JPS62269155A - Picture recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need for a specially high voltage power source circuit and an electrostatic charging device or large-capacity image memory, etc., by using a recording medium formed by sticking a ferroelectric layer on the surface of a metallic member, and operating an electric field corresponding to an image signal and forming a latent image. CONSTITUTION:A ferroelectric body 400 in passing through a multistylus head 402 is polarized in a state shown by a point A at every position where an electric field E0 operates selectively to have residual polarization PS shown by a point B corresponding to a pole pattern. The given residual polarization PS on the surface of this ferroelectric 4001 becomes a latent image corresponding to the image signal at it is. The formed latent image 4002 is developed into a toner image by sticking toner 4003 having the opposite polarity at the time of passing through a developing device 403. This toner image is transferred by a transfer device 404 to recording paper 408 conveyed between the transfer device 404 and recording medium 400.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] ′ (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an image recording device using a ferroelectric material as a recording medium.

(Prior Art) ゛The main types of conventional image recording devices are known as electrostatic transfer recording devices, electrostatic recording devices/laser beam recording devices, and they are shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 4, respectively. It was constructed as shown in Figure 5.

First, the electrostatic recording device shown in FIG. 3 has a recording medium 100 on which a dielectric material is attached around a drum rotated by a rotating means (not shown) so that the surface thereof has an uneven surface. Disposed around the recording medium 100 are a multi-stylus head 102 that is moved by a head drive circuit 101, a developing device 103, a transfer device 104, a fixed tube W1105, a cleaning device 106, and a static eliminator RA107. .

The image recording operation in this electrostatic transfer recording apparatus is performed while the recording medium 100 is continuously rotated in the direction of arrow a by the rotating means based on a drive command from a drive control circuit (not shown).゛First, the above-mentioned AVT body 100
passes through the multi-stylus head 102 after its surface is uniformly neutralized in advance by a static eliminator 107 driven by a high voltage.

As the recording medium 100 passes, the multi-stylus head 102 is driven by a lightning voltage applied from the head drive circuit 101, for example, with a back pressure of about 600 [V] to the image signal, and the Discharge occurs using the gear ↑I between the recording medium 100 and the unevenness.

As a result, the images 4 are sequentially printed on the surface of the recording medium 100.
An electrostatic latent image 1000 corresponding to number i is formed.

Next, when the electrostatic [7!1000] passes through the developing device 103, a toner 1001 having a polarity opposite to that of the electrostatic latent image 1000 is attached from the developing device 103, and is developed as a toner image.

Subsequently, this toner image is transferred by a transfer device 104 to a recording paper 108 that is conveyed between the transfer device 104 and the recording medium 100.

The recording paper 108 on which the toner image has been transferred in this way is peeled off from the recording medium 100 and then passes through the fixing device 105.
After the toner image is fixed by heating or pressure, it is discharged to a paper discharge tray (not shown) or the like.

On the other hand, in the above-described transfer process, the toner 1001 that was not completely transferred to the recording paper 108 and remained on the surface of the recording medium 100 is scraped off from the surface of the recording medium 100 by the fur brush 1060 when passing through the cleaning device 106. It is then filtered by suction by Proa 1061.

The recording medium 10 from which the residual toner 1001 has been removed in this way
When the 0 passes through the static eliminator 107, its surface is uniformly neutralized by a high voltage, and the remaining latent image is completely erased before it is returned to the multi-stylus head 102 for the next recording. Sent.

In this manner, in the electrostatic transfer recording apparatus, image recording is performed through a series of processes of forming a latent image, developing, transferring, and fixing in accordance with the rotation of the recording medium 100.

On the other hand, an electrostatic recording device does not include a transfer step in the recording process, and as shown in FIG. 4, a conductive layer 2001 and a dielectric layer 2002 are laminated on a base paper 2000. The recording paper 200, which has irregularities formed on its surface, plays the role of a direct recording medium.

As the recording paper 200 is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow, the multi-stylus head 202 is moved by the head drive circuit 2.
For example, it is driven by a driving voltage of about 600 [V] which is applied from 01 to 11ll.

At this time, the multi-stylus head 202
A discharge is generated by utilizing the gap between the dielectric layer 2002 and the recording paper 200 due to the unevenness of the dielectric layer 2002, and the discharge sequentially causes the recording paper 200 to have ii corresponding to the leopard image signal.
? An i-electronic latent image 2003 is formed.

Next, when the electrostatic latent image 2003 passes through the developing device 203, a toner 2004 of opposite polarity is attached to the electrostatic latent image 2003 from the developing device 103, and the electrostatic latent image 2003 is developed as a toner image.

The record 11200 in which the toner image has been developed in this way passes through the fixing device 204, where the toner image is fixed by heating or pressure, and then is discharged to a paper discharge tray (not shown) or the like.

In this manner, in the electrostatic recording apparatus, images are recorded through the processes of latent image formation, development, and fixing on the recording paper 200 as a recording medium.

In addition, the laser beam recording device shown in FIG. 5 thinly coats the circumferential surface of a metal drum, which is rotated by a rotating means (not shown), with a photo-quadrelectronic material having tetraelectricity by being irradiated with light. It has a photosensitive drum 300 as a recording medium.

A laser beam 303 modulated by a laser drive circuit 301 and emitted from a laser diode 302 is connected to a polygon mirror 30 around the photosensitive drum 300.
4, a scanning optical system deflects the light in the main scanning direction by a mirror 305, and irradiates the photosensitive drum 300 onto the photosensitive drum 300; A charger 311 is provided respectively.

The image recording operation in this laser beam recording apparatus is executed while the photosensitive drum 300 is rotated at a constant circumferential speed in the direction of arrow C by the rotating means based on a drive command from a drive control circuit (not shown).

First, as the first step of the image recording operation, the charger 311 is driven at a high voltage to generate a corona discharge, which ionizes the air, thereby uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 300. .

When the photosensitive drum 300 uniformly charged in this way reaches the scanning position of the scanning optical system, a laser beam is emitted from the laser diode 302 after being modulated according to the image signal by the laser drive circuit 301. After the mirror 303 is deflected by the polygon mirror 304, the mirror 30
5, the surface of the photosensitive drum 300 is irradiated with light, and the light is sequentially scanned in the main scanning direction.

By scanning the laser beam 303 modulated by the image signal, only unnecessary charges are erased, and the remaining charges form a so-called latent 93000 on the surface of the photosensitive drum 300 in accordance with the image signal.

Next is this sub 1! When J13000 passes through the developing device 306, toner 3001 of opposite polarity is attached to the latent image 3000 from the developing device 306, and the latent image 3000 is developed as a toner image.

Subsequently, this toner body is transferred to a recording paper 312 that is conveyed between the transfer and peeling device 307 and the photosensitive drum 300 by a transfer and peeling device 307, and after the transfer, the toner is removed from the photosensitive drum 300 together with the recording paper 312. Peeled off.

The recording paper 312 peeled off from the photosensitive drum 300 in this way
The sheet is then placed on the transfer device 308, and after the transferred toner image is fixed as described in ffJ, it is discharged to a paper discharge tray (not shown) or the like.

On the other hand, the toner 3001 that was not completely transferred to the recording paper 312 in the transfer process described above and remains on the surface of the photosensitive drum 300 is scraped off by, for example, a blade constituting the cleaning device 309 when passing through the cleaning device 309. and is completely removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 300.

The latent image 3000 remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 300 even after that is uniformly erased by light irradiation from the subsequent static eliminator 310.

When the photosensitive drum 300 with the residual 42+3000 erased in this way subsequently passes through the charger 301, its surface is uniformly charged in the same manner as described above, and then scanned again for the next recording. sent to the scanning position of the optical system.

In this way, the laser beam recording device uses the laser beam 30
After a latent image 3000 is formed on the photosensitive drum 300 by Step 3, image recording is performed through a series of processes of development, transfer, and fixing.

However, among the above-mentioned conventional image recording devices, electrostatic transfer recording devices and electrostatic recording devices use discharge from a multi-stylus head to form a latent image on a dielectric material in accordance with an image signal. power supply is required,
Not only does this increase the size of the device, but it also poses a risk of electric shock, especially during maintenance work.

Furthermore, in the laser beam recording device, the surface of the photosensitive drum must be uniformly charged by corona discharge before forming a latent image, and the photosensitive drum must always be rotated at a constant circumferential speed.

For this reason, it is generally necessary to store images (c'i) that are input in an uneven manner in an image memory, and then output and record them in fixed amounts in accordance with the circumferential speed of the photosensitive drum. If the image signal amplitude is large, a large-capacity image memory is required, which increases the cost accordingly.

Further, when the air is ionized by the above-mentioned corona discharge, harmful air (03) with a foul odor is generated, resulting in a problem that the working environment for the operator is deteriorated.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, the conventional image recording device described above requires a high-voltage power supply device, a charging device, a large-capacity memory, etc., which leads to an increase in the size and cost of the device. At the same time, there was a risk of electric shock and breathing in bad smells and harmful air, resulting in poor safety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus that can contribute to miniaturization and cost reduction of the apparatus, and also ensure high safety.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) Kikoaki's image recording device uses a recording medium formed by depositing a ferroelectric layer on the surface of a metal member. An electric field corresponding to the image signal is applied to the body layer, and a latent image corresponding to the image signal is formed on the ferroelectric layer by residual polarization corresponding to the electric field, and the latent image is transferred to toner? The image is recorded by drying, developing, and then transferring it to recording paper.

(Function) The image recording device of the present invention utilizes the characteristics of the ferroelectric layer as a recording medium, that is, the hysteresis characteristic in the relationship between the applied electric field and the residual polarization with respect to the electric field. A latent image is formed in accordance with the image signal,
After the latent image is developed as a toner image, double-edge recording can be performed in the cylinder by transferring it to recording paper, which eliminates the need for special high-voltage power circuits and generation of odor and harmful air, unlike conventional devices. There is no need for a charging device or a large-capacity image memory.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 conceptually shows an embodiment of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention, in which a metal drum 4000 has a
A recording medium 400 is provided, on which a ferroelectric material 4001 having characteristics as described below is deposited in a thin layer and further shaped to have a smooth surface.

Around the recording medium 400, there is a head drive circuit 28.
Multi-stylus head 402 driven by 401
, developing device 403, transfer device @404, fixing device 405, cleaning device W1406, and latent image erasing device ff1407 are respectively arranged.

In general, the strong Tf, lightning body 40 forming the recording medium 400
01 has a hysteresis characteristic as shown in FIG. 2 in the relationship between the applied electric field level E and the polarizability P with respect to the electric field level E.

That is, the ferroelectric material 4001 generates a suitable polarization at point A in FIG. 2 by applying an electric field Eo, for example, and after the electric field EO is removed, a residual polarization Ps as shown at point 8 in the figure is generated. will be granted.

When the ferroelectric material 4001, which has been given residual polarization P5 in this way, is given an electric field of -E1 with the opposite polarity to the electric field Eo mentioned above, its polarizability becomes o level as shown at point C in Figure 2, and the so-called zero Becomes a polarized state.

Further, when a reverse electric field -E2 larger than the electric field -El is applied, the polarization: $P of the ferroelectric material 4001 takes a value as shown at the second plot point, and becomes a reverse polarization state.

Therefore, by applying an electric field opposite to that used when imparting remanent polarization using the method described above to depolarize or reverse polarize the ferroelectric material 4001, the remanent polarization P8 previously imparted to the ferroelectric material 40o1 is erased. be able to.

For example, barium titanate <B, T, 03) is known as a ferroelectric material 4001 having such characteristics.

The image recording operation in the image recording apparatus of the present invention is performed while continuously rotating the recording medium 400 in the direction of the arrow d by a rotating means (not shown) using the above-described characteristics of the ferroelectric material 4001. be done.

First, the multi-stylus head 402 is operated by the head drive circuit 401 in accordance with the rotation of the recording medium 400 as described above.
It is selectively driven by a recording pulse applied according to an image signal.

At this time, an electric field corresponding to the recording pulse is generated from the multi-stylus head 402, and this electric field is applied to the ferroelectric material 4000 interposed between the multi-stylus head 402 and the metal drum 4000 of the recording medium 400.
It acts on

Here, the head drive circuit 401 includes the ferroelectric material 40
The level of the electric field acting on 01 is E.

For example, 50 to 100 depending on the image signal so that
A recording pulse boosted to [V] is applied to the multi-stylus head 402.

Due to such control, the ferroelectric material 4001 passing through the multi-stylus head 402 has an electric field Eo as described above.
Each location where is selectively applied is polarized in the state shown at point A in FIG.

After passing through the multi-stylus head 402, the surface of the ferroelectric material 4001 is given residual polarization P as shown at 8 points in FIG. 2, corresponding to the polarization pattern.

Remnant polarization P3 imparted to the surface of this ferroelectric material 4001
can be directly regarded as a latent image corresponding to the image signal.

In this way, as the recording medium 400 rotates, a latent image 40 corresponding to the image signal is formed on the surface of the ferroelectric material 4001.
02 are formed sequentially.

Next, when the latent image 4002 passes through the developing device 403,
A toner 4003 having a polarity opposite to that of the latent image 4002 supplied from the developing device 403 is attached to the latent image 4002 to be developed as a toner image.

Subsequently, this toner image is transferred by a transfer device 404 to a recording paper 408 that is conveyed between the transfer device 404 and the nh recording medium 400.

The recording paper 408 on which the toner image has been transferred in this way is peeled off from the recording medium 400, and then passes through the fixing device 405.
After the toner image is fixed by heating or pressure, it is discharged to a paper discharge tray (not shown) or the like.

On the other hand, in the above-described transfer process, the toner 4003 that was not completely transferred to the recording paper 408 and remained on the surface of the recording medium 400 is removed by, for example, a blade constituting the cleaning device 406 when passing through the cleaning device 406. It is scraped off and completely removed from the surface of the recording medium 400.

In this state, the latent image 4002 formed by the method described above remains on the surface of the recording medium 400,
Subsequently, the latent image 4002 is also uniformly erased from the surface of the recording medium 400 by the latent image erasing device 407.

That is, the calendar erasing device 407 uses the conductive roller 4
070 and a conductive roller drive circuit 4071, of which the conductive roller 4070 is pressed against the recording medium 400 by an appropriate suppressing means and rotates to follow the rotation of the recording medium 400. It is configured so that it can be done.

This conductive row 54070 is driven by a driving voltage applied from the driving circuit/1071 as the recording medium 400 passes.
Generates an electric field that acts on 001.

At this time, the drive circuit 4071
The driving voltage applied to the conductive roller 4070 is controlled so that the electric field acting on the conductive roller 4070 becomes an electric field -El (see FIG. 2) having a polarity opposite to the electric field Eo applied during the latent image formation described above.

By applying this electric field -El, the polarizability of the ferroelectric material 40o1 uniformly becomes 0 level as shown by the 0 point in FIG. 2, so that the ferroelectric material 40o1 is made non-polarized.

In this way, the recording medium 400 is sent to the multi-stylus head 402 again for the next image recording process after the latent image 4002 remaining on its surface is uniformly removed.

In the above embodiment, in order to erase the latent image 4002 remaining on the surface of the recording medium 400, an electric field -El having the opposite polarity to the electric field EO used when forming the latent image is applied to the ferroelectric material 400.
Although the example in which 0o1 is swallow-polarized has been described, a similar effect can be obtained by applying an even larger reverse electric field -E2 to reversely polarize the strong electric body 4001.

In addition, the latent image erasing device @407 includes the above-mentioned four-electroconductive roller 4.
070, for example, it can be configured by a heat generating roller or the like.

In this case, the ferroelectric material 4001 utilizes the hysteresis property in the relationship between the electric field E and the polarizability P as shown in FIG. and apply thermal energy of one or more points from the heat generating roller to the strong F7f.
, by transforming the electric material 4001 into a paraelectric material,
The latent fl! remaining in the ferroelectric material 4001! 4002 is deleted.

Further, as for the cleaning device 406, in addition to using a blade as in the above example, it may be configured by combining a fur brush and a suction filtration device.

[Effect of the invention 1 As explained above, according to the image zero recording device of the present invention, a ferroelectric material is used as a recording medium, a latent image is formed on the ferroelectric material by residual polarization, and the full image is formed. Since the image is recorded by developing it as toner θ and then transferring it to recording paper, there is no need for special high-voltage power supply circuits, bad odors, etc.
This eliminates the need for a charging device, which is a source of harmful air, or a large-capacity image memory, etc., contributing to miniaturization and cost reduction of the device, and has the excellent advantage of ensuring high safety.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an embodiment of an image recording device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows electric field E and polarizability P in a ferroelectric material used as a recording medium for an 8-position image recording system according to the present invention. 1, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5 are conceptual diagrams showing conventional configuration examples of an electrostatic transfer recording device, an electrostatic recording device, and a laser beam recording device, respectively. . 400...recording medium, 4000...metal drum, 4
001... Ferroelectric material, 4002... Latent image, 4003
... Toner, 401 ... Head drive circuit, 402.
...Multi-stylus head, 403...Developer, 4
04...Transfer device, 405...Fixing device, 406.
...Cleaning device, 407...Latent image erasing device, 4
070... Conductive roller, 4071... Conductive roller drive circuit, Fig. 2, Fig. 3

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A recording medium comprising a ferroelectric layer deposited on the surface of a metal member, and an electric field corresponding to an image signal applied to the ferroelectric layer of the recording medium to correspond to the electric field. a latent image forming means for forming a latent image according to the image signal on the ferroelectric layer by residual polarization; and developing the latent image formed on the ferroelectric layer by the latent image forming means as a toner image. 1. An image recording apparatus comprising: a developing means for transferring the toner image developed by the developing means; and a transfer means for transferring the toner image developed by the developing means to recording paper.