JPH10198042A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of making its constitution simple and compact and provided with a point-contact type developing means capable of being smoothly rotated over a long term. SOLUTION: One end of an arm 483 is freely rotatably fitted to a carriage 48 axially supported by a guide shaft 49, freely moved back and forth in the width direction of a microcapsule paper and set for supporting an exposure head by using an arm supporting shaft 481. Besides, a bearing 51 is supported by the other end of the arm 483 by using a bearing supporting shaft 482 and a point-contact roller 46 is engaged with the bearing 51. Then, the arm 483 is pressed by a compression spring 486.

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. More particularly, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that exposes image forming light using a plurality of light emitting elements.

[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.

In recent years, the present applicant has applied for an image forming apparatus of a type using a plurality of light emitting elements in order to expose a photosensitive recording medium with image forming light. In this type of image forming apparatus, a plurality of light emitting elements are fixed to an exposure head which is relatively moved along a photosensitive recording medium, and output light from the light emitting elements is blocked by a shielding plate having a pinhole (a through hole). (A mask) to selectively irradiate the photosensitive recording medium.

The exposure head includes a plurality of light emitting diodes as light emitting elements, and moves in the width direction of the photosensitive recording medium while illuminating the light emitting diodes, the lighting of which is controlled by control means, to perform one line scanning exposure. Do and
A predetermined exposure latent image is formed on the photosensitive recording medium by performing relative movement with respect to the photosensitive recording medium in the length direction of the photosensitive recording medium.

As a developing means for applying pressure to the microcapsules whose mechanical strength has been changed by exposure as described above, a system using a pair of pressure rollers as disclosed in the above-mentioned US Patent is known. As is known, since the pressure roller system is a line contact, the pressure of the roller must be set very large, and there is a problem that the apparatus becomes large and expensive.

Therefore, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-161153, a system using a point press ball has been proposed. Since the ball type is a point contact type, the pressure applied to the ball can be made extremely smaller than that of the roller type, and there is an advantage that the apparatus can be reduced in size and inexpensive.

[0008]

However, in the conventional apparatus using the ball type as the developing means, means for moving the developing means in the width direction of the photosensitive recording medium and moving the exposure head in the width direction are used. Since the means and the means are separately provided, there is a problem that the apparatus is enlarged.

Further, in the conventional apparatus, a ball supporting mechanism for securely supporting the ball and smoothly rotating the ball for a long period of time, and a ball urging mechanism for urging the ball to a photosensitive recording medium with an appropriate pressure. The mechanism became complicated, and further simplification was desired.

[0010] Furthermore, since the support mechanism and the urging mechanism are complicated, there is a problem that maintenance work such as cleaning of a ball becomes difficult.

In the conventional support mechanism, since the ball surface is received by the sliding support, the sliding resistance increases during long-term use, and the ball does not rotate and wears the surface of the photosensitive recording medium. There was sometimes. Further, there is a problem that the increase in the sliding resistance increases the moving force of the exposure head and causes the drive motor to lose synchronism or decrease in speed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned various problems, and a point-contact type developing means which has a simple and compact structure and can be smoothly rotated for a long period of time is provided. It is an object to provide an image forming apparatus having the same.

[0013]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a microcapsule including a photosensitive component and a color material, the intensity of which changes when exposed to light of a predetermined wavelength; A light-emitting element for exposing a photosensitive recording medium on which a latent image of image information is formed by exposure, an exposure head for forming an exposure latent image on the photosensitive recording medium, and the exposure head A first feed means for supporting the photosensitive head along the photosensitive recording medium so as to be relatively movable in a first direction, and a second feeding means intersecting the first direction between the photosensitive recording medium and the exposure head. And second micro-capsules attached to the first micro-medium, which presses the exposed photosensitive recording medium to destroy weak microcapsules, and breaks the microcapsules. Said color leaked from A developing member for visualizing the latent image, a supporting member rotatably supporting the pressing member at least in the first direction, and A developing unit having an urging member for urging the recording medium side, and a surface of the developing unit facing the pressing member, and the photosensitive recording medium is held between the opposing surface and the pressing member. And a photosensitive recording medium mounting means.

According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect,
When the exposure head is relatively moved in the first direction along the photosensitive recording medium by the first feeding means, the exposure of the photosensitive recording medium is performed by the light emitting element of the exposure head, and the microcapsules exposed by the exposure are exposed to light. The intensity changes and an exposure latent image is formed. Further, the relative movement between the exposure head and the photosensitive recording medium occurs in the second direction intersecting the first direction by the second feeding means, so that the photosensitive recording medium is two-dimensionally exposed. Become. On the other hand, the first feeding means is a developing means provided with a pressing member rotatably supported in the first direction by a supporting member and urged toward the photosensitive recording medium by an urging member. The photosensitive recording medium sandwiched between the pressing member of the developing means and the photosensitive recording medium placing means is rotated by the rotation of the pressing member accompanying the movement of the first feeding means. Then, the microcapsules having low strength are broken by the pressing of the pressing member by the urging member, and the latent image is made visible by the coloring material flowing out of the broken microcapsules. As described above, in a small-sized device in which the developing unit is attached to the first feeding unit, a reliable developing operation is performed by a simple supporting mechanism and an urging mechanism.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the supporting member includes an arm member rotatably supported by the first feeding means; A bearing member attached to the arm member for rotatably supporting the pressing member, wherein the urging member is provided so as to contact the supporting member.

According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect,
The pressure member is supported by an arm member rotatably supported by the first feeding means and a bearing member attached to the arm member. Microcapsules are destroyed by pressing and moving on the photosensitive recording medium.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect,
The pressure member is rotatably supported by a rolling bearing.

According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect,
Since the pressing member is rotatably supported by the rolling bearing, the pressing member is favorably rotated for a long period of time, and the surface of the photosensitive recording medium is not damaged due to poor rotation.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the relative movement in the second direction is performed by the second feeding means. It is characterized in that it further comprises an urging force canceling means for canceling the urging of the photosensitive recording medium by the pressing member of the developing means when generating.

According to the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect,
The urging of the pressure member is released by the urging force releasing means when the photosensitive recording medium and the exposure head are relatively moved in the second direction by the second feeding means. Therefore, a favorable exposure operation and a favorable developing operation are performed without hindering the relative movement.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the urging force releasing means is configured to move a pressure portion of the developing means by a pressing member from the photosensitive recording medium. It is characterized in that the first feeding means is controlled so as to be separated.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, the urging force releasing means controls the first feeding means to separate a pressing portion of the pressing member from the photosensitive recording medium. Therefore, even if the urging force is not adjusted by the urging member, the relative movement between the photosensitive recording medium and the exposure head is not hindered.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the pressing member is provided at a rotation center axis of the pressing member. The cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the cross-section is substantially circular, and the cross-sectional shape including the rotation center axis is an arc shape having a predetermined radius of curvature at least at the pressure tip.

According to the image forming apparatus of the sixth aspect,
The cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the rotation center axis of the pressing member is substantially circular, and the cross-sectional shape including the rotation center axis is an arc shape having a predetermined radius of curvature at least at the pressing front end portion. As a result, the photosensitive recording medium is reliably pressed even with a relatively small urging force.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the photosensitive recording medium has different wavelengths of light to be exposed, and A plurality of types of capsules having different material colors are supported, and the exposure head has a plurality of light emitting elements for irradiating the photosensitive wavelength light for each type of the capsules.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention,
A plurality of types of capsules having different wavelengths of light to be exposed and having different colors of the coloring material are carried on the photosensitive recording medium, and the exposure is performed by a plurality of light emitting elements that emit photosensitive wavelength light for each type of the capsules. Therefore, a good color image is formed.

[0027]

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, the light-shielding cartridge 6
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, and fed by a feeding roller 68.
As a result, the leading end of the microcapsule paper 37 is drawn rightward toward the exposure table 66.

The exposure table 66 is supported in the case 81 so as to be able to contact and separate from the exposure head 20 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 that gradually curves and approaches from a position away from the exposure head 20 to a position contacting the exposure head 20 from left to right in the drawing. 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 20 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 20. 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 20 has LE, green, and blue light-emitting elements.
D, and is attached to a lower portion of a carriage 48 as first feeding means 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 plane of the drawing (a direction perpendicular to the direction of transport 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 LEDs of the exposure head 20 attached to the carriage 48 are controlled to be turned on. And the exposure table 66
The microcapsule paper 37 passing through the portion facing the exposure head 20 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
The point contact roller 46 moves on a base 47 provided so as to face the point contact roller 46 while rotating as the carriage 48 reciprocates.

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 20 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.

As shown in FIG. 1, the point contact roller 46 is fixed to the base 47 by a compression spring 486 as an urging member.
Since it is urged in the direction, the uncured capsule of the microcapsule paper 37 is broken by moving on the microcapsule paper 37, and a color-forming reaction occurs between the dye precursor, which is an inclusion, and the developer. And develop.

Further, a film-like post heater 64b is disposed on the right side of the developing unit 45 further downstream on the paper path, 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 leaving 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, the electrical configuration of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 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 has 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 20 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 20 is connected to a flexible harness 487 by a driving 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 a 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, 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 on the microcapsule paper 37, the photocurable resin of the microcapsules containing the magenta-only dye precursor is photosensitive-cured, and yellow and yellow 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 do not break down even when pressure-developed, so that color development does not occur, 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 this 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, when ultraviolet rays are radiated to the microcapsules through the light-transmitting support 31, the capsules are discolored to yellow and the chromaticity and density of the white background are prevented 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 chromogens of triphenylmethane-based and spiropyran-based dyes, photocurable resins of acryloyl group-containing compounds 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, 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, referring to FIGS. 8 to 10,
The configuration of the exposure head 20 according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view showing only a main part of the exposure head 20 for exposing the microcapsule paper 37, FIG. 9 is a top view of the mask holding member 14, and FIG. It is.

The exposure head 20 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 glass epoxy flat plate-shaped substrate 1 by cutting or pressing, and the surface is further provided with an electric signal for transmitting an electric signal. 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.

The electrode layer 3 on the bottom surface 4a of the recess 4
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 (the same number as the number of light emitting elements) a plurality of pinholes 12 each 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. 9 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. 8, 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. 10 is a top view of the mask 13. The mask 13 is formed of stainless steel having a thickness of about 0.1 mm, and its 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 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.

As shown in FIG. 10, in this embodiment, three red LEDs 7a, 7a are used for image modulation exposure.
b, 7c, one set, three green LEDs 8a, 8
b, 8c, one set, three blue LEDs 9a, 9
b and 9c, and one LED 8d for green and one LED 9d for blue are subjected to image modulation (red, blue, green, and LED on / off control according to image data)
It is separately provided as an exposure light source for sub-exposure unrelated to the above. In FIG. 8, 7a to 7c, 8a to 8d, and 9
Each of a to 9d is described in parentheses, and indicates 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 region 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 20 having such a configuration 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 20 is again subjected to modulation exposure while moving the exposure head 20 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 20 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. 11 is a graph showing the change over time 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 at a 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.
8 is reciprocated (reciprocating scanning) in the X direction of FIG. 2 at the maximum constant scanning speed ± V (m / sec.). In FIG. 11, the portion inclined with respect to the time axis (horizontal axis) is an acceleration region / deceleration region between the stop at the reciprocating movement end and the maximum constant scanning speed ± V (m / sec.). Is shown.
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).
The reciprocating scanning period T is assumed.

Each exposure line (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, the developing means in this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 4 to 6.
FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the developing device 45 as a developing means for developing the microcapsule paper 37. Note that the exposed microcapsule paper 37 is not shown for simplicity.

In the present embodiment, the developing unit 45 includes a point contact roller 46 as a pressing member and an arm 483 as an arm member, and is attached to the carriage 48 by an arm support shaft 481.

The arm support shaft 481 is
Is provided on the side surface on the microcapsule paper discharge side in a direction parallel to the upper end surface of a base 47 as a photosensitive recording medium mounting means and in a direction perpendicular to the guide shaft 49. One end of the 483 is rotatably supported at one end.

At the other end of the arm 483, a bearing support shaft 482 extending in parallel with the arm support shaft 481 is projected, and the bearing support shaft 482 is provided with an inner ring of a bearing 51 such as a ball bearing. I have.

The point contact roller 46 has a ring-shaped cross section perpendicular to the rotation center axis, and the cross section including the rotation center axis has a predetermined shape at least at the pressing tip 46a as shown in FIG. Of a radius of curvature of In the present embodiment, the pressing tip 46a is formed such that the cross-sectional diameter at the center thereof is the largest, and the cross-sectional diameter gradually decreases as the distance from the center increases. That is,
The outer peripheral surface of the roller is a curved surface whose center is convex.

The inner peripheral surface of the point contact roller 46 is press-fitted and fixed to the outer ring of the bearing 51. Therefore, the point contact roller 46 is rotatable around an axis parallel to the feeding 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 extends vertically along a direction perpendicular to the upper end surface of the base 47. Adjustable screw 485 for adjustable movement
Is inserted, and a compression spring 486 as an urging member is inserted between the tip of the adjusting screw 485 and the upper end surface of the arm 483. Therefore, the point contact roller 46 is urged toward the upper end surface of the base 47 by the urging force of the compression spring 486. The urging force of the compression spring 486 urges the carriage 48 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1, but its rotation is restricted by the contact of the receiving roller 482 with the receiving shaft 491. By rotating the adjusting screw 485 to move forward and backward, the compression spring 48 is moved.
The urging force (pressing load) of No. 6 can be arbitrarily adjusted.

The point contact roller 46 is disposed so as to elastically engage with the microcapsule paper 37 in this manner.
By moving the carriage 48 along the guide shaft 49,
When the pressure development of the line is completed, 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 the carriage 48 is moved again to perform the pressure development of one line. By repeating, pressure development is performed over the entire development area.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the developing means is attached to the carriage 48, the size of the apparatus can be reduced, and the developing means is provided by using the rotatable arm 483 and the ball bearing 51. Thus, the increase in the sliding resistance can be suppressed for a long time as compared with the conventional ball type, and the surface of the microcapsule paper 37 can be prevented from being worn. Further, the load on the carriage drive motor 62 for driving the carriage 48 is not increased, and the carriage drive motor 6
2 can prevent loss of synchronism and speed.

Further, the developing device 45 as the developing means in this embodiment is provided with a microcapsule paper 37 by point contact.
The developing process is realized by elastically pressing the surface, and the urging force on the point contact roller 46 can be reduced as compared with the conventional pressure roller type. However, the present invention is not limited to point contact, and may be a cylindrical roller that rolls on the base as the carriage moves. Also, a ball body can be employed.

In the present embodiment, when the microcapsule paper 37 is fed to the feed roller 68, the carriage driving motor 62 is moved by the CPU 70 as urging force releasing means to move the carriage 48 to the retracted position shown in FIG. Controlling the microcapsule paper 3 of the point contact roller 46
7 is released and the microcapsule paper 37 is released.
Is configured so as not to hinder the transfer. With this configuration, the microcapsule paper 37 can be satisfactorily conveyed without adjusting the urging force of the compression spring 486.

However, the present invention is not limited to this. The urging force releasing means for releasing the urging force of the point contact roller 46 by moving the arm 483 by an actuator is provided. Good conveyance may be realized.

Further, the biasing member of the point contact roller 46 is not limited to the pressing spring 486, but may be replaced by various members such as a pneumatic device, a hydraulic device, and a solenoid. It is also possible to use not only an elastic body but also an electromagnetic force. In short, any biasing means between the point contact roller and the base side (microcapsule paper side) may be used.

Further, the base 47 can be formed into a roller shape in addition to the flat surface, and can be used for feeding the microcapsule paper 37.

The carriage drive motor 62 is capable of controlling the direction and amount of rotation, and may employ an open-loop control pulse motor. Also,
In addition to the pulse motor, a general DC / AC motor or the like can be used.

When the point contact roller is supported using the arm 483 as in the present embodiment, the arm 483
The receiving surface 483a on the side of the carriage 48
It is preferable that the bearing support shaft 482 be perpendicular to the receiving surface 483a. With such a configuration, the locus of the point contact roller 46 during the reciprocating operation becomes substantially linear, and a stable developing operation can be realized.

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.

In place of the dye precursor, a pre-colored pigment or dye may 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 the 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 to develop it, becomes visible when exposed 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.

Further, the light emitting element does not need to be composed 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.

Further, the number of colors of the light emitting elements is not limited to three colors of red, green and blue, and 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.

[0098]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the pressing member and the supporting member for rotatably supporting the pressing member at least in the first direction are provided. Since the developing means having an urging member for urging the pressure member toward the photosensitive recording medium is attached to the first feeding means, the feeding means for the exposure head and the developing means can be shared. The size of the device can be reduced. Further, since the developing means is constituted by a rotatable support member and a pressing member supported by the support member, the developing means can be easily manufactured, and maintenance work such as cleaning can be facilitated. Can be planned. As a result, the urging and the rotational movement of the pressing member can be kept good for a long time, and a good developing operation can be performed for a long time.

According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect,
The urging member includes an arm member rotatably supported by the first feed means and a bearing member attached to the arm member for rotatably supporting the pressing member. Abutted against the support member, good pressure on the photosensitive recording medium is realized with a simple configuration, and
The microcapsules are satisfactorily destroyed by the smooth movement on the photosensitive recording medium, and a good developing operation can be performed.

According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect,
Since the pressure member is rotatably supported by the rolling bearing, the pressure member can be favorably rotated for a long period of time, and damage to the photosensitive recording medium surface due to poor rotation can be prevented. In addition, since a large load is not applied to the driving unit of the first feeding unit, a favorable image forming operation can be performed for a long time.

According to the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect,
By the urging force canceling means, the second feeding means
During the relative movement between the photosensitive recording medium and the exposure head in the direction of, the biasing of the pressure member is released, so that the relative movement is not hindered, a good exposure operation,
Further, a good developing operation can be performed.

According to the image forming apparatus of the fifth aspect,
The urging force canceling means controls the first feeding means so as to separate a pressure portion of the developing means by the pressing member from the photosensitive recording medium, so that the photosensitive recording medium and the exposure head are controlled. This eliminates the need for special adjustment of the urging force by the urging member for smoothly performing relative movement with the urging member.

According to the image forming apparatus of the sixth aspect,
Since the cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the rotation center axis of the pressing member is substantially circular, and the cross-sectional shape including the rotation center axis is an arc shape having a predetermined radius of curvature at least at the pressing tip portion, the pressing member is Point contact can be made with the photosensitive recording medium, and the necessary urging force can be reduced. Also,
The size of the image forming apparatus can be reduced by reducing the size of the developing unit.

According to the image forming apparatus of the seventh aspect,
A plurality of light emitting elements that carry a plurality of types of capsules having different wavelengths of light to be exposed on the photosensitive recording medium and different colors of the coloring material, and irradiating the exposure head with photosensitive wavelength light for each type of the capsules. Therefore, a good color image can be formed by the good developing operation described above.

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

FIG. 4 is a front view of a developing device for pressure-developing microcapsule paper in the printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a point contact roller in the developing device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the developing device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of a microcapsule paper used in the printer of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of an exposure head used in the printer of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a top view of a mask holding member of the exposure head of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a top view of a mask of the exposure head of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing a moving speed of a carriage of the printer of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 7, 8, 9 Light-emitting element 20 Exposure head 32 Microcapsule 33 Developing material 37 Microcapsule paper 45 Developing device 46 Point contact roller 47 Base 48 Carriage 51 Bearing 68 Feed roller 70 CPU 80 Photosensitive printer 481 Arm support shaft 482 Bearing Support shaft 483 Arm 486 Compression spring

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI G03D 13/00 G03F 7/004 514

Claims (7)

[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 light-emitting element for exposing a photosensitive recording medium on which a latent image of image information is formed by exposure; an exposure head for forming an exposure latent image on the photosensitive recording medium; and A first feeder that supports the medium so as to be relatively movable in a first direction along the medium; and a second direction intersecting the first direction between the photosensitive recording medium and the exposure head. A second feeding means for generating a movement; and a microcapsule having a weak strength which is attached to the first feeding means and presses the exposed photosensitive recording medium to destroy the weak microcapsule, and which flows out of the broken microcapsule. Developing means for visualizing the latent image with a coloring material,
Developing means having a pressing member, a supporting member for rotatably supporting the pressing member in at least the first direction, and a biasing member for biasing the pressing member toward the photosensitive recording medium; A photosensitive recording medium mounting means having a surface facing the pressure member of the developing means, and sandwiching a photosensitive recording medium between the surface and the pressure member. Image forming apparatus. 2. The support member includes an arm member rotatably supported by the first feed means and a bearing member attached to the arm member for rotatably supporting the pressing member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the urging member is provided so as to contact the support member. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure member is rotatably supported by a rolling bearing. 4. When a relative movement is generated in a second direction by the second feeding means, an urging force releasing means for releasing the urging of the photosensitive recording medium by the pressing member of the developing means is provided. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the urging force canceling unit controls the first feeding unit so that a pressing portion of the developing unit by a pressing member is separated from the photosensitive recording medium. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 6. The pressing member has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the rotation center axis of the pressing member, and has a predetermined radius of curvature at least at the pressing tip portion including the rotation center axis. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the image forming apparatus has an arc shape having: 7. The photosensitive recording medium carries a plurality of types of capsules having different wavelengths of light to be exposed and different colors of the coloring material, and the exposure head irradiates a plurality of types of capsules with photosensitive wavelength light for each type of the capsules. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: a light emitting element.