JPS6137493A - Current passing transfer recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform the reproduction of multiple gradation, by performing recording in the combination of a means for attaining the modulation of a dot diameter by the modulation of signal voltage or application time and an area gradation method such as a dither method or density pattern method. CONSTITUTION:In current passing transfer recording, an ink ribbon or sheet 1a (1b) and recording paper (paper to be transferred) 2 are combined and pulse like voltage is applied to the surface of the ink ribbon or sheet 1a (1b) from a stylus 3 and ink is melted by Joule heat by the current flowing at this time to be transferred to the recording paper 2. In recording, a means for attanining the modulation of a dot diameter by changing signal voltage or application time is combined with an area gradation method (a dither method or density pattern method) to perform the reproduction of multiple gradation of 16 gradation or more. By this method, not good density gradation is obtained but also a sharp transfer image can be recorded becase the dot of each level is sharp and saturation density becomes high.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to an electrical transfer recording method for forming a dot-shaped ink image on a recording medium (transfer material) such as paper.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A variety of methods have been considered for forming images on plain paper and the like, and recently, electric transfer recording methods have been attracting attention. This is because, according to the current transfer recording method, high-density images can be obtained on plain paper, etc., the recording speed is fast, there is no noise, and in addition, the equipment used in carrying out this method can be interconnected. This is because it is believed to have the following advantages. And now, the concentration level lol! Attempts are being made to raise the number even higher.

For example, the present inventors previously studied the application time or signal voltage (
It was proposed to produce density gradations by changing the applied voltage (JP-A-58-14664).

In addition, similar to the current transfer recording method, attempts have been made to produce density gradations in the fields of thermal transfer recording methods and ink jet recording methods that form dot images. In the thermal transfer recording method, for example, the recording materials include (l) a dye layer and a wax layer sequentially provided on a paste layer, and (2) an ink layer in which an ink consisting of a dye and a low melting point agent is mixed with a filler. , (3) an ink layer provided on a base layer via an adhesive layer, and (4) an ink layer and a color developing layer overlaid to form a color have been proposed.

In the inkjet recording method, for example, the dot diameter is changed by changing the A pulse width by devising the nozzle, and this
It has been proposed to combine (2×2) matrices. However, with the method of changing the recording density by changing the applied voltage or the applied time, it is not possible to express many gradations. Furthermore, in the thermal transfer recording described above, the layer structure of the recording material is complicated, and the saturation density tends to be lower than before. The above-mentioned inkjet recording uses dye as the coloring material, so it has insufficient fastness (light fading, heat fading, water fading, etc.), and there are reliability problems such as low saturation density, and the dot diameter level is also 4. The value is current.

Purpose The present invention provides an electrical transfer recording method that achieves multi-tone reproducibility.

Structure The present invention arranges a recording body and an ink ribbon or sheet one on top of the other, brings a return electrode and a recording electrode into contact with the ink ribbon or sheet, applies an image signal voltage between these electrodes, and melts the area immediately below the recording electrode. In the current transfer recording method, in which a transferred ink is transferred to the recording medium to obtain a transferred image, dot diameter modulation by changing the signal voltage or application time p4, and an area gradation method such as a dither method or a density pattern method are used. It is characterized by multi-tone reproduction by combined recording.

The present invention will be explained in more detail below.

In electrical transfer recording, as shown in FIG.
A pulsed voltage is applied from the stylus 3 to the surface of the ink, and the ink is melted and transferred to the recording paper 2 by the Joule heat generated by the current flowing at that time. The ink ribbon or sheet is (a) a two-layer structure (1 m long) in which a base layer 11 made of carbon black and a film-forming polymer is provided with an ink layer 128 made of a coloring component and a thermally tactile inder; ) There is a three-layer structure (1b) in which an intermediate layer 138 having a peeling action, an adhesion action, or a heat generation action is provided between the base layer 11 and the ink J@12 depending on the application.

In these figures, the ink layer 12 is illustrated as having a current flowing through it, and is supposed to be a conductive ink, but the ink layer 12 is not necessarily conductive or is a necessary condition, and only the base layer 11 is energized and generates heat. The heat may soften or melt the ink and transfer it to the recording paper 2.

Reference numeral 4 indicates a return electrode, and reference numeral 5 indicates a voltage applying means.

The signal voltage (applied voltage) is modulated by changing the image signal voltage substantially corresponding to the change in the density of the pixels of the original image and applying it for a predetermined period of time. Further, the application time is modulated by applying a predetermined image signal voltage 8 while changing the application time corresponding to changes in the density of the pixels of the original image to be recorded.

Therefore, in the method of the present invention, when recording, a means for modulating the dot diameter by changing the signal voltage or application time, and an area gradation method (dither method, density pattern method, etc.) are used.
In total, multi-tone reproduction of 16 or more gradations is achieved.

According to the method of the present invention, not only good density gradation can be obtained, but also the dots at each level are sharp and the saturation density is high, so that clear transferred images can be recorded. It is effective for full color application as a digital color printer such as a printer or digital color copier.

Electric transfer recording materials used in the present invention (ink ribbon,
Ink sheets) are conventionally known, and usually contain 10% or more of concentrated pigments in the ink layer, or if necessary, dyes may be mixed in, or in place of pigments. A dye may be used.

Next, examples will be shown. All numbers here are in percent by weight.

Example 1 10 pieces of conductive carbon and 9 pieces of triacetate cellulose
An ink ribbon was prepared by providing an ink layer of about 5P thick consisting of 70% wax, 10% low molecular weight styrene, and 20% conductive carbon on a paste layer of about 12P thick consisting of 0%. The overall resistance of this ink ribbon with a thickness of about 17/l was IOKΩ/F.

Using this ink ribbon, electrical transfer recording was performed by varying the applied voltage (7 people) with a stylus diameter of 60 μ and an application time of 50 ps/dot, as shown in Figure 2) and (B).
As shown in the graph, the voltage VA ~ dot diameter (1) (B) Vλ ~ dot occupied area (5 = tr'') was changed. Here, approximately 10 gradations are obtained by controlling the applied voltage - plOV. can.

Combining this with the (2X2) matrix gives 40
IvfJ4 was able to be expressed. Now, if this method is set to 816 dots/W, even if a (2×2) matrix is used, a high resolution of 8 pixels/× can be achieved.

Example 2 Wax 75% ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer 10% pigment (
Approximately 6μ consisting of 15% (magenta, cyan or yellow)
A thick layer of ink is applied and an ink ribbon is created.

Using this ink ribbon, we performed electrical transfer recording by changing the stylus diameter 6°p and the applied voltage ((No. 1 voltage) 200V and the application time (tl), and as shown in Fig. 3, the pulse width to dot diameter The recording results showed almost the same characteristics for each of the four colors: magenta, cyan, and yellow.

From the fs3 diagram, the applied lus width is 50 μ8 to 2 each.
Approximately 8 levels of gradation can be obtained by controlling up to 200 μS every 5 μ. When this is combined with the (2×2) matrix, 32 floors (approximately 33,000 colors from the combination of magenta, cyan, and yellow) can be expressed.

Effects As described above, the method of the present invention also effectively realizes multi-tone reproducibility.

In addition, the current transfer recording method of the present invention is characterized by thermal transfer (
1) In thermal transfer recording, if the entire ink layer is transferred, gradation will be lost, so a method is used in which only a portion of the ink is transferred.In contrast, with the method of the present invention, although the degree of transfer changes in the area direction, , essentially all the ink is transferred from the paste layer, so the dots at each level are also sharp and have a high saturation density; and (It) inkjet recording uses water-soluble dyes.

In addition, if the dye concentration is not increased too much (maximum 3%), clogging of the nozzle and other problems will occur, resulting in a low saturation concentration and poor fastness. The method is based on the fact that the image is formed using ink containing many pigments.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1B and 1B are diagrams for explaining a state in which electrical transfer recording is performed using an ink sheet or ribbon. Figures 2 (4) and (B) are graphs showing the relationship between the applied voltage, dot diameter, and dot occupied area when current transfer recording is performed by keeping the application time constant and varying the applied voltage. be. Figure 8g3 is a graph showing the relationship between the application time (pulse width) and the dot diameter when current transfer recording is performed by keeping the applied voltage constant and varying the application time. 1 a, 1 b”・Ink sheet or ribbon 2・
...Recording sickle paper 3...Multi-stylus (recording electrode 4...return electrode 5...voltage application means patent applicant Rico Co., Ltd. - (a) (mouth)
Punishment 3 (2) ρforce OvT between ゝゝ-(quality I four tomoe

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Arrange the recording body and an ink sheet or ribbon one on top of the other, contact the return electrode and the recording electrode with the ink sheet or ribbon, apply an image signal voltage between these electrodes, and remove the melted ink directly under the recording electrode. When transferring the dot to the recording medium to obtain a recorded image, multi-gradation reproduction is performed by recording that combines dot diameter modulation by modulating the signal voltage or application time and area gradation method such as dither method or density pattern method. An electrical transfer recording method characterized by the following.