JP3132864B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a novel recording device,
More specifically, an area showing a receding contact angle according to the heating temperature is selectively and reversibly formed on the surface of the recording medium having a specific property, and a coloring material is applied to this area (latent image). The present invention relates to an apparatus useful for a recording method in which a recording agent solution or dispersion liquid contained therein is supplied to visualize the image, and the image is transferred onto plain paper or the like so that a large number of high-quality images can be obtained.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An offset printing method using a lithographic printing plate is a typical example of a means for dividing a surface into a liquid-adhesive area and a non-liquid-adhesive area for image formation. However, incorporation of the plate making process from the original plate and the printing process from the printing plate (printing plate) into one apparatus in the offset printing method inevitably increases the size of the apparatus. For example, even in a relatively small office offset plate making press, the plate making device and the printing device are often separate from each other.

In order to eliminate such a defect of the offset printing method, a liquid-adhesive area and a non-liquid-adhesive area corresponding to image information can be formed, and can be used repeatedly (reversible). Recording methods or apparatuses have been proposed. Some of them are as follows. (1) Aqueous development method After applying a charge to the hydrophobic photoconductor layer from the outside, it is exposed to light to form a pattern having a hydrophobic portion and a hydrophilic portion on the surface of the photoconductor layer. An aqueous developer is adhered and transferred to paper or the like (Japanese Patent Publication No. 40-18992, Japanese Patent Publication No. 40-18993, Japanese Patent Publication No. 44-9512, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-264392). (2) Method using photochemical reaction of photochromic material A layer containing a material such as spiropyran or an azo dye is irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and these photochromic compounds are hydrophilized by the photochemical reaction [for example, “Polymer Papers” No. 37.
Vol. 4, p. 287 (1980)]. (3) A method using the action of an internal bias force An amorphous state and a crystalline state are formed by physical change,
Constructing the area where liquid ink adheres / non-adheres
-41902).

According to the method (1), after the aqueous ink is transferred to paper or the like, the hydrophilic portion is erased by static elimination,
Recording of other image information becomes possible. That is, it is possible to repeatedly use one master (photoconductor). However, since this method is based on the electrophotographic process, it requires a long process of charging → exposure → development → transfer → static elimination,
It has the drawback that it is difficult to reduce the size and cost of the device and to make it maintenance-free. According to the method (2), hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity can be freely and reversibly controlled by selectively changing the irradiation of ultraviolet light and visible light, but the reaction time is extremely long due to poor quantum efficiency. However, the recording speed is slow and the stability is lacking, so that it has not yet reached the practical level. Furthermore, according to the method (3), the information recording member used there is stable after recording, but may have a physical structure change due to temperature change before recording. Problems remain in storage stability. In addition, since a means for applying a heat pulse and then quenching to erase the recorded information pattern is employed, there is an inconvenience that repetitive image formation cannot mimic the complexity.

[0005] The present inventors have studied and studied to solve the conventional disadvantages and disadvantages. As a result, a specific recording material (a recording material having a surface in which the receding contact angle is reduced when heated and brought into contact with a liquid, and for convenience, referred to as a recording material (A)) and a contact material (liquid, vapor or recording It is a liquid or a liquid or a vapor-generating solid at or below the temperature at which the receding contact angle of the body (A) begins to decrease.
Contact material (B)), and selectively heating the surface of the recording body (A) while keeping the surface of the recording body (A) in contact with the contact material (B) or selectively heating the surface of the recording body (A). By bringing the recording material (A) into contact with the contact material (B) in this state, a latent image having a receding contact angle corresponding to the heating temperature is formed on the surface of the recording material (A), and the latent image contains a recording agent solution or dispersion containing a colorant. Then, a method for transferring this visible image to recording paper and an apparatus related thereto were proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 4010275). According to the method and the like proposed here, formation of a latent image and a visible image on the recording medium (A), transfer of the visible image to plain paper, and erasure of the latent image are extremely easily and reversibly. Therefore, it is possible not only to easily perform a large number of copied images, but also to continuously obtain different copied images.

[0006]

When a copy image is obtained on a recording sheet using the specific recording medium (A) proposed above, all of the recording agent on the recording medium (A) is transferred to the recording sheet. Although it is ideal that the recording material (A) remains somewhat as a residual recording material, it is sometimes recognized that the recording material is slightly left on the recording material (A). Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5, the residual recording agent (sometimes referred to as “residual ink”) 1 on the recording medium (A) denoted by reference numeral 3 is a cylindrical porous cleaner 2 ′ (see FIG. 5). 5 (a)) and the on-board cleaner 2 ″ (FIG. 5 (b)). The cleaners 2 ′, 2 ″ here.
Is to clean the entire width of the recording body 3 at a time, so that it is necessary to surely contact the recording body 3. Therefore, the frictional force between the cleaners 2 ', 2 "and the recording medium 3 becomes extremely large, and causes a cause of unevenness in the transport speed of the recording medium 3. The present invention provides a complete or almost perfect recording medium. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus having a cleaning property and having a cleaning unit which has a cleaning property and reduces a frictional force with the surface of a recording medium (A) as much as possible.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the surface of the recording medium (A) is selectively heated by keeping the surface of the recording medium (A) below in contact with the contact material (B) below, or the surface of the recording medium (A) is heated. The surface of the recording medium (A) is selectively heated and brought into contact with the contact material (B) in accordance with the heating temperature.
Means for supplying a contact material (B) for forming a latent image having a reduced receding contact angle to the surface of the recording body (A); means for selectively heating the surface of the recording body (A) in accordance with an image signal;
Means for applying a recording agent solution or dispersion for visualizing the latent image, means for transferring recording agent droplets adhered on the recording medium (A) to recording paper, and recording medium (A) after the transfer In a recording apparatus provided with means for cleaning the surface of the recording medium (A) in contact with the surface, the cleaning means is a cleaner which divides a contact portion of the recording medium (A) and makes contact with the recording medium in order. And (A) A recording medium having a surface in which the receding contact angle is reduced when heated and brought into contact with a liquid. (B) A liquid, a vapor, or a solid that becomes a liquid at a temperature equal to or lower than the temperature at which the receding contact angle of the recording medium (A) starts decreasing, or generates a liquid or a vapor.

In the apparatus of the present invention, if a recording material solution or dispersion liquid such as a liquid ink (ink liquid) is used, the means for supplying the contact material (B) can be omitted. If a material such as a liquid ink is used as the contact material (B), the image is visualized at the same time as the formation of the latent image, so that the means for applying the recording agent solution or dispersion can be omitted. In the device of the present invention,
By heating the surface of the recording medium (A) on which the latent image is formed in the absence of the contact material (B), the latent image can be erased and the image can be formed reversibly.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail. When the recording medium (A) used in the apparatus of the present invention is heated in contact with a liquid, the receding contact angle is reduced even after cooling, and the receding contact angle is increased by heating in the absence of liquid. At least the surface is formed of a member having a function. The recording medium (A) having such a function has a surface of (1) a member containing an organic compound having a surface self-orientation function of a hydrophobic group, or (2) an organic compound having a hydrophobic group and having a hydrophobic group. Are oriented on the surface.

The “surface self-orientation function” referred to in (1) is:
When a solid formed by forming a certain compound on a support or a solid formed by a certain compound itself is heated in air, it means that hydrophobic groups are oriented on the surface toward the air side (free surface side). This can be similarly applied to (2). Generally, in an organic compound, a hydrophobic group has a property of easily moving toward a hydrophobic atmosphere. this is,
This is a phenomenon that occurs because the surface energy of the solid-gas interface decreases. This phenomenon is more likely to occur as the molecular length of the hydrophobic group becomes longer, because the longer the molecular length, the higher the mobility of the molecules during heating.

More specifically, if the molecule has a hydrophobic group at the terminal (that is, the surface energy is reduced), the surface is easily oriented toward the air side (free surface side). Similarly (-CH ₂ -) in the linear molecule containing n (-CH ₂ CH ₂
The portion-) has a planar structure, and the molecular chains are easily oriented. Further, a molecule containing (-Ph-) n is also -Ph-
Has a planar structure, and the molecular chains are easily oriented. Note that -Ph- is a p-phenylene group (the same applies hereinafter). In particular, a linear molecule containing an element having a high electronegativity such as fluorine has a high self-aggregation property and the molecular chains are easily oriented.

The results of these studies are summarized as follows. More preferably, a linear molecule containing a molecule having a high self-aggregating property or having a planar structure and having a hydrophobic group at the terminal, or such a straight-chain molecule is preferred. A compound containing a chain molecule can be said to be a compound having a high surface self-orientation function.

As is clear from the above description, there is a relationship between the surface self-orientation state and the receding contact angle, and also between the receding contact angle and the liquid adhesion. That is, the adhesion of the liquid on the solid surface occurs mainly by tacking of the liquid on the solid surface. This tacking can be considered as a kind of frictional force when a liquid slides on a solid surface. Therefore, the “receding contact angle” θr referred to in the present invention is: cos θr = γ (γs−γse−πe + γf) / γev (where γ: surface tension of solid in vacuum γse: solid-liquid interfacial tension γev: liquid (E: equilibrium surface tension γf: frictional tension γs: surface tension of a solid without an adsorbent layer) (Saito, Kitazaki et al., “Journal of the Adhesion Society of Japan”) Vol.22, No.12, 1986).

Therefore, when the value of θr decreases, the value of γf increases. That is, the liquid is less likely to slide on the solid surface,
As a result, the liquid will adhere to the solid surface. As can be inferred from these mutual relations, the liquid adhesion depends on the receding contact angle θr, and the receding contact angle θr is determined by any member having a surface self-orienting function on the surface. Therefore, in the apparatus of the present invention, since the recording medium (A) needs to form a desired pattern area on its surface and / or visualize with a recording agent, a member having a surface self-orientation function on the surface is inevitable. Must be selected.

Although the relationship between the receding contact angle and the liquid adhesion has been described in detail so far, these matters are described in detail in the above-mentioned German Patent Publication No. 401,275.

In the apparatus according to the present invention, means for transferring a recording material droplet (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "ink droplet") formed as a visible image on the recording medium (A) is transferred to recording paper. The transfer means is either a contact transfer means for directly pressing the recording paper against the surface of the recording material (A) to perform the transfer, or a means for causing the ink droplets on the surface of the recording material (A) to fly to the recording paper and transfer it in a non-contact manner. It may be. The latter non-contact transfer can be performed by injecting positive or negative charges into ink droplets and providing a counter electrode having an opposite polarity on the back surface of the recording paper.

In order to form a visible image composed of ink droplets on the recording medium (A), the surface of the recording medium (A) is brought into contact with a contact material (B) while being heated in accordance with an image signal. After forming a latent image, developing with a recording agent solution or dispersion, or heating according to an image signal while the surface of the recording material (A) is in contact with the contact material (B), and then recording agent solution or dispersion. It is sufficient to develop. However, contact material (B)
If a recording agent solution or dispersion is used, the formation of a latent image and the visualization thereof are performed once, thereby simplifying the process.

As described above, the contact material (B) is a liquid or a vapor from the beginning, or generates a liquid at a temperature lower than the temperature at which the receding contact angle θr of the recording medium (A) starts to decrease. It is solid. The vapor here is the recording material (A)
It is sufficient that at least a part of the recording medium (A) condenses at the surface or near the surface to generate a liquid, and the liquid can wet the surface of the recording medium (A). On the other hand, the solid here becomes a liquid, generates a liquid, or generates a vapor below the temperature at which the receding contact angle θr starts decreasing. The vapor generated from the solid is the record (A)
Is condensed on the surface of or near the surface to generate a liquid, as in the case described above.

More specifically, these contact materials (B) are as follows.

That is, as the liquid which is one of the contact materials (B), in addition to water, an aqueous solution containing an electrolyte, ethanol,
Polar liquids such as alcohols such as n-butanol, polyhydric alcohols such as glycerin and ethylene glycol, ketones such as methyl ethyl ketone, and linear hydrocarbons such as n-nonane and n-octane; and cyclic compounds such as cyclohexane. Non-polar liquids such as hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons such as m-xylene and benzene are exemplified. Further, a mixture of these may be used, and various dispersion liquids and liquid inks may be used.
More desirably, polar liquids are better.

As the vapor which is another one of the contact material (B), in addition to water vapor, any liquid vapor of the contact material (B) can be used. In particular, organic vapor such as ethanol vapor and m-xylene vapor can be used. Compound vapors (including those in a nebulized state) are mentioned. The temperature of this organic compound vapor is recorded (A)
Must be lower than the melting point or softening point of the compound forming the surface of the compound.

Examples of the solid which is another contact material (B) include higher fatty acids, low molecular weight polyethylene, polymer gel (polyacrylamide gel, polyvinyl alcohol gel), silica gel, and compounds containing water of crystallization. can give.

As means for supplying the contact material (B), for example, a dish is provided below the recording body (A) so that the medium is filled with liquid so that the recording body (A) is always in contact with the liquid in the dish. Alternatively, the simplest configuration is to dispose it in a dish. Instead of a dish, a sponge-like porous body containing a liquid may be used. The latent image forming means using light or an electron beam is basically the same as the above configuration.

As a heating means for forming a latent image, in addition to contact heating using a heater, a thermal head, or the like, non-contact heating using electromagnetic waves (light from a light source such as a laser light source or an infrared lamp is condensed by a lens). There is.

When the transfer of one piece of image information is completed, the surface of the recording medium (A) is heated in the absence of liquid or vapor (in air, in vacuum, or in an inert gas) (heating temperature: 50 to 50).
300 ° C desirably 100 to 180 ° C, heating time: 1 m
(10 seconds, preferably 10 ms to 1 second) to erase the latent image, the recording medium (A) can be used repeatedly.

As a heating source for erasing a latent image, a contact heating source such as a heater or a thermal head, or a non-contact heating source using electromagnetic waves such as a laser or an infrared lamp is desirable. The heating may be performed only on the latent image portion, or may be performed on the entire surface of the recording medium (A). Rather, heating over the entire surface is more desirable because the device configuration can be simplified.

The latent image erasing means is provided at a position where the surface of the recording medium (A) is substantially cooled during the time from when heating for erasing is performed to when the latent image is formed again. The heating temperature required for erasing the latent image is as described above,
Although it depends on the material of the surface of the recording medium (A), it is desirable that the temperature be equal to or higher than the starting temperature at which the receding contact angle of the material on the surface of the recording medium (A) becomes lower and lower than the decomposition point.

As mentioned above, the remaining ink on the recording medium (A) is cleaned and removed by the cleaning means according to the present invention. FIG. 1A shows an outline of the situation,
The reference numeral 1 denotes a residual ink 21 in the apparatus of the present invention, and 3 denotes a recording medium (A). FIG. 2B shows another cleaner 22 in the apparatus of the present invention. Hereinafter, the description will be given taking a roller-shaped cleaner as an example. FIG.
Although not clearly shown in FIG.
Is perpendicular to the rotation direction or the moving direction of the recording medium 3, and the length of the cleaning roller is set to be substantially equal to the width of the recording medium 3.

The cleaner 21 is divided (divided) into an arbitrary number in the width direction of the recording body 3, and each of the divided parts has a predetermined interval between a portion in contact with the surface of the recording body 3 and a portion not in contact with the surface. It is formed with. In the relationship between the individual divisions and the adjacent divisions, the cleaner part in contact with the surface of the recording medium 3 is staggered so that one part is in contact with the surface of the recording medium 3 and the other is not. It is arranged in a shape.

The cleaner 21 is divided in the width direction of the recording body 3 and the portion (cleaner part) in contact with the surface of the recording body 3 is formed in a staggered manner, so that the cleaner part comes into contact with the surface of the recording body 3 at each moment. The area becomes smaller. Therefore,
As a result, the frictional force between the cleaner portion and the recording medium 3 is reduced, and the transport load of the recording medium 3 is reduced. By further rotating the cleaning roller, the next cleaner portion comes into contact with the recording body 3 and cleans the remaining portion of the surface of the recording body 3. For example, the residual ink 1 'in FIG. 2 is cleaned by the cleaner portion 21a', and the residual ink 1 "is cleaned by the cleaner portion 21a".

If the rotation of the cleaning roller 21 is too slow, the remaining inks 1a, 1b,... May be left unwiped. Theoretically, it is desirable to satisfy the following expression in order not to cause any unwiped residue. R ≧ {(πr / n) + lo} (m−1) vo / 2πlor where, R: number of rotations of the cleaner portion per second, r: radius of the cleaning roller 21a, vo: recording medium 3 per second Lo: the maximum contact length between the cleaning roller 21a and the recording medium (A) (see FIG. 3), n: the number of cleaners in one circumference of the divided cleaner 21 (for example, in FIG. 4 (a), n = 3. In FIG. 4B, n =
4), m: The number of staggered steps (the number divided in the width direction (axial direction) of the recording medium (A)). If this condition is satisfied, the surface of the recording medium 3 will be cleaned at least once at any part.

The cleaner portions 21a ', 21a "... May be made of rubber or the like, but are preferably made of a porous material. Is absorbed, and the cleaning effect is further improved. A lubricant (a material that has lubricity and does not dissolve the ink, such as silicone oil and n-alkane for water-based ink, and water for oil-based ink) is applied to the cleaner portions 21a ', 22a'. Impregnation further reduces the frictional force. The cleaner portions 21a ', 21a "... Include an ink dissolving agent (for example, water or ethylene glycol for aqueous inks. For oil-based inks, the vehicle of the ink is used, but other than the vehicle. However, a material that dissolves the ink can be used as an ink dissolving agent.

As the recording paper (transfer object), a transparent or opaque resin film, plain paper, synthetic paper, ink jet recording paper, type paper, and the like can be used.

The recording agent solution or dispersion may be selected from recording agents used in conventional print recording systems such as writing ink, ink jet recording ink, printing ink, and electrophotographic liquid developer. One that matches the device can be selected and used. More specific and preferred examples include, for example, a water-based ink, a water-soluble ink mainly composed of water, a humectant, and a dye; an aqueous pigment dispersion mainly composed of water, a pigment, a polymer compound for dispersion, and a humectant. Ink: Emulsion ink or the like in which a pigment or dye is dispersed in water using a surfactant is used.

[0035]

Next, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples.

Example 1 Recording medium (A): Fluorine-containing acrylate material TG702
(Manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd.) was diluted 3 times by weight with Freon TF (manufactured by Mitsui Fluorochemicals Co., Ltd.), and this was blade-coated on a polyimide film (about 50 μm in thickness).
It was made by drying at 30 ° C. for 30 minutes. Ink liquid: prepared by dissolving 10 parts by weight of Direct Black 19 (direct dye) in 90 parts by weight of an 80% aqueous solution of glycerin. Cleaning roller: A urethane porous body (Rubicel, manufactured by Toyo Polymer Co., Ltd.) was used for a cleaner portion. Removal of the remaining ink on the recording medium (A) was performed under the following conditions: lo = 2 (mm) r = 20 (mm) Vo = 10 (mm / sec) m = 2 n = 3 As a result, when a transferred image was obtained on A4 size recording paper in a cycle of latent image formation, development, transfer, cleaning, and image removal, no deterioration in print quality such as background contamination was observed even in the 1000th image formation. Also, no transport unevenness of the recording body (A) occurred.

Example 2 A transferred image was obtained in exactly the same manner as in Example 1 except that the cleaner was impregnated with water as an ink dissolving agent. As a result, good printing equivalent to or better than that of Example 1 was performed.

Example 3 Recording medium (A): Same as in Example 1. Ink liquid: prepared by dissolving 90 parts by weight of lauric acid and 10 parts by weight of Spiron Black MH (manufactured by Hodogaya Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) in an organic solvent. Cleaner: Rubicell impregnated with n-tridecane was used. Removal of the remaining ink on the recording medium (A) was performed under the following conditions: lo = 3 (mm) r = 20 (mm) Vo = 10 (mm / sec) m = 3 n = 2 As a result, good printing equivalent to or better than that of Example 1 was performed.

[0039]

(1) According to the first, second and third aspects of the present invention, the recording medium (A) is maintained while maintaining a complete cleaning state.
The friction between the recording medium (A) and the cleaner can be reduced. (2) According to the invention of claim 4, since the ink absorption into the porous body is also used, the cleaning effect is further enhanced. (3) According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the friction between the cleaner and the recording medium (A) can be further reduced. (4) According to the invention of claim 6, the cleaning effect is further enhanced.

[0040]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of two examples of a main part of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing that residual ink on a recording medium (A) is removed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a conveyance speed of the recording medium (A) and a maximum contact length between the cleaning roller and the recording medium (A) during cleaning of the recording medium (A).

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of two examples of a cleaning member.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining two examples of a conventional cleaning means for a recording body (A).

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Residual ink 21, 22 Cleaner (cleaner part) 3 Recording body (A)

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-178478 (JP, A) JP-A-3-32038 (JP, A) JP-A-5-42758 (JP, A) JP-A-5-305576 (JP, A) , A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41L 19/00-19/16 B41C 1/00-1/16 B41M 1/00-5/26

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method of selectively heating the surface of a recording medium (A) below in contact with the following contact material (B) or contacting the surface of the recording body (A) selectively heating A contact material (B) is formed on the surface of the recording medium (A) by forming a latent image having a receding contact angle reduced in accordance with the heating temperature on the surface of the recording medium (A) by contact with the material (B). Supplying means, means for selectively heating the surface of the recording medium (A) in accordance with an image signal, means for applying a recording agent solution or dispersion for visualizing the latent image, and In a recording apparatus provided with a unit for transferring the adhered recording agent droplet to recording paper and a unit for contacting the surface of the recording medium (A) after the transfer and cleaning the surface of the recording medium (A), the cleaning unit includes a recording unit. Cree which divides the contact part to the body (A) so as to make contact in order Recording device
Place . (A) A recording medium having a surface in which the receding contact angle is reduced when heated and brought into contact with a liquid. (B) A liquid, a vapor, or a solid that becomes a liquid at a temperature equal to or lower than the temperature at which the receding contact angle of the recording medium (A) starts decreasing, or generates a liquid or a vapor. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a recording material solution or a dispersion is used as the contact material (B) to provide a single unit for supplying the contact material (B) and a unit for applying the recording material solution or dispersion. The recording device according to any one of the preceding claims. 3. The recording medium (A), wherein the cleaner has a roller shape and is divided into a plurality of sections perpendicular to a longitudinal direction or a moving direction, and adjacent sections are staggered.
The recording device according to claim 1, wherein a contact portion and a non-contact portion are formed. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the material of the cleaner is a porous body. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaner is impregnated with a lubricant. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cleaner is impregnated with a recording agent dissolving agent.