JPH10197990A - Photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge that can be easily attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus while maintaining light shielding properties on a photosensitive recording medium. SOLUTION: A first housing for microcapsule paper 37 is provided.
The second frame 21 is fitted to the frame 20 so as to close it, and the exposure opening provided in the second frame can be opened and closed by the shutter member 22. Further, an urging member for urging the shutter member 22 is provided, and the shutter member 22 is located at an open position where the exposure opening is opened by engagement of the projection 22g of the shutter member 22 with the engaging member of the apparatus main body.
Is moved, and the shutter member 22 is moved to a sealing position for sealing the exposure opening by releasing the engagement.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of exposing a photosensitive recording medium on which a latent image of image information is formed by exposure to light to expose the image information by development with an image forming light corresponding to the image information. And an image forming apparatus for developing the image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art U.S. Pat.
No. 99209 discloses that a photosensitive layer provided with microcapsules containing a photosensitive substance in an internal phase is exposed to radiation in an image-like manner and a uniform rupture force is applied, whereby the microcapsules rupture and the internal phase substance is imaged. An imaging system that emits light to an object is disclosed. In this system, exposure changes the mechanical strength of the microcapsules to form an exposure latent image, and capsules with weak mechanical strength (capsules that have not cured or softened) are destroyed by applying pressure. As a result, a color-generating substance (color-forming agent) as a color material flows out and reacts with a developing substance to form a color image, thereby performing development.

Further, an image forming apparatus for exposing such a photosensitive recording medium with image forming light corresponding to image information and developing the same is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-231758. An image forming apparatus which selectively leads to a photosensitive recording medium in accordance with
No. 364, an image forming apparatus which scans light of a plurality of colors of light and guides the light to a photosensitive recording medium;
There is known an image forming apparatus described in JP-A-92-822 in which the same portion is exposed a plurality of times via a polygon mirror or the like in a photosensitive recording medium capable of expressing a plurality of colors.

The photosensitive recording medium in the above-described conventional apparatus is wound around a support shaft and housed in a sealed cartridge for maintaining light-shielding properties. The cartridge is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus. In this case, the photosensitive recording medium has been replaced or replenished.

[0005]

However, in the conventional cartridge system, when the cartridge is mounted,
It was necessary to set the leading end of the photosensitive recording medium to be pulled out of the cartridge, and the replacement of the cartridge was complicated.

When the cartridge is used, a mechanism for pulling out the photosensitive recording medium from the cartridge, a mechanism for cutting the photosensitive recording medium, and the like become complicated, and the mechanism tends to increase in size due to the mechanism. Was.

In order to solve such a problem, it is conceivable to use a recording material accommodating cassette used in a known electrophotographic copying machine or the like. It was difficult to keep the light-shielding property for the photosensitive recording medium in the storage cassette, and it could not be adopted.

Further, when the above-described recording material storage cassette is used, the number of photosensitive recording media that can be stored at one time is limited, and the cartridge may be frequently replaced. The sensitivity of the recording medium varies greatly depending on the type of the photosensitive recording medium or the date of manufacture, and it is necessary to adjust color correction and the like according to the photosensitive recording medium.

However, since a number of factors are involved in the difference in sensitivity, the amount of information relating to the factors is very large, and it is difficult for the recording material storage cassette to have the information relating to the factors. It was difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned various problems, and a photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge which can be easily attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus while maintaining a light shielding property for the photosensitive recording medium. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus having the same and easily miniaturized.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of accurately grasping the sensitivity of a photosensitive recording medium even when the cartridge is used.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge including a photosensitive component and a color material, the intensity of which changes when exposed to light having a predetermined wavelength. A first frame that carries a microcapsule and houses a photosensitive recording medium on which a latent image of image information is formed by exposure, wherein the first frame has a loading opening for loading the photosensitive recording medium; A second frame fitted to the first frame so as to close the loading opening, formed on one of the first frame and the second frame, and housed in the loading opening; An exposure opening for exposing a front end surface of the photosensitive recording medium; a shutter member movably provided between an opening position for opening the exposure opening and a sealing position for sealing the exposure opening; , Characterized in that a shutter member biasing means for biasing said shutter member to the sealing position.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the photosensitive recording medium is accommodated in the loading opening of the first frame, and the second recording medium is closed so as to close the loading opening.
The frame and the first frame are fitted. The exposure opening formed in one of the first frame and the second frame is sealed by the shutter member, so that the photosensitive recording medium is shielded. On the other hand, since the shutter member is urged to the sealing position by the shutter member urging means and is movably provided between the sealing position and the open position, the urging force of the shutter member urging means is applied to the shutter member. By moving the photosensitive recording medium to the open position, the exposed opening is opened, the leading end surface of the photosensitive recording medium is exposed from the exposed opening, and the photosensitive recording medium is removed from the cartridge.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge according to the first aspect, wherein the exposure opening is formed in one of the first frame and the second frame. One of the features is that a light shielding member is attached to at least a front edge of the exposure opening in the photosensitive recording medium discharge direction.

According to the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge of the present invention, at least a front edge of the exposure opening of one of the first frame and the second frame in the photosensitive recording medium discharge direction is shielded from light. Since the member is attached, the light shielding property of the cartridge is further improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge according to the first or second aspect, wherein at least a front edge of the shutter member in a photosensitive recording medium discharge direction is shielded from light. 3. The photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a member is attached.

According to the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge of the present invention, a light shielding member is attached to at least a front edge portion of the shutter member in the photosensitive recording medium discharge direction. Is further improved.

A photosensitive recording medium accommodating cartridge according to claim 4 is the photosensitive recording medium accommodating cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the photosensitive recording medium is accommodated in the loading opening. And a photosensitive recording medium urging means for urging the recording medium toward the exposure opening side.

According to the photosensitive recording medium accommodating cartridge of the fourth aspect, the photosensitive recording medium accommodated in the loading opening is urged toward the exposure opening by the photosensitive recording medium urging means. When the shutter member is moved to the open position, it is easy to take out the photosensitive recording medium, and the photosensitive recording medium is taken out of the cassette without fail.

A photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge according to the fourth aspect, wherein the photosensitive recording medium urging means is provided at a bottom of the loading opening. The image forming apparatus further comprises a support for supporting at least the front end side of the photosensitive recording medium, and a support urging member for urging the support toward the exposure opening.

According to the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge of the present invention, the photosensitive recording medium urging means may include a support provided at the bottom of the loading opening at least on the front end surface side of the photosensitive recording medium. Is supported, and the supporting portion is urged toward the exposure opening by the supporting portion urging member, so that the photosensitive recording medium can be more easily taken out, and the photosensitive recording medium can be more reliably taken out of the cassette.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the cartridge for storing a photosensitive recording medium according to the fourth aspect, wherein the photosensitive recording medium urging means is provided at a bottom of the loading opening. A support portion that supports at least the front end surface side of the photosensitive recording medium, and is provided in one of the first frame and the second frame in which the loading opening is formed, exposing a back side of the support portion; And a pressing opening for urging the support section toward the exposure opening side by an external urging means.

According to the photosensitive recording medium accommodating cartridge of the sixth aspect, the photosensitive recording medium urging means is configured to support at least the front end face of the photosensitive recording medium by a support provided at the bottom of the loading opening. Although the supporting portion is supported, the back side of the supporting portion is exposed from the pressing opening, and the back surface of the supporting portion is urged by the external urging means. As a result, the photosensitive recording medium is urged toward the exposure opening, so that the photosensitive recording medium can be more easily taken out, and the photosensitive recording medium can be more reliably taken out of the cassette.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus in which the photosensitive recording medium accommodating cartridge according to any one of the first to sixth aspects is removably mounted. And when the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge is mounted on the mounting portion, directly or indirectly engages with the shutter member to cause the shutter member to open against the urging force of the shutter member urging means. An engaging member for moving the photosensitive recording medium from the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge mounted on the mounting section; and a latent image by exposing the extracted photosensitive recording medium to light having a predetermined wavelength. Exposure means to form, pressurize the exposed photosensitive recording medium to break the microcapsules with low strength, Characterized by comprising a developing means for manifest image.

According to the image forming apparatus of the seventh aspect,
When the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge is mounted in the mounting portion, the engaging member and the shutter member of the cartridge are engaged to move the shutter member to the open position against the urging force of the shutter member urging means. Move. Thereby, the exposure opening provided in the first frame or the second frame of the cartridge is opened, and the photosensitive recording medium is taken out from the exposure opening by the take-out means.
Then, the taken out photosensitive recording medium is exposed by the exposing means, whereby a latent image is formed on the photosensitive recording medium, and the weak microcapsules of the photosensitive recording medium are destroyed and destroyed by the developing means. The latent image is visualized by the color material flowing out of the microcapsules. On the other hand, when the cartridge is removed from the mounting portion, the engagement between the engagement member and the shutter member is released,
The shutter member moves to a sealing position for sealing the exposure opening. Therefore, the light shielding property for the photosensitive recording medium in the cartridge is maintained.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: a mounting section for removably mounting the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge according to the sixth aspect; An engagement member for directly or indirectly engaging with the shutter member to move the shutter member to the open position against the urging force of the shutter member urging means when mounting the medium storage cartridge; The external urging means for abutting against the back surface of the support portion from the pressing opening to urge the support portion toward the exposure opening side of the cartridge when the cartridge is mounted, and the photosensitive recording device mounted on the mounting portion; A take-out means for taking out the photosensitive recording medium from the medium storage cartridge, an exposing means for exposing the taken-out photosensitive recording medium to light of a predetermined wavelength to form a latent image, and Serial photosensitive recording medium pressurizing destroy the weak microcapsules strength, characterized by comprising a developing means for elicit the latent image by the coloring material that has flowed out of destroyed microcapsules.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention,
When the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge is mounted in the mounting portion, the engaging member and the shutter member of the cartridge are engaged to move the shutter member to the open position against the urging force of the shutter member urging means. Move. Further, the support portion of the photosensitive recording medium urging means exposed from the pressing opening of the cartridge is urged by the external urging means, and the photosensitive recording medium is urged toward the exposure opening. As a result, the photosensitive recording medium is exposed from the exposed opening of the cartridge in the open state, and the photosensitive recording medium is taken out by the take-out means. Then, the taken out photosensitive recording medium is exposed by the exposing means, whereby a latent image is formed on the photosensitive recording medium, and the weak microcapsules of the photosensitive recording medium are destroyed and destroyed by the developing means. The latent image is visualized by the color material flowing out of the microcapsules. On the other hand, when the cartridge is removed from the mounting portion, the engagement between the engagement member and the shutter member is released, and the shutter member moves to a sealing position for sealing the exposure opening. In addition, since the urging of the supporting portion by the external urging means is also released, the pressing opening is sealed by the back surface of the supporting portion. Therefore, the light shielding property for the photosensitive recording medium in the cartridge is maintained.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the seventh or eighth aspect,
The image forming apparatus further includes a determination unit that determines a type of the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge.

According to the image forming apparatus of the ninth aspect,
When the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge is mounted on the mounting portion, the type of the cartridge is determined. Therefore, even when the type of the photosensitive recording medium stored in the cartridge is different, the type of the photosensitive recording medium is determined according to the type of the photosensitive recording medium. An appropriate image forming operation is performed.

[0030]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment of a photosensitive pressure-sensitive printer 80 as an image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a main part of the photosensitive pressure-sensitive printer 80.

As shown in FIG. 1, the photosensitive pressure-sensitive printer 80
In the upper part of the case 81, a light-shielding cartridge 67 as a photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge described in detail later is provided.
The microcapsule paper 37 as an unexposed photosensitive recording medium is accommodated in a cartridge 67 in a stacked state. The lamination state at this time is set so that a light-transmitting support 31 described later of the microcapsule paper 37 faces upward.

When the cartridge 67 is set at the predetermined position shown in FIG. 1, the microcapsule paper 37 accommodated in the cartridge 67 is taken out one by one by a half-moon shaped feeding roller 65 as taking-out means. The leading end of the microcapsule paper 37 is pulled out rightward toward the exposure table 66 by the feed roller 68.

The exposure table 66 is supported in the case 81 so as to be able to approach and separate from the exposure head 19 described later, and is urged upward by a spring (biasing means) 63. The exposure table 6
6 is integrally formed with a guide portion 661 which gradually curves from a position away from the exposure head 19 to a position in contact with the exposure head 19 from the left to the right in the figure and approaches the position. The leading end of the microcapsule paper 37 conveyed by the rollers 68 is guided by the guide portion 661 and enters between the exposure table 66 and the exposure head 19 against the urging force of the spring 63.

A preheater 64a, which is a film heater, is attached to the surface of the exposure table 66 where the microcapsule paper comes into contact. This preheater 64a
Is used to heat the capsule paper to a predetermined temperature in order to improve the photosensitivity when exposing the microcapsule paper 37 by the exposure head 19. This preheater 64
Reference symbol a denotes a configuration in which a conductive heating element is patterned on a thin film such as polyimide by printing or the like, and the film itself generates heat by current driving.

As will be described later in detail, the exposure head 19 is provided with LE, green, and blue light emitting elements.
D, and is attached to the lower portion of a carriage 48 which is supported by a guide shaft 49 and is capable of reciprocating in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG.

The carriage 48 slides on a circular guide shaft 49 fixed in the case so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the drawing (a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the microcapsule paper 37). It is supported as much as possible. A shaft 481 is provided on the left end surface of the carriage 48 on the microcapsule paper feeding side in a direction orthogonal to the guide shaft 49.
Are rotatably supported. On the other hand, a receiving shaft 491 is fixed in the case in parallel with the guide shaft 49, and the receiving roller 482 is placed on the upper surface of the receiving shaft 491 so that the carriage moves along the guide shaft 49. The receiving roller 482 rolls in conjunction therewith. The carriage 48 has a timing belt 59 as shown in FIG.
Is fixed, and the timing belt 59 is driven by a carriage drive motor 62 via a pulley 60 and a gear 61.
2 reciprocates in the X direction in FIG. 2 (the direction orthogonal to the plane of FIG. 1), and reciprocates the carriage 48.

When the carriage 48 reciprocates, the LED of the exposure head 19 attached to the carriage 48 is controlled to be turned on.
8, the microcapsule paper 37 passing through the facing portion between the exposure table 66 and the exposure head 19 is two-dimensionally exposed.

By such exposure, a latent image corresponding to the red, green and blue images is formed in a selective area of the microcapsule paper 37.

On the right side of the carriage 48,
Developing unit 45 as a developing unit having a point contact roller 46
Are arranged. The developing device 45 includes a point contact roller 46, a bearing 51, and an arm 483 as shown in FIG.
An arm support shaft 481 is provided on a side surface of the carriage 48 on the side where the microcapsule paper is discharged.
The arm 48 is protruded in a direction parallel to the upper end surface of the arm and in a direction perpendicular to the guide shaft 49.
One end of 3 is rotatably supported by a shaft. This arm 48
A bearing support shaft 482 extending parallel to the arm support shaft 481 protrudes from the other end of the arm 3, and an inner ring of a bearing 51 such as a ball bearing is attached to the bearing support shaft 482.

The point contact pressure roller 46 is formed in a ring shape, and has a circular cross-section perpendicular to the rotation center axis. The cross-section at the center is the largest and the cross-section is gradually reduced as the distance from the center increases. Is formed. The inner peripheral surface of the point contact pressure roller 46 is press-fitted and fixed to the outer ring of the bearing 51, and the point contact pressure roller 46 is rotatable around an axis parallel to the feed direction of the microcapsule paper 37.

On the other hand, a step portion 484 is formed on the carriage 48 so as to protrude above the arm 483. The step portion 484 is vertically moved along a direction orthogonal to the upper end surface of the base 47. Adjustable screw 485 for adjustable movement
, And a compression spring 486 is interposed between the tip of the adjusting screw 485 and the upper end surface of the arm 483. Therefore, the point contact pressure roller 46 is urged toward the upper end surface of the base 47 by the urging force of the compression spring 486. Further, the urging force of the compression spring 486 is
1 is urged in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1, but its rotation is regulated by the contact of the receiving roller 482 with the receiving shaft 491. The biasing force (pressing load) of the compression spring 486 can be arbitrarily adjusted by rotating the adjusting screw 485 to move forward and backward.

With the above construction, when the timing belt 59 of the carriage 48 is reciprocated by the carriage drive motor 62, the carriage 48 is reciprocated in parallel with the base 47, and the reciprocating movement causes the point contact. The pressure points of the rollers 46 are sequentially changed. Then, when the carriage 48 is moved along the guide shaft 49 to complete the pressure development of one line, the feed roller 68 is rotated by one line or an integral multiple of one line to convey the microcapsule paper 37 by a fixed amount, and again. By repeating the operation of performing one line of pressure development by moving the carriage 48, pressure development is performed over the entire development area.

At the point of pressurization by the point contact roller 46, the microcapsules are pressure-developed and broken by a small pressing force, and their inclusions (colorless dye precursor) flow out to cause a color development reaction with the color developer. Occur. And the point contact roller 46
The color image is visualized in the development area by the relative movement of the microcapsule paper 37 and the microcapsule paper 37.

Then, the carriage 48 is moved to a position outside the width region of the microcapsule paper 37 as shown in FIG. 2 (the same applies to the exposure head 19 and the developing unit 45 described later).
When the microcapsule paper 37 on which the latent image is formed is conveyed by the feed roller 68 and reaches a position on the base 47, the point contact roller 46 is moved by the carriage 48 to move the microcapsule paper 37. Will move up. In the state shown in FIG.
, The exposure table 66 is in direct contact.

Since the point contact roller 46 is urged toward the base 47 by a compression spring 486 as shown in FIG. 1, the microcapsule paper 37 is hardened by moving on the microcapsule paper 37. The capsule is destroyed, and a development reaction is performed by causing a color development reaction between the dye precursor, which is an inclusion, and the developer.

Further, further downstream of the paper path, a film-shaped post heater 64b is disposed on the right side of the developing unit 45, and the developed microcapsule paper 3 is provided.
7 is heated to about 60 to 80 ° C. by the post heater 64b to completely cure the capsule, and the dye precursor is enclosed in the capsule to form a final color output image. The configuration of the post heater 64b is the same as that of the pre-heater 64a. A discharge roller 75 is disposed downstream of the post heater 64 b, and discharges the light to the outside of the photosensitive pressure-sensitive printer 80 by the discharge roller 75.

The unexposed microcapsule paper 37 after exiting the cartridge 67 is kept in an unexposed state by a light-shielding cover or the like of the case 81. However, because of the processing when the microcapsule paper is jammed, Case cover 82
a is configured to be rotatable to a position 82b around an axis d perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. Therefore, the microcapsule paper that has jammed in the case can be removed with the case cover 82a opened.

Next, an electrical configuration according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 shows an electrical configuration of a control circuit (control means) of the photosensitive pressure-sensitive printer 80. The control circuit is CPU
70, a ROM 71, a RAM 72, and a well-known logical operation circuit.
3, a connector 74 for inputting RGB image data from an external host computer is connected, the exposure head (each LED) 20, a drive circuit 77 for a drive motor 78 of the feed roller 68, the carriage drive motor A drive circuit 76 for 62 is connected.

The ROM 71 includes a program for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus, a program for calculating and determining the lighting time and timing of each color LED of the exposure head 19 from input image data, and a program for determining the order of BGR exposure. To control the driving of the feed roller 68 and the discharge roller 75,
Various programs such as a program for transporting the microcapsule paper 37, a program for controlling the carriage driving motor 62 for carriage feed in accordance with the sequence of the BGR exposure, and a program for reciprocally scanning the carriage are stored. Operates according to these programs. The RAM 72 is a buffer in which external input data is temporarily stored. In the photosensitive pressure-sensitive printer 80,
When the RGB data of the output image is sent, the image data is sequentially stored in the buffer of the RAM 72.

Each LED of the exposure head 19 is connected to a flexible harness 487 by a drive circuit (not shown).
(See FIG. 2), and is electrically driven and controlled to be turned on and off according to image information.

Next, the microcapsule paper 37 as the photosensitive recording medium used in the above-described photosensitive pressure-sensitive printer 80 of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG.
Shows a cross-sectional structure of the microcapsule paper 37. On the surface of the light-transmitting support 31, a component (dye precursor, hereinafter referred to as a chromogen) which forms a color upon contact with a co-reactant as a coloring material is shown. And a component (photo-curable resin) whose mechanical strength changes (photo-curing) upon exposure to light of a predetermined wavelength, and a dye precursor (color) in the micro-capsule. A mixed coating layer 34 with a co-reactant (a color developer) 33 that reacts with the
On the mixed coating layer 34, a sheet-like support 35 is sequentially laminated.

There are three different types of microcapsules in the microcapsules 32. Each microcapsule has a colorless dye precursor for producing one of yellow, magenta, and cyan, and light It contains a photocurable resin that is cured by being exposed to light of each wavelength of the primary colors, and a polymerization initiator.

For this reason, for example, blue light (about 470 nm)
Is exposed to the microcapsule paper 37,
Microcapsule 3 containing yellow-only dye precursor
When the photocurable resin 2 is photosensitive-cured and pressure is applied to the microcapsule paper 37, the photosensitive-cured microcapsules (in this case, yellow) are not destroyed, and the uncured microcapsules (in this case, magenta, Cyan) is destroyed, and the magenta and cyan dye precursors flow out of the microcapsules and react with the color developer to form a color, which is mixed to become blue. This blue color is the light-transmitting support 3
Observed through 1.

When green light (light having a wavelength of about 525 nm) is exposed to the microcapsule paper 37, the photocurable resin of the microcapsules containing the magenta-only dye precursor is photosensitive-cured, and yellow and yellow are developed by pressure development. The cyan microcapsules 32 are destroyed, and the yellow and cyan dye precursors react with the developer to develop colors, respectively, and become green by color mixing.

Further, when the microcapsule paper 37 is exposed to red light (light having a wavelength of about 650 nm), the photocurable resin of the microcapsules containing the dye precursor of only cyan is photosensitive-cured, and is yellowed by pressure development. , Magenta microcapsules are destroyed, and the yellow and magenta dye precursors react with the color developer to develop colors, respectively, and become red by color mixing.

Further, when all the microcapsules are photosensitive-cured by exposure to light, they are not destroyed by pressure development, so that no color development occurs, and the surface of the sheet-like support 35 is passed through the light-transmitting support 31. It is visible. The white color on the surface of the sheet-like support 35 becomes the background color, and a color image is formed only in the portion where the color development reaction has occurred. Note that this principle of coloring is referred to as self-coloring. The light-transmitting support 3 of the microcapsule paper 37
The surface of No. 1 is referred to as a coloring side surface.

In the case of the present embodiment, the light-transmitting support 3
Examples of the material 1 include resin films such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and polyvinyl chloride.
Since the sensitivity of such a sensitive material using microcapsules greatly changes when stored under high humidity conditions,
It is desirable to select a moisture-resistant material for the light-transmitting support 31 and the sheet-shaped support 35, or to further apply the moisture-resistant material to the outer surface or the inner surface (the surface on the capsule side). As an example of such a moisture resistant material, an optical lens material such as an amorphous polyolefin can be widely selected.
Vapor deposition of iO _{2 and the} like can be mentioned.

In addition, the ultraviolet rays are emitted to the microcapsules through the light-transmitting support 31 to discolor the capsules to yellow and to prevent the chromaticity and density of a white background from changing. It is desirable to select a material having a low ultraviolet transmittance for the transparent support 31 or to apply a material having a low ultraviolet transmittance to the outer surface or the inner surface.

Examples of the microcapsules 32 include a chromogen of a triphenylmethane-based or spiropyran-based dye, a photocurable resin of an acryloyl group-containing compound such as trimethylolpropane triacrylate, benzophenone,
A photopolymerization initiator such as benzoylalkyl ether,
Known materials such as those encapsulated in polymer walls such as gelatin, polyamide, polyvinyl alcohol and polyisocyanate resin can be used.

The co-reactant 33 may be related to the composition of the chromogen in the microcapsule 32, but may be an acidic substance, for example, an inorganic oxide such as acid clay, kaolin, acidic zinc, or titanium oxide. A known developer such as a phenol novolak resin or an organic acid can be used.

The microcapsules 32 and co-reactant 3
3, a binder, a filler, a viscosity modifier and the like are further added, and the mixture is applied onto the light-transmitting support 31 by an application roller, a spray, a doctor knife, or the like to form a mixed coating layer 34.

As the sheet-like support 35, a transparent, translucent or opaque support, for example, paper (cellulose), synthetic paper, or a resin film such as polyester or polycarbonate can be used. The measures against the influence of humidity and ultraviolet rays are as described above.

Next, the configuration of the exposure head 19 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view showing only a main part of the exposure head 19 for exposing the microcapsule paper 37, FIG. 7 is a top view of the mask holding member 14, and FIG. It is.

The exposure head 19 comprises a plurality of types of light emitting elements 7, 8, 9 and a substrate 1 for supporting (fixing) them.
, Mask 13, mask holding member (mask holding means) 1
4 is provided.

In the present embodiment, a mortar-shaped concave portion 4 is formed on the surface of a flat substrate 1 made of glass epoxy by cutting or pressing, and the surface is further provided with an electric signal transmission device. The electrode layer 3 having a predetermined land pattern in a plan view is formed by electroless plating. After the required number of recesses 4 are formed at predetermined locations on the substrate 1 in this manner, the electrode layer 3 formed in a predetermined pattern is formed, and
Then, an LED as a light emitting element is bonded with a silver paste or an epoxy-based adhesive.

Then, the electrode layer 3 on the bottom surface 4a of the recess 4 is formed.
Red LED7, Green LED respectively with adhesive 6 on the surface
8, blue LED 9 is arranged and fixed. Here, the depths of the recesses 4 are red LED7, green LED8, blue LED9.
Is slightly deeper than the mounting height of
The tops of D7, D8 and D9 are located below the surface of the substrate 1. From the tops of the red LED 7, the green LED 8, and the blue LED 9, an electrical connection is made to a predetermined position of the electrode layer 3 of the land pattern by a bonding wire 10 made of a gold wire. It is sealed with a transparent sealing material 11 formed of a silicone resin-based thermosetting resin so as not to come into contact with air.

The red LED 7 is made of AlGa as its basic material.
As is used, and a DDH structure having a high output and known technology can be applied. The center wavelength of the output light is about 650 nm. There is one electrical terminal on the top and one on the bottom. Green L
The ED 8 and the blue LED 9 both use Ga as their basic material.
Those using N can be applied. The center wavelengths of the output light are about 525 nm and about 470 nm, respectively. There are two of these electrical terminals on the top and not on the bottom.
Each LED emits output light in all directions in the space by applying a current to two electrical terminals in a predetermined direction. A part of the output light emitted in all directions goes directly upward in the drawing, and the other part is reflected by the side surface 4b of the concave portion 4 and similarly emitted upward in the drawing.

Above the substrate 1, a mask 13 having a plurality of pinholes 12 (the same number as the number of light-emitting elements) having a circular through hole shape is positioned and arranged via a mask holding member 14. . The mask holding member 14 is mounted and fixed in a positioning boss hole 15 on the substrate 1.
A positioning groove 14a for holding a mask is formed on the upper end surface of the mask 4. The mask 13 is loaded in the positioning groove 14a, and the mask 13 is fixed to the substrate 1 by fixing means such as bonding.
And is fixed together. In the present embodiment, the mask 13 and the mask holding member 14 are integrally integrated with the substrate 1 by the sealing material 11.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the mask holding member 14, and the positions of the concave portions are also shown for convenience of explanation. The separation wall 2 is formed integrally with the mask holding member 14 so as to separate each of the recesses 4 formed on the substrate 1. As shown in FIG. 6, the separation wall 2 has its lower end surface in contact with the upper surface (including the upper surface of the electrode layer 3) of the non-recessed region of the substrate 1, and the upper end surface of the separation wall 2 has the mask. The light propagation space between the substrate 1 and the mask 13 is separated by the separation wall 2 for each light emitting element (LED).

FIG. 8 is a top view of the mask 13. The mask 13 is formed of stainless steel having a thickness of about 0.1 mm,
The outer shape and the pinhole 12 are processed by etching. In addition, the surface is blackened by a dipping method, which is a non-reflection treatment of light.

The pin hole 12 has a hole diameter of φ0.2 mm to φ
The diameter of the hole determines the resolution of the light pattern supplied to the microcapsule paper 37 as a photosensitive recording medium. In addition, φ0.
The 4 mm sub pinhole 39 is a pinhole for subexposure as described later. These pinholes 12 and 39 are formed facing the tops of the red LED 7, green LED 8 and blue LED 9, respectively.

In this embodiment, for image modulation exposure,
One set of three red LEDs 7a, 7b, 7c,
One set of three LEDs 8a, 8b, 8c for green,
One set of three LEDs 9a, 9b, 9c for blue is provided, and for the other one LED 8d for green and one LED 9d for blue, image modulation (desired image (Each of the red, green and blue LEDs is controlled to be turned on and off in accordance with image data to form them.) In FIG. 8, 7a
7c and 8a to 8d and 9a to 9d are respectively described in parentheses, and indicate the position of each LED.

In green and blue, up to a certain energy density level, there is a region where the density of the output image does not change even after light exposure (a region where the photosensitive resin of the microcapsules is not cured). A numerical example was obtained from microcapsule paper in which the density did not change even when the photosensitive material was exposed to an amount of 1/5 of the energy density required for the density change.
By constantly irradiating this 1/5 energy density amount irrespective of the image modulation exposure, the number of LEDs used can be reduced.

The reason why there is no sub-exposure LED in the red LED is that the microcapsules sensitive to red have a sufficiently low area where the density of the output image does not change compared to the blue or green microcapsules. That is, in the red exposure, the area where the density does not change due to the above sub-exposure is about 1/20 or less of the energy density required for the maximum density change.

The exposure head 19 having such a structure is moved at a predetermined speed V in, for example, the + X direction in FIG. 2 while modulating and exposing the corresponding LED according to the image data, and then the microcapsule paper 37 is moved in the Y direction in the figure. After one exposure line, the exposure head 19 is again subjected to modulation exposure while moving the exposure head 19 in the -X direction at the predetermined speed. Thereafter, the microcapsule paper is again sent one exposure line in the Y direction, and then the exposure head 19 is moved in the + X direction. And the operation of modulating and exposing the LED is repeated to perform exposure of a desired image. In this way, by independently modulating and driving each LED according to the image information while performing the moving scan, light of a predetermined center wavelength is output at a predetermined light power for a predetermined time,
By supplying the toner to a predetermined location, a latent image of a color image can be formed. Of course, LE for sub-exposure
D irradiates light to the entire image forming area of the microcapsule paper regardless of the modulation exposure.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing the time change of the moving speed of the carriage 48, and the movement of the carriage will be described with reference to FIG.

The carriage 48 is driven by a carriage drive motor (servo motor) 62 or the like to drive the carriage 48 at the maximum speed V (m).
/ Sec), scanning cycle T (sec), constant speed time Tc
It is reciprocated in a trapezoidal speed change pattern at (sec).

That is, as shown in FIG.
At a maximum constant scanning speed ± V (m / sec.) In the X direction in FIG. 2 (reciprocating scanning movement).
In FIG. 9, the portion inclined with respect to the time axis (horizontal axis) indicates a stop at the reciprocating moving end and a maximum constant scanning speed ±.
V (m / sec.) Indicates an acceleration range and a deceleration range. Also,
The time Tc is the time required for the carriage 48 to pass the entire distance in the width direction (X direction) of the microcapsule paper 37 (the time required for the maximum constant scanning speed), and is the reciprocating scanning period T.

Each of the exposure lines (one line along the X direction in FIG. 2) of the microcapsule paper 37 includes one set of the plurality of red LEDs 7, one set of the plurality of green LEDs 8, and the plurality of blue LEDs 9. One set is controlled to be turned on in accordance with image information. In this lighting control, one set of the red LEDs 7c, 7b, 7a and the green LE
D8c, 8b, 8a, one set of blue LEDs 9c, 9b,
9a, there is a set of mounting intervals (pinhole intervals), so that exposure to one point in the exposure line takes a time required for the scanning movement of the carriage 48 and a time required for the microcapsule paper 37 to be fed by the above-mentioned interval. Is performed in consideration of the delay time t corresponding to

The microcapsule paper 37 is preferably exposed and developed at a constant speed over the entire surface. For this reason, the moving distance L (m) at a constant speed corresponding to the minimum speed constant time Tc required for exposing and developing the microcapsule paper 37 is selected to be at least a range through which all the pinholes 12 pass. There must be. The constant speed moving distance L (m) is determined by the width of the microcapsule paper 37, the arrangement pattern of the pinholes 12, and the maximum speed V (m / sec.).
Can be freely designed. As a numerical example, L = 0.1118 (m) and V = 0.86 (m / sec.). Thus, the entire surface of the microcapsule paper 37 of A6 size can be exposed and developed.

Next, FIG. 1 shows a cartridge 67 as a photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge in this embodiment.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a view showing the cartridge 67, FIG. 10 (A) is a bottom view, FIG. 10 (B) is a plan view, FIG. 10 (C) is a left side view,
FIG. 10D is a sectional view taken along line AA, and FIG. 10E is a rear view.

As shown in FIG. 10, the cartridge 67 of this embodiment includes a first frame 20 and a first frame 2.
0, and a shutter member 22 for sealing the exposed opening of the second frame. FIG. 10D shows a state where light is shielded by these members.
The microcapsule paper 37 is stored as shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, each component will be described in detail.

First, FIG. 11 is a view showing the first frame 20, FIG. 11 (A) is a right side view, FIG. 11 (B) is a plan view, and FIG. 11 (C) is a BB sectional view. 11D is a bottom view, and FIG. 11E is a partially enlarged view showing a projection. As shown in FIG. 11B, a loading opening 20a for loading the microcapsule paper 37 is formed in the first frame 20, and a pressure pad 23 to be described later is formed at the bottom of the loading opening 20a. Is formed with a pressing opening 20b for exposing the back surface of the second member. 11A and 11B are provided on the side and back of the first frame 20.
As shown in (B) and FIG. 11 (E), the projections 20c are formed at a plurality of positions, and are fitted into the recesses formed in the second frame 21.

Next, FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the second frame 21, FIG. 12 (A) is a right side view, FIG. 12 (B) is a plan view, FIG. FIG. 11D is a bottom view. As shown in FIG. 11B, the second frame 21 has an exposure opening 21 for exposing the leading end surface of the microcapsule paper 37 loaded in the first frame 20.
The exposure opening 21a is opened or sealed by a shutter member 22 described later. In addition, on the side surface of the second frame 21, FIG.
As shown in (A), the protrusion 2 of the first frame 20
A concave portion 21b is formed at a position corresponding to 0c.
As described above, the fitting with the protrusion 20c is enabled.

Next, FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a pressure pad 23 as a photosensitive recording medium urging means.
13A is a plan view, FIG. 13B is a right side view, and FIG.
13C is a bottom view, and FIG. 13D is a front view. However, the pressure pad 23 is placed on the bottom of the loading opening 20a of the first frame 20 (FIG. 15).
(See (B)), the microcapsule paper 37 is placed on a large number of support portions 23a projecting from one surface of the flat substrate 23d of the pressure pad 23. 13 (B) and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3 (C), a convex portion 23b is formed, and the convex portion 23b is arranged so that the convex portion 23b is exposed from a pressing opening 20b formed in the first frame 20. Thus, the pressure pad 23 can be pressed from the outside of the first frame 20, and the pressing force urges the microcapsule paper 37 toward the above-described exposed opening 21 a of the second frame 21. 13 (A) through FIG. 13 (A).
As shown in (C), a support portion urging member 23c is formed, and the pressure pad 23 is attached to the first frame 20.
Is biased toward the bottom. That is, FIG.
As shown in (B), the support urging member 23c is
d is bent from the rear end toward the protrusion 23b, and the surface of the support urging member 23c on the protrusion 23b side is
By fixing to 0, the substrate 23d is urged to the first frame 20.

Next, FIG. 14 is a view showing the shutter member 22, FIG. 14 (A) is a plan view, FIG. 14 (B) is a front view, and FIG. 14 (C) is a right side view. Shutter member 2
Reference numeral 2 denotes a shutter surface portion 22a for closing the exposure opening 21a, as shown in FIG.
And an urging portion 22b as an elastically deformable shutter member urging means formed continuously with the pressing member 22. A supporting hole 22c is provided at a tip end of the urging portion 22b. Also, flange portions 22d are provided at four positions on the side of the shutter surface portion 22a. The support hole 22c is connected to the first frame 20 shown in FIG.
Of the flange portion 22d.
d is also adapted to engage with the guide portion 20e shown in FIG. 11B, and is attached as shown in FIG. 15A. At this time, the shutter member 22 is
Since b is attached so as to contract, it is urged in the direction of the arrow in FIG. However, as shown in FIG. 14D, a notch 22 f is provided at the tip end 22 e of the shutter member 22, and the notch 22 f engages with the front edge 20 e of the first frame 20. Therefore, FIG.
It is locked at the position shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 14 (A), the engaging projection 22 is provided on the shutter surface 22a.
g is provided, and the engaging projection 22g is provided as shown in FIG.
And a locking portion 21d provided in front of the guide groove 21c while moving within the guide groove 21c of the second frame 21 shown in FIG.
And the movement in the biasing direction is restricted as shown in FIG.

Then, the first frame, the second frame
Frame, pressure pad 23, shutter member 2
2 are formed of black polyester, the first frame 20 and the second frame 21 are fitted so as to close the loading opening 20a, and the shutter member 22 further moves the exposure opening 21a and the pressure Pad 2
3 closes the pressing opening 20b, thereby maintaining a high light-shielding property for the microcapsule paper 37.

The cartridge 67 configured as described above
As shown in FIG. 1, the mounting portion on the main body side on which
An engaging member 30 that engages with the engaging projection 22g is provided. When the cartridge 67 is mounted on the main body in the direction of arrow S as shown in FIG.
g is engaged with the urging portion 2
It is moved to the open position against the biasing force of 2b.

As a result, the exposed opening 21a provided in the second frame 21 is opened, and the first frame 20 is opened.
The leading end surface of the microcapsule paper 37 stored in the opening is exposed from the exposure opening 21a.

The apparatus main body is provided with a pressing spring 41 as an external urging means as shown in FIG. 1, and when the cartridge 67 is mounted, a pressing opening 20b provided in the first frame 20 is provided. The pressing spring 41 urges the convex portion 23b of the pressure pad 23 exposed from the pressure pad 23.

Thus, the leading end of the microcapsule paper 37 is urged toward the exposure opening 21a and can be pulled out of the cartridge 67. Therefore, by rotating the pick roller 65 provided in the main body clockwise as shown in FIG. 1, the microcapsule paper is pulled out of the cartridge 67, and is conveyed to the exposure / development unit by the feed roller 68 as a takeout means. Is done.

On the other hand, when the cartridge 67 is pulled out from the main body, the urging force of the engaging member 30 against the engaging convex portion 22g is released, so that the shutter member 22 is again actuated by the urging force of the urging portion 22b. The exposed opening 21a is sealed. Further, since the urging force of the pressure spring 41 against the convex portion 23b of the pressure pad 23 is released, the pressure pad 23 is urged toward the bottom surface side of the first frame 20 by the support member urging member 23c. The pressing opening 20b is sealed by the convex portion 23b or the back surface of the pressure pad 23. Accordingly, the cartridge 67 is in a light-shielding state, and does not expose the microcapsule paper 37 housed therein. In addition,
This urging toward the bottom portion is not essential for the light blocking state, and the pressing opening 20b and the microcapsule paper 3 are not required.
7 is provided on the first frame 20 and the pressure pad 23 for bending the optical path between the microcapsule paper 37 and the microcapsule paper 37 from the pressing opening 20b.
Can be cut off. Further, instead of bending the support member urging member 23c toward the convex portion 23b,
If the support member urging member 23c is formed to be bent toward the support portion 23a and the convex portion 23b side of the support member urging member 23c is attached to the first frame 20, the support member 23a or the support member 23a The tip side of the substrate 23d is in a raised state, and the support portion 23a is
Can be urged toward the exposure opening 21a. This is because the substrate 23d and the supporting member urging member 23c are curved in accordance with the number of the microcapsule paper 37, and are urged by the elastic restoring force. However, since this biasing force changes according to the number of microcapsule papers 37, a pressing opening 20b is provided in the first frame 20, and the substrate 23d or the convex portion 23b is moved from the printer main body side to the exposed opening 21a side by a spring or the like. The urging means may be urged. Microcapsule paper 37
This is for ensuring the removal from the cartridge 67 by urging the exposure opening 21a up to the sheet.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a light-shielding state is maintained when the microcapsule paper is not mounted on the main body and the microcapsule paper can be easily taken out when mounted on the main body. , The replenishment and replacement of the microcapsule paper can be facilitated, and a plurality of types of microcapsule paper can be used freely.

However, in order to further improve the light shielding effect on the microcapsule paper, the front edge 20e of the first frame 20 which engages with the front end 22c of the shutter member 22.
Further, as shown in FIG. 14 (E), a lashing paper 42 as a light shielding member may be attached. Further, the lashing paper or the like may be attached to the cutout portion 22f of the front end portion 22c of the shutter member 22.

In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the engaging member 30 and the engaging convex portion 22g are directly engaged to move the shutter member 22 to the open position. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, for example, the engagement member and the engagement protrusion 22g may be indirectly engaged by a cam mechanism or the like.

Further, the example in which the support member urging member 23c of the pressure pad 23 urges the microcapsule paper 37 toward the bottom surface has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the pressure pad 23 is not limited to this. May be configured to bias the supporting portion 23a toward the exposed opening 21a. With this configuration, the microcapsule paper 37 can be used without using the pressing spring 41.
Can be reliably biased toward the exposure opening 21a.
In this case, it is not necessary to provide the protrusion 23b and the pressing opening 20b.

Next, the cartridge determination means in this embodiment will be described in detail. In front of the first frame 20 of the present embodiment, an ID display means 20f formed in an uneven shape as shown in FIG. 11 is provided. This ID
The display means 20f is set such that the side closer to the side of the second frame 20 is the lower bit and the center is the upper bit, and has an information amount of 5 bits. That is,
The concave portions represent 0, and the convex portions represent 1, whereby it is possible to display 32 types of IDs.

Examples of the ID information include the date of manufacture of the microcapsule paper, sensitivity, and the like. The main body detects the ID information of the ID display means 20f, and performs color correction and the like according to the ID information. Do.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of switches 43 as detecting means are provided in the cartridge mounting portion of the apparatus main body at a position facing the ID display means 20f. The switch 43 is turned on by contacting the ID display means 20f. As a result, the unevenness of the ID display means 20f is detected as the ON / OFF state of the switch 32, and the output of the switch 43 is read by the CPU 70 to perform predetermined color correction and the like.

As described above, the determination means is constituted by the ID display means 20f and the switch 43, so that even if the type of the microcapsule paper is changed by the replacement of the cartridge 67 as described above, a fixed quality is always maintained. Image formation can be performed.

Although the present embodiment has been described with reference to the case where an uneven portion is used as the ID display means, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of cutout portions may be used, or a bar code or the like may be used. You may do it.

As described in detail above, the photosensitive pressure-sensitive printer 80 as the image forming apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified.

The photosensitive recording medium of the present invention is not limited to the above-described microcapsule paper, but can be variously modified. As the microcapsule paper, in addition to the above-mentioned self-coloring type, a transfer type can also be used. A transparent base sheet carrying microcapsules and a developing material surface of an image receiving paper carrying a developing material are superimposed on a microcapsule surface of the base sheet so as to be integrated in a releasable manner. May be fed from a cartridge with the exposure head side, exposed and developed as a unit, discharged outside the apparatus, and then the image receiving paper may be peeled off. The dye precursor as a color material that has flowed out of the microcapsules that have been broken by pressure is transferred to a developer on the image receiving paper, and reacts with the developer to develop a color and become visible.

Instead of the dye precursor, a pigment or dye colored in advance can be encapsulated in the microcapsule together with the photosensitive substance. In this case, transfer-type image formation is possible by integrating the image receiving paper (plain paper) without a developer into the base sheet in a releasable manner. This is because the peeling causes the image to appear on the image receiving paper.

Further, in addition to microcapsule paper, an image forming apparatus using a photosensitive recording medium such as a silver halide film, a diazo type photosensitive paper, etc., which is exposed to light and exposed to light and develops by exposure to light. If there is, there is a problem relating to the present invention, and equivalent effects can be obtained by using the solution of the present invention.

Further, the light emitting element is not limited to the LED alone, and various structures such as an EL light emitting element, a plasma light emitting element, and a laser light emitting element can be applied.

The light emitting element does not need to be made of red, blue and green, and various wavelengths can be selected according to the sensitivity characteristics of the photosensitive recording medium. For example, infrared light,
Red or green may be selected, or far infrared light, near infrared light, or red may be selected. Ultraviolet rays and far ultraviolet rays are also effective examples of color choices of the light emitting element.

The number of colors of the light emitting elements is not limited to three colors of red, green and blue, but may be one or two colors, or a normal color printer using yellow, magenta, cyan, and black as a color former. And four or more colors can be selected.

Further, as for the developing device, an example using a point contact type roller has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a cylindrical type roller which rolls on the base with the movement of the carriage. A roller may be used. Further, a ball body can be employed.

The structure of the cartridge 67 is as follows.
As described above, the configuration is not limited to the configuration in which the loading opening 20a is provided in the first frame 20 and the exposure opening 21a is provided in the second frame 21.
Conversely, it is also possible to provide the first frame 20 with an exposure opening and the second frame 21 with a loading opening.

[0113]

As described above, according to the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge according to the first aspect, the loading opening for receiving the photosensitive recording medium is closed by the first frame and the second frame. By sealing the exposure opening for taking out the recording medium from the cartridge with a shutter member, it is possible to maintain a high light-shielding property with respect to the photosensitive recording medium, and the shutter member is provided so as to be movable to an open position. By moving the shutter member against the urging force of the shutter member urging means, the photosensitive recording medium can be easily taken out from the exposure opening. Therefore, the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge can be easily attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus, and the exchange or replenishment of the photosensitive recording medium can be facilitated while the light shielding property of the photosensitive recording medium is maintained.

According to the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge of the present invention, at least one of the first frame and the second frame has a light-shielding member at a front edge of the exposed opening in the photosensitive recording medium discharge direction. Since the cartridge is attached, the light shielding property of the cartridge can be further improved, and the quality of the photosensitive recording medium can be maintained good.

According to the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge of the present invention, since the light shielding member is attached to at least the front edge of the shutter member in the photosensitive recording medium discharge direction, the light shielding property of the cartridge is further improved. As a result, the quality of the photosensitive recording medium can be favorably maintained.

According to the photosensitive recording medium accommodating cartridge of the fourth aspect, the photosensitive recording medium urging means for urging the photosensitive recording medium accommodated in the loading opening toward the exposure opening is further provided. The photosensitive recording medium can be easily taken out when the shutter member is moved to the open position, and the photosensitive recording medium can be taken out of the cassette without fail.

According to the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge of the present invention, the photosensitive recording medium urging means is provided at the bottom of the loading opening and supports at least the front end side of the photosensitive recording medium. Since a supporting portion and a supporting portion biasing member for biasing the supporting portion toward the exposure opening side are provided,
The photosensitive recording medium can be more easily removed, and the photosensitive recording medium can be more reliably removed from the cassette.

According to the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge of the present invention, the photosensitive recording medium urging means is provided at the bottom of the loading opening and supports at least the front end side of the photosensitive recording medium. Since the supporting portion and the pressing opening for exposing the back side of the supporting portion are provided, it is possible to further easily take out the photosensitive recording medium by pressing the supporting portion from the outside of the cartridge.

According to the image forming apparatus of the seventh aspect,
7. A mounting portion for detachably mounting the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge according to claim 1, an engagement member directly or indirectly engaging with the shutter member, and the cartridge. And a take-out means for taking out the photosensitive recording medium from the cartridge. When the cartridge is mounted, the exposure opening can be opened by engagement of the shutter member and the engagement member. Thus, the photosensitive recording medium can be reliably taken out of the cartridge and a good image forming operation can be performed. Also,
When the cartridge is removed from the mounting section,
The engagement between the shutter member and the engaging member is released, and the exposed opening can be sealed by the shutter member, so that the light-shielding property for the photosensitive recording medium can be maintained. Therefore, the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge can be easily attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus, and exchange or replenishment of the photosensitive recording medium can be facilitated while maintaining the light-shielding property of the photosensitive recording medium.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention,
A mounting portion for detachably mounting the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge according to claim 6, an engaging member directly or indirectly engaging with the shutter member, and the pressing opening portion when mounting the cartridge. An external urging means for urging the back surface of the supporting portion and an ejection means for taking out the photosensitive recording medium from the cartridge are provided, so that when the cartridge is mounted, the shutter member and the engaging member engage with each other. By opening the exposure opening and urging the support by an external urging means, the photosensitive recording medium is securely exposed to the exposure opening, and the cartridge is reliably exposed from the cartridge by the ejection means. A good image forming operation can be performed by taking out the recording medium. Also,
When the cartridge is removed from the mounting section,
Disengaging the shutter member and the engaging member to seal the exposed opening with the shutter member, and also releasing the biasing force between the external biasing means and the support portion,
The light-shielding property for the photosensitive recording medium can be maintained.
Therefore, the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge can be easily attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus, and exchange or replenishment of the photosensitive recording medium can be facilitated while maintaining the light-shielding property of the photosensitive recording medium.

According to the image forming apparatus of the ninth aspect,
Since the determination means for determining the type of the photosensitive recording medium containing cartridge is provided, even if the type of the photosensitive recording medium contained in the cartridge is different, an appropriate image forming operation corresponding to the type of the photosensitive recording medium can be performed. It can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a photosensitive pressure-sensitive printer for processing microcapsule paper according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a main part of the photosensitive pressure-sensitive printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a developing device for pressure-developing microcapsule paper in the printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the photosensitive pressure-sensitive printer illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a microcapsule paper used in the printer of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of an exposure head used in the printer of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a mask holding member of the exposure head of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top view of a mask of the exposure head of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a graph showing a moving speed of a carriage of the printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10A is a bottom view illustrating a schematic configuration of a photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention;
(B) is a plan view of the cartridge, (C) is a right side view of the cartridge, (D) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in (B), and (E) is a rear view of the cartridge.

11A is a left side view showing a schematic configuration of a first frame of the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 11B is a plan view of the first frame, and FIG.
Is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in (B) of the first frame,
(D) is a bottom view of the first frame, and (E) is a partially enlarged view showing a protrusion provided on the first frame.

12A is a right side view showing a schematic configuration of a second frame of the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 12B is a plan view of the first frame, and FIG.
Is a cross-sectional view of the first frame taken along line CC in FIG.
(D) is a bottom view of the first frame.

13A is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a pressure pad of a photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 13B is a right side view of the pressure pad, and FIG. Bottom view of (D)
FIG. 2 is a front view of the pressure pad.

14A is a plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of a shutter member of the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 14B is a front view of the shutter member, and FIG.
(C) is a right side view of the shutter member, (D) is a partially enlarged view showing a front end portion of the shutter member, and (E) is a front edge of a first frame engaged with the shutter member. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing a light-shielding member worn.

FIG. 15A is a plan view showing a state in which the second frame of the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention is removed, and FIG. 15B is a case where the photosensitive recording medium is removed from the state of FIG. It is a top view which shows the state of.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 Exposure head 20 1st frame 20a Loading opening 20b Pressing opening 20e Front edge 20f ID display means 21 Second frame 21a Exposure opening 22 Shutter member 22b Urging unit 23 Pressure pad 23a Supporting unit 23c Supporting unit urging unit 32 Microcapsule 33 Developing material 37 Microcapsule paper 40 Engagement member 41 Press spring 42 Lash paper 43 Switch 45 Developing device 65 Feed roller 67 Cartridge 68 Feed roller 70 CPU 80 Photosensitive pressure sensitive printer

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A microcapsule containing a photosensitive material and a colorant, the intensity of which changes when exposed to light of a predetermined wavelength, is carried.
A cartridge for housing a photosensitive recording medium on which a latent image of image information is formed by exposure, wherein a first frame having a loading opening for loading the photosensitive recording medium is formed, and the loading opening is closed. And a second frame fitted to the first frame so as to be formed at one end of the first frame and the second frame, and the leading end of the photosensitive recording medium accommodated in the loading opening. An exposure opening for exposing a surface; a shutter member movably provided between an opening position for opening the exposure opening and a sealing position for sealing the exposure opening; and the shutter member in the sealing position. A photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge, comprising: a shutter member urging means for urging. 2. A light-blocking member is attached to at least one of the first frame and the second frame in which the exposure opening is formed, at least at a front edge of the exposure opening in a photosensitive recording medium discharge direction. The cartridge for accommodating a photosensitive recording medium according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a light shielding member is attached to at least a front edge of the shutter member in a photosensitive recording medium discharge direction. 4. A photosensitive recording medium biasing means for biasing a photosensitive recording medium accommodated in said loading opening toward said exposure opening. The photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge according to claim 1. 5. The photosensitive recording medium urging means is provided at a bottom of the loading opening and supports at least the front end surface of the photosensitive recording medium, and connects the supporting portion to the exposure opening. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a support portion urging member that urges the support member. 6. The photosensitive recording medium urging means is provided at a bottom of the loading opening, and supports at least the front end side of the photosensitive recording medium, and the loading opening is formed therein. Provided on one of the first frame and the second frame, exposing a back side of the support portion,
5. The photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge according to claim 4, further comprising a pressing opening for urging the support portion toward the exposure opening by an external urging means. 7. A mounting section for removably mounting the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge according to claim 1, and a mounting section for mounting the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge on the mounting section. An engaging member that directly or indirectly engages with the shutter member and moves the shutter member to the open position against the urging force of the shutter member urging means; and the photosensitive member mounted on the mounting portion. A take-out means for taking out the photosensitive recording medium from the recording medium storage cartridge, an exposing means for exposing the taken-out photosensitive recording medium to light of a predetermined wavelength to form a latent image, and applying a pressure to the exposed photosensitive recording medium. Developing means for destroying the microcapsules having a low strength and causing the latent image to become visible with the coloring material flowing out of the broken microcapsules. An image forming apparatus. 8. A mounting portion for detachably mounting the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge according to claim 6, and when mounting the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge on the mounting portion, directly or indirectly to the shutter member. And an engagement member for moving the shutter member to the open position against the urging force of the shutter member urging means, and abutting against the back surface of the support portion from the pressing opening when the cartridge is mounted. The external urging means for urging the supporting portion toward the exposure opening side of the cartridge, and an ejecting means for ejecting the photosensitive recording medium from the photosensitive recording medium housing cartridge mounted on the mounting section. Exposure means for exposing a photosensitive recording medium to light of a predetermined wavelength to form a latent image, and microcapsules having a weak strength by pressing the exposed photosensitive recording medium. Broken, the image forming apparatus characterized by comprising a developing means for elicit the latent image by the coloring material that has flowed out of destroyed microcapsules. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a determination unit configured to determine a type of the photosensitive recording medium storage cartridge.