Image forming apparatus

Details Image forming apparatus Image forming apparatus

1998-08-27

2001-03-27

Lee, Eddie C. (Department: 2851)

Photocopying

Using microcapsules

Heating

C355S027000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06208410

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus adapted for recording in a dry system such as image recording system using a dry material which requires no wet process.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An image forming apparatus for recording medical image such as digital radiography system, CT and MR using a regenerative fluorescent sheet employs a wet process which comprises taking a picture or recording an image on a silver salt system photographic material which is then wet-processed to obtain a reproduced image thereon.
In recent years, on the other hand, a dry system recording apparatus requiring no wet processing has been noted. Such a recording apparatus employs a photosensitive and/or heat-sensitive recording material (light- and heat-sensitive recording material) or a heat-developable photosensitive material film (hereinafter referred to as “recording material”). In this dry system recording apparatus, the recording material is irradiated with laser beam (scanning) at an imagewise exposure zone to form a latent image therein. Thereafter, the recording material is allowed to come in contact with a heating means such as heating drum at a heat development zone to undergo heat development. Thereafter, the recording material on which an image has been formed is discharged from the apparatus.
The foregoing dry system can not only provide image formation in a short period of time as compared with the wet system but also can eliminate the necessity for disposal of waste liquid as in the wet system. It can be well expected that there will be growing demand for this dry system.
In the foregoing dry system, particularly for medical use, a multiple gradation image having a high quality is required. Therefore, even a density variation due to a slight variation of exposure on the recording material can be easily recognized as an uneven image.
On the other hand, the imagewise exposure zone employs laser beam as an exposure light source. The laser beam is a coherent light. Therefore, when the laser beam hits the recording material, it is repeatedly reflected by various layers constituting the recording material to cause the generation of interference band in the image thus formed. As an approach for inhibiting the generation of interference band there has been practiced a method which comprises inhibiting interference by destroying the phase of light reflected in the recording material, e.g., by providing a light-scattering layer under the lowermost image-forming layer of the recording material or roughening the surface of the support supporting the image-forming layer. However, such an approach is disadvantageous in that even the light scattered by the light-scattering layer or roughened surface can form a latent image that causes image quality drop.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material such as light- and heat-sensitive recording material and heat-developable photographic light-sensitive material, which causes no interference band.
The foregoing object of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and examples.
The foregoing object of the present invention is accomplished by an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material having light interference which forms a latent image therein when irradiated with light, which latent image is rendered visible when heated, characterized in that there is provided a latent image forming means for irradiating the recording material with incoherent light to form a latent image therein.
In accordance with the foregoing constitution, the use of a recording material having light interference and the irradiation of such a recording material with incoherent light that causes no interference even if reflection occurs therein during exposure make it possible to prevent the occurrence of interference band and hence provide a high quality image.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5317363 (1994-05-01), Isaka et al.
patent: 5572285 (1996-11-01), Takagi
patent: 5922529 (1999-07-01), Tsuzuki et al.
patent: 5968725 (1999-10-01), Katoh et al.

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