JPH02147352A - Recording head and recording device using the recording head - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a recording head that generates heat when energized and a recording device using the recording head, and more specifically to a recording head that can be used in printers, copying machines, facsimile machines, etc. and a recording device.

<Prior Art> In recent years, with the rapid development of the information industry, various information processing systems have been developed, and recording devices suitable for each information processing system have also been developed.

One of the above-mentioned recording devices is a thermal transfer recording device. In this method, recording is performed on a recording paper using an ink ribbon made by coating a ribbon-shaped support with a heat-melt ink made by dispersing a colorant in a heat-melt binder.

That is, the ink ribbons are stacked so that their heat-melting ink layers are in contact with the recording paper, and the ink ribbon and the recording paper are conveyed between a thermal head and a platen, and the ink ribbon is transferred from the support side of the ink ribbon to the thermal head. By applying pulse-shaped heat according to the image signal and pressing the two together and transferring the molten ink to the recording paper, an ink image corresponding to the heat application is recorded on the recording paper. .

The above recording apparatus has been widely used in recent years because it is small and lightweight, makes no noise, and can record on plain paper.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, conventional thermal transfer recording devices are not without problems.

The reason is that in conventional thermal transfer recording devices, the transfer recording performance, that is, the image quality, is greatly affected by the surface smoothness of the recording paper.
Although good image recording is performed on recording paper with high smoothness, there is a possibility that the quality of image recording will deteriorate when recording paper with low smoothness is used.

Furthermore, when attempting to obtain a multicolor image with a conventional thermal transfer recording device, it is necessary to repeat transfer to overlap the colors. For this purpose, it is necessary to install multiple thermal heads or make complicated movements such as stopping and reversing the recording paper, which not only makes color misalignment unavoidable, but also makes the entire device large and complicated. There are challenges.

Therefore, the present applicant used a photothermal-sensitive material, and when thermal energy and light energy were applied, the reaction of the material rapidly proceeded and the transfer characteristics changed irreversibly. proposed a technology to form an image based on the difference in characteristics according to the image signal and transfer it to a recording medium (Japanese Patent Application No. 1200-1983).
No. 80, No. 60-120081 No. 8 No. 60-13141
No. 1, No. 60-134831, No. 60-150597
No. 60-199926, JP-A-62-1741
No. 95 (published July 30, 1939), etc.).

According to this technology, it is possible to record high-quality images even on recording media with low surface smoothness, and when applied to multicolor recording, it is possible to make complex movements on the recording medium. It is possible to obtain multi-colored images without any problems.

An object of the present invention is to further develop the above-described technology, and to provide a recording head that can record clear images by preventing local temperature rise when applying thermal energy, and a recording head using the recording head. The purpose of this invention is to provide a writing device.

The means for this purpose is characterized in that a plurality of heating elements that generate heat when energized are arranged in a line, and holes are provided in the heating elements to constitute a recording head.

Further, as a recording apparatus using the recording head, a conveying means for conveying a transfer recording medium having a transfer recording layer whose transfer characteristics change by applying thermal energy and light energy, and provided along the conveyance path of the transfer recording medium being conveyed;
a recording section having a recording head configured as described above for applying thermal energy to the transfer recording layer, a light irradiation means for applying optical energy, and transferring an image formed in the recording section to a recording medium. The present invention is characterized in that it is configured by providing a transfer section for performing the transfer.

According to the above means, since the hole is formed in the heating element, when the heating element is energized to generate heat, a local temperature rise in the central part of the heating element is suppressed, and the heat is reduced. The application is applied almost uniformly over the entire heating element. Therefore, when an image is recorded using the recording head, the transfer recording medium can be effectively heated and clear recording can be performed.

Furthermore, when recording is performed using a transfer recording medium that reacts when thermal energy and light energy are applied, the heat application by the recording head is performed approximately evenly over the entire heating element, so that the transfer The reaction efficiency of the recording medium is increased, the energy application time is shortened, and clear images can be obtained.

<Example> Next, an example of the present invention to which the above means is applied will be described in detail.

[First example]

FIG. 1(A) is a cross-sectional schematic explanatory view of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 1(B) is a perspective explanatory view. In the figure, 1 is a long sheet-shaped transfer recording medium. The supply roll 2 is wound into a roll and is detachably incorporated into the apparatus main body M as a supply roll 2.

That is, this supply roll 2 is removably loaded onto a rotatable shaft 2a provided in the main body M of the apparatus.

Therefore, first, the leading edge of this transfer recording medium l is placed on the supply roll 2.
Guide roller 12a, recording head 3 forming recording section 3
A and a guide roller 12b, and a peeling roller 5. The direction of the winding roll 6 is changed by the guide roller 12c.
, and its tip is locked onto the take-up roll 6 by means such as a gripper (not shown). Thereafter, by driving and rotating the transfer roller 4a while applying torque to the take-up roll 6 in the direction of arrow C using a known driving means,
Transfer recording medium l is fed out in the direction of arrow a.

In synchronization with this feeding, the recording unit 3 transfers the transfer recording medium 1
An image is formed by selectively applying thermal energy and light energy of a predetermined wavelength to the recording paper 8, which is superimposed on the recording paper 8 as a recording medium in the transfer section 4, and the image is transferred to the recording paper 8 by applying heat and pressure. Transfer to. Further, the transfer recording medium 1 after image transfer is wound up on a take-up roll 6, and the recording paper 8 is discharged onto a discharge tray 11 by a pair of discharge rollers 13a and 13b.

It consists of

Incidentally, when winding up the transfer recording medium 1, a constant pack tension is applied to the supply roll 2 by a known means such as a hysteresis brake (not shown).
Due to this tension and the guide rollers 12a and 12b, the transfer recording medium 1 is conveyed while being pressed against the recording head 3a with a constant pressure and at a constant angle.

Next, the configuration of each of the above sections will be explained in detail.

First, the transfer recording medium 1 is a transfer recording medium 1 having the property of forming an image when both thermal energy and light energy are applied to a sheet-like support la, as shown in FIG.
An example of this is given by attaching J1b.
In this example, the components shown in Table 1 below were used as the core 1b+ of the transfer recording layer 1b, the components shown in Table 2 as the core 1b, and the components shown in Table 3 as the core lb. A microcapsule-shaped image forming element is formed by this method.

Table 2 First, 100 g of water and 26 g of isopylene-maleic anhydride copolymer (Isopan-10, manufactured by Kureha Chemical Co., Ltd.) were mixed, log of sodium hydroxide was added, and the mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 6 hours. After cooling to room temperature, 700 g of a 3.1% pectin aqueous solution was mixed therewith and stirred for 20 minutes. 200g of the above isopane-pectin mixture
% sulfuric acid solution to 4.0, added 0.2 g of Quadrol (manufactured by BASF), and while stirring this with a homomixer at 3000 rpm, added the ingredients shown in Tables 1 to 3 above. A solution prepared by dissolving 20 g of chloroform in 30 g of chloroform is added over 10 to 15 seconds, and emulsification is continued for 10 minutes.

Further, the emulsion was transferred to a 500-bar beaker and continued to be stirred using a stirring blade for 1 to 2 hours to distill off the solvent.

Next, 8.3 g of urea solution (50% by weight), 0.4 g of resorcinol dissolved in 5 g of water, and 10.7 g of formalin (
37%) and 0.6 g of ammonium sulphate dissolved in 10 M1 water are added at 2 minute intervals.

After raising the temperature to 60'C and continuing stirring for 3 hours, the temperature was lowered and the pH was adjusted to 12.0 with 20% caustic soda solution.The capsule liquid was filtered and washed twice with 100ONi water. Drying is performed to obtain a microcapsule-shaped image forming element.

The image forming element is core 1 b+ in Tables 1 to 3.
, 1 bz, 1 bs are coated with a shell lbn and formed into microcapsules with a particle size of 7 to 15 ps and an average particle size of about 10-.

The image forming element thus formed is adhered onto a support la using an adhesive 1bs to obtain a transfer recording medium l.

To explain the above attachment method in more detail, for example, the polyester adhesive Polyester-LP manufactured by Nippon Gosei Kagaku Kogyo
An adhesive 1bs prepared by dissolving 3 cc of toluene in -022 (solid content 50%) Ice is applied onto a support la made of a 6 μm thick polyethylene terephthalate film. After that, remove the solvent by drying and reduce the thickness to about 1 p.
Make it m. This adhesive 1bs has a glass transition point of 115°.
Since it is C, a slight tack remains even at room temperature, and the image forming element formed as described above can be easily attached to the support 1a.

Next, a microcapsule-shaped image forming element using the materials shown in Tables 1 to 3 as core materials obtained as above was prepared.
Mix at a ratio of 1:1 and sprinkle this on to adhere.

Thereafter, when excess image forming elements are brushed off, the image forming elements are arranged on the adhesion layer in approximately one layer and at a rate of 90%.

Thereafter, a pressure of about 1 kgf/CJj and thermal energy of about 80° C. are applied to firmly fix the image forming element on the support la, thereby forming a transfer recording medium l.

The photoinitiator in the image-forming element shown in Table 1 has the absorption characteristics shown in FIG. 3 in the band of graph A (peak wavelength 29
The photoinitiator in the image forming element shown in Table 2 has a wavelength of 389 nm (peak wavelength of 389 nm) and starts a reaction by absorbing light of 389 nm). ), the reaction starts, and the color becomes cyan when forming an image.The photoinitiator in the image forming element shown in Table 3 has a wavelength of 458 nm (peak wavelength: 458 nm). ) absorbs light and starts a reaction, resulting in a yellow color when forming an image.

The transfer recording layer 1b has response characteristics as shown in the graph of FIG. 4 with respect to the application of thermal energy and light energy. FIG. 4 shows the sensitivity as the reciprocal of the temperature at which the image forming element is reacted and cured and the time required for applying light energy for curing. As is clear from this graph, the reaction sensitivity of the transfer recording layer 1b according to this example increases as the temperature rises up to about 80"C, but the reaction sensitivity peaks at about 80"C (light energy application time -501 m5), and at a temperature higher than that, the reaction sensitivity decreases again (note that the peak temperature differs depending on the type of image forming element). Therefore, the transfer recording layer 1 is
When thermal energy is applied to the head 3a, it is preferable to set the heat generation temperature of the head 3a to about 80°C.

Next, the recording section 3 will be explained.

In this embodiment, the recording unit 3 includes a heating means for applying thermal energy, which is first energy, to the transfer recording medium 1, and a heating means, which also applies light energy, which is second energy, to the transfer recording medium 1. It consists of a light irradiation means for

In this embodiment, the heating means is constituted by a recording head 3a. As shown in FIG. 5, the configuration of the recording head 3a according to this embodiment is such that 1728 heating elements 3b each having a width of 0.2@cm are arranged in a line on a substrate 3a+ at a density of 8 dots/1 m. It is configured as a line type recording head for A4 size.

A signal electrode 3al is connected to the large end of each heating element 3b, and a common electrode 3as is connected to the other end, and by energizing the signal type m3az according to the image signal, the heating element 3b individually generates heat. Further, a hole 3b consisting of a through hole having a diameter of 0.02u+ is bored in the center of each heating element 3b.

As described above, the recording head 3a having the above configuration is configured such that the support la side of the transfer recording medium 1 is pressed against the heating element 3b with a predetermined pressure due to the pack tension during conveyance. The image signal is generated from a control unit of a facsimile, an image scanner, an electronic blackboard, or the like, depending on the purpose.

In the case of a heating element that does not have the hole 3b, when it is energized to generate heat, a temperature distribution occurs in which the temperature at the center of the heating element per pixel is higher than the surrounding temperature. On the other hand, when the hole 3b is formed at the center of the heating element 3b as described above, the temperature rise at the center of the heating element 3b is suppressed, and the transfer recording medium 1 has only one heating element per pixel. Heating is performed generally evenly as a whole.

On the other hand, a light irradiation means is provided on the transfer recording layer lb side facing the recording head 3a. This light irradiation means is made of glass (manufactured by 5CHOTT of West Germany) with a thickness of 2 mm and an inner diameter of 40 mm, which has the characteristics shown in Figure 6 as a spectral transmittance.
Rotating body 3 made of a cylinder made of product name [IUllAN 50]
c is rotatably supported by three pairs of rollers 3d, 3e, and 3f, and is configured to rotate at a constant speed by driving and rotating the rollers 3d by a motor.

Moreover, three types of phosphors A, B,
In this example, Ca(POn)z:Tl (thallium-activated calcium phosphate) is applied as the main component of the phosphor A, in which C is applied in stripes of 120 degrees (three equal parts) in the circumferential direction. and as the main component of phosphor B (Sr1
Mg)zPzot:Using Eu (europium-activated strontium magnesium pyrophosphate), phosphor C
Ba, MgAl+bOzt:Eu (
Eurohyum activated barium magnesium aluminate)
is used.

A light source 3g is disposed inside the rotating body 3c to reduce glare R.
The phosphors A, B, and C are configured to emit light when 3g is turned on. In this embodiment, a low-pressure mercury lamp is used as the light source 3g, and when this light source 3g is turned on, the phosphor A emits light as shown in graph A (peak wavelength 335n+w) in FIG.
, phosphor B has graph B (peak wavelength 390n) in Figure 7.
m), phosphor C is shown in graph C in Figure 7 (peak wavelength 45
It emits light with a spectral distribution of 0 nm). The light emitted by the phosphors A, B, and C passes through a slit 3I with a width of 0.5 mm formed in the light shielding plate 3h and reaches the transfer recording layer 1.
irradiate b.

Therefore, when the rotating body 3c is rotated and light is irradiated from the light source 3g, the phosphors A, B, and C are excited and emit light in order, and the light 7 with different spectral distribution passes through the slit 31 and hits the transfer recording layer 1b. irradiated in sequence.

Here, a control configuration for controlling the rotational speed and phase of the rotating body 3C will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 1(B), the rotating body 3c has a large number of light shielding parts 14a formed in stripes at regular intervals on the circumference near the end, and one light shielding part 14a' of the light shielding parts 14a' is formed on the circumference near the end. It is formed wider than the light shielding part 14a. Further, a light emitting member 14b such as an LED is disposed inside the rotating body 3c so as to sandwich the light shielding portion 14a, and a light receiving member 14c such as a photodiode is disposed outside.

From the above configuration, when the rotating body 3C is rotating at a constant speed, the signal obtained from the light receiving member 14c is as shown in FIG. 8(A).
It will be as shown below. Note that the level r low j shown in FIG. 8(A) is a state in which the light from the light emitting member 14b passes through the rotating body 3c and is received by the light receiving member 14c, and the level r high 1 is a state in which the light is blocked by the light blocking member 14a. , the light is not received by the light receiving member 14c.

Therefore, since the frequency of the rising edge of the signal appears as the rotational speed of the rotating body 3c, it is possible to control the rotational speed of the rotating body 3c by detecting and controlling this.

In addition, in phase control, when the integral waveform of FIG. 8 (8) is obtained, it becomes as shown in FIG. becomes higher. Therefore, the Mazenkline synchronization signal, cyan line synchronization signal, yellow line synchronization signal, video clock, strobe signal, enable signal, etc., which will be described later, are created based on the timing when the peak value becomes high, and the first r high of the enable signal is generated. During the period j, the phosphor A of the rotating body 3c faces the transfer recording layer 1b through the slit 31, and during the period of the second "r high" of the enable signal, the phosphor B faces, and during the third period of the enable signal. The phosphors C may be controlled to face each other during the r-high j period, and this may be repeated sequentially for the r-high j of the enable signal.

Therefore, in this embodiment, PLL (Phase Lo) is used to rotate the rotating body 3c at a constant speed and phase.
cked Looρ) motor driver 27 is used.

To explain this PLL control 'B method using a block diagram, as shown in FIG.
Control 0scillator) 28, a phase comparator 27a, and a low-pass filter 27c,
In FIG. 9, the light source motor 28a and F G (Freq
28b is the V
Corresponds to C028. The light source motor 28a is a motor that drives the roller 3d that supports the rotating body 3C, and the FG 28b is the output of the light receiving member 14C.

In this embodiment, the phase comparison output of the output of the FG 28b and the motor clock is obtained from the phase comparator 27a, and in order to further stabilize the system, the output of the FC 28b is integrated by the monostable multivibrator 27b, and the output and phase are compared. The difference between the outputs of the
It is added to VC028 through d.

Also, in FIG. 9, the lock detector 27e is the phase comparator 27a.
This is to detect whether the system is in a synchronous state from the signals from the Also, the output of FC28b is the integrator 27f
The waveform (corresponding to FIG. 8(B)) is shaped by a waveform shaper 27g to obtain a rotational phase reference signal.

Next, the transfer section 4 will be explained.

This transfer section 4 is disposed downstream of the recording section 3 in the conveyance direction of the transfer recording medium l, and includes a transfer roller 4a that is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG.
and a pressure roller 4b that is in pressure contact with and rotates as a result of rotation.

The transfer roller 4a is composed of an aluminum roller whose surface is coated with silicone rubber having a thickness of 70 degrees and a hardness of 70 degrees, and the surface is maintained at a temperature of 90 to 100 degrees Celsius by a built-in 800W halogen heater 4c. It is configured.

The pressure roller 4b is made of an aluminum roller coated with silicone rubber having a hardness of 70 degrees to a thickness of 11 mm, and the pressing force against the transfer roller 4a is 6 to 7 kgf/am by a pressure means (not shown) such as a spring. It is set to be.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1(A), recording paper 8, which is a recording medium, is stacked and stored in the cassette 7.
is the feed roller 9. The recording paper 8 is fed one by one by a pair of registration rollers 10a and 10b, and the leading edge of the fed recording paper 8 is detected by a registration sensor 26 consisting of an LED 26a and a phototransistor 26b, and the feeding timing is controlled. The image area of the recording medium 1 and the recording paper 8 are synchronously fed to the transfer section 4 so that they overlap.

Therefore, in the transfer section 4, pressure and heat are applied to the transfer recording medium 1 and the recording paper 8 when they pass between the rollers 4a and 4b.

Next, a recording method when recording is performed using the recording apparatus configured as described above will be explained.

Note that this embodiment shows an example in which heat is applied in accordance with an image signal and light is applied uniformly.

An image is formed by driving the motor to sequentially feed out the transfer recording medium 1 from the supply roll 2, and applying light and heat to the transfer recording layer 1b of the transfer recording medium 1 in the recording section 3 according to the image signal. . The transfer recording layer 1'b has a property that when light and heat of a predetermined wavelength are applied, the softening point temperature increases, that is, the transfer characteristics change irreversibly, and the layer is no longer transferred to the recording paper 8. ing.

Therefore, as shown in the timing chart of FIG.
When recording magenta color, the heating element 3 corresponding to the complementary color of magenta of the image signal, that is, the green image signal, is selected from among the heating element rows.
energize b for 9ms and at the same time light source 3g for 9m
s lights up. At this time, the phosphor A of the rotating body 3C is facing the transfer recording layer 1b where the third slit is located, and the seventh
The transfer recording layer 1b is uniformly irradiated with light energy having a spectral distribution shown in graph A in the figure.

Next, for cyan color recording, 50 as after the start of energization to the heating element 3b in the magenta color recording, 17 m5 of current is applied to the complementary color of cyan, that is, the part corresponding to the red image signal in the heating element array. At the same time, 17 m5 of light sources 3g are turned on. At this time, the phosphor B of the rotating body 3c is facing the transfer recording layer 1b located in the slit 31, and the light energy of the spectral distribution shown in graph B in FIG. 7 is uniformly applied to the transfer recording layer 1b. Ru.

Next, for yellow color recording, 50 m5 after the start of energization to the heating element 3b in the cyan color recording, 30 m5 of current is applied to the complementary color of yellow, that is, the part corresponding to the blue image signal in the heating element array. At the same time, the light source 3g is turned on 301IIs. At this time, slit 3
The transfer recording layer 1b located at 1 has a phosphor C of the rotating body 3c.
are facing each other, and light energy having a spectral distribution shown in graph C in FIG. 7 is uniformly applied to the transfer recording layer 1b.

In the manner described above, a transfer image is formed on the transfer recording layer 1b by controlling the heat generation of the heating element 3b, the rotation of the rotating body 3c, and the lighting of the light iE (3g) according to the image signals of complementary colors of magenta, cyan, and yellow. 150 m5/Li for this image formation.
The transfer recording medium is conveyed in synchronization with a repetition period of n5.

In heating the transfer recording layer 1b, a hole 3b+ is provided in the heating element 3b of the recording head 3a, and the heating element 3b is heated.
Since the local temperature rise in the central part of the transfer recording layer 1b is suppressed, when the heat generating element 3b per pixel generates heat, the heat generating element part is heated to a substantially uniform temperature, and the transfer recording layer 1b
will be heated evenly. Therefore, by setting the temperature at a temperature at which the reaction sensitivity of the transfer recording layer 1b peaks (approximately 80° C. in this example), the transfer recording layer 1b reacts efficiently.

Here, a control system according to this embodiment for performing the above recording operation will be specifically explained with reference to FIGS. 11 to 17. Furthermore, Fig. 11 is a block diagram of the control system, Figs. 12 and 13 are timing charts of recording operation, and Fig. 14 is a block diagram of the control system.
15 is a sequence table for sending each signal, FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the recording operation, and FIG. 17 is a circuit diagram of the temperature control system of the transfer roller 4a.

As shown in FIG. 11, this control system includes, for example, a CPU 20a such as a microprocessor. Pig CPU 20a (7) ROM 20b that stores control programs and various data
, a control unit 20, an interface 2L, an operation panel 2, which is used as a work area for the CPU 20a, and includes a RAM 20c for temporarily storing various data, etc.
2, an image forming timing generator 23, a feeding motor driver 24, a transport motor driver 25, a registration sensor 26, a PLL motor driver 27, and a light source lighting device 29.

The control unit 20 receives various information (for example, recording density, number of recording sheets,
recording size, etc.), a signal from the registration sensor 26, a magenta line synchronization signal generated by the image forming timing generator 23, and a lock detection signal from the PLL motor driver 27. Further, the control unit 20 turns on the feed motor 30 via the interface 21.
A signal, a motor ON signal for the transport motor 31, a page signal, and a light source motor ON signal are output.

The image forming timing generator 23 divides the clock of the internal crystal oscillator and generates various signals (magenta line synchronization signal, cyan line synchronization signal, yellow line synchronization signal, page synchronization signal, video clock, enable signal, strobe signal, Light source ON signal.

motor reference clock, etc.).

The magenta line synchronization signal, cyan line synchronization signal, and yellow line synchronization signal have a cycle of 15 as shown in FIG.
At 0m5, the duty ratio is 1/3 and the phase is 120°.
The signal is out of sync. Also, the magenta line synchronization signal is PL
It is created based on the rotational phase reference signal from the L motor driver 27. Then, a page signal sent from the control unit 20 via the interface 21 is latched at the rising edge of the magenta line synchronization signal to generate a page synchronization signal.

The video clock is a signal that generates a 36 KHz clock from the rising edge of the magenta, cyan, and yellow line synchronization signals, and stops after generating 1728 (approximately 48811) clocks.

Further, an external image signal generator (for example, a facsimile, an image scanner, an electronic blackboard, etc.) 32 receives a page synchronization signal from the image forming timing generator 23, magenta, cyan,
After receiving the yellow line synchronization signal and video blackout, from the time the page synchronization signal becomes r high j, when the magenta line synchronization signal is r high 1, a magenta image signal is generated, and when the cyan line synchronization signal is r high 1, a cyan image signal is generated. Similarly, when the yellow line synchronization signal is "r high", 1728 yellow image signals are sent out in synchronization with the video clock.

Furthermore, a strobe signal is generated which becomes "high 1" during the rhighj period of the magenta, cyan, or yellow line synchronization signal, during which the video clock is at rest.

The enable signal starts from the first cyan line synchronization signal when the page synchronization signal becomes "r high," and repeats 9 S, 17 m5, and r high 1 of 30 m5 sequentially from the rising edge of the cyan, yellow, and magenta line synchronizing signals. The process ends with the occurrence of 30m5 rhigh 1 within the period of rhighj of the first magenta line synchronization signal when the page synchronization signal becomes rlowj. This enable signal corresponds to the energization signal to the heating element 3b corresponding to the image signal shown in FIG.

Further, the image forming timing generator 23 generates a light source ON signal. The light source ON signal starts from the rising edge of the cyan line synchronization signal, and every 9 rising edge of each enable signal.
Repeat r high 1 in the order of 抛S, 17+ms, 3 抛S.

Furthermore, the image forming timing generator 23 generates a motor reference clock for creating a motor clock to be given to the PLL motor driver 27. This clock is 6kll
The motor clock is a continuous clock of Z and is given to the PLL motor driver 27 via a switch controlled by a light source motor ON signal sent from the control section 20 via the interface 21.

The recording head 3a takes in an image signal from an external image signal generator 32 into a shift register inside the head using a video clock from an image forming timing generator 23. is latched in a latch register in the head by a strobe signal from the image forming timing generator 23, and then energized to the heating element 3b according to the image signal in the latch register by an enable signal from the image forming timing generator 23, and shifted at the same time as the energization. The next image signal is taken into the register by the video clock.

Further, the lighting device 29 of the light source 3g receives an AND signal of the ON signal of the light source 3g from the image forming timing generator 23 and the ON signal of the light source motor from the interface 21, and when the signal is "r high", the light source 3g is turned on. Turn on 3g.

As shown in FIG. 9, the PLL motor driver 27 drives the light source motor 28a so that the input motor clock and the output from the light receiving member 14c (FIG. 8(A)) are synchronized in phase. Furthermore, this PLL motor driver 27 sends a lock detection signal to the control unit 20 via the interface 21 to notify that phase synchronization is applied, and to the image forming timing generator 23, the rotation body 3c is synchronized with the line synchronization signal. A rotational phase reference signal is sent to match the rotational phase.

In addition, in this embodiment, the light shielding part 14a on the rotating body 3c.

The number of 14a' is 900, and if the light source motor 28a is in phase synchronization state by the PLL motor driver 27, the motor clock is 6 kHz as described above.
Therefore, the rotating body 3C rotates at a speed of 150 ss per revolution.

An image is formed on the transfer recording medium 1 by the control described above.

Next, conveyance control of the transfer recording medium 1 and the recording paper 8 for transferring the image formed on the transfer recording medium 1 onto the recording paper 8 will be explained.

The feed motor driver 24 is connected to the interface 21
When the feed motor ON signal from the control unit 2G is r high 1, the feed motor 30 is driven, and the feed roller 9 and the registration roller pair 10a, 10b are rotated to rotate the recording paper 8.
is transported at a constant speed.

Further, the conveyance motor driver 25 is configured to turn on the conveyance motor from the control unit 20 via the interface 21.
When the signal is "T high", the conveyance motor 31 is driven to rotate the transfer roller 4a, and the pressure roller 4 rotates as a result of this.
The transfer recording medium 1 and recording paper 8 are conveyed at a constant speed by the cooperative action with b.

Here, the timing of each signal sent by the control section 20 via the interface 21 is as shown in FIG.

Incidentally, when the time T and ~T4 in FIG. 13 are given by the distance between each member as shown in FIG. This is the time required for

L: Conveyance distance of the transfer recording medium 1 from the recording head 3a to the pressure contact portion between the transfer roller 4a and the pressure roller 4b.

Lo: Conveyance distance of the transfer recording medium l from the pressure contact portion to the peeling roller 5.

and; transportation distance of the recording paper 8 from the registration sensor 26 to the pressure contact portion.

T1: Distance of transfer recording medium 1, -L, fffltl
Time required to send fR.

T2: Time required to convey the recording paper 8 a distance of .

T: Length of recording paper 8 (for example, 29 for A4 size)
The time required to convey the transfer recording medium 1 by 7 mm).

T: Time required to transport the transfer recording medium l a distance # of +t, t.

That is, when the operator presses the start button on the operation panel 22, the feeding motor 30 is driven, feeds the recording paper 8, and stops driving when the leading edge of the recording paper 8 touches the registration sensor 26. At this point, the rotating body 3C rotated by the light source motor 28a is phase-synchronized by the control described above. Next, the conveyance motor 31 is driven to move the transfer recording medium 1 toward the direction indicated by the arrow a in FIG.
At the same time, the page signal becomes r high 1 during the time BTs, and a transfer image forming process is performed in the recording section 3.

The conveyance motor 31 stops after the image forming time T has elapsed and further after a time T4 has elapsed.

Incidentally, the feeding motor 30 moves the transfer recording medium 1 for a time T after the start of conveyance, and after a time T! The recording paper 8 is conveyed at the same speed as the transfer recording medium 1, and then stopped. As a result, the leading edge of the recording paper 8 matches the leading edge of the transfer image formed on the transfer recording medium 1 in the transfer section 4, and is conveyed by the drive of the conveyance motor 31 while being in close contact with the transfer recording medium 1.

Here, the operation of the control section 20 that sends out each signal as shown in FIG. 13 will be explained. The control section 20 inputs the magenta line synchronization signal via the interface 21, and counts the number of signals using a software counter. That is, since the magenta line synchronization signal has a frequency of 150 as described above, the control section 20 can manage time by counting the signal.

The control unit 20 has a sequence table as shown in FIG. 15 inside, and when the registration sensor signal is r high.
Then, while counting magenta line synchronization signals, sequentially refer to the sequence table
Sends N signal, transport motor ON signal, page signal,
The drive of each member is controlled by each signal.

In this embodiment, the sequence table has a 3-bit configuration as shown in FIG. 15, and consists of a total of 3217 words from the 0th to the 3216th word. Bit 1 corresponds to the transport motor ON signal, and bit 2 corresponds to the page signal.

In addition, the numbers in parentheses at the top of Fig. 13 indicate the magenta line synchronization signal at the time when the registration sensor signal becomes "r high" as number 0, and the number of the magenta line synchronization signal at each time point (signal number). number).

Next, a series of operations of the control unit 20 having the above-mentioned functions will be explained using the flowchart of FIG. 16. First, in step S1, it is detected whether or not the start button on the operation panel is pressed. If so, proceed to step S2, send the feeding motor ON signal, and then proceed to step S2.
At step 3, send the light source motor ON signal. Next step S
Step S4 waits for the registration sensor signal to become r-high 1, and when the signal becomes r-high, the process moves to step S5 and waits for the lock detection signal from the PLL motor driver 27 to become r-high 1. That is, it waits for phase synchronization of the rotating body 3C, and when the lock detection signal becomes "r high", the process moves to step S6 and O is substituted into R indicating the rask number of the sequence table.

Next, in step S7, the magenta line synchronization signal is set to r low.
After that, in step S8, the magenta synchronization signal becomes "r high", thereby detecting the rising edge of the magenta line synchronization signal.

When the edge is detected, the process moves to step S9, and the Rth position in the sequence table is referred to.
Bit 1 and bit 2 of bit 7 are sent as a feed motor ON signal, a transport motor ON signal, and a page signal.

Next, the process moves to step 510 and 1 is added to the value of R, and in step 311 it is detected whether the value of R is greater than 3216. If the value of R is smaller than or equal to 3216, the process returns to step S7 to continue recording, and if it is larger, the process moves to step S12 to stop the light source motor 27a and end the recording.

The image formed as described above is transferred onto the recording paper 8 by applying heat and pressure in the transfer section 4.

Here, the temperature control structure in the transfer section 4 is constructed as shown in FIG. 17.

Thermistors T and I in FIG. 17 are arranged so as to be in contact with the surface of the transfer roller 4a, and the resistance value changes depending on the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a. It is converted into a voltage E, and compared with a reference voltage E0 by a comparator C0.The comparison output is a relay driver R.

energization of the halogen heater 4c from the power source E is controlled by the relay RL.

Here, the driving principle of the temperature control configuration will be described. The thermistor T8 has a property that the resistance value decreases as the temperature rises. Therefore, as the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a rises, the resistance value of the thermistor element decreases, and the voltage E! goes down. Conversely, if the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a decreases, the thermistor T,
The resistance value increases and the voltage E2 also increases. Therefore, the value of the reference voltage E0 is changed to the voltage E corresponding to the transfer roller 4a at 95°C.
By setting the value to 2, when the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a is lower than 95°C, the comparative output becomes "High 1".
The halogen heater 4C is energized, and the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a increases. On the other hand, when the temperature is higher than 95°C, the halogen heater 4C is not energized and the surface temperature decreases. Due to the above control, the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a is 90 to 100°.
It is held in C. This control system is constantly operating when the power switch of the apparatus is on, and is controlled so that the surface temperature of the transfer roller 4a reaches 90 to 100 DEG C. before the start button on the operation panel is pressed.

As described above, an image is formed on the transfer recording medium 1, and the image is transferred to the recording paper 8 in the transfer section 4 as a color image of magenta, cyan, and yellow.

After the image transfer, the transfer recording medium 1 and the recording paper 8 are separated by the peeling roller 5, and the recording paper 8 on which the image of the desired color has been recorded is discharged onto the discharge tray 11 by the discharge roller pair 13a, 13b. Further, the transfer recording medium l is wound up on a winding roll 6.

As described above, color recording can be efficiently performed in one shot.

[Comparative example]

In the recording apparatus of the first embodiment described above, when recording was performed in the same manner using the recording head in which the heat generating element 3b described above was not provided with the hole 3b, localized errors occurred in the central part of the heat generating element 3b. A significant temperature rise occurred, and the reaction sensitivity of the transfer recording layer 1b in this area decreased, resulting in a cloudy color, and a clear image could not be obtained.

Therefore, magenta, cyan, and
The energization time of the recording layer for yellow recording was increased to 10as, 20m5.35m5, and the light irradiation time was also increased to 10s, 20m5.35ss to lengthen the reaction time of the transfer recording layer tb, and the reaction time of the transfer recording layer tb was increased. When image formation was carried out in the same manner as in the example, a clear image similar to that of the first example was obtained.

That is, when there is a local temperature rise in the heat generating element, the reaction sensitivity of the transfer recording layer 1b in that area decreases, so that it is necessary to lengthen the image forming time in response to the decrease in sensitivity.

[Other Examples]

Next, other embodiments of each section, such as the transfer recording medium 1 and the recording section 3 described above, will be described.

(1) Transfer recording medium In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the transfer recording layer 1b made of a polymeric material containing a colorant is transferred by light energy and thermal energy.
Although an example has been shown in which the image is transferred and recorded onto the recording paper 8 by changing the softening point temperature of the recording paper 8, it is also possible to transfer and record the image depending on the adhesion characteristics or sublimation characteristics to the recording paper 8, or the recording The image is created by providing the transfer recording medium l with a layer that imparts color development to the paper 8 and changing the color development characteristics of the recording paper 8, and by transferring the image formed on the transfer recording medium l to the recording paper 8. It may be configured so that it can be obtained.

Furthermore, the first energy and the second energy applied to the transfer recording layer 1b are not limited to the above-mentioned heat and light energy, and for example, an image may be formed by using force energy such as pressure energy. .

In addition to the above-mentioned polyethylene terephthalate, for example, polyamide, polyimide, capacitor paper, cellophane paper, etc. can also be used as the material for the support 1a.

In addition, the image forming element forming the transfer recording layer 1b contains a sensitive component and a coloring component, and the sensitive component changes its physical properties when multiple energies such as light and thermal energy are applied. It is preferable to use a material that starts to respond or a material that rapidly changes the reaction rate of changes in physical properties.

The polymerization component contained in the sensitive component is a component that causes a polymerization reaction or a crosslinking reaction, such as sensitizer,
Oligomers or polymers may be mentioned.

Examples of the monomer or oligomer include polyvinyl cinnamate, p-methoxycinnamic acid-succinic acid half ester, etc., or those having a reactive group at the terminal or side chain of epoxy resin, unsaturated polyester resin, etc. It will be done.

Examples of the polymerizable monomer include ethylene glycol diacrylate and propylene glycol diacrylate.

Further, when using the above polymerizable monomer or oligomer, cellulose acetate succinate, methyl methacrylate-hydroxyethyl methanelylate copolymer, etc. may be included in order to improve layer-forming properties.

A reaction initiator is added as necessary to cause the reaction of the polymerization component.As the reaction initiator, radical initiators such as azo compounds, organic sulfur compounds, carkynyl compounds, and halogen compounds are preferable. .

In particular, in the structure of the transfer recording layer when a transferred image is formed by receiving both light and thermal energy, the reaction speed is determined by the reaction between the reaction initiator and the polymerization component, which act in response to the above-mentioned light energy. The type of reaction initiator and polymerization component should be selected so that the combination has a large temperature dependence.

For example, polymerizable prepolymers with functional groups such as methacrylic esters or acrylic ester copolymers,
Examples include a combination of a photosensitive crosslinking agent such as tetraethylene glycol diacrylate and a reaction initiator such as benzophenone and Michael's ketone.

The coloring component is a component contained in order to form an optically recognizable image, and various pigments and dyes are used as appropriate. Examples of such pigments and dyes include inorganic pigments such as carbon black and yellow lead, organic pigments such as Victoria Blue Lake and Fast Sky Blue, and colorants such as leuco dyes and phthalocyanine dyes.

In addition, the transfer recording layer 1b may contain stabilizers such as hydroquinone and p-methoxyphenol.

Furthermore, the transfer recording layer may contain a sensitizer such as p-nitroaniline or 1,2-benzoanthraquinone to enhance the activation of the reaction initiator with respect to energy.

Further, in addition to the coloring agent and the sensitive component, a resin, wax, or liquid crystal may be mixed as a binder in the transfer recording layer 1b.

Examples of the resin used as the binder include polyester resins, polyamide resins, and the like, and these resins may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Examples of wax binders include vegetable waxes such as candelilla wax and carnauba wax;
Animal waxes such as spermaceti wax, mineral waxes such as montan wax, or synthetic waxes made of fatty acids, fatty acid amides, esters, etc. can be used, and one or more of the above waxes may be mixed. May be used.

Further, examples of the liquid crystal used as a binder include cholesterol hexanoate, cholesterol decanoate, and the like.

When microcapsules are used in the image forming element constituting the transfer recording layer 1b, the core portion contains the above-mentioned materials, but the materials used for the wall material of the microcapsules include gelatin, gum arabic, Examples include cellulose-based materials such as nitrocellulose and ethylcellulose, and polymer-based materials such as polyethylene and polystyrene.

(2) Recording section In the first embodiment described above, in the recording section 3, light of a predetermined wavelength corresponding to a desired color is uniformly irradiated from the transfer recording layer 1b side of the transfer recording medium 1, and the support is Although the configuration is such that heat is applied from the 1a side in accordance with the image signal, another embodiment may be configured in which heat is applied uniformly and a predetermined light is irradiated in accordance with the image signal.

Furthermore, if the support 1a is made of a translucent material, the support 1a can be made of a transparent material.
A configuration may be adopted in which light is irradiated from the a side and heat is applied from the transfer recording layer 1b side.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, light irradiation and heat application were performed with the support 1a sandwiched between them, but image formation could also be achieved by separately performing both light irradiation and heat application from one side of the support 1a. It is possible.

Furthermore, as a heating means, although the above-described recording head 3a has a circular hole 3b formed in the center of the heating element 3b, the shape of the hole 3b+ need not be limited to a circular shape; It may be rectangular or the like.

Further, the hole 3b does not necessarily have to be located at the center of the heating element 3b, but may be provided at a position where heating by the heating element 3b is uniform.

Furthermore, the light irradiation means need not be limited to the method using the rotating body 3c described above. For example, a plurality of individual fluorescent lamps capable of emitting light corresponding to each wavelength may be provided, and each fluorescent lamp may be individually turned on in response to an image signal. Furthermore, in addition to the fluorescent lamp, for example, a method using an LED array, a method using a xenon lamp and a filter matching the light absorption characteristics of the material, etc. may be used.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, light energy and thermal energy were applied to the transfer recording layer 1b at the same time. However, even if the optical energy and thermal energy are applied separately, the result is that both energies are applied separately. Any configuration that is given is acceptable.

In the first embodiment described above, an example of color recording in magenta, cyan, and yellow was shown, but the characteristics of the transfer recording medium 1,
By selecting the heat and light energy application characteristics in the recording section 3, it is of course possible to perform one-color recording or two-color recording.

(3) Transfer section In the above embodiment, heat and pressure are applied in the transfer section 4, but the transfer section 4 may apply only pressure.

The transfer section 4 is not limited to a roller-like structure such as the transfer roller 4a and the pressure roller 4b, but may be any structure that can obtain a desired pressure, such as a rotating belt.

Furthermore, if necessary, a fixing means for fixing the image on the recording medium onto which the image has been transferred by the transfer section 4 may be provided downstream of the peeling roller 5 in the conveying direction of the recording medium.

(4) Recording medium The recording medium is not limited to the above-mentioned recording paper; for example, an overhead projector (OHP)
Of course, plastic sheets etc. can also be used.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, the present invention sequentially performs the formation of an image on a transfer recording medium and the transfer of this image to a recording medium, so that an image can be formed even on a recording medium with a relatively low surface smoothness. Recording can be performed well. Furthermore, when the present invention is applied to multicolor recording, a multicolor image can be obtained without making any complicated movements on the recording medium.

In addition, since holes are formed in the heating element of the recording head,
When the heating element is energized to generate heat, a local temperature rise of the heating element is suppressed, heat application by the heating element is uniformly performed, and the reaction can be caused near the temperature of the highest sensitivity of the image forming element, It is possible to quickly record clear images.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 (A) and (B) are overall schematic explanatory diagrams of an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of the structure of a transfer recording medium, and Figure 3 is an optical absorption characteristic of a photoinitiator in the transfer recording medium. FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the temperature of the transfer recording layer and the light irradiation time. FIG. The figure is a graph showing the spectral characteristics of the light irradiation means, Figure 8 is the signal of the light receiving member that detects the rotation of the rotating body and its integral waveform, Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the PLL motor driver, and Figure 10 is the thermal and A timing chart for applying light, FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the control system, FIGS. 12 and 13 are timing charts for recording operations, FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between each member, and FIG.
The figure is an explanatory diagram of the sequence table that sends out each signal.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the recording operation, and FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of the temperature control system of the transfer roller 4a. 1 is a transfer recording medium, 1a is a support, 1b is a transfer recording layer,
1 b+, 1 b*, 1b3 is the core, lbn is the shell, lbs is the adhesive, 2 is the supply roll, 2a is the supply roll shaft, 3 is the recording section, 3a is the recording head, 3a+ is the substrate,
3ag is a signal electrode, 3a3 is a common electrical conductor, 3b is a heating element array, 3b is a hole, 3c is a rotating body, 3d, 3e, 3f are support rollers, 3g is a light source, 3h is a light shielding plate, 31 is a slit, 4 is a transfer unit, 4a is a transfer roller, 4b is a pressure roller, 4c is a heater, 5 is a peeling roller, 6 is a winding roll, 7
is the case foot, 8 is the recording paper, 9 is the feeding roller, 10a, 1
0b is a registration roller, 11 is an ejection tray, 12a, 1
2b and i2c are guide rollers, 13a and 13b are discharge rollers, 20 is a control unit, 20a is a CPU, and 20b is a ROM
, 20c is RAM. 21 is an interface, 22 is an operation panel, 23 is an image forming timing generator, 24 is a feeding motor driver, 25 is a transport motor driver, 26 is a registration sensor, 26a is an LED, 26b is a phototransistor,
27 is PLL motor driver, 28 is ■OC, 29
is a light source lighting device, 30 is a feeding motor, 31 is a conveyance motor, 32 is an external image signal generator, T is a thermistor, r
is a resistor, co is a comparator, and R. is a relay driver and RL is a relay.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A recording head comprising a plurality of heating elements arranged in a line that generate heat when energized, characterized in that the heating elements are provided with holes. (2) The recording head according to claim (1), wherein the hole is provided in the center of a heating element. (3) a conveyance means for conveying a transfer recording medium having a transfer recording layer whose transfer characteristics change when thermal energy and light energy are applied, and a conveyance means for conveying the transfer recording medium conveyed by the conveyance means; a recording section provided along a conveyance path and having a recording head according to claim 1 for applying thermal energy to the transfer recording layer; and a light irradiation means for applying optical energy; A recording device comprising: a transfer section for transferring an image formed by the recording section onto a recording medium.