JPH1170694A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an image of high image quality by making a scanning line hard to see without lowering sharpness in a sub-scanning direction. SOLUTION: In an image forming apparatus including an image exposing part wherein a thermal developing photosensitive material or a photosensitive thermal recording material is irradiated with laser beam deflected in a main scanning direction to be relatively moved in the direction crossing the main scanning direction almost at a right angle to be secondarily subjected to scanning exposure to form a latent image and a thermal developing part for thermally developing the latent image formed in the image exposing part to form a visible image, the image exposing part includes a light modulation part 50e for minutely vibrating the laser beam L emitted from a laser beam source 50a in a sub-scanning direction centering around a recording position to form an image on the surface of the thermal developing photosensitive material or the photosensitive thermal recording material A.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus applicable to recording in a dry system such as an image recording using a dry material which is not subjected to a wet process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image recording apparatus for recording a medical image such as a digital radiography system, CT, MR, etc., using a heat storage phosphor sheet, wet processing is performed after photographing or recording on a silver halide photographic photosensitive material. A wet system for obtaining a reproduced image is used.

On the other hand, in recent years, a recording apparatus using a dry system that does not perform wet processing has been receiving attention.
In such a recording apparatus, a photosensitive and / or heat-sensitive recording material (photosensitive material) and a film of a photothermographic material (hereinafter, referred to as a recording material) are used. In a recording apparatus using this dry system, a latent image is formed by irradiating (scanning) a recording material with a laser beam in an image exposure unit, and then the recording material is brought into contact with heating means such as a heating drum in a heat development unit. Then, the recording material on which the image is formed is discharged out of the apparatus. Such a dry system not only can form an image in a shorter time than the wet processing, can also solve the problem of waste liquid treatment in the wet processing, and it is fully expected that its demand will increase in the future. You.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned dry system, especially for medical images, high gradation and high image quality are required, so that even a density fluctuation caused by a slight fluctuation in exposure to a recording material is visually recognized as image unevenness. easy. Incidentally, the image exposure section of this type of image forming apparatus generally includes an exposure unit 46 as shown in FIG.
The laser beam L emitted from the laser light source 50 by the exposure unit 46 is deflected by the polygon mirror 54 in the main scanning direction (the width direction of the recording material A), and after passing through the fθ lens 56, a falling cylindrical lens. An image is formed at a predetermined recording position X on the surface of the recording material A by the mirror 58, and at the same time, the recording material A is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction (a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction) by the pair of conveying ports 60 and 62. Thereby, the recording material A is two-dimensionally scanned to form a latent image. The laser light source 50 is driven by the recording control device 52.

However, in the above-described exposure unit 46, the laser beam L incident on the surface of the recording material A has a vertex just above the main scanning line, which is the original recording position X, as shown in FIG. 5 shows an energy distribution having a substantially Gaussian shape that gradually decreases with a certain width in the scanning direction. Along with this, a latent image distribution having a gradually lower density in the sub-scanning direction is formed on the recording material A, and appears as a clear scanning line when thermally developed, which may hinder diagnosis. In order to solve this drawback, for example, measures such as enlarging the beam diameter are taken. However, in this case, there is a problem that the sharpness in the sub-scanning direction is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has an image forming apparatus capable of obtaining a high-quality image without lowering the sharpness in the sub-scanning direction and making a scanning line difficult to see. The purpose is to provide.

[0007]

The object of the present invention is to (1) irradiate a laser beam deflected in the main scanning direction to a photothermographic material or a photosensitive and thermosensitive recording material according to the present invention; An image exposure section for relatively moving a photothermographic material or a photothermographic recording material in a direction substantially orthogonal to form a latent image by two-dimensionally scanning and exposing the latent image formed by the image exposure section; An image forming apparatus comprising: a heat developing unit that forms a visible image by heat development; wherein the image exposing unit records a laser beam emitted from a laser light source on a surface of the heat-developable photosensitive material or the light- and heat-sensitive recording material. An image forming apparatus comprising a light modulating means for forming an image by vibrating minutely in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the position, or (2) being deflected in the main scanning direction by a photothermographic material or a photothermographic material Was As well as Zabimu irradiation,
An image exposure section for relatively moving a photothermographic material or a photothermographic recording material in a direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction and two-dimensionally scanning and exposing to form a latent image; In the image forming apparatus including a latent image formed by a thermal development unit that forms a visible image by thermal development,
A plurality of laser light sources are provided, and a laser beam emitted from each of the laser light sources is simultaneously imaged on the surface of the photothermographic material or the light- and heat-sensitive recording material while being shifted by a predetermined distance in the sub-scanning direction about a recording position. This is achieved by an image forming apparatus including a wave unit.

According to the above-described image forming apparatus, the laser beam emitted from the laser light source is slightly vibrated in the sub-scanning direction around the recording position by the light modulating means, or a plurality of laser beams are formed by the multiplexing means. An image is simultaneously formed on the surface of the photothermographic material or the photothermographic material so that the recording position is slightly shifted in the sub-scanning direction about the recording position. Therefore, the laser beam reaching the surface of the photothermographic material or the light- and heat-sensitive recording material is a superposition (combination) of a plurality of laser beams centering on the recording position, and the energy distribution is sub-scanning centering on the recording position. It has a substantially rectangular wave shape that is substantially constant with a certain width in the direction. Therefore, the heat-developable photosensitive material or the light- and heat-sensitive recording material is wide, and is scanned by a laser beam whose energy density changes steeply at the center and at the end thereof. Therefore, a high-quality image can be formed without lowering the sharpness of the image and without showing a scanning line.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail based on an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a recording material supply unit 12, a width shift unit 14, an image, The exposure unit 16 and the heat development unit 18 are configured as main components.

The recording material supply section 12 is a section for taking out the recording material A one by one and supplying it to the width shifting section 14 located downstream of the recording material A in the transport direction. Suction cups 26 and 2 arranged in each loading section
Material supply means and supply roller pair 30
And 32, transport roller pairs 34 and 36, and transport guides 38, 40 and 42.

The loading sections 22 and 24 are sections for loading the magazine 100 containing the recording material A at a predetermined position. The illustrated example has two loading sections 22 and 24, and both loading sections usually have different sizes (for example, a half-cut size for CT and MRI, and an FCR (Fuji Computed Radiography)). A magazine 100 for storing the recording material A is loaded. Recording material supply means arranged in each of the loading units 22 and 24 includes:
The recording material A is sucked and held by the suckers 26 and 28, and the suckers 26 and 2 are moved by a known moving means such as a link mechanism.
8, the recording material A is conveyed, and the supply roller pairs 3 arranged in the loading sections 22 and 24 respectively.
0 and 32.

As the recording material A, there is a heat development recording material or a light and heat sensitive recording material. The photothermographic material is a recording material in which an image is recorded (exposed) by at least one light beam such as a laser beam, and then thermally developed to develop a color. Further, the light and heat sensitive recording material records (exposes) an image with at least one light beam such as a laser beam, and then thermally develops the color, or
This is a recording material in which an image is recorded by a heat mode (heat) of a laser beam or a thermal head, color is simultaneously developed, and then fixed by light irradiation. The recording material A is
The sheet 80 is processed into a sheet, and is usually formed into a laminate (bunch) of a predetermined unit of 100 sheets or the like, and the package 80 is wrapped with a bag or a band.

The loading section 22 supplied to the supply roller pair 30
Of the recording material A is guided by the conveyance guides 38, 40 and 42 and by the conveyance roller pairs 34 and 36.
On the other hand, the recording material A of the loading unit 24 supplied to the supply roller pair 32 is guided by the transport guides 40 and 42 and is transported by the transport roller pair 36 to the downstream width adjusting unit 1.
4 is carried.

The width shifting unit 14 aligns the recording material A in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction (hereinafter, referred to as a width direction), so that the recording material A in the main scanning direction in the downstream image exposure unit 16 is aligned. This is a position where the recording material A is conveyed to the downstream image exposure unit 16 by the conveyance roller pair 44 after alignment, that is, so-called side registration is taken. Width adjuster 14
There is no particular limitation on the method of the side resist in the above. For example, there is a resist plate for positioning by contacting one end face in the width direction of the recording material A, and the recording material A is pushed in the width direction to move the end face to the resist plate. A method using a pressing means such as a roller to be brought into contact with the resist plate, and the conveying direction of the recording material A is regulated in the width direction and the recording material A is similarly brought into contact with the resist plate. Various known methods such as a method using a guide plate or the like that can be moved accordingly are exemplified. After the recording material A conveyed to the width adjusting unit 14 is aligned in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction as described above, the recording material A is conveyed to the downstream image exposure unit 16 by the conveying roller pair 44.

The image exposure section 16 is a portion for forming an image on the recording material A by scanning exposure with a laser beam. The present invention is characterized in that the image exposure section 16 has the following configuration. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the image exposure unit 16 in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. As shown in FIG.
Is provided with a semiconductor laser 50a that emits a laser beam L, a collimator lens 50b that makes the laser beam L a parallel light beam, and a cylindrical lens 50c, which are optical system elements similar to those in the related art. Condensing lens 50d and this condensing lens 5
The optical system 50 is configured by disposing the photoacoustic optical element 50e at the focal position of 0d.

The photoacoustic optical element 50e is an optical modulation means for microvibrating the laser beam L from the semiconductor laser 50a along its optical axis. Specifically, Matsushita Electric's EFL D250R can be used. The frequency added by the photoacoustic optical element 50e is set to be extremely higher than the scanning speed of the laser beam L in the main scanning direction, and is, for example, about 75 MHz.

Next, the laser beam L to which the minute vibration is added by the photoacoustic optical element 50e is applied to the collimator lens 50e.
b, the light enters the polygon mirror 54 via the cylindrical lens 50c and the reflecting mirror 53, and is polarized while being rotated by the rotation of the polygon mirror 54 and the fθ lens 56 and the cylindrical mirror 5.
Irradiation is performed on the surface of the recording material A along the main scanning direction b through the reference numeral 8. As shown in FIG. 3, the laser beam L applied to the surface of the recording material A is sub-scanned around a recording position X, which is originally a main scanning line (actually having a certain width, the center line thereof). Light that continuously moves with a movement width D in the direction is superimposed. The movement width D at this time is
The beam diameter is preferably about 30 μm with respect to 55 μm, and is adjusted by the frequency added to the photoacoustic optical element 50 e. In addition, the laser beam L to which this vibration is applied acts as a single beam having a substantially rectangular energy distribution showing a steep rise and fall with a distribution width of a superimposed portion in FIG. Therefore, the recording material A
Is scanned by a beam that is thicker than a single laser beam and has a sharp energy distribution, so that the sharpness of the latent image in the sub-scanning direction is prevented from lowering, and the scanning lines are less likely to appear.

The recording material A is irradiated with the above-mentioned laser beam L in the main scanning direction, and the recording material A
The two-dimensional latent images are sequentially formed in the sub-scanning direction by the feeding of the feeding motor M provided at 0. still,
In the illustrated example, the apparatus performs monochrome image recording and has only one laser light source. However, when the apparatus is used for recording a color image, for example, R (red) and G
It has three types of light sources that emit laser beams having wavelengths according to the spectral sensitivity characteristics of (green) and B (blue).

In the present invention, the same effects as described above can be obtained even if the image exposure section 16 is changed as follows. That is, FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the image exposure unit 16, and as shown, a semiconductor laser 50a and a laser beam L0 emitted from the semiconductor laser 50a are made into a parallel light beam. A first optical system 50 composed of a collimator lens 50b and a cylindrical lens 50c, a second semiconductor laser 200a, a collimator lens 200b having a laser beam L1 emitted from the semiconductor laser 200a as a parallel light beam, and a second optical system 50C composed of a cylindrical lens 200C A second optical system 200;
0 and 200 are arranged such that their optical axes are orthogonal to each other. Then, the laser beams L0 and L1 that have passed through the optical systems 50 and 200 are combined with the polarization beam splitter 20.
Then, the light enters the polygon mirror 54 by the reflection mirror 53, and is irradiated along the main scanning direction b via the fθ lens 56 and the cylindrical mirror 58 while being polarized by the rotation of the polygon mirror 54.

Here, by adjusting the optical axes of the laser beams L0 and L1 so that the respective focal points are shifted by a predetermined distance when entering the polarization beam splitter 202,
As shown in FIG. 3, each beam is simultaneously imaged on the surface of the recording material A with a predetermined distance D from the recording position X in the sub-scanning direction a. The distance D at this time is
This is equivalent to the first embodiment described above. Further, as in the first embodiment, the combined laser beam (combined beam) acts as a single beam having a substantially rectangular energy distribution with its overlapping portion as a width, so that the laser beam in the latent image A decrease in sharpness in the sub-scanning direction is suppressed, and scan lines are less likely to appear. Note that the second embodiment does not require a power source for driving the photoacoustic optical element 50e in the first embodiment, and only needs to adjust the optical axis of each laser beam, which is advantageous in terms of operating costs. It is. In the second embodiment, two or more laser light sources can be used.

As described above, the recording material A on which the latent image has been formed in the image exposure section 16 is sent to the heat development section 18 by the conveying rollers 64 and 66. The heat developing section 18 is a part that performs heat development by heating the recording material A to turn a latent image into a visible image.
An endless belt 70 is provided. The heating drum 68 is a drum having a built-in heating light source such as a halogen lamp and a heat source such as a heater. The recording material A is rotated around the center and transported together with the endless belt 70. At this time, the recording material A is thermally developed by contact with the heating drum 68. The endless belt 70 is made of, for example, a metal such as iron, copper, or stainless steel, a polycarbonate film, a fluoroethylene resin film,
The heating drum 6 is formed of a heat-resistant material such as silicon rubber or a composite fluororesin film and stretched over four rollers 74a, 74b, 74c and 74d.
8 so as to be wound around. Note that the endless belt 70 is cleaned by removing dust and the like attached to the surface by the adhesive roller 78. It should be noted that a configuration in which a heater plate is used instead of the heating drum 68 in the heat developing unit 18 is also possible. Then, the thermally developed recording material A is collected and distributed on a tray 79.

Hereinafter, the recording material A will be described in detail. Photothermographic material (hereinafter referred to as first recording material)
Has an image forming layer in which at least 50% of a binder is composed of latex and which contains a reducing agent of an organic silver salt on one surface of a support. In the first recording material, when exposed to light, a photocatalyst such as photosensitive silver halide forms a latent image nucleus, and when heated, silver of an organic silver salt ionized by the action of a reducing agent moves. Then, it combines with the photosensitive silver halide to form crystalline silver and forms an image.

The organic silver salt contained in the image forming layer of the recording material is relatively stable to light, but the presence of an exposed photocatalyst (such as a latent image of a photosensitive silver halide) and a reducing agent. Below, a silver salt that forms a silver image when heated to 80 ° C. or higher, and may be desalted as necessary. Such organic silver salts include silver salts of organic acids,
Preferable examples include a silver salt of a long-chain fatty carboxylic acid having 10 to 30 carbon atoms and a complex of an organic or inorganic silver salt having a ligand having a complex stability constant of 4.0 to 10.0. Are silver behenate, silver arachidate, silver stearate, silver oleate, silver laurate, silver caproate, silver myristate, silver palmitate, silver maleate, silver fumarate, silver tartrate, silver linoleate, butyric acid Silver and silver camphorate are exemplified.

Further, as the organic silver salt, a silver salt of a compound containing a mercapto group or a thione group and derivatives thereof can be suitably used, and specifically, 3-mercapto-4-phenyl-1,2,3 Silver salt of 4,4-triazole, 2
Silver salts of thioglycolic acid, such as silver salts of mercaptobenzimidazole, silver salts of 2-mercapto-5-aminothiadiazole, silver salts of S-alkylthioglycolic acid,
Silver salts of dithiocarboric acid such as silver salts of dithioacetic acid, silver salts of thioamide, silver salts of 5-carboxyl-1-methyl-2-phenyl-4-thiopyridine, silver salts of mercaptotriazine, silver salts of 2-mercaptobenzoxazole Salts and the like are exemplified.

The shape of such an organic silver salt is preferably a needle-like crystal having a short axis and a long axis. Specifically, the short axis is 0.01 μm to 0.20 μm, and the long axis is 0.10 μm to 5.0 μm.
0 μm is more preferred. Further, the organic silver salt is preferably monodispersed. Specifically, the standard deviation of the length of each of the short axis and the long axis is divided by the short axis and the long axis to be 100.
The fraction is preferably 100% or less.

Such an organic silver salt is used to obtain polyacrylic acid,
It is preferable to use a known dispersant such as polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinylpyrrolidone to obtain a solid fine particle dispersion. The dispersion of solid fine particles of the organic silver salt may be performed by a known mechanical fine particle dispersion method using a ball mill, a vibrating ball mill, or the like in the presence of a dispersant. In addition to the mechanical dispersion method, the pH may be controlled so that the particles are roughly dispersed in the solvent, and then the pH is changed in the presence of a dispersing agent to form fine particles.

The amount of the organic silver salt is 0.1 to 5 g in terms of silver.
/ L is preferable, and more preferably 1 to 3 g / l.

The reducing agent for reducing such an organic silver salt is as follows:
Any substance that reduces silver ions to metallic silver can be used, and is preferably an organic substance, and is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 57-82829.
Nos., JP-A-6-3793 and the like, U.S. Pat.
Various known reducing agents for use in recording materials utilizing organic silver salts, such as those disclosed in JP-A-464738, can be used. Specifically, amide oximes such as phenylamide oxime; azines such as 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde azine; hydroxamic acids such as phenylhydroxamic acid; ethyl-α
Α-cyanophenylacetic acid derivatives such as -cyano-2-methylphenylacetate; 2,2′-dihydroxy-
Bis-β-naphthol such as 1,1′-binaphthyl;
5- such as 3-methyl-1-phenyl-5-pyrazolone
Pyrazolones; reductones such as dimethylaminohexose reductone; sulfonamide phenol reducing agents such as 2,6-dichloro-4-benzenesulfonamidophenol; 2,2-dimethyl-7-t-butyl-6-
Chromanes such as hydroxychroman; 1,4-dihydropyridines such as 2,6-dimethoxy-3,5-dicarbethoxy-1,4-dihydropyridine; bis (2-
Hydroxy-3-t-butyl-5-methylphenyl) methane, 2,2-bis (4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl) propane, 4,4-ethylidene-bis (2-t-
Butyl-6-methylphenol), 1,1-bis (2-
(Hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl) -3,5,5
Bisphenols such as -trimethylhexane and 2,2-bis (3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propane; ascorbic acid derivatives such as 1-ascorbyl palmitate; and chromanol (such as tocophenol). Bisphenol and chromanol are preferably used. In addition, known photographic developers such as phenidone, hydroquinone, and catechol are also preferably used, and a hindered phenol reducing agent is particularly preferable.

The reducing agent may be added in the same manner as for the solution, powder, solid fine particle dispersion and the like. The dispersion of the solid fine particles is carried out by a known finer means (ball mill, vibrating ball mill, etc.). When dispersing the solid fine particles, a dispersing aid may be used. The amount of the reducing agent is preferably about 5 to 50 mol% based on 1 mol of silver on the surface having the image forming layer.
The reducing agent is basically added to the image forming layer, but may be used in other layers on the side having the image forming layer. In this case, the reducing agent may be used in an amount as large as 10 to 50 mol% with respect to 1 mol of silver. preferable. The reducing agent may be a so-called precursor that is derivatized so as to have a function effectively only during development.

The image forming layer of the recording material contains a substance which becomes a photocatalyst upon exposure, for example, photosensitive silver halide (hereinafter, referred to as silver halide). The halogen composition of the silver halide is not limited, and may be any of silver chloride, silver chlorobromide, silver bromide, silver iodobromide, silver iodochlorobromide, and silver iodide. And silver iodobromide are preferably used. The grain size of these silver halides is preferably 0.20 μm or less in order to suppress clouding after image formation,
Particularly, cubic grains and tabular grains are preferred.

The silver halide grains include rhodium, rhenium, ruthenium, osnium, iridium, cobalt,
It is preferable that at least one complex of a metal selected from mercury or iron is contained in an amount of about 1 nmol to 10 mmol per 1 mol of silver. These metal complexes are described in detail in JP-A-7-22549. The phase containing the metal complex in the silver halide may be uniform or may be contained at a high concentration in the core portion or the shell portion, and there is no particular limitation.

The silver halide grains are preferably chemically sensitized. The method of chemical sensitization is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a sulfur sensitization method, a selenium sensitization method, a tellurium sensitization method using diacyl tellurides and bis (oxycarbonyl) tellurides, a chloroauric acid and potassium Noble metal sensitization using chloroaurate or the like, reduction sensitization using ascorbic acid, thiourea dioxide, or the like, sulfur sensitization, selenium sensitization, tellurium sensitization, and the like are exemplified. Further, a method of ripening the emulsion while keeping the pH of the emulsion at 7 or more or a pAg of 8.3 or less, and a method of introducing a single addition portion of silver ion during grain formation can also be used.

The amount of the silver halide used is preferably 0.01 mol to 0.5 mol per 1 mol of the organic silver salt. When the silver halide and the organic silver salt were separately prepared, the mixing method and the mixing conditions of the both were determined by using a high-speed stirrer, a ball mill, a sand mill, a colloid mill, a vibration mill And a method of mixing with a homogenizer or the like, or a method of preparing an organic silver salt by mixing silver halide prepared at any timing during the preparation of the organic silver salt. As a method for preparing silver halide and mixing it with an organic silver salt, a so-called halation method in which a part of silver of the organic silver salt is halogenated with an organic or inorganic halide is also preferably used. Examples of the organic halide used herein include N-halogenoimides such as N-bromosuccinimide, and quaternary nitrogen compounds such as tetrabutylammonium bromide. Examples of the inorganic halogen compounds include lithium bromide and potassium iodide. Alkali metal halides, ammonium halides such as ammonium bromide, alkaline earth metal halides such as calcium bromide, and halogen molecules such as bromine and iodine. The amount of halide to be added at the time of the validation is 1 mm as a halogen atom per 1 mol of the organic silver salt.
ol to 500 mmol are preferred.

In this recording material, the image forming layer having such a composition comprises a latex obtained by dispersing a water-insoluble hydrophobic polymer as fine particles in a water-soluble dispersion medium in an amount of 50% by weight or more of the total binder. contains. Alternatively, if necessary, other layers may have the same configuration. As the dispersion state of the latex, the polymer is emulsified in a dispersion medium, emulsion-polymerized, micelle-dispersed, or partially hydrophilic in the polymer molecule and the molecular chain itself is a molecule. Any of those dispersed in a state may be used. The latex may be a so-called core / shell type latex other than a latex having a normal uniform structure. For such latex, see "Synthetic Resin Emulsion (edited by Tadashi Okuda and Hiroshi Inagaki, published by Polymer Publishing Association (1978))", "Application of Synthetic Latex (Takaaki Sugimura, Yasuo Kataoka, Soichi Suzuki, Keiji Kasahara, edited by Keiji Kasahara, Polymer) Publishing Association (1993)), and "Synthesis of Synthetic Latex (Souichi Muroi, Published by the Society of Polymer Publishing (1970))" and the like.

Examples of such latex polymers include acrylic resins, vinyl acetate resins, polyester resins, polyurethane resins, rubber resins, vinyl chloride resins,
Examples include vinylidene chloride resin and polyolefin resin. The polymer may be a linear polymer or a branched polymer, and may be crosslinked. Further, the polymer may be a so-called homopolymer in which a single monomer is polymerized, or a copolymer in which two or more monomers are polymerized. In the case of a copolymer, it may be a random copolymer or a block copolymer. The polymer has a number average molecular weight of 5000 to 10000000, preferably 10,000 to 1010.
About 0000 is preferable. If the molecular weight is too small, the mechanical strength of the photosensitive layer is insufficient, and if it is too large, the film-forming properties are poor, which is not preferable.

Specific examples of such a polymer include methyl methacrylate / ethyl acrylate / methacrylic acid copolymer, methyl methacrylate / 2-ethylhexyl acrylate / styrene / acrylic acid copolymer,
Styrene / butadiene / acrylic acid copolymer, styrene / butadiene / divinylbenzene / methacrylic acid copolymer, methyl methacrylate / vinyl chloride / acrylic acid copolymer, vinylidene chloride / ethyl acrylate /
Acrylonitrile / methacrylic acid copolymer and the like are exemplified. Various commercial products can also be used as the polymer. For example, as the acrylic resin, Sebian A-4635 manufactured by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd., and as the polyester resin, FINETEX ES650 manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.
As a polyurethane resin, HYDRAN AP10 manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, a rubber-based resin such as LACSTAR 7310K manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, and a vinyl chloride resin such as G351 manufactured by Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd. As a vinylidene chloride resin, L502 and the like manufactured by Asahi Kasei Kogyo Co., Ltd., and as a polyolefin resin, Chemipearl S manufactured by Mitsui Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
120 and the like are exemplified. These polymers may be used alone or as a mixture of two or more as necessary.

The average particle size of the dispersed particles in the latex is 1 to
The range is preferably 50,000 nm, more preferably about 5 to 1,000 nm. There is no particular limitation on the particle size distribution of the dispersed particles, and a material having a wide particle size distribution or a material having a monodispersed particle size distribution may be used. Minimum film formation temperature of latex (MF
T) is −30 ° C. to 90 ° C., more preferably 0 ° C. to 70 ° C.
Is preferred.

In the image forming layer of the recording material, as described above, it is preferable that 50% by weight or more of the total binder is latex, and that 70% by weight or more is latex.
If necessary, a hydrophilic polymer such as gelatin, polyvinyl alcohol, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, or hydroxypropylmethylcellulose may be added to the image forming layer in a range of 50% by weight or less of the total binder. Good. The amount of these hydrophilic polymers to be added is preferably 30% by weight or less of the total binder in the photosensitive layer. Further, the latex dispersed particles (polymer) preferably have an equilibrium water content at 25 ° C. and 60% RH of 2 wt% or less, more preferably 1 wt% or less.

For the purpose of improving the optical density, an additive known as a toning agent is preferably added to the image forming layer of the recording material or another layer on the same surface as the image forming layer, preferably in an amount of 0.1% per mol of silver. About 1 mol% to 50 mol% may be contained. Note that the color tone agent may be a precursor that is derivatized so as to have a function effectively only during development. As the color tone agent, various known ones used for recording materials can be used, and specifically, phthalimide compounds such as phthalimide and N-hydroxyphthalimide; cyclic imides such as succinimide and pyrazolin-5-one; Naphthalimides such as -hydroxy-1,8-naphthalimide;
Cobalt complexes such as cobalt hexamine trifluoroacetate; Mercaptans such as 3-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole and 2,4-dimercaptopyrimidine; Phthalazinone derivatives such as 4- (1-naphthyl) phthalazinone and metal salts thereof Are added to the coating solution as a solution, powder, or solid fine particle dispersion.

In the recording material having such an image forming layer, if necessary, a sensitizing dye may be added to the image recording layer and / or other layers, preferably 10 to 10 mol per mol of silver halide in the image forming layer. ^{-6 to 1} mol may be contained. When adsorbed on silver halide grains as a sensitizing dye,
Any material can be used as long as it can spectrally sensitize silver halide grains in a desired wavelength region, for example, a cyanine dye, a merocyanine dye, a complex cyanine dye,
Complex merocyanine dyes, holo-holer cyanine dyes, styryl dyes, hemicyanine dyes, oxonol dyes, hemioxonol dyes and the like can be used,
A sensitizing dye having a spectral sensitivity suitable for the spectral characteristics of the recording light L may be selected. To add the sensitizing dyes to the silver halide emulsion, they may be dispersed directly in the emulsion, or may be dispersed in water, methanol, ethanol, N, N-
It may be added to the emulsion by dissolving it alone or in a mixed solution such as dimethylformamide.

The image recording layer and / or other layers of the recording material contain an antifoggant, a stabilizer and a precursor of the stabilizer for the purpose of preventing additional fogging and sensitivity reduction during storage. You may. Examples of antifoggants, stabilizers and stabilizer precursors include thiazonium salts described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,131,038 and U.S. Pat.
There are azaindene described in US Pat. No. 6,437, a mercury salt described in US Pat. No. 2,728,663, and urazole described in US Pat. No. 3,287,135. Further, as an antifoggant, JP-A-5
Organic halides disclosed in respective publications such as 0-119624 and JP-A-8-15809 are also preferably used. The antifoggant and the like may be added to the coating solution as a solution, a powder, a solid fine particle dispersion or the like.

The image recording layer and / or other layers of the recording material may contain benzoic acids for the purpose of increasing the sensitivity and preventing fog. As the benzoic acids, various benzoic acid derivatives can be used. Preferred examples thereof include US Pat. No. 4,787,939 and Japanese Patent Application No. 8-15124.
Compounds described in the specifications of No. 2 are cited, and are added to the coating solution as a powder, a solution, or a fine particle dispersion. Any amount of benzoic acid may be added.
It is preferably about 1 μmol to 2 mol per mol.

The image-recording layer and / or other layers of the recording material may contain a mercapto compound, a cis-sulfide compound, or a mercapto compound for the purpose of suppressing or accelerating the development, improving the spectral sensitization efficiency, and improving the storage stability before and after the development. It may contain a thione compound. When a mercapto compound is used, any structure may be used, but Ar-SM, Ar-SS-
Those represented by Ar are preferred (wherein, M is a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal atom, and Ar is an aromatic ring or a condensed aromatic ring having at least one of nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen, selenium, and tellurium). Specifically, 2-mercaptobenzimidazole, 2-mercaptobenzoxazole,
Examples thereof include mercaptobenzothiazole, 2-mercapto-5-methylbenzimidazole, 6-ethoxy-2-mercaptobenzothiazole, 4,5-diphenyl-2-imidazolethiol, and 2-mercaptoimidazole. The addition amount of the mercapto compound is preferably about 0.001 mol to 1.0 mol per 1 mol of silver.

The image recording layer of the recording material and / or
Alternatively, other layers may contain various dyes and pigments for the purpose of improving color tone, preventing irradiation, and the like. Dyes and pigments may be any, for example, dyes and pigments described in the color index, specifically, pyrazoloazole dye, anthraquinone dye, azo dye, azomethine dye, oxonol dye, carbocyanine dye,
Styryl dyes, triphenylmethane dyes, indoaniline dyes, indophenol dyes, organic pigments such as phthalocyanine, inorganic pigments, and the like, as a solution, emulsion, solid fine particle dispersion, or mordant with a polymer mordant, coating Added to the liquid. The amount of these compounds to be used is determined depending on the target absorption, but is generally about 1 μg to 1 g per liter.

Further, in addition to these components, a plasticizer and a lubricant (for example, described in US Pat. No. 2,960,404) may be used in the image recording layer and / or other layers of the recording material. Glycerin and diols), ultra-high contrast agents (for example, hydrazine derivatives described in Japanese Patent Application No. 8-148116), and high-contrast accelerators (for example, described in Japanese Patent Application No. 8-132636). Onium salts), hardeners (for example, JP-A-6-208193)
And polyisocyanates described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H10-205, etc.).

This recording material may have various layers in addition to the image forming layer. For example, a surface protective layer can be provided for the purpose of protecting the image forming layer and preventing adhesion.
The surface protective layer is formed from an anti-adhesion material, and for example, wax, silica particles, styrene-containing elastomeric block copolymer (such as styrene-butadiene-styrene), cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, and cellulose propionate are used. You.

Further, an antihalation layer may be provided. The antihalation layer preferably has a maximum absorption in the desired wavelength range of 0.3 to 2 and an absorption in the visible region after treatment of 0.001 to 0.5. When an antihalation dye is used, the dye may be any compound as long as it has the desired absorption in the wavelength range, has a sufficiently low absorption in the visible region after the treatment and has the desired absorbance spectrum of the antihalation layer. For example,
The following are disclosed but are not limited thereto. As a single dye, JP-A-7-114
Compounds disclosed in JP-A Nos. 32 and 7-13295 are exemplified. Dyes which can be decolorized by the treatment are disclosed in JP-A-52-139136 and JP-A-7-199409. And the like.

The recording material preferably has an image forming layer on one side of the support and a back (coat) layer on the other side. A matting agent may be added to the back layer for improving transportability. The matting agent is generally fine particles of an organic or inorganic compound insoluble in water. Preferred examples of the organic compound include water-dispersible vinyl polymers such as polymethyl acrylate, methyl cellulose, carboxy starch, and carboxynitrophenyl starch.Examples of the inorganic compound include silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, and the like.
Preferred examples include magnesium dioxide, aluminum oxide, and barium sulfate. The size and shape of the matting agent are not particularly limited, but those having a particle size of 0.1 μm to 30 μm are preferably used. Further, as the mat degree of the back layer, a Beck smoothness of 250 seconds to 10 seconds is preferable.

As the binder for forming the back layer,
Preferably, various colorless, transparent or translucent resins can be used, for example, gelatin, gum arabic, polyvinyl alcohol, hydroxyethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butylate, casein, starch, poly (meth) Acrylic acid, polymethyl methacrylic acid, polyvinyl chloride and the like are exemplified. The back layer preferably has a maximum absorption of 0.3 to 2 in a desired wavelength range. If necessary, an antihalation dye used in the antihalation layer may be added.

Further, on the surface on the back layer side, a backside resistive heating layer (backside) disclosed in each specification such as US Pat. Nos. 4,460,681 and 4,374,921.
resistive heating layer).

Further, in addition to each of these layers, this recording material includes an antistatic or conductive layer using a soluble salt (for example, chloride, nitrate, etc.), a vapor-deposited metal layer, and US Pat. No. 2,861,056. Or a layer containing an insoluble inorganic salt disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,428,451.

As another example of the recording material applied to the apparatus of the present invention, the following light and heat sensitive recording material is exemplified.
This light and heat sensitive recording material (hereinafter, referred to as a second recording material)
Is a recording material in which a light and heat sensitive recording layer is provided on a support, and the light and heat sensitive recording layer is the same as the electron-donating colorless dye encapsulated in the heat-responsive microcapsules, in addition to the heat-responsive microcapsules. It is a recording material containing a compound having an electron accepting part and a polymerizable vinyl monomer part in a molecule, and a photopolymerization initiator.

Further, another light and heat sensitive recording material (hereinafter referred to as a third
A recording material having a light- and heat-sensitive recording layer provided on a support, wherein the light- and heat-sensitive recording layer comprises an electron-donating colorless dye encapsulated in heat-responsive microcapsules; The recording material contains an electron-accepting compound, a polymerizable vinyl monomer, and a photopolymerization initiator, in addition to the hydrophobic microcapsules.

In these recording materials, the composition (hereinafter referred to as a photocurable composition) outside the thermoresponsive microcapsules is cured and fixed by exposure, and the mobility is improved by heating. Having (not immobilized), the compound having the electron accepting portion and the polymerizable vinyl monomer portion or the electron accepting compound moves in the light- and heat-sensitive recording layer to form the electron-donating colorless dye in the microcapsules. A recording material that forms an image by coloring.

The compound having an electron accepting portion and a polymerizable vinyl monomer portion in the same molecule, which is used in the photocurable composition of the second recording material, refers to an electron accepting group and a vinyl group in one molecule. Is a compound containing Specifically, styrenesulfonylaminosalicylic acid, vinylbenzyloxyphthalic acid, zinc β- (meth) acryloxyethoxysalicylate, vinyloxyethyloxybenzoic acid, β- (meth) ataacryloxyethylorselinate, β- ( (Meth) acryloxyethoxyphenol, β- (meth) acryloxyethyl-β-resorcinate, hydroxystyrenesulfonic acid-N-ethylamide, β- (meth) acryloxypropyl-p-hydroxybenzoate,
(Meth) acryloxymethylphenol, (meth) acrylamidopropanesulfonic acid, β- (meth) acryloxyethoxy-dihydroxybenzene, γ-styrenesulfonyloxy-β- (meth) acryloxypropanecarboxylic acid, γ- (meth) Acryloxypropyl-α-hydroxyethyloxysalicylic acid, β-hydroxyethoxycarbonylphenol, 3,5-distyrenesulfonic amide phenol, (meth) acryloxyethoxyphthalic acid, (meth) acrylic acid, (meth) acryloxyethoxy Hydroxynaphthoic acid, β- (meth) acryloxyethyl-p-hydroxybenzoate, β ′-(meth) acryloxyethyl-β-resorcinate, β-
(Meth) acryloxyethyloxycarbonylhydroxybenzoic acid and the like, and metal salts thereof such as zinc salt can be preferably used.

These compounds can be suitably used as a polymerizable vinyl monomer of the photocurable composition of the third recording material. As the polymerizable vinyl monomer used in the third recording material, various monomers having at least one vinyl group in the molecule can be used. For example, (meth) acrylic acid and its salts, (meth) acrylic esters, (meth) acrylamides; maleic anhydride, maleic esters; itaconic acid, itaconic esters; styrenes; vinyl ethers and esters; N-vinyl heterocycles; allyl ethers, esters, and the like can be used. Especially,
Monomers having a plurality of vinyl groups in the molecule are preferred,
For example, there are (meth) acrylates of polyhydric alcohols, polyhydric phenols, (meth) acrylates of bisphenols, (meth) acrylate-terminated epoxy resins, and (meth) acrylate-terminated polyesters. Specifically, ethylene glycol diacrylate,
Examples thereof include ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, dipentaerythritol hydroxypentaacrylate, hexanediol-1,5-dimethacrylate, and diethylene glycol dimethacrylate. These monomers have a molecular weight of about 100
Those having a size of about to about 5000 are preferably used.

The photopolymerization initiator used for the second and third recording materials (hereinafter collectively referred to as recording materials) is a compound capable of initiating the photopolymerization of the vinyl monomer, and is preferably When used in combination with a green, red to infrared absorbing dye, it has sensitivity in this wavelength range and generates radicals upon irradiation with light (JP-A-62-1430).
No. 44) Organic borate salt compounds, more preferably organic borate salts of cationic dyes. The organic borate generates a radical in response to the irradiated laser beam, and the radical initiates the polymerization of the vinyl monomer portion.

As the organic borate salt, a compound represented by the following general formula (1) is used.

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In the above general formula (1), M is
Li metal atom, quaternary ammonium, pyridinium, quino
Linium, diazonium, morpholinium, tetrazoli
, Acridinium, phosphonium, sulfonium,
Oxosulfonium, sulfur, oxygen, carbon, halogeniu
, Cu, Ag, Hg, Pd, Fe, Co, Sn, M
cation selected from o, Cr, Ni, As, Se
N is an integer of 1 to 6, R ¹, R^Two, R^ThreeAnd R^Four
Each represents a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl
Group, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl group, substituted or unsubstituted
Substituted alkynyl group, alicyclic group, substituted or unsubstituted ant
Alkenyl group, substituted or unsubstituted alkaryl group,
Is an unsubstituted aryloxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted
Alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, substituted or unsubstituted
Represents a substituted silyl group. Where R¹, R^Two, R^ThreeAnd
And R^FourMay be the same or different from each other, and these
Of these, two or more groups may be bonded to form a cyclic structure.

In the above general formula (1), the borate anions include tetraethyl borate, triisobutyl methyl borate, di-n-butyl-di-t-butyl borate, tetraphenyl borate, tetra-p-chlorophenyl borate, tri- m-chlorophenyl-n-hexyl borate, triphenylethyl borate, trimethylbutyl borate, tolyl isopropyl borate,
Triphenylbenzyl borate, tetraphenyl borate, tetrabenzyl borate, triphenylphenethyl borate, triphenyl-p-chlorobenzyl borate, triphenylethenituburiborate, di (α-nephthyl) -dipropyl borate, triphenylsilyl triphenyl Examples thereof include borate, tritolylsilylphenyl borate, and tri-n-butyl (dimethylphenylsilyl) borate.

The following is an example of the organic borate salt represented by the general formula (1).

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In order to increase the light absorption efficiency of the recording light L or the like,
The organic borate salt represented by the general formula (1) is preferably used as a spectral sensitizing dye in combination with green to red and infrared absorbing dyes. Particularly, the maximum absorption wavelength is 500 to 1
Organic cationic dyes having a wavelength range of 100 nm are preferably used, and specifically, cationic methine dyes,
Examples include a cationic carbonium dye, a cationic quinone imine dye, a cationic indoline dye, and a cationic styryl dye. More specifically, as the cationic methine dye, polymethine dye, cyanine dye, azomethine dye, more preferably cyanine, carbocyanine, dicarbocyanine, tricarbocyanine, hemicyanine, etc., as a cationic carbonium dye , A triarylmethane dye, a xanthene dye, an aridudine dye, more preferably a rhodamine, etc. These can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The photopolymerization initiator is more preferably
An organic borate salt of a cationic dye represented by the following general formula (2) is used.

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In the above formula (2), D ⁺ represents a cationic dye, and R ¹ , R ² , R ³ and R ⁴ are a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl. Group, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted alkaryl group, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl group, substituted or unsubstituted alkynyl group, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxyl group, substituted or unsubstituted allylic group It is a group selected from a click group, a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, a substituted or unsubstituted allyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted silyl group, and an alicyclic group. Also,
R ¹ , R ² , R ³ and R ⁴ may be the same or different from each other, and two or more of these groups may be bonded to form a cyclic structure.

In the above general formula (2), the cationic dye represented by D ⁺ acts as a spectral sensitizing dye, and has a wavelength range of 500 nm or more, especially 550 nm to 550 nm.
An organic cationic dye having an absorption peak in a wavelength region of 1100 nm is preferably exemplified. Specific examples include a cationic methine dye, a cationic carbonium dye, a cationic quinone imine dye, a cationic indoline dye, and a cationic styryl dye.More specifically, the cationic methine dye is preferably polymethine. Dyes, cyanine dyes, azomethine dyes, more preferably cyanine, carbocyanine, dicarbocyanine, tricarbocyanine, hemicyanine, etc., as cationic carbonium dyes, preferably triarylmethane dyes, xanthene dyes, alicudin dyes, Preferably, rhodamine or the like is used, and as the cationic quinone imine dye, preferably, a dye selected from an azine dye, an oxazine dye, a thiazine dye, a quinoline dye, and a thiazole dye is used. Further, as the borate anion, the same ones as in the general formula (1) are preferably exemplified.

An example of the organic borate salt of the cationic dye represented by the general formula (2) is shown below.

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The content of these photopolymerization initiators is preferably 0.01% by weight to 20% by weight based on the total weight of the photocurable composition (outside of the thermoresponsive microcapsules).

In this recording material, together with the above-mentioned photopolymerization initiator and spectral sensitizing dye, a compound having an active halogen group in a molecule represented by the following general formula (3) or (4) is assisted. It can be used in combination as an agent.

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In the general formula (3), X represents a halogen atom, and Y ′ represents —CX ₃ , —NH ₂ , —NHR, —NR ₂ ,
Represents -OR. Here, R represents an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, an aryl group, or a substituted aryl group. Y ² represents —CX ₃ , an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, an aryl group,
Represents a substituted aryl group or a substituted alkenyl group. The substituent is
The formula (3) itself may be used.

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In the general formula (4), X represents a halogen atom. Y ³ and Y ⁴ may be the same or different,
Represents a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom. Z represents a group represented by the following formula.

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Here, R ′ is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom,
Represents an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, a substituted alkenyl group, a heterocyclic group, or a substituted heterocyclic group.

As the compound represented by the general formula (3), a compound in which Y ′ is CX ₃ is preferably used. Specifically, as the compound represented by the general formula (3), 2-phenyl-4,6-bis (trichloromethyl) -S-triazine, 2- (p-chlorophenyl)-
4,6-bis (trichloromethyl) -S-triazine,
2- (p-methoxyphenyl) -4,6-bis (trichloromethyl) -S-triazine, 2,4,6-tris (trichloromethyl) -S-triazine, 2- (p-cyanophenyl) -4, 6-bis (trichloromethyl)-
S-triazine, 2- (p-acetylphenyl) -4,
6-bis (trichloromethyl) -S-triazine and the like are preferably exemplified.

On the other hand, compounds represented by the above general formula (4) include carbon tetrachloride, carbon tetrabromide, iodoform, p
-Nitro-α, α, α-tribromoacetophenone,
ω, ω, ω-Tribromoquinaldine, tribromomethylphenylsulfone, trichloromethylphenylsulfone, and the like.

The compound represented by the general formula (3) or (4) is a compound having a spectral sensitizing dye (cationic dye) of 1 mol
It is preferable to add 0.01 to 20 mol of the compound represented by the general formula (3) or (4) to l.

This recording material is highly sensitive and sensitive to infrared light.
A reducing agent such as an oxygen scavenger and an active hydrogen donor chain transfer agent, or other compounds may be used in combination. Oxygen scavengers that have been found to be useful as auxiliaries to promote latent image formation are phosphines, phosphonates, phosphites, stannous salts, and other compounds that are easily oxidized by oxygen, For example, N
-Phenylglucin, trimethylbarbituric acid, N,
N-dimethyl-2,6-diisopropylaniline and the like are exemplified.

An electron-accepting compound is added to the photocurable composition of the third recording material. Further, an electron-accepting compound may be added to the photocurable composition of the second recording material, if necessary, so that the coloring density can be improved.
Examples of the electron-accepting compound include phenol derivatives, salicylic acid derivatives, metal salts of aromatic carboxylic acids, acid clay, bentonite, novolak resins, metal-treated novolak resins, and metal complexes. In addition, as a phenol derivative, 2,2'-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, 4-t-butylphenol, 4-phenylphenol, 4-hydroxydipheninoxide, 1,1,
Examples include 1'-bis (3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl) cyclohexane, 1,1'-bis (3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -2-ethylbutane, and the like.
Examples of salicylic acid derivatives include 4-pentadecylsalicylic acid, 3,5-di (α-methylbenzyl) salicylic acid, 3,5-di (tert-octyl) salicylic acid,
-Octadecylsalicylic acid, 5-α- (p-α-methylbenzylphenyl) ethylsalicylic acid, 3-α-methylbenzyl-5-tert-octylsalicylic acid, 5-tetradecylsalicylic acid, and the like. These electron accepting compounds are used in an amount of from 5% by weight to 100% by weight of the electron donating colorless dye.
It is preferable to use about 0% by weight.

The photocurable composition of such a recording material has, in addition to these compounds, a photocrosslinkable composition such as polyvinyl cinnamate, polyvinyl cinnamylidene acetate, and α-phenylmaleimide group. You may add a photocurable composition etc. Further, these photocrosslinkable compositions may be used as photocurable components.

Further, in addition to these compounds, the photocurable composition may, if necessary, prevent polymerization of the photocurable composition over time and over time to enhance the stability. For the purpose, a thermal polymerization inhibitor may be added. Examples of the thermal polymerization inhibitor include p-methoxyphenol, hydroquinone, t-butylcatechol, pyrogallol, 2-hydroxybenzophenone, 4-methoxy-2-hydroxybenzophenone, cuprous chloride, phenothiazine, chloranil, naphthylamine, β-naphthol, 2,6-di-t
-Butyl-p-cresol, nitrobenzene, dinitrobenzene, picric acid, p-toluidine and the like are preferably exemplified, and 0.001% by weight based on the total weight of the photocurable composition.
It is preferable to add about 5% by weight.

The photocurable composition is emulsified and dispersed and contained in the light and heat sensitive recording layer. Solvents used for emulsifying and dispersing the photocurable composition include cottonseed oil, kerosene, aliphatic ketone, aliphatic ester, paraffin, naphthenic oil, alkylated biphenyl, chlorinated paraffin, 1,1
Diarylethanes such as'-ditolylethane; alkyl phthalates such as dibutyl phthalate; phosphoric esters such as diphenyl phosphate; citrates such as tributyl acetylcitrate; benzoic esters such as octyl benzoate; alkylamides such as diethyl lauramide. And acrylic acid (methacrylic acid) esters such as methyl acrylate, alkyl halides such as methylene chloride and carbon tetrachloride, methyl isobutyl ketone, β-ethoxyethyl acetate, methyl cellosolve acetate and the like. Particularly, aliphatic esters and alkyl halides are preferable, and those having a solubility in water of 10% by volume or less are more preferable. These solvents are preferably used in a proportion of 1 part by weight to 500 parts by weight based on the photopolymerizable compound.

As the water-soluble polymer which can be used for emulsifying and dispersing the photocurable composition, a compound which is soluble in water at 25 ° C. in an amount of 5% by weight or more is preferable. Derivatives, proteins such as albumin, cellulose derivatives such as methylcellulose, sugar derivatives such as starches (including modified starch), polyvinyl alcohol, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer hydrolyzate, carboxy-modified polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, acetic acid Saponified vinyl-polyacrylic acid copolymers and synthetic polymers of polystyrene sulfonate sugars are exemplified, and gelatin and polyvinyl alcohol are particularly preferred.

On the other hand, the electron-donating colorless dye encapsulated in the microcapsules of the light- and heat-sensitive recording layer of this recording material is as follows:
A conventionally known triphenylmethanephthalide-based compound,
Various compounds such as fluoran compounds, phenothiazine compounds, indolylphthalide compounds, leuco auramine compounds, rhodamine lactam compounds, totaphenylmethane compounds, triazene compounds, spiropyran compounds, and fluorene compounds can be used. . Specifically, triphenylmethanephthalide-based compounds include 3,3-bis (p-dimethylaminophenyl) -6-dimethylaminophthalide and 3- (p-dimethylaminophenyl) -3- (2-methyl Indole-3-yl) phthalide and the like; leuco auramine compounds such as N-halophenyl-leuco auramine and N-2,4,5-trichlorophenyl leuco auramine and the like; rhodamine-lactam compounds such as rhodamine-B -Anilinolactam, rhodamine- (p-nitrino) lactam, and the like; Examples of fluoran compounds include 2- (dibenzylamino) fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-diethylaminofluoran, and 2-anilino-3-. Methyl-6-N-
Methyl-N-cyclohexylaminofluoran and the like;
Benzoyl leucon methylene blue, p-nitrobenzyl leucomethylene blue and the like as phenothiazine compounds; 3-methyl- as spiropyran compounds
Spirodinaphthopyran, 3,3′-dichloro-spirodinaphthopyran and the like; Also,
When this recording material is used as a full-color recording material, U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,149 and the like are used as electron-donating colorless dyes for cyan, magenta and yellow, and U.S. Pat. , 800,148
JP-A-63-53542 and the like can be referred to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-53542.

The microencapsulation containing such an electron-donating colorless dye can be performed by a method known in the art. For example, US Pat. No. 2,800,45
7, a method utilizing coacervation of a hydrophilic wall forming material, an interfacial polymerization method disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 42-1771, US Pat.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,914,511, by the method of precipitation of a polymer disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,304, the method using isocyanate polyol wall material disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,796,669. A method using an isocyanate wall material disclosed in the specification, a method using a urea formaldehyde-resorcinol-based wall forming material disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,802, and the like are disclosed. In particular, it is preferable to form a polymer film as a microcapsule wall after emulsifying the core substance.

Among them, a microencapsulation method by polymerization of a reactant from the inside of an oil droplet is preferable in that a recording material having a capsule having a uniform particle size and excellent storage properties can be obtained within a short time. For example, when polyurethane is used as a capsule wall material, a polyvalent isocyanate and a second substance (eg, polyol, polyamine) which reacts with the polyisocyanate to form a capsule wall are mixed in an oily liquid to be capsuled and emulsified in water. By dispersing and then raising the temperature, a polymer forming reaction occurs at the oil droplet interface to form microcapsule walls. At this time, an auxiliary solvent having a low boiling point and strong dissolving power can be used in the oily liquid.

The polyvalent isocyanate used in this case includes m-phenylene diisocyanate, 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate, 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate, diphenylmethane-4,4-diisocyanate,
Various polyvalent isocyanates used in the production of known urethane resins, such as xylylene-1,4-diisocyanate, 4,4'-diphenylpropane diisocyanate, trimethylene diisocyanate, and hexamethylene diisocyanate, can be used. The polyvalent isocyanate can also react with water to form a polymer. As the polyol, aliphatic, aromatic polyhydric alcohol, hydroxy polyester, hydroxy polyalkylene ether and the like, specifically, ethylene glycol,
1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol,
1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, propylene glycol, 2,3-dihydroxybutane, 1,2-dihydroxybutane, 2,5-hexanediol, 3-methyl-1,5-pentanediol, Various known polyols used for urethane production, such as dihydroxycyclohexane, can be used. The polyol is preferably used in an amount of about 0.02 mol to 2 mol of a hydroxyl group per 1 mol of an isocyanate group. Further, as polyamines, ethylenediamine, trimethylenediamine, tetramethylenediamine, pentamethylenediamine, hexamethylenedimian, p- (m-) phenylenediamine, piperazine and derivatives thereof,
Examples include hydroxytrimethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine, tetraethylenepentamine, and amine adducts of epoxy compounds.

The microcapsules can also be prepared using a water-soluble polymer. The water-soluble polymer at this time may be any of a water-soluble anionic polymer, a nonionic polymer, and an amphoteric polymer. Examples of the anionic polymer, for example -COO -, - SO ₂ - may be mentioned those having a group such as,
Specifically, arabic gum, alginic acid, sulfated starch, sulfated cellulose, gelatin derivatives such as phthalated gelatin, acrylic (methacrylic acid) acid (co) polymer,
Vinylbenzene sulfonic acid (co) polymerized, carboxy-modified polyvinyl alcohol, etc., nonionic polymers are polyvinyl alcohol, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, etc., and amphoteric compounds are gelatin, etc. Gelatin derivatives and polyvinyl alcohol are preferred. The water-soluble polymer is used as an aqueous solution of 0.01% by weight to 10% by weight.

In such a recording material, the average particle size of the capsule is 20 μm or less, and particularly preferably 5 μm or less from the viewpoint of resolution. On the other hand, if the capsule is too small, the surface area for a certain solid content becomes large, and a large amount of a wall material is required. For this reason, it is preferably at least 01 μm.

The electron-donating colorless dye may be present in the microcapsules in a solution state or in a solid state. When an electron-donating colorless dye is present in a solution state, the dye may be encapsulated in a state of being dissolved in a solvent. At this time, the amount of the solvent is preferably 1 to 500 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the electron-donating colorless dye. As a solvent used at the time of encapsulation,
The same solvent as that used for emulsifying the photocurable composition can be used. Also, at the time of microencapsulation,
As an auxiliary solvent for dissolving the electron-donating colorless dye,
A volatile solvent such as an acetate-based solvent may be used in combination with another solvent.

The recording material may have various layers such as a protective layer and an intermediate layer in addition to the light and heat sensitive recording layer, but it is preferable to add a matting agent to the protective layer. Examples of the matting agent include silica, magnesium oxide, barium sulfate, inorganic particles such as strontium sulfate, polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylonitrile, resin particles such as polystyrene, carboxy starch, starch particles such as corn starch, and the like. Polymethyl methacrylate particles and silica particles are preferably used. As the silica particles, SYLOD AL series manufactured by FUJI-DEVISON CHEMICAL LTD. Can be used. The particle size of the matting agent is 1μ
is preferably a M～20myuemu, ^{also, 2mg / m 2 ~500mg / m} 2 is preferable as the amount added.

It is preferable that the recording material is used in combination with the light and heat sensitive layer, the intermediate layer and the protective layer. In particular, it is preferable to use a curing agent together in the protective layer to reduce the tackiness of the protective layer. As the curing agent, for example, a "gelatin curing agent" used in the production of a photographic light-sensitive material is useful, and specifically, chrom alum, zirconium sulfate, shelvate,
1,3,5-triacroyl-hexahydro-s-triazine, 1,2-bisvinylsulfonylmethane, 1,3
-Bis (vinylsulfonylmethyl) propanol-2,
Bis (α-vinylsulfonylacetamido) ethane,
2,4-dichloro-6-hydroxy-s-triazine.
Sodium salts, 2,4,6-triethylenino-s-triazine and the like are preferably exemplified. The amount of the curing agent added in each layer is 0.5% by weight to 5% by weight of the binder.
% By weight is preferred.

[0098] Colloidal silica may be added to the protective layer in order to reduce its tackiness. As the colloidal silica, for example, Nissan Chemical's Snowtex 20, Snowtex 30, Snowtex C, Snowtex O, Snowtex N, etc. can be used.
The addition amount is preferably about 5% by weight to 80% by weight based on the binder. Further, a fluorescent whitening agent for increasing the whiteness of the recording material or a blue dye as a bluing agent may be added to the protective layer.

When this recording material is used as a multicolor recording material, for example, a microcapsule containing an electron-donating colorless dye which develops a different hue and a photocurable composition sensitive to light of a different wavelength are used for each layer. A multi-layered recording material may be used, and an intermediate layer containing a filter dye may be provided between the photosensitive and heat-sensitive layers. The intermediate layer is mainly composed of a binder and a filter dye, and may contain additives such as a curing agent and a polymer latex, if necessary.

The dye for filter used in the recording material of the present invention can be emulsified and dispersed by an oil-in-water dispersion method or a polymer dispersion method and added to a desired layer, particularly to an intermediate layer. In the oil-in-water dispersion method, the boiling point is, for example, after dissolving in a single liquid or a mixed liquid of either a high-boiling organic solvent having a boiling point of 175 ° C or higher and a so-called auxiliary solvent having a boiling point of 30 ° C to 160 ° C.
It is finely dispersed in an aqueous medium such as water or an aqueous gelatin solution or aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solution in the presence of a surfactant. Specific examples of the latex dispersion method and the latex for curing and impregnation are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,383. Suitable latexes include, for example, acrylic acid such as ethyl acrylate. A copolymer latex of a (methacrylic acid) ester and an acid monomer such as acrylic acid is preferred.

In this recording material, as a binder for each layer such as a protective layer, a light-sensitive layer, and an intermediate layer, a water-soluble binder which can be used for emulsification and dispersion of a photocurable composition and encapsulation of an electron-donating colorless dye. In addition to conductive polymers, polystyrene,
Solvent-soluble polymers such as acrylic resins such as polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl alcohol and polymethyl acrylate, phenol resins, ethyl cellulose, epoxy resins and urethane resins, or latexes of these polymers can also be used. Among these, gelatin and polyvinyl alcohol are preferred.

Each layer of the recording material has a coating aid,
Various surfactants may be used for various purposes such as antistatic, improving slipperiness, emulsifying and dispersing, and preventing adhesion. As a surfactant, for example, saponin which is a nonionic surfactant,
Polyethylene oxide and its derivatives, alkyl sulfonates, aldehyde sulfates, N-acyl-N-
Requires alkyl taurines, sulfosuccinates, various anionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants such as alkyl betaines and alkyl sulfo betaines, and cationic surfactants such as aliphatic or aromatic quaternary ammonium salts It can be used according to. In addition to the additives described so far, if necessary, dyes, ultraviolet absorbers, plasticizers, fluorescent brighteners, coating aids, curing agents, antistatic agents to prevent irradiation and halation Or a slip improver may be added.

The recording material having such a characteristic image forming layer and the recording material having a light and heat sensitive recording layer are prepared by preparing a coating solution (emulsion) containing the components of each layer by using a solvent, if necessary. It can be produced by applying and drying by a known means. As the solvent, various solvents used for producing the recording material can be used. Specifically, water, alcohols such as ethanol and isopropanol, halogen-based solvents such as ethylene chloride, ketones such as cyclohexanone and methyl ethyl ketone. , Esters such as methyl acetate cellosolve and ethyl acetate, toluene, xylene, etc. are exemplified.If necessary, a plurality of types may be used in combination. Various surfactants such as nonionic, anionic, cationic, and fluorine may be added. As a coating method, known methods such as a blade coater, a rod coater, a knife coater, a roll doctor coater, a reverse roll coater, a transfer roll coater, a gravure coater, a kiss roll coater, and a curtain coater can be used. In addition,
It is a matter of course that the application amount of each paint is adjusted so that the adhesion amount of each layer after drying becomes a predetermined amount.

Further, the support constituting these recording materials is not particularly limited, and various materials used in ordinary recording materials can be used. Specifically, polyester films, polyethylene terephthalate films, Polyethylene naphthalate film, cellulose nitrate film, cellulose ester film, polyvinyl acetal film, resin film such as polycarbonate film, aluminum, zinc, various metals such as copper, glass,
Paper is exemplified.

[0105]

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples. The recording material described in this embodiment is the first recording material. (Preparation of organic silver dispersion) 40 g of behenic acid, 7.3 g of stearic acid, and 500 ml of water were stirred at a temperature of 90 ° C. for 15 minutes, 187 ml of 1N sodium hydroxide was added over 15 minutes, and 61 ml of a 1N aqueous nitric acid solution was added. Add 50 ℃
The temperature dropped. Next, 124 ml of a 1N aqueous solution of silver nitrate was added over 2 minutes, and the mixture was stirred for 30 minutes. afterwards,
The solid content was separated by suction filtration, and the solid content was washed with water until the conductivity of the filtrate reached 30 μS / cm. The solid content thus obtained was handled as a wet cake without drying, and 10 g of polyvinyl alcohol (trade name: PVA-205) and water were added to a wet cake equivalent to 100 g of dry solid content to make the total weight 500 g and homogenized. Pre-dispersed with a mixer. Next, the predispersed undiluted solution is dispersed in a dispersing machine (trade name: Microfluidizer M-110SE-E).
H: manufactured by Microfluidics International Corporation, using a G10Z interaction chamber) was adjusted to a pressure of 1750 kg / cm ² and treated three times to prepare an organic silver microcrystal dispersion having a volume-weighted average diameter of 0.39 μm. finished. The measurement of the particle size was determined by Ma
Performed with MasterSizer X manufactured by lvern Instruments Ltd.

(Preparation of silver halide grains) 700 ml of water
22g phthalated gelatin and 30mg potassium bromide
Is dissolved and the pH is adjusted to 5.0 at a temperature of 40 ° C.,
159 ml of an aqueous solution containing 18.6 g of silver nitrate and an aqueous solution of potassium bromide were added over 10 minutes by a controlled double jet method while keeping pAg at 7.7. Then, 476 ml of an aqueous solution containing 55.4 g of silver nitrate and an aqueous solution containing 8 μmol / l of dipotassium hexachloroiridate and 1 mol / l of potassium bromide were added over 30 minutes by a controlled double jet method while maintaining the pAg at 7.7. Thereafter, the pH was lowered to perform coagulation sedimentation and desalting treatment, and 0.1 g of phenoxyethanol was added to adjust the pH to 5.9 and the pAg to 8.0. The obtained particles were cubic particles having an average particle size of 0.07 μm, a variation coefficient of the projected area diameter of 8%, and a (100) plane ratio of 86%. The temperature of the silver halide grains prepared above was raised to 60 ° C., and 85 μmol of sodium thiosulfate and 11 μm of 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyldiphenylphosphine selenide per mol of silver were added.
mol, 2 μmol of the following tellurium compound 1, 3.3 chloroauric acid
μmol and 230 μmol of thiocyanic acid were added, and the mixture was aged for 120 minutes. Thereafter, the temperature was changed to 40 ° C., and 3.5 × 10 ⁻⁴ mol of the following sensitizing dye A was added to the silver halide with stirring. After 5 minutes, the following compound A was added to the silver halide. After adding 4.6 × 10 ⁻³ mol and stirring for 5 minutes,
The mixture was rapidly cooled to 25 ° C. to prepare silver halide grains.

[0107]

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[0108]

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[0109]

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(Preparation of Material Solid Fine Particle Dispersion) Tetrachlorophthalic acid, 1,1-bis (2-hydroxy-3,5
-Dimethylphenyl) -3,5,5-trimethylhexane and tribromomethylphenylsulfone to prepare solid fine particle dispersions. For tetrachlorophthalic acid,
0.81 g of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and water 9
Add 4.2 ml and stir well to obtain 10
Left for hours. Thereafter, 100 ml of beads made of zirconia having an average diameter of 0.5 mm were prepared, put in a vessel together with the slurry, and dispersed with a dispersing machine (1 / 4G sand grinder mill: manufactured by Imex Co., Ltd.) for 5 hours to prepare tetrachlorophthalic acid. Was obtained. Particle size 70wt
% Was 1.0 μm or less. For other materials, the amount of the dispersant used and the dispersion time were changed to obtain a desired average particle size, and solid fine particle dispersions for each material were obtained.

(Preparation of Dispersion of Polymer Fine Particles Containing Dye) A solution comprising the following Dye A (2 g), methyl methacrylate-methacrylic acid copolymer (85:15) (6 g), and 40 ml of ethyl acetate was heated to 60 ° C. After heating and dissolving, 100 m aqueous solution containing 5 g of polyvinyl alcohol
The mixture was finely dispersed with a high-speed stirrer (homogenizer, manufactured by Nippon Seiki Seisakusho) at 12,000 rpm for 5 minutes to obtain an emulsified dispersion P of fine polymer particles having an average particle diameter of 0.3 μm.

[0112]

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(Preparation of Emulsion Layer Coating Solution) The silver halide grains were added to the previously prepared organic silver microcrystal dispersion (equivalent to 1 mol of silver) by adding 10 mol% of silver halide / equivalent to organic acid silver and the following binder and A developing material was added to obtain an emulsion coating solution. Binder: Luck Star 3307B (Dainippon Ink and Chemicals; SBR latex) 430 g Material for development: Tetrachlorophthalic acid, 5 g of the above dispersion 1,1-bis (2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)- 3,5,5-trimethylhexane, 98 g of the above-mentioned dispersion phthalazine, 9.2 g tribromomethylphenylsulfone, 12 g of the above-mentioned dispersion 4-methylphthalic acid, 7 g Dye: Dye A, 4 g of the above-mentioned dye contained Polymer fine particle dispersion

The rack star 3307B used above
Is a polymer latex of a styrene-butadiene copolymer, and the average particle size of the dispersed particles is 0.1 μm to
It is about 0.15 μm.

(Preparation of Coating Solution for Emulsion Surface Protective Layer) For 10 g of inert gelatin, 0.26 g of surfactant A, 0.09 g of surfactant B, and silica fine particles (average particle size of 2.5
μm), 0.9 g of 1,2- (bisvinylsulfonylacetamido) ethane, and 64 g of water were added to prepare an emulsion surface protective layer coating solution.

[0116]

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(Preparation of Dye Dispersion) To 35 g of ethyl acetate, 0.8 g of the following dye B was added and dissolved by stirring. 85 g of a 6% by weight solution of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA-217) dissolved in advance in the solution was added, and the mixture was stirred with a homogenizer for 5 minutes. Thereafter, the ethyl acetate was volatilized by removing the solvent, and finally diluted with water to prepare a dye dispersion.

[0118]

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(Preparation of Solid Base Fine Particle Dispersion) To 26 g of the following solid base, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA-
215) 234 g of a 2 g aqueous solution was added, stirred well, and left as a slurry for 10 hours. Thereafter, 100 ml of zirconia beads having a diameter of 0.5 mm was prepared.
The slurry was placed in a vessel together with the slurry, and dispersed in a dispersing machine (１ ／ G sand grinder mill: manufactured by IMEX Co., Ltd.) for 5 hours to obtain a solid base fine particle dispersion.

[0120]

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(Preparation of Coating Solution for Back Side) 20 g of the previously prepared dye dispersion was added to 38 g of a 10% gelatin solution.
20 g of solid base fine particle dispersion and 35 g of water were added to obtain a back surface coating solution.

(Preparation of Coating Solution for Back Surface Protective Layer) The surfactant A was added to 0.26 g of inert gelatin per 10 g.
g, 0.09 g of surfactant B, 0.3 g of 1,2- (bisvinylsulfonylacedamide) ethane, and Sildex H121 (true spherical silica manufactured by Dokai Chemical Co., Ltd., average size 12)
μm) and 64 g of water were added to form a back surface protective film layer.

(Preparation of Coated Sample) The dye added to the photosensitive layer was added to the emulsion layer coating solution prepared as described above on a 175 μm polyethylene terephthalate support at a silver amount of 2.2 g / m ^2.
Then, a coating solution for an emulsion surface protective layer was applied on the emulsion coating layer such that the coating amount of gelatin was 1.8 g / m ² . After drying, a coating solution for the back surface was applied on the surface opposite to the emulsion layer so that the coating amount of Dye B was 56 mg / m ² . The sample was applied so that the applied amount was 1.8 g / m ² to prepare a sample.

Example 1 An image was formed from the above recording material using the image forming apparatus 10 having the image exposure section shown in FIG. 2 and having the structure shown in FIG. Photoacoustic optical element 50e
As a result, an EFL D250R manufactured by Matsushita Electric was used, and a frequency of about 75 MHz was added thereto, so that the laser beam was slightly vibrated so as to have a width (D: see FIG. 3) on the recording material. The obtained image was of high quality without any decrease in sharpness in the sub-scanning direction and without any scanning lines. (Example 2) The recording material was provided with an image exposure section shown in FIG. 4, and an image was formed using an image forming apparatus 10 having the structure shown in FIG. Each optical axis was adjusted so that the distance (D; see FIG. 3) between the two laser beams on the recording material was 30 μm (the beam diameter of a single unit was 55 μm, and the pitch was 50 μm). . The obtained image has no sharpness reduction in the sub-scanning direction and has no scanning lines.
The image quality was high. (Comparative Example 1) An image was formed on the above-described recording material using an image forming apparatus 10 having a conventional image exposure unit composed of one laser beam and having the configuration shown in FIG. Slight scanning lines were observed in the obtained image.

[0125]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a high-quality image having no sharpness in the sub-scanning direction and no scanning lines can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a first embodiment of an image exposure unit in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG.

3 is a diagram showing an energy distribution of a laser beam obtained by an image exposure unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a second embodiment of an image exposure unit in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a conventional image exposure unit.

6 is a diagram showing an energy distribution of a laser beam obtained by the conventional image exposure unit shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 12 Supply part 14 Width adjustment part 16 Image exposure part 18 Thermal development part 50a, 200a Semiconductor laser 50b, 200b Collimator lens 50c, 200c Cylindrical lens 50d Condensing lens 50e Photoacoustic optical element 202 Polarization beam splitter A Recording material X record center

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A heat-developable photosensitive material or a light- and heat-sensitive recording material is irradiated with a laser beam deflected in the main scanning direction, and the heat-developable light-sensitive material or the light- and heat-sensitive recording material is relatively moved in a direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction. Forming an image exposing unit that forms a latent image by scanning and exposing two-dimensionally, and a thermal developing unit that forms a visible image by thermally developing the latent image formed by the image exposing unit In the apparatus, the image exposing unit is a light modulation unit that forms a laser beam emitted from a laser light source on the surface of the photothermographic material or the photothermographic material by slightly vibrating in a sub-scanning direction around a recording position. An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light modulating means is a photoacoustic engineering element. 3. A photothermographic material or a photothermographic material is irradiated with a laser beam deflected in the main scanning direction, and the photothermographic material or the photothermographic material is relatively perpendicular to the main scanning direction. Forming an image exposing unit that forms a latent image by scanning and exposing two-dimensionally, and a thermal developing unit that forms a visible image by thermally developing the latent image formed by the image exposing unit In the apparatus, the image exposure unit includes a plurality of laser light sources, and emits a laser beam emitted from each laser light source in a sub-scanning direction on a surface of the photothermographic material or the photothermographic recording material with a recording position as a center. An image forming apparatus comprising multiplexing means for forming an image simultaneously by shifting a predetermined distance.