JPH08197761A - Recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enhance recording efficiency without generating the supply insufficiency of a recording material such as a dye or the like by a recording apparatus wherein the area of the liquid surface coming into contact with the atmosphere of the liquid recording material housed in a liquid recording material housing part is made larger than the total area of openings. CONSTITUTION: A liquefied dye tank 45 occupies the almost entire region of the upper part of a printing head 10 and opening parts 45a are provided to the entire region excepting the part of a dye tank 41 of the upper part of the liquefied dye tank 45 and covered with a lid 46. The material of the lid 46 does not permit a liquid to pass and has only air permeability. Therefore, the lid 46 faces to the atmosphere and atmospheric pressure is applied to the liquid surface 22a of the liquefied dye in the liquefied dye tank 45 by the air permeability of the lid. Since the liquefied dye tank 45 is provided between a liquefied dye introducing part 64 and the dye tank 41 in front thereof, the liquefied dye supply part of an evaporation part 17 is always filled with the liquefied dye 22 up to the pointed end part of a group of small pillar elements 80 by the action of atmospheric pressure. The liquefied dye 22 corresponding to consumption is sufficiently supplied because the area of the liquid surface 22a in the tank 45 is extremely large and the dye 22 receives atmospheric pressure over a wide area.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in image recording of video cameras, televisions, computer graphics and the like, there is an increasing need for colorization of hard copy as well as recording of mono color. In response to this, various types of printers have been developed and deployed in various fields.

Among these recording methods, an ink sheet coated with an ink layer in which a high-concentration transfer dye is dispersed in a suitable binder resin, and a dyeing resin that receives the transferred dye are coated. The heat-sensitive recording head located on the ink sheet applies heat according to the image information, and the heat-sensitive recording head located on the ink sheet applies heat according to the image information. There is a method of thermal transfer.

The so-called thermal transfer system, which obtains a full-color image by repeating the above-mentioned operation for each of the image signals decomposed into yellow, magenta, and cyan, which are the three primary colors of subtractive color mixture, is compact and easy to maintain. Therefore, it is attracting attention as an excellent technology that has an immediacy and obtains a high-quality image comparable to a silver salt color photograph.

FIG. 17 is a schematic front view of a main part of such a thermal transfer type printer. According to this printer, a thermal recording head (hereinafter referred to as a thermal head) 1 and a platen roller 3 face each other, and an ink sheet 12 having an ink layer 12a provided on a base film 12b between them,
The recording paper (transferred material) 150 having the dyeing resin layer (dye receiving layer) 150a provided on the paper 150b is sandwiched and pressed against the thermal head 1 by the platen roller 3.

The ink (transfer dye) in the ink layer 12a selectively heated by the thermal head 1 is
The transfer is carried out in a dot shape on the dyeing resin layer 20a of the transfer target 20, and thermal transfer recording is performed. In such thermal transfer recording, generally, a line system in which a longitudinal thermal head is fixedly arranged so as to be orthogonal to the recording paper traveling direction, or a serial head in which the thermal head reciprocates in a direction orthogonal to the recording paper traveling direction is used. The method is adopted.

By the way, the applicant of the present invention has been able to reduce the waste and the transfer energy, and to make the printer small and lightweight while taking advantage of the above-mentioned thermal transfer recording system.
A non-contact type dye vaporization type laser beam printer (LBP) as shown in 18 has already been proposed.

According to this recording method, a heat-fusible dye layer
A recording head (printing paper) 50 having a recording head (for example, a serial type printer head) 140 having 22 in the vaporizing section 17 and a receiving layer 50a for receiving the vaporized (or sublimated) dye 32.
A minute gap 17a in the range of 1 μm to 1 mm is provided between and.

Then, by irradiating the laser beam L, the liquefied dye stored in the dye storing portion 37 of the vaporizing portion 17 of the recording head 40.
22 is selectively heated to near its boiling point to be vaporized, the vaporized dye 32 is caused to fly in the void 17a, and transferred from the vaporization hole 23 onto the photographic printing paper 50 which is a recording medium to obtain continuous gradation. Get the image you have. This operation is the three primary colors of subtractive color, yellow,
Full colorization can be achieved by repeating each of the image signals decomposed into magenta and cyan.

In this recording method, the photographic printing paper 50 is opposed to the recording head 140, for example, on the upper side, and the vaporizing unit 17 is used.
It is preferable to irradiate the laser light L emitted from the laser 18 and condensed by the lens 19 to the vicinity of the upper surface of the above so as to fly or move the vaporized dye 32 upward.

In this case, the transfer dye is emptied by the heating means.
In order to move 17a, in addition to the vaporization phenomenon, it is often seen when irradiated with a high-power laser, and the bonds of dye molecules are efficiently cut and the energy is used to etch at a very high rate. Phenomena and the phenomenon that gas energy generated by boiling or explosion is used to etch at a very high rate can also be used (a transfer mechanism other than such a vaporization mechanism is referred to as ablation: hereinafter the same).

Further, a head base having a laser beam transmitting property.
A dye reservoir 15 is provided in 14, and a liquefied dye 22 is accommodated between the dye reservoir 15 and a lid 13 fixed on the head base 14, and a dye passage 27 is provided from here.
The liquefied dye 22 is supplied to the vaporizing section 17 via the. In this case, in order to improve the supply efficiency and the vaporization efficiency of the dye to the vaporization unit 17, the dye escape due to the decrease in the surface tension of the dye caused by heat generation is prevented, and the continuous supply and retention of the dye by utilizing the capillary phenomenon. In order to do so, a bead aggregate 20 composed of small beads 21 is provided in the vaporization section 17.

A protective plate (not shown) is fixed on the lid 13 in order to hold the gap 17a and guide the photographic printing paper 50 moving in the X direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface). A heater for maintaining the liquefied state of the dye may be embedded in the protective plate. Here, the heater 26 is arranged in the dye containing portion (the passage 27).

The solid powder heat-meltable dye 42 in the solid dye storage tank 41 is supplied from a supply port 43 by a check valve 44,
It is heated to the melting point by the heater 26 and melted (liquefied). The liquefied dye 22 is supplied at a constant rate to the upper surface of the bead aggregate 20 of the vaporization section 17 at a high rate by the capillary phenomenon of the bead aggregate 20.

Further, the entire printer including this printer head is, for example, for full color as shown in FIG.
Yellow, magenta, and cyan dye reservoirs 15Y, 15M,
15C is provided on each common base 14 to form each dye supply section or supply head section 37Y, 37M, 37C, and from there, 12 to 24 dots of each color dye are formed in rows to form a vaporization section 17Y. , 17M, 17C.

For each vaporizing part, a large number of condenser lenses 19 are provided for each laser beam emitted from a multi-laser array 30 in which 12 to 24 corresponding lasers (particularly semiconductor laser chips) 18 are arranged in an array. The light is condensed by the microlens array 31 in which is arranged (36 is a mirror for guiding the laser light L in the perpendicular direction).

As the condenser lens, the illustrated lens system may be used, but a single large-diameter condenser lens 38 indicated by an imaginary line may be used. The lens 38 is formed so that the refraction path changes so that the light emission position corresponds to the vaporization parts 17C, 17M, and 17Y described above according to the light incident position.
The multi-laser array 30 is driven and controlled by the control IC 34 provided on the substrate 33, and the heat sink 35 is also provided.
Is designed to allow sufficient heat dissipation.

In the case of mono-color printing, as shown in FIG. 20, a one-dimensional laser array 30 is produced, and each laser element can be operated independently and in parallel. Printing speeds of more than one time can be obtained (for example, 24 times speed is obtained by using a laser array with 24 beams).

Each of the printer heads described above accommodates as many liquefied dyes 22 as the number of recording dots corresponding to the number of recording dots in the dye accommodating portion 37, and the laser 18 also has an array having light emitting points corresponding to the number of recording dots. It is arranged in a shape.
Even with the above thermal transfer printer that does not rely on the laser 18,
The heating units of the thermal head 1 are also arranged in a dot pattern.

As described above, according to this dye vaporization type laser beam printer, regarding the dye consumed for recording, only the lost portion is voluntarily or forcibly in the molten state from the dye reservoir to the vaporization part. By pouring, or
It can be continuously applied onto an appropriate substrate, and the substrate can be continuously supplied to the vaporizing unit by moving to the transfer unit. This is possible because the dye contains little binder resin. Therefore, since the vaporizing section involved in recording can be repeatedly used many times, the ink sheet is disposable only once in the above-mentioned thermal transfer method, which is advantageous in terms of resource saving and environmental protection.

Further, since it is a vaporization type or an ablation type, recording can be carried out without contact between the dye layer and the recording medium (printing paper), so that it can be seen in the above-mentioned thermal transfer system at the time of the second and subsequent printing. The reverse transfer of the dyes and the color mixture do not occur, and the heating portion is only the head including the vaporizing portion, and the power consumption is remarkably reduced as compared with the above-mentioned thermal transfer method. At the same time, the printer can be made smaller and lighter because a small volume dye reservoir is used for supplying the dye instead of the above-described ink sheet.

Further, since this recording system utilizes vaporization or sublimation of the dye, it is not necessary to heat the dye receiving layer of the recording medium as in the above-mentioned thermal transfer system, and the ink sheet and the recording medium are not recorded. It is not necessary to press the body against the body with high pressure, and this is also advantageous in reducing the size and weight of the printer. Since the dye layer in the vaporized portion and the recording medium do not come into contact with each other, heat fusion cannot occur between them, and recording is possible even if the compatibility between the dye and the receiving layer resin is small. Therefore, the range of design and selection of the dye and the resin for the receiving layer is remarkably expanded.

Further, the semiconductor laser 18 is basically used as a light source as a heat energy supply source for vaporizing (or sublimating) the dye, but the semiconductor laser has a high conversion efficiency from electric power to light. Since the dye has excellent directivity and light collecting property, the heat energy transfer efficiency of the dye is also very high. Therefore, the total energy utilization efficiency is markedly higher than that of the conventional method (thermal transfer by the above-mentioned thermal head or ink jet), which is advantageous in downsizing and power saving.

Further, in the conventional ink jet type color printer, it is difficult to express gradation, but since the semiconductor laser can easily control the output power, the pulse width and the like, the above recording method can easily express multi gradation. realizable. That is,
An electric image created by a color video camera or the like can be converted into a dye transfer corresponding to an image signal by a semiconductor laser to form a full-color image having at least 128 gradations per color, which is comparable to silver halide photography. it can.

The head 40, which is a transfer member suitable for the dye vaporization type recording method, has the property of sufficiently withstanding the amount of heat instantaneously applied at the time of transfer, and spontaneously due to the capillary phenomenon to the vaporization part (transfer part). It is preferable to have a structure (20 in FIG. 18) that has a large surface area for supplying a liquid dye and can firmly hold the dye during transfer.
Further, by providing an appropriate heat retaining device, it becomes possible to use a dye or a dye mixture having a melting point of room temperature or higher.

A transfer dye suitable for this recording method is
It has an appropriate vaporization rate or ablation rate, and shows a fluid state at 200 ° C or lower in a single or mixed state,
Any dye may be used as long as it has necessary and sufficient heat resistance. Specific examples thereof include disperse dyes, oil-soluble dyes, basic dyes and acid dyes. In particular, when the ablation mechanism is superior to the vaporization mechanism, a dye having a large molecular weight and a low vaporization rate, such as a direct dye,
Even carbon black and pigments can be transferred. Even for a dye having a melting point of room temperature or higher, the melting point is lowered by mixing the dyes with each other or by mixing the dye and a volatile low molecular weight substance.

Further, the photographic printing paper suitable for this recording method has a proper compatibility with the transfer dye, easily accepts the transfer dye, accelerates the original color development of the dye, and fixes the dye. Any photographic paper can be used. For example, for the disperse dye, a paper having a surface coated with a polyester resin, a polyvinyl chloride resin, an acetate resin, or the like, which has good compatibility with the disperse dye, is preferable. The fixing of the dye transferred onto the printing paper may be performed by heating the transferred image so that the transferred dye on the surface penetrates into the image receiving layer.

The heating means of the dye transfer system is roughly classified into a method using a thermal head, a material that absorbs laser light and a wavelength range including the wavelength range of the laser light, and converts light energy into heat energy (photothermal conversion). A method of combining a body (not shown) and laser light can be mentioned.

When a laser beam is used, the resolution is remarkably improved, and by increasing the laser beam density in the optical system, it becomes possible to perform intensive heating, and the ultimate temperature is increased. As a result, the thermal efficiency is improved. There is a feature called.
Particularly, by using the multi-laser, the time for transferring one screen is significantly shortened.

However, the photothermal converter must be sufficiently heat resistant in order to continuously absorb the laser light of light energy. Therefore, as the photothermal converter used in this system, a thin film type light absorber such as a metal thin film that exhibits absorption matching the emission wavelength of a laser, or a two-layer film of a metal thin film and a ceramic thin film having a high dielectric constant is directly transferred. In addition to being provided on the part, heat resistance such as fine particle type light absorbers such as carbon black and metal fine particles, organic dyes such as phthalocyanine dyes, naphthalocyanine dyes, cyanine dyes, anthraquinone dyes or organometallic dyes A dye or pigment having excellent properties may be used by uniformly dispersing it in a transfer dye.

[0031]

Further, the applicant of the present invention has proposed another sublimation type color video printer, which does not require an ink sheet and a thermal head, and which saves power, is small in size, and is low in cost. , Japanese Patent Application No. 4-300587, Japanese Patent Application No. 5-1124
No. 1 and Japanese Patent Application No. 5-12106.

A similar structure of this printer will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 21 to 25 (however, the same parts as those in the head of FIG. 18 are designated by the same reference numerals), and the head part 60 serves as a disperse dye. Dye tank 41 containing solid powder sublimation dye 42
And a wear-resistant protective layer made of high-strength material located underneath
61, a spacer 62 located in the center, and a head base 63 located on the upper side. Figure 22
21 is upside down from FIG. 21.

Further, a liquefied dye introducing section 64 for heating and liquefying the solid powder sublimation dye 42 in the dye storage tank 41, and introducing it.
A plurality of liquefied disperse dyes 22 are arranged along the liquefied dye introducing section 64 at predetermined intervals and are guided from the liquefied dye introducing section 64.
Each vaporizing part 17 for vaporizing the vaporized heat by the vaporization heat, a vaporizing heating element 65 provided below the liquid surface of the dye 22 in the vaporizing portion, a heat insulating material (block) 66 for supporting it, and a dye on the heating element 65. A small pillar that is a porous structure that holds and supplies 22
It has 80 groups. Electrodes 65A and 65B of heating elements are provided on both side surfaces of the heat insulating material 66, and are taken out through a structure not shown (however, an insulating structure with the heater 68 is not shown).

The protective layer 61 has a function of preventing dirt, dust, dust, foreign matter, etc. from entering the vaporization holes 23 of each vaporization section 17 when it comes into contact with the photographic printing paper 50 with a light pressure. It is formed of a metal-based or glass-based material such as tantalum, which has good thermal conductivity and excellent heat resistance and wear resistance. In addition, the protective layer 61
In this case, a plurality of square columnar holes 61a which become a part of the vaporization holes 23 of each vaporization part 17 are formed by fine processing such as an etching technique.

The spacer 62 is made of, for example, a glass-based or ceramic-based resin, a polyethylene-based resin, a metal-based resin such as tantalum, etc., and the melting temperature of the liquefied disperse dye 22 is adjusted and the protective layer 61 is adjusted depending on the material, thickness and combination thereof. It has a function of adjusting the temperature of the dye receiving layer 50a of the photographic printing paper 50 by the heat transfer of.

The photographic printing paper 50 is actually composed of a cellulosic resin or the like, and comprises a dye receiving layer 50a which absorbs disperse dyes, and a base material 50b. The base material 50b is formed by laminating a polypropylene layer having high heat resistance and good non-hygroscopicity, a base paper, and another polypropylene layer for balancing the polypropylene layer and preventing the photographic printing paper 50 from warping. The structure may be different, and a light absorption layer (which can be omitted) may be provided.

As shown in FIG. 21, FIG. 22 and FIG. 24, the spacer 62 is formed with a plurality of square columnar holes 62a each of which is a part of the vaporizing hole 23 of each vaporizing section 17, and the dye Storage tank 41 (41Y for yellow, 41M for magenta, 41 for cyan
Each vaporizing portion 17 extends from the C) side to the other end side of the head base 63.
A plurality of slots 64 communicating with the vaporization holes 23 are formed.

Further, a dye solution stopping layer 67 is provided between the protective layer 61 and the spacer 62. This dye liquid stop layer 67
Is a liquefied disperse dye formed of a fluorine-based or silicon-based resin material that is heat resistant and chemically stable.
Is prevented from leaking to the outside through the wall surface of the protective layer 61 and adhering to the dye receiving layer 50a of the photographic printing paper 50.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 21, 22 and 23, the liquid stop layer 67 is formed with a plurality of square columnar holes 67a which become a part of the vaporization holes 23 of each vaporization section 17, respectively. There is. The protective layer 61, the dye solution stopping layer 67, and the spacer 62 are adhered to each other with a heat-resistant adhesive.

The head base 63 is formed as thin as possible, for example, glass, ceramics or the like having a high melting point, no thermoformability, and low thermal conductivity. Further, as shown in FIG. 21, on the side of each dye storage tank 41 of the head base 63,
A supply port (connection hole) 43 communicating with each liquefied dye introducing section 64 is formed.

Further, each liquefied dye introducing portion of the head base 63
A plate-shaped heater (heating element) 68 is attached to the surface on the 64 side up to the inside of each dye bath 41. The heater 68 is made of, for example, carbon or a silicon compound, and is heated to 50 ° C.
It has a function of liquefying the disperse dye 42 in the form of a solid powder by generating heat of ˜300 ° C. and keeping the temperature in the liquefied state.

As shown in FIG. 21, one end of the heater 68 is vertically bent upward and inserted into each dye storage tank 41, and the other end is connected to each liquefied dye introducing part. It extends to the terminal end side of 64. Further, as shown in FIG. 25, the heater 68 is arranged on the entire surface of the head base 63 so that the spacer 62 and the protective layer 61 can be kept warm to heat the dye receiving layer 50a of the printing paper 50.

The above printer head shown in FIGS. 21 to 25.
According to 60, in addition to having the features described in the printer head 140 shown in FIGS.
Compared with, it has the following advantages.

First, since the heating of the dye for vaporization in each vaporization section 17 is performed not by using the laser light L but by the heat generation of the heating element 65 provided in each vaporization section, an expensive semiconductor laser ( In particular, it is possible to use a low-cost heating element instead of multiple laser arrays that are provided in parallel), and the vaporization efficiency directly uses the heat generated by the heater without depending on the electro-optical conversion efficiency of the laser. , The efficiency as a whole is improved.

However, the present inventor
As a result of examining 60, it was found that the following points to be improved remain.

FIG. 26 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the vaporizing portion 17 of the head 60 in FIG. 21, but as shown in the figure, the liquefied dye 22 in the vaporizing portion 17 recedes and the liquid surface 22b is small. The pillar 80 is recessed inward from the tip. This phenomenon is due to insufficient supply of liquefied dye. As described above, the supply amount of the liquefied dye 22 supplied to the vaporization unit 17 from the vaporization consumption amount of the liquefied dye is insufficient because the area of the opening of the dye supply port 43 is smaller than the total opening area of the vaporization unit, This is due to insufficient capillary action by the group of trabecular bodies 80.

As a result, as shown in the figure, the supply of the dye is insufficient, so that it takes a long time to vaporize the amount of the dye necessary for recording, and the recording time cannot be shortened. Further, the dye consumed for recording is not replenished promptly. That is, it has been found that it is a factor that cannot speed up recording and improve efficiency.

[0048]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and makes full use of the features of the thermal transfer recording system described above, without causing a supply shortage of a recording material such as a dye. It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly reliable recording device that can achieve efficient recording by balancing supply and demand of recording material.

[0049]

That is, according to the present invention, a liquid recording material accommodation portion for accommodating a liquid recording material, and the liquid recording material supplied from the liquid recording material accommodation portion are flown to an object to be recorded through an opening. And a recording material flying section for allowing the liquid surface of the liquid recording material contained in the liquid recording material container to come into contact with the atmosphere to be larger than the total area of the openings.

In the present invention, it is desirable that the liquid recording material accommodating portion is formed over substantially the entire area of the apparatus main body including the recording material flying portion.

Further, in the present invention, a partition wall that prevents the passage of the liquid and allows the passage of the gas is formed in substantially the entire upper portion of the liquid recording material accommodation portion, and the liquid of the liquid recording material is closed so as to close the recording material accommodation portion. It is desirable to form it so as to be provided on the surface.

Further, in the present invention, the liquid recording material accommodating portion may be provided in a part of the apparatus main body including the recording material flying portion.

Further, in the present invention, it is desirable that a partition wall that prevents the passage of liquid and allows gas to pass is provided so as to close the lid opening formed in the lid of the liquid recording material accommodation portion.

Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that the liquid surface of the liquid recording material contained in the liquid recording material container is located at a position lower than the partition wall.

Further, in the present invention, the solid recording material accommodating portion is provided adjacent to the liquid recording material accommodating portion, and the recording material supply port for connecting the solid recording material accommodating portion and the liquid recording material accommodating portion is provided. It is desirable to form it as described above.

Further, in the present invention, the recording material may be configured so that the base material provided in the recording material accommodation portion partially protrudes and the recording material flying portion is provided on the protruding portion. it can.

Further, in the present invention, the recording apparatus may be configured such that the recording material flying portion is integrally provided on the liquid recording material supply structure portion.

Further, in the present invention, a liquid recording material supply path is provided between the liquid recording material accommodating portion and the recording material flying portion,
It is desirable to form the recording material supply port that connects the liquid recording material supply path and the liquid recording material accommodation portion.

Further, in the present invention, it is desirable that the heating element for heating the liquid recording material to fly is provided in the flying portion of the recording material.

Further, in the present invention, the liquid recording material in the recording material flying portion may be heated by a heating beam to fly.

Further, in the present invention, it is desirable that the recording material flying portion is constructed so as to supply and hold the liquid recording material to the opening side by the capillary phenomenon.

Further, in the present invention, it is desirable that a porous structure which causes a capillary phenomenon is provided in the recording material flying portion.

Further, in the present invention, it is desirable that the porous structure is formed of an aggregate of small pillars.

Further, in the present invention, it is desirable that the liquid recording material is vaporized or ablated to fly to a recording medium which is arranged opposite to the liquid recording material in a non-contact state.

[0065]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to Examples, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the following Examples.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a printer head (a sectional view taken along the line I--I in FIGS. 2 and 3), and FIG.
2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 3, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a partially crushed printer head as seen from below. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same parts as in FIGS.

As shown in the figure, the printer head of this example has a configuration that is substantially common to the example shown in FIG. That is, the printer head 10 of this example is a dye tank that stores the solid powder-shaped solid dye 42 as a disperse dye.
41 is disposed on the uppermost part, and a wear-resistant protective layer 61 made of a high-strength material from below, a spacer 62 located thereon, a head base 63 located thereon, and the above It is configured by a liquefied dye tank 45 provided between the dye tank 41 and the dye tank 41.

The point to be noted in this example is that this liquefied dye tank 45
It is the effect of the new establishment of this function. As shown,
The liquefied dye tank 45 occupies substantially the entire upper part of the printer head 10,
An opening 45a is provided in the upper part of the entire area except for the dye bath 41, and the opening 45a is covered with a lid 46. As a material for this lid, a material that does not pass liquid and has only air permeability is used. In this example, the Gore-Tex manufactured by Japan Gore-Tex Co., Ltd. shown in FIG. 4 is used, but in addition to this, for example, a structure which opens and closes a hole like a check valve in a bowl lighter than the liquefied dye Or any other suitable mechanism.

Therefore, the lid 46 faces the atmosphere and exerts atmospheric pressure on the liquid surface 22a (shown by a virtual line) of the liquefied dye in the liquefied dye tank 45 due to its air permeability. And liquefied dye tank
Since 45 is provided between the liquefied dye introduction section 64 and the dye tank 41 in front of the liquefied dye introduction section 64, as shown in FIG. Body 80
The liquefied dye 22 is constantly filled up to the tip of the group. Thus also,
The consumed liquefied dye 22 is replenished without shortage. This is because the area of the dye liquid surface 22a in the liquefied dye tank 45 is extremely large and the liquefied dye 22 receives atmospheric pressure over a wide area.

However, what is important here for satisfying this condition is that the area of the opening 45a of the liquefying dye tank 45 is larger than the total area of the vaporizing section. As shown in FIG. 3, a large number of vaporizers are arranged on the printer head 10 so that each vaporizer can be selectively operated. That is, if the area of the vaporized portions is S ₁ , the number of vaporized portions is n, and the area of the openings is S ₂ , it is necessary to satisfy the condition of S ₁ × n <S ₂ .

The liquid surface 22a of the liquefied dye 22 in the liquefied dye tank 45 is adjusted to a position lower than the lower surface of the lid 46 as shown in the drawing,
It is desirable to secure 13. Even if the liquefied dye becomes full (actual battle state) and the lid 46 prevents overflow, the liquefied dye does not overflow due to the special function of the lid 46. However, it is important to maintain this state whenever it is used in such a state.
The reason is that the liquid surface 22a of the liquefied dye 22 is lowered from such a state and a space is once formed between the liquefied dye 22 and the lid 46, and when the liquefied dye 22 attached to the lower surface of the lid 46 is dried, the vent hole of the lid 46 is formed. Block and impair breathability, and by repeating this, it will lose its function altogether.

As described above, the lid 46 and the liquid surface 22a of the liquefied dye 22 are used.
As long as the space 13 is secured between them and the cover, it is possible to use a lid made of another material having air permeability instead of the material used for the lid 46 of this example. However, if a lid made of a material other than a material that is only breathable and impermeable to liquid is used, in the unlikely event that the liquefied dye 22 comes into contact with the lid, there is a risk that it will seep out to the surface and overflow.

As described above, the lid 46 of this embodiment uses the GORE-TEX 120 shown in FIG. 4, and has only breathability.
One of the important points is the adoption of materials that are impermeable to liquids. This figure is an electron micrograph showing the structure of the GORE-TEX lid 46, which was manufactured by a very special method in which the powder of polytetrafluoroethylene was pressed and then rapidly stretched under specific conditions. Is.
As shown in the drawing, it is composed of very fine fibrils 120a called fibrils and island-shaped or granular nodules 120b called nodes connecting them.

Between these fibrils and nodes, extremely fine pores 120c exist in a continuous state with each other, forming a so-called continuous porous structure. And it is possible to control the pore size and porosity freely and accurately by the method of stretching, and the chemical stability, heat stability, gas permeability, waterproofness, etc., which are not attacked by chemicals or organic solvent, etc. It has various excellent features. The other parts of this example are the same as the conventional ones and have been described in detail above, so the description thereof will be omitted.

In this example, due to such a structure, the atmospheric pressure acts through the lid 46 of the liquefied dye tank 45, and as described with reference to FIG. Liquefaction dye 22
It is possible to increase the supply amount of V.sub.2 and increase the amount of vaporization. Further, the recording material consumed for recording can be quickly replenished, and the recording speed can be improved. Further, by thinning the base material 63, a collateral effect that the liquefied dye in the liquefied dye tank 45 cools the vaporization section 17 at the time of non-recording is also obtained.

As shown in FIG. 6, the color video printer 200 having the head 70 according to the above-described example feeds the paper in the vertical direction (X direction) and in the horizontal direction (Y direction) of the head orthogonal to the X direction. Printing is performed by scanning, and the paper feeding in the vertical direction and the head scanning in the horizontal direction are alternately performed.

In this printer 200, the printer head 70 including the head portions Y, M, and C of each color is a serial type head, and a head feed shaft 201 including a feed screw mechanism.
The head support shaft 202 allows the print paper 50 to reciprocate in the head feed direction Y which is orthogonal to the paper feed direction X.

Further, a paper feed roller 203 for supporting the printing paper 50 so as to sandwich the printing paper 50 is rotatably provided to the head 70. In addition, the head 70 is a flexible harness 204
Is connected to a head drive circuit board (not shown) or the like.

When the printing of one line is completed, the printing paper 50 is fed by one line by the paper feed drive roller 203 which also serves as a head support. Printing is started sequentially for each color, but after 3 dots, printing is performed simultaneously. In addition, a plurality of first heating elements
If there are 75, run them alternately and select the heating element 75
Is used for printing, while the non-printing heating element 75 can control the temperature by utilizing the residual heat to liquefy the dye and keep it warm.

FIG. 7 shows a color video printer 200 having a head 70 of a line type, in which head portions Y, M and C of respective colors are arranged side by side in the width direction of the printing paper 50. .

<Second Embodiment> In this example, as shown in FIG. 8, the liquefied dye tank 47 is larger than the liquefied dye tank 47 rather than the entire area above the printer head 11.
Is provided, the opening 47a is also appropriately reduced, and the same Gore-tex lid 48 is used. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the printer head 11 thus formed by turning it upside down and crushing a part thereof. However, even in this case, it is necessary that the area of the opening 47a of the liquefied dye tank 47 is larger than the total area of the vaporizing section 17.

<Third Embodiment> This example is a modification of the second embodiment. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the vaporizing section 17 is arranged so as to face upward. In the second embodiment, the vaporizer 17, the dye tank 41 and the liquefied dye tank 47 are used.
, But in this case they are on the same side. Note that FIG. 10 shows the start of recording for one line, and the printer head 12 moves in the direction of the arrow during recording.

<Fourth Embodiment> As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 which is a partially enlarged view of FIGS. 11 and 11, the printer head in this embodiment has a spacer 82 in which a dye supply passage 84 is formed in a groove shape and vaporized. The portion 77 is integrally provided on the spacer 82. FIG. 13 is an enlarged bottom view around the vaporization section 77, and FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line XII-XII of FIG. In this example, as in the first embodiment, the liquefied dye tank 45 is provided over substantially the entire area of the head base 102.

In the dye vaporization section 77 of the printer head 70, the SiO 2 having a thickness of 20 μm or less, for example, 6 to 15 μm.
_The dye containing portion 87 is formed in a concave shape on the insulating plate 73 composed of _two layers, and the width and the diameter of the insulating plate 73 by the fine processing are formed in the containing portion.
10 μm or less (eg 1-2 μm), spacing 20 μm or less (eg 1-2 μm), height 20 μm or less (eg 6-m
15 μm) A group of fine small columnar small columns 80 are vaporized structures.
It is provided as part of 101.

The small pillars 80 are provided at a height from the bottom surface of the accommodating portion 87 to the upper surface thereof, and have small voids 92 between the small pillars. As a porous structure. The void 92 holds the liquefied dye 22 in the accommodating portion 87 by its capillary action, and at the same time, raises a sufficient amount of the liquefied dye 22 necessary for time-series operation of one dot of the printer (vaporization surface or liquid surface). To supply to.

The group of the small pillars 80 is divided into left and right two groups, and a heating element 75 having a thickness of, for example, 1 μm is locally formed on the bottom surface of the dye accommodating portion 87 in a region where there is no small pillar in the middle. Are provided in a rectangular shape. Therefore, the heating element 75 is a pillar.
They are provided separately from each other in a region different from 80, and these are arranged directly on the spacers 82 described below, respectively.

The heating element 75 is a silicon-based compound such as carbon or polysilicon, and the bottom surface 87 A of the dye containing portion 87 or a spacer.
It is formed on the surface 82A of 82, and a pair of aluminum electrodes 94 and 95 are provided on both sides thereof.

A signal voltage based on an image signal is applied between the electrodes 94 and 95 by a matrix drive, and the energization causes heat generation of 50 to 500 ° C. in the heating element 75, and this heat efficiently heats the liquefied dye 22. To vaporize.
Further, since the spacer 82 made of quartz glass is integrally provided under the insulating plate 73, the spacer 82 acts as a heat insulating material, and the heat generated by the heating element 75 is efficiently used for heating the dye.

A supply passage 84 for the liquefied dye 22 is provided in the spacer 82.
Is formed, and this serves as the dye inlet port 84 ′ and the dye containing portion 87.
It has an opening on the bottom of. Therefore, the liquefied dye 22 is continuously introduced into the dye containing portion 87 through the passage 84 and the introduction port 84 ′ and is supplied to the vaporization structure 101.

It should be noted here that, as described above, the heating element 75 and the columnar body 80 are separately provided on the spacer 82 in the dye accommodating portion 87.

That is, on the spacer 82, a group of small pillars 80, which is a porous structure, and a heating element 75 are provided separately from each other (and the spacer 82 that also functions as a heat insulating material on the base). Is present), the heat generated from the heating element 75 does not substantially escape to the porous structure (heat dissipation or heat release to the surroundings occurs), and the heating element
The surface of 75 is directly used for heating the dye 22 due to the absence of a porous structure on it, which means that it can be fully utilized. As a result, the heating efficiency of the heating element 75 with respect to the dye 22 can be increased, and the vaporization efficiency thereof can be increased to improve the recording performance.

Further, when the heating element 75 is not operated and is not heated, the heat of the dye 22 can be released to the surroundings through the porous structure, so that the dye 22 can be effectively cooled.

Since the porous structure (group of small pillars 80) is separated from the heating element 75, even if the porous structures are arranged adjacent to each other, thermal stress due to heating is applied to the porous structure. Substantially no addition, no damage occurs, and reliability can be improved. In addition, the occupied area or amount of the porous structure is reduced, and its processing and the like becomes easier.

Since the above-mentioned porous structure is composed of a group of trabecular bodies 80, the escape of the dye 22 is suppressed by the capillary action between the trabecular bodies and the dye 22 is effectively retained in the vaporized region. In addition, it is possible to supply heat in a fixed amount, to efficiently transfer heat, and to improve vaporization or ablation efficiency.
High-quality recording can be obtained with a constant vaporization or ablation amount by the constant supply of 22.

Further, since the heating element 75 is provided on the surface of the spacer 82 (bottom surface of the dye accommodating portion 87), the heating element 75 is recessed from the porous structure (group of small pillars 80). The recessed portion (stepped portion) 110, that is, the heating element 75
The dye 22 from the inlet 84 'can be smoothly supplied to the top. Therefore, even if there is only one inlet 84 ', the dye
Sufficient supply of 22.

Further, the dye 22 can be smoothly supplied to the stepped portion 110 and held therein easily, and depending on the pattern of the stepped portion (for example, the periphery is surrounded by the pillars 80). In addition, the dye can be retained more sufficiently and its escape can be sufficiently prevented.

Further, when the heating element 75 is not operating and is not heated, the heat of the dye 22 can be released to the surroundings through the porous structure, so that the dye can be effectively cooled.

In the printer head 70 of this example, the insulating plate 73 is integrated on the spacer 82. Therefore, this integrated structure is more effective than the case where the insulating plate 73 or the spacer 82 is independent. It is thick and has high mechanical strength.

Therefore, the mechanical strength when processing the dye accommodating portion 87, the columnar body 80, the dye passage 84, etc. becomes sufficient, and cracking and breakage do not occur, and handleability, processability and reliability are improved. Furthermore, the yield and cost performance can be improved.

Further, the columnar body 80 and the dye accommodating portion 87 can be formed by patterning the insulating plate 73 on the spacer 82, and the vaporization structure 101 can be formed by leaving it after the patterning. It is not necessary to fix them individually, and only the alignment at the time of patterning is required, so that the trabecular body 80 and the dye accommodating portion 87, and further the introduction port 84 '.
Can be easily and highly accurately aligned, and the recording characteristics can be improved.

Others are the same as those in the first embodiment.

<Fifth Embodiment> In the printer head of this embodiment, the liquefied dye 22 is vaporized by a combination of a semiconductor laser 18 and a lens 19 instead of a heating element as shown in FIG. In this case, as in the case of the head in FIG. 8 and FIG. 10, it is preferable that the vaporizing part 17 side does not have a liquefied dye tank so as not to hinder the irradiation of the laser beam L.

<Sixth Embodiment> The printer head in this example uses a group of beads 20 as the porous structure of the vaporizing section 17 as shown in FIG. 15 instead of the group of trabeculars. .

Further, in this example, it is also possible to use a bead group as described above and adopt a heating vaporization system by a laser beam as shown in FIG. Of course, in this case as well, the head must have a form similar to that of the laser beam system.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above embodiments can be further modified based on the technical idea of the present invention.

For example, with respect to the shape, material, size, etc. of the above-mentioned heating element (heater) 75, various kinds or combinations can be adopted, and both the poly-Si layer and the metal wiring can be used appropriately or appropriately. An insulating film such as SiN or SiO ₂ may be attached to form the protective film.

Further, the porous structure to be formed in the vaporizing part is
Not limited to the above, for example, in the case of a pillar, its height,
The plane or sectional shape, density, etc. may be changed, and
The formation location is also applicable as long as it is required to form a fine pattern or be porous, or to increase the surface area. As the porous structure, in addition to the columnar body, a wall-shaped body,
In addition to the bead aggregate shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, it may be formed of a fibrous body or the like.

Further, not only the dye vaporization type transfer system but also the transfer system by ablation described above is possible, and in any case, the dye or the recording material flies and is transferred.

Further, the number of recording material accommodating portions for accommodating recording material (dye) and the number of dots, and the number of heating elements and vaporizing portions corresponding thereto may be variously changed, and the arrangement shape and size thereof may be changed. It is not limited to the above.

Further, the structure and shape of the head and the printer, including the dye containing portion and the dye supply passage, may be an appropriate structure and shape other than those described above (the vaporizing portion similar to the vaporizing portion shown in FIGS. 16 to 22). Other suitable materials may be used for the material of each part that constitutes the head. With respect to the recording dyes, full-color recording can be performed with three colors of magenta, yellow, and cyan (further, black is added), and two-color printing, one-color monocolor, or monochrome recording can be performed.

Besides using a heating element or a laser for heating the dye, these heating elements and a laser may be combined. In this case, vaporization can be satisfactorily realized even if the power of each heating means is reduced.

Further, as in the above-mentioned example, the solid dye is once made into a liquid state and vaporized to perform recording, or the solid dye is heated by laser light to directly vaporize (that is, sublimate) to perform recording. In addition, a liquefied dye (liquid at room temperature) can be stored in the dye reservoir. In the printer described above, the laser beam may be irradiated from above the head to perform recording on the recording paper located below the head, or the recording may be performed in the opposite direction (from bottom to top).

In the present invention, a recording liquid containing a recording material and a substance (that is, a carrier) that dissolves or disperses the recording material and that expands in volume by heating is supplied, and the state of the recording liquid is changed by heating. Change to create droplets,
It can also be applied to an ink jet system in which the liquid droplets are transferred to a recording medium arranged opposite to the recording head.

[0114]

According to the present invention, there is provided a liquid recording material accommodating portion for accommodating the liquid recording material, and a recording material flying portion for causing the liquid recording material supplied from the liquid recording material accommodating portion to fly to the recording medium through the opening. Since the area of the liquid surface of the liquid recording material in the liquid recording material storage portion in contact with the atmosphere is larger than the total area of the openings of the recording material flying portion, the liquid recording material is supplied to this opening. The action of atmospheric pressure is sufficiently large, and the supply of the recording material to the recording material flying portion becomes sufficient. In addition, the recording material consumed for recording can be quickly replenished. As a result, the recording speed can be increased, efficient recording is possible, and the reliability is high.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a printer head according to a first embodiment (a sectional view taken along line I-I of FIGS. 2 and 3).

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer head seen from below, in which the same portion is crushed and shown.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a microscopic structure of the lid material.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a vaporization part filled with the liquefied dye.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a printer having the printer head.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of another printer having the printer head.

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of a printer head according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the same portion as seen from below the printer head, which is shown by being crushed.

FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional view of a printer head according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view of a printer head according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the portion of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a schematic sectional view showing a main part of a printer head according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a schematic sectional view showing a main part of a printer head according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a main part of a printer head that employs a laser beam for the same dye vaporization energy.

FIG. 17 is a front view of a main part of a printer using a conventional thermal recording head.

FIG. 18 is a schematic sectional view of a printer devised before the completion of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of the printer head.

FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the other printer head.

FIG. 21 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a printer filed before the invention of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is an enlarged cross-sectional perspective view of a main part of the printer head.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a part of the printer head.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of another portion of the printer head.

FIG. 25 is a plan view of another portion of the printer head.

FIG. 26 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a vaporization section of the printer head.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 11, 12 ... Printer head 13 ... Space 17, 77 ... Vaporization portion 17a, 67a ... Vaporization hole (opening) 18 ... Semiconductor laser 22 ... Liquefied dye 22a ... Dye liquid surface 40, 75 ... Heating element 41 ... Dye tank 42 ... Solid dye 43 ... Supply port 44 ... Insulation material 45, 47 ... Liquefied dye tank 45a ... Opening 46 , 48 ... Lid (partition wall) 50 ... Printing paper 61, 91 ... Protective layer 62, 82 ... Spacer 63, 102 ... Head base 64, 84 ... Liquefied dye introducing section 67. ..Liquid stop layer 68 ... Heater 80 ... Pillar 81, 101 ... Vaporization structure 84 '... Liquefied dye inlet L ... Laser light

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location B41J 3/04 103 S

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A liquid recording material accommodating portion for accommodating a liquid recording material, and a recording material flying portion for flying the liquid recording material supplied from the liquid recording material accommodating portion to an object to be recorded through an opening, A recording apparatus in which an area of a liquid surface of the liquid recording material housed in the liquid recording material housing is in contact with the atmosphere and is larger than a total area of the openings. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid recording material accommodating portion is provided over substantially the entire area of the apparatus main body including the recording material flying portion. 3. A partition wall that blocks the passage of liquid and allows gas to pass therethrough is formed in substantially the entire upper portion of the liquid recording material accommodation portion, and is provided on the liquid surface of the liquid recording material so as to close the recording material accommodation portion. The recording device according to claim 2, which is provided. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid recording material accommodating portion is provided in a part of the apparatus main body including the recording material flying portion. 5. The partition according to claim 4, wherein a partition wall for blocking the passage of the liquid and for passing the gas is provided so as to close the lid opening formed in the lid of the liquid recording material accommodation portion. Recording device. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the liquid surface of the liquid recording material contained in the liquid recording material container is located at a position lower than the partition wall. 7. A solid recording material container is provided adjacent to the liquid recording material container, and a recording material supply port is provided to connect the solid recording material container and the liquid recording material container. The recording device according to claim 1. 8. A liquid recording material supply passage is provided between the liquid recording material storage portion and the recording material flying portion, and a recording material supply port connecting the liquid recording material supply passage and the liquid recording material storage portion is provided. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the recording device is provided. 9. The recording material accommodating portion is provided with a base material partially protruding, and the recording material flying portion is provided on the protruding portion. Recording device. 10. The recording material flying portion is integrally provided on the liquid recording material supply structure portion.
Recording device described in paragraph. 11. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a heating element for heating and flying the liquid recording material is provided in the recording material flying portion. 12. The liquid recording material in the recording material flying portion is heated by a heating beam to fly.
The recording device according to any one of 1 to 10. 13. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording material flying unit is configured to supply and hold the liquid recording material on the opening side by a capillary phenomenon. 14. The recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a porous structure that causes a capillary phenomenon is provided in the recording material flying portion. 15. The recording apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the porous structure is formed by an assembly of pillars. 16. The liquid recording material according to claim 1, wherein the liquid recording material is vaporized or ablated so as to fly to a recording medium that is arranged so as to face the liquid recording material in a non-contact state.
Recording device described in paragraph.