JPS6311367A - Image recording apparatus - 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 of the Invention> The present invention relates to an image recording device that can be applied to printers, copying machines, electronic typewriters, facsimile machines, and the like. <Prior Art> In recent years, with the rapid development of the information industry, various information processing systems have been developed, and recording methods and devices suitable for each information processing system have also been developed and adopted. One such recording method is the thermal transfer recording method, which uses a lightweight, compact, and noiseless device.
It has excellent operability and maintainability, and has been widely used recently. This thermal transfer recording method generally uses a thermal transfer medium formed by coating a sheet-like support with a thermal transfer ink made of a heat-melting binder and a coloring agent dispersed therein. The ink layer is superimposed on the transfer medium so that it is in contact with the transfer medium, and heat is supplied from the support side of the thermal transfer medium using a thermal head to transfer the melted ink layer to the transfer medium. A transfer ink image is formed thereon in accordance with the shape of heat supply. According to this method, plain paper can be used as the transfer medium. <Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, the conventional thermal transfer recording method is not without its problems. This is because in the conventional thermal transfer recording method, the transfer recording performance, that is, the print quality, is greatly affected by the surface smoothness of the transfer medium. In the case of a transfer medium, the image recording quality may deteriorate. In addition, when trying to obtain multicolor images using conventional thermal transfer recording methods, it is necessary to install multiple thermal heads, or to perform complicated functions such as reverse feeding and stopping of the transfer medium, which requires the entire device. There are problems such as the data becomes large and complicated, and the recording speed decreases. <Objective of the Invention> An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional apparatus and record a high-quality image even on a transfer medium with a low surface smoothness. Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording device that can obtain multicolor images without requiring a transfer medium to perform complicated functions. Means for Solving the Problems The present invention solves the above problems by providing a transfer recording layer whose physical properties governing the transfer characteristics change by applying light energy and thermal energy, A heat source for applying energy to the transfer recording medium on the side of the transfer recording layer, and a heat source for applying energy to the transfer recording medium, and an image formed on the transfer recording medium, along a transportable path of the transfer recording medium having a support for supporting the layer. The apparatus is characterized by comprising a transfer means for transferring the image onto the transfer medium, and a fixing means for fixing the transferred image transferred to the transfer medium by the transfer means onto the transfer medium. . <Example> First, an image forming method applied to an image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1a to 1d. 1st
The time axes (horizontal axes) of the graphs in Figures a to 1d correspond to each other. In addition, as a sensitive component in the transfer recording layer,
It contains a reaction initiator, a polymerization component, etc., which will be described later. Figure 1a shows heating means such as a thermal head at a time of 0-t.
3 shows the rise in surface temperature of the heating element and subsequent temperature drop when the heating element is thermally driven. The transfer recording medium that is in pressure contact with the heating means exhibits a temperature change as shown in FIG. 1b as the temperature of the heating means changes. That is, it has a temperature Ts with a time delay of 1+, and in a temperature range above Ts, it suddenly softens and its viscosity decreases. This situation is shown by curve A in FIG. 1C. time

[2 in'
After reaching rs, the viscosity continues to decrease until time t4 when the maximum temperature is reached, and as the temperature decreases, the viscosity increases again and shows a rapid increase until time t6 when it decreases to Ts. In this case, the physical properties of the transfer recording layer are basically unchanged from before heating.
If it is heated to a temperature higher than Ts in the next transfer step, the same viscosity phenomenon as described above will occur. Therefore, if the transfer recording layer is brought into pressure contact with the transfer medium and heated to a temperature necessary for transfer, for example, above Ts, the transfer recording layer will be transferred for the same reason as the transfer mechanism of conventional thermal transfer recording, but in the case of this example The first
As shown in Figure d, when light is irradiated at the same time as heating from time t2, the transfer recording layer is softened and, for example, a reaction initiator contained in the transfer recording layer is activated, and the temperature is high enough to increase the reaction rate. If the temperature rises by that much, the probability that the polymerizable monomer will polymerize becomes extremely large, so that curing progresses rapidly. Thus heating and light equipment! 1J at the same time, the transfer recording layer behaves as shown by curve B in FIG. 1c. As the reaction progresses, the softening temperature rises and changes from Ts to Ts' at time t5 when the reaction ends. Along with this, the transfer start temperature, which is the temperature at which the transfer recording layer starts transferring, also changes. This situation is shown in Figure 1d. Therefore, when heated in the next transfer step, there will be a difference in properties between the part that changes to Ts' and the part that does not change. Therefore,
For example, if a Tr that satisfies Ts<Tr<Ts' is heated, there will be a difference between a portion where the viscosity has decreased and a portion where the viscosity has not decreased, and only the portion where the viscosity has decreased will be transferred to the transfer medium. Although it depends on the temperature stability accuracy of the transfer process, at this time Ts'
-Ts is preferably about 20°C or higher. In this way, a transfer image can be formed by controlling heating or non-heating according to the image signal and simultaneously irradiating light. In addition to the softening temperature explained below, the physical properties that govern the transfer characteristics of the transfer recording layer include melting temperature, glass transition point, etc., but in any case, the A latent image is formed in the transfer recording layer by utilizing irreversible changes in melting temperature, glass transition point, etc. Further, the softening point, melting temperature, and glass transition point vary in almost the same manner, so the above explanation using the softening point is also an explanation using the melting temperature and the glass transition point. (
(The glass transition point is shown in parentheses in Figures 1b and 1d.) This image forming method can of course be applied to monochrome image formation, but first of all, referring to the explanations in section 2 below, The image forming method will be explained. FIGS. 2a to 2d are partial views showing the relationship between the multicolor transfer recording medium and the thermal head. Thermal energy modulated according to the image recording signal is applied together with light energy of a wavelength selected according to the color tone of the image forming element whose physical properties governing the transfer characteristics are desired to be changed. Note that "modulation" here refers to changing the position where energy is applied in accordance with both values, and "both" also refers to the case where light energy and thermal energy are applied at the same time. It is also possible to use light energy and thermal energy separately. Further, in this example, in order to improve the light irradiation efficiency, light energy is applied from the transfer recording layer side of the transfer recording medium. In the figure, a multicolor transfer recording medium 1 includes a base film I
A transfer recording layer 1a is provided on top of the transfer recording layer 1a. The transfer recording layer 1a is a layer in which minute image forming elements 31 are distributed, and each image forming element 31 exhibits a different color tone. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2a-2c, each image forming material 31 is cyan (C). Contains either magenta (M) or yellow (Y) coloring material. However, the coloring material contained in each image forming material 31 is not limited to cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, and any coloring material may be used depending on the purpose. In addition to the coloring material, each image forming element 31 contains a sensitive component whose physical properties governing transfer characteristics change rapidly when light and heat energy is applied. The sensitive component of each image forming element 31 has wavelength dependence depending on the coloring material it contains. That is, when the image forming element 31 containing the yellow coloring material is exposed to heat and light having the wavelength λ(Y), crosslinking rapidly progresses and the image forming element 31 is cured. Similarly, the image forming element 31 containing the magenta coloring material, the image forming element 31 containing the heat, the light of the wavelength λ(M), and the Noan coloring material.
When heat and light of wavelength λ(C) are applied to the image forming element 31 containing black color abrasions, a reaction proceeds and hardens when heat and light of wavelength λ(K) are respectively applied. The viscosity of the cured image forming element 3 does not decrease even when heated in the next transfer step, and it is not transferred to the transfer medium. Heat and light are applied depending on the recorded information. Now, in this multicolor image forming method, the transfer recording medium 1 is placed on the thermal head 2, and light is irradiated so as to cover the entire heat generating part of the thermal head 2. The irradiated light has a wavelength that the image forming element body 31 reacts to, and is sequentially irradiated. for example,
Image forming element 3I is cyan. When colored mazetan, yellow, or black, wavelengths λ(C), λ(M), λ(Y)5λ(
The light of K) is sequentially irradiated. That is, first, the transfer recording layer 1a of the multicolor transfer recording medium 1 is irradiated with light of wavelength λ(Y), and the heating resistors 2b, 2d, 2e, and 2[ of the thermal head 2, for example, are caused to generate heat. Then, of the image forming element 31 containing the yellow coloring material, the image forming element 31 to which both heat and light of wavelength λ(Y) are applied (the hatched part in FIG. 2a, below) , the cured image forming element is shown by hatching) is cured. Next, as shown in FIG. 2b, the transfer recording layer 1a is coated with a wavelength λ(
When the light of M) is irradiated and the heating resistors 2a, 2e and 2f are made to generate heat, heat and light of wavelength λ(M) are added to the image forming element 31 containing the magenta coloring material. The image forming element 31 is cured. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2d, when a desired heating resistor is heated by irradiating light with a wavelength λ(C) with light of a wavelength λ(K), the image forming element to which light and heat are applied is heated. 31 is cured, and finally a transfer image is formed on the transfer recording layer l by the image forming element 31 that has not been cured. This transferred image is transferred to the recording paper 11 in the next transfer step as shown in FIG. 2d. In the transfer process, the transfer recording medium on which the transferred image has been formed is brought into contact with the transfer medium, and the transferred image is selectively transferred to the transfer medium by heating from the transfer recording medium or the transfer medium side to form an image. do. Therefore, the heating temperature at this time is determined so that only the transferred image is selectively transferred with respect to the physical properties that govern the transfer characteristics. Furthermore, in order to perform the transfer effectively, it is also effective to apply pressure at the same time. The pressure arm is particularly effective when using a transfer medium with a low surface smoothness. Furthermore, if the physical property that governs the transfer characteristics is the viscosity at room temperature, transfer is possible only by applying pressure. Next, heat, light,
By applying at least one type of pressure energy, it is possible to improve the fixing properties between the transfer pattern and the transfer target medium. Next, an example of a monochrome image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. The transfer recording medium 1 used in the apparatus of this embodiment is a 2iH material 1 made of a polyester film having a thickness of 6 μm, in which an image forming element 31 made of the components shown in Table 1 below is dispersed in a binder.
b. The sensitizer in this image forming element absorbs light in a band of 500 to 600 nm and initiates a reaction. In addition, as the material of the base material 1b, in addition to polyester film, voimide, aramid, etc. can be considered. Table 1 Also, since this sensitizer has a magenta tinge, it mixes with phthalocyanine green mixed as a coloring agent and becomes black when forming an image. The elongated transfer recording medium 1 thus produced was wound into a roll and incorporated into the apparatus as a supply roll 7. That is, this supply roll 7 is loaded onto a rotatable shaft 7a. Therefore, the leading edge of the transfer recording medium l is placed on the supply roll 7.
is supplied from the guide bar 5a and the thermal head 2.
The direction is changed by guide bars 50 and 5d from between the transfer roller 10 and the pressure roller 9 via the guide bar 5b, and reaches the take-up roll 8, and the tip of the roll is locked by the roll 8. By the rotation of 8, the recording medium 1 is sequentially wound around the circumferential surface of the roll 8. Here, the winding roll 8 is driven and rotated by known means. Here, the transfer recording medium 1 is moved by the guide bar 5.
The winding angle with respect to the thermal node 2 is constant, and a plurality of heating elements 2a are arranged at the tips of the heating elements 2a, and the heating elements 2a are controlled to generate heat according to image information. Furthermore, this supply low is controlled by a hysteresis brake (not shown) whose value is between 1.8 and 2.0.
It is brought into contact with the heating element of the head 2 with a constant pressure such that K g f. On the other hand, the thermal head 2 was placed apart with the transfer recording medium 1 in between. This fluorescent lamp uses a high color rendering green fluorescent lamp with the spectral characteristics shown in the graph shown in Figure 4, and the phosphor is
Tb3+ activated (La, Ce. Tb)203.0.2SiO2.0.9P205 was used. Other phosphors include Tb” (Ce, Tb)
MgAl+oO+c+. Although Y2SiO5:Ce and Tb lamps can also be used, the above-mentioned phosphor was used in terms of practical efficiency and working characteristics. Further, the transfer/fixing section T includes a transfer roller 10 and a pressure roller 9 that are provided facing each other with the transfer recording medium 1 in between.
It is made up of. The transfer roller 10 is an aluminum roller having a diameter of 4.0 mm and coated with Teflon to a thickness of 25 μm. The pressure roller 9 is an aluminum roller with a diameter of 30 mm coated with silicone rubber with a wall thickness of 5 mm, and an aluminum roller with a diameter of 30 mm.
Teflon coated to 0μm thickness, hardness 40°
(JISA hardness) was used. Also, transfer roller 1
0 and the pressure roller 9 are applied with a pressure of about 35 g/mrr? by means of pressure (not shown). It was set so that it would be pressure-welded. The transfer roller 10 also uses a built-in heater 1 to transfer and fix the transfer image formed by the thermal head 2 on the transfer recording medium 1 onto the recording paper 11 by heating and pressure.
The surface temperature is controlled to be approximately 110° C. by 0a. Further, the recording paper 11 having a surface smoothness of about 10 seconds was used as the transfer medium. The fixing roller 26a is a φ25 roller made of aluminum alloy and coated with 25 μm thick Teflon, and is equipped with a 500W halogen heater 27.
The surface temperature was controlled to be 150°C ± 3°C, and a pressure of 20 g/m m2 was applied by a pressure roller coated with 30 μm Teflon on 26b 5 lt m thickness hardness 35° (JIS hardness) silicone rubber.
It is urged by a pressurizing means (not shown) so that it becomes . Note that this recording paper 11 is sent out from the cassette 1-12 by rotation of the feeding roller 6. The fed paper 11 is once blocked in its progress by a register roller 15, and then sent between rollers 9 and 10 by the register roller 15 in synchronization with the transfer layer on the recording medium l. Note that 16 is a guide. Furthermore, the housing 14
It houses the power supply and control circuit for this image forming apparatus. Now, FIG. 5 shows a schematic block diagram of the control circuit. In the figure, circuit 60 is a sequence control circuit. This circuit 60 includes a drive circuit 61 for lighting the fluorescent lamp 3, a drive circuit 63 for energizing the step motor 62 for operating the feed roller 6, and a step for operating the transfer roller 10 for conveying the transfer recording medium l. A drive circuit 65 that energizes the motor 64, a drive circuit 67 that energizes a hysteresis brake 66 that applies back tension to the transfer recording medium l, and a drive that energizes the heater 100 to a predetermined temperature based on a signal from the temperature sensor 73 of the transfer roller 10. A circuit 72, an image signal processing circuit 68 that receives an external image signal 69, processes image signal data to be provided to the thermal head 2, and controls a drive circuit that energizes the heating element of the thermal head 2.
, and the indicators on the operation panel are controlled in sequence. Next, the operation of the embodiment of the above-mentioned apparatus will be explained. First, recording is started by turning on a switch (not shown) on the operation panel 70 of the apparatus. The sequence control circuit 60 receives a drive signal from the operation panel 70 and energizes the drive circuit 63 to drive the step motor 62. As a result, the roller 6 starts rotating, and the cassette 12
One sheet of recording paper 11 is fed out from the recording paper 11, and continues to be fed until the leading edge of the recording paper reaches an alignment sensor 71 (not shown) (installed near the pressure contact portion of the register roller 15). When the alignment sensor 71 detects the recording paper 11, the hysteresis brake 66 and the transfer roller 10 (not shown) are activated at a predetermined timing to convey the transfer recording medium 1 and to activate each heating element 2a of the thermal head 2 according to the image signal. is energized. There are also two thermal heads. Transfer images corresponding to the image signals are sequentially formed on the transfer recording medium 1 conveyed by this for every l line. The transferred image formed on the recording medium 1 in this way is carried to the pressure contact portion T of the transfer roller 10 and the pressure roller 9, but as described above, the transferred image on the recording paper 11 is also transferred by the register roller 15 that rotates in synchronization. At the same time, the transferred image is transferred to the pressure contact portion T, and the transferred image is transferred onto the recording paper 11 by the pressure contact force between the rollers 9 and 10. Here, the transferred image is subjected to a fixing action by the heat and pressure received when being transferred to the paper 11, but depending on the material of the transfer recording layer or the type of recording medium, even if the fixing force is weak, the above-mentioned fixing roller The toner is transported to the pressure contact portion F between the pressure roller 26a and the pressure roller 26b, and is completely fixed by being subjected to an auxiliary fixing action by heat and pressure again. Thereafter, the recording paper on which the transfer has been completed is discharged to the paper discharge tray 13. Note that the thermal head 1 is energized using the mark signal (black).
In this case, it does not turn on, but when it is not a mark signal (white), it turns on and generates heat. That is, the energizing energy for negative recording was set to 0.8 W/dot×2,0 m5ec. Further, FIG. 6 shows a drive timing chart of this embodiment. First, the heating resistor corresponding to the black of the image signal is not energized, but the portion corresponding to the white of the image signal is energized at 2 msec, and at the same time, the high color rendering green fluorescent lamp 3 is uniformly irradiated. . This irradiation time is 4 hours from the start of energization to the heating resistor.
The period was msec. After 1 m5 ec has passed after the end of irradiation, that is, 5 msec after the start of energization, the next line is recorded in the same way. By sequentially repeating this operation, a transferred image is formed. With the image forming apparatus described above, the image obtained on the recording paper is very clear, and a high-quality image with good fixability can be obtained. Next, an example will be described in which the image forming method used in the present invention is applied to a multicolor image forming apparatus. As already explained using FIGS. 2a to 2d, each is sensitive to four different wavelengths and has different color tones.
A transfer recording medium 1 in which an image forming element 31 exhibiting yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is provided on a support lb.
By using , multicolor recording is possible. As such a transfer recording medium 1, an image forming element 31 shown in Tables 2 to 4 is dispersed in a binder, and this is disposed on a base material 1b made of a polyester film having a thickness of 6 μm. Using. The photoinitiators in the image forming element shown in Tables 2 to 5 are about 340 to 380 nm, about 38 nm, in order from Table 2.
0-450 nm. It absorbs light in the band of about 450 to 600 nm and starts a reaction. Furthermore, the colors used during image formation are cyan, yellow, and magenta in that order. A device for obtaining a multicolor image using this transfer recording medium 1 is installed in the seventh device.
As shown in the figure. Table 2 Table 3 Table 4 Table 5 Table 5 The difference from the monochrome image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is that four light sources 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d with different wavelengths are arranged. These fluorescent lamps include a high color rendering green fluorescent lamp 3a, a diazo copying machine fluorescent lamp 3b, and a black light 3C. In particular, a sharp cut filter L-3818 was placed in front of the fluorescent lamp 3b for the diazo copying machine in order to obtain desired spectral characteristics corresponding to the image forming element. FIG. 8 shows the spectral characteristics of the fluorescent lamp in this example. Next, the process until a color image is obtained according to the image signals corresponding to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black will be explained according to the recording timing chart of the multicolor image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. . First, the heating resistor corresponding to the yellow color of the image signal is not energized, but the portion corresponding to the white color of the image signal is energized for 2 msec, and at the same time, the fluorescent lamp 3b for the diazo copying machine is uniformly irradiated. . The irradiation time was 4 msec. After 1 m5 ec has elapsed after the end of irradiation, the heating resistor corresponding to the magenta of the image signal is not energized, and the portion corresponding to the white of the image signal is energized for 2 m5 ec, and at the same time, the high color rendering green fluorescent lamp 3a is uniformly turned on. was irradiated. The irradiation time is 4 msec as in the case of yellow. Similarly, the formation of latent images in all four colors is completed by irradiating the black light 3C for cyan and the health line lamp 3d for black. Therefore, 15 m S e C is required to form an image of 1 line. By repeating the above process line by line, a full color image can be obtained on the recording paper. The setting conditions for the parts other than the light source are the same as in the monochrome embodiment, and the conveyance of the recording paper 11 and the transfer recording medium 1 is the same as in the monochrome embodiment. In this way, the full-color image obtained on the recording paper has no color shift, has high chroma, is clear, and has good fixing properties.
This is a high-quality image. In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, an example is shown in which heat and pressure are used as energy for performing the auxiliary fixing action, but depending on the material of the transfer recording layer, for example, only light may be used, or either heat or pressure may be used. , or a combination of these. As memorized above, in this example, at least one type of energy from light and heat is applied to a transfer recording medium having a transfer recording layer whose physical properties governing transfer characteristics change when light and heat energy is applied. An image forming apparatus having a step of forming a transferred image by applying the light and heat energy under conditions corresponding to recorded information, and a step of transferring the transferred image to a transfer medium. That is, in the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment, the formation of a transferred image and the transfer process are separated, and in the transfer process, since the transferred image has already been formed, it is possible to select the image form. The restriction on energy application is lifted, and it is possible to give the transfer recording medium the energy necessary to transfer and form a clear image according to the surface properties of the transfer medium. The transferred image is not simply an image with a change in properties like a thermal elution image, but is an image made by changing the physical properties that govern the transfer characteristics, so by utilizing the difference in the physical properties before and after the change in the transfer process, It also enables faithful transfer of the transferred image.For example, when a heat-fused image is used as a transferred image, the complete transfer of the heat-fused image from the transfer image formation process to the transfer process is possible. However, in the case of this example, it is unavoidable that the transfer properties are reduced due to the cooling phenomenon between the two processes and the image becomes blurred due to heat conduction to the surroundings of the thermally fused image.However, in the case of this example, the transfer properties are The transferred image is created by image-wise changing the physical properties of the transfer recording layer, such as its melting point, softening point, and viscosity at the same temperature, so these changes in physical properties are memorized up to the transfer process. As long as energy that changes the physical properties is not applied afterwards, there will be no deterioration in the transferability of the transferred image or image blurring.For this reason, even if the surface smoothness of the transfer medium is low, an image with high image quality can be obtained. In addition, in the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment, it is possible to form a transferred image on a transfer medium without deteriorating the image quality of the transferred image. The application of energy and the application of uniform energy for transfer are functionally separated, compared to the case where the signaled energy for forming a transferred image must be used at the same time as energy for transfer. For example, the conditions for energy provision are relaxed.
The amount of energy for forming a transferred image only needs to cause a change in the physical properties of the transfer recording layer, and the energy for transfer can be uniform energy without being converted into a signal, so the desired transfer speed can be adjusted. It can be increased according to the number of days, and high-speed recording can be easily realized. In addition, the thermal response speed of the thermal heads used in conventional thermal transfer recording devices is 1 to 5 m even for the fastest one.
It is about sec. If an attempt is made to drive at a faster repetition rate, the temperature will not rise or fall sufficiently within one cycle, resulting in insufficient heating or, conversely, the temperature not being able to drop completely, resulting in the effects of heat accumulation appearing on the image quality. This is one of the biggest factors hindering speed-up, but if multiple types of energy are used as in this example, for example by combining a thermal head and light irradiation, the heating state will be effective even if heat is accumulated. This is only during light irradiation, so by irradiating light only during a limited time period near the peak temperature, it becomes possible to make it less susceptible to the temperature drop rate after the peak temperature, which was the case in the past. Even if a thermal head is used, the recording operation can be performed at a shorter repetition cycle, making high-speed recording easier. In addition, since the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment forms a transferred image by applying multiple types of energy, compared to the conventional case where a transferred image is formed using only heat, only one type of energy is required to form the transferred image. There are a plurality of transfer images, and the degree of physical property change that forms the transferred image can be adjusted in stages accordingly. In addition, even when using multiple types of energy, even if heat is used, it is possible to use light or other energy that has a quick response (and other energies whose intensity can be easily adjusted in stages), so it is possible to use intermediate tones. It facilitates the formation of images.For example, by setting the intensity or time of light irradiation in 3 stages and combining it with heating, it is possible to express gradation in 4 stages (3 stages + non-heating). Although it is desired that such control be performed at high speed, it is also possible to use energy with a quick response such as light in combination, which enables high-speed halftone recording. , magenta, and 6723 colors have been described, but it is of course possible to construct a device that uses four colors by adding black.Furthermore, in the image forming method according to this embodiment, is formed by changing the physical properties that govern the transfer characteristics, but these physical properties are arbitrarily determined depending on the type of transfer recording medium used. For example, when the transfer image is heated and fused, In the case of a transfer recording medium to be transferred, it is the melting temperature, softening temperature, glass transition point, etc.
In the case of a transfer recording medium in which the transferred image is transferred in an adhesive state or in a permeable state to the transfer medium, the temperature is the same. As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 60-150597 or Japanese Patent Application No. 61-12881/1, it is necessary to appropriately select the type of coloring agent and photoinitiator that form the image forming element, and to It is also possible to obtain multicolor or full-color recorded images using three or more colors. <Effects of the Invention> As described above, the present invention provides a recording device capable of recording a high-quality image with good fixability even on a transfer medium with low surface smoothness.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1a to 1d are explanatory diagrams for explaining the principle of forming a transferred image using light and thermal energy, and Figures 2a to 2d are illustrations of a multicolor transfer recording medium and a thermal head. Figure 2e is a partial diagram showing the relationship between a multicolor recording medium and a transfer medium, Figure 3 is a configuration diagram of a monochrome image forming apparatus, and Figure 4 is a partial diagram showing the relationship between a multicolor recording medium and a transfer medium. A diagram showing the spectral characteristics of the light source used. Figure 5 is a control circuit block diagram of a monochrome image forming apparatus. Figure 6 is a diagram of the photothermal energy application timing diagram of a monochrome image forming apparatus. Figure 7 is a diagram showing multicolor image formation. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the spectral characteristics of a fluorescent lamp used in the multicolor image forming apparatus, and FIG. 9 is a timing chart for applying light and thermal energy to the multicolor image forming apparatus. In the figure,

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Along a transportable path of a transfer recording medium that has a transfer recording layer whose physical properties governing transfer characteristics change when applied with light energy and thermal energy, and a support that supports the transfer recording layer. , a light source provided on a side of the transfer recording medium where the transfer recording layer is located for applying light energy to the transfer recording medium when the transfer recording medium is sent along the transportable path; When the recording medium is sent along the above transportable path,
a heat source provided on the side of the transfer recording medium where the support is located for applying thermal energy to the transfer recording medium; and a transfer source for transferring the image formed on the transfer recording medium to a transfer medium. An image recording apparatus comprising: a fixing means for fixing a transferred image transferred to a transfer medium by the transfer means to the transfer medium. (2) Thermal energy from the heat source is applied to the transfer recording medium according to image information.
The image recording device described in .