JPH01237549A - Method of controlling conveyance of photoreceptive sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the execution of good image formation by setting the carrying of a photosensitive sheet at the time of exposing and the carrying speed of the photoreceptive sheet at the time of the image formation respectively discretely at optimum speeds. CONSTITUTION:The photosensitive sheet of a medium roll is supplied to an exposing position 90 where the sheet is subjected to image forming and exposing. The exposed photoreceptive sheet 34 is carried to a buffer section. The photoreceptive sheet in the buffer section after the end of the image forming and exposing is carried to an image forming position 91. The photoreceptive sheet between the exposing position and the image forming position after the end of the carriage of the photoreceptive sheet in the buffer section is supplied to the image forming position 91. The pass speed of the photoreceptive sheet 34 in the exposing position 90 and the pass speed of the photoreceptive sheet 34 in the image forming position 91 are, therefore, set and controlled discretely. The image forming condition is thereby improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (AL Industrial Field of Application) This invention relates to a light-receiving sheet for conveying the light-receiving sheet to an image forming exposure position 1 in an image forming apparatus using a light-receiving sheet and an image-receiving sheet. This invention relates to a transport control method.

(bl) Conventional technologyAs an image forming method using an image forming sheet,
No. 8-88739 uses a light-receiving sheet coated with photosensitive microcapsules containing a colorless dye and a photocurable material in a resin shell, and an image-receiving sheet coated with a developing material that develops color from the colorless dye. An image forming method is disclosed. In this image forming method, a selectively cured image is formed on a light-receiving sheet by imagewise exposure, and then an image-receiving sheet is superimposed on the light-receiving sheet and pressure is applied to destroy the uncured photosensitive microcapsules. This causes the colorless dye contained in the photosensitive microcapsules to develop color on the image-receiving sheet, thereby obtaining an image.

Therefore, in an image forming apparatus using such an image forming method, a light receiving sheet is conveyed via an exposure position where it receives image-forming exposure and an image forming position where pressure is applied, and the image receiving sheet is transported to the image forming position. By conveying the light-receiving sheet through the image forming position, the light-receiving sheet, on which a selectively cured image has been formed by image-forming exposure at the exposure position, is superimposed on the image-receiving sheet at the image-forming position, and the two are pressed together.

(e) Problems to be Solved by the Invention In order to obtain a good image on the image-receiving sheet, it is necessary to sufficiently harden the photosensitive microcapsules in the exposed areas of the light-receiving sheet, and to mix colorless dye and developing material in the image-receiving sheet. The reaction must be complete. The photocuring reaction of the photosensitive microcapsules in the photoreceptor sheet and the coloring reaction of the colorless dye in the image-receiving sheet have different reaction rates. It is necessary to match the speed to the optimal exposure speed that is optimal for the photocuring reaction of the photosensitive microcapsules, and to match the passage speed of the photoreceptive sheet at the image forming position to the optimal image formation speed that is optimal for the color-forming reaction of the colorless dye. .

However, in the above-mentioned conventional image forming apparatus, the pressure device that presses the light-receiving sheet and the image-receiving sheet at the image forming position is constituted by a pair of rollers, and the light-receiving sheet is conveyed by the rotation of the rollers. Therefore, the conveyance speed of the light-receiving sheet matches the circumferential speed of the roller constituting the pressure device, and the speed of passage of the light-receiving sheet at the exposure position is the same as the speed of passage at the image-forming position. For this reason, it is not possible to match one or both of the passing speed of the light-receiving sheet at the exposure position and the passing speed of the light-receiving sheet at the image-forming position to the optimum speed, resulting in a disadvantage that the image forming condition deteriorates. there were.

An object of the present invention is to enable individual setting and control of the passing speed of the light receiving sheet at the exposure position and the passing speed of the light receiving sheet at the image forming position.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling the conveyance of a light-receiving sheet that can improve the image forming state.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems This invention comprises a first step of supplying a light-receiving sheet of a media roll to an exposure position to perform image forming exposure, and conveying the exposed light-receiving sheet to a buffer section; After the exposure is completed, a second step of transporting the light-receiving sheet to the image forming position in the buffer section; After completing transporting the light-receiving sheet in the buffer section, supplying the light-receiving sheet between the exposure position and the image forming position to the image forming position. and a third step.

The present invention also includes a first step of supplying the light-receiving sheet of the media roll to the exposure position to perform image-forming exposure, and conveying the exposed light-receiving sheet to the buffer section, and a step of transporting the light-receiving sheet at the exposure position after the image-forming exposure is completed. The method includes a second step of transporting the sheet to the buffer section, and a third step of transporting the light-receiving sheet in the buffer section to an image forming position.

The present invention also includes a means for locking the supply shaft of the media roll when the light-receiving sheet of the buffer section is conveyed to the image forming position. If image formation is performed using method 1), the light-receiving sheet is only exposed to light during the first step, so the transport speed of the light-receiving sheet can be set to the optimum exposure speed, and good image-forming exposure can be performed.

In addition, at the time of the second and third steps, the light-receiving sheet has already been exposed and the light-receiving sheet only passes through the image forming position, so the conveyance speed can be set to the optimum image forming speed. Good image formation is achieved.

Further, according to the method of claim (2), the conveyance speed of the first image-receiving sheet can be set at the optimum exposure speed during the first step, good image-forming exposure is performed, and the conveyance speed of the light-receiving sheet during the second step can be set to the optimum exposure speed. can be set to the optimum image forming speed, resulting in good image formation.

Furthermore, when the light-receiving sheet in the buffer section is conveyed to the image forming position as in claim (3), if the supply shaft of the media roll is locked, feeding of the light-receiving sheet in the media roll is stopped and the light-receiving sheet in the buffer section is transported to the image forming position. Only the light-receiving sheet of the sofa section is conveyed to the image forming position.

(flEmbodiment) FIG. 3 is a schematic front configuration diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention.

A document table 29 made of a transparent hard glass body is provided on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body 21 . An optical system device 22 composed of a light source 23, mirrors 24 to 27, and a lens 28 is provided on the lower surface of the document table 29. Of the optical system device 22, the light source 23 and the mirror 2
4 to 26 move on the lower surface of the document table 29 in the direction of arrow G or H to scan the image of the document placed on the document table 29.

An upper pressure roller 3 is disposed at the center inside the image forming apparatus main body 21.
2 and a lower pressure roller 33 are provided vertically with their circumferential surfaces in contact with each other, and constitute a pressure section 31. The contact point 91 between the upper and lower pressure rollers 32, 33 is the image forming position of the present invention. A light-receiving sheet storage section 39 is formed on the left side of the upper pressure roller 32 . This light-receiving sheet storage section 39
A supply shaft 35 and a take-up shaft 36 are provided. A light-receiving sheet 34 is wound around the supply shaft 35 to constitute a media roll. The light-receiving sheet 34 is a substrate made of polyester or the like, coated with photosensitive microcapsules containing a colorless dye and a photocurable material. A certain length region from the tip of the photoreceptive sheet is not coated with photosensitive microcapsules and is made of a relatively stiff base, and functions as a league portion when the photoreceptor sheet is initially set. The light receiving sheet 34 has a plurality of rollers 37, a suspension roller 78 and an upper and lower pressure roller 3.
2.33 (image forming position 91) to the winding shaft 36
It is wound around the outer circumferential surface of the The supply shaft 35 is provided with a locking mechanism, and the supply shaft 35 is locked to stop the supply of the light-receiving sheet 34 when necessary, which will be described later.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of the locking mechanism of the supply shaft 35, with FIG. 6(A) being a side view thereof and FIG. 6(B) being a front view (same direction as FIG. 3).

A fitting gear 35a having a sawtooth-shaped peripheral surface is fitted and fixed to one end of the supply shaft 35 around which the light-receiving sheet 34 is wound. Above the fitting gear 35a, there is provided an operating piece 35c that has a fitting part 35d at its tip and rotates around the fulcrum shaft 35b. Fitting portion 35d of operating piece 35c
At the other end, there is a solenoid 35e and a spring 35f.
They are attached so as to have opposite biasing forces. That is, when the solenoid 35e is in the on state, it pulls and rotates the operating piece 35c in the direction of arrow M against the tensile force of the spring 35f, thereby releasing the fitted state between the fitting portion 35d and the fitting gear 35a. Furthermore, when the solenoid 350 is turned off, the spring 35f pulls the operating piece 35c in the direction of arrow N, causing the fitting portion 35d and the fitting gear 35a to fit together. Therefore, when the solenoid 35e is turned on, the fitting gear 35a, that is, the supply shaft 35 moves as shown by the arrow K.

Since the light receiving sheet can be rotated to both sides of L, the light receiving sheet can be supplied, and when the solenoid 35e is turned off, the supply shaft 3
5 can only rotate in the direction of the arrow, and the light receiving sheet 3
4 drawers are locked. Normal state(
When the image forming apparatus main body 21 is powered off, etc., the supply shaft 35 is in a locked state because the solenoid 35e is off, causing the light receiving sheet 34 to sag. Never.

On the right side of the image forming apparatus main body 21, an image receiving sheet 2a,
A paper cassette 42,43 containing paper sheets 2b and 44,45 are provided, and a paper feed section 41 is configured. The surface of the image-receiving sheet stored in the paper cassette 42, 43 is coated with a developing material that develops the colorless dye enclosed in the photosensitive microcapsules, a thermoplastic resin, etc. that gives gloss to the formed image. has been done. The image receiving sheet 46 of the paper cassette 42 (43) is rotated by the paper feed roller 44 (45).
a (46b) are fed one by one from the top, and are delivered to the image forming position 91 of the pressure section 31 via the timing roller 51.
light-receiving sheet 34 on which a selectively cured image is formed.
are overlapped and pressurized. The image receiving sheet 46a (46b) that has passed through the image forming position 91 is guided by the conveyor belt 53 to the heat roller 55 and heated. This heating accelerates the coloring reaction of the colorless dye (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 1983-1999-
24495), the thermoplastic resin softens or melts to give gloss to the image (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6
0-259490). The image receiving sheet 46a (46b) that has passed through the heat roller 55 is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 57 by a paper discharge roller 56.

The image of the original scanned by the optical system device 22 is distributed to the exposure position 90 via the mirrors 24 to 27 and the lens 28, as shown by the dashed line in the figure. Before reaching the image forming position 91, the light receiving sheet 34 receives reflected light from the original at the exposure position 90, and a selectively cured image is formed on its surface. A suspended roller 78 is located between the exposure position 90 and the image forming position 91 in the direction of arrow 1. It is provided movably in the J direction. The light-receiving sheet 34 that has passed through the exposure position 90 is transferred to the image forming position 91 of the pressure section 31 via this suspension roller 78.
sent to. Note that the upper right part of the exposure position 90 is the buffer part of the present invention, and the suspension roller 78 is connected to the light receiving sheet 3.
The exposed light-receiving sheet 34 is sent to the buffer section by moving in the direction of the arrow 1 while keeping the light-receiving sheet 4 suspended.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of the suspension roller, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of a drive mechanism for driving the suspension roller.

In FIG. 4, the suspension roller 78 is pivotally supported by the guide 11. As shown in FIG. A bearing portion 11a is formed at one end of the guide 11, a support rod 12 fixed to the image forming apparatus main body 21 is fitted into the bearing portion 11a, and the bearing portion 11a slides along the support rod 12. . The longitudinal direction of the support rod 12 is the direction of arrows I and J in FIG. Further, a roller 13 is pivotally supported at the other end of the guide 11 and rotates between the rails 14. One end of a wire 17 is fixed to the middle part of the guide 11. The other end of the wire 17 is fixed to the take-up roller 15 and wound around the take-up roller 17. This take-up roller 15 is fixed to a shaft 16.

In FIG. 5, a shaft 16 is pivotally supported by a frame 10 of an image forming apparatus main body 21, and rotation of the motor 1 is transmitted to the shaft 16 via gears 2 to 7, a clutch 8, and a torque limiter 9. Clutch 8 is an electromagnetic clutch that engages gear 6 when voltage is applied to transmit the rotation of motor 1 to gear 7. The direction of rotation of the shaft 16 by the motor 1 is the direction of arrow A in FIG. The torque limiter 9 includes a one-way clutch therein, and regulates the rotational speed of the shaft 16 in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 4 to below a certain value.

With the above configuration, when the motor 1 rotates and the electromagnetic clutch 8 is driven, the rotation is transmitted to the shaft 16 via the gears 2 to 7 of the motor 1, and the shaft 16 rotates in the direction of arrow A in FIG. As the shaft 16 rotates, the take-up roller 15 also rotates in the direction of arrow A, pulling the guide 11 and suspension roller 78 in the direction of arrow 1. As a result, the light-receiving sheet 34 suspended on the suspension roller 78 is sent to the buffer section. The speed at which the suspension roller 78 moves in the direction of the arrow ■ can be set by the rotational speed of the shaft 16 driven by the motor 1. Therefore, the exposure speed at the exposure position 90 of the light-receiving sheet 34 is determined by the rotational speed of the motor 1. The optimum exposure speed can be set through control.

When the driving of the electromagnetic clutch 8 is stopped, the force for moving the suspension roller 78 in the direction of the arrow along with the guide 11 is not activated, and the suspension roller 78 and the guide II move toward the light receiving sheet 3.
4, it moves in the direction of arrow J. At this time, the shaft 16 rotates in the direction of arrow B, and since the rotation is tensioned by the torque limiter 9,
The rotational speed of the shaft 16 does not become too high, and the light-receiving sheet does not become slack between the suspension roller 78 and the image forming position 91.

In FIG. 3, a home position sensor 81 is provided at the home position of the suspension roller 78, and a movement limit sensor 82 is provided at the maximum movement limit position of the suspension roller 78 to detect the position of the suspension roller 78.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the control section of this image forming apparatus.

The entire image forming apparatus is controlled by the MCPU 61, and its processing program is stored in the ROM 62.
Data from the home position sensor 81, movement limit sensor 82, various sensors, and input keys are input to the MCPU 61, and the MCPU 61 controls the clutch 8 of the drive mechanism of the suspension roller 78, the solenoid 35e of the media roll, It outputs control signals to the clutch of the upper pressure roller 32, various solenoids, etc., and outputs control commands to the 5 CPU 63. The 5CPU 63 controls the motor 1 of the suspension roller drive mechanism, and receives control commands from the MCPU 61 and controls the motor 1 according to a processing program stored in the ROM 64.

FIG. 1 shows the suspension roller 78 during copy processing in the same image forming apparatus. It is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of 32 and 33 parts of the upper and lower pressure rollers.

From the operation panel (not shown) on the image forming apparatus main body 21,
When data such as the size of the image to be formed are input and the image formation start switch is operated, the process according to the same flowchart is started. Motor 1 of the suspension roller 78 drive mechanism in nl. Clutch 8 and media roll supply shaft 3
The solenoid 35e of No. 5 is turned on, the supply shaft 35 is unlocked, and the suspension roller 78 moves in the direction of the arrow {circle around (2)} to pull out the light-receiving sheet 34 from the supply shaft 35.

The pulled-out light-receiving sheet 34 is exposed at an exposure position 90 to light reflected from the original guided by the optical system device 22, and a selectively cured image is formed. The image-exposed light-receiving sheet 34 is sent to the buffer section at the upper right portion of the exposure position 90 by the suspension roller 78 moving in the direction of arrow 1. Arrow of suspended roller 78! The movement in the direction is continued until the light-receiving sheet 78 is pulled out by the size of the image to be formed and the exposure is completed (n2-n3), and when the exposure is completed, the clutch 8 of the drive mechanism of the suspension roller 78 and the motor 1 are moved. is turned off and withdrawal is stopped (n4). In addition,
At this time, the rear end of the formed image (selectively cured image) is located at the exposure position 90.

When the suspension roller 78 stops pulling out the light-receiving sheet 34, the solenoid 35e of the supply shaft 35 is turned off, and the supply shaft 35 cannot rotate in the direction of the arrow, and the light-receiving sheet 34 is no longer pulled out (n5). and n
At step 6, the clutch for driving the upper pressure roller 32 is turned on, and the upper and lower pressure rollers 32 and 33 are rotated by a drive system (not shown), and the suspension roller 78 is pulled by the light-receiving sheet and moves in the direction of arrow J. Then, the light-receiving sheet in the buffer section is conveyed to the image forming position 91 between the upper and lower pressure rollers 32 and 33, overlapped with the image-receiving sheet 46a (46b), and pressed. As a result, the uncured photosensitive microcapsules of the light-receiving sheet are destroyed, and the colorless dye power that flows out (the developing material of the image-receiving sheet develops color and forms an image on the image-receiving sheet. By locking the supply shaft 35 of the roll, the light-receiving sheet is reliably prevented from being fed from the media roll, but by adjusting the load on the supply shaft 35, the locking mechanism of the supply shaft is It gets better all the time.Suspension roller 7
The movement in the direction of arrow J of 8 is the home position sensor 81.
This continues until the switch is turned on (n7).

Suspension roller 78 to the position of home position sensor 81
When the solenoid 35 of the supply shaft 35 moves, the solenoid 35 of the supply shaft 35
e is turned on, the supply shaft 35 is unlocked (n8), and the light-receiving sheet 34 is rotated by the upper and lower pressure rollers 32 and 33.
is pulled out and overlapped with the image receiving sheet 46a (46b) and pressurized (n8→n9). The light-receiving sheet 34 is pulled out until at least the rear end of the selectively cured image on the light-receiving sheet passes through the image forming position 91 (n1
0), light-receiving sheet 34. image receiving sea) 46a (46b
) When the pressurization of both is completed, the driving clutch of the upper pressure roller 32 is turned off, and the rotation of the upper and lower pressure rollers 32 and 33 is stopped. At this time, the solenoid 35e of the supply shaft 35 of the media roll is also turned off, and the supply shaft is turned off. Locked (nil).

Image forming processing is performed as described above. Note that this processing procedure is based on the light-receiving sheet conveyance control method described in claim (1) of the present invention, in which n2° and n3 are in the first step, and n4. n6. n7 in the second step, and then n9
．． nlo corresponds to the third step, respectively.

FIG. 2 shows the suspension roller 78 during the copying process according to the light-receiving sheet conveyance control method according to claim (2) of the present invention. It is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the upper and lower pressure rollers 32 and 33.

The same processing as n1 to n3 in FIG. 1 is performed for n21 to n23. However, even after the end of exposure, the suspended roller 7
8 moves in the direction of arrow 1 and the light-receiving sheet 34 corresponding to the image size is sent to the buffer section, that is, at the end of exposure, the light-receiving sheet 34 is located at the exposure position 90 (rear end of the selectively cured image). When the motor 1. is sent to the buffer section by the suspension roller 78, the motor 1. The clutch 8 is turned off, the suspension roller 78 is stopped, the solenoid 35e is turned off, and the media roll supply shaft 35 is locked (n24-n25→n
26→n27).

When the suspension roller 78 stops, the solenoid 35e of the supply shaft 35 is turned off to lock the supply shaft 35, connect the clutch of the upper pressure roller 32 to rotate the pressure rollers 32 and 33, and at the same time turn the suspension roller 78 into a light receiving state. Pressure transfer is performed by moving the sheet in the direction of arrow J using the tensile force of the sheet (
n27-=n28). When the home position sensor 81 that detects the suspension roller 78 is turned on (n29), this indicates that the pressure transfer to the rear end of the selectively cured image on the light receiving sheet 34 has been completed, so the clutch of the upper pressure roller 32 is turned on. Turn off to stop the pressure roller.

In addition, the above n22. n23 is the first step, and n24.
n25 is the second step, further n28. n29 represents the third step.

Furthermore, "means for locking the supply shaft of the media roll when conveying the light-receiving sheet of the buffer section to the image forming position" corresponds to n5 or n27 (g) Effect of the invention According to this invention, during exposure Since the conveyance speed of the light-receiving sheet and the conveyance speed of the light-receiving sheet during image formation can be individually set to the optimum speed, deterioration of the formed image can be prevented and good image formation can be performed. There are advantages that can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are flowcharts showing a photoreceptive sheet conveyance processing procedure representing a method of controlling the conveyance of a photoreceptor sheet of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a schematic front configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus using a photoreceptor sheet, and FIG. The figure is a perspective view showing the vicinity of a suspension roller for conveying a light-receiving sheet used in the image forming apparatus, FIG. 5 is a plan view of a drive mechanism that drives the suspension roller, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a locking mechanism;
) is a front view, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control section of the image forming apparatus. 1 - Motor, 2 to 7 - Gear, 8 - Clutch, 9 - Torque limiter, 15 - Take-up roller, 35 - Supply shaft (of the media roll), 35e - Solenoid, 35f - Spring, 78 - Suspension roller.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A first step of supplying the light-receiving sheet of the media roll to the exposure position and performing image-forming exposure, and conveying the exposed light-receiving sheet to the buffer section, and after the image-forming exposure is completed, the light-receiving sheet image in the buffer section. A second step of transporting the light-receiving sheet to a forming position; and a third step of transporting the light-receiving sheet between the exposure position and the image forming position to the image forming position after the light-receiving sheet has been transported in the buffer section. Sheet conveyance control method. (2) A first step of supplying the light-receiving sheet of the media roll to the exposure position and performing image-forming exposure, and conveying the exposed light-receiving sheet to the buffer section; A light-receiving sheet conveyance control method comprising: a second step of conveying the light-receiving sheet to the buffer section; and a third step of conveying the light-receiving sheet in the buffer section to an image forming position. (3) Claim 1 or 2 further comprises means for locking the supply shaft of the media roll when the light-receiving sheet in the buffer section is conveyed to the image forming position.
The photoreceptive sheet conveyance control method described in .