JPS60225855A - Photosensitive body and method for polychromatic image formation - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To record a polychromatic image having no color deviation at a high speed through single-time image exposure by providing a photosensitive layer on a conductive member and laminating and arranging an insulating layer which contains plural kinds of different-color filter on the surface of the photoconductive layer. CONSTITUTION:The photoconductive layer 2 is provided on the conductive member 1 and the insulating layer 3 containing numbers of necessary color separation filters, e.g. filters of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) is laminated and arranged on the photoconductive layer 2 to form the photosensitive body of polychromatic image formation. The photosensitive drum composed of this photosensitive body is rotated as shown by an arrow (a) and the entire surface is charged electrostatically by a charging electrode 4. Then, discharge is carried out from an electrode 5 having an exposure slit to perform image exposure. The entire surface is exposed by light sources 6B, 6G, and 6R after the exposure to form latent images of respective color parts of the color separation filters FB, FG, and FR, and those images are developed repeatedly with toner particles of corresponding colors to obtain a polychromatic image. Thus, the polychromatic image having no color deviation is recorded at a high speed through single-time image exposure.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field 1] The present invention relates to a novel multicolor image forming photoreceptor for forming multicolor images using electrophotography, and a multicolor image forming method using the same. Regarding.

[Prior Art 1] Many methods and devices used therefor have been proposed for the purpose of obtaining multicolor images using electrophotography, but they can generally be divided into the following types: . One method is to repeatedly form a latent image using a photoreceptor and develop it with color toner depending on the number of colors separated, or to overlap the colors on the photoreceptor, or to transfer the colors to a transfer material each time the development is performed, and to overlap the colors on the transfer material. This is the way to proceed. Another method uses a device having multiple photoconductors corresponding to the number of separated colors, and simultaneously exposes each photoconductor with a light image of each color.The latent image formed on each photoconductor is then colored with color toner. The image is developed and sequentially transferred onto a transfer material, and the colors are superimposed to obtain a multicolor image.

In the first method, a plurality of latent image formation and development processes must be repeated, and it takes time to record an image, making it extremely difficult to commercialize it, which has become a major concern. In addition, in the second method, multiple photoreceptors are used in parallel, which is advantageous in terms of high speed, but since it requires multiple photoreceptors, an optical system, a developing means, etc., the device becomes complicated, large, and expensive. Practicality is low due to the price. Furthermore, both types have the major drawback that it is difficult to align images during image formation and transfer multiple times, and it is difficult to completely prevent image color shift.

In order to fundamentally solve these problems, it is sufficient to record a multicolor image on a single photoreceptor with one image exposure, but the reality is that such a system has not yet been developed.

[Objective of the Invention] The object of the present invention is to provide a novel photoreceptor that can quickly and easily record a multicolor image without color shift through a single image exposure, and to provide a novel photoreceptor that can record a multicolor image without color shift at high speed and easily. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multicolor image forming method capable of forming color images at high speed and through a simple process.

[Structure of the Invention] The above-mentioned object is to provide a photosensitive material for forming a multicolor image, in which a photoconductive layer is provided on a conductive member, and an insulating layer containing a plurality of filters of different colors is superimposed on the surface of the conductive layer. After charging the body and the photoreceptor and applying image exposure, the process of developing by applying the entire surface exposure to light of the same color as the ill of multiple types of filters is repeated according to the type of the a-microscope of the filters. This was achieved using a distinctive multicolor image forming method.

In other words, a photoreceptor is used, in which a plurality of color separation filters are arranged in a combination of fine lines or a mosaic on a photosensitive layer that is sensitive to the entire visible light range. A first latent image formation process is caused in the lower photosensitive layer according to the decomposed image density, and then a first latent image formation process is caused in the lower photosensitive layer.
By exposing the entire surface to light of the same color as the color of the separation filter, a secondary latent image formation process is induced only in the photosensitive layer below the filter of several colors, and electrostatic charges corresponding to the intensity of the primary latent image formation process are generated. An image is formed and developed with a color toner of a color corresponding to the color of the filter, preferably a complementary color to the color transmitted through the filter, and then the image is developed on the photoreceptor by repeating the same process for the separation image. A multicolor image is formed on the transfer material, and the multicolor image is recorded all at once on the transfer material by -times of transfer.

Hereinafter, a photoreceptor for forming a multicolor image (hereinafter simply referred to as photoreceptor) and a process for forming a multicolor image in the present invention will be described without referring to Examples. The following explanation uses a red light filter that transmits only red light, green light, and blue light as a separation filter.
Although only a photoreceptor for full color reproduction using green and blue filters will be described, the colors of the separation filters and the colors of toners combined therewith are not limited thereto.

The tIS1 diagram structurally shows a cross section of a photoreceptor according to the present invention. A photoconductor M2 is provided on the conductive member 1 and the required color separation filter, for example red (R), is provided thereon.

The insulation M3 including a large number of green (R) and blue (B) filters is arranged in an overlapping manner. The conductive member 1 may be made of metals such as aluminum, iron, nickel, copper, or alloys thereof, and may have an appropriate shape and structure as necessary, such as a cylindrical shape or an endless belt shape.

The photoconductive layer is sulfur, selenium, amorphous silicon or sulfur,
Photoconductors such as alloys containing selenium, tellurium, arsenic, antimony, etc., or inorganic photoconductors of oxides, iodides, sulfides, and selenides of metals such as zinc, aluminum, antimony, bismuth, cadmium, molybdenum, etc. material,
Aiso photoconductive substances such as vinyl carbazole, anthracene-7-talocyanine, trinitrofluorenone, polyvinyl carbazole, polyvinylanthracene, polyvinylpyrene, etc., are combined with polyethylene, polyester, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polycarbonate, acrylic resin, silicone. resin,
It can be composed of a material dispersed in an insulating binder resin such as a fluororesin or an epoxy resin.

The insulating layer 3 is made of a transparent insulating material, such as various polymers,
It can be made of resin or the like, and has a colored portion on its surface or inside that acts as a color separation filter. As shown in FIG. 1A, the colored portion is formed by attaching an insulating material colored by adding a coloring agent such as a dye having a desired color onto the photoconductive layer in a predetermined pattern by printing or other means, or As shown in FIG. B, the coloring agent can be formed by depositing it in a predetermined pattern on a colorless insulating layer that has been uniformly formed on the photoconductive layer in advance by means of printing, vapor deposition, or the like. Furthermore, a photoreceptor having the same structure can be constructed by attaching a film-like insulating material on which a colored portion has been formed in advance on the photoconductive member.

Further, the surface of the formed colored portion may be further covered with an insulating material to form a structure as shown in FIG. 1C.

The shape and arrangement of the multiple types of minute color separation filters constituted by the colored portions are not particularly limited, but if the shape is linear as shown in FIG. 2A, for example, when the photoreceptor is drum-shaped, The present inventors have invented both the one perpendicular to the rotation direction and the one parallel to the rotation direction.

Alternatively, it is preferable to configure it in a mosaic shape as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C. The size of each filter is determined during the color repetition (
It is preferable that the thickness is 30 to 300 μm as l) in FIG. If the size of the filter is too small, it will be easily affected by adjacent parts of other colors, and
If the diameter of the particles is the same as or smaller than that of the toner particles, it becomes difficult to produce them. Furthermore, if the size of the filter becomes too large, the resolution and color mixing properties of the image will decrease, resulting in deterioration of the image quality. Note that FIGS. 1A-C and 2A-C both show the case where so-called three-color separation filters of red, green, and black are provided.

In the figure, R indicates a red filter, G indicates a border, and B indicates a blue filter.

For example, in the case of a red filter, Rhodamine 6G (
(manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) to a thickness of 8,000 angstroms and further formed a protective film, and good results were obtained.

Next, the process of forming a multicolor image using the photoreceptor of the present invention will be explained. FIG. 3 schematically shows the image forming process in a portion of a photoreceptor using an n-type semiconductor such as cadmium sulfide as a photoconductive layer. In the figure, 1 and 2 are conductive members, respectively, as in Figure 1.
3 is a photoconductive layer, and 3 is an insulating layer containing a three-color separation filter.

Further, the graphs at the bottom of each figure show the potentials on the surface of each part of the photoreceptor.

First, when a positive corona discharge is applied to the entire surface by the charger 4, a positive charge is generated on the surface of the insulating layer 3, and a corresponding negative charge is induced at the interface between the photoconductive layer 3 and the insulating layer 2. 3. The state shown in FIG. 111 is reached.

Next, a charger 5 equipped with an exposure slit generates an alternating current or negative discharge, thereby erasing the charges on the surface of the insulating layer 3 while exposing a colored image.

FIG. 3 [21] shows the state of a portion exposed to red image exposure (arrow LR). The red light passes through the red filter section 3R of the insulating layer 3 and makes the photoconductive layer 2 below it conductive, thereby erasing the positive charges on the insulating layer 3 as well as the charges in the photoconductive layer M2. On the other hand, the green and blue filter sections 3
Since G and 3B do not transmit red light, the negative charges on the photoconductive layer 2 remain as they are, and corresponding positive charges are induced on both sides of the insulating layer 4 and the conductive member 1.

The above corresponds to the formation of the first latent image, and the insulating layer and the conductive explosive member have the same potential not only in the red filter 3R part where the charge has been erased, but also in the part 3 and 3B where the charge remains. Therefore, it does not function as an electrostatic image.

Next, when the entire surface is exposed to light of the same color as the one color in the filter contained in Absolute 1 & Wi 3, for example, blue light (arrow LB) obtained by light source 6 and blue light source filter FB, the light at the bottom of section 3B, which transmits blue light, is exposed. The conductive layer 2 becomes conductive, and part of the negative charge of the conductive layer 2 in this part and the charge of the conductive part are neutralized, and as shown in FIG. A potential difference occurs only between No change occurs in the 3G and 3R portions that do not transmit blue light. When this is developed with a developer containing negatively charged yellow toner TY, the toner adheres only to the portion of the insulating layer 3B having a potential, and development is performed.

(FIG. 3 [41]) Then, when the entire surface is exposed to green light, a latent image is formed on the green filter portion 3G, as in the case of the entire surface exposure to blue light. If you develop with magenta toner, toner will only adhere to the 3G portion. Subsequently, the entire surface is exposed to red light, but since there is no charge in the red filter portion 3H, no latent image is formed, and even if development is performed with cyan toner, no toner adhesion occurs.

When the thus obtained toner image is transferred and fixed onto a transfer material such as paper, a red image is reproduced on the transfer material due to the color mixture of yellow toner and magenta toner.

For other colors, as shown in Table 1, the three-color separation method and the subtractive color method 3
Color reproduction is performed using a combination of primary color toners.
゛In Table 1 ('') is the state of electrostatic image formation at the !@1 stage, 0 is the completed electrostatic image, ■ is the state where development has been performed, and ↓ is the state in the upper column that is maintained as it is. The blank space represents a part where no electrostatic image exists (1) The above explanation is based on an example using an n-type optical semiconductor layer, but it is of course possible to use a p-type optical semiconductor layer such as selenium. In this case, the basic process is the same except that the positive and negative signs of the charges are all reversed.If it is difficult to inject charges during the next charging, uniform irradiation with light is also used.

As is clear from the above description, the main point of the present invention is to arrange a fine color separation filter on a photoreceptor, and after imagewise exposure, to apply full-scale exposure with three-color separation light to each color portion of the color separation filter. The purpose is to form a latent image, develop it using toner of a corresponding color, and repeat this process to obtain a multicolor image.

FIG. 4 shows the factors of an image forming section of a red copying machine suitable for carrying out the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 41 denotes a photosensitive drum consisting of a photosensitive member having the structure shown in FIG. 1, which rotates in the direction of arrow a during a copying operation.

While rotating, the photosensitive drum 41 is irradiated with light as needed, and the entire surface is charged by the charged electrode 4, and the next electrode 5, which has an exposure slit, receives alternating current or corona discharge of the opposite sign to the electrode 4. The original is exposed to light while receiving alternating current or corona discharge of the opposite sign from the electrode 4 from the electrode 5 provided with the next exposure slit, and the first latent image process is completed. Next, the entire surface is exposed to blue light obtained by the combination of the light source 6B and the light source blue filter FB, and developed with a developer a7Y loaded with yellow toner. Next is light source 6G and green light source filter F.

After the entire surface is exposed to green light from a developer 7M, development is performed by the developer 7M loaded with magenta toner, the entire surface is exposed to red light from the light source 6R1 and the red light source filter 6R, and the development is performed by the developer 7C loaded with cyan toner. A color image is formed. The obtained multicolor toner image is placed on paper 8 fed by paper feeding means (not shown).
The image is transferred by the transfer electrode 9. The sheet carrying the multicolor toner image to be transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum by a separation electrode and fixed by a fixing device (not shown) to form a completed multicolor copy, which is then taken out of the machine.

After the transfer, the photosensitive drum 41 is used again after being irradiated with a neutralizing light as necessary to eliminate static electricity with a neutralizing electrode 11, and removing toner remaining on the surface with a cleaning blade 12.

The development in the present invention is preferably carried out by a magnetic brush method, and the developer can be used with either a so-called one-component developer using magnetic toner or a so-called two-component developer using a mixture of toner and a magnetic carrier such as iron powder. can. For development, a method of direct rubbing with a magnetic brush may be used, but in order to avoid damage to the formed toner image, especially after the second development, a developing method in which the developer layer does not come into contact with the photoreceptor surface, such as U.S. Pat. , 893,418 specification, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 18656-1982, Japanese Patent Application No. 58-57446, Japanese Patent Application No. 238295-1982, Japanese Patent Application No. 238-2982
It is particularly preferred to use a method such as that described in each specification of No. 96. This method uses a two-component developer containing non-magnetic toner 1-, which can be freely selected for coloring, forms an alternating electric field in the development area, and performs development without contact between the electrostatic image support and the original developer layer. It is something.

The color toner used for development is made using known techniques, consisting of a known binding resin, organic black iso pigment, dye and other chromatic and achromatic colorants, and various magnetic additives, which are commonly used in toners. Toner for developing electrostatic images can be used, and the carrier can be iron powder, 7-elite powder, which are usually used for electrostatic images, resin-coated toners, or resin-coated toners with magnetic substances dispersed in the resin. Various known carriers such as magnetic carriers can be used.

In addition, the applicant filed the patent application No. 58-24966 earlier.
The developing methods described in the specifications of No. 9 and No. 240066 may be used.

All of the above explanations have been made regarding actual examples of color copying machines that use so-called three-color separation filters and subtractive color method three primary color toners, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to this, and can be applied to various types of multicolor image recording. It goes without saying that the colors of the 9-separation filter, which can be widely used in i-devices, color photo printers, etc., and the combination of the corresponding toner colors can be arbitrarily selected depending on the purpose.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, the entire surface charging and image exposure, which conventionally required multiple times, can be performed only once, eliminating the need for alignment of various images in the morning, and reducing the size of the multicolor electrophotographic device. It is possible to improve speed, speed, and reliability. The resulting recorded matter will also be of high quality with no color shift.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1A-C are cross-sectional views of the photoreceptor according to the present invention, and FIG. 2A
-C is a diagram of the arrangement of filters on the surface of the photoreceptor, Figure 3 [11~
[4] is an explanatory diagram of an image forming process according to the method of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a color copying machine according to the present invention. 1... Conductive member 2... Photoconductive layer 3.
... Zetsukjt, M Agent Patent Attorney No 1) Father-in-law Figure 1 (1) Figure 3 (2) ↓ (3) Figure 4 Kazuo Wakasugi, Commissioner of the Patent Office 1, Display of the case 1982 Patent Application No. 83096 2, Name of the invention Photoreceptor for multicolor image formation and multicolor image formation method 3, Relationship with the person making the amendment Patent applicant address 1-26-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Name (1
27) Roku Konishi Photo Industry Co., Ltd. 4, Agent Address: 1-6 Sakura-cho, Hino-shi, Tokyo 191 Address: “Claims” column, “Detailed Description of the Invention” column of the specification to be amended; The "Brief Description of the Drawings" column and Drawing 7, contents of the amendment (1) The claims of the specification are amended as shown in the attached sheet; (2) The "Detailed Description of the Invention" column of the specification is amended as shown below. Correct as shown. 1) In the 19th line of page 3 of the specification, the phrase "many filters" is corrected to read "filter." 2) In the first line of page 4, the words "including numbers" should be amended to "include". 3) On page 7, line 8 of the same page, after the phrase ``may be used.'' [Also, as shown in the fjSi diagram, a predetermined pattern is deposited on the photoconductive layer by direct printing, vapor deposition, or other means of coloring agent. Furthermore, the surface may be covered with an insulating material. ] Insert. Correct it as (G). 5) On page 7, line 9, the word "minor" is corrected to "minor". 6) Insert the following on page 7, line 13, after "Invented.""Also, multiple types of filters may be configured so as to densely surround the drum-shaped photoreceptor in a spiral shape (one filter of each type)." 7) Page 13, line 5 of the same document. The phrase "In addition, at the next charging" is corrected to "In addition, at the -next charging." 8) In the 7th line of page 13 of the same tlS, the words "present invention" are amended to read "the present embodiments." 9) In the third line of page 13, the text "red" is corrected to "multicolor." 10) On page 13, line 14 of the same page, amend the phrase ``the factors'' to ``1 summary diagram.'' 11) Insert the following on page 15, line 3. [FIG. 5 is a diagram more suitable for carrying out the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the image forming process of this image forming section. In both figures, the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 3 and 4 refer to the same parts. The waiting amount of the image forming section shown in FIG. 5 is as follows:
This is because chargers 15Y and 15N are provided downstream of the charger 15Y and 15N, respectively, for resetting the potential to the potential after secondary charging by the charging electrode 5. This charger may be a biased or unbiased AC charger or a DC charger such as a Sco117) C7 charger. In the multicolor copying machine shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 3 [4]
] As shown in ], the insulating layer 3B portion to which the toner has adhered is
Since the potential has not been lowered sufficiently, toner of another color is likely to adhere to the insulating layer 3B portion even during the next development, making it difficult to obtain the desired color. By using potential smoothing means such as chargers 15Y and 15M, as shown in FIG. 6 [5], the potential of the 3B area to which the toner has adhered also decreases, and toner will adhere to the 3B area during the next development. In addition, in the apparatus shown in FIG. 5, in order to more effectively eliminate the charge on the photoreceptor after the transfer paper is separated, the electrode 11 is removed from the back surface of the photoreceptor. 12) On page 15, line 18 of the same page, the term ``original image agent layer'' has been replaced with ``original image agent layer.'' ``developer layer''. (3) The "Brief Description of Drawings" column of the specification shall be amended as follows. 1) In the 8th line of page 17 of the specification, the text "Fig. 1~C" is corrected to "To Fig. 1~D." 2) On page 17, line 1Z, after “is”, “5th
This figure is a schematic diagram of another color copying machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of its image forming process. ” is inserted. 1 (4) 1) Figure 1 shall be corrected as shown in the attached sheet. 2) Add Figures 5 and 6 as attached. Attachment 2, Claims (1) A photoconductive layer is provided on a conductive member, and an insulating layer containing a plurality of types of filters of different colors is superimposed on the surface of the photoconductive layer. Photoreceptor for multicolor image formation. (2) A photoconductive layer is placed on a conductive member, and an insulating layer containing multiple types of filters that produce different colors is placed on the surface of the conductive layer. Electric discharge is applied to a photoreceptor for multicolor images, and image exposure is performed. A method for forming a multicolor image, characterized in that the process of applying the same color to one of the filters and then developing it is repeated according to the number of types of the filters.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A photosensitive material for forming multicolor images, characterized in that a photoconductive layer is provided on a conductive member, and an insulating layer containing a plurality of filters of different colors is superimposed on the surface of the photoconductive layer. body. (2) A photoconductive layer is disposed on a conductive member, and an insulating layer containing a plurality of filters of different colors is superimposed on the surface of the conductive layer, and an image is generated while discharging on a photoreceptor for multicolor images. A method for forming a multicolor image, characterized in that the process of applying exposure to light and then applying whole-surface exposure of the same color as one of the filters to form an original image is repeated according to the number of types of the filters.