JPH01146771A - Multi-color recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To form a color image without color deviation, by a transfer method wherein a fluid ink in a plurality of units is successively traveled to be brought into contact with an intermediate transfer medium sequentially on the same transfer position. CONSTITUTION:With the rotation of an ink transfer roller 6a, an ink 4a is transferred in a direction P while applying on the surface of the ink transfer roller 6a with a constant layer thickness by the clockwise rotation of an ink film thickness control roller 7a. This ink 4a formed in layer form is applied with an electric energy in an image pattern form by an energy applying head 5a, applied with adhesion, and transferred to the surface of an intermediate transfer medium 3. Then, an ink image 4 transferred to an intermediate transfer medium 3 is transferred to a recording medium 2 which is carried between a recording medium support body 1 and the intermediate transfer medium 3. In this manner, since the fluid ink on a plurality of positions is successively traveled to be brought into contact with the intermediate transfer medium on the same transfer position to be transferred, a color image can be formed without color deviation.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial use! [I7] The present invention relates to a multicolor recording device that can perform color recording on a recording medium at low cost using fluid ink, and particularly to a multicolor recording device that uses a plurality of ink color units to record a color image. Regarding.

[Prior Art] Today, among the recording methods for information processing, various formats have been developed that can record on plain paper, such as impact printers, electrophotography, laser beam printers, and thermal transfer printers. ing.

Among these, 2. is possible because it has low noise and can be made smaller. Thermal transfer type recording devices are widely used. This recording method uses an ink ribbon made by coating hot-melt ink on a base sheet, heats this ink ribbon in an image pattern with a recording head, and transfers the molten ink to recording paper. Therefore, there are advantages such as low noise, relatively small size of the device, and low device cost.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional heat-sensitive transfer method described above, in order to manufacture an ink ribbon, it is necessary to transfer heat-melting material onto a heat-resistant base sheet in a complicated process. Ink must be applied, and the ink ribbon must be used only once for recording and then disposed of, leading to problems such as high running costs.・Therefore, as a means to solve the above-mentioned problems, the applicant of the present application transferred fluid ink in the form of a film using an ink transfer means, and selectively applied a predetermined energy to this ink to form an image pattern. proposed a recording device that transfers an ink image onto a recording medium onto a recording medium (see Japanese Patent Application Nos. 1981-175191 and 1982-125973). ).

According to this recording device, there is no need to use an ink ribbon like in conventional thermal transfer methods, and only the ink that has formed an ink image is transferred to the recording medium, and the ink that does not form an ink image is repeatedly used. You can.

Fluid ink as described above, that is, has fluid film-forming properties, but does not have substantial stickiness as it is, but becomes sticky when energy is applied; 'ijl': Fluid ink that has shrinkage properties (See Japanese Patent Application No. 61-175191, Japanese Patent Application No. 62-36904, etc.) An ink unit using ink mixed with pigment or dye? Although a recording device that forms an image using sIh media has not yet been provided, if this device were to be configured, for example, as shown in FIG. Fluid ink 4a.

The ink units 4-b, 4c, and 4d are arranged radially, and liquid fertilizer i;i tll is sequentially applied via the intermediate transfer medium 3.
A possible configuration is one in which fluid ink is transferred to a transfer medium 2 which is supported by a support l and rotated, and each color is superimposed to form a color image.

By the way, in order to obtain a color image without color shift, Y
(yellow) 1M (macenta), C (cyan) 13 (
Each of the liquid particles 4a to 4d (black) must be sequentially transferred onto the recording medium 2 through the same circumferential position of the intermediate transfer medium 3 in exactly the same manner.
In the configuration shown in the figure, each ink unit is arranged radially along the circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer medium 3.
High accuracy is required in the Ii degree and recording timing, and it is actually extremely difficult to accurately transfer each fluid ink to the same location on the intermediate transfer medium 3, so it is thought that color misregistration is likely to occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned points, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multicolor recording device that uses fluid ink and can easily print color images on a recording medium without color shift.

[Means for Solving the Problems 1] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention uses a plurality of fluid inks that have fluid film-forming properties and can be imparted with tackiness by applying energy. , a multicolor recording bag fi that forms a multicolor image on a recording medium that is fed 111 il by a recording medium support via a rotating intermediate transfer medium.
1, there are a plurality of ink units that store a plurality of fluid inks for each ink so that a layer of ink can be transferred along the transfer position 111, and a plurality of fluid ink units that can be moved. and an ink unit moving means for sequentially bringing the ink into contact with the intermediate transfer medium at the same transfer position, and at the same transfer position,
The present invention is characterized in that fluid ink selectively imparted with tackiness is transferred onto an intermediate transfer medium by selectively applying energy according to an image signal.

[Function] With the above configuration, the present invention sequentially moves the positions of a plurality of fluid inks to bring each fluid ink into contact with the intermediate transfer medium at the same transfer position, and at the contact position. Since the fluid ink is transferred to the intermediate transfer medium, a color image can be formed without color shift.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention (7) will be described with reference to the 1Δ plane.
An cExplain.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a multicolor recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a part thereof in an enlarged manner.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a recording medium support (for example, a platen roller) rotating in the direction of arrow P, and 2 denotes a recording medium supported by and conveyed by the recording medium support 1 (for example,
3 is an intermediate transfer medium that rotates in the direction of arrow Q, which is opposite to the recording medium support. The intermediate transfer medium 3 has a transfer surface (outer circumferential surface) at a relative speed of
The ink portion adhering to the transfer surface is transferred to the recording medium 2 as described later.

Further, A, B, C, and D are ink units (recording units) that form images using fluid ink, respectively.
An independent unit of the same construction, on a rotary indexing circular table (not shown) (see reference numeral lO in FIG. 2),
They are installed at predetermined positions separated by an angle of 90 degrees, and are intermittently moved by 90 degrees in a predetermined direction (for example, in the direction of arrow P) by a rotational drive mechanism (for example, a pulse motor, etc.) not shown, so that they remain at the same position. It comes into contact with the intermediate transfer medium 3, slides out, and transfers the ink image to the intermediate transfer medium 3 during the contact.

In the above-mentioned ink units A, B, C, and D, 4a,
4b, 4c, 4d are fluid inks, 5a, 5b, 5c,
5d is an energy application head that selectively applies energy to the fluid ink; 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d are ink transfer rollers that rotate the ink; and 7a, 7b.
, 7c.

7d is an ink film thickness control roller that controls the film thickness of the ink conveyed by the ink transport roller.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, as a representative ink unit A.
The recording operation when the intermediate transfer medium 3 is in contact with the intermediate transfer medium 3 will be explained.

First, to explain the overall general configuration, an ink transport roller 6a serving as an ink transport means is configured to carry fluid ink (for example,
A yellow fluid ink) 4a is placed in an ink container 8 in which a portion of it is submerged in the ink 4a. appears to be buried in the ink 4a), and is rotatable in the direction of arrow P (counterclockwise) while transferring the ink 4a in the container 8.

The above-mentioned ink 4a has fluid film-forming properties and does not normally have adhesive properties as described later, but when given a predetermined amount of energy,
For example, it has the property of being sticky when electrical energy or the like is applied to it. Therefore, when the ink transfer roller 6a rotates, the ink 4a becomes a constant layer thickness on the surface of the ink transfer roller 6a due to the rotation of the ink film thickness control roller 7a, which is a layer thickness regulating means, in the direction of arrow Q (clockwise). arrow P
transported in the direction.

Electric energy is applied to the ink 4a formed in a certain layer on the surface of the ink transport roller 6a in an image pattern by an energy application head 5a controlled by a control means (not shown), and this application of energy imparts tackiness. An ink image 4 is formed. That is,
As pressure is applied to the energy application head 5a in a pattern according to the image signal, current flows from the electrode element to the ink transfer roller 6a via the ink 4a,
For example, the crosslinking structure in the ink 4a changes due to an electrochemical reaction, thereby imparting selective tackiness to the ink 4a. This sticky ink image 4 comes into contact with the intermediate transfer medium 3 rotating in the direction of arrow Q (clockwise) and is transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer medium 3. On the other hand, intermediate transfer medium 3
The ink that has not been transferred is re-accommodated in the ink container 8 as the ink transfer roller 6a rotates, and is stirred by, for example, a stirring roll (not shown) and used again.

The ink image 4 transferred to the intermediate transfer medium 3 is transferred to a recording medium support 1 serving as a transfer means that is provided in pressure contact with the intermediate transfer medium 3 and rotatable in the direction of arrow P (counterclockwise), and to the intermediate transfer medium 3. A recording medium (for example, plain paper, plastic sheet, etc., hereinafter referred to as r recording paper 1) that is conveyed between the medium 3 and the recording medium 3
Transferred to 2.

Further, at this time, the intermediate transfer medium 3 is driven by a motor (not shown) that rotates at a higher speed than the intermediate transfer medium 3 via a gear train that decelerates at an integral multiple of the speed of the motor, and the recording medium 3 The diameter of the support 1 is designed to be an integral multiple of the diameter of the intermediate transfer medium 3, so that the recording medium 2 has a relative speed of 0.
The intermediate transfer medium 3 is configured to be in contact with the intermediate transfer medium 3 at this point.

When the image recording by the ink unit A is completed as described above, the rotary indexing circular table (turntable)
10 rotates counterclockwise by a center angle of 90 degrees, and the next ink unit B accordingly moves precisely to the exact same position where ink unit A came into contact with the intermediate transfer medium 3 and performed the image recording operation. do. Next, at exactly the same timing that the fluid ink 4a is transferred from the ink unit A to the intermediate transfer medium 3, for example, the rotation start position of the intermediate transfer medium 3) or the rotation of the recording medium support 1 When the recording medium 2 reaches a predetermined recording start position, the ink unit B starts transferring fluid ink (for example, magenta fluid ink) 4b to the intermediate transfer medium 3. The contents of this transfer operation are the same as in the case of ink unit A described above.

Here, the intermediate transfer medium 3 is driven by decelerating the rotation of the high-speed motor by an integer multiple as described above, so the circumference of the intermediate transfer medium 3 during one rotation of the intermediate transfer medium 3 is The speed fluctuation at any point above is always the same every time the intermediate transfer medium 3 rotates. That is, the velocity fluctuation at each point on the circumference of the intermediate transfer medium 3 at the transfer position is determined by the fluid ink 4a.
Therefore, the current fluid ink 4b is also transferred in exactly the same manner to the location where the previous fluid ink 4a was transferred. and,
The diameter of the recording medium support 1 is an integral multiple of the diameter of the intermediate transfer medium 3, and since the recording medium 2 comes into contact with the intermediate transfer medium 3 at a relative speed, the recording medium 2 is always the same as the intermediate transfer medium. The Ai dynamic ink 4b on the intermediate transfer medium 3 is accurately transferred to the position of the previously transferred fluid ink 4a on the recording medium, and the color They will be superimposed without any rubbing. .

Thereafter, when the image recording by the ink unit B is completed, the rotary indexing circular table 10 is rotated 90 degrees again, and this time the ink unit C comes into contact with the intermediate transfer medium 3, and the ink unit C comes into contact with the intermediate transfer medium 3. The transfer operation by the fluid ink) 4c is started in exactly the same manner as described above, and when the image recording by this ink unit C is completed, the rotary indexing table IO is rotated 90 degrees again, and the last ink unit D is transferred to the intermediate transfer medium. 3 to start the transfer operation using the last fluid ink (for example, black fluid ink) 4d. When the image recording operation by the ink unit D is completed, the recording medium 2 is transferred to the recording medium support 1.
It is removed from the body and discharged to the outside.

In this way, by sequentially rotating and moving the plurality of fluid inks 4a to 4d, they are brought into contact with the intermediate transfer medium 3 at the same position, and the fluid inks are sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer medium 3 at the contact position. As a result, clear color images with no color shift can be obtained.

Next, in order to further facilitate understanding of the present invention, the configuration of the main parts of the above-mentioned multicolor recording apparatus will be explained in detail one by one.

The ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d carry fluid ink 48 to 4d.
In this embodiment, a conductor made of a metal such as stainless steel, aluminum, or iron is formed into a cylindrical shape, and the conductor is made of a material that can be formed in its original state on its surface and transferred. The structure is such that it can be driven and rotated at a certain speed in the direction of arrow P.

The surfaces of the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d made of the above materials may be smooth, but are preferably appropriately roughened in order to further improve the transferability of the fluid inks 4a to 4d.

Next, the fluid ink 48 to 4d transferred by the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d will be explained.
-4d have fluid film-forming properties that flow under the application of a constant external force to form an ink film, and specifically, as the ink transfer rollers 6a-6d rotate, the rollers 6a-4d 6
An ink layer is formed on the surface of d and has the property of being transferred. The inks 4a to 4d are preferably used if they have a property of being able to restore their adhesiveness over time after being cut by an external force. In other words, it is preferable that when the ink souls come into contact with each other, the interface disappears and they become one.

The inks 4a to 4d having such properties include inks having a Kel state in a broad sense in which the solvent is held by a crosslinked structure substance, or inks having a relatively high viscosity (preferably 5000c).
Ps or higher) in a solvent with a particle size of preferably 0.1
-100 μm, more preferably 1 to 20 μm) is preferably used. Inks that have the properties of both the gel-like ink and the sludge-like ink are more preferably used.

Specific examples of this ink include, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 175191/1989, which the applicant previously filed, or Japanese Patent Application No.
Preferably, the ink described in No. 2-35904 or the like is used.

Although such inks 4a to 4d have fluid film forming properties,
A predetermined amount of energy (e.g., electrical energy, thermal energy, etc.) that is substantially sticky as it is.
When is applied, only the area to which it is applied becomes sticky. By the way, what do you say here? Adhesiveness j refers to selective adhesion, and when the inks 4a to 4d are brought into contact with an object such as the intermediate transfer roller 3, the inks 4a to 4d
This refers to a part of 4d being separated from the entire ink and attached to an object, regardless of whether the entire ink is sticky or not.

Therefore, when no energy is applied to the ink layer formed on the surface of the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d, even if the ink 4a to 4d comes into contact with another medium, for example, the intermediate transfer roller 3, the ink layer formed on the surface of the ink transfer roller 6a to 6d is It is not substantially transferred to the roller 3. The reason for this is that in gel ink, the solvent is held in a crosslinked structure (except for a small amount of solvent), so the ink is not transferred to the intermediate transfer roller 3, and the ink is in a sludge state. In this case, it is thought that because the particles are closely arranged at the interface, the solvent portion of the ink becomes difficult to come into contact with the intermediate transfer roller 3 and is not transferred to the intermediate transfer roller 3.

On the other hand, when energy such as electricity is applied to the above-mentioned gel-like ink or sludge-like ink, the crosslinking structure of the gel-like ink changes, and the particle arrangement state of the sludge-like ink changes. It is thought that these fluid inks are given tackiness in response to the above energy application.

Further, the above-mentioned inks 4a to 4d are transferred to an ink transport roller 6.
When coated on a to 6d, it has properties as a plastic body, and conversely, after being applied with energy by the energy application heads 58 to 5d, before reaching the intermediate transfer roller 3, it has properties as an elastic body. It is preferable.

For this reason, the inks 4a to 4d of this embodiment preferably have a certain degree of viscoelasticity (+ζ·elasticity).

The range of the viscoelasticity is, for example, as shown in Fig. 5(A),
As shown in (B), the inks 4a to 4d have a diameter of 25
mm, thickness 2 noa, apply a sinusoidal strain γ with an angular velocity of 1'rad/see in the arrow direction (shear direction) shown in the figure, detect the stress 0 and phase shift δ, and calculate the complex modulus of elasticity. When calculating G", G"=σ/γ=G'+iG"G' ・Storage modulus G': Value of ratio G"/G' between loss modulus storage modulus G' and loss elasticity G" is about oat
-to is preferably used.

In this complex modulus of elasticity, if G''/G' is less than 01, the behavior as a plastic body will be insufficient, and the ink coating on the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d will be insufficient, and the G''/G' When G' approaches 10, the behavior as an elastic body is insufficient, and the energy application head 5a
This is because elastic recovery between the intermediate transfer roller 3 and the intermediate transfer roller 3 becomes insufficient.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned sample size and method of applying distortion are values that are considered appropriate for the recording apparatus.

In addition, the above-mentioned inks 48 to 4d contain colorants of different colors, and examples of such ink colorants preferably used in the present invention include the dyes and pigments described below. These may be used alone or in a mixture of two or more.

The pigment or dye is suitably used in an amount sufficient to highly pigment the ink and form a distinct visible image. For example, in the case of pigments as dyes and pigments, about 1% to 40% by weight of the total weight of the ink.
% by weight, but in the case of dyes substantially lower amounts, for example up to 30% by weight.

(a) Black coloring agents include carbon black, magnetite, iron oxide, nigrosine dye, chrome yellow,
Examples include ultramarine blue, DuPont Oil Red 1, methylene blue chloride, and phthalocyanine blue.

(b) Colorants for magenta include 2,9-cymedyl-substituted quinacridone and CI 60 in color index.
Anthraquinone dye described as 710, CI
Disbirds Dread 15, C in color index
Diazo dye described as I 26050, CI
Examples include Solvent Red 19.

(C) As a cyan colorant, copper tetra-4 (octadecylsulfonamide) phthalocyanine, X-
Copper phthalocyanine pigment, CI Pigment Blue, and anthradane threne blue listed as C, 169810 in the Color Index, Special Blue X
-2137 etc. can be mentioned.

(d) Colorants for yellow include 3,3-dichloropenzidine acetoacetanilide, which is cyanilite yellow, monoazo pigment listed as C12700 in the color index, Cl Solvent Yellow 16, and color ink. Horon Yellow 6E in Ducks
Nitrophenylamine sulfonamide, listed as /GLN, CI Disbursed Yellow 33.2.
5-dimethoxy-4-sulfoneanilite phenyl-4
'-Chloro-2°5-dimethoxyacetoacetanilide, permanent yellow FGL and the like.

(e) In the case of orange as other coloring agents, red yellow lead, molybdenum orange, permanent orange GTR, pyrazolone orange, palkan orange, indanthrene brilliant orange RK, hengejin orenshi G, indanthrene brilliant orange GK are used. Can be mentioned.

For red, red red, cadmium red, red lead, mercury sulfide, cadmium, permanent red 4R, resol red 5, pyrazolone red, watchdalet rhusium salt, lakelet D, brilliant carmine 6B, eosin lake, rhodamine lake B, alizarin lake. , Brilliant Carmine 3B.

For purple, manganese purple, fast violet B,
Methyl violet lake is an example.

Examples of blue include navy blue, cobalt blue, alkali blue lake, Victoria blue lake, phthalocyanine blue, metal-free phthalocyanine blue, partially chlorinated phthalocyanine blue, fast sky blue, and indanthremble-BC.

Examples of green include chrome green, chromium oxide, pigment green B, malachite green lake, and final yellow green G.

In the case of white, examples include zinc white, titanium oxide, antimony white, and zinc sulfide.

Next, the ink film thickness control roller 7a as a layer thickness regulating means
to 7d are arranged upstream of the energy application heads 58 to 5d with respect to the rotational direction of the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d, and apply the ink inks 4a to 4d on the surfaces of the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d at a constant layer pressure. It is for coating. In this embodiment, ink film thickness control rollers 7a to 7
d and the surfaces of the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d by about 0.
It is provided with a 3 to 3 mm I-flat.

The layer thickness is regulated by the ink film thickness control rollers 7a to 7d, and the thickness of the ink layer formed on the surface of the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d is determined by the Halas effect peculiar to the viscoelastic material.
Ink film thickness control rollers 7a to 7d and ink transfer roller 6
The distance is slightly thicker than the distance between a to 6d. Therefore, the ink film thickness control rollers 7a to 7d and the ink transfer rollers 6a to
6d is desirably set to be slightly smaller than the thickness of the ink layer. However, when the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d are at high speed (for example, peripheral speed of 50 mm/s or more), the thickness of the coated ink layer is greater than the distance between the ink film thickness control rollers 7a to 7d and the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d. may also become smaller. In this case, it is desirable to set the interval to be slightly larger than the thickness of the coating ink layer.

Further, the layer thickness of the fluid inks 4a to 4d formed on the surfaces of the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d is as follows.
d fluidity or viscosity, the material or roughness of the surface of the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d, or the rollers 6a to 6d.
The rotation speed of the ink transfer roller 6a may vary depending on the
~6d is approximately 0.1~5 mm, more preferably 0.5~3 mm at the ink transfer position facing the intermediate transfer medium 3.
It is preferable that the thickness be about mm.

If the layer thickness of this ink is less than 0.1 mm, it will be difficult to form a uniform ink layer on the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d, and if the layer thickness exceeds 5 mm, the surface layer of the ink layer will be moved at a uniform circumferential speed. However, it becomes difficult to transport the inks 4a to 4d, and the energy application heads 5a to 5
d to the ink transfer roller 6a via the inks 4a to 4d.
This makes it difficult to apply electricity to the energy application heads 58 to 6d.6 Next, the energy application heads 58 to 5d may be used to apply thermal energy using a conventional thermal head, but from the point of view of energy efficiency, In this embodiment, a recording TL pole is used to apply electrical energy.

As shown in FIG. 3, each of the recording electrodes 5a to 5d has a structure in which a plurality of electrode elements 5B made of metal such as copper are arranged in a line on a base 5A made of glass epoxy, alumina, glass, etc. An insulating bamboo skin IIa made of polyimide or the like is placed on the electrode element 5B at a portion other than the tip, that is, at a portion other than the portion contacting the inks 4a to 4B.
5C, and the above-mentioned ink transport rollers 6a to 6
d is grounded by the earth 9, and current can be passed between the rollers 6a to 6d and the electrode element 5B via the inks 4a to 4d. In addition, the insulating film 5 of the above-mentioned electrode element 5B
It is preferable to plate the part exposed from C with gold, platinum, rhodium, etc., especially from the viewpoint of durability.
It is more preferable to apply platinum plating.

Furthermore, when arranging the recording electrodes 5a to 5d, as shown in FIG. t 8i element 5B is the ink transfer row
It is preferable to arrange the ink layer so as to slightly penetrate into the ink layer formed on the layers 6a to 6d. The amount of penetration is set to about 0 to 1' mm, more preferably about 01 to 0.5 mm. By slightly penetrating the ink layer in this manner, the energizing effect can be further enhanced. Note that even if the electrode element 5B is penetrated into the ink layer as described above, the ink 4a
~4d has vi elasticity, so there is no problem.

Furthermore, when the electrode element 5B is inserted into the ink layer as described above, the level difference between the end surface A of the substrate 5A and the end surface B of the electrode element 5B in FIG. 3 may be in the range of about 0 to 100 μm. Preferably, if possible, there should be no step on both end faces, and the structure should be the same. This is because if the level difference is large, the ink image 4 formed by energization from the electrode element 5B will be rubbed and destroyed by the end surface of the substrate 5A, and there is a risk that the recorded image will be smeared.

Furthermore, the amount of current applied to the recording electrodes 58 to 5d may be determined by, for example, when using a crosslinked structural material of the inks 4a to 4d consisting of guarcam bridged with boric acid ions, the crosslinked structure is destroyed to cause an electrochemical change. Therefore, the amount of current required to transfer electrons to and from the crosslinking agent, which is added in a small amount of several hundred ppm to the inks 4a to 4d, is sufficient. Compared to the amount of current when applying thermal energy with a thermal head,
It is sufficient to apply a low energy of about 1/10, and this application of electrical energy makes the ink sticky.

Next, the intermediate transfer medium 3 is one on which the above-mentioned energy is applied and the adhesive ink image 4 is transferred, and the cylindrical portion (roller) is transferred to each intermediate transfer medium 3. The surface of the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d and approximately 0.1 to 3 mm+
The ink transport roller 6
It is configured to be in contact with the ink layer formed on the surfaces a to 6d, and to be rotatable in the direction of arrow Q by a driving means (not shown).

The surface of the intermediate transfer medium 3 may be made of the same material as the surface of the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d; It is preferable to improve smoothness, stain resistance, or ease of cleaning by plating such as chrome plating or coating with silicone resin, fluororesin, polyethylene resin, etc. Furthermore, in order to improve the transferability of the ink 4 at the ink transfer position, it is preferable that the surface of the intermediate transfer medium 3 be made smoother than the surfaces of the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6'd. .

Further, at an ink transfer position where the adhesive ink image 4 is transferred to the intermediate transfer medium 3, the intermediate transfer medium 3
It is also desirable to apply an appropriate shearing force to the layers of ink 48 to 4d sandwiched between the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d. Therefore, it is preferable that the peripheral speed of the intermediate transfer medium 3 is set to be equal to or smaller than the peripheral speed of the surface layer of the ink layer on the ink transport rollers 6a to 6d. Depending on the characteristics of the non-adhesive ink, the circumferential speed of the intermediate transfer medium 30 may be set to be approximately equal to the circumferential speed of the surface layer of the ink layer, or slightly larger than this, taking into account Ull'-1a and deformation of the ink. You may do so.

Next, the recording medium support (also referred to as a transfer roller) 1 transfers the ink image 4 transferred onto the intermediate transfer medium 3 onto the recording paper 2.
A roller 1 made of nitrile rubber, silicone rubber, etc. formed into a cylindrical shape on a metal shaft is moved by a spring or the like (not shown).
The ink image 4 formed on the intermediate transfer medium 3 is pressed against the intermediate transfer medium 3 with a suppressing force of approximately 0.1 to 5 kgf/cm, and rotates in the direction of arrow P as the intermediate transfer medium 3 rotates. is configured to be transferred onto recording paper 2.

As mentioned above, the electrochemical action of electricity imparts tackiness to the fluid ink to perform predetermined recording, so it is possible to record on plain paper, etc. with a small amount of electrical energy and without wasting ink. It becomes possible. Furthermore, since the ink using the crosslinked structure has elasticity, it can significantly reduce image distortion at the area where energy is applied, and it does not require chemical coloring, so it is compatible with the generally known electrochemical recording method. That is, compared to the electrolytic recording method which uses color development due to oxidation/reduction reaction caused by electricity, it is possible to record images with excellent stability and durability.

Furthermore, the electrical conductivity of the ink is provided by ionic conduction, and a wide range of ionic substances (many solutions are transparent) can be used as electrolytes for this purpose.

Therefore, as in this embodiment, it is possible to easily obtain ink of any color tone using the dyes and pigments mentioned above.

Next, other embodiments of each part of the above-mentioned embodiment will be described.

(1) Ink Transfer Means In the above-mentioned embodiments, cylindrical ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d were used as the ink transfer means. A transfer member may also be used. This belt or sheet-like ink transport member may be fed out from one side and wound up from the other, but it is preferable to use it repeatedly by making it move endlessly.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the ink transport rollers 6a to 6d are made of a conductive material, or if the rollers 6a to 6d are not part of the current-carrying circuit, they do not need to be made of a conductive material and are made of resin. It may be composed of an insulator such as.

(2) Fluid ink In the above embodiments, either the ink was given tack by applying energy and an ink image was formed by the ink to which tack was applied, or the ink was not applied energy. It is also possible to make the portions sticky and form an ink image using the ink in the portions to which no energy is applied. .

(3) Layer J7 regulating means In the above-mentioned embodiment, the ink layer thickness regulating means was constituted by the rotating rollers 7a to 7d, but instead of these rollers, the tips are arranged at a constant interval from the ink transport rollers 6a to 6d. The layer thickness regulating means may be constituted by a plate member.

Note that the rotational speed of the ink transport rollers 6a to 6d and the ink 4
Due to the viscosity of a to 4d, the ink may be coated with a constant layer thickness on the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d, or the ink layer formed in advance on the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d may be coated with the ink. In a configuration in which the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d having an ink layer are replaced when the ink layer runs out, the layer thickness regulating means 7a to 7d may not necessarily be provided.

(4) Energy application means In the embodiments described above, when energizing the inks 4a to 4d, the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d are energized from the recording electrodes 5a to 5d via the inks 4a to 4d.
- Current may be caused to flow between a large number of electrode elements 5B arranged in a row. In this case, the ink 4a~
The electrochemical change of 4d is formed on the surface of the ink layer, where the pH is particularly high and in contact with the particularly low pH areas, so stirring by the stirring means is effective because only the surface layer of the ink layer needs to be stirred. .

In addition, when electricity is applied between the recording electrodes 5a to 5d and the ink transfer rollers 6a to 6d as in the above-mentioned embodiment, in the chemical change of the inks 48 to 4d, there are areas where the pH is particularly high and areas where the pH is particularly low. are formed relatively far apart. In this case, when current is applied to the recording electrodes 5a to 5d in accordance with the image signal, if a current is applied in one direction and then a voltage is applied in the opposite direction to cause the current to flow, the pH of the image area will change significantly. Immediately after the area where the crosslinked structure is destroyed, a non-image area is formed where the pH has significantly changed in the opposite direction. Therefore, when the mixture is stirred by a stirring means (not shown), relaxation due to ion diffusion of pl is performed more quickly, which is effective.

Furthermore, such an energization method also prevents the trailing phenomenon of the image caused by the recording electrodes 5a to 5d rubbing against the image area where the viscosity has decreased.

Further, although the energy applying means described above applies electrical energy, it may also apply thermal energy. In this case, it is sufficient to apply Joule heat using a conventionally used thermal head, but if it is necessary to prevent electrochemical electrode reactions, it is necessary to A fast alternating signal may be applied.

When forming an image by applying thermal energy as described above,
The development residue that has not been transferred to the intermediate transfer medium 3 is relaxed by cooling and recovers the crosslinked structure again. However, when it is stirred by a stirring means (not shown), the development residue, which has become a sol, is mixed with other gels. It comes into good contact with the shaped ink, and the recovery of the crosslinked structure is accelerated.

In addition, when electricity is applied to ink to generate heat, conventionally the ink contains conductive powder (mostly black) to give it conductivity (Japanese Patent Publication No. 40627). However, inks 48 to 4d according to this embodiment are imparted with electrical conductivity through ionic conduction as described above, so that inks of any color tone can be freely obtained.

(5) Intermediate transfer medium In the above-mentioned embodiment, the roller 3 was used as the intermediate transfer medium, but like the ink transport means, this does not have to be roller-shaped, and it can transfer a metal or plastic film in one direction. It may be transported, or it may be used as an endless belt.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, a plurality of units of fluid ink are sequentially moved to contact the intermediate transfer medium at the same transfer position, and fluidity is reduced at the contact position. Since the ink is transferred to the intermediate transfer medium, it is possible to form a color image without color shift.

Furthermore, in the present invention, since an ink image is formed by applying a predetermined energy to the fluid ink, there is no need for an ink sheet (ink ribbon) having a solid ink layer as in the past, and running costs are reduced. Extremely low recording processing is possible. In addition, if energy is applied by energizing, it becomes possible to record with approximately 1/io of current compared to thermal transfer recording using a conventional thermal head, which reduces running costs in terms of energy consumption. can be lowered.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the configuration of a multicolor recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing a part of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a multicolor recording method; FIG. It is an explanatory diagram without showing a measurement method. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Recording medium support, 2...Recording medium, 3...Intermediate transfer medium, 4a-4d...Fluid ink, 58-5d...To energy application, 6a- 6d
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Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) Using a plurality of fluid inks that have fluid film-forming properties and can be imparted with tackiness by applying energy, a recording medium is transferred via a rotating intermediate transfer medium. In a multicolor recording device that forms a multicolor image on a recording medium conveyed by a support, the plurality of fluid inks can be stored for each ink, and a layer of the ink can be transported along a transfer position. a plurality of ink units, and an ink unit moving means for sequentially bringing the plurality of fluid inks into contact with the intermediate transfer medium at the same transfer position by moving the plurality of ink units, A multicolor recording characterized in that fluid ink selectively imparted with tackiness is transferred to the intermediate transfer medium at the same transfer position by selectively applying energy according to an image signal. Device. 2) Driving the intermediate transfer medium so that the speed fluctuation at any point on the circumference of the intermediate transfer medium during one rotation of the intermediate transfer medium is repeated in the same manner every rotation of the intermediate transfer medium. 2. A multicolor recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a driving means for driving. 3) The multicolor recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the recording medium support is an integral multiple of the diameter of the intermediate transfer medium. 4) The multicolor recording device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate transfer medium is driven by a motor rotating at high speed via a gear train whose reduction ratio is an integral multiple of that of the motor. . 5) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a driving means for driving the recording medium support so that the recording medium contacts the intermediate transfer medium at a relative speed of zero. Multicolor recording device.