JPH0497151A - Image forming device - 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 [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of making black-and-white copies and full-color copies.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, image forming apparatuses have been configured to be able to perform full-color copying using three mask originals output from a monochrome laser printer based on color image information.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, in conventional image forming apparatuses, the printing accuracy of the laser printer itself is poor, and therefore the copy quality of full-color copies obtained using the mask original created by the laser printer is poor. It had to get worse.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can obtain high-quality full-color copies by directly contact-exposing a photosensitive recording medium with a color original. purpose.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve this object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention has a color developer paper coated with a large number of microcapsules containing a dye precursor that reacts with a color developer to develop a black color. A first cartridge containing a photosensitive recording medium, and a large number of microcapsules each containing a dye precursor that reacts with a developer on a developer paper to develop a yellow, magenta, or cyan color are coated. a second cartridge for accommodating the photosensitive recording medium, a positioning means for setting the color original in a predetermined position, a conveying means for pulling out a predetermined amount of the photosensitive recording medium in either of the cartridges, and a second cartridge for accommodating the color original and the photosensitive recording medium. The apparatus was equipped with an exposure means for contact exposure to a recording medium, a pressure developing device for pressurizing the exposed photosensitive recording medium and developer paper, and a heat fixing device for thermally fixing the developer paper after the pressurization.

[Function] In the image forming apparatus of the present invention having the above configuration, the conveying means pulls out a predetermined amount of the photosensitive recording medium from one of the cartridges, and after aligning the document to a predetermined position, the exposure means performs contact exposure. let As a result, full-color or black-and-white copies can be made depending on the type of photosensitive recording medium and the type of original.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The photosensitive recording medium 5 is, for example, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-1430.
The main material is a photocurable resin using a photopolymerization initiator known from Publication No. 44, and each wavelength of red (light around 650 nm), green (light around 550 nm), and blue (light around 450 nm) is used. Microcapsules containing a photocurable resin that hardens when exposed to light and cyan, magenta, and yellow dye precursors are coated on a base sheet. The photosensitive recording medium 5 is housed in the cartridge 3 so as not to be exposed to light.

On the other hand, the photosensitive recording medium 4 is mainly made of a photocurable resin using a photopolymerization initiator, and is red (light around 650 nm), green (light around 550 nm), blue (light around 45 nm), and blue (light around 550 nm).
A photocurable resin that hardens when exposed to light of any wavelength (around 0 nm) and microcapsules containing a black dye precursor are coated on a base sheet. The photosensitive recording medium 4 is housed in the cartridge 2 so as not to be exposed to light. Each photosensitive recording medium 4
, 5 have their tips slightly fed out by the feed rollers 6 and 7. A cutter 8.9 for cutting each of the photosensitive recording media 4, 5 by a predetermined amount is arranged at that position. At the bottom of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 is a document platen glass 1.
2 is located, and an exposure table 13 is arranged on the upper surface thereof. A tension roller 15 is located opposite the feed roller 6.7 with respect to the exposure table 13. Further, there is a document tray 43 on the right side of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, and a color document 23 and a halftone screen 45 are set on the upper surface of the document tray 43. The color original 23 and halftone screen 45 sent out by the original feeding roller 22 pass through the gate 21 and the feeding roller 20, and reach the original holding roller 14. A paper ejection roller 24 and a paper ejection tray 44 are arranged above the document tray 43 .

An exposure device 16 is arranged below the document table glass 12, and the exposure device 16 is movable in the left-right direction along the document table glass 12.

The exposure device 16 includes a linear white light source (hereinafter referred to as a lamp) 17, a reflection plate 18 that reflects the light emitted from the lamp 17 toward the document, and filters including a red filter 19R, a green filter 19G, and a blue filter 19B. It is composed of 19 units.

For the color developer sheet 26, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-88739
It is constructed by applying the color developer shown in the above publication onto a base paper, and is set in the cassette 25 so that the side coated with the color developer faces downward.

At the top of the cassette 25, a suction cup 27 for feeding the developer sheets 26 one by one is arranged. Furthermore, a pressure development device 42 is located above it, and the pressure development device 42 is a pair of photosensitive recording media 4 or 5 on which a latent image has been formed by exposure, and a color developer sheet 26 which are superimposed and developed under pressure. It is composed of a pressure roller 28 and the like.

The heat fixing device 33 is installed between a casing 46 containing an upper heater 39 and an impeller 38, rubber rollers 37, 40, 36, rollers 34, and 35 for conveying the color developer sheet 26 in the lower part. It consists of an endless belt 47, and a paper output tray 41 is located on the right side of the heat fixing device 33.
is installed. The photosensitive recording media 4 and 5 pass between the document table glass 12 and the exposure table 13, pass through a tension roller 15, pass through a pressure developing device 42, a separation roller 29, a chute 30, and are discharged into a paper discharge box 32 by a drive roller 31. be done.

In the device configured as described above, one set of three mask original plates 48R248G, 48 for printing from a color original is made.
The operation in creating B will be explained next.

First, the photosensitive recording medium 4 is passed through the lower part of the exposure table 13 by the feed roller 6 as shown in FIG.
5, and the tip thereof is conveyed to a point where it is pulled out about 5 mm from the axial center of the tension roller 15. However, before starting the conveyance of the photosensitive recording medium 4, the document platen glass 12 is raised by a predetermined amount by rotating a cam (not shown) in the direction of arrow C, and the photosensitive recording medium 4 is conveyed at the lower part of the exposure table 13. Provide assistance.

Next, the color originals 23 on the original tray 43 and the halftone dot screen 45 in an integrated state (see FIG. 4) are fed one set at a time by the original feed roller 22. As another example of color document feeding, a paper output tray 44 is used as shown in FIG.
A halftone screen 45 is set on a document tray 43 with a color document 23 on top, the paper ejection roller 24 is used as a color document feed roller, the document feed roller 22 is used as a halftone screen feed roller, and the screen shown in the figure is set. The discharge roller 24 and the document feed roller 22 may be controlled so that the leading edges of each document coincide with each other, and the documents may be fed as a set.

After that, the color original 23 and the halftone screen 45 pass through the lower part of the gate 21 controlled in a broken line state, are further conveyed by the feed roller 20, and finally are transferred to the original holding roller 14 by a predetermined amount onto the original platen glass 12. The document is fed in, and its rear end is held by a document holding roller 14. At this time,
The document table glass 12 is returned to its initial state by rotation of the cam.

Next, the exposure table 13 is lowered by a predetermined amount by rotating a cam (not shown) parallel to the direction of the arrow F, and the photosensitive recording medium 4 and the color original 2 are placed between the exposure table 13 and the document glass 12.
3. Bring the dot screen 45 into close contact (see FIG. 5).

After that, the lamp 17 is turned on, and red light passes through the red filter 19R to the halftone screen 45 and the color original 23.
An exposure device 1 is used to expose the photosensitive recording medium 4 through the
6 performs scanning exposure in the direction of arrow A as shown in FIG. When the exposure is completed, the lamp 17 is turned off and the exposure device 16 moves back in the direction of arrow B.

While the exposure device 16 moves backward, the exposure table 13 is raised by the rotation of the cam, and the photosensitive recording medium 4 is released from the contact state with the surfaces of the exposure table 13 and the color original 23, respectively. Thereafter, the photosensitive recording medium 4 is conveyed by the tension roller 15, and the tip of the latent image is transferred to the pressure roller 2 of the pressure developing device 42.
8. The conveyor is driven to a place moved about 1 mm to 3 mm from the center, and then stopped. In synchronization with the movement of the photosensitive recording medium 4, the developer sheet 26 is sent out from the cassette 25 by a suction cup 27 and is conveyed to a position corresponding to the leading edge of the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 4, and then stopped.

Next, the pressure developing device 4 is driven by a drive device (not shown).
The pressure roller 28 of No. 2 is not rotated in the direction of the arrow but is pressed against it. The photosensitive recording medium 4 is conveyed under pressure while being overlapped with the color developer sheet 26, and the uncured microcapsules on the photosensitive recording medium 4 are destroyed by the pressure, resulting in a latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 4. The corresponding black and white image is developer sheet 2
6. As shown in FIG.
As the pressure roller 28 of No. 2 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, the photosensitive recording medium 4 passes to the left of the separation roller 29.
The paper is guided by a chute 30 and discharged into a paper discharge box 32 by a drive roller 31. The developer sheet 26 is peeled off from the photosensitive recording medium 4 by the separation roller 29, and
It is guided in the direction of the heat fixing device 33.

In the heat fixing device 33, the color developer sheet 26 is connected to the heater 3.
9 and heated by the air circulating inside the casing 46 by the impeller 38, thereby promoting color development of the black and white image. At the same time, the binder polymer (binder resin) for fixing the color developing medium to the base paper of the color developer sheet 26 is thermally melted, and the surface becomes smooth, and the surface of the color developer sheet 26 has a moderate gloss. is obtained. The color developer sheet 26 that has been subjected to color development and gloss treatment is discharged to the paper discharge tray 41 as a red mask original 48R. When the trailing edge of the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 4 is a little past the separation roller 29, the tension roller 15
rotation or stop, and conveyance of the photosensitive recording medium 4 stops. While the exposure device 16 moves back, the filter unit 19 of the exposure device 16 is moved by a drive source (not shown), and the lamp 17 is moved.
A green filter 44G is located above.

Next, as in the case of creating the red mask master plate 48R, exposure table 1
A photosensitive recording medium 4, a color original 23, and a halftone screen 45 are brought into close contact between the original plate 3 and the original table glass 12. After that, the lamp 17 lights up 1, and through the green filter 44G,
A latent image is created on the photosensitive recording medium 4 by the green light. From this point on, the green mask original 48G is created in the same manner as the above operation.

Next, when creating the blue mask master plate 48B, the filter unit 19 of the exposure device 16 is moved by a drive source (not shown), and after the blue filter 44B is positioned above the lamp 17, the exposure table 13 and the document platen glass 12 are moved. In between, the photosensitive recording medium 4, the color original 23, and the halftone screen 45 are brought into close contact with each other.

Thereafter, the lamp 17 is turned on, and a latent image is created on the photosensitive recording medium 4 by blue light through the blue filter 44B. From this point on, the blue mask original 48B is created in the same manner as the above operation.

Next, the operation for obtaining a black-and-white copy 50 from a color original, a black-and-white original, or a monochrome original will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 6, the photosensitive recording medium 4 has already been passed through all the transport paths within the image forming apparatus 1. As shown in FIG.

First, as shown in FIG. 7, any one of the black and white original 49, the color original 23, or the monochrome original 51 on the original tray 43 is fed by the original feeding roller 22. As shown in FIG. Thereafter, the document passes through the lower part of the gate 21 controlled by the broken line, is further conveyed by the feed roller 20, and is finally fed a predetermined amount onto the document table glass 12 by the document holding roller 14. It is held at 14.

Next, the exposure table 13 is lowered to a predetermined side by rotating a cam (not shown) parallel to the direction of the arrow F, and the photosensitive recording medium 4 and the black and white original 4 are placed between the exposure table 13 and the original table glass 12.
9. Bring either the color original 23 or the monochrome original 51 into close contact (see FIG. 8). Then lamp 17
lights up, and the lamp device 5 in the exposure device 16 is activated to expose the photosensitive recording medium 4 with white light through any of the black and white original 49, the color original 23, or the monochrome original 51.
2 (including lamp 17 and reflection plate 18) performs scanning exposure in the direction of arrow A. When the exposure is completed, the lamp 17 is turned off and the lamp device 52 moves back in the direction of arrow B.

While the lamp device 52 moves back, the exposure table 13 is raised by the rotation of the cam, and the photosensitive recording medium 4 is exposed to the exposure table 13 and the black and white original 49, the color original 23, or the monochrome original 5.
The close contact state is released from each surface of one of the two. Thereafter, the photosensitive recording medium 4 is conveyed by the tension roller 15, and the pressure roller 2 of the pressure developing device 42 is transferred to the tip of the latent image.
8. The conveyor is driven to a point moved about 1 mm to 3 mm from the center and then stopped. In synchronization with the movement of the photosensitive recording medium 4, the developer sheet 26 is sent out from the cassette 25 by a suction cup 27 and is conveyed to a position corresponding to the leading edge of the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 4, and then stopped. .

Next, a pressure developing device 42 is driven by a drive device (not shown).
The pressure roller 28 is pressed while being rotated in the direction of the arrow. The photosensitive recording medium 4 is conveyed under pressure while being overlapped with the color developer sheet 26, and the uncured microcapsules on the photosensitive recording medium 4 are destroyed by the pressure, resulting in a latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 4. The corresponding black and white image is on the developer sheet 26
developed on top. As shown in FIG. 6, as the pressure roller 28 of the pressure developing device 42 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, the photosensitive recording medium 4 passes on the left side of the separation roller 29, is guided to the chute 30, and is moved by the drive roller 31. The paper is discharged into the paper discharge box 32. The color developer sheet 26 is peeled off from the photosensitive recording medium 4 by a separation roller 29 and guided toward a heat fixing device 33 .

In the heat fixing device 33, the color developer sheet 26 is connected to the heater 3.
9 and heated by the air circulating inside the casing 46 by the impeller 38, thereby promoting color development of the black and white image. At the same time, the binder polymer (binder resin) for fixing the color developer to the base paper of the color developer sheet 26 is thermally melted, and the surface becomes smooth and the surface of the color developer sheet 26 has a moderate gloss. can get. The color developer sheet 26 that has been subjected to color development and gloss processing is discharged 8 to a paper discharge tray 41 as a black and white copy 50. The tension roller 15 stops rotating at the trailing edge of the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 4 or a little past the separation roller 29.
Conveyance of the photosensitive recording medium 4 stops.

Next, when making a full-color copy using the photosensitive recording medium 5, if the photosensitive recording medium 4 has already been conveyed onto the exposure table 13, the photosensitive recording medium 4 will get in the way, so the cutter 8 The paper is cut by the drive roller 31 and discharged into the paper discharge box 32. Similarly, black and white manuscript 49
As shown in FIG. 7, either the color original 23 or the monochrome original 51 passes through the upper surface of the cage 21 indicated by the solid line, and is ejected onto the ejection tray 44 by the ejection roller 24.

Next, the operation for obtaining the color copy 53 from the color original 23 will be explained. First, the photosensitive recording medium 5 is passed through the lower part of the exposure table 13 and wound around the tension roller 15 by the feed roller 7, as shown in FIG. transported. However, before starting the conveyance of the photosensitive recording medium 5, the document platen glass 12 is raised by a predetermined amount by rotating a cam (not shown) in the direction of the arrow C, and the conveyance of the photosensitive recording medium 5 at the lower part of the exposure table 13 is adjusted. Provide assistance. Next, the color originals 23 on the original tray 43 are fed one by one by the original feed roller 22.

After that, the color original 23 is controlled to be in a broken line state.
1, and is conveyed by a delivery roller 20,
Finally, the document holding roller 14 feeds the document a predetermined amount onto the document table glass 12, and the rear end thereof is held by the document holding roller 14. At this time, the document table glass 12 has returned to its initial state by the rotation of the cam.

Next, the exposure table 13 is lowered by a predetermined amount by rotating a cam (not shown) parallel to the direction of the arrow F, and the photosensitive recording medium 5 and the color original 2 are placed between the exposure table 13 and the document glass 12.
3 in close contact (see Figure 10). Then lamp 17
lights up, and in order to expose the photosensitive recording medium 5 through the color original 23 with white light, only the lamp device 52 (including the lamp 17 and the reflector 18) of the exposure device 16 performs scanning exposure in the direction of arrow A. conduct. When the exposure is completed, the lamp 17 is turned off and the lamp device 52 moves back in the direction of arrow B.

While the lamp device 52 moves backward, the exposure table 13 is raised by the rotation of the cam, and the photosensitive recording medium 5 is placed on the exposure table 13.
The contact state is released from the surface of each of the color originals 23 and 23. Thereafter, the photosensitive recording medium 5 is conveyed by the tension roller 15 until the tip of the latent image is moved about 1 mm to 3 mm from the center of the pressure roller 28 of the pressure developing device 42, and then stopped.

The developer sheet 2 is moved in synchronization with the movement of the photosensitive recording medium 5.
6 is fed out from the cassette 25 by the suction cup 27 and conveyed to a position corresponding to the leading edge of the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 5, and then stopped.

Next, a pressure developing device 42 is driven by a drive device (not shown).
The pressure roller 28 is pressed while being rotated in the direction of the arrow. The photosensitive recording medium 5 is conveyed under pressure while being overlapped with the color developer sheet 26, and the uncured microcapsules on the photosensitive recording medium 5 are destroyed by the pressure, resulting in a latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 5. The corresponding color image is on developer sheet 2.
6. As shown in FIG. 11, the pressure developing device 4
As the pressure roller 28 of No. 2 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, the photosensitive recording medium 5 passes on the left side of the separation roller 29.
The paper is guided by a chute 30 and discharged into a paper discharge box 32 by a drive roller 31.

The color developer sheet 26 is peeled off from the photosensitive recording medium 5 by a separation roller 29 and guided toward a heat fixing device 33 .

In the heat fixing device 33, the color developer sheet 26 is connected to the heater 3.
9 and is heated by the air circulating in the casing 46 through the impeller 38, thereby promoting color development of the color image. At the same time, the binder polymer (binder resin) for fixing the color developer to the base paper of the color developer sheet 26 is thermally melted, and the surface becomes smooth and the surface of the color developer sheet 26 has a moderate gloss. can get. The color developer sheet 26 that has undergone coloring and gloss treatment is transferred to the output tray 4 as a color copy 53.
1 is discharged. When the trailing edge of the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 4 passes a little past the separation roller 29, the pull-out roller 15 stops rotating and the conveyance of the photosensitive recording medium 5 stops.

After copying is completed, when switching from the photosensitive recording medium 5 to the photosensitive recording medium 4, the cutter 9 cuts the photosensitive recording medium 5, and the drive roller 31 discharges the paper into the paper discharge box 32. Similarly, the color original 23 passes over the upper surface of the cage 21 shown in solid lines as shown in FIG.
The paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 44.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments detailed above, and various changes may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

For example, in FIG. 1, a configuration may be considered in which only one of the cartridges 2.3 is accommodated, that is, only one of the photosensitive recording media 4.5 is accommodated. In that case,
In one configuration, a three-color mask original plate 48 of a black and white image,
It becomes a machine for making a black and white copy 50, and in the other configuration it becomes a machine for making a color copy 53 of a color image.

When storing one cartridge as described above, the cutter 8.9 may be omitted and a take-up roller 54 may be used as a separate chamber of the paper discharge box 32 as shown in FIG.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above detailed description, the present invention provides a multifunction machine that incorporates a plurality of different photosensitive recording media and can make black-and-white copies and full-color copies with one device. Therefore, it can be a multi-purpose device with cost benefits for the user.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 12 show embodiments embodying the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a central sectional view of the image forming apparatus, and FIG.
The figure is an explanatory diagram of the operation of creating a mask original for printing from a color original, Figure 3 is a diagram showing another example of a feeding system for a color original and a halftone screen, and Figure 4 is a diagram showing an integrated color original and a halftone screen. Figure 5 is a diagram showing the photosensitive recording medium and each original in close contact with each other, Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram of the effects of pressure development and heat fixing process, and Figure 7 is color, monochrome, black and white. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the state in which the photosensitive recording medium and each original are in close contact with each other;
The figure is an explanatory diagram of the operation when making a color copy from a color original, Figure 10 shows the state in which the photosensitive recording medium and the color original are in close contact, and Figure 11 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the pressure development and heat fixing process during color copying. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another embodiment. In the figure, 1 is an image forming apparatus, 2.3 is a cartridge, and 4.
5 is a photosensitive recording medium, 12 is an original table glass, 16 is an exposure device, 26 is a color developer sheet, 33 is a heat fixing device, and 42 is a pressure developing device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first cartridge containing a photosensitive recording medium coated with a large number of microcapsules containing a dye precursor that reacts with a color developer to form a black color on the developer paper, and a developer on the color developer paper. A second cartridge containing a photosensitive recording medium each coated with a large number of microcapsules each containing a dye precursor that reacts to develop a yellow, magenta, or cyan color, and a color original are placed in a predetermined position. a conveying means for pulling out a predetermined amount of the photosensitive recording medium in one of the cartridges; an exposing means for exposing the color document and the photosensitive recording medium in close contact with each other; An image forming apparatus comprising: a pressure developing device that applies pressure to colored paper; and a heat fixing device that heat-fixes the color developing paper after the pressure has been applied.