EP0237669B1 - Procédé et appareil d'enregistrement d'images - Google Patents

Procédé et appareil d'enregistrement d'images Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0237669B1
EP0237669B1 EP19860307476 EP86307476A EP0237669B1 EP 0237669 B1 EP0237669 B1 EP 0237669B1 EP 19860307476 EP19860307476 EP 19860307476 EP 86307476 A EP86307476 A EP 86307476A EP 0237669 B1 EP0237669 B1 EP 0237669B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
dye
vapor
nozzle
image recording
gas stream
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19860307476
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0237669A1 (fr
Inventor
Yasuo Matsumoto
Eric J. Shrader
Patricia O'callaghan Cohn
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Toshiba TEC Corp
Original Assignee
Tokyo Electric Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tokyo Electric Co Ltd filed Critical Tokyo Electric Co Ltd
Publication of EP0237669A1 publication Critical patent/EP0237669A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0237669B1 publication Critical patent/EP0237669B1/fr
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2202/00—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet or thermal heads
    • B41J2202/01—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet heads
    • B41J2202/02—Air-assisted ejection
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2202/00—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet or thermal heads
    • B41J2202/01—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet heads
    • B41J2202/05—Heads having a valve

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an image recording method and apparatus which jets dye vapor produced by the vaporization of sublimable dye to a surface of a recording medium for forming thereon characters and patterns.
  • a nozzle 2 including therein sublimable dye 1, a recording member 3, a charging electrode 4 disposed therebetween, an electrostatic lens system 5, and electrostatic deflecting electrodes 6, wherein dye vapor 8 is generated by heating the dye by a heater 7 provided within the nozzle 2 and the dye vapor 8 is charged with electricity by the charging electrode 4.. While the charged dye vapor 8 flies toward a back plate 9 dispersed in the back of the recording member 3, the flying dye vapor 8 is converged by the electrostatic lens system 6 and deflected by the electrostatic deflecting electrodes 6 and attached to the surface of the recording member 3.
  • the other example as shown in Fig. 6 is provided with an electrostatic shutter 10 instead of the electrostatic deflecting electrodes 6 in the structure of Fig. 5, and the jet amount of the dye vapor 8 to the recording member 3 is controlled by the electrostatic shutter 10.
  • the dye vapor 8 is continuously jetted from the nozzle 2. And therefore, there has been such a problem that the recording member 3 is stained by the dye vapor 8 jetted during a non-printing period whereby the picture image is degraded.
  • a second method in the prior art is that which is described in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 59-22759 as shown in Fig. 7.
  • this method in front of a nozzle 11 are radially arranged three-color sublimable-dye sticks 12 on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the nozzle, and there are also provided a laser beam source 13 and an air system 14.
  • a lens system 15 is driven such that the laser beam from the laser beam source 13 is condensed and irradiated on a desired sublimable dye stick 12 out of the three colors of the sublimable dye sticks 12 to produce vapor of that dye.
  • the dye vapor is jetted from the tip of the nozzle 11 by action of compressed air sent from the air system 14 and attached to the surface of a recording member 16.
  • the prior art provides an , image recording apparatus comprising a dye chamber adapted to contain a sublimable dye, a heating device to heat said dye, a nozzle adapted to jet a dye vapor therefrom toward a recording member, and a jet control device responsive to a picture signal to control said jet.
  • a first object of the invention is to provide a image record of good quality.
  • a second object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which will achieve the above mentioned object in a simple procedure.
  • the present invention is characterized by a gas stream generating device adapted to generate a gas stream transverse to the jet of gas vapor flowing from the nozzle.
  • the present invention thus generates a gas stream passing across the dye vapor stream jetted from the nozzle, whereby the surface of the recording member is prevented from being stained, and image recording of good printing quality is attained.
  • a recording head 18 is provided opposite to a recording member 17. Within the recording head 18 is formed a dye chamber 19, in which is contained a sublimable dye 20 is inside the dye chamber 19. On the side face of the recording head 18, there is provided a dye supply portion 21 wherefrom the sublimable dye 20 is adapted to be supplied to the dye chamber 19. Under the dye chamber 19 is provided a heater 22 serving as a heating device and the sublimable dye 20 heated by the heater 22 is formed into dye vapor 23 to fill up the dye chamber 19.
  • nozzles 24 On one side of the dye chamber 19, there are provided a plurality of nozzles 24 opening towards the recording member 17 and arranged at predetermined spacings in a straight line. Each nozzle 24 is provided at the tip thereof with a spray amount control device 25. A shutter by means of electrostriction resonator, magnetos- triction resonator, or the like is employed as the spray amount control device 25. These spray amount control devices 25 are connected with a picture signal source 26, and the amounts of the dye vapor 23 jetted from the nozzle 24 are adapted to be controlled by a picture signal from the picture signal source 26.
  • an air pump 27 as a gas stream generating device is provided.
  • This air pump 27 is connected with the dye chamber 19 by an air passage 28 and produces an air stream 29 to build up the internal pressure within the dye chamber 19.
  • An air passage 30 is also drawn from the air pump 27 and the end of the air passage 30, formed into an air outlet 31, is opened close to the nozzle 24.
  • the air stream blown out from the air outlet 31 forms an air stream 32 passing across the space between the nozzle 24 and the recording member 17.
  • the velocity of the air stream 32 is to be regulated so as not to disturb the dye vapor stream 33 jetted from the nozzle 24 and therefore set to one fifth the velocity of the dye vapor stream 33.
  • the air whose pressure is boosted by the air pump 27 builds up the internal air pressure within the dye chamber 19 and, on the other hand, passes through the air passage 30 and is blown out from the air outlet 31 to be formed into the air stream 32.
  • the spray amount control device 25 is actuated by a signal from the picture signal source 26 and a specific nozzle 24 is thereby opened to produce the dye vapor stream 33.
  • the dye vapor stream 33 without being disturbed by the air stream from the air outlet 31, allows the dye vapor 23 to contact with, and attach to, the surface of the recording member 17, whereby a dot as a picture element is formed thereon.
  • the surplus dye vapor 23 in picture image forming or the fine particles formed from the cooled sublimable dye are taken away by means of an air stream, but in implementation any suitable gas may be employed.
  • FIG. 3 a second preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4, wherein like or corresponding parts to those in the above described first embodiment are denoted by like reference numerals and description thereof are omitted.
  • the present embodiment is arranged such that an air suction opening 34 is disposed opposite to the air outlet 31 with the nozzle 24 located therebetween.
  • the air suction opening 34 is connected to an air passage 36 with a filter 35 provided therein and further connected to a suction pump 37, whereby a gas suction device 38 is formed.
  • the air stream 32 passing across the dye vapor stream 33 jetted from the nozzle 24 is sucked in by the suction pump 37 through the air suction opening 34. And - the dye vapor which has not attached to the recording member 17 or the fine particles of the sublimable dye formed by being cooled are recovered by the filter 35. Therefore, the apparatus is prevented from being contaminated by the dye vapor or the fine particles of the sublimable dye formed by being cooled.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Thermal Transfer Or Thermal Recording In General (AREA)

Claims (7)

1. Un procédé d'enregistrement d'image comprenant les opérations consistant à chauffer une teinture sublimable (20) pour produire une vapeur - de teinture (23),
à émettre en jet la vapeur de teinture depuis une buse (24) vers un élément d'enregistrement (17) pour fixer la vapeur de teinture sur l'élément d'enregistrement afin de former sur celui-ci une image vidéo,
caractérisé en ce qu'un flux de gaz (32) est créé transversalement audit jet de ladite vapeur de teinture à une vitesse d'écoulement telle que le flux de vapeur de teinture n'est pas affecté de manière contraire.
2. Un procédé d'enregistrement d'image selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le flux de gaz (32) est à une pression qui est d'environ 1/ 5ième de la pression appliquée à la vapeur de teinture (23).
3. Un procédé d'enregistrement d'image selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le positionnement d'un orifice d'aspiration (34) en aval dudit orifice de flux de gaz (31) et de ladite buse (24) pour éliminer la vapeur de teinture de surface du voisinage de l'élément d'enregistrement (17).
4. Un dispositif d'enregistrement d'image comprenant une chambre de teinture (18) prévue pour contenir une teinture sublimable (20),
un dispositif de chauffage (22) pour chauffer ladite teinture,
une buse (24) prévue pour émettre en jet une vapeur de teinture (23) à partir de celle-ci vers un élément d'enregistrement (17),
un dispositif de commande de jet (25) sensible à un signal d'image (26) pour commander ledit jet,
caractérisé par un dispositif de génération de flux de gaz (27) prévu pour produire un flux de gaz (32) transversal au jet de vapeur de gaz s'écoulant à partir de ladite buse (24).
5. Un dispositif d'enregistrement d'image selon la revendication 4, caractérisé par plusieurs buses (24) disposées en alignement, et en ce qu'un orifice de sortie d'air (31) comportant une ouverture longue et étroite est prévu le long de l'alignement des buses (24).
6. Un dispositif d'enregistrement d'image selon l'une quelconque des revendications 4 ou 5, et caractérisé par un orifice d'aspiration (34) en aval dudit orifice de flux de gaz (31) et de ladite ou lesdites buses (24) pour éliminer la vapeur de teinture en surplus du voisinage de l'élément d'enregistrement (17).
7. Un appareil d'enregistrement d'image selon l'une quelconque des revendications 4 à 6, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de génération de flux de gaz (27) est également en interconnexion fonctionnelle (29) avec la chambre de teinture (18) pour augmenter la pression à l'intérieur de celle-ci jusqu'à une valeur significativement en excès de la pression appliquée au flux d'air (32).
EP19860307476 1986-03-20 1986-09-30 Procédé et appareil d'enregistrement d'images Expired EP0237669B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US84185686A 1986-03-20 1986-03-20
US841856 1986-03-20

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0237669A1 EP0237669A1 (fr) 1987-09-23
EP0237669B1 true EP0237669B1 (fr) 1990-05-02

Family

ID=25285864

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19860307476 Expired EP0237669B1 (fr) 1986-03-20 1986-09-30 Procédé et appareil d'enregistrement d'images

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0237669B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS62220388A (fr)
DE (1) DE3670801D1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0712679B2 (ja) * 1987-03-24 1995-02-15 株式会社テック 印刷装置
JPH02274559A (ja) * 1989-04-18 1990-11-08 Komori Corp 画像印刷装置のヘッド
US4914522A (en) * 1989-04-26 1990-04-03 Vutek Inc. Reproduction and enlarging imaging system and method using a pulse-width modulated air stream
US5519420A (en) * 1992-12-21 1996-05-21 Ncr Corporation Air system to protect ink jet head
US6604813B2 (en) * 2001-07-06 2003-08-12 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Low debris fluid jetting system
JP2014100876A (ja) * 2012-11-21 2014-06-05 Toshiba Corp インクジェットプリンタ装置

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1482596A (en) * 1974-07-27 1977-08-10 Oki Electric Ind Co Ltd High speed printing apparatus
US4019188A (en) * 1975-05-12 1977-04-19 International Business Machines Corporation Micromist jet printer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3670801D1 (de) 1990-06-07
JPS62220388A (ja) 1987-09-28
EP0237669A1 (fr) 1987-09-23

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