JPS6123116B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a transfer recording method, and particularly to a transfer recording method that includes a thermal transfer mechanism and belongs to the so-called non-impact printing method.

Nowadays, a wide variety of recording devices are widely used in practical use, and as shown by the fact that so-called plain and paper copying machines that use the Carlson process are experiencing rapid growth in the market, they are becoming more and more consumables. The trend of the times is that a recording device that transfers and records onto plain paper without using special paper as the recording paper is desirable from the viewpoints of paper cost, operability, recording feeling, pollution, etc. I can say that.
Among such recording devices, for example, devices using an electrophotographic method or an electrostatic printing method have the disadvantage that they require complicated mechanisms, are larger, and inevitably have higher costs. However, there are limits to its application as a simple printer that can be incorporated into a desktop calculator, for example.

On the other hand, as a relatively simple device,
From above the ink ribbon, type platen, hammer,
It is true that so-called impact-type recording devices, which print on paper by applying an impact with a wire dot, etc., are widely used, but the common drawbacks of these devices are that they make a lot of noise when printing and recording, and that the mechanical Since there are many moving parts, printing speed cannot be increased, and there are many failures due to parts wear, etc., and maintenance is troublesome. Wire dot impact devices, which are said to have relatively few drawbacks, have many large built-in electromagnets, which makes it difficult to make the head compact, and it consumes a large amount of power to operate the electromagnets. There are problems. In any case, if the printing frequency is high, it is a hassle to frequently replace the ink ribbon, and if a thick tape that can be used repeatedly is used, there is a disadvantage that the printing quality deteriorates significantly.

Furthermore, as a transfer recording method to solve the above-mentioned problems, Japanese Patent Publication No. 40-25388 discloses a method in which a layer of ferromagnetic material is exposed to a thermal pattern having the same shape as the shape of the image to be reproduced. , a transfer recording method is described in which a potential magnetic field pattern formed by raising the heated portion above the Curie point temperature of the ferromagnetic material is developed and transferred with magnetically attracted particle material. has been done. However, with this method,
Recording is completed after the four processes of forming a latent image, developing it, transferring it, and fixing it, and it is difficult to avoid making the device complicated and large.

Therefore, the present invention provides a transfer recording method that uses magnetic attraction force without noise and does not require an ink ribbon, and that can perform transfer recording using a compact device with few mechanical moving parts. The purpose is to provide.

The transfer recording method according to the present invention includes a step of holding developer particles on a base material by magnetic attraction, and a step of applying a thermal image and heating the developer particles and the base material to cause magnetic attraction between the developer particles and the base material. This method is characterized by the step of releasing the force and transferring the developer particles to the transfer medium by the adhesive force caused by softening or melting the heated developer particles.

Another transfer recording method according to the present invention includes the step of holding the developer particles on a base material by magnetic attraction, and the step of attaching the developer particles and the base material by applying a thermal image and heating the developer particles and the base material. This method is characterized by having a step of magnetically repelling the developer particles to transfer them to a transfer medium.

The transfer recording method according to the present invention is a method that actively incorporates changes in the magnetic attraction relationship between the base material and developer particles during the thermal transfer process. For example, it is well known that a ferromagnetic material is heated and its magnetism disappears when it exceeds its Curie point temperature. Among these, ferromagnetic chromium dioxide has a Curie point temperature of 123 to 125 degrees Celsius, which is relatively low. Furthermore, by adding other metals such as oxides of zinc, copper, magnesium, etc., the Curie temperature can be further lowered, as already reported by Akashi et al. This is disclosed in the official bulletin.

It has also been reported that when the temperature of gatorium iron garnet ferrite (GdIG) is raised from a low temperature, the magnetization becomes 0 at 130°C, and the magnetization reverses at this temperature (this temperature is called the reversal temperature).

In the present invention, this phenomenon is understood as a phenomenon in which the magnetic attraction between the base material and the developer particles is released or the two repel each other, and the temperature at which this phenomenon occurs is collectively referred to as the magnetic transformation temperature.

Figure 1 shows that the ferromagnetic material has the property of reversibly exhibiting and disappearing magnetism at the Curie temperature, and at the same time, the developing particles are A mode in which the image is transferred to a transfer medium is shown. In this example, the base material 12 and the developer particles 11 are made of a strong material having a Curie point in a temperature range that can be increased by heating by the heat application means 14 (up to a hundred and several tens of degrees at most when a thermal head is used). Magnetic material includes a ferromagnetic material such as chromium dioxide type, manganese bismuth type, ferrite type, cobalt phosphorus type, cadmium cobalt type, europium oxide type, manganese antimony type, chromium tellurium type, manganese arsenic type, etc. The transfer medium 13 consisting of the base material 12 and the developer particles 11 held thereon by magnetic attraction is arranged in close proximity to or in contact with the transfer medium 16. ing. Heat 15 by heat application means 14 (preferably a thermal head)
When either the base material 12 or the developer particles 11, or both, are heated above the Curie point by heating both the base material and the developer particles, at that point,
The magnetic attraction between the two is temporarily released (the attraction reappears when the temperature drops below the Curie point), and the developer particles are more easily covered than if only due to the adhesive force due to softening or melting of the developer particles. The image is transferred to the transfer medium 16. Such transcription can be done even more quickly, and
In order to make this happen effectively, the following measures may be taken. That is, a device 17 that applies a magnetic field or an electric field to attract the developer particles toward the transfer medium 16 is provided, and a heater 18 that performs bias heating is also provided to attract the developer particles. By using a material that is only softened or melted by the interaction of heat from the heater 18 and the heat applying means 14, transfer and fixing can be achieved simultaneously.

As the heat application means, various thermal heads used for printing on conventional thermosensitive recording paper can be preferably used. Includes semiconductor type, thick film type, thin film type, and other heat generation types. As for the shape, any type such as 5x7 matrix, 1x7 matrix, segment, line multi, etc. can be used. Depending on the type of head, various modifications can be made to the drive method of the head, the method of attaching the belt, etc. Generally, a thermal head prints while sliding on the surface coated with a heat-sensitive material of thermal paper, so there are problems such as print residue adhering to the head surface and abrasion of the head surface.However, when used in the recording device of the present invention, Since the surface of the thermal head mainly slides on a smooth, unprocessed base material surface, there is no adhesion of print scum or excessive wear, and there is an advantage that the service life can be extended. Furthermore, if the softening point or melting point of the developer particles is set to a relatively low value of around 60 to 200°C, the thermal head can be operated effectively, which increases the recording speed and is also better for the life of the head itself. have an effect. The transfer medium used in the present invention may be paper, cloth, resin film, etc., but is preferably ordinary paper. The transfer medium and the medium to be transferred are preferably made of a material that has appropriate heat resistance and mechanical strength, and has good thermal conductivity. In such embodiments, the heat applying means (e.g., a thermal head) may be arranged to slide over the medium to be transferred in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the medium, and the heat applying means (for example, a thermal head) may be arranged to slide on the medium in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the medium, and the heat applying means (for example, a thermal head) may be arranged to slide on the medium in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the medium. It may be in contact with the entire width. The developer particles are, for example, particles coated with a kneaded product of a heat-softening/melting material containing dyes, pigments, etc., of ferromagnetic powder, or mixed particles of a fine ferromagnetic powder and the kneaded powder. used.

A further aspect is illustrated by FIG. Some ferromagnetic materials reversibly reverse their magnetism at a certain temperature. For example, by including such a material in the base material, during the transfer process,
The magnetic repulsion between the substrate and developer particles can be utilized. The transfer medium 23 is magnetized in a predetermined direction at position 22, carries developer particles at position 21, is transported in the direction of the arrow shown, and is magnetized at position 26 by heat application means 24 while in contact with the transfer medium 25. Transfer recording is performed on the transfer medium 25 by applying the thermal image. Note that heat application means 2
4 may be placed on the transfer medium 23 side, ie, at the 27th position, instead of the 26th position. The developer particles are ferromagnetic powder coated with a kneaded mixture of a coloring component such as a pigment or dye and a low melting point substance, or a mixture of ferromagnetic powder and kneaded powder. Reference numeral 28 denotes a container containing this, and is arranged so as to attract the developer particles onto the magnetized base material. For convenience of maintenance, the container is preferably in the form of a cartridge or the like, which can be easily removed and replaced, and made of a material that is magnetic, such as plastic.

Also, the transfer medium 25 is preferably plain paper and requires developer particles corresponding to the thermal pattern.

After transfer recording is performed, the transfer medium is demagnetized at position 511, and at the same time, developer particles are removed here. Next, through processes such as remagnetization by the magnetic head 22 and adsorption of developer particles, the original state is revealed.

In this way, the transfer medium 23 can be used repeatedly, requiring only occasional replenishment with consumable developer particles, and which can be continuously maintained over long periods of time with only extremely simple maintenance such as cartridge replacement. Can record.

As described above, in the transfer recording method according to the present invention, firstly, development and transfer recording are simultaneously performed according to the thermal image provided by the heat applying means, so that the number of steps for recording is small and simple.

Second, no noise is generated during recording.

Thirdly, there are fewer mechanically moving parts involved in recording, making recording control easier, and moreover, failures are less likely to occur.

Fourth, high-speed recording is possible and the recording is of good quality.

Fifth, it can be recorded on plain paper.

Sixth, continuous recording is possible by replenishing developer particles only to the area required for transfer, and furthermore,
Its supply is extremely easy.

Seventh, it is possible to use a thermal head that can be controlled by signals using an IC, LIS, etc. and operates with a small voltage, and can be configured compactly.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are explanatory diagrams each showing one embodiment of the transfer recording method according to the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11, 21...Developer particle, 12...Base material, 22...Magnetization means, 14,24...Heat application means, 15...Heat, 1
3, 23... Transfer medium, 16, 25... Transfer medium,
28...Developer particle replenishment means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A step of holding the developer particles on the base material by magnetic attraction, and applying a thermal image to the base material, applying the developer particles and the base material by applying development and heating the developer particles and the base material. A transfer recording method is characterized in that it has a step of releasing the magnetic attraction force between the developer particles and transferring the developer particles to a transfer medium using the adhesive force caused by softening or melting the heated developer particles. 2. The transfer recording method according to claim 1, wherein the thermal image is applied by a thermal head. 3. The transfer recording method according to claim 1, wherein the base material is formed into an endless strip. 4. A process of holding the developer particles on a base material by magnetic attraction, and applying a thermal image and heating the developer particles and the base material to magnetically repel the developer particles and the base material to transfer the developer particles. A transfer recording method comprising a step of transferring onto a soot body. 5. The transfer recording method according to claim 4, wherein the thermal image is applied by a thermal head. 6. The transfer recording method according to claim 4, wherein the base material is formed into an endless strip.