Photocopying – Using microcapsules – Sheet feeding
Patent
1998-07-27
2000-09-05
Adams, Russell
Photocopying
Using microcapsules
Sheet feeding
355 27, 355 72, G03B 2700
Patent
active
061151106
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an apparatus for performing pressure development of a recording sheet such as a Cycolor medium that necessitates pressure development in a process of producing a color print, and it also relates to a recorder having such an apparatus.
BACKGROUND ART
A color printing method for implementing a process of pressure development is known. This method includes the steps of exposing a photosensitive medium coated with minute capsules containing color forming materials, activating or deactivating the capsules in accordance with an image, and rupturing the activated capsules by pressurizing the exposed medium. A cycolor medium 1 as illustrated in FIG. 14 is an example of such a medium. The cycolor medium 1 is a medium having a film 2 made of polyester or the like, the film 2 being coated with an infinite number of microcapsules called cyliths 3a to 3c. Each of the cyliths 3a to 3c contains one of color forming materials of cyan, magenta and yellow and a sensitive material called a photo initiator that is sensitive to light of a specific wavelength. The photo initiator contained in each of the cyliths 3a to 3c hardens if it is irradiated with light of a specific wavelength, for example, light of a complementary color of each of the cyliths 3a to 3c. Accordingly, it is possible to deactivate the color forming reaction of a color forming material contained in a cyliths depending on the wavelength of light emitted.
The cycolor medium 1 undergoes pressure development in which the cyliths 3a to 3c of three different colors are irradiated with light and subjected to a high pressure so that the activated cyliths 3a to 3c are crushed. The development method of this kind causes a chemical reaction between the color forming materials contained in the cyliths 3a to 3c and a transparent image-receiving layer called a receiver 4 that is made of polyester or the like, thereby a predetermined color image is recorded (printed) on the cycolor medium 1 which is a recording medium. For example, if only red light is emitted, only the photo initiator contained in the cyliths 3a of cyan hardens. The cyliths 3b of magenta and the cyliths 3c of yellow are crushed due to pressurization, whereby the color forming materials of magenta and yellow develop their respective colors. Thus, those color-forming materials are mixed to develop red color. Similarly, if green light is emitted, the cyliths 3a of cyan and the cyliths 3c of yellow are crushed to develop green color. If blue light is emitted, the cyliths 3a of cyan and the cyliths 3b of magenta are crushed to develop blue color.
Thus, a photosensitive medium such as the cycolor medium 1 needs to be subjected to pressure development after being exposed. As a pressure developing apparatus therefor, pressure means composed of a pair of rollers that are vertically disposed is generally employed. By conveying the cycolor medium (medium) 1 into a gap between the rollers and entirely pressurizing the medium 1, pressure development is performed.
To sufficiently pressurizing the medium using such rollers, those components which are strengthened enough to endure a comparatively high developing pressure, such as rollers, bearings, frames and the like are required. To homogeneously pressurizing the entire medium, at least one of the rollers needs to be shaped like a drum by being subjected to a crowning processing. Thus, the pressure developing apparatus becomes larger, heavier and more expensive.
In view of such backgrounds, it has been considered to replace the conventional pressure developing apparatus employing rollers with a pressure developing apparatus that pressurizes a recording sheet by a small ball (development ball) reciprocating with respect to the surface of a medium (printing sheet or recording sheet) in scanning directions. Since the development ball contacts a point of the surface of the recording sheet, the contact area between the development ball and the recording sheet is very small. Thus, by a small force, it is possible to signif
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Adams Russell
Brown Khaled
Cycolor System Inc.
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