JP6973097B2 - Light-absorbing material flying device and light-absorbing material flying method, and applications using them - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a light-absorbing material flying device and a light-absorbing material flying method, and an application using the same.

In an image forming apparatus, since ink droplets can be made to fly to a desired position, in recent years, it has been applied to the field of 3D printers for three-dimensional modeling and the field of printed electronics for forming electronic components by printing technology. It is being considered. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately fly various materials to desired positions in addition to the low-viscosity ink used in conventional image forming, and various image forming devices have been proposed.

For example, a light vortex laser corresponding to the light absorption wavelength of the light absorber in order to fly a light absorber having a particularly high viscosity among the light absorbers that absorb light and attach the light absorber to the adherend in a shape that suppresses scattering. A light absorber flying device that irradiates a light absorber with a beam has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Further, for example, in order to make it possible to oscillate a more stable axially symmetric polarized laser, we have proposed an axially symmetric polarized laser oscillator having a 1 / 4λ plate in a resonator that oscillates laser light (for example, Patent Document 2). reference).

The present invention provides a light-absorbing material flying device capable of stably flying a particularly high-viscosity or solid light-absorbing material among light-absorbing materials and adhering it to an adherend in a shape that suppresses scattering. The purpose is to provide.

前記式（１）において、ε_０は真空中の誘電率であり、ωは光の角周波数であり、Ｌはトポロジカルチャージであり、Ｉは下記数式（２）で表される前記光渦レーザビームの渦次数に対応する軌道角運動量であり、Ｓは円偏光に対するスピン角運動量であり、ｒは円筒座標系の動径である。

前記式（２）において、ω_０は光のビームウエストサイズである。 The light absorber flying device of the present invention as a means for solving the problem is
A light absorber that absorbs light and
The optical vortex laser beam corresponding to the light absorption wavelength of the light absorber is irradiated to the light absorber, and the light absorber is made to fly by the energy of the light vortex laser beam, and the light absorber is made to adhere to the adherend. With means,
The light absorber flying means is a laser light source that generates a laser beam, an optical vortex conversion unit that converts the laser beam generated by the laser light source into the optical vortex laser beam, and the light converted by the optical vortex conversion unit. Equipped with a wavelength converter that imparts circular polarization to the vortex laser beam
_{By setting the optical vortex conversion unit and the wavelength conversion unit, the total rotational moments J L and S} in the optical vortex laser beam to which the circularly polarized light is applied, which are represented by the following mathematical formula (1), are | J. _{The condition that L, S} | ≧ 0 is satisfied.

In the equation (1), ε ₀ is the permittivity in vacuum, ω is the angular frequency of light, L is the topology culture, and I is the optical vortex laser beam represented by the following equation (2). Is the orbital angular momentum corresponding to the vortex order of, S is the spin angular momentum with respect to circularly polarized light, and r is the driving diameter of the cylindrical coordinate system.

In the above equation (2), ω ₀ is the beam waist size of light.

According to the present invention, among the light-absorbing materials that absorb light, a light-absorbing material that has a particularly high viscosity or is capable of stably flying and adheres to an adherend in a shape that suppresses scattering. The device can be provided.

FIG. 1A is a schematic view showing a wavefront (equal phase plane) in a general laser beam. FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a light intensity distribution in a general laser beam. FIG. 1C is a diagram showing a phase distribution in a general laser beam. FIG. 2A is a schematic view showing a wavefront (equal phase plane) in an optical vortex laser beam. FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a light intensity distribution in an optical vortex laser beam. FIG. 2C is a diagram showing a phase distribution in an optical vortex laser beam. FIG. 3A is a photograph showing an example when a general laser beam is applied to a light absorber. FIG. 3B is a photograph showing an example when the light absorber is irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an example of the result of interference measurement in the optical vortex laser beam. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing an example of the result of interference measurement in a laser beam having a point of light intensity 0 in the center. FIG. 5A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the light absorber flying device of the present invention. FIG. 5B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of the light absorber flying device of the present invention. FIG. 6A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the light absorber flying device shown in FIG. 5B to which the light absorber supplying means and the adherend transporting means are added. FIG. 6B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of the light absorber flying device shown in FIG. 5B to which the light absorber supplying means and the adherend transporting means are added. FIG. 6C is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of the light absorber flying device shown in FIG. 5B to which the light absorber supplying means and the adherend transporting means are added. FIG. 7A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the light absorber flying device shown in FIG. 6A to which a fixing means is added. FIG. 7B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of the light absorber flying device shown in FIG. 6A to which the fixing means is added. FIG. 7C is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of the light absorber flying device shown in FIG. 6A to which the fixing means is added. FIG. 8A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 8B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of an apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object of the present invention.

(Light absorber flight device and light absorber flight method)
The light absorbing material flying device of the present invention irradiates a light absorbing material with a light absorbing material that absorbs light and a light vortex laser beam corresponding to the light absorbing wavelength of the light absorbing material, and absorbs light by the energy of the light vortex laser beam. It has a light absorbing material flying means for flying a material in the irradiation direction of an optical vortex laser beam and adhering it to an adherend. Further, the light absorber flying device of the present invention further has other means, if necessary.
In the method for flying a light absorber of the present invention, a light vortex laser beam corresponding to the light absorption wavelength of the light absorber is irradiated to the light absorber that absorbs light, and the light vortex is vortexed by the energy of the light vortex laser beam. It includes a light absorbing material flying step of flying in the irradiation direction of the laser beam and adhering to the adherend. In addition, the method for flying a light absorber of the present invention further includes other steps, if necessary.
The light-absorbing material flying method can be suitably performed by the light-absorbing material flying device, the light-absorbing material flying step can be preferably performed by the light-absorbing material flying means, and the other steps are performed by other means. be able to.

In the light absorber flying device and the light absorber flying method of the present invention, in the light absorber flying device using the optical vortex laser beam of the prior art, the light absorber is used in terms of adjusting the spiralness of the optical vortex laser beam. It is based on the finding that it may be possible to fly more stably.
Further, in the light absorber flying device and the light absorber flying method of the present invention, the axially symmetric polarized laser oscillating device of the prior art can oscillate the axially symmetric polarized laser more stably and easily, but the light absorber can be used. It is based on the finding that it is difficult to fly stably.

Since a general laser beam has the same phase, it has a planar equiphase plane (wavefront) as shown in FIG. 1A. Since the direction of the pointing vector of the laser beam is orthogonal to the planar equiphase plane, the direction is the same as the irradiation direction of the laser beam. Therefore, when the laser beam is irradiated to the light absorber, the light is absorbed. A force acts on the material in the irradiation direction. However, since the light intensity distribution in the cross section of the laser beam is a normal distribution (Gaussian distribution) in which the center of the beam is the strongest as shown in FIG. 1B, the light absorber tends to scatter. Further, when the phase distribution is observed, it is confirmed that there is no phase difference as shown in FIG. 1C.
On the other hand, the optical vortex laser beam has a spiral equiphase plane as shown in FIG. 2A. Since the direction of the pointing vector of the optical vortex laser beam is orthogonal to the spiral equiphase plane, when the optical vortex laser beam is applied to the light absorber, a force acts in the orthogonal direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2B, the light intensity distribution becomes a concave donut-shaped distribution in which the center of the beam becomes zero, and the light absorber irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam applies donut-shaped energy as radiation pressure. Will be done. Then, the light absorber irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam flies along the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam and adheres to the adhered object in a state of being difficult to scatter. Further, when the phase distribution is observed, it is confirmed that the phase difference is generated as shown in FIG. 2C.

FIG. 3A is a photograph showing an example when a general laser beam is applied to a light absorber. FIG. 3B is a photograph showing an example when the light absorber is irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam.
Comparing FIGS. 3A and 3B, it can be confirmed that the light absorber is scattered in FIG. 3A as compared with FIG. 3B. For this reason, the light absorber irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam is applied with donut-shaped energy as radiation pressure, flies along the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam, and is not easily scattered on the adherend. It can be seen that it adheres.

The method for determining whether or not the beam is an optical vortex laser beam is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include the above-mentioned phase distribution observation and interference measurement, and interference measurement is common. It is a target.
Interference measurement can be observed using a laser beam profiler (laser beam profiler manufactured by Spiriton, laser beam profiler manufactured by Hamamatsu Photonics, etc.), and examples of the results of interference measurement are shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.
FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the result of interference measurement in the optical vortex laser beam, and FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the result of interference measurement in a laser beam having a point of light intensity 0 in the center. ..
When the optical vortex laser beam is interfered with and measured, it can be confirmed that the energy distribution is donut-shaped and the laser beam has a point of light intensity 0 in the center as in FIG. 1C, as shown in FIG. 4A.
On the other hand, when a general laser beam having a point of light intensity 0 in the center is subjected to interference measurement, as shown in FIG. 4B, it is similar to the interference measurement of the optical vortex laser beam shown in FIG. 4A, but the donut-shaped portion. Since the energy distribution of is not uniform, the difference from the optical vortex laser beam can be confirmed.

<Light absorber flight means and light absorber flight process>
In the light absorber flight step, the light absorber is irradiated with a light vortex laser beam corresponding to the light absorption wavelength of the light absorber, and the light absorber is irradiated with the energy of the light vortex laser beam. It is a process of flying in a direction and adhering to an adherend. The light-absorbing material flying step can be suitably performed by using, for example, a light-absorbing material flying means.
The light absorber flying means irradiates the light absorber with a light vortex laser beam corresponding to the light absorption wavelength of the light absorber, and irradiates the light absorber with the energy of the light vortex laser beam. It is a means of flying in a direction and adhering to an adherend.
It is preferable that the light absorber flying means irradiates the light absorber supported on the surface of the light absorber carrier capable of transmitting light with an optical vortex laser beam from the back surface of the light absorber carrier.
Further, the light absorber flying means preferably has a laser light source, an optical vortex conversion unit, a wavelength conversion unit, and, if necessary, other members.

<< Laser light source >>
The laser light source is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include solid-state lasers, gas lasers, semiconductor lasers and the like that generate a laser beam, and those capable of pulse oscillation are preferable.
Examples of the solid-state laser include a YAG laser and a titanium sapphire laser.
Examples of the gas laser include an argon laser, a helium neon laser, a carbon dioxide gas laser, and the like.
Among these, a semiconductor laser having an output of about 30 mW is preferable in terms of miniaturization and cost reduction of the apparatus. However, in this example, a titanium sapphire laser was used experimentally.
The wavelength of the laser beam is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 300 nm or more and 11 μm or less, and more preferably 350 nm or more and 1100 nm or less.
The beam diameter of the laser beam is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 10 μm or more and 10 mm or less, and more preferably 10 μm or more and 1 mm or less.
The pulse width of the laser beam is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 2 nanoseconds or more and 100 nanoseconds or less, and more preferably 2 nanoseconds or more and 10 nanoseconds or less.
The pulse frequency of the laser beam is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 10 Hz or more and 200 Hz or less, and more preferably 20 Hz or more and 100 Hz or less.
The laser light source may be a laser light source capable of outputting an optical vortex laser beam.

<< Optical Vortex Converter >>
The optical vortex conversion unit is not particularly limited as long as it can convert the laser beam into an optical vortex laser beam, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include a diffractive optical element, a multimode fiber, and a liquid crystal phase modulator. Be done.
Examples of the diffractive optical element include a spiral phase plate and a hologram element. Among these, a spiral phase plate is preferable.
The method of generating the optical vortex laser beam is not limited to the method of using the optical vortex conversion unit, for example, a method of oscillating the optical vortex from the laser resonator as an intrinsic mode, a method of inserting a hologram element into the resonator, and the like. Can be mentioned. Other methods for generating an optical vortex laser beam include, for example, a method using excitation light converted into a donut beam, a method using a resonator mirror having a dark point, and a thermal lens effect generated by a side-excited solid-state laser as a spatial filter. Examples thereof include a method of oscillating in an optical vortex mode using the light vortex mode.

<< Wavelength converter >>
As the wavelength conversion unit, the condition that the total rotational moment J _{L, S} represented by the following equation (1) becomes | J _{L, S} | ≧ 0 by applying circularly polarized light to the optical vortex laser beam. There is no particular limitation as long as it can be satisfied, and it can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples of the wavelength conversion unit include a 1/4 wave plate and the like. In the case of a 1/4 wave plate, the optical axis may be installed at a position other than + 45 ° or −45 ° to impart elliptical circularly polarized light to the optical vortex laser beam, but the optical axis may be set at + 45 ° or −45. It is preferable to install it at ° to impart circularly polarized light in a perfect circle to the optical vortex laser beam and satisfy the above conditions. As a result, the light-absorbing material flying device can increase the effect of stably flying the light-absorbing material and adhering it to the adherend in a shape that suppresses scattering.

ただし、式（１）において、ε_０は真空中の誘電率であり、ωは光の角周波数であり、Ｌはトポロジカルチャージであり、Ｉは下記数式（２）で表される光渦レーザビームの渦次数に対応する軌道角運動量であり、Ｓは円偏光に対するスピン角運動量であり、ｒは円筒座標系の動径である。

ただし、式（２）において、ω_０は光のビームウエストサイズである。
なお、トポロジカルチャージとは、光渦レーザビームの円筒座標系における方位方向の周期的境界条件から現れる量子数を意味する。また、ビームウエストサイズとは、光渦レーザビームにおけるビーム径の最小値を意味する。

However, in equation (1), ε ₀ is the permittivity in vacuum, ω is the angular frequency of light, L is the topology culture, and I is the optical vortex laser beam represented by the following equation (2). Is the orbital angular momentum corresponding to the vortex order of, S is the spin angular momentum with respect to circularly polarized light, and r is the driving diameter of the cylindrical coordinate system.

However, in equation (2), ω ₀ is the beam waist size of light.
The topological culture means the quantum number that appears from the periodic boundary condition in the directional direction in the cylindrical coordinate system of the optical vortex laser beam. Further, the beam waist size means the minimum value of the beam diameter in the optical vortex laser beam.

L is a parameter determined by the number of turns of the spiral wavefront in the wave plate. S is a parameter determined by the direction of circularly polarized light in the wave plate. Both L and S are integers. Further, the symbols L and S represent the directions of the spiral (clockwise and counterclockwise), respectively.
If the total rotational moment in the optical vortex laser beam is J, it can be expressed as J = L + S.

The light absorber flying device includes a light vortex conversion unit that converts an optical vortex laser beam and a wavelength conversion unit that imparts circularly polarized light to the optical vortex laser beam, _{and by setting | J L, S} | ≧ 0, It is possible to develop the linear directivity of a flying object of a high-viscosity or solid light-absorbing material and suppress the scattering of the light-absorbing material.

<< Other parts >>
The other members are not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include a beam diameter changing member, a beam wavelength changing element, and a wavelength conversion unit.

-Beam diameter changing member-
The beam diameter changing member is not particularly limited as long as the beam diameter of the laser beam or the optical vortex laser beam can be changed, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include a condenser lens.
The beam diameter of the optical vortex laser beam is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably several μm or more and 10 mm or less in that the flight of the light absorber has been confirmed. The beam diameter can be changed by the laser spot diameter and the condenser lens.
When the light absorber is a dispersion, the beam diameter is preferably at least the maximum value of the volume average particle diameter of the light absorber, and more preferably three times the maximum value of the dispersion. When the beam diameter is within a more preferable range, it is advantageous in that the light absorber can be stably flown.

-Beam wavelength changing element-
The beam wavelength changing element is not particularly limited as long as the wavelength of the laser beam or the light vortex laser beam can be changed to a wavelength that can be absorbed by the light absorber and can be transmitted by the light absorber carrier described later. It can be appropriately selected according to the above. Examples of the beam wavelength changing element include a KTP crystal, a BBO crystal, an LBO crystal, and a CLBO crystal.

-Wavelength converter-
The wavelength conversion unit is not particularly limited as long as the laser beam or the optical vortex laser beam can be adjusted to an appropriate output value, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include glass.
The energy intensity of the optical vortex laser beam when flying the light absorber for one dot is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. In the case of dots having a diameter of 200 μm, the energy intensity is preferably 0.1 mJ / dot or more and 1.0 mJ / dot or less, and more preferably 0.1 mJ / dot or more and 0.6 mJ / dot or less.

<Other means and other processes>
Examples of other means include a light absorber supplying means, a beam scanning means, an adherend transporting means, a fixing means, a control means, and the like.
Further, the light absorber flying means, the light absorber carrier, the light absorber supplying means, and the beam scanning means may be integrally treated as a light absorber flying unit.
Examples of other steps include a light absorber supply step, a beam scanning step, an adherend transfer step, a fixing step, a control step, and the like.

<< Light Absorbent Material Supply Means and Light Absorbent Material Supply Process >>
The light-absorbing material supply means is not particularly limited as long as the light-absorbing material can be supplied on the optical path of the optical vortex laser beam between the light-absorbing material flying means and the adherend, and may be appropriately selected according to the purpose. can. As the light absorber supply means, for example, the light absorber may be supplied via a cylindrical light absorber carrier arranged on the optical path.
Specifically, when the light absorber is a liquid and the light absorber is supplied to the light absorber carrier, it is very easy to provide a supply roller and a regulation blade as the light absorber supply means. In the configuration, the light absorber can be supplied to the surface of the light absorber carrier with a constant average thickness.
In this case, the surface of the supply roller is partially immersed in a storage tank for storing the light-absorbing material, and the supply roller rotates while supporting the light-absorbing material on the surface and abuts on the light-absorbing material carrier to provide the light-absorbing material. Supply. The regulating blade is arranged on the downstream side of the storage tank in the rotation direction of the supply roller to regulate the light absorber carried by the supply roller to make the average thickness uniform and stabilize the amount of the light absorber to be flown. By making the average thickness extremely thin, the amount of light-absorbing material to be flown can be reduced, so that the light-absorbing material can be attached to the adherend as minute dots whose scattering is suppressed, and the dot gain for thickening the halftone dots is increased. It can be suppressed. The regulation blade may be arranged on the downstream side of the supply roller in the rotation direction of the light absorber carrier.

Further, when the light absorber has a high viscosity, the material of the supply roller is preferably at least an elastic surface in terms of ensuring contact with the light absorber carrier. When the light absorber has a relatively low viscosity, the supply rollers include, for example, gravure rolls, microgravures, forward rolls and the like as used in precision wet coatings.

Further, as a light absorber supply means without a supply roller, the light absorber carrier is brought into direct contact with the light absorber in the storage tank, and then the excess light absorber is scraped off with a wire bar or the like to absorb light. A layer of the light absorber may be formed on the surface of the material carrier. The storage tank may be provided separately from the light absorber supply means, and the light absorber may be supplied to the light absorber supply means by a hose or the like.
The light absorber supply step is not particularly limited as long as it is a step of supplying the light absorber on the optical path of the optical vortex laser beam between the light absorber flying means and the adherend, and is appropriately appropriate according to the purpose. It can be selected, and can be preferably performed by using, for example, a light absorber supplying means.

<< Beam scanning means and beam scanning process >>
The beam scanning means is not particularly limited as long as it can scan the optical vortex laser beam with respect to the light absorber, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, the beam scanning means includes a reflecting mirror that reflects the light vortex laser beam emitted from the light absorbing material flying means toward the light absorbing material, and a light vortex laser beam that absorbs light by changing the angle and position of the reflecting mirror. It may have a reflector driving unit for scanning the material.
The beam scanning step is not particularly limited as long as it is a step of scanning the optical vortex laser beam on the light absorbing material, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, the beam scanning step is preferably performed. Can be done.

<< Adhesive transfer means and adherent transfer process >>
The means for transporting the adherend is not particularly limited as long as it can transport the adherend, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include a pair of transport rollers.
The process of transporting the adherend is not particularly limited as long as it is a step of transporting the adherend, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, the process of transporting the adhered material can be suitably performed. ..

<< Fixing means and fixing process >>
The fixing means is not particularly limited as long as it can fix the light absorber attached to the adhered object, and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. For example, a thermocompression bonding method using a heat-pressurizing member. Things and so on.
The heating and pressurizing member is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include a combination of a heating roller, a pressurizing roller, a heating roller and a pressurizing roller. Examples of other heating and pressurizing members include those in which a fixing belt is combined with these, and those in which the heating roller is replaced with a heating block.

As the pressurizing roller, one in which the pressurized surface moves at a constant speed with the adherend conveyed by the adhered object transporting means is preferable in that image deterioration due to rubbing is suppressed. Among these, those having an elastic layer formed in the vicinity of the surface are more preferable because they can easily contact and pressurize the adherend. Furthermore, the pressure roller, which has a water-repellent surface layer formed on the outermost surface with a low-surface energy material such as a silicone-based water-repellent material or a fluorine compound, suppresses image distortion due to the light absorber adhering to the surface. Especially preferable in that respect.
Examples of the water-repellent surface layer made of a silicone-based water-repellent material include a silicone-based mold release agent film, a baking film of silicone oil or various modified silicone oils, a silicone varnish film, a silicone rubber film, and silicone rubber. Examples thereof include a film made of a composite material such as metal, rubber, plastic, and ceramic.
Examples of the water-repellent surface layer made of a fluorine compound include a fluororesin film, an organic fluorine compound film, a fluorine oil baking film or an adsorption film, a fluorine rubber film, or a fluororubber and various metals, rubber, plastics, ceramics, etc. Examples include a film made of a composite material.

The heating temperature of the heating roller is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 80 ° C. or higher and 200 ° C. or lower.

The fixing belt is not particularly limited as long as it has heat resistance and high mechanical strength, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include films such as polyimide, polyimide, PET, and PEN. Further, as the fixing belt, it is preferable to use the same material as the material forming the outermost surface of the pressure roller in that the image distortion due to the adhesion of the light absorber to the surface is suppressed. Since the thickness of the fixing belt can be reduced, the energy for heating the belt itself can be reduced, so that the fixing belt can be used immediately after the power is turned on. The temperature and pressure at this time vary depending on the composition of the light absorber to be fixed, but the temperature is preferably 200 ° C. or lower from the viewpoint of energy saving, and the pressure is preferably 1 kg / cm or less from the viewpoint of the rigidity of the device.

When two or more kinds of light absorbers are used, the light absorbers of each color may be fixed each time they adhere to the adherend, and all kinds of light absorbers adhere to the adherend and are laminated. It may be fixed in a state of being fixed.
Further, when the light absorber has a very high viscosity and the drying is slow and it is difficult to improve the adhesion rate to the adherend, the adherend may be additionally heated to promote the drying.
Further, when the light-absorbing material permeates and wets the adherend slowly and is dried in a state where the adhered light-absorbing material is not sufficiently smoothed, the surface of the adhered matter to which the light-absorbing material is attached becomes rough. Therefore, the surface gloss of the adherend may not be obtained. In order to obtain the gloss of the surface of the adherend, by using a fixing means for pressurizing and fixing the adherend, the light absorber adhering to the adherend is crushed and fixed by being pushed into the adhered object. The surface roughness of the surface may be reduced.
The fixing means is necessary for fixing to the adhered object, particularly when a solid light absorber formed by compacting the powder is used. If necessary, a known optical fixing device may be used together with the fixing means.
The fixing step is not particularly limited as long as it is a step of fixing the light absorber attached to the adhered object to the adhered object, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, a fixing means is used. Can be preferably performed.

<< Control means and control process >>
The control means is not particularly limited as long as the movement of each means can be controlled, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include devices such as sequencers and computers.
The control step is a step of controlling each step, and can be preferably performed by the control means.

<Light absorber>
The light-absorbing material has a light-absorbing substance, and further has other substances appropriately selected as necessary.

<< Light Absorbent >>
The light absorbing substance is not particularly limited as long as it absorbs light having a predetermined wavelength, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include compounds such as pigments and dyes.

The transmittance of light having a predetermined wavelength in the light absorbing substance is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 70% or less, more preferably 50% or less, and particularly preferably 30% or less. preferable. When the transmittance of light having a predetermined wavelength in the light absorbing substance is within a preferable range, it is advantageous in that the energy of the optical vortex laser beam is sufficiently applied.
The transmittance can be measured by using, for example, a spectrophotometer (manufactured by JASCO Corporation, V-660DS).

The form, size, material, and the like of the light absorber are not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose.
Examples of the form of the light absorber include liquid, solid, and powder. In particular, the ability to fly a highly viscous body or solid is an advantage that cannot be achieved by the conventional inkjet recording method.

The liquid light absorber is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include inks containing pigments and solvents, conductive pastes containing conductors and solvents, and the like. When the ink containing the solvent is irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam, if the solvent does not absorb the light, the energy of the optical vortex laser beam is given to the inclusions that absorb the light other than the solvent, and the inclusions thereof. At the same time, the solvent flies.
The viscosity of the liquid light absorber is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 1 Pa · s or more.
The viscosity can be measured in an environment of 25 ° C. using, for example, a rotary viscometer (VISCOMATE VM-150III manufactured by Toki Sangyo Co., Ltd.).

The conductive paste is not particularly limited as long as it is an ink containing a conductor, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include conductive pastes known or commonly used in a method for manufacturing a circuit board.
The conductor is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, conductive inorganic particles such as silver, gold, copper, nickel, ITO, carbon and carbon nanotubes; polyaniline and polythiophene (polyaniline, polythiophene). For example, particles made of a conductive organic polymer such as poly (ethylenedioxythiophene), polyacetylene, polypyrrole and the like can be mentioned. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
The volume resistivity of the conductive paste is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, it is preferably 10 ³ Ω · cm or less from the viewpoint of use as a normal electrode applications.

Examples of the light absorber of the powder include toner containing a pigment and a binder resin. In this case, when the optical vortex laser beam is irradiated, the energy of the optical vortex laser beam is applied to the pigment, and the binder resin flies as toner together with the pigment. The powder light absorber may be only a pigment.

The solid light absorber is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, a metal thin film formed by sputtering or vapor deposition, a material obtained by compacting powder such as a dispersion, or the like may be used. Can be mentioned.

The metal thin film is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples of the metal include general metals such as silver, gold, aluminum, platinum, and copper that can be vapor-deposited or sputtered. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
As a method of forming an image pattern by flying a metal thin film, for example, a metal thin film is prepared in advance on a light absorbing material carrier such as glass or a film, and the metal thin film is irradiated with an optical vortex laser beam to fly. A method of forming an image pattern can be mentioned. Further, as another method, a method of forming an image pattern by flying a non-image portion and the like can be mentioned.

The compacted powder is preferably in a layered form having a predetermined average thickness, and the layered solid may be supported on the surface of the light absorber carrier.

The size of the light absorber is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose.
The average thickness of the light absorber is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 0.5 μm or more and 500 μm or less, and more preferably 1 μm or more and 100 μm or less. When the average thickness of the light-absorbing material is within a preferable range, when the light-absorbing material is supplied in a layered state, the strength of the layer can be ensured even when the light-absorbing material is continuously flown, so that a stable supply can be achieved. Is advantageous in that it is possible. Further, since the energy of the optical vortex laser beam does not become too large, it is advantageous in that deterioration and decomposition are unlikely to occur especially when the light absorber is an organic substance.
Further, by applying the light absorber to the light absorber carrier, it is possible to stably supply the light absorber as a smooth layer maintaining a constant thickness even if the average thickness of the light absorber is less than 0.5 μm. .. Depending on the coating method, it can be supplied as a layer holding a certain pattern.

The method for measuring the average thickness is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. For example, an arbitrary plurality of points are selected for the light absorber and the average thickness of the plurality of points is calculated. The method of obtaining by doing, etc. can be mentioned. As an average, the average of the thicknesses at 5 points is preferable, the average of the thicknesses at 10 points is more preferable, and the average of the thicknesses at 20 points is particularly preferable.
The average thickness measuring device is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include a micrometer.

The material of the light absorber is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, when image formation is performed, a colorant such as toner may be used to produce a three-dimensional model. In this case, it may be a three-dimensional modeling agent described later.

<< Light absorber carrier >>
The shape, structure, size, material, and the like of the light absorber carrier are not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. The shape of the light absorber carrier is not particularly limited as long as the light absorber is supported on the front surface and the optical vortex laser beam can be irradiated from the back surface, and the light absorber can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples of the shape of the light absorber carrier include a flat plate shape, a tubular shape such as a perfect circle or an ellipse, a surface obtained by cutting out a part of the tubular shape, and an endless belt shape. Among these, it is preferable that the light-absorbing material carrier has a tubular shape and has a light-absorbing material supply means for supplying the light-absorbing material to the surface of the light-absorbing material carrier that rotates in the circumferential direction. When the light absorber is supported on the surface of the tubular light absorber carrier, it can be supplied regardless of the size of the adherend in the outer peripheral direction. Further, in this case, a light absorber flying means is arranged inside the tubular shape so that the optical vortex laser beam can be irradiated from the inside toward the outer periphery, and the light absorber carrier rotates in the circumferential direction to be continuous. Can be irradiated to. Further, examples of the shape of the flat plate-shaped light absorber carrier include slide glass and the like.

The structure of the light absorber carrier is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose.

The size of the light-absorbing material carrier is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but the size is preferably set according to the width of the adherend.

The material of the light absorber carrier is not particularly limited as long as it transmits light, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Among those that transmit light, inorganic materials such as various glasses containing silicon oxide as a main component, transparent heat-resistant plastics, and organic materials such as elastomers are preferable in terms of transmittance and heat resistance.

The light transmittance of the light absorber carrier is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 75% or more, more preferably 85% or more. When the transmittance is within a preferable range, the energy of the optical vortex laser beam absorbed by the light absorber carrier is not easily converted into heat, so that the light absorber is less likely to undergo changes such as drying and melting. It is advantageous. Further, when the transmittance is within a preferable range, the energy given to the light absorber is unlikely to decrease, which is advantageous in that the adhesion position is less likely to vary.
The transmittance can be measured using, for example, a spectrophotometer (manufactured by JASCO Corporation, V-660DS).

The surface roughness Ra of the light absorber carrier is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but it suppresses the refraction scattering of the optical vortex laser beam and reduces the energy applied to the light absorber. It is preferable that both the front surface and the back surface are 1 μm or less so as not to cause the problem. Further, when the surface roughness Ra is within a preferable range, it is possible to suppress the variation in the average thickness of the light-absorbing material adhering to the adherend, and it is possible to adhere a desired amount of the light-absorbing material. It is advantageous.
The surface roughness Ra can be measured according to JIS B0601, for example, using a stylus type surface shape measuring device (Dectak 150, manufactured by Bruker AXS Co., Ltd.).

<Attachment>
The adherend is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include a recording medium for forming an image, a modeled object support substrate for forming a three-dimensional object, and the like.

The gap between the adherend and the light absorber is not particularly limited as long as the adherend and the light absorber are not brought into contact with each other, and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, but 0.05 mm or more and 5 mm or less is used. It is preferably 0.05 mm or more and 1 mm or less, more preferably. When the gap is within a preferable range, it is advantageous in that the accuracy of the adhesion position of the light absorber with respect to the adherend is less likely to decrease. Further, by not contacting the adherend with the light absorber, the light absorber can be adhered to the adhered object regardless of the composition of the light absorber or the adherend.
Further, it is preferable that the gap is kept constant by, for example, a position control means for keeping the position of the adherend constant. In this case, it is important to arrange each part in consideration of the position variation of the light absorber and the adherend and the variation of the average thickness.

(Image forming apparatus and image forming method)
The image forming apparatus of the present invention has at least a colorant flying device and, if necessary, other means. The colorant flying device is a light absorbing material flying device in which the light absorbing material is a coloring agent, and is flown by the coloring agent flying means.
The image forming method of the present invention includes at least a colorant flying step, and further includes other steps, if necessary.
The colorant flying step is a light absorbing material flying step in which the light absorbing material is a coloring agent. The image forming method can be suitably performed by an image forming apparatus, the colorant flying step can be preferably performed by the colorant flying means, and the other steps can be performed by other means.

<Coloring agent flying means and coloring agent flying process>
The colorant flying means is the same as the above-mentioned light absorber flying means except that the light absorber is a colorant and the adherend is a recording medium, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.
The colorant flying step is the same as the above-mentioned light absorbing material flying method except that the light absorber is a colorant and the adherend is a recording medium, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

<Other means and other processes>
Examples of other means include a colorant supplying means, a beam scanning means, a recording medium transporting means, a fixing means, a control means, and the like.

The colorant flying means, the colorant supplying means, and the beam scanning means may be integrally treated as a colorant flying unit.
For example, four colorant flying units may be provided in the image forming apparatus to fly the colorants of the process colors yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The number of colors of the colorant is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, and the number of colorant flight units may be increased or decreased as necessary. Further, by arranging the colorant flying unit having a white colorant on the upstream side of the colorant flying unit having a process color colorant in the transport direction of the recording medium, it is possible to provide a white concealing layer. Therefore, an image having excellent color reproducibility can be formed on a transparent recording medium. However, especially in yellow, white, and transparent colorants, a laser light source such as a blue laser beam or an ultraviolet laser beam is generated so that the light transmission rate of the wavelength of the light vortex laser beam is 70% or less. It may be necessary to change to a laser light source.

Further, since a powder or a high-viscosity colorant can be used in the image forming apparatus, even if the colorants of different colors are sequentially layered on the recording medium to form an image, the colorants seep out and mix with each other. Since the occurrence of bleeding can be suppressed, a high-quality color image can be obtained.

For the purpose of downsizing the image forming apparatus, only one colorant flying unit may be provided, and the colorant itself supplied to the supply roller and the colorant carrier may be switched to form an image of a plurality of colors.
Examples of other steps include a colorant supply step, a beam scanning step, a recording medium transfer step, a fixing step, a control step, and the like.

<< Colorant supply means and colorant supply process >>
The colorant supply means and the colorant supply step are the same as the above-mentioned light absorber supply means and the light absorber supply step except that the light absorber is a colorant and the adherend is a recording medium. The explanation is omitted.

<< Beam scanning means and beam scanning process >>
The beam scanning means and the beam scanning step are the same as the beam scanning means and the beam scanning step described above except that the light absorber is a colorant and the adherend is a recording medium, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

<< Recording medium transporting means and recording medium transporting process >>
The recording medium transporting means and the recording medium transporting step are the same as those of the above-mentioned adhered matter transporting means and the adhered matter transporting process except that the light absorber is a colorant and the adherend is a recording medium. , The explanation is omitted.

<< Fixing means and fixing process >>
The fixing means and fixing step in the image forming apparatus are the same as those in the fixing means and fixing step in the light absorbing material flying device except that the light absorber is a colorant and the adherend is a recording medium. Is omitted.

<< Control means and control process >>
Since the control means and the control process in the image forming apparatus are the same as those in the control means and the control step in the light absorber flight apparatus, the description thereof will be omitted.

<Colorant>
As with the light absorber, the colorant is not particularly limited in shape, material and the like, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Hereinafter, the differences when the light absorber is used as a colorant will be described.

The colorant of the powder is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but a powder containing a binder resin is preferable, such as a toner used in an electrophotographic method.

The binder resin is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. However, the binder resin used for the electrophotographic toner has a function of fixing to a recording medium and is uniform on the surface of the colorant carrier. It is preferable in that it imparts a function for forming a layer to the resin.

The binder resin used for the toner for electrophotographic is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include general-purpose resins such as polyester and styrene-based copolymers. Among these, polyester is preferable in that it has a high affinity with paper, which is a typical recording medium, and has good fixability. Further, polyester has a molecular structure similar to that of an aliphatic ester compound used as a softener, and is therefore preferable in that it has high compatibility.

Examples of the monomer constituting the polyester include a divalent alcohol component, a trihydric or higher polyhydric alcohol component, an acid component forming a polyester polymer, and a trivalent or higher polyvalent carboxylic acid component.
Examples of the divalent alcohol component include ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2,3-butanediol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, and 1,5-pentanediol. 1,6-Hexanediol, neopentyl glycol, 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol, hydride bisphenol A, or diol obtained by polymerizing bisphenol A with cyclic ether such as ethylene oxide or propylene oxide. Can be mentioned.
Examples of the trihydric or higher polyhydric alcohol component include sorbitol, 1,2,3,6-hexanetetrol, 1,4-sorbitan, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, tripentaerythritol, 1,2,4-. Butantriol, 1,2,5-pentatriol, glycerol, 2-methylpropanetriol, 2-methyl-1,2,4-butanetriol, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene And so on.
Examples of the acid component forming the polyester-based polymer include Benzendicarboxylic acids or their anhydrides, alkyldicarboxylic acids or their anhydrides, unsaturated dibasic acids, unsaturated dibasic acid anhydrides and the like.
Examples of benzendicarboxylic acids include phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid and the like.
Examples of the alkyldicarboxylic acids include succinic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, azelaic acid and the like.
Examples of the unsaturated dibasic acid include maleic acid, citraconic acid, itaconic acid, alkenylsuccinic acid, fumaric acid, mesaconic acid and the like.
Examples of the unsaturated dibasic acid anhydride include maleic acid anhydride, citraconic acid anhydride, itaconic acid anhydride, alkenyl succinic acid anhydride and the like.
Examples of the trivalent or higher polyvalent carboxylic acid component include trimetic acid, pyrrometic acid, 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid, 2,5,7-naphthalenetricarboxylic acid, and the like. 1,2,4-naphthalentricarboxylic acid, 1,2,4-butanetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,5-hexanetricarboxylic acid, 1,3-dicarboxy-2-methyl-2-methylenecarboxypropane, tetra (methylene) Examples thereof include carboxy) methane, 1,2,7,8-octanetetracarboxylic acid, empole trimeric acid, or an anhydride thereof, and a partially lower alkyl ester.
Examples of the styrene-based copolymer include a styrene-p-chlorostyrene copolymer, a styrene-propylene copolymer, a styrene-vinyltoluene copolymer, a styrene-vinylnaphthalin copolymer, and a styrene-methyl acrylate copolymer. Combined, styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-octyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-methacryl Styrene butyl copolymer, styrene-α-chloromethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-vinylmethylketone copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-isoprene copolymer, styrene- Examples thereof include an acrylonitrile-inden copolymer, a styrene-maleic acid copolymer, and a styrene-maleic acid ester copolymer.
Further, it may contain a wax component such as a hydrocarbon wax, a monoester wax, a carbauba wax, or a polyethylene wax.

The glass transition point of the binder resin is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 40 ° C. or higher and 80 ° C. or lower, and more preferably 50 ° C. or higher and lower than 70 ° C.
When the glass transition point is within a preferable range, the heat-resistant storage stability of the binder resin can be maintained, a layer can be easily formed on the surface of the colorant carrier, and the colorant can be applied to the recording medium by heat, pressure, or the like. It is advantageous in that the energy for fixing the glass can be reduced.

The liquid colorant is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, a water-based ink in which a dye, a pigment, colored particles, colored oil droplets or the like are dispersed in water as a solvent may be used. It can be used. Further, not only the water-based ink but also a colorant containing a liquid having a relatively low boiling point such as a hydrocarbon-based organic solvent or various alcohols can be used as the solvent. Among these, water-based ink is preferable from the viewpoint of safety of volatile components and danger of explosion.

In addition, since the image forming apparatus can form an image with process ink for offset printing using a plate, JAPAN COLOR compatible ink, special color ink, etc., a digital image matching the color used for offset printing can be easily produced without a plate. It can be reproduced.
Further, since the image can be formed even with the UV curing ink, it is possible to prevent the overlapping recording media from sticking to each other and to simplify the drying process by irradiating the image with ultraviolet rays to cure the image.

Examples of the material of the colorant include organic pigments, inorganic pigments, dyes and the like. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Examples of organic pigments include dioxazine violet, quinacridone violet, copper phthalocyanine blue, phthalocyanine green, sap green, monoazo yellow, disuazo yellow, polyazo yellow, benzimidazolone yellow, isoindolinone yellow, first yellow, and chromophylter yellow. , Nickel azo yellow, azomethin yellow, benzimidazolone orange, alizarin red, quinacridone red, naphthol red, monoazo red, polyazo red, perylene red, anthracinyl red, diketopyrrolopyrrole red, diketopyrrolopyrrole orange, benzimidazolone Brown, sepia, aniline black, etc. are mentioned, and among the organic pigments, metal lake pigments include, for example, Rhodamine lake, quinoline yellow lake, brilliant blue lake and the like.

Examples of inorganic pigments include cobalt blue, cerulean blue, cobalt violet, cobalt green, zinc white, titanium white, titanium yellow, chrome titanium yellow, light red, chrome oxide green, mars black, billijan, yellow ocher, and alumina. White, Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Red, Vermilion, Litopon, Ultra Marine, Tarku, White Carbon, Clay, Mineral Violet, Rose Cobalt Violet, Silver White, Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Carbonate, Zinc Oxide, Zinc Sulfide, Strontium Sulfide, Aluminic Acid Strontium, brass, gold powder, bronze powder, aluminum powder, brass pigment, ivory black, peach black, lamp black, carbon black, Prussian blue, aureolin, mica titanium, yellow oaker, tail belt, low senna, low umber, cadmium earth, Cretaceous, gypsum, burnt chenna, burnt umber, lapis lazuli, azurite, malakite, opiment, dragon sand, coral powder, husk, red iron oxide, ultramarine, prussian blue, fish phosphorus foil, iron oxide-treated pearl, etc.

Among these, carbon black is preferable as the black pigment from the viewpoint of hue and image preservation.
The cyan pigment is C.I., which is copper phthalocyanine blue from the viewpoint of hue and image preservation. I. Pigment Blue 15: 3 is preferred.

The magenta pigment is quinacridone red, C.I. I. Pigment Red 122, Naftor Red, C.I. I. Pigment Red 269 and Rhodamine Lake C.I. I. Pigment Red 81: 4 is preferable, and these may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these, from the viewpoint of hue and image preservation, C.I. I. Pigment Red 122 and C.I. I. A mixture of Pigment Red 269 is more preferred, C.I. I. Pigment Red 122 (PR122) and C.I. I. Pigment Red 269 (P.R. 269) as a mixture of P.R. R. 122: P.I. R. A mixture in which 269 is 5:95 or more and 80:20 or less is particularly preferable. P. R. 122: P.I. R. When 269 is in a particularly preferable range, the hue does not deviate as a magenta color.

The yellow pigment is Cadmium monoazo yellow. I. Pigment Yellow 74, Disazo Yellow, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 155, Benz Imidazolon Yellow, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 180, Isoindoline Yellow C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 185 is preferred. Among these, from the viewpoint of hue and image preservation, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 185 is more preferred. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

When the light absorber is used as a process color toner as a colorant, it is preferably used in a four-color toner set.

Most of the inorganic pigments are composed of particles having a volume average particle size of more than 10 μm. When an inorganic pigment having a volume average particle diameter of 10 μm or more is used as the colorant, the colorant is preferably a liquid. If the colorant is a liquid, it is advantageous in that the colorant can be maintained in a stable state without using a force other than a non-electrostatic adhesive force such as an electrostatic force. Further, in this case, the image forming method of the present invention is very effective as compared with the inkjet recording method in which nozzle clogging and ink settling are likely to be noticeable and a stable continuous printing process is difficult to expect. Further, the image forming method of the present invention is very effective as compared with the electrophotographic method in which a sufficient amount of charge cannot be obtained when the surface area of the particles of the colorant becomes small and the stable continuous printing process cannot be established. ..

Examples of the dye include monoazo dye, polyazo dye, metal complex salt azo dye, pyrazolone azo dye, stilben azo dye, thiazole azo dye, anthraquinone derivative, anthron derivative, indigo derivative, thioindigo derivative, phthalocyanine dye, diphenylmethane dye, and triphenylmethane. Examples thereof include dyes, xanthene dyes, acridin dyes, azine dyes, oxazine dyes, thiazine dyes, polymethine dyes, azomethine dyes, quinoline dyes, nitro dyes, nitroso dyes, benzoquinone dyes, naphthoquinone dyes, naphthalimide dyes and perinone dyes.

<< Viscosity of colorant >>
The viscosity of the colorant is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose.
When a liquid colorant that penetrates the recording medium is used, the colorant adhering to the recording medium may cause feathering or bleeding, but high-viscosity coloring that can be handled by the image forming apparatus of the present invention. When the agent is used, it dries faster than the permeation rate into the recording medium, so that the color development can be improved and the edge portion can be sharpened by reducing the bleeding, and a high-quality image can be formed. Further, even in the case of performing gradation expression by overstrike in which colorants are layered and adhered, bleeding due to an increase in the amount of the colorant can be reduced.
Further, since this image forming method flies and adheres a liquid colorant, it is compared with a so-called thermal transfer method in which a colorant is melt-transferred by heat from a film-shaped colorant carrier, for example, as a recording medium. Even if there are minute irregularities on the surface, good recording can be performed.

<< Average thickness of colorant >>
The average thickness of the colorant is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably 100 μm or less. When the average thickness of the colorant is 100 μm or less, the energy for flying the colorant can be reduced, so that the durability of the colorant carrier and the decomposition of the composition when the colorant is an organic substance are less likely to occur. It is advantageous in that. The preferable range of the average thickness varies depending on the recording medium, purpose, and the like.

For example, when a coated paper or a smooth film used in general offset printing is used as a recording medium, it is preferably 0.5 μm or more and 5 μm or less. When the average thickness is within a preferable range, it becomes difficult for the human eye to discriminate the color difference due to a slight difference in the average thickness of the recording medium, so that even coated paper tends to produce a highly saturated image and the dot gain of halftone dots. It is advantageous in that it is easy to express a sharp image without becoming noticeable.

Further, when a recording medium having a surface roughness larger than that of coated paper or film, such as high-quality paper used in offices, is used, it is preferably 3 μm or more and 10 μm or less. When the average thickness is within a preferable range, it is easy to obtain good image quality without being affected by the surface roughness of the recording medium, and especially when expressing a full-color image with a process color colorant, a plurality of colorant layers are used. Even if they are overlapped, the feeling of step is less likely to be noticeable.

Further, for example, when used for printing to dye cloth, fibers, etc., an average thickness of 5 μm or more is often required to attach a colorant to cotton, silk, chemical fibers, etc., which are recording media. This is because the thickness of the fiber is larger than that of paper, so a large amount of colorant is often required.

<Colorant carrier>
Since the colorant carrier is the same as the light absorber carrier in the light absorber flight device except that the light absorber is used as the colorant, the description thereof will be omitted.

<Recording medium>
The recording medium is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. Examples thereof include coated paper, woodfree paper, film, cloth and fibers.

As for the gap between the recording medium and the colorant carrier, the light absorber and the light absorber carrier in the light absorber flying device are provided, except that the light absorber is the colorant and the adherend is the recording medium. Since it is the same as the explanation of the gap, the explanation thereof will be omitted.

(Manufacturing equipment for 3D objects and manufacturing method for 3D objects)
The apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object of the present invention has at least a three-dimensional modeling agent flying apparatus, and further has other means, if necessary. The three-dimensional modeling agent flying device is a light absorbing material flying device in which the light absorbing material is a three-dimensional modeling agent, and is made to fly by the three-dimensional modeling agent flying means.
The method for producing a three-dimensional object of the present invention includes at least a three-dimensional modeling agent flying step, and further includes other steps, if necessary. The three-dimensional modeling agent flying step is a light absorbing material flying step in which the light absorbing material is a three-dimensional modeling agent.
The method for manufacturing the three-dimensional object can be suitably performed by the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus, the three-dimensional modeling agent flying step can be preferably performed by the three-dimensional modeling agent flying means, and the other steps can be performed by other means. Can be done by.

<Three-dimensional modeling agent flying means and three-dimensional modeling agent flying process>
The light-absorbing material flying means is the same as the above-mentioned light-absorbing material flying means except that the light-absorbing material is a three-dimensional modeling agent and the adherend is a modeled object support substrate, and thus the description thereof will be omitted. In the light absorber flying means, the three-dimensional modeling agent is stacked as a layer on the modeled object support substrate and adhered three-dimensionally.
The three-dimensional modeling agent flying step is the same as the above-mentioned light absorbing material flying step except that the light absorber is a three-dimensional modeling agent and the adhered object is a modeled object support substrate, and thus the description thereof will be omitted. The three-dimensional modeling agent flying step includes a step in which the light absorbing material flying means three-dimensionally attaches the three-dimensional modeling agent to the modeled object support substrate.

<Three-dimensional modeling agent curing means and three-dimensional modeling agent curing process>
The three-dimensional modeling agent curing means is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, if the three-dimensional modeling agent is an ultraviolet curable material, an ultraviolet irradiator or the like can be mentioned.
The three-dimensional modeling agent curing step is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, if the three-dimensional modeling agent is an ultraviolet curable material, an ultraviolet irradiation step or the like can be mentioned, and the three-dimensional modeling agent curing means. Can be preferably performed using.

<Other processes and other means>
Examples of other means include a three-dimensional modeling agent supply means, a three-dimensional modeling head unit scanning means, a substrate position adjusting means, a control means, and the like.
Examples of other steps include a three-dimensional modeling agent supply step, a three-dimensional modeling head unit scanning step, a substrate position adjustment step, a control step, and the like.

<< Three-dimensional modeling agent supply means and three-dimensional modeling agent supply process >>
The three-dimensional modeling agent supply means and the three-dimensional modeling agent supply step are the same as the above-mentioned light absorber supply means and light absorber supply step except that the light absorber is a three-dimensional modeling agent and the adherend is a model support substrate. Since the same is true, the description thereof will be omitted.

<< Three-dimensional modeling head unit scanning means and three-dimensional modeling head unit scanning process >>
The three-dimensional modeling head unit scanning means is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, a three-dimensional modeling head unit in which a light absorber flying unit and an ultraviolet irradiation means are integrated is a modeled object support substrate. You may scan in the width direction (X axis) of the device above. The three-dimensional modeling head unit cures the ultraviolet-curable three-dimensional modeling agent attached to the light absorber flying unit by an ultraviolet irradiation means. Further, a plurality of three-dimensional modeling head units may be provided.
The three-dimensional modeling head unit scanning step is not particularly limited as long as it is a step of scanning the three-dimensional modeling head unit, and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, the three-dimensional modeling head unit scanning step is preferably performed. Can be done.

<< Board position adjusting means and board position adjusting process >>
The substrate position adjusting means is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, the position of the modeled object support substrate is adjusted in the depth direction (Y axis) and the height direction (Z axis) of the apparatus. It may be a possible substrate (stage).
The substrate position adjusting step is not particularly limited as long as it is a step of adjusting the position of the modeled object support substrate, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, the substrate position adjusting means may be preferably used. can.

<< Control means and control process >>
Since the control means and the control step are the same as the control means and the control step of the light absorber flying device described above, the description thereof will be omitted.

<Three-dimensional modeling agent>
As with the light absorber, the three-dimensional modeling agent is not particularly limited in shape, material and the like, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Hereinafter, the differences when the light absorber is used as a three-dimensional modeling agent will be described.

The average thickness of the three-dimensional modeling agent is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, and varies depending on the required precision and the like, but is preferably 5 μm or more and 500 μm or less. When the average thickness is within a preferable range, it is advantageous in terms of accuracy, texture, smoothness, manufacturing time, and the like of the three-dimensional model. Further, the average thickness of the three-dimensional modeling agent is more preferably 5 μm or more and 100 μm or less. When the average thickness is within a more preferable range, the energy of the optical vortex laser beam can be suppressed to a low level, which is advantageous in that deterioration of the three-dimensional modeling agent is suppressed.

The three-dimensional modeling agent contains at least a curable material and, if necessary, other components.

<< Curable material >>
The curable material is not particularly limited as long as it is a compound that cures by causing a polymerization reaction by irradiation with active energy rays (ultraviolet rays, electron beams, etc.), heating, etc., and can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, for example. Examples thereof include active energy ray-curable compounds and thermosetting compounds. Among these, a material that is liquid at room temperature is preferable.
The active energy ray-curable compound is a relatively low-viscosity monomer having an unsaturated double bond capable of radical polymerization in the molecular structure, and examples thereof include a monofunctional monomer and a polyfunctional monomer.

<< Other ingredients >>
The other components are not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, water, an organic solvent, a photopolymerization initiator, a surfactant, a colorant, a stabilizer, a water-soluble resin, and a low amount. Examples thereof include boiling alcohol, surface treatment agents, viscosity modifiers, adhesive-imparting agents, antioxidants, antioxidants, cross-linking accelerators, ultraviolet absorbers, plasticizers, preservatives, dispersants and the like.

<Three-dimensional modeling agent carrier>
Since the three-dimensional modeling agent carrier is the same as the above-mentioned light absorbing material carrier except that the light absorbing material is used as the three-dimensional modeling agent, the description thereof will be omitted.

<Modeled object support board>
The modeled object support substrate is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. For example, the positions of the Y-axis and the Z-axis may be adjusted by the substrate position adjusting means.

Since the gap between the modeled object support substrate and the three-dimensional modeling agent carrier is the same as the gap between the adherend and the three-dimensional modeling agent carrier, the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, an example of the image forming apparatus in the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The number, position, shape, etc. of the following constituent members are not limited to the present embodiment, and may be a preferable number, position, shape, etc. for carrying out the present invention.

FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the light absorber flying device of the present invention.
In FIG. 5A, the light absorber flying device 300 includes a light absorber flying means 1, a light absorber 20 that absorbs light, an adherend 30, and a light absorber carrier 40. The light absorber flying device 300 irradiates the light absorbing material 20 supported on the light absorbing material carrier 40 with the optical vortex laser beam 12 by the light absorbing material flying means 1, and energy of the light vortex laser beam 12. This is a device that causes the light absorber 20 to fly in the irradiation direction and adheres to the adhered object 30.

The light absorber flying means 1 includes a laser light source 2, beam diameter changing members 3 and 7, a beam wavelength changing member 4, an optical vortex conversion unit 5, and a wavelength conversion unit 6.

The laser light source 2 is, for example, a titanium sapphire laser, which generates a pulse-oscillated laser beam 11 and irradiates the beam diameter changing member 3.
The beam diameter changing member 3 is, for example, a condenser lens, and is arranged downstream of the laser light source 2 in the optical path of the laser beam 11 generated by the laser light source 2 to change the diameter of the laser beam 11.
The beam wavelength changing member 4 is, for example, a KTP crystal, is arranged downstream of the beam diameter changing member 3 in the optical path of the laser beam 11, and changes the wavelength of the laser beam 11 to a wavelength that can be absorbed by the light absorber 20.
The optical vortex conversion unit 5 is, for example, a spiral phase plate, which is arranged downstream of the beam wavelength changing member 4 in the optical path of the laser beam 11 and converts the laser beam 11 into an optical vortex laser beam 12.
The wavelength conversion unit 6 is, for example, a 1/4 wave plate, and by applying circularly polarized light to the optical vortex laser beam, the total rotational moment J _{L, S} represented by the above equation (1) is 0 or It is set in combination with the optical vortex conversion unit 5 so as to satisfy the condition of 2.

The light absorber 20 is irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam 12 from the light absorber flying means 1, receives energy within the diameter range of the optical vortex laser beam 12, and flies, and adheres to the adhered object 30. The flying light absorber 20 adheres to the adhered object 30 while being suppressed from scattering to the periphery by the gyro effect applied by the optical vortex laser beam 12.
At this time, the flying amount of the flying light absorber 20 is a part or the whole of the area of the light absorber 20 irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam 12, and can be adjusted by the wavelength conversion unit 6 or the like.

FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the light absorber flying device of the present invention.
In FIG. 5B, the light absorber flying device 301 has a light absorber carrier 40 and a beam scanning means 60 in addition to the means of the light absorber flying device 300 shown in FIG. 5A. The light absorbing material flying device 301 scans the optical vortex laser beam 12 generated by the light absorbing material flying means 1 in a direction orthogonal to the irradiation direction of the light vortex laser beam 12 by the beam scanning means 60. As a result, the light-absorbing material flying device 301 irradiates an arbitrary position of the light-absorbing material 20 supported by the flat plate-shaped light-absorbing material carrier 40, and attaches the flying light-absorbing material 20 to the adhered object 30. be able to.

The beam scanning means 60 is arranged downstream of the light absorber flying means 1 in the optical path of the optical vortex laser beam 12 and has a reflecting mirror 61.
The reflector 61 is movable in the scanning direction indicated by the arrow S in FIG. 5B by a reflector driving means (not shown), and reflects the optical vortex laser beam 12 at an arbitrary position of the light absorber 20.
The beam scanning means 60 changes the irradiation direction of the optical vortex laser beam 12 by rotating the light absorbing material flying means 1 that moves the light absorbing material flying means 1 itself, for example. Alternatively, the beam scanning means 60 may scan the optical vortex laser beam 12 at an arbitrary position by using a polygon mirror as the reflecting mirror 61.

The light absorber carrier 40 is arranged downstream of the beam scanning means 60 in the optical path of the optical vortex laser beam 12. For example, when the light absorber 20 is a highly viscous liquid, the light absorber 20 is applied and fixed. It is used for the purpose of The light absorber carrier 40 is capable of transmitting light, supports the light absorber 20 on the front surface, and is irradiated with the light absorber 20 from the back surface by the optical vortex laser beam 12.
Further, by controlling the average thickness of the light absorbing material 20 forming the layer to be constant at the stage where the light absorbing material 20 is supported on the light absorbing material carrier 40, the flying amount of the light absorbing material 20 can be reduced. Can be stabilized.
The combination of the light absorber flying means 1 and the beam scanning means 60 is referred to as an optical vortex laser beam irradiation unit 100.

FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the light absorber flying device shown in FIG. 5B to which the light absorber supplying means and the adherend transporting means are added.
In FIG. 6A, the light absorber flying device 302 has a light absorber supplying means 50 and an adherend transporting means 70 in addition to the means of the light absorber flying device 301 shown in FIG. 5B. The flat plate-shaped light-absorbing material carrier 40 is changed to a cylindrical light-absorbing material-supporting roller 41. Further, a light vortex laser beam irradiation unit 100 is arranged inside the light absorber-supporting roller 41, and the light vortex laser beam 12 irradiates the adhered object 30 carried on the outer periphery of the light-absorbing material-supporting roller 41. ..

The light absorber supply means 50 includes a storage tank 51, a supply roller 52, and a regulation blade 53.
The storage tank 51 is arranged in the vicinity below the supply roller 52 and stores the light absorber 10.
The supply roller 52 is arranged so as to be in contact with the light absorber supporting roller 41, and a part of the supply roller 52 is immersed in the light absorber 10 of the storage tank 51. The supply roller 52 adheres the light absorber 10 to the surface while rotating in the rotation direction indicated by the arrow R2 in FIG. 6A by a rotation driving means (not shown) or driven by the rotation of the light absorber supporting roller 41. The attached light absorber 10 has an average thickness made uniform by the regulation blade 53, and is supplied as a layer by being transferred to the light absorber-supporting roller 41. The light absorber 10 supplied to the surface of the light absorber-supporting roller 41 is continuously supplied to the position where the optical vortex laser beam 12 is irradiated by the rotation of the light-absorbing material-supporting roller 41.
The regulation blade 53 is arranged on the upstream side of the light absorber-supporting roller 41 in the rotation direction indicated by the arrow R2 in the drawing, regulates the light-absorbing material 10 adhered to the surface by the supply roller 52, and regulates the light-absorbing material-supporting roller 41. The average thickness of the light absorber 10 supplied to the light absorber 10 is made uniform.

The adherent transporting means 70 is arranged in the vicinity of the light absorber supporting roller 41 so that the adhered matter 30 to be transported does not come into contact with the light absorbing material supporting roller 41, and the adhered matter transporting roller 71 and the adhered matter are conveyed. It has an adherend transport belt 72 stretched on a roller 71. The adhered object transporting means 70 rotates the adhered object transport roller 71 by a rotation driving means (not shown), and transports the adhered object 30 by the adhered object transport belt 72 in the transport direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 6A.
At this time, the optical vortex laser beam irradiation unit 100 irradiates the optical vortex laser beam 12 from the inside of the light absorber supporting roller 41 according to the image information, and attaches the light absorber 20 to the adhered object 30. A two-dimensional image is formed on the adhered object 30 by performing such an adhering operation of adhering the light absorber 20 to the adhered object 30 while moving the adhered object 30 by the adhered object transport belt 72. be able to.

The light-absorbing material 20 supported on the surface of the light-absorbing material-supporting roller 41 but not flying is accumulated by the contact between the light-absorbing material-supporting roller 41 and the supply roller 52, and eventually the storage tank. It falls to 51 and is collected. Further, the method for recovering the light absorbing material 20 is not limited to this, and a scraper or the like for scraping the light absorbing material 20 on the surface of the light absorbing material supporting roller 41 may be provided.

FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the light absorber flying device shown in FIG. 5B to which the light absorber supplying means and the adherend transporting means are added.
In FIG. 6B, the light absorber flying device 303 is a light absorber supporting portion 42 in which the cylindrical light absorber supporting roller 41 in the light absorber flying device 302 shown in FIG. 6A is divided into two along the axial direction. , The arrangement of the light absorber flying device 302 is changed.

The light absorber supporting portion 42 has a shape that is a partial surface of a cylinder and has no surface on the opposite side of the center line of the cylinder. By using a carrier having no facing surface in this way, the optical path of the optical vortex laser beam 12 can be easily secured without providing the optical vortex laser beam irradiation unit 100 on the cylindrical light absorber supporting roller 41. The device can be simplified.

FIG. 6C is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the light absorber flying device shown in FIG. 5B to which the light absorber supplying means and the adherend transporting means are added.
In FIG. 6C, the light absorber flight device 304 is a modification of the position of the regulation blade 53 in the light absorber flight device 302 shown in FIG. 6A. This light absorber flight device 304 is particularly preferably used when the light absorber 20 is a powder.

The regulation blade 53 regulates the amount of the light absorber 20 supplied from the light absorber supply means 50 to the light absorber-supporting roller 41 by the regulation blade 53 arranged in the vicinity of the light-absorbent material-supporting roller 41. The arrangement of the regulation blade 53 is the same as the arrangement of the regulation blade in the means for supplying toner to the developing roller of a general electrophotographic one-component developer, for example.
As described above, when the light absorber 20 is a powder, the light absorber 20 adhering to the surface of the adherend 30 may be subjected to a treatment such as pressurization or heating to be fixed to the adherent 30. good.

FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the light absorber flying device shown in FIG. 6A to which the fixing means is added.
In FIG. 7A, the light absorber flying device 305 has fixing means 80 in addition to the means of the light absorber flying device 302 shown in FIG. 6A, and the light absorber attached to the adhered object 30. 20 is fixed and smoothed. The position of the adherend transporting means 70 is the side surface of the light absorber-supporting roller 41 in FIG. 6A, but is above the light-absorbent material-supporting roller 41 in FIG. 7A for convenience of explanation.

The fixing means 80 is a pressure-type fixing means, and is arranged on the downstream side of the light absorber-supporting roller 41 in the transport direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 7A of the adherend 30, and faces the pressure roller 83. It has a roller 84 and. The fixing means 80 pressurizes and fixes the adhered object 30 to which the light absorber 20 is attached by transporting it while sandwiching it.

The pressurizing roller 83 is urged toward the opposing roller 84, and the surface of the pressurizing roller 83 comes into contact with the adhered object 30 and pressurizes while sandwiching the adhered object 30 with the opposing roller 84.
The facing roller 84 is arranged at a position where it comes into contact with the pressure roller 83, and the adhered object 30 is sandwiched by the pressure roller 83 via the adhered object transport belt 72.

For example, when the light absorber flight device 305 is used as an image forming device and a light absorber 20 having a very high viscosity of 1,000 mPa · s or more is used, the light absorber 20 permeates or gets wet with the adherend 30. It tends to be late. If the light absorber 20 is dried as it is, the surface roughness of the image may become rough and the gloss of the image may decrease. In such a case, the fixing means 80 pressurizes the adhered object 30 to which the light absorbing material 20 is attached by the pressure roller 83, and pushes the light absorbing material 20 into the adhered object 30 or crushes the light absorbing material 20. Therefore, the surface roughness of the adherend 30 to which the light absorber 20 is attached can be reduced.

FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the light absorber flying device shown in FIG. 6A to which the fixing means is added.
In FIG. 7B, the light absorber flying device 306 is obtained by changing the pressurizing type fixing means 80 in the light absorbing material flying device 305 shown in FIG. 7A to a heating and pressing type fixing means 81.
The fixing means 81 is arranged on the downstream side of the light absorbing material supporting roller 41 in the transport direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 7B of the adherend 30, and includes a heating and pressurizing roller 85, a fixing belt 86, a driven roller 87, and the like. It has a halogen lamp 88 and an opposed roller 84. Since the fixing means 81 heats and pressurizes the adhered object 30 to which the light absorbing material 20 is attached to fix it, for example, a powder such as an electrophotographic toner or a powder coating material is used as a light absorbing material. It is used when used as 20. In another case, the fixing means 81 is used when the material requiring melting is used as the light absorber 20 of the dispersion liquid in which the material needs to be melted, and the target image cannot be obtained only by pressurization.

The heating and pressurizing roller 85 is urged toward the facing roller 84, and heats and pressurizes the adherend 30 while sandwiching the adhered object 30 with the facing roller 84 via the fixing belt 86.
The fixing belt 86 has an endless belt shape, is stretched on the heating and pressurizing roller 85 and the driven roller 87, and the surface of the fixing belt 86 comes into contact with the adhered object 30.
The driven roller 87 is arranged below the heating and pressurizing roller 85, and is driven according to the rotation of the heating and pressurizing roller 85.
The halogen lamp 88 is arranged inside the heating and pressurizing roller 85, and generates heat for fixing the light absorber 20 to the adherend 30.
The facing roller 84 is arranged at a position where it comes into contact with the fixing belt 86, and the adhered object 30 is sandwiched by the pressure roller 83 via the adhered object transport belt 72.

FIG. 7C is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the light absorber flying device shown in FIG. 6A to which the fixing means is added.
In FIG. 7C, the light absorber flying device 307 is obtained by changing the pressurizing type fixing means 80 in the light absorbing material flying device 305 shown in FIG. 7A to the UV irradiation type fixing means 82.
The fixing means 82 is arranged on the downstream side of the light absorber-supporting roller 41 in the transport direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 7C of the adherend 30, and has a UV lamp 89. This fixing means 81 is used when an ultraviolet curable material is used as the light absorber 20, and is fixed to the adherend 30 by irradiating UV with a UV lamp 89.

FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
In FIG. 8A, the image forming apparatus 200 has three light absorber flying units 120 in addition to the means of the light absorber flying device 306 shown in FIG. 7B, and the light absorber 20 is used as a colorant 21. It was changed to.
Further, the light absorber flying unit 120 is composed of a light absorber supplying means 50, a light absorber flying means 1, a beam scanning means 60, a light absorber supporting roller 41, and a light absorber 20.

The light absorber flight units 120Y, M, C, and K store the four process colors, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), as the colorant 21. ing.
As a result, images of each color are sequentially formed on the recording medium 31, and can be applied to a color process for obtaining a color image.

FIG. 8B is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
In FIG. 8B, the image forming apparatus 201 has an intermediate transfer means 90 in addition to the means of the image forming apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 8A.

The intermediate transfer means 90 includes an intermediate transfer body 91, an intermediate transfer body driving roller 92, and an intermediate transfer body driven roller 93.
The intermediate transfer body 91 is, for example, an endless belt, which is arranged above the four light absorber flight units 120 and is stretched by the intermediate transfer body driving roller 92 and the intermediate transfer body driven roller 93. ..
The intermediate transfer body drive roller 92 is rotated in the rotation direction indicated by the arrow R2 in FIG. 8B by a rotation drive means (not shown) to rotate the intermediate transfer body 91.
The intermediate transfer body driven roller 93 is driven according to the rotation of the intermediate transfer body driving roller 92.
In this way, an image may be first formed on the intermediate transfer body 91 and then transferred to a desired recording medium 31. The image forming apparatus 201 can also obtain a high-quality color image as in the image forming apparatus 200. Further, since the image formed on the intermediate transfer body 91 is pressed by the intermediate transfer body drive roller 92 when transferred to the recording medium 31, the surface of the recording medium 31 to which the colorant 21 is attached is pressed by the intermediate transfer body drive roller 92. The roughness can be reduced.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a three-dimensional model manufacturing apparatus of the present invention.
In FIG. 9, the three-dimensional model manufacturing apparatus 500 includes a model support substrate 122, a stage 123, and a three-dimensional model head unit 130. The three-dimensional model manufacturing apparatus 500 manufactures the three-dimensional model 124 by laminating the attached three-dimensional model 22 while curing it.
The three-dimensional modeling head unit 130 is arranged above the three-dimensional modeling object manufacturing apparatus 500, and can be scanned in the direction indicated by the arrow L in the figure by a driving means (not shown). The three-dimensional modeling head unit 130 has a light absorber flight unit 120 and an ultraviolet irradiator 121.

The light absorber flight unit 120 is arranged in the center of the three-dimensional modeling head unit 130, and the light absorber 20 is flown downward and attached to the modeled object support substrate 122 or the already cured light absorber 20.
The ultraviolet irradiator 121 is arranged on both side surfaces of the light absorber flying unit 120, and irradiates the light absorber 20 that the light absorber flying unit 120 has flown with ultraviolet rays to cure it.
The modeled object support substrate 122 is arranged in the lower part of the three-dimensional object manufacturing apparatus 500, and serves as a substrate when the three-dimensional modeling head unit 130 forms a layer of the three-dimensional modeling agent 22.
The stage 123 is arranged below the modeled object support substrate 122, and the modeled object support substrate 122 can be moved in the vertical direction in the drawing by a driving means (not shown). Further, the stage 123 can be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow H in the drawing, and the gap between the three-dimensional modeling head unit 130 and the three-dimensional modeling object 124 can be adjusted.

In the light absorber flying device, the image forming device, and the three-dimensional model manufacturing device, an example of transporting or moving an adherend, a recording medium, and a model support substrate is shown, but the subject is not limited to this. The kimono or the like may be stationary and the light absorber flying unit or the like may be moved. Alternatively, both the adherend and the like and the light absorber flight unit and the like may be moved.
Further, in the case where an image of the entire surface of the recording medium is formed at the same time, both may be stationary and only the laser may be operated at least at the time of recording.

Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.
In the following, a light absorber flying means as shown in FIG. 5B is configured, and a pulse-oscillated optical vortex laser beam is applied to a conductive paste as a light absorber or an Au thin-film film to irradiate an adherend with 10 mm. A specific embodiment attached so as to form a line pattern of the above will be described.

(Example 1)
<Light absorber carrier, light absorber and adherend>
On a slide glass as a light absorber carrier (Matsunami Glass Ind. Co., Ltd., micro slide glass S7213; 532 nm wavelength light transmittance is 99%), as a light absorber, a conductive paste (manufactured by Taiyo Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd., ELEPASTE) AF4820; volumetric resistance of 5 × ^10-5 Ω · cm, 14.5 Pa · s) was applied to the surface to form a film having an average thickness of 5 μm. At this time, the transmittance of the 532 nm wavelength light in the layered light absorber was 1%. Next, the surface coated with the light absorber was opposed to the adherend, and the light absorber carrier was installed so that the optical vortex laser beam could be vertically irradiated from the back surface of the light absorber.
A PET film (manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc., average thickness: 100 μm) was used as the adherend, and the gap between the adherend and the light absorber was 1.5 mm.

<Means of flying light absorber>
The light absorber flying means includes a laser light source, a beam diameter changing member, a beam wavelength changing element, a spiral phase plate as an optical vortex conversion unit, and a 1/4 wave plate as a wavelength conversion unit.
As the laser light source, a laser light source (YAG) made by myself at the Omatsu Laboratory, Graduate School of Fusion Science, Chiba University was used. Using this laser light source, a one-pulse laser beam with a wavelength of 1,064 nm, a beam diameter of 1.25 mm × 1.23 mm, a pulse width of 2 nanoseconds, and a pulse frequency of 20 Hz is generated. I let you. The generated 1-pulse laser beam is applied to a condenser lens (YAG laser condenser lens manufactured by SIGMA KOKI, Inc.) as a beam diameter changing member, and the beam diameter when irradiated to a light absorber is 100 μm. It was set to × 100 μm. Next, the laser beam that passed through the beam diameter changing member was passed through a spiral phase plate (Voltex phase plate manufactured by Luminex Corporation) and converted into an optical vortex laser beam. Next, the optical vortex laser beam converted by the spiral phase plate was passed through a 1/4 wave plate (QWP; manufactured by Kogaku Giken Co., Ltd.) arranged downstream of the spiral phase plate. At this time, the optical axes of the spiral phase plate and the 1/4 wave plate were set to −45 ° so that the total rotational moment J represented by the equation (1) was 0. Next, while scanning the optical vortex laser beam that has passed through the 1/4 wave plate, the conductive paste carried on the slide glass is irradiated to fly the conductive paste, and a 10 mm line pattern is formed on the PET film. Formed. The laser output when the conductive paste was irradiated with the optical vortex laser beam passed through the 1/4 wave plate was set to 0.5 mJ. Then, the conductive paste having a 10 mm line pattern formed on the PET film was heat-cured at 100 ° C. for 30 minutes using a constant temperature dryer (DS-401; Yamato Scientific Co., Ltd.). Table 1 shows the types and film thicknesses of the light absorbers and the main conditions regarding the optical vortex laser beam.

<Evaluation of line pattern formation state>
The state of formation of the line pattern by the thermosetting conductive paste was evaluated by a microscope at a magnification of 100 times according to the following criteria, and the results are shown in Table 2. If this evaluation is ○ or Δ, it is a level at which there is no problem in actual use.
〔Evaluation criteria〕
◯: No scattering and line pattern is formed Δ: Slight scattering is confirmed, but line pattern is formed ×: There is scattering and line pattern is not formed

<Evaluation of conductivity>
Using a resistance meter (RM3542A; Hioki Electric Co., Ltd.), the DC resistance values R at both ends of the line pattern made of the heat-cured conductive paste were evaluated according to the following criteria, and the results are shown in Table 2. Indicated. If this evaluation is ○ or Δ, it is a level at which there is no problem in actual use.
〔Evaluation criteria〕
◯: 1 kΩ <R
Δ: 1 kΩ ≦ R <1 MΩ
×: 1 MΩ ≦ R

(Example 2)
In Example 1, the formation state and conductivity of the line pattern were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the spiral phase plate and the 1/4 wave plate were set so that the total rotational moment J was 2. .. The results are shown in Table 2.

(Comparative Example 1)
In Example 1, the formation state and conductivity of the line pattern were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the 1/4 wave plate was removed. The results are shown in Table 2.

(Comparative Example 2)
In the first embodiment, the same as in the first embodiment except that the spiral phase plate and the 1/4 wave plate are removed to make the optical vortex laser beam a general laser beam as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C. , The formation state of the line pattern and the conductivity were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 2.

(Example 3)
In Example 1, the conductive paste having a film having an average thickness of 5 μm formed on the slide glass was changed to an Au thin-film film having Au deposited on the slide glass having an average thickness of 5 nm. Similarly, the formation state and conductivity of the line pattern were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 2.

(Example 4)
In Example 3, the formation state and conductivity of the line pattern were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 3 except that the spiral phase plate and the 1/4 wave plate were set so that the total rotational moment J was 2. .. The results are shown in Table 2.

(Comparative Example 3)
In Example 3, the formation state and the conductivity of the line pattern were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 3 except that the 1/4 wave plate was removed. The results are shown in Table 2.

(Comparative Example 4)
In the third embodiment, the same as in the third embodiment except that the spiral phase plate and the quarter wave plate are removed to make the optical vortex laser beam a general laser beam as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C. , The formation state of the line pattern and the conductivity were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 2.

From the results in Table 2, in Examples 1 to 4, when the line pattern was formed with the conductive paste or the Au-deposited film that was flown by the light absorber flying device, the line pattern was only slightly scattered. It is confirmed that the conductivity is also at a level that does not cause any problem in actual use.

As described above, in Examples 1 to 4, since the conductive paste or Au thin-film film can be flown and adhered to the adherend in the shape of the line pattern, it can be sufficiently applied in the field of manufacturing circuit boards. Is considered to be.

前記式（１）において、ε_０は真空中の誘電率であり、ωは光の角周波数であり、Ｌはトポロジカルチャージであり、Ｉは下記数式（２）で表される前記光渦レーザビームの渦次数に対応する軌道角運動量であり、Ｓは円偏光に対するスピン角運動量であり、ｒは円筒座標系の動径である。

前記式（２）において、ω_０は光のビームウエストサイズである。
＜２＞ 前記光吸収材飛翔手段が、前記光を透過可能な光吸収材担持体の表面に担持された前記光吸収材に対し、前記光吸収材担持体の裏面から前記光渦レーザビームを照射する前記＜１＞に記載の光吸収材飛翔装置である。
＜３＞ 前記光吸収材の膜厚が、５０ｎｍ以上５μｍ以下である前記＜１＞から＜２＞のいずれかに記載の光吸収材飛翔装置である。
＜４＞ 前記光吸収材が導電性材料である前記＜１＞から＜３＞のいずれかに記載の光吸収材飛翔装置である。
＜５＞ 前記導電性材料の体積抵抗率が１０^３Ω・ｃｍ以下である前記＜４＞に記載の光吸収材飛翔装置である。
＜６＞ 前記＜１＞から＜５＞のいずれかに記載の光吸収材飛翔装置を有し、
前記光吸収材が着色剤であることを特徴とする画像形成装置である。
＜７＞ 前記＜１＞から＜５＞のいずれかに記載の光吸収材飛翔装置を有し、
前記光吸収材が立体造形剤であり、
前記光吸収材飛翔手段が、前記立体造形剤を前記被付着物に対して立体的に付着させることを特徴とする立体造形物の製造装置である。
＜８＞ 光を吸収する光吸収材に、前記光吸収材の光吸収波長に対応する光渦レーザビームを照射し、前記光渦レーザビームのエネルギーにより前記光吸収材を飛翔させ、被付着物に付着させる光吸収材飛翔工程を含み、
前記光吸収材飛翔工程が、レーザビームを発生させる発生処理、前記発生処理で発生させた前記レーザビームを前記光渦レーザビームに変換する光渦変換処理、及び前記光渦変換処理で変換した前記光渦レーザビームに円偏光を付与する波長変換処理を備え、
前記光渦変換処理及び前記波長変換処理を設定することにより、下記数式（１）で表される、前記円偏光を付与した前記光渦レーザビームにおけるトータルの回転モーメントＪ_Ｌ，Ｓが、|Ｊ_Ｌ，Ｓ|≧０となる条件を満たす、
ことを特徴とする光吸収材飛翔方法である。

前記式（１）において、ε_０は真空中の誘電率であり、ωは光の角周波数であり、Ｌはトポロジカルチャージであり、Ｉは下記数式（２）で表される前記光渦レーザビームの渦次数に対応する軌道角運動量であり、Ｓは前記円偏光に対するスピン角運動量であり、ｒは円筒座標系の動径である。
式（２）

前記式（２）において、ω_０は光のビームウエストサイズである。
＜９＞ 前記＜８＞に記載の光吸収材飛翔方法を含み、
前記光吸収材が着色剤であることを特徴とする画像形成方法である。
＜１０＞ 前記＜８＞に記載の光吸収材飛翔方法を含み、
前記光吸収材が立体造形剤であり、
前記光吸収材飛翔工程が、前記立体造形剤を前記被付着物に対して立体的に付着させる立体造形剤飛翔工程であることを特徴とする立体造形物の製造方法である。 Examples of aspects of the present invention are as follows.
<1> A light absorber that absorbs light and
The optical vortex laser beam corresponding to the light absorption wavelength of the light absorber is irradiated to the light absorber, and the light absorber is made to fly by the energy of the light vortex laser beam, and the light absorber is made to adhere to the adherend. With means,
The light absorber flying means is a laser light source that generates a laser beam, an optical vortex conversion unit that converts the laser beam generated by the laser light source into the optical vortex laser beam, and the light converted by the optical vortex conversion unit. Equipped with a wavelength converter that imparts circular polarization to the vortex laser beam
_{By setting the optical vortex conversion unit and the wavelength conversion unit, the total rotational moments J L and S} in the optical vortex laser beam to which the circularly polarized light is applied, which are represented by the following mathematical formula (1), are | J. _{The condition that L, S} | ≧ 0 is satisfied,
A light absorber flying device characterized by this.

In the equation (1), ε ₀ is the permittivity in vacuum, ω is the angular frequency of light, L is the topology culture, and I is the optical vortex laser beam represented by the following equation (2). Is the orbital angular momentum corresponding to the vortex order of, S is the spin angular momentum with respect to circularly polarized light, and r is the driving diameter of the cylindrical coordinate system.

In the above equation (2), ω ₀ is the beam waist size of light.
<2> The light absorber flying means transmits the optical vortex laser beam from the back surface of the light absorber carrier to the light absorber supported on the surface of the light absorber carrier capable of transmitting light. The light absorber flying device according to <1> for irradiating.
<3> The light absorber flying device according to any one of <1> to <2>, wherein the film thickness of the light absorber is 50 nm or more and 5 μm or less.
<4> The light absorber flying device according to any one of <1> to <3>, wherein the light absorber is a conductive material.
<5> The volume resistivity of the conductive material is a light absorbing material flying apparatus according to at most ^{10 3 Ω · cm <4>} .
<6> The light absorber flying device according to any one of <1> to <5> is provided.
It is an image forming apparatus characterized in that the light absorber is a colorant.
<7> The light absorber flying device according to any one of <1> to <5> is provided.
The light absorber is a three-dimensional modeling agent.
The light absorbing material flying means is an apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional model, characterized in that the three-dimensional modeling agent is three-dimensionally adhered to the object to be adhered.
<8> The light absorber that absorbs light is irradiated with an optical vortex laser beam corresponding to the light absorption wavelength of the light absorber, and the light absorber is made to fly by the energy of the optical vortex laser beam to cause an adhered substance. Including the flight process of the light absorber to be attached to
The light absorber flight step is a generation process for generating a laser beam, an optical vortex conversion process for converting the laser beam generated in the generation process into the optical vortex laser beam, and the optical vortex conversion process for conversion. Equipped with a wavelength conversion process that imparts circular polarization to the optical vortex laser beam
_{By setting the optical vortex conversion process and the wavelength conversion process, the total rotational moments J L and S} in the optical vortex laser beam to which the circularly polarized light is applied, which are represented by the following mathematical formula (1), are | J. _{The condition that L, S} | ≧ 0 is satisfied,
It is a light absorber flight method characterized by this.

In the equation (1), ε ₀ is the permittivity in vacuum, ω is the angular frequency of light, L is the topology culture, and I is the optical vortex laser beam represented by the following equation (2). Is the orbital angular momentum corresponding to the vortex order of, S is the spin angular momentum with respect to the circularly polarized light, and r is the driving diameter of the cylindrical coordinate system.
Equation (2)

In the above equation (2), ω ₀ is the beam waist size of light.
<9> The method for flying a light absorber according to the above <8> is included.
This is an image forming method characterized in that the light absorber is a colorant.
<10> The method for flying a light absorber according to the above <8> is included.
The light absorber is a three-dimensional modeling agent.
The light absorbing material flying step is a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional model, characterized in that the three-dimensional modeling agent is three-dimensionally adhered to the object to be adhered.

1 Light absorber Flying means 2 Laser light source 3, 7 Beam diameter changing member 4 Beam wavelength changing member 5 Spiral phase plate (optical vortex conversion part)
6 1/4 wave plate (wavelength converter)
11 Laser beam 12 Optical vortex Laser beam 20 Light absorber 21 Coloring agent 22 Three-dimensional modeling agent 30 Adhesion 31 Recording medium 32 Substrate 40 Light absorbing material carrier 100 Light absorbing material flying unit 110 Coloring agent flying unit 120 Three-dimensional modeling agent flying Unit 124 3D model 130 3D model head unit 300-307 Light absorber flying device 400, 401 Image forming device 500 3D model manufacturing device

International Publication No. 2016/136722 Pamphlet Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-188361

Claims (10)

A light absorber that absorbs light and
The optical vortex laser beam corresponding to the light absorption wavelength of the light absorber is irradiated to the light absorber, and the light absorber is made to fly by the energy of the light vortex laser beam, and the light absorber is made to adhere to the adherend. With means,
The light absorber flying means is a laser light source that generates a laser beam, an optical vortex conversion unit that converts the laser beam generated by the laser light source into the optical vortex laser beam, and the light converted by the optical vortex conversion unit. Equipped with a wavelength converter that imparts circular polarization to the vortex laser beam
_{By setting the optical vortex conversion unit and the wavelength conversion unit, the total rotational moments JL and S} in the optical vortex laser beam irradiating the optical vortex laser beam represented by the following mathematical formula (1) are 0. Or satisfy the condition of 2
A light absorber flying device characterized by this.

In the equation (1), ε ₀ is the permittivity in vacuum, ω is the angular frequency of light, L is the topology culture, and I is the optical vortex laser beam represented by the following equation (2). Is the orbital angular momentum corresponding to the vortex order of, S is the spin angular momentum with respect to circularly polarized light, and r is the driving diameter of the cylindrical coordinate system.

In the above equation (2), ω ₀ is the beam waist size of light. A claim that the light absorber flying means irradiates the light absorber supported on the surface of the light absorber carrier capable of transmitting light with the optical vortex laser beam from the back surface of the light absorber carrier. Item 1. The light absorber flying device according to Item 1. The light absorber flying device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the film thickness of the light absorber is 50 nm or more and 5 μm or less. The light absorber flying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the light absorber is a conductive material. Light absorbing material flying device according to claim 4 volume resistivity of the conductive material is less than 10 ³ Ω · cm. The light absorber flying device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is provided.
An image forming apparatus characterized in that the light absorber is a colorant. The light absorber flying device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is provided.
The light absorber is a three-dimensional modeling agent.
A device for manufacturing a three-dimensional model, wherein the light-absorbing material flying means three-dimensionally attaches the three-dimensional modeling agent to the object to be adhered. The light absorber that absorbs light is irradiated with an optical vortex laser beam corresponding to the light absorption wavelength of the light absorber, and the light absorber is made to fly by the energy of the optical vortex laser beam and adheres to an adherend. Including the light absorber flight process
The light absorber flight step is a generation process for generating a laser beam, an optical vortex conversion process for converting the laser beam generated in the generation process into the optical vortex laser beam, and the optical vortex conversion process for conversion. Equipped with a wavelength conversion process that imparts circular polarization to the optical vortex laser beam
_{By setting the optical vortex conversion process and the wavelength conversion process, the total rotational moment J L, S} in the optical vortex laser beam to which the circularly polarized light is applied, which is represented by the following mathematical formula (1), is 0 or Satisfy the condition of 2
A light-absorbing material flight method characterized by this.

In the equation (1), ε ₀ is the permittivity in vacuum, ω is the angular frequency of light, L is the topology culture, and I is the optical vortex laser beam represented by the following equation (2). Is the orbital angular momentum corresponding to the vortex order of, S is the spin angular momentum with respect to the circularly polarized light, and r is the driving diameter of the cylindrical coordinate system.

In the above equation (2), ω ₀ is the beam waist size of light. The method for flying a light absorber according to claim 8 is included.
An image forming method characterized in that the light absorber is a colorant. The method for flying a light absorber according to claim 8 is included.
The light absorber is a three-dimensional modeling agent.
A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional model, wherein the light absorbing material flying step is a three-dimensional modeling agent flying step in which the three-dimensional modeling agent is three-dimensionally adhered to the adhered object.

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