reduced pressure state.

[0021]

With the above-described structure of the present invention, it is possible to provide a novel image recording method and its apparatus that are small in size and can easily and stably record high-quality images.

That is, according to the above configuration of the present invention, a material having a surface tension different from that of the surface of the image forming substrate is filled in the fine holes of the image forming substrate having a large number of fine holes on the surface, By externally applying energy to the surface of the image forming substrate according to image information, the filling state of the filling material filled in the fine pores of the image forming substrate is selectively changed, thereby forming the image. A latent image is formed by forming an area on the surface of the substrate, the surface tension of which differs depending on the image information. The surface of the image forming substrate is set, for example, in a state where the filler is not exposed in the initial state. In this case, the surface characteristics of the image forming substrate are
It is determined depending on the surface tension of the image forming substrate itself or the surface tension of the surface layer formed on the surface of the image forming substrate. On the other hand, by applying energy from the outside to the surface of the image forming substrate according to the image information, the filling state of the filling material filled in the fine holes of the image forming substrate is selectively changed. When the filler is exposed on the surface of the image forming substrate, the characteristics of the surface of the image forming substrate depend on the surface tensions of both the filler and the image forming substrate depending on the area ratio of the surface of the micropores. Is determined. Therefore, macroscopic surface tension is different between the region where the filler is not exposed and the region where the filler is exposed, and an image forming region utilizing this difference in surface characteristics can be formed as a latent image.

Next, an ink image can be formed by supplying ink to the surface of the image forming substrate, which selectively adheres to the surface according to the surface tension. The adhesion of the ink is determined by the magnitude of the surface tension (γ _L ) of the ink and the surface tension (γ _S ) of the surface of the image forming substrate, and the surface tension (γ _S ) of the surface of the image forming substrate is the surface of the ink. If the tension (γ _L ) is larger than the tension (γ _L ), that is, if γ _L <γ _S , the ink adheres, and if γ _L > γ _S , the ink does not adhere. Therefore, the surface tension of the image area on the surface of the image forming substrate is γ _SI, and the surface tension of the non-image area is γ _{SI.
When SB} , the ink surface tension is γ _SB <γ _L <γ _SI
It is a condition for the selective adhesion to occur in accordance with the surface tension that the following relationship holds.
That is, when the surface tension of the filler is (γ _P ), the surface tension (γ _S ) of the surface of the image forming substrate is larger than the surface tension (γ _P ) of the filler, that is, γ _P <γ _S Then, the surface tension (γ _S ) of the surface of the image forming substrate becomes the surface tension (γ _SI ) of the image portion of the surface of the image forming substrate, and γ _S =
γ _SI and γ _P <γ _SB <γ _S , and the surface tension of the ink is γ _P <γ _SB <γ _L <γ _S (= γ
_SI ) is required. On the other hand, if the surface tension (γ _P ) of the filler is larger than the surface tension (γ _S ) of the surface of the image forming substrate, that is, if the relation of γ _P > γ _S is satisfied,
The surface tension (γ _P ) of the filling material approximately becomes the surface tension (γ _SI ) of the image portion on the surface of the image forming substrate, and γ _P = γ _SI , and γ _P > γ _SB > γ _S , and the ink surface As described above, the tension is required to be γ _P (= γ _SI )> γ _L > γ _SB > γ _S.

In the present invention, by externally applying energy according to image information, the filler in the fine pores on the surface of the image forming substrate moves or changes in volume and is exposed on the surface of the image forming substrate.

The movement of the filler occurs, for example, by applying an electric charge to the surface of the image forming substrate according to image information. In the image-formed region of the image forming substrate to which the electric charge is applied, the charges on the surface of the image forming substrate and the charges on the surface of the filling material repel each other, so that they are exposed to the surface of the image forming substrate in the initial state. The filler moves inside the micropores. As a result, in the image area, a state in which the filler is not exposed is formed on the surface of the image forming substrate, and the surface characteristics of the image forming substrate depend on only the image forming substrate. On the other hand, in the background portion, since the filler is not exposed and the filler remains exposed on the surface of the image forming substrate, the macroscopic surface characteristic of the image forming substrate is
A state having intermediate characteristics between the image forming substrate and the filler is obtained. Thus, by changing the surface characteristics between the image portion and the background portion, it is possible to form image-like areas having different ink adhesion.

Further, in the present invention, the image-like region can be formed by utilizing the volume change of the filler caused by heating or cooling the filler. In the image-wise heated region, the filler having a small volume is sensitive to the change of the molecular motion due to the thermal energy in the initial state in which the filler is not exposed on the surface of the image forming substrate, and the volume is reduced. It expands and is exposed on the surface of the imaging substrate.
As a result, the filler is exposed on the surface of the image forming substrate in the image-like region, and macroscopically, it has a surface property intermediate between the image forming substrate and the filler.
On the other hand, in the background portion, the state where the initial filler is not exposed to the surface of the image forming substrate is maintained because the heat energy is not applied, and the surface characteristics of the image forming substrate depend on only the image forming substrate. ing. Thus, by changing the surface characteristics between the image portion and the background portion, it is possible to form image-like areas having different ink adhesion.

When the volume change due to thermal energy is used, the initial state can be applied even when the filler is exposed on the surface of the image forming substrate, contrary to the above-mentioned change. In this case, the filler is contracted in volume by cooling in an image form, and the filler is not exposed on the surface of the image forming substrate to form a background portion and an image portion having different surface characteristics. You can However, it is more versatile to change the surface characteristics of the image forming substrate by heating the image forming substrate. The heating can be performed by various methods such as a heating element such as a thermal head and electromagnetic waves such as laser light and infrared rays.

The image forming substrate according to the present invention is
As described above, a large number of fine holes are present on the surface, and the opening diameter of one fine hole is, for example, several tens nm. in this case,
One dot having a diameter of about 40 μm is formed by hundreds of thousands of fine holes. Therefore, depending on the amount of energy applied to form the image,
It is possible to reproduce a subtle change in density by varying the number of minute holes that cause a change. This is because the density can be freely changed by changing the dot diameter in accordance with the amount of energy applied to one dot to change the ratio of the region exhibiting ink adhesion and controlling the ink adhesion amount. . Further, since there are hundreds of thousands of fine holes in one dot, the amount of energy required for each filler to change is subtly different, and the amount of energy applied was changed without changing the dot diameter. Even at this time, the ink adhesion changes with the amount of energy, which makes it possible to control the amount of ink adhesion and to freely change the density.

Next, a theoretical consideration of the relationship between the amount of applied energy and the amount of ink attached will be described.

Now, the energy value (average value is Em) for causing the volume change of the filler in hundreds of thousands of fine holes in one dot and the number of fillers (fine holes) having the volume change Is considered to follow a normal distribution, the applied energy value (horizontal axis: x) and the number of volume-filled fillers (fine holes) (vertical axis: f (x)) have a relationship as shown in FIG. At this time, f (x) is a normal distribution function.

When the total number of hundreds of thousands of fine holes is n, the cumulative number F of fillers (fine holes) whose volume is changed is F.
(X) is obtained as a value obtained by integrating the function f (x) of normal distribution with respect to x (applied energy value). Therefore, F
(0) = 0, F (∞) = n, F (Em−3σ) = 0.0
015n, F (Em-3σ) = 0.0015n, F (E
m + 3σ) = 0.9985n and F (Em) = 0.5n. However, σ is a standard deviation, and it can be assumed that σ = 1 when a standard distribution is considered.

The applied energy amount is the product (xf (x)) of the vertical axis (the number of fillers (fine holes) whose volume has changed) and the horizontal axis (energy value) in FIG. Filling material (fine pores) with applied energy amount (vertical axis) and volume change
The relationship of the cumulative number (vertical axis: F (x)) of is as shown in FIG.

Here, considering that the ink adhesion amount (w) changes in proportion to the cumulative number (F (x)) of the filler (fine holes) whose volume has changed, the vertical axis of FIG. 14 may be replaced with the additional amount, as shown in FIG. However, σ is a standard deviation, and it can be assumed that σ = 1 when considering a standard distribution, and k is a proportional constant and w =
a · F (x) is satisfied.

An image having a relatively large surface tension value is formed on the image-like area formed as described above by contacting an ink held on an appropriate ink holding member such as a porous roll with the above condition. Ink is applied to the area to obtain an ink image.

The ink image thus formed is transferred as a transfer ink image on the transfer medium by bringing the transfer medium into contact or pressure contact.

After that, for example, by applying a charge to the surface of the image forming substrate, the repulsion of charges of the same polarity is utilized to form an image region having different surface characteristics with a filler as the surface of the image forming substrate. It can be returned to the initial state by exposing it again. When returning to the initial state, it suffices to discharge (charge-eliminate) the charges applied to the surface of the image forming substrate by performing discharge of opposite polarity by a corona discharger or the like. This is because the state exposed on the surface in the initial state is forcibly displaced to the inside by the repulsive force of the same polarity charges, so if the repulsive force is removed by removing the charge, the initial state is easily restored. be able to.

Further, when an image is formed by a method such as heating or cooling, the image forming substrate after transferring the ink image is provided with a property of causing thermal energy to cause a volume change opposite to that at the time of image forming. By doing so, it is returned to the initial state. Therefore, when the surface characteristic of the image forming substrate is changed in an image form by utilizing the volume expansion of the filler by heating, the volume contraction of the filler can be caused by cooling and the initial state can be restored. On the other hand, when the surface characteristics of the image forming substrate are changed into an image by utilizing the volume contraction of the filler by cooling,
The heating causes the filler to expand in volume and can be returned to the initial state.

By repeating the series of image forming processes carried out as described above, a plurality of identical images can be continuously obtained without the initialization step of the image forming substrate. On the other hand, a plurality of different images can be continuously obtained by repeating the process including the step of initializing the image forming substrate.

The present invention will be described below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

[0040]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image recording apparatus to which the image recording method according to the present invention can be applied. FIG. 1 shows the vicinity of the surface of the image forming substrate used in this embodiment in the initial state. Is schematically shown.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an image forming substrate, and in this embodiment, the image forming substrate 1 is formed in a drum shape. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming substrate 1 comprises an image forming substrate 2 and a fine hole holding layer 3. As the image forming substrate 2, an aluminum drum having a diameter of about 100 mm and a thickness of about 20 mm is used. To be In this embodiment, the surface of the aluminum drum is subjected to anodizing treatment using a sulfuric acid bath, so that the surface of the aluminum drum 2 is used as the fine hole retaining layer 3 and has a thickness of about 30 μm. )
A layer was formed. In the fine hole holding layer 3, for example, fine holes 9 having a diameter of about 20 nm are present at intervals of about 30 nm and an area ratio of about 50% depending on the conditions of anodizing treatment. The fine pores 9 of the fine pore holding layer 3 are filled with a water-repellent silicone rubber 10 as a stimulus-responsive substance. The surface tension (γ) of the fine hole retaining layer 3 made of aluminum oxide, which constitutes the surface of the image forming substrate 1 is
_S ) is about 500 mN / m, while the surface tension (γ _P ) of the filler silicone rubber 10 is about 20 m.
N / m.

Further, on the surface of the image forming substrate 1, as shown in FIG.
An external energy applying device 4 for applying energy from the outside is arranged on the surface of the. As the external energy applying device 4, one that applies thermal energy such as laser light to the surface of the image forming substrate 1 according to image information is used, and corresponds to the background portion of the surface of the image forming substrate 1 according to image information. The area to be heated is heated.

As described above, in the area corresponding to the heated background portion, the filler 10 expands and is exposed on the surface of the image forming substrate 1, as shown in FIG. The thermal energy applied by the external energy applying device 4 is applied to the surface of the image forming substrate 1 by the filler 1 made of silicone rubber.
It is set to a value such that 0 is exposed.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a state in which the filler 10 is exposed on the surface of the image forming substrate 1 in the area corresponding to the background portion. In this case, in the area corresponding to the background portion of the image forming substrate 1, since the silicone rubber 10 having water repellency, that is, having a small surface tension (γ _P ) contributes to the surface characteristics, the water-based ink repels and heats up. In the area corresponding to the image area where no image is formed, the alumite layer 3 having the fine pores 9 and having a large surface tension (γ _S ) exhibits hydrophilicity and has water-based ink adhesiveness.

Further, on the surface of the image forming substrate 1,
As shown in FIG. 1, the ink is applied by the ink applying roll 5. This ink applying roll 5 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a porous roll such as a sponge impregnated with a 3% aqueous solution of malachite green, which is a green water-based dye, is used, and the ink is selectively applied only to the area 11 corresponding to the image portion of the image forming substrate 1. By attaching
An ink image 12 is obtained. FIG. 6 schematically shows an example of the obtained ink image 12.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the transfer member 8 is pressed against the surface of the image forming substrate 1 on which the ink image 12 is formed as described above at the transfer position by the transfer roll 6, and the image forming substrate 1 is transferred. The ink image 12 formed on the surface of No. 1 is transferred onto the transfer target 8. At that time, as shown in FIG. 7, the plain paper 8 is used as a transfer target, and the plain paper 8 is brought into contact with the surface of the image forming substrate 1 on which the ink image 12 is formed. Of the image forming substrate 1 and the transfer roll 6 while the plain paper 8 is sufficiently adhered to the surface of the image forming substrate 1.
Is rotated to transfer the ink image 12 onto the plain paper 8 while the plain paper 8 is being conveyed, and a transferred ink image 13 as shown in FIG. 8 is obtained, for example. The transfer ink image 12 thus obtained was a clear image with no background stains and no breaks or crushing.

Further, after the ink image 12 is transferred onto the transfer object 8, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, a cooling device using a heat exchanger equipped with a blower is used as the initialization device 7.
By cooling the surface of the image forming substrate 1, the silicone rubber 10 as a filler is shrunk to restore the initial state as shown in FIG.

After that, when a different image was formed again by using the same method, a clear image having no background stain and no breakage or crushing was obtained as in the first time.

Example 2 In this Example 2, the same constitution as in Example 1 was used except that polyethylene wax was used instead of silicone rubber as the filler 10 to fill the fine pores 9 of the image forming substrate 1. And image recording was performed using the method described above. As a result, also in Example 2, as in Example 1, a clear image was obtained in which the background portion was free from stains and was free from discontinuity and crushing.

Example 3 In Example 3, as the filler 10 to be filled in the fine pores 9 of the image forming substrate 1, instead of silicone rubber, polyvinyl fluoride, polyvinylidene fluoride, polytrifluoroethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, etc. Image recording was carried out by the same method as in Example 1 except that the above-mentioned fluororesin was used. As a result, in Example 3 as well, as in Example 1, a clear image was obtained in which there was no stain on the background portion and there was no discontinuity or crushing.

Fourth Embodiment FIGS. 9 to 11 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals. FIG. 9 schematically shows the vicinity of the surface of the image forming substrate 1 used in Example 4 in the initial state.
The image-forming substrate 1 comprises an image-forming substrate 2 and a fine hole-holding layer 3.
Similarly, an aluminum drum having a diameter of 100 mm and a thickness of 20 mm is used. In Example 4, the surface of the aluminum drum 2 was anodized by using a sulfuric acid bath to form aluminum oxide (alumite) having a thickness of about 40 μm as the fine hole retaining layer 3.
A layer is formed. In the micropore holding layer 3, micropores 9 having a diameter of about 15 nm are present at intervals of about 20 nm with an area ratio of about 50%, which are smaller and finer than those in the first embodiment. The fine pores 9 are filled with a fat 10 which is a triglyceryl ester containing palmitic acid and stearic acid as main components of fatty acid as a filler 10.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the surface of the image forming substrate 1 is masked by using the corona discharger 4 as an external energy applying device and the electrostatic recording paper 15 cut out in an image pattern. A DC voltage of −7 kV is applied to the corona discharger 4 using the high voltage power source 16 to perform DC discharge, and in the area corresponding to the charged image portion, the charged charges on the surface of the filling material 10 and the fine holes 9 are discharged. The charged charges on the surface of the surrounding image forming substrate 1 repel and the filler 10 is displaced inward of the fine holes 9. FIG. 4 schematically shows a view of the displacement of the filler 10 toward the inside of the fine holes 9 in a region corresponding to the image portion as viewed from the surface. In this case, in the area corresponding to the background portion, since the oil and fat having water repellency contributes to the surface characteristics, the water-based ink becomes repulsive, while in the area corresponding to the charged image portion, the fine holes 9 are formed.
The alumite layer 3 having a is hydrophilic and has an adhesive property to the water-based ink.

Through the above steps, an image-like ink adhering region having the same structure as in Example 1 could be formed on the surface of the image forming substrate 1.

After that, when the ink adhesion process and the subsequent steps were carried out in the same manner as in Example 1, in Example 4 as well, as in Example 1, a clear image with no background stains and no breaks or crushing was obtained. was gotten.

An initializing device for returning the image forming substrate 1 to the initial state in order to repeatedly form different images uses a die corotron type discharge device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6963/1985 and uses the discharge device. The grid wire provided in the electric appliance was grounded, and an AC voltage of 125 kHz and 2 kV was applied to the discharge wire to perform AC discharge, thereby performing initialization by discharging.

As the external energy applying device, an ion flow head which directly discharges electric charges according to image information may be used.

The rest of the configuration and operation are the same as in the first embodiment, so description thereof will be omitted.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention, a material having a surface tension different from that of the surface of the image forming substrate is filled in the fine holes of the image forming substrate having a large number of fine holes on the surface. By applying energy from the outside to the surface of the image forming substrate according to image information to selectively change the filling state of the filling material filled in the fine holes of the image forming substrate, An image is recorded by forming a region having a different surface tension on the surface of the forming substrate according to image information and selectively adhering ink to the region having a different surface tension on the surface of the image forming substrate. Therefore, a clear ink image can be obtained. Further, after the ink image is formed, a clear transfer ink image can be obtained on the transfer target by contacting or pressurizing the transfer target. Then, after transferring the ink image, the filler is returned to the initial state to initialize the surface of the image forming substrate, and the above steps are repeated, whereby desired images can be continuously and favorably formed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view schematically showing an initial state near the surface of an example of an image forming substrate used for image formation of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image recording apparatus to which the image recording method according to the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view schematically showing a state where external energy is applied near the surface of an example of an image forming substrate used for image formation of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state where the filler is exposed in a region corresponding to the background portion by applying external energy.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing an example of an ink image forming process.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of a formed ink image.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing an example of an ink image transfer process.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an example of an ink image transferred to a transfer target.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view schematically showing an initial state near the surface of an image forming substrate used for image formation according to Example 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view schematically showing an example of a step of forming an ink adhesive image area on the surface of an image forming substrate.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view schematically showing the vicinity of the surface of the image forming substrate on which the ink adhesive image area is formed.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing the relationship between the energy value and the number of fillers that have changed in volume.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing the relationship between the energy value and the cumulative number of fillers that have changed in volume.

FIG. 14 is a graph showing a relationship between an energy value and an ink adhesion amount.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 image forming substrate, 2 image forming substrate, 3 fine hole holding layer, external energy applying device, 5 ink applying roll,
6 transfer roll, 7 initialization device, 8 transfer target, 9
Micropore, 10 filler.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A material having a surface tension different from that of the surface of the image forming substrate is filled in the fine holes of the image forming substrate having a large number of fine holes on the surface thereof, and the material of the image forming substrate is filled in accordance with image information. By externally applying energy to the surface to selectively change the filling state of the filling material filled in the fine pores of the image forming substrate, the surface of the image forming substrate is exposed in accordance with image information. An image recording method, wherein images are recorded by forming regions having different tensions and selectively adhering ink to the regions having different surface tensions on the surface of the image forming substrate. 2. After the ink image formed on the surface of the image forming substrate is transferred to a transfer target, the surface tension of the surface of the image forming substrate is returned to a uniform state by applying external energy to repeat image formation. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein the image recording method is performed. 3. The image according to claim 1, wherein presence or absence of exposure of the filler filled in the fine holes of the image forming substrate to the surface of the image forming substrate is controlled by electrostatic field energy. Recording method. 4. The image recording according to claim 1, wherein the presence or absence of exposure of the filler filled in the fine holes of the image forming substrate to the surface of the image forming substrate is controlled by thermal energy. Method. 5. The image recording method according to claim 4, wherein heating of the filling material filled in the fine holes of the image forming substrate is performed by electromagnetic waves. 6. An image forming substrate having a large number of fine holes on the surface, and a filling material filled in the fine holes of the image forming substrate and having a surface tension different from that of the surface of the image forming substrate, and an image. Energy applying means for selectively changing the filling state of the filling material filled in the fine pores of the image forming substrate by externally applying energy to the surface of the image forming substrate according to information, and the image. An image recording apparatus, comprising: an ink applying unit that applies ink to a region having a different surface tension, which is formed on the surface of a forming substrate according to image information.