JPH0240512B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a recording method and a recording apparatus that utilize the electroosmosis phenomenon of liquid ink to a dielectric material.

Regarding the recording method and apparatus based on the above principle, several proposals have been made by the present inventor.

One of these is the Coulomb force method, which is a recording method in which liquid ink is electro-osmotic into a dielectric material in response to a signal voltage to form an ink bump, which is then flown and attached to a recording sheet using Coulomb force. The other one is called the direct transfer method, which is a recording method in which the above-mentioned ink bumps are directly transferred and attached to a recording sheet from a recording head to record and reproduce an ink image corresponding to a signal voltage. It is a device.

However, there are still points that need to be improved in these recording methods.

In other words, the Coulomb force method requires high voltage,
The equipment is expensive and complicated, and in the direct transfer method, the recording sheet comes into direct contact with the recording head, which can cause the recording head to wear out, dust, etc. to adhere to it, making the operation unstable, and the recording resolution tends to decrease due to ink diffusion. contains problems.

An object of the present invention is to provide a recording method and recording apparatus that are further improved from the above technical viewpoint.

To describe the present invention more specifically, the principle is that the ink transfer body is used as one electrode, and the surface of the ink transfer body is A recording method characterized in that the amount of liquid ink adhered to is controlled by a signal voltage, and the adhered ink is transferred and adhered to the recording surface, thereby recording and reproducing an ink image corresponding to the signal voltage on the recording surface. It is in.

Further, based on the above-mentioned method principle, an ink transfer body that transfers liquid ink attached to a surface to a recording surface;
The ink transfer body has a dielectric material that is at least partially in contact with the surface of the transfer body and electro-osmote liquid ink according to an applied voltage, and the ink transfer body has a transfer electrode made of the dielectric body exposed on the surface portion. and a recording electrode for applying a voltage to the dielectric material is installed at a distance from the surface of the ink transfer body, means for applying a signal voltage between the recording electrode and the transfer voltage, and means for applying a signal voltage to the signal voltage. Then,
electroosmoticing liquid ink through the dielectric;
The amount of liquid ink attached to the surface of the ink transfer body is
A recording device comprising means for controlling using the signal voltage, and means for transferring the controlled adhered ink onto a recording surface and recording and reproducing an ink image corresponding to the signal voltage on the recording surface. It is in.

Here, liquid ink refers to a colored body in which dyes and pigments are dissolved or suspended in a liquid together with necessary surfactants, charge control agents, binder materials, etc.
It is defined as a fluid coloring material, regardless of whether it is in the form of a solution or a colloid.

In addition, electroosmosis refers to the generation of an electric double layer at the interface when a solid dielectric and a liquid material are brought into contact with each other.
It is a general term for electrokinetic phenomena in which a liquid material moves relative to a solid in response to an applied voltage.The movement of the liquid material occurs on the surface of a solid dielectric when it is non-porous, or on the surface of a porous material. Time refers to either its surface or its interior, or both.

Hereinafter, aspects of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Examples.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a longitudinal cross-sectional structure and a power feeding system showing an embodiment of the recording method and apparatus according to the present invention.

In the figure, 100 is a recording head, 200 is liquid ink, 300 is an ink transfer member, 400 is an ink container, 500 is a pressure roller, 600 is a recording sheet such as paper on which ink is to be recorded, and 700 is a signal voltage source.

The recording head 100 is in contact with one end 11 or the surface of the ink transfer body 300, and is coated with a dielectric body 10 that electro-penetrates the liquid ink 200, and is insulated from the ink transfer body 300 through the thickness of the dielectric body 10. recording electrode 20 and liquid ink 2 on it.
The sponge body 30 is impregnated with ink 200 and one end 11 is supplied with ink 200. A portion of these is immersed in the liquid ink 200 in the ink container 400, and the liquid ink 200 is supplied to the end portion 11 of the dielectric body 10 by capillary action of the sponge body 30. The ink transfer body 300 is made of a metal column or cylinder, forms a pair with the recording electrode 20, and also serves as a transfer electrode, which is the other electrode for applying a voltage to the liquid ink 200 at the end portion 11.

The recording electrode 20 and the ink transfer body 300 are connected to a signal voltage source 700, and an on voltage V _B and an off voltage V' _B are applied as signal voltages.

The materials of the dielectric 10 and the liquid ink 200 are determined in consideration of the electroosmotic relationship with the ink 200.

For example, when a borosilicate glass plate or a cellulose acetate film is used as the dielectric 10, the liquid ink 200 that exhibits good electroosmotic properties toward the negative electrode of the dielectric is made of, for example, γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane. In addition to the binder, charge control agent, surface active agent, etc. necessary for liquid materials, the black ink contains Macrolex Blue FR (manufactured by Bayer) and Oil Red XO as colorants.
(manufactured by Kanto Kagaku Co., Ltd.), Macrolex Blue PR (manufactured by Bayer Co., Ltd.) for blue ink, Fat Yellow 3G (manufactured by Bayer Co., Ltd.) for yellow ink, and Oil Red 5303 (manufactured by Arimoto Kagaku Co., Ltd.) for red ink. The oil-soluble ink 200 can be formed by mixing about 1 to 4% by weight of dyes and pigments such as those manufactured by Ink Co., Ltd.).

The liquid ink 200 can be a water-based ink, or an oil-soluble ink is more useful since it is susceptible to electrolysis.

Note that, contrary to the above example, the liquid ink 200 that electroosmoses in the direction of the positive electrode is made of, instead of the liquid material in the above example,
For example, an organic solvent such as phenyltriethoxysilane or tetrahexylsilicate may be used.

In order to make good contact with the ink transfer body 300, the dielectric 10 is preferably a flexible material such as a cellulose acetate plate or a foil. In addition, in order to adhere the liquid ink 200 to the surface of the ink transfer body 300 with high accuracy, it is necessary to attach the contact end 1 as shown in the figure.
1 has a diagonal border, and the tip is attached to the ink transfer body 3
It is preferable to contact the surface of 00. As illustrated in the figure, the ink transfer roller 300 is set at an acute angle with respect to the contact surface of the end portion 11, and the ink transfer roller 300 is moved, that is, rotated, in a direction opposite to this acute angle. This is a preferable configuration for highly accurate ink transfer.

As the sponge body 30, the above liquid ink 2 is used.
Polyurethane foam is suitable for 00.

The recording electrode 20 is formed by depositing a metal oxide film such as tin oxide, indium oxide or a solid solution thereof, a metal film such as copper, or a conductive paint such as graphite.

The pressure roller 500 is a cylinder made of metal or the like, and the surface of the cylinder is coated with rubber or the like to adjust the pressure of the recording sheet 600 against the ink transfer body 300 .

Hereinafter, the recording method and the operation of the apparatus will be described using an example in which a material that electroosmoses in the direction of the negative electrode is used as the liquid ink 200.

In the figure, an on-voltage V _B , which is a negative high voltage signal, is applied from a signal voltage source 700 to an ink transfer body 300 forming a transfer electrode for the recording electrode 20 . Since the liquid ink 200 is electroosmotic in the direction of the negative electrode, it moves on the surface of the end 11 of the dielectric 10 as illustrated by the arrow in the figure, and is finally supplied to the ink transfer body surface 301, causing ink adhesion 201. . Since the amount of this adhesion depends on the amount of electroosmosis of the liquid ink 200, it becomes larger as the amplitude of the on-voltage V _B and its pulse width become larger.

On the other hand, the polarity is opposite to V _B from the signal voltage source 700,
Maximum amplitude of V _B , off-voltage smaller than pulse width
When V′ _B is applied, by applying this V′ _B ,
Since the recording electrode 20 forms a negative electrode with respect to the ink transfer body 300, the liquid ink 200 on the surface of the end portion 11 electropenetrates in the opposite direction to the arrow in the figure, that is, toward the recording electrode 20 side, and forms a negative electrode on the ink transfer body 300. surface 301
Ink adhesion to the surface is quickly stopped or prevented.

Stopping of electroosmosis occurs even when V' _B = 0, but in this case, the inertia at the time of V _B application and the presence of liquid ink 200 on the surface of the end portion 11 cause a tail, and the resolution of the ink image decreases. However, there is an advantage that this can be prevented by applying _V'B of an appropriate opposite polarity as described above.

The on-voltage V _B is modulated in amplitude and pulse width depending on the density to be recorded, but by selecting the off-voltage to an appropriately small constant value as described above, the liquid ink 200 is not excessively applied to the recording electrode 20 side. This has the advantage of preventing inconveniences such as slowing down the rise of electroosmosis due to the application of the on-voltage _VB .

In this way, the rotary drive power source 800 is controlled in synchronization with the on voltage V _B and the off voltage V' _B which are signal voltages, and the motor attached to the rotating shaft of the ink transfer body 300 is driven to drive the ink transfer body 300 . 30
0 at a constant speed or in a pulsed manner, the amount of ink adhesion on the ink transfer body surface 301 is controlled, and in the direction of rotation, ink adhesion 201 occurs for the on voltage V _B , and for the off voltage V' _B Ink adhesion 201 does not occur on the surface.

Therefore, the ink adhesion 201 is transferred to the surface of the recording sheet 600 such as paper that passes between the pressure roller 500 and the ink transfer body 300 to generate transfer ink 202, which responds to the signal voltage from the signal voltage source 700. Ink images can be recorded and reproduced.

The ink transfer body 300 is closely related to the quality of recorded images. The material is the liquid ink used2
Any material can be suitably constructed and used, such as one that is well wetted by 00, and one that is repellent.

Since the liquid ink 200 of this example is an oil-based ink, copper and brass are examples of metals that are well wetted by this, that is, lipophilic metals. On the other hand, materials that do not get wet or are repellent, i.e. oil repellent (hydrophilic)
Examples of metals include chromium, nickel, and zinc.

In addition, oil- and water-repellent materials include insulating spill-prevention coatings made by dissolving fluorine-based polymers in fluorine-based solvents (for example, 3M's Florado FC-721, etc.)
etc.

When a lipophilic metal is used as the ink transfer body 300, the ink adhesion 201 may smear or flow out. This can be prevented by plating the surface of the transfer body with an oil-repellent metal, by plating the surface of the transfer member with an oil-repellent metal in the form of a mesh of about 100 to 400 lines per inch, or by applying an oil-repellent coating.

The lipophilic metal between the meshes is exposed in dots to form dotted ink storage areas, and since ink adhesion occurs only in these areas, ink smearing and ink outflow can be prevented. The density of these halftone dots determines the resolution of the recorded image. If the ink transfer body 300 is made of an oil-repellent metal, the above-mentioned halftone dots are unnecessary and it is convenient, but consideration must be given to ensure that the ink adhesion is adequate so as not to repel ink excessively. Generally speaking, the above method for imparting oil repellency in a net-like manner to lipophilic metals is based on the ink transfer material 3.
This is an excellent method for configuring 00.

A plurality of recording electrodes 200 are arranged insulated from each other in the normal direction of the drawing, and each of these recording electrodes 200
and a signal voltage source 70 selectively to the ink transfer member 300.
Apply and scan signal voltages such as 0 to V _B and V' _B ,
Two-dimensional image recording is possible. The arrangement pitch of the recording electrodes 20 determines the resolution of the recorded image. Usually, the arrangement density of the recording electrodes 20 is, for example, 4 per mm.
~8 pieces are selected. As described above, when forming halftone dots on the ink transfer body 300, the recording electrode 20
Each halftone dot, that is, one dot-shaped ink storage area,
Furthermore, if the pitch of the recording electrodes 20 is made equal to the pitch of the halftone dots or is selected to be an integral multiple of the pitch of the halftone dots so that a plurality of recording electrodes 20 are located correspondingly, the pitch of the ink transfer body 301 between the adjacent recording electrodes 20 is Ink bleeding and interference can be prevented.

The electroosmotic degree u of the liquid ink 200 is
0 and the surface 30 of the ink transfer body 300 serving as the transfer electrode
If the effective distance L to one contact point (in this example, the length of the end 11) is expressed in cm, the applied voltage is expressed in volts (V), and the time is expressed in seconds (sec), it is usually 10 ^-6 to ^{10 -4} cm. ² /
It is possible to obtain a value on the order of V·sec.

The maximum applied voltage is 2V/μm (i.e. 2×
10 ⁴ V/cm) can be added, so liquid ink 2
If you set it to 00 and use a high-sensitivity device, 2
It can be electroosmotic about cm. Penetration of approximately 10 μm is required to transfer one dot of ink, but high-speed recording of approximately 10 ³ dots per second, or approximately 10 ³ lines in line sequential scanning, is possible. Moreover, since L is usually selected to be about 20 to 150 μm, the maximum amplitude of the on-voltage V _B is 40 μm.
~300V, which is much lower voltage than the Coulomb force method, and the ink transfer body 300V
Since the electrode itself also serves as an electrode for voltage application, there is little ink diffusion and high quality ink recording is possible.
Furthermore, since the ink transfer body 300 is in contact with the recording sheet 600, it has the advantage of operating more stably than the direct transfer method in which the recording sheet is in direct contact with the recording head.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing another substantial vertical cross-sectional structure and power supply system of the recording method and apparatus according to the present invention.

This embodiment is a case where ink adhering to the surface of an ink transfer body is controlled to be sucked.

The ink transfer body 300 is composed of a cylinder or a cylindrical rotating body, and a coating 320 is formed by plating an oil-repellent metal such as chromium or zinc on a cylinder or cylindrical base 310 made of an oleophilic metal such as copper or brass. Then, halftone dot etching is performed on this using a cross screen, a back stain screen, etc. used in normal gravure plate making to form dot-like ink storage portions 330 that dig into the base 310.

The number of screen meshes, that is, the number of lines (pieces) per unit inch of the dotted ink storage portion 330 is, for example, 100 to 400, and the depth and diameter of the holes are approximately uniform, for example, the depth is 5 to 20 μm, and the diameter is approximately uniform. The ratio of the area occupied by the ink transfer member to the surface of the ink transfer member is approximately 1 to 3 with respect to the remaining unetched coating.

In this way, the ink transfer body 300 is partially immersed in the ink container 400 containing the oil-based liquid ink 200 that electro-osmoses toward the negative electrode as described above. The dielectric material 10 is preferably a porous material having fine pores or gaps that penetrate substantially in the thickness direction, such as sintered glass microspheres, a filter made of glass fiber, or a microporous membrane filter made of plastic material. .

In particular, for the liquid ink described with reference to FIG.
20~150μm, average pore size 0.1~8μm, porosity 60
A microporous membrane filter of about 80% is suitable, has flexibility, and is suitable for the dielectric material 1 of this example.
Used as 0.

The tip is thin and pointed, and the surface 3 of the ink transfer body 300
This flexible porous dielectric 10 is adhered to an insulating support 40 that contacts the doctor blade 01 and forms a doctor blade. The end 12 of the dielectric 10 is somewhat longer than the support 40, and its surface on the support 40 side is curved and in contact with the surface 301. Support 4
A thin layer of graphite conductive paint is applied to the surface opposite to zero, and a recording electrode 20 transparent to liquid ink 200 is adhered thereto. Note that the recording electrode 20 has an end portion 12
Although it is coated up to the edge of the ink, there is a small distance to the edge (for example, about the spacing between dotted ink storage portions 330).
The recording electrode 20 is deposited on the surface 30 so as to leave a
Direct contact with the surface 301 can be prevented, and the surface of the support 40 on the side where the dielectric 10 is coated can be placed at a distance (for example, dotted ink storage) from the point of contact with the surface 301. It is also possible to install the recording electrodes 20 while leaving a space approximately equal to the arrangement interval of the portions 330. In any case, from the recording electrode 20 to the end 12
The path to the dotted ink storage portion 330 that comes in contact with the liquid ink 200 becomes the path for electroosmosis of the liquid ink 200.

The other end of the recording head 100 is an ink container 400.
It is immersed in liquid ink 200 inside.

Substrate 3 forming recording electrode 20 and transfer electrode
10 are connected to a signal voltage source 700, respectively.

As in FIG. 1, the operation will be described in the case where liquid ink 200 that electroosmoses in the direction of the negative electrode is used. When the ink transfer body 300 rotates as shown by the arrow in the figure in synchronization with the on-voltage V _B and the off-voltage V' _B ,
Liquid ink 200 adheres to dotted ink storage portions 330 and coating 320 that are immersed in liquid ink 200 . Of these, the ink 20 on the surface of the coating 320
The ink 200 is scraped off by the support 40 which also serves as a doctor blade, and the ink 200 is deposited and stored only in the dotted ink storage portion 330. That is,
The amount of ink adhering to the surface 301 is made uniform. In this state, a negative on-voltage is applied to the base 310.
When _VB is applied to the recording electrode 20, the ink 200 in the dotted ink storage portion 330 is applied to the tip edge surface of the end 12 of the dielectric 10 that contacts the surface 301, and further to In the thickness direction of the front part, as shown by the arrow 210 in the figure, it is attracted by electroosmosis. The absorbed excess ink is collected again into the ink container 400 as indicated by the arrow 220 in the figure due to the capillary action of the dielectric 10. Therefore, the inside of this ink storage section 330 becomes empty according to _VB , and therefore, no ink transfer body 202 is formed on the recording sheet 600.

On the other hand, when an off-voltage _V'B of a constant amplitude and pulse width is applied with the opposite polarity to _VB , the above-mentioned ink suction stops instantaneously, and there is a tendency for electroosmosis to occur in the opposite direction to the arrow 210 in the figure. However, if the amplitude and pulse width are appropriately selected to be small, electroosmosis can be made extremely small, and liquid ink 2 can be applied to the surface 301.
It is possible to prevent overflow of 00.

Further, since the coating 320 has oil repellency, it repels the liquid ink impregnated into the porous dielectric 10 from adhering to the coating 320. The adhering ink 201 firmly adhered to the lipophilic ink accommodating portion 330 is transferred onto the recording sheet 600 as the transfer body 300 rotates, producing ink transfer 202, which changes in density according to the signal voltage from the power source 700. Ink images can be recorded and reproduced.
In this case, if the electroosmotic polarity of the insulating support 40 with respect to the liquid ink 200 is opposite to that of the porous dielectric 10, the liquid ink 200 will be positive at the interface between the dielectric 10 and the support 40. It moves in the direction of the electrode, inhibits the above-mentioned operation, and makes the operation unstable. The above-mentioned problems can be solved by using, for example, a borosilicate glass or cellulose acetate plate as the support 40, which electro-osmoses the liquid ink 200 in the direction of the negative electrode in the same way as the porous dielectric 10.

In this embodiment, suction control of the ink 201 adhering to the dotted ink storage portions 330 that are independent of each other is performed.
Therefore, when a signal voltage is applied, the end portion 12, especially the leading edge portion, is accurately aligned with the dotted ink storage portion 330.
It needs to be positioned at the top. Therefore, considering the arrangement pitch of the dotted ink storage portions 330, V _B ,
_Malfunctions can be prevented by controlling the rotation of the drive motor in a pulsed manner and the rotation of the ink transfer body 300 one pitch at a time in the ink storage section 330 using the rotation control power supply 800 in synchronization with a signal voltage such as V'B. .

Note that the covering 320 in the portion other than the dotted ink accommodating portion 330 may be formed by applying an oil-repellent insulating film instead of being made of metal. An example of this is the application of an oil repellent such as the above-mentioned fluorine-based polymer, or an insulating film such as cellulose acetate may be applied in advance, and the above-mentioned oil repellent may be applied thereon.

Particularly in the latter case, the transfer body surface 301 is electrically insulated from the recording head 100, leaving the dotted ink storage portions 330, so that the electric lines of force are concentrated in the dotted ink storage portions 330. This has the advantage of preventing malfunctions and effectively controlling the suction of the adhered ink 201.

A plurality of recording electrodes 20 can be arranged in consideration of the arrangement density of the dotted ink accommodating portions 330 as in the embodiment shown in FIG.

Note that in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the recording head 1
00 as it is, lift the ink transfer body 300 so that it does not come into contact with the liquid ink 200 in the ink container 400, and reverse the polarity of the on voltage V _B and off voltage V' _B. As shown in FIG. ink 2
10 supply controls can be performed. Conversely, if the recording head 100 of FIG. 1 is introduced into FIG.
0 has the advantage of being able to perform suction control as a recording head that also serves as a doctor blade.

Further, the end portion 12 of the dielectric body 10 is made slightly longer than the support body 40, and preferably, the length is equal to the arrangement interval of the dotted ink storage portions 330, but this length is sufficient for effective ink suction or supply. Since the control is dominant at the leading edge of the end portion 12, it can be made longer if necessary.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the cross-sectional structure and power supply system of still another embodiment of the recording apparatus according to the present invention, and illustrates the case where a plurality of recording electrodes are arranged.

A microporous membrane filter made of cellulose acetate or the like is used as the dielectric 10, and liquid ink 200 is supplied from the outside and impregnated therein (not shown). The flexible dielectric 10 has an edge 41'' placed on an insulating support 41 that is in contact with the surface 301 of the ink transfer body 300, and an edge 13 that protrudes from the support plate 41 and is curved. Contact surface 301.

The support plate 41 is made of, for example, borosilicate glass or cellulose acetate plate so that the liquid ink 200 is electroosmotic in the same voltage polarity direction as the dielectric 10.

A plurality of recording electrodes 20 are each insulated and arranged on a support plate 41, and compared to the case where the recording electrodes 20 are arranged on the surface of a porous dielectric material 10, there is no expansion or contraction, so the electrodes 20 can be arranged with much higher precision. configured. Recording electrode 20
The dotted ink accommodating portions 330 are arranged with a distance between them and the respective edge portions 41″ to prevent contact with the surface 301, and are in contact with the surface 301 via the end portions 13. A path for electroosmosis of the liquid ink 200 is formed.

The ink transfer body 300 has a base 310 made of an oleophilic metal and a coating 320 of an oil-repellent metal or an insulating material.
Dotted ink storage portions 330 are deposited and reach the base 310, and are regularly provided corresponding to each of the recording electrodes 20.

As the liquid ink 200, as described above, an ink which electroosmoses in the direction of the negative electrode is used, and the on voltage V _B and off voltage V' _B are applied line sequentially as shown in the figure.
When the ink transfer body 300 is rotated in synchronization with this, the dotted ink storage portion 330 is rotated in accordance with the signal voltage.
The supply of the ink 201 deposited inside the recording sheet 600 is controlled by electroosmosis through the end portion 13, and an ink image can be recorded and reproduced on the recording sheet 600.

As shown in FIG. 2, by immersing the ink transfer body 300 and the recording head 100 in liquid ink in the ink container and reversing the polarities of V _B and V' _B , the adhering ink 201 can be controlled to be sucked and reduced.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a perspective partial cross-sectional structure and a power feeding system of another embodiment of the recording apparatus according to the present invention, and this embodiment illustrates a case where a plurality of transfer electrodes are provided.

The ink transfer body 300 is constructed by alternately laminating and adhering transfer electrodes 311 made of oleophilic metal discs such as brass, with disc-shaped insulators 340 such as polyester films in between.

On the ink transfer body surface 301, the insulator 34
0 and the exposed surface of the transfer electrode 311 are coated with a high resistance or insulating oil repellent 350 in the form of thin strips at regular intervals.
Form 30 regularly.

The aforementioned recording head 100 having the recording electrode 20 is placed in contact with the ink transfer body surface 301 . On the exposed surface of each transfer electrode 311 on the ink transfer body surface 301 on the opposite side with the pressure roller 500 interposed therebetween, there is a brush electrode 7 in contact with the exposed surface of each transfer electrode 311.
10 is provided, and a signal voltage source 7 is provided together with the recording electrode 20.
00, and a signal voltage consisting of an on-voltage V _B and an off-voltage V' _B is selectively applied line-sequentially.

When the liquid ink 200 electroosmoses toward the negative electrode, the transfer electrode 311 to which the on-voltage V _B is applied
Liquid ink 200 is stored in the dotted ink storage portion 330 of
is supplied and deposited, and no deposition occurs in the area where the off-voltage _V'B is applied.

Therefore, by rotating the ink transfer body 300 in synchronization with the signal voltage, the recording sheet 60
A transfer ink 202 is generated on the 0, and a two-dimensional ink image can be recorded and reproduced.

In order to control the suction and decrease of the liquid ink 200, as in FIG.
The same thing can be done by choosing opposite polarities of V _B and V′ _B.

This embodiment is different from the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3,
Since the potential of the transfer electrode 311 itself, which forms the ink transfer body 300 and causes ink adhesion, changes depending on the signal voltage, there is an advantage that the amount of ink adhesion can be controlled with high fidelity with respect to the signal voltage.
Note that, similarly to FIG. 3, a plurality of recording electrodes 20 are arranged to correspond to the transfer electrodes 311, and a signal voltage is applied to each of them, so that the potentials of the recording electrodes 20 are mutually changed at the same time as the transfer electrodes 311. If they are changed independently, there is an advantage that more accurate ink transfer recording can be performed.

When each of the insulators 340 is made of an oil-repellent material,
Application of the oil repellent 350 to the exposed surface can be omitted.

Further, the insulator 340 and the transfer electrode 311 are each formed into a cylindrical ink transfer body 300 using donut-shaped disks, and the transfer electrode 311 is inserted from the inside of the cylinder.
Power can also be supplied by bringing brush electrodes into contact with each of the brush electrodes 11.

Furthermore, a thin film transfer electrode 311 is deposited and created on the surface of a cylindrical or cylindrical insulator using an etching technique, and an oil repellent 350 is applied to form a dotted ink storage portion 330. can be made.

In addition, in FIG. 4, the dotted ink storage portion 33
0 is made by chemically etching the exposed surface of the transfer electrode 311 to have an approximately equal diameter (preferably approximately equal to or slightly smaller than the width of the transfer electrode 311);
Forming depressions of approximately equal depth has the advantage of improving ink storage capacity.

Above, we have mainly explained the case where liquid ink electroosmoses toward the negative electrode toward the dielectric, but when electroosmosis occurs toward the positive electrode, the same operation can be performed by reversing the polarity of the signal voltage. Needless to say.

Further, in this description, a rotating body has been described as the ink transfer body, but even if it is a flat plate-shaped body, the same effect can be achieved by moving the body in synchronization with the signal voltage with respect to the recording head.

As described above, according to the present invention, the following excellent effects can be achieved.

(1) Since there is no contact between the ink reservoir and the image receptor,
There is no background smearing, and areas other than the recording area do not get wet.

(2) Since electroosmosis is used, the ink itself can be controlled rather than the charged particles contained in the ink, so by applying a signal voltage,
The amount of ink transferred can be made variable.

(3) Electroosmosis is an interfacial phenomenon between ink and dielectric, and there is no need to charge the ink.

(4) Since the ink itself moves, unlike charged particles, there is no resistance associated with movement within the liquid, and therefore the recording speed is fast.

(5) Ink consumption is uniform, and only coloring material is not consumed.

(6) The recording electrode can be arranged on a plate or film-like dielectric material, and there is no need to arrange a highly insulating material all around the recording electrode, making it easy to manufacture the recording device. Become.

(7) Ink can be easily transferred to the image receptor by pressing the ink transfer body against the recording surface of image-receiving paper, so there is no need to generate a high voltage to soak the ink into the paper.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the structure and power supply system of an embodiment of the recording method and recording apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the recording method and recording apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a perspective partial cross-sectional structure and power feeding method of still another embodiment of the recording device according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the recording device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a perspective partial cross-sectional structure and a power feeding system of an example. 10... dielectric material, 20... recording electrode, 30...
sponge body, 40... support body, 41... support plate,
100...recording head, 200...liquid ink,
201... Ink adhesion, 202... Transfer ink,
300... Ink transfer body, 330... Dotted ink storage section, 400... Ink container, 500... Pressure roller, 600... Recording sheet, 700... Signal voltage source, 800... Rotation control power source, 810... …
Motor, V _B , V′ _B ……Signal voltage.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Using the ink transfer body as at least one electrode, the amount of the liquid ink adhered to the surface of the ink transfer body can be determined by using electroosmosis of the liquid ink into the dielectric body according to the applied signal voltage. It is controlled by a signal voltage applied between one electrode and the other electrode, and by transferring and adhering this adhered ink to the recording surface, an ink image corresponding to the signal voltage is recorded and reproduced on the recording surface. recording method. 2. In claim 1, the ink transfer body is manufactured by supplying and adhering liquid ink to the surface of the ink transfer body using electroosmosis of the liquid ink through a dielectric material corresponding to a signal voltage. A recording method characterized in that the amount of liquid ink deposited on a surface is controlled to increase in response to a signal voltage. 3. In claim 1, after liquid ink is applied almost uniformly on the surface of the ink transfer body in advance, this liquid ink is applied using electroosmosis of the liquid ink through a dielectric material corresponding to a signal voltage. A recording method characterized in that the amount of liquid ink transferred to the surface of an ink transfer member is controlled to decrease in response to a signal voltage by suctioning the liquid ink. 4. An ink transfer body that transfers liquid ink adhering to the surface to a recording surface, and a dielectric body that is at least partially in contact with the surface of the ink transfer body and that electro-osmoses the liquid ink in response to an applied voltage. , the ink transfer body has a transfer electrode made of a conductor on a surface portion, a recording electrode is provided apart from the transfer electrode, and means for applying a signal voltage between the recording electrode and the transfer electrode; ,
Means for electroosmosis of liquid ink through the dielectric material by the signal voltage and controlling the amount of liquid ink adhering to the surface of the ink transfer body by the signal voltage; A recording apparatus comprising means for transferring an ink image onto a recording surface and recording and reproducing an ink image corresponding to the signal voltage on the recording surface. 5. In claim 4, either one or both of the recording electrode and the transfer electrode comprises a plurality of electrodes insulated from each other, and a selected electrode is provided between each recording electrode and the transfer electrode. 1. A recording apparatus, comprising means for selectively applying a signal voltage and selectively controlling the amount of liquid ink deposited on the surface of the ink transfer member in response to the signal voltage. 6. In claim 4, there is provided a means for supplying liquid ink to a side of the dielectric where recording electrodes are installed, and the signal voltage causes the liquid ink to electroosmote through the dielectric, A recording apparatus characterized by having an on-voltage signal that supplies and causes ink to adhere to the surface of an ink transfer body, and an off-voltage signal that stops or prevents this electroosmosis. 7. In claim 4, the invention further comprises means for applying the liquid ink to the surface of the ink transfer body and making the applied amount uniform, and the signal voltage is configured to apply the uniform applied liquid ink to the surface of the ink transfer body. A recording device characterized by having an on-voltage signal that causes electroosmosis through a dielectric material and controls attraction from the surface of the ink transfer body to the recording electrode side, and an off-voltage signal that stops or prevents this electroosmosis. . 8. In claim 6 or 7, the on-voltage signal and the off-voltage signal have opposite polarities, and the amplitude or pulse width of the off-voltage signal is a constant value, and this value is selected to be small compared to the maximum value of the amplitude or pulse width of the on-voltage signal. 9. In claim 4, the ink transfer body is a cylindrical or cylindrical rotating body made of an electrically conductive material, and the dielectric body is installed so as to be partially in contact with the surface of the rotating body, and the recording medium is The electrodes are composed of a plurality of electrodes that are insulated from each other, and a signal voltage is selectively scanned and applied between each of these recording electrodes and the rotating body, and the rotating body is rotated in synchronization with the scanning signal voltage. A recording apparatus characterized in that the amount of liquid ink adhered to the surface of the rotating body is two-dimensionally controlled by the scanning signal voltage. 10 In claim 4, the ink transfer body includes a cylindrical or cylindrical conductive material that is wetted by the liquid ink, and a plurality of arrays on the surface of which the conductive material is exposed in a limited manner. A rotating body consisting of an insulating or conductive adherend that repels the liquid ink and is adhered in a net shape to form a dotted ink storage part, and a part of the body is in contact with the surface of the rotating body. The dielectric material is installed in such a manner that the recording electrode is made up of a plurality of mutually insulated electrodes, and a signal voltage is selectively applied between each of these recording electrodes and the rotating body in a scanning manner. A recording apparatus characterized in that the rotary body is rotated in synchronization with a signal voltage, and the amount of liquid ink adhered to each of the dotted ink storage portions of the rotary body is controlled. 11. According to claim 10, the arranged dot-like ink accommodating portion is provided with dot-like recessed portions having substantially equal apertures and depths, which are etched into the surface of the columnar or cylindrical conductive material. A recording device characterized by: 12. The recording device according to claim 10, wherein the arrangement interval of the plurality of recording electrodes is selected to be equal to or an integral multiple of the arrangement interval of the arranged dotted ink storage parts. . 13. In claim 4, the ink transfer body is a cylindrical rotating body, and the surface of the rotating body is coated with conductive materials alternately insulated with insulators in the length direction of the rotating body. A plurality of transfer electrodes consisting of a A recording apparatus characterized in that the amount of liquid ink adhering to the surface of the rotating body is two-dimensionally controlled by the scanning signal voltage. 14. The recording device according to claim 13, wherein the rotating body is constructed by alternately adhering thin conductors and insulators in the shape of a disc or a doughnut. 15 In claim 13, the surface of the transfer electrode of the rotary body is configured to repel wetting of the liquid ink at constant intervals in the circumferential direction, and the surface of the insulator is also A recording device characterized in that it is configured to repel wetting of the liquid ink. 16. In claim 13, the transfer electrode surface of the rotating body includes a plurality of ink concave portions having substantially the same diameter and depth at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. A recording device characterized by having a storage section installed therein. 17 In claim 4, the dielectric is a porous or non-porous flexible dielectric, one surface on one end side of the dielectric is in contact with the ink transfer body, and the recording medium is An electrode is attached to the other surface of the flexible dielectric, and the electroosmosis of the liquid ink is utilized in the edge surface of the one end of the flexible dielectric as well as in the thickness direction. recording device. 18. In claim 17, the flexible dielectric is a porous dielectric having holes or gaps that substantially penetrate through the thickness, and the recording electrode is configured to be permeable to the liquid ink. A recording device characterized by: 19 In claim 17, the surface opposite to the surface to which the recording electrode is attached is supported by an insulating support, leaving a portion that contacts the ink transfer body, and this support is A recording device characterized in that the liquid ink is electroosmotic in the same voltage polarity direction as the flexible dielectric material. 20 In claim 4, the dielectric is a porous body having holes or gaps substantially penetrating in the thickness direction, and the porous body is an insulating body with the recording electrode attached to the surface thereof. one end side of the porous body is brought into contact with the surface of the ink transfer body, and the porous body and the insulating support both apply the liquid ink in the same voltage polarity direction. A recording device characterized in that it is in an electroosmotic relationship. 21. In claim 4, the dielectric is arranged at an acute angle with respect to a contact surface with the ink transfer body, and is synchronized with a signal voltage applied between the recording electrode and the transfer electrode. A recording apparatus further comprising means for moving the ink transfer body in a direction opposite to the acute angle side. 22 In claim 9 or 13, a pressure roller is provided corresponding to the rotating body forming the ink transfer body, a recording sheet is disposed between the rotating body and the pressure roller, and the two-dimensional 1. A recording apparatus, further comprising a means for transferring and depositing liquid ink with a controlled amount of deposition from the surface of the rotating body to the surface of the recording sheet.