JPS63186271A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To form a clear image prevented from being blurred and to omit an intermediate sheet by forming a light shielding developed image on one surface of a transmissive latent image carrier and exposing a photosensitive recording medium through the light shielding developed image on the latent carrier under the contacting state of the recording medium to the rear face of the image carrier. CONSTITUTION:The light shielding developed image 38 is directly formed in each color on the inside of the photosensitive body 23 to be the transmissive latent image carrier, light is projected from the developed image 38 formation side to photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording paper 41 adherently arranged on the photosensitive body 23 to form a latent image and respective latent images on the recording paper 41 are developed. Thereby, the light radiated from the side of light shielding developed image formed on the photosensitive body 23 arrives at the recording paper 41 without being blurred at its contour. Consequently, a clear image free from a blurred state can be formed on the recording paper 41. Since the recording paper 41 is directly exposed by a 2nd exposing device 33 through the photosensitive body 23, an intermediate sheet can be omitted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Object of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that records predetermined image information on a photosensitive recording medium.

(Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention) Conventionally, this type of image recording apparatus has a static eliminator 2, a charger 3, an exposure device 4, and a photosensitive drum 1, as shown in FIG.
A toner application surface 5, a cleaner 6, etc. are arranged, and
An intermediate sheet 7 is stretched so as to be able to run near the photosensitive drum 1, and an exposure device 8, which is located slightly away from the photosensitive drum 1,
A photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording paper 9, a developing device 10, and a cleaner 11 were arranged.

In this image recording apparatus, as the photosensitive drum 1 rotates, the photosensitive drum 1 is subjected to charge removal by a static eliminator 2, uniform charging by a charger 3, loss of charge in an image area due to image formation by an exposure device 4, and toner. The coating device 5 applies toner to the charge-disappeared portion. After the toner is transferred to the intermediate sheet 7, an exposure device 8 irradiates light from the toner adhering side to form a latent image on the photosensitive pressure sensitive recording paper 9, which is developed by a developing device 10. .

As described above, this conventional image recording apparatus is provided with an intermediate sheet for carrying a toner image, resulting in a complicated and large structure, and requires time and effort for maintenance.

In order to solve this problem, an image recording apparatus as shown in FIG. 7 was proposed. In this apparatus, a transparent photosensitive drum 1 is used, and an exposure device 8 for developing a photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording paper 9 is arranged inside the drum. The light from inside the photosensitive drum 1 passes through the toner image onto the photosensitive pressure sensitive recording paper 9.
, and a latent image is formed on the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording paper 9.

As described above, the apparatus shown in FIG. 7 does not require an intermediate sheet.

However, in the apparatus shown in FIG. 7, the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording paper 9 and the photosensitive drum 1 cannot be placed in complete contact with each other in order to prevent the toner from adhering to the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording paper 9 and staining it. First, the two need to be placed apart from each other as shown in FIG. Therefore, there is a problem in that the light from the exposure device 8 spreads and the image formed on the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording paper 9 becomes blurred and unclear.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it not only eliminates the need for an intermediate sheet, but also enables the formation of clear images without blur on a photosensitive recording medium. The purpose is to provide a recording device.

Structure of the Invention (Means for Solving Problems) In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a transparent latent image carrier capable of carrying an electrostatic or magnetic latent image on one surface; a latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the surface of the latent image carrier based on predetermined image information; and forming a light-shielding visible image corresponding to the latent image on the surface of the latent image carrier. a first developing means, a photosensitive recording medium disposed closely on the back surface of the transparent latent image carrier relative to the front surface;
The photosensitive recording medium is exposed to light through the light-shielding developed image on the latent image carrier, which is disposed on the front side of the transparent latent image carrier, and a latent image corresponding to the developed image is formed on the photosensitive recording medium. a second developing means for developing a latent image formed on a photosensitive recording medium by the exposing means to form a developed image; and a second developing means for forming a developed image on the transparent latent image carrier after exposure by the exposing means. A configuration is adopted in which the image forming apparatus is equipped with an erasing means for erasing the latent image and the visible image on the image.

(Function) Therefore, according to the image recording apparatus of the present invention, a light-shielding developed image is formed on one surface of the transparent latent image carrier, so that the photosensitive recording medium is not placed in close contact with the back surface of the transparent latent image carrier. In this state, the photosensitive recording medium can be exposed to light through a light-shielding developing image on the transparent latent image carrier. Therefore, an intermediate sheet becomes unnecessary and the image formed on the photosensitive recording medium does not become blurred.

(Example 1) Hereinafter, a first example in which the present invention is embodied in a color image recording apparatus for forming a color image will be described in detail based on FIGS. 1 to 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, a photoreceptor 23 as a transparent latent image carrier is mounted on a frame 21 and has an endless sheet shape that is guided by a plurality of guide rollers 22 and movable in the direction of arrow A by a driving means (not shown). is provided. The photoreceptor 23 has a transparent photoconductor layer 2 inside the transparent conductor layer 23a.
3b are stacked and arranged, and the transparent conductor layer 23a is grounded.

Further, a first exposure device 24 as a latent image forming means is provided above the photoreceptor 23, and the diffused light emitted from the light source 25 is reflected by a half mirror 26, and is horizontally moved by a driving means (not shown). The light is irradiated onto a document 28 placed on a document table glass 27 that is movable. and,
After passing through the half mirror 26, the reflected light passes through an interference filter 29 that transmits only light with wavelengths corresponding to each color of cyan, magenta, and yellow. is imaged. Therefore, the original 28 is placed on the transparent photoconductor 1fi23a.
Only the image information corresponding to a predetermined color of the light irradiated on the image is formed, and the charge in that portion disappears, thereby forming a latent image corresponding to the image information.

Inside the photoreceptor 23, there are a charger 31 for uniformly charging the photoreceptor 23, a first developing device 32 as a first developing means, a second exposure device 33 as an exposure means, and the photoreceptor 23. A cleaning device 34 serving as an erasing means for erasing and cleaning toner adhering to the inner periphery of the photoreceptor 23 and removing residual charges on the photoreceptor 23 is disposed along the circumferential movement direction of the photoreceptor 23 .

The first developing device 32 is provided with a toner case 36 and a developing sleeve 37 that contain black toner 35 charged to the same polarity as the non-image portion of the photoreceptor 23. The toner 35 does not adhere to the non-image area due to electrostatic repulsion, but adheres to the latent image, so that so-called reversal development is performed, and a light-shielding developer corresponding to the latent image is formed on the photoreceptor 23. An image 38 is formed. Note that this development process may be a regular development different from the above, and in this case, a light irradiation area corresponding to a non-image portion of the image information is formed on the uniformly charged photoreceptor 23, and a portion corresponding to the image portion is formed on the uniformly charged photoreceptor 23. By leaving a charge on
A light-shielding developed image 38 is formed by electrostatically attracting toner charged with a polarity different from that of the image portion.

The second exposure device 33 is provided with an exposure lamp 39 and an interference filter 40 that transmits only light with a wavelength corresponding to each color of cyan, magenta, and yellow, and a filter corresponding to a predetermined color is selectively placed in the optical path. In this state, light is irradiated from the side of the photoreceptor 23 on which the light-shielding developed image 38 is formed.

A photosensitive pressure-sensitive recording paper 41 as a photosensitive recording medium is stretched between take-up rollers 42a and 42b, guided by a guide roller 43, and is brought into close contact with the lower surface of the photoreceptor 23 along with the arrow B. It is designed to be transported in the direction. As shown in FIG. 2, a paper for color printing is used as the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording paper 41, and dye precursors of the basic colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow are coated on the back side of a transparent resin base material 44 and photocurable. Microcapsules 45 individually encapsulated with resin are applied. During exposure by the second exposure device 33, the microcapsules 45 of the color corresponding to the wavelength of the light in the portions receiving the light are hardened, and a latent image is formed on the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording paper 41. Further, a transfer sheet 47 coated with a color developer that develops color by reacting with the dye precursor is stacked and accommodated on a paper feed cassette 46 disposed below the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording paper 41.

A pair of pressurizing and fixing rollers 48 that serve as a second developing means and are removable are provided near the paper feed cassette 46, and a single transfer sheet 47 is transferred from above the paper feed cassette 46 by the operation of the paper feed roller 49. The sheets of paper are fed one by one between the rollers 48 and overlapped with the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording paper 41. Then, the light-sensitive pressure-sensitive recording paper 41 and the transfer sheet 4 pass between the rollers 48.
7 is transferred under pressure, the non-photocured microcapsules 45 of the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording paper 41 are crushed and the dye precursor inside flows out, which reacts with the color developer of the transfer sheet 47. , the latent image on the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording paper 41 is transferred to the transfer sheet 4.
7 to form an image.

Next, regarding the image recording device configured as described above,
In particular, the operation will be explained with a focus on the order of operations during color printing.

Now, in the apparatus of this embodiment, latent images are formed on the photoreceptor 23 in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan, etc., for example. That is, first, while the photoconductor 23 is moved around in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. Then, with the yellow filter 40Y of the interference filter 40 selectively placed in the optical path in the second exposure device 33, light is emitted through the light-shielding developing image 38. irradiated.

As a result, among the microcapsules 45 corresponding to the yellow color of the photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording paper 41, only the microcapsules 45 that were shielded by the developer 38 and did not receive light do not undergo a photocuring reaction and receive other light. The microcapsules 45 corresponding to the yellow color are photocured, and the light-sensitive and pressure-sensitive recording paper 41 is
A latent image corresponding to yellow is formed thereon. Thereafter, the light-shielding developed image 38 corresponding to yellow on the photoconductor 23 is erased and cleaned in the cleaning device 34, and the photosensitive pressure-sensitive recording paper 4 is rotated by the winding roller 42a.
1 is moved in the direction opposite to the direction of arrow B in FIG.

Regarding the formation of latent images of magenta and cyan, as in the case of yellow, after the light-shielding developed image 38 is formed on the portions of the photoreceptor 23 that should be magenta and cyan,
In the second exposure device 33, light is irradiated with magenta or cyan filter sections 40M and 4OC selectively arranged in the optical path, and latent images corresponding to magenta and cyan are formed on the photosensitive pressure sensitive recording paper 41. be done. After the latent image formation of each color is completed, the light-sensitive and pressure-sensitive recording paper 41 and the transfer sheet 47 are pressed together in a superimposed state by the pressure fixing roller 48.
The unphotocured microcapsules 45 of each color are crushed, and the dye precursors inside flow out and react with the color developer on the transfer sheet 47 to form a color image on the transfer sheet 47.

In this way, in the image recording apparatus of this embodiment, the light-shielding developed image 38 is directly formed inside the photoreceptor 23 for each color, and the developed image 38 is closely placed on the photoreceptor 23 from the side where the developed image 38 is formed. The photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording paper 41 thus formed is irradiated with light to form a latent image, and each latent image on the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording paper 41 is then visualized. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the light irradiated from the light-shielding developing image 38 side formed on the photoreceptor 23 reaches the photosensitive pressure-sensitive recording paper 41 without the outline becoming unclear. A clear image without pockmarks can be formed on the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording paper 41.

Further, as described above, the second exposure device 33 exposes the photoreceptor 23.
Since the light-sensitive and pressure-sensitive recording paper 41 is directly exposed through the light, an intermediate sheet is not necessary.

(Embodiment 2) Next, a second embodiment in which the present invention is also embodied in a color image recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the same parts as in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

This second embodiment differs from the previous embodiment in that a magnetic recording method (magnetography) is employed.

The endless sheet-like transparent latent image carrier 51 used in this embodiment is formed by disposing a transparent magnetic material 51 bt-8II'ii as a latent image carrier layer on the inner peripheral surface of a transparent resin base material 51a. There is.

On the inner periphery thereof, a demagnetizer 52, a magnetic head 53 as a latent image forming means, a first developing device 54 as a first developing means, an exposure device 33 as an exposing means, and a cleaning device 55 are arranged to form a transparent latent image. They are arranged along the circumferential movement direction of the carrier 51.

As the transparent latent image carrier 51 rotates, the demagnetizer 52
As a result, the residual magnetism of the transparent magnetic body 51b is removed. The magnetic head 53 is then driven based on predetermined image information.
As a result, a magnetic latent image corresponding to image information is formed on the transparent magnetic material 5Lb. The first developing device 54 includes a toner case 54 containing black magnetic toner 56 as a light-shielding material.
a and a developing sleeve 54b are provided, and a transparent magnetic material 51
The magnetic toner 56 is magnetically attracted to the magnetic latent image on b, forming a light-shielding visible image 38. Then, in the exposure device 33, the light-sensitive and pressure-sensitive recording paper 41 is exposed to light through the light-shielding image 38 of the transparent magnetic material 51b, and the light-shielding image 38 of the transparent magnetic material 51b is placed on the light-sensitive pressure-sensitive recording paper 41. A corresponding latent image is formed. Thereafter, as the transparent latent image carrier 51 rotates, the cleaning device 55 collects and removes the magnetic toner 56 magnetically attracted onto the transparent magnetic body 51b. In this embodiment as well, the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording paper 41 is closely placed on the transparent latent image carrier 51 as in the first embodiment.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the respective embodiments described above, but can be modified and embodied as follows.

(1) As shown in FIG. 5, a laser scanning device is used as the first exposure device 24. The device shown in Fig. 5 is
Laser light irradiated from the semiconductor laser 61 is transmitted to the motor 62.
The image is guided onto the photoreceptor 23 through the polygon mirror 63, fθ lens 64, and reflecting mirror 65 that are rotated, and a latent image corresponding to predetermined image information is formed on the photoreceptor 23. ing.

(2) As a photosensitive pressure-sensitive recording paper 41, microcapsules 45 encapsulating dye precursors of each basic color and a photocurable resin and a color developer are integrally coated on a transparent resin base material 44. Use pressure sensitive paper.

(3) As a photosensitive recording medium, use photosensitive and thermal paper that undergoes color development and fixing by applying heat.

(4) A light-sensitive and pressure-sensitive recording paper coated with microcapsules encapsulating a dye precursor of one color among black, yellow, magenta, cyan, etc. is used, and configured to operate as a monochrome image recording device. thing.

(5) As a means of forming a magnetic latent image, a thermomagnetic recording method in which a uniformly magnetized transparent magnetic material is locally heated based on predetermined image information to erase or reverse magnetism and form a magnetic latent image. be used.

(6) Use a non-endless transparent latent image carrier 23, 51 whose both ends are wound around rollers and can run between the rollers.

Effects of the Invention As detailed above, the present invention allows the transparent latent image carrier and the photosensitive recording medium to be placed closely together, eliminates the need for an intermediate sheet, and produces clear images without blur on the photosensitive recording medium. It has the excellent effect of being able to form images.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention as a color image recording apparatus, FIG. 2 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view similarly showing an enlarged photo-sensitive and pressure-sensitive recording paper, and FIG. Similarly, a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which a photoreceptor and a light-sensitive pressure-sensitive recording paper are closely arranged and exposed; FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention in a color image recording apparatus; Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing another example of the present invention embodied in a color image recording device, Fig. 6.7 is a schematic block diagram showing a conventional image recording device, and Fig. 8 is a schematic block diagram showing a conventional image recording device. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the exposure state of a photosensitive recording medium. 23... Photoreceptor as a transparent latent image carrier, 24...
A first exposure device as a latent image forming means, 32... a first developing device as a first developing means, 33... a second exposure device as an exposing means, 34... as an erasing means cleaning device, 38...light-shielding imager, 41.
...Light and pressure sensitive recording paper as a photosensitive recording medium, 48...
A pressure fixing roller as a second developing means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A transparent latent image carrier (23) capable of carrying an electrostatic or magnetic latent image on one surface; a latent image forming means (24) for forming a latent image on a surface; and a first developer for forming a light-shielding developed image (38) on the surface of the latent image carrier (23) corresponding to the latent image. Means (3
2); a photosensitive recording medium (41) disposed in close contact with the back surface of the transparent latent image carrier (23) relative to the front surface; and a photosensitive recording medium (41) disposed on the front surface side of the transparent latent image carrier (23);
The light-shielding developed image (38) on the latent image carrier (23)
an exposure means (33) for exposing the photosensitive recording medium (41) to light to form a latent image corresponding to the developed image (38) on the photosensitive recording medium (41); a second developing means (48) that develops the latent image formed on the recording medium (41) to form a developed image; and after exposure by the exposing means (33), the transparent latent image carrier (23) An image recording device characterized by comprising: erasing means (34) for erasing the latent image and the visible image on the image.