JPH1034984A - Projection printer and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a projection printer which performs high quality printing on a thermosensitive recording medium, e.g. a TA paper. SOLUTION: This projection printer 30 comprises light emitting bodies 2H, 2A and 2B, a light absorbing layer 3c which causes the coloring layer 4a in a recording medium 4 to sense heat generated by absorbing infrared rays from the light emitting body 2H, a power supply 5, and a light transmission control section 3b for transmitting the infrared rays from the light emitting body 2H in a pattern for coloring the recording medium 4 when power is fed from the power supply 5 to the light emitting body 2H and transmitting the ultraviolet rays from the light emitting body 2A in a pattern for fixing an uncolored part when power is fed from the power supply 5 to the light emitting body 2A.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a projection printing apparatus for printing on a heat-sensitive recording medium such as thermoautochrome (TA) paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The TA system printing technology is disclosed in "Technical Information Association Seminar Materials (May 31, 1995), pages 1 to 10", "Thermo-autochrome full color printing technology". FIGS. 13 to 17 illustrate the TA system recording technique.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a layer structure of TA paper. The TA paper 4 has three color developing layers 4ac and 4a of cyan, magenta and yellow having different thermal sensitivities on a substrate 4b.
m, 4ay are laminated in the order shown.
Reference numeral 4d is a heat-resistant protective layer, and reference numeral 4e is a thermoresponsive microcapsule.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the amount of heat supplied to the color forming layers of each color of TA paper. When the color forming layers of the respective colors in the TA paper 4 are colored, the amount of heat supplied to the uppermost yellow color forming layer 4ay is set to be the lowest, and the amount of heat supplied to the middle magenta color forming layer 4am is set to yellow. And the amount of heat supplied to the cyan color forming layer 4ac located at the lowest position is set to be the highest.

FIG. 15 is a graph showing the absorbance characteristics of a yellow layer and a magenta layer of TA paper. TA paper yellow,
Both of the magenta coloring layers are light fixing type heat-sensitive recording layers using a diazonium salt compound and a coupler as coloring components.
The diazonium salts form the three primary colors of yellow and magenta dyes, respectively, in combination with the appropriate coupler, while at 420 nm and 365 n, respectively.
m has the property of being decomposed by ultraviolet light of another wavelength. This makes it possible to separately stop (fix) the coloring functions of the yellow layer and the magenta layer. Therefore, if the yellow layer is fixed before printing magenta, it is possible to prevent yellow, which develops with lower energy, from being simultaneously formed when magenta is printed, and it is possible to print magenta alone. The same applies to the relationship between cyan and magenta.

As shown in FIG. 16, the image recording procedure of the TA system is as follows. As shown in FIG. 16, a yellow image is recorded in a low energy region by a thermal head 9, a yellow coloring layer is fixed by ultraviolet light of 420 nm, and a thermal head 9 is used in a medium energy region. Recording of a magenta image, fixing of a magenta coloring layer with 365 nm ultraviolet rays, and recording of a cyan image in a high energy region by a thermal head 9 make a series of operations possible, thereby recording a full-color image.

[0007] In the video printer 50 of FIG. 17, thermal recording by the thermal head 9 and ultraviolet fixing by the luminous body are performed continuously during one rotation of the drum 8, and the drum 8 is rotated three times to thereby obtain yellow and magenta. , And full-color image recording using cyan.

[0008] As for TA paper, the 142nd Committee on Organic Materials for Information Science-The 4th Research Report-386th
Pages 390 to 390 (edited and published by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 142th Committee on Organic Materials for Information Science, published July 10, 1995).

[0009]

However, since the thermal head 9 is pressed against the recording medium 4 while rotating the drum 8 to record images one color at a time, the recording position of each color may be shifted. There is a problem that the surface of the medium 4 may be roughened or deformed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide high-quality printing without moving the recording medium during thermosensitive coloring and fixing of the recording medium. It is another object of the present invention to provide a projection printing apparatus capable of performing the above.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a recording medium having a plurality of coloring layers formed on a substrate is used, and the coloring layers of each color are colored with different amounts of heat corresponding to the image information of each color. And fixing the coloring layer that has been colored with ultraviolet light of a designated wavelength for each coloring layer of each color, and in a printing apparatus that prints the image information in color, the amount of heat supplied to the plurality of coloring layers is Except for an infrared luminous body that increases the amount of heat supplied and emits infrared light in the order of color development, and the color layer that supplies the largest amount of heat last, so that the color layers of each color are colored in ascending order. A plurality of ultraviolet light emitters for emitting ultraviolet light of a wavelength designated for each color, and transmitting infrared light from the infrared light emitter according to image information of each color, and ultraviolet light from the plurality of ultraviolet light emitters. A light transmission control unit that performs light transmission control so that light is transmitted, and a light absorption layer that absorbs only infrared light transmitted through the light transmission control unit and causes the color-forming layer of each color to receive heat according to image information of each color. It is characterized by having.

The infrared light emitter emits infrared light by increasing the amount of heat supplied in the order of color development so that the color layers of each color are colored in ascending order of the amount of heat supplied to the plurality of color layers. The light transmission control unit transmits infrared light from the infrared light emitter according to image information of each color. The light absorbing layer absorbs only infrared light transmitted through the light transmission control unit, and makes the color forming layers of each color heat-sensitive according to image information of each color. Thereby, the recording medium (coloring layer) can be colored in a predetermined color in a pattern according to the image information.

The plurality of ultraviolet light emitters emit ultraviolet light of a designated wavelength for each color forming layer for each color. The light transmission control unit transmits ultraviolet light from the plurality of ultraviolet light emitters. Thereby, the image information can be fixed on (the color-forming layer of) the recording medium.

By coloring the coloring layers of each color in ascending order of the amount of heat supplied to the plurality of coloring layers and fixing each of them, it is possible to prevent a color that is colored with low energy from being colored with medium energy or high energy. The coloring layer, which has the largest amount of supplied heat and is the last to form a color, has the highest temperature at which the color is formed and has less change with time, so that no fixing is performed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a recording medium having a plurality of coloring layers formed on a substrate is used, the coloring layers of the respective colors are colored with different amounts of heat corresponding to the image information of the respective colors, and In a printing apparatus that fixes the coloring layer that has been colored with ultraviolet light of a wavelength designated for each of the coloring layers and prints the image information in color, the coloring of each color is performed in ascending order of the amount of heat supplied to the plurality of coloring layers. As the layer is colored, the amount of heat supplied is increased in the order of color development to emit infrared light, and at the same time, an illuminating illuminant that emits ultraviolet light, and an infrared transmitting filter that transmits only infrared light emitted from the illuminating light, Except for the coloring layer which transmits only the ultraviolet rays emitted from the illuminating body for illumination and has the largest amount of heat supply and finally develops the color, the ultraviolet rays having the wavelength designated for each coloring layer of each color. A plurality of ultraviolet light transmitting filters that transmit light for each color development, and transmitting the infrared light from the infrared light transmitting filter according to the image information of each color, and transmitting the ultraviolet light from the plurality of ultraviolet light transmitting filters. A light transmission control unit that performs transmission control, and a light absorption layer that absorbs only infrared light transmitted through the light transmission control unit and causes the color-forming layers of each color to receive heat according to image information of each color. I do.

The illuminator for illumination emits infrared rays and ultraviolet rays by increasing the amount of heat supplied in order of coloring so that the coloring layers of each color are colored in ascending order of the amount of heat supplied to the plurality of coloring layers. The infrared transmission filter transmits only infrared light emitted from the illumination light emitter. The light transmission control unit transmits infrared light from the infrared transmission filter according to image information of each color.
The light absorbing layer absorbs only infrared light transmitted through the light transmission control unit, and makes the color forming layers of each color heat-sensitive according to image information of each color. Thereby, the recording medium (coloring layer) can be colored in a predetermined color in a pattern according to the image information.

The illuminant for illumination emits infrared rays at the same time as emitting infrared rays. The plurality of ultraviolet transmission filters transmit only ultraviolet light emitted from the illuminant for illumination, and transmit ultraviolet light having a wavelength designated for each color-forming layer for each color. The light transmission control unit transmits ultraviolet light from the plurality of ultraviolet transmission filters. Thereby, the image information can be fixed on (the color-forming layer of) the recording medium.

By coloring the coloring layers of each color in ascending order of the amount of heat supplied to the plurality of coloring layers and fixing each of them, it is possible to prevent a color that is colored with low energy from being colored with medium energy or high energy. The coloring layer, which has the largest amount of supplied heat and is the last to form a color, has the highest temperature at which the color is formed and has less change with time, so that no fixing is performed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a plurality of color-forming layers are formed on the substrate, and the color-forming layers of each color are colored with different amounts of heat corresponding to the image information of each color. Fixing the color-forming layer that has been colored with ultraviolet light of the specified wavelength, and printing a color image of the image information, a light-absorbing layer that absorbs only infrared light and causes the color-forming layer of each color to heat the color-forming layer. It is characterized by being provided on the surface of the layer.

Since the light absorbing layer absorbs only infrared rays, it is possible to prevent heat-sensitive coloring of the coloring layer due to absorption of visible light or ultraviolet rays. Further, since the light absorbing layer absorbs only infrared rays and transmits ultraviolet rays, it is possible to fix the color-developed layer through the light absorbing layer. Therefore, the thermosensitive coloring and fixing of the recording medium can be performed through the same light absorbing layer.
2 can be used for the recording medium described above.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on an embodiment shown in the drawings.

<First Embodiment> The projection printing apparatus 30 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 produces a plurality of colors with different amounts of heat, and emits uncolored portions with ultraviolet rays having wavelengths corresponding to each of the plurality of colors. The printing is performed on the recording medium 4 provided with the color forming layer 4a to be fixed on the substrate 4b. The recording medium 4 is made of the TA paper described above with reference to FIG. 13, and has a plurality of coloring layers 4a formed on a substrate 4b. The coloring layer 4a includes a yellow layer, a magenta layer, and a cyan layer.

In the projection printing apparatus 30 of the first embodiment, the coloring layers 4a of the respective colors are arranged in ascending order of the amount of heat supplied to the plurality of coloring layers 4a.
, And the color emitting layers 4a of the respective colors except for the infrared emitting body 2H for increasing the amount of heat supplied and emitting infrared rays in the order of color development, and the color forming layer for providing the last heat and having the largest amount of heat supplied.
A plurality of ultraviolet light emitters 2B and 2A for emitting ultraviolet light of a wavelength designated for each color, and infrared light from an infrared light emitter (hereinafter, referred to as a light emitter) 2H are transmitted according to image information of each color; In addition, a plurality of ultraviolet light emitters (hereinafter, referred to as
A light transmission control unit 3b that controls light transmission so as to transmit ultraviolet rays from 2B and 2A, and absorbs only infrared light transmitted through the light transmission control unit 3b to correspond to image information of each color. The light absorbing layer 3c which makes the color forming layer 4a of each color heat-sensitive
It is comprised including.

That is, the reflection cover 1 is provided above the recording medium 4, and the luminous bodies 2H, 2B, 2A are provided between the reflection cover 1 and the recording medium 4 in order from the top. These light emitters 2H, 2B, 2A are connected to power supply device 5
Respectively.

On the coloring layer 4a of the recording medium 4, a liquid crystal plate 3 formed so as to have substantially the same area as the coloring layer 4a is placed in close contact. The liquid crystal plate 3 includes a transparent glass plate 3a, a light transmission controller 3b in which electrodes (not shown) are arranged in a grid, and a light absorbing layer 3c. here,
The light transmission control unit 3b of the liquid crystal plate 3 is connected to the image information processing device 10 and controls light transmission according to image information. The light absorbing layer 3c of the liquid crystal plate 3 is provided in close contact with the color forming layer 4a, absorbs infrared rays and generates heat, and has a function of causing the heat to be transmitted to the color forming layers 4a of each color and a function of transmitting ultraviolet light. And

The luminous body 2A emits 365 nm ultraviolet light,
The ultraviolet light corresponds to magenta which forms a color on the coloring layer 4 a of the recording medium 4. The luminous body 2B emits ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 420 nm, and this ultraviolet light corresponds to yellow which is colored in the coloring layer 4a of the recording medium 4.

The light absorbing layer 3c of the liquid crystal plate 3 is in close contact with the recording medium 4, and the light control transmitting portion 3b of the liquid crystal plate 3 has a light transmitting portion 3t according to the yellow image to be printed as shown in FIG. Is set in the light reflecting portion 3r.

The power supply device 5 outputs a signal SH to supply power to the luminous body 2H having the H characteristic shown in FIG. 3, and the amount of heat generated by the light absorbing layer 3c to generate yellow (the yellow recording amount shown in FIG. 14). Energy), the luminous body 2H emits light with low energy. Further, since the power supply device 5 outputs the signal SX and controls the image information processing device 10 to synchronize with the light emitter 2A, the light absorption layer 3 of the liquid crystal plate 3 is controlled.
“c” absorbs the infrared light that has passed through the light transmission part 3t of the light control transmission part 3b whose light transmission has been controlled in accordance with the yellow image information, and generates heat in the pattern of the light transmission part 3t. The light absorbing layer 3c has the transmission absorption characteristics shown in FIG. 4, and has a function of absorbing infrared rays to generate heat and a function of transmitting ultraviolet rays. The coloring layer 4a of the recording medium 4 is heated by the heat generated by the light absorbing layer 3c, and the yellow layer of the coloring layer 4a is colored in the pattern.

Subsequently, the power supply device 5 outputs a signal SB to supply power to the luminous body 2B having the B characteristic shown in FIG.
Emit 420 nm ultraviolet light corresponding to the yellow coloring layer. The liquid crystal plate 3 transmits ultraviolet light from the light emitting body 2B in a pattern for fixing the uncolored portion of the yellow layer. For example, the entire surface of the light control transmission portion 3b is made transparent, and the uncolored portion of the yellow layer is fixed.

Similarly, the light transmission part 3t and the light reflection part 3r of the light control transmission part 3b are set according to the magenta image. The power supply device 5 outputs the signal SH to
Electric power is supplied to H, so that the luminous body 2H emits light with medium energy so that the heat generated by the light absorbing layer 3c becomes the amount of heat (the recording energy of magenta in FIG. 14) for coloring magenta.
The light absorbing layer 3c absorbs infrared rays that have passed through the light transmitting portion 3t of the light control transmitting portion 3b whose light transmission has been controlled in accordance with magenta image information, and generates heat in a pattern of the light transmitting portion 3t. The coloring layer 4a of the recording medium 4 is heated by the heat generated by the light absorbing layer 3c, and the magenta layer of the coloring layer 4a is colored in the pattern.

Subsequently, the power supply device 5 outputs a signal SA to supply power to the luminous body 2A having the A characteristic shown in FIG.
Ultraviolet light of 365 nm corresponding to the magenta coloring layer is emitted. The liquid crystal plate 3 transmits the ultraviolet light from the light emitter 2B in a pattern for fixing the uncolored portion of the magenta layer. For example, the entire surface of the light control transmission portion 3b is made transparent, and the uncolored portion of the magenta layer is fixed.

Finally, the light transmission part 3t and the light reflection part 3r of the light control transmission part 3b are set according to the cyan image. The power supply device 5 supplies power to the luminous body 2H, and causes the luminous body 2H to emit light with high energy so that the heat generation of the light absorbing layer 3c becomes the calorific value for coloring cyan (the recording energy of cyan in FIG. 14). . The light-absorbing layer 3c is a light-controlled transmissive unit 3 whose light transmission is controlled according to cyan image information.
Absorbs the infrared light that has passed through the light transmitting portion 3t, and generates heat in the pattern of the light transmitting portion 3t. The coloring layer 4a of the recording medium 4 is heated by the heat generated by the light absorbing layer 3c, and the cyan layer of the coloring layer 4a is colored. Cyan does not fix the uncolored portion of the cyan layer because the temperature at which it develops color is high and changes with time are small.

The power supply device 5 includes a timer (not shown),
A hexadecimal counter (not shown) for counting timing pulses from the timer. The initial value of the count value is 0
When a switch (not shown) for starting printing is pressed, six timing pulses are counted. When the count value is 0, the signals SH, SA, SB, and SX are not output.

When the count value is 1, the signal SH is output to cause the light emitter 2H to emit light with low energy, and the signal SX is output.
Is output to the image information processing apparatus 10. When the count value is 2, the signal SB is output to cause the light emitter 2B to emit light.

When the count value is 3, the signal SH is output to cause the light emitter 2H to emit light with medium energy, and the signal SX is output.
Is output to the image information processing apparatus 10. When the count value is 4, the signal SA is output to cause the light emitter 2A to emit light.

When the count value is 5, the signal SH is output to cause the light emitter 2H to emit light with high energy, and the signal SX is output.
Is output to the image information processing apparatus 10.

As the luminous body 2H, use is made of a light emitting element which emits a small amount of ultraviolet rays and emits a large amount of infrared rays, such as a tungsten lamp or a halogen lamp. As the light emitters 2A and 2B, those obtained by applying a fluorescent material corresponding to each ultraviolet wavelength to the tube surface of a fluorescent lamp are used.

The light control transmission section 3b does not use a deflecting plate to prevent photothermal absorption by the deflecting plate. For example, a nematic-cholesteric phase change type liquid crystal (NC)
(PT liquid crystal). A nematic liquid crystal and a chiral nematic liquid crystal added thereto at 10% (10 wt%)
A liquid crystal material having a helical pitch of 1.0 μm is used.

An electrode is formed on a transparent substrate and NCPT is formed.
When a liquid crystal is formed during this period and a voltage is applied, the phase transition and transmittance characteristics shown in FIG. 5 are obtained.
To the scattering state (F phase) and the transparent state (H
Phase) and semi-transparent state (H ′ phase). Utilizing each phase, a voltage is applied to the NCPT liquid crystal plate with a grid-like electrode to control each state of the liquid crystal.

When a voltage is applied to an NCPT liquid crystal material having a positive dielectric anisotropy, a phase transition change shown in FIG. 5 occurs. When the voltage is 0 V, the liquid crystal molecules form a cholesteric phase (F phase) indicating a scattering state, and by increasing the voltage, the liquid crystal molecules gradually change in the direction of an electric field, and change to a nematic phase (H phase) indicating a transparent state. Cause a state change. Conversely, when the voltage is decreased, the liquid crystal molecules change from the H phase to the F phase through the metastable nematic phase (H ′ phase).

In the F phase, the liquid crystal has a helical structure shown in FIG. This is understood from the fact that the incident light is scattered because the helical axis is parallel to the glass substrate. In the H phase, the liquid crystal molecules do not form a helical structure.
As shown in (b), it is perpendicular to the substrate. Therefore, the incident light passes through the liquid crystal layer. In the H ′ phase, the liquid crystal molecules are generally perpendicular to the substrate, but the liquid crystal molecules at the center between the substrates are as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, a metastable state gradually bent, that is, a pseudo vertical alignment state is formed. Here, when controlling the density gradation of each color on the coloring layer 4a of the recording medium 4, the voltage applied to the NCPT liquid crystal plate is controlled in accordance with the image information of each color, so that the scattering state, the transparent state, Since it can be in a semi-transparent state, the density gradation can be controlled according to the image information.

△ is the width of the hysteresis, the voltage Vu ²⁰ giving a 20% transmittance in the phase transition curve from the cholesteric phase to the nematic phase, and the 90% transmission in the phase transition curve from the nematic phase to the cholesteric phase. It is the difference from the voltage Vd ⁹⁰ that gives the rate. Vd is the driving voltage is an intermediate voltage of the voltage Vu ²⁰ and the voltage Vd ^90.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram for explaining the image information processing apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. The video camera 11 or the scanner 12 generates image data and sends the image data to the host computer 14 via the interface circuit 13. The host computer 14 generates print data for displaying an image on a liquid crystal display, and
Send to

The image information processing apparatus 10 includes an image signal processor 21, a drive controller 22,
Drivers 23 and 24 and Y drivers 25 and 26 are provided. The image signal processor 21 has an image editing function and a drawing function, and performs high-speed image processing based on print data. Note that the interface circuit 13 and the host computer 14 may be incorporated in the image signal processor 21.

The drive controller 22 outputs a signal corresponding to the voltage applied to the vertical and horizontal electrodes of the NCPT liquid crystal panel 3 based on the output signal of the image signal processor 21.
Output to the drivers 23 and 24 and the Y drivers 25 and 26. When the signal SX is input from the power supply device 5,
The image information processing device 10 synchronizes with the power supply device 5.

The X drivers 23, 24 and the Y driver 25,
26 applies a voltage to the vertical and horizontal electrodes of the NCPT liquid crystal panel 3 based on a signal from the drive controller 22,
A light transparent portion or a light reflecting portion is generated on the PT liquid crystal plate 3. N
FIG. 2 is an explanatory enlarged cross-sectional view of the CPT liquid crystal plate 3.

Incidentally, Display and Imaging, 1992, Vol. 1 No. 1, pp. 61-6
9. (C) The NCPT liquid crystal panel and its peripheral circuit described in the research paper "Phase transition type liquid crystal projection display" published in Science Communications International may be referred to.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a projection printing apparatus in which the first embodiment according to the present invention is partially modified. The configuration of the liquid crystal plate 3 and the recording medium 4 is different from the projection printing apparatus 30 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The liquid crystal plate 3 of the projection printing device 31 of FIG.
Does not have a light absorbing layer, and the recording medium 4 has a light absorbing layer 4c on the surface of a plurality of coloring layers 4a. FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of a liquid crystal plate 3 used in a modification of the first embodiment.
It corresponds to. Here, the light absorbing layer 4c provided on the surface of the coloring layer 4a of the recording medium 4 has the same function as the light absorbing layer 3c described in the first embodiment, and therefore the description is omitted.

<Second Embodiment> A projection printing apparatus 32 according to a second embodiment shown in FIG. 10 has a single illuminator (hereinafter referred to as a luminous body) 2L for simultaneously emitting infrared rays and ultraviolet rays.
And three filters FH, FA, FB, and a position control device M for controlling movement of these filters FH, FA, FB
H, MA, and MB.

That is, the projection printing device 32 of the second embodiment is
Unlike the projection printing apparatuses 30 and 31 of the first embodiment described above, infrared rays and ultraviolet rays are emitted from the same illuminant 2L, and accordingly, the illumination light from the illuminant 2L is filtered by the filters FH and FA. , FB. The projection printing device 32 according to the second embodiment has the same basic technical idea as the projection printing devices 30 and 31 according to the first embodiment described above, and is different from the first embodiment. Will be described in detail, and the operation of the projection printing apparatus 32 will be briefly described.

In the projection printing apparatus 32 of the second embodiment, a light-emitting body 2L and filters FH, FA, and FB are provided between the reflection cover 1 and the recording medium 4 in order from the top. On the coloring layer 4a of the recording medium 4, a liquid crystal plate 3 formed so as to have substantially the same area as the coloring layer 4a is placed in close contact. Here, the luminous body 2L emits illumination light including infrared rays and ultraviolet rays, and the luminous body 2L is provided by the power supply device 5 for each color in ascending order of the amount of heat supplied to the plurality of coloring layers 4a. In order to cause the coloring layer 4a to develop color, the amount of heat supplied is increased in the order of coloring to emit infrared rays, and simultaneously emit ultraviolet rays. The upper filter FH is an infrared transmitting filter, the intermediate and lower filters FA and FB are ultraviolet transmitting filters, and these filters FH, FA and FB are position controllers MH using a motor. , MA, and MB so as to be able to come and go above the recording medium 4.

The infrared transmitting filter FH has the H characteristic shown in FIG. 11, and transmits infrared light out of the light emitted from the luminous body 2L having the L characteristic shown in FIG. The ultraviolet transmitting filter FA is shown in FIG.
It has a characteristic and transmits ultraviolet light of 365 nm or less out of the light emitted from the luminous body 2L having the L characteristic shown in FIG. The 365 nm ultraviolet light corresponds to magenta which forms color on the color forming layer 4 a of the recording medium 4. The ultraviolet transmission filter FB has the B characteristic shown in FIG. 11, and 42 of the light emitted from the luminous body 2L having the L characteristic shown in FIG.
Transmits 0 nm ultraviolet light. The 420 nm ultraviolet light corresponds to yellow which is colored in the coloring layer 4a of the recording medium 4.

Here, the same operation as the light emitting body 2H of the first embodiment is performed by the cooperation of the light emitting body 2L and the infrared transmitting filter FH. In addition, the cooperation between the light emitting body 2L and the ultraviolet transmitting filter FB allows the light emitting body 2B
The same operation as that described above is performed. Further, the same operation as the light emitting body 2A of the first embodiment is performed by the cooperation of the light emitting body 2L and the ultraviolet light transmitting filter FA.

The power supply device 5 outputs the signal SH, moves the infrared transmission filter FH by the position control device MH, covers the light emitting surface of the luminous body 2L on the recording medium 4 side with the infrared transmission filter FH, and outputs the signal SL. Output and luminous body 2
Electric power is supplied to L, and the luminous body 2L emits light with low energy so that the heat generated by the light absorbing layer 3c becomes the amount of heat (color of yellow recording energy in FIG. 14) that causes yellow to develop color.

Further, since the power supply device 5 outputs the signal SX and controls the image information processing device 10 to synchronize with the luminous body 2L, the light absorbing layer 3c of the liquid crystal plate 3 displays the yellow image information. Absorbs the infrared light that has passed through the light transmission part 3t of the light control transmission part 3b whose light transmission has been controlled according to the above, and generates heat in the pattern of the light transmission part 3t. The light absorption layer 3c is shown in FIG.
And has a function of absorbing infrared rays to generate heat and a function of transmitting ultraviolet rays. Light absorbing layer 3c
The coloring layer 4a of the recording medium 4 is heated by the heat generation of the recording medium 4, and the yellow layer of the coloring layer 4a is colored in the pattern.

Subsequently, the power supply device 5 outputs the signal SB, moves the ultraviolet transmission filter FB by the position control device MB, and covers the light emitting surface of the luminous body 2L on the recording medium 4 side with the ultraviolet transmission filter FB. The signal SL is output to supply power to the light emitter 2L. The liquid crystal plate 3 transmits 420 nm ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet transmission filter FB in a pattern for fixing the uncolored portion of the yellow layer. For example, the entire surface of the light control transmission portion 3b is made transparent, and the uncolored portion of the yellow layer is fixed.

Similarly, the light transmission part 3t and the light reflection part 3r of the light control transmission part 3b are set according to the magenta image. The power supply device 5 outputs the signal SH, moves the infrared transmission filter FH by the position control device MH, covers the light emitting surface of the light emitter 2L on the recording medium 4 side with the infrared transmission filter FH, and outputs the signal SL. Electric power is supplied to the luminous body 2L, and the luminous body 2L emits light with medium energy so that the heat generation of the light absorbing layer 3c becomes the amount of heat for developing magenta (the recording energy of magenta in FIG. 14). The light absorbing layer 3c absorbs infrared rays that have passed through the light transmitting portion 3t of the light control transmitting portion 3b whose light transmission has been controlled in accordance with magenta image information, and generates heat in a pattern of the light transmitting portion 3t. The coloring layer 4a of the recording medium 4 is heated by the heat generated by the light absorbing layer 3c, and the magenta layer of the coloring layer 4a is colored in the pattern.

Subsequently, the power supply device 5 outputs the signal SA to move the ultraviolet light transmitting filter FA by the position control device MA, and covers the light emitting surface of the light emitter 2L on the recording medium 4 side with the ultraviolet light transmitting filter FA. The signal SL is output to supply power to the light emitter 2L. The liquid crystal plate 3 transmits 365 nm ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet ray transmitting filter FA in a pattern for fixing the uncolored portion of the magenta layer. For example, the entire surface of the light control transmission portion 3b is made transparent, and the uncolored portion of the magenta layer is fixed.

Finally, the light transmission part 3t and the light reflection part 3r of the light control transmission part 3b are set according to the cyan image. The power supply device 5 outputs the signal SH, moves the infrared transmission filter FH by the position control device MH, and changes the light emission surface of the light emitter 2L on the recording medium 4 side to the infrared transmission filter FH.
And emits a signal SL to supply power to the luminous body 2L, so that the heat generated by the light absorbing layer 3c becomes a calorific value (cyan recording energy in FIG. 14) to generate cyan. 2L is emitted. Light absorbing layer 3c
Absorbs infrared rays that have passed through the light transmission part 3t of the light control transmission part 3b whose light transmission has been controlled in accordance with cyan image information, and generates heat in a pattern of the light transmission part 3t. Light absorbing layer 3c
The coloring layer 4a of the recording medium 4 is heated by the heat generated by the above, and the cyan layer of the coloring layer 4a is colored in the pattern. Cyan does not fix the uncolored portion of the cyan layer because the temperature at which it develops color is high and changes with time are small.

The power supply device 5 includes a timer (not shown),
A hexadecimal counter (not shown) for counting timing pulses from the timer. The initial value of the count value is 0
When a switch (not shown) for starting printing is pressed, six timing pulses are counted. When the count value is 0, the signals SL, SH, SA, SB, and SX are not output.

When the count value is 1, the signal SH is output, the infrared ray transmitting filter FH is moved by the position control device MH, the signal SL is output, and the light emitter 2L emits light with low energy. Output to the image information processing apparatus 10. When the count value is 2, the signal SB is output, and the ultraviolet ray transmitting filter FB is moved by the position control device MB.
The signal SL is output to cause the light emitter 2L to emit light.

When the count value is 3, the signal SH is output, the infrared ray transmitting filter FH is moved by the position control device MH, the signal SL is output, and the light emitter 2L emits light with medium energy. Output to the image information processing apparatus 10. When the count value is 4, a signal SA is output and the ultraviolet ray transmitting filter FA is moved by the position control device MA,
The signal SL is output to cause the light emitter 2L to emit light.

When the count value is 5, the signal SH is output, the infrared ray transmitting filter FH is moved by the position control device MH, and the signal SL is output to cause the luminous body 2H to emit light with high energy. Output to the image information processing apparatus 10.

FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of a projection printing apparatus in which the second embodiment according to the present invention is partially modified. The configuration of the liquid crystal plate 3 and the recording medium 4 is different from the projection printing device 32 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. The liquid crystal plate 3 of the projection printing device 33 shown in FIG. 12 does not have a light absorbing layer, and the recording medium 4 has a light absorbing layer 4c on the surface of the coloring layer 4a.

The light absorbing layer is made of, for example, “Kayasorb” (model name IR-750, IRG) manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.
-002, IRG-003). The light control transmission part 3b in FIG. 2 and the like may be configured to be sandwiched between two transparent glasses. Further, the above embodiment is an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

[0066]

According to the projection printing apparatus of the present invention, the recording medium can be colored in a predetermined color in a pattern corresponding to the image information without using a thermal head for energizing the heating element. Image information can be fixed on a recording medium. According to the recording medium of the third aspect, heat-sensitive coloring and fixing of the coloring layer can be performed through the same light absorbing layer.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a projection printing apparatus capable of performing high-quality printing without moving the recording medium during thermosensitive coloring and fixing of the recording medium.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simplified configuration diagram of a projection printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a principal part of the liquid crystal plate used in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram of radiant energy of a luminous body.

FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram of transmittance of a light absorbing layer.

FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram of phase transition and transmittance of an NCPT liquid crystal.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a liquid crystal structure in a scattering state (F phase), a transparent state (H phase), and a quasi-transparent state (H ′ phase).

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an image information processing apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a simplified configuration diagram of a projection printing apparatus in which the first embodiment according to the present invention is partially modified.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged main part explanatory cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal plate used in a modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a simplified configuration diagram of a projection printing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the radiant energy of a light emitter and the characteristics of each filter.

FIG. 12 is a simplified configuration diagram of a projection printing apparatus in which the second embodiment according to the present invention is partially modified.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a layer structure of TA paper.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the amount of heat supplied to each color forming layer of TA paper;

FIG. 15 is a graph showing absorbance characteristics of a yellow layer and a magenta layer of TA paper.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of an image recording procedure of TA paper.

FIG. 17 is a simplified configuration diagram of a video printer based on the TA system.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Reflection cover, 2A ... Ultraviolet light emitter which emits 365 nm ultraviolet light, 2B ... Ultraviolet light emitter which emits 420 nm ultraviolet light, 2H ... Infrared light emitter which emits infrared light, 2L ...
Illuminating illuminant that emits infrared light and ultraviolet light, 3 ... liquid crystal plate, 3a ... transparent glass plate, 3b ... light transmission control unit, 3c,
4c: light absorbing layer, 3r: light reflecting portion, 3t: light transmitting portion, 4
... Recording medium, 4a ... Coloring layer (thermosensitive coloring material), 4ac ... Cyan layer (Cyan coloring layer), 4am ... Magenta layer (Magenta coloring layer), 4ay ... Yellow layer (Yellow coloring layer), 4
b: substrate, 4d: heat-resistant protective layer, 4e: thermoresponsive microcapsule, 5: power supply device, 10: image information processing device, 30 to 33: projection printing device, FA, FB: ultraviolet transmission filter, FH: Infrared transmission filter, MA, MB,
MH: Position control device, SA, SB, SH, SL, SX ...
signal.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A recording medium having a plurality of coloring layers formed on a substrate, wherein the coloring layers of each color are colored with different amounts of heat corresponding to image information of each color, and the coloring layers of each color are formed. In a printing apparatus that fixes the coloring layer that has been colored with ultraviolet light of a wavelength designated for each and prints the image information in color, the coloring layers of each color are colored in ascending order of the amount of heat supplied to the coloring layers. Except for the infrared illuminant that increases the amount of heat supplied and emits infrared light in the order of color development, and the colored layer that produces the last color with the largest amount of supplied heat, it emits ultraviolet rays of the specified wavelength for each of the color layers. A plurality of ultraviolet light emitters that are emitted every hour; and a transmission of light so as to transmit infrared light from the infrared light emitter in accordance with image information of each color, and to transmit ultraviolet light from the plurality of ultraviolet light emitters. A light transmission control unit that performs control; and a light absorption layer that absorbs only infrared light transmitted through the light transmission control unit and causes the color-forming layers of each color to receive heat according to image information of each color. Projection printing device. 2. A recording medium having a plurality of coloring layers formed on a substrate, wherein the coloring layers of each color are colored with different amounts of heat corresponding to the image information of each color, and the coloring layers of each color are formed. In a printing apparatus that fixes the coloring layer that has been colored with ultraviolet light of a wavelength designated for each and prints the image information in color, the coloring layers of each color are colored in ascending order of the amount of heat supplied to the coloring layers. In order to emit infrared rays by increasing the amount of heat supplied in the order of color development, an illuminant for illumination that emits ultraviolet rays at the same time, an infrared transmitting filter that transmits only infrared rays emitted from the illuminant for illumination, Except for the coloring layer which transmits only the ultraviolet rays emitted from the luminous body and has the largest amount of supplied heat and develops the color at the end, ultraviolet rays having the wavelength designated for each of the coloring layers of each color are used at the time of coloring. And a plurality of ultraviolet transmission filters that transmit the infrared light from the infrared transmission filter in accordance with the image information of each color, and light transmission control to transmit the ultraviolet light from the plurality of ultraviolet transmission filters. Projection printing, comprising: a light transmission control unit for performing the light transmission control unit; and a light absorption layer that absorbs only infrared light transmitted through the light transmission control unit and causes the color forming layer of each color to receive heat according to image information of each color. apparatus. 3. A plurality of color-forming layers are formed on a substrate, the color-forming layers of each color are colored with different amounts of heat corresponding to the image information of each color, and designated for each color-forming layer of each color. Fixing the coloring layer that has been colored with ultraviolet light of a wavelength,
A recording medium for printing the image information in color, wherein a light-absorbing layer that absorbs only infrared rays and causes the color-forming layer of each color to heat is provided on the surface of the color-forming layer.