GB2204141A

GB2204141A - Image recording apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2204141A
Application number: GB08809698A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michitoshi Akao; Motoshi Ohno; Yoichi Horaguchi; Eiji Fujii; Morikazu Iwase; Yasuo Kimura
Original assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
Priority date: 1987-04-24
Filing date: 1988-04-25
Publication date: 1988-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 2008-04-25
Also published as: FR2615449B1; GB8809698D0; FR2615449A1; GB2204141B

Abstract

An image recording apparatus (100) for recording an image on an image recording medium. The image recording medium includes a first image recording part (10) for forming an input image thereon and a second image record part (6) on which an output image is formed. The apparatus comprises; a light exposure unit (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) for exposing the first image recording part (10) to light to provide the input image, contact means (13) for providing a facial contact between the image recording parts (6, 10) to provide the output image on the second image record part (6); and means (16, 17) for rendering the input image on the first image recording part (6) unreadable, e.g. means to apply adhesive and form a sealed roll of the first image recording part, or to erase, cover up, or shred the image from the first image recording part. <IMAGE>

Description

IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, and more particularly, to such apparatus using a first image recording medium formed with the input or intermediate image and a second image recording medium formed with a visible output image corresponding to the input or intermediate image of the first image recording medium.

There are various types of image recording apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine and a printer. Among these, a photosensitive pressure sensitive image recording medium has been provided to overcome various problems attendant to a conventional electro-photographic technique in terms of machine cost, running cost of a photosensitive sheet and time period for making a silver-salt photograph.

Generally, in an image recording apparatus which uses the photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium, there are various types of image recording methods. For example, US-A-4440846 discloses a self-contained type recdrding medium in which an encapsulated chromogenic material or dye precursor and a developer material are co-deposited on one surface of a single substrate as one layer or as two contiguous layers. In this method, upon rupture of microcapsules the chromogenic material is reacted with the developer material so that an image is provided on the single recording medium.

US-A-4399209 discloses a transfer type recording medium in which a first image recording medium (photosensitive/pressure sensitive member) carrying microcapsules is provided with a latent image (an input image), and is pressed into contact with a second image recording medium (developer member), so that the microcapsules are ruptured to react with the developer material of the second recording medium, to thus provide an output image on the second image recording medium.

This technique is also disclosed in JP-A-61-129971.

Further, there is another type of image recording method which uses a mask member. According to this type, a first image recording medium (mask member) is formed with monocolor images as input images those corresponding to basic red, green and blue color image informations by means of an image scanner etc., and then, the second image recording medium is recorded with an output image upon light exposure through the three mono-color images recorded on the first image recording medium. After the light exposing process, the first image recording medium (mask member) is taken up by a take-up roller, and the resultant output image is provided at the second image recording medium upon application of pressure. The same is true with respect to the formation of a monochrome image by using a mask member.

In the method using the mask member, the second image recording medium may be the self-contained type image recording medium. In this case, the second image recording medium is provided with the output image.

Alternatively, the second image recording medium may be the combination of the photosensitive/pressure sensitive sheet and the developer sheet. In the latter case, the photosensitive/pressure sheet is provided with an intermediate image which is not a final output image provided on the developer sheet.

In the transfer type recording method, the first recording medium is wound up by a take-up roller and is then, taken out of a main body of the apparatus. In the case of the image recording apparatus which uses the mask image as the input image, the reproducible image remains in the mask member after the development, since the mask image is formed on the first recording medium in accordance with the image information to form the image on the second recording medium such as self-contained type photosensitive/pressure sensitive recording medium.

Further, if a transfer type photosensitive/pressure sensitive image recording medium is used in combination with the mask carrying first image recording medium, an intermediate image remains in the intermediate recording medium of the photosensitive/pressure sensitive recording medium after transfer/development to a developer medium thereof.

According to this invention an image recording apparatus for recording an image on an image recording medium, the recording medium including a first photosensitive image recording part for forming an input image, and a second image record part on which an output image is formed, comprises a light exposure unit for exposing the first photosensitive image recording part to provide the input image on it; means for providing contact between the first image recording part and the second image record part to provide the output image on the second image record part; and means disposed at the downstream side of the light exposure unit, for rendering the input image on the first image recording part unreadable.

As a result of this invention it is possible to keep secret documents and other information copied by the image recording apparatus. This is a considerable advantage since it enables this type of image recording apparatus to be used to reproduce confidential material.

In a first embodiment of this invention, the means for rendering the input image unreadable comprises an adhesive reservoir and an adhesive coating roller for coating an adhesive from the reservoir onto the first image on the first recording part. The imaging surface of the first surface of the first recording medium is coated with the adhesive, and then wound up by a take-up roller. The first recording medium is adhered to itself and sealed in a rolled shape.

In a second embodiment of this invention, the means for rendering the input image unreadable comprises means for painting the first or intermediate imaging surface with an opaque ink or for scratching or erasing the image.

In a third embodiment of this invention the means for rendering the input image unreadable comprises a shredder for shredding the first recording part.

Particular embodiments of image recording apparatus in accordance with this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of this invention; Fig. 2 is an elevational view showing an essential portion in a second embodiment of this invention; Fig. 3 is a -schematic view showing an image recording apparatus according to the second embodiment; Fig. 4(a) is a schematic illustration for explaining the operation in the second embodiment; Fig. 4(b) is a perspective view for explaining the operation in the second embodiment; Fig. 5(a) is a schematic illustration for explaining another state of the operation in the second embodiment; Fig. 5(b) is a perspective view for explaining the another state in the second embodiment; and, Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing an image recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of this invention.

A first embodiment according to this invention will be described with reference to -Fig. 1. The first embodiment will be applied to a copying machine 100 as shown, and concens a transfer type image recording apparatus. An exposure unit in the apparatus 100 includes an original cover 2 for holding an original 1, a light source 3 for light exposure, a lense 4 for collecting the reflected light from the original and transmitting the light to form an image on a microcapsule sheet 10 as a first recording medium, and a shutter 5 for adjusting an exposure period.

The microcapsule sheet 10 is coated with microcapsules each encapsulating therein achromatic dyes and photo-curing resin. The achromatic dye is reacted with developer material carried on a developer member 6 as a second recording medium, so that a final output image is provided at the developer member 6.

A developer sheet conveying unit includes a developer sheet cassette 7, a sheet feeding roller 8, and a sheet guide roller set 9, those arranged along a semi-circular sheet path.

A A microcapsule sheet feeding unit includes a cartridge 11 accommodating #nga pre-exposure microcapsule sheet web 10 and a take-up roller 12 for winding the developed microcapsule sheet.

A fixing unit includes a pair of pressure rollers 13 for pressing the exposed microcapsule sheet 10 overlaid on the developer sheet 6 to develope the latent image, and a pair of heat fixing rollers 14 to fix the developed image on the developer sheet.

An adhesive coating roller 16 and an adhesive reservoir 17 for feeding the adhesive to the coating roller 16 are arranged at a position upstream of the take-up roller 12.

The coating roller 16 is rotatably arranged in contact with the microcapsule sheet 10.

Operation of the apparatus will be described.

The original 1 is irradiated by the light source 3, and the reflected light from the original 1 is collected by the lense 4. The collected light is transmitted to the microcapsule sheet 10 and the latent image is formed thereon. The developer sheet 6 is fed from the developer sheet cassette 7 by the sheet feeding roller 8, and is conveyed to the upstream side of the pressure rollers 13 by the sheet conveying rollers 9. The microcapsule sheet 10 is overlapped with the developer sheet 6 and they are subjected to the pressure between the pressure rollers 13. The latent image formed on the microcapsule sheet 10 will provide an output image on the developer sheet 6 by the rupture of the microcapsules and reaction between the achromatic dye and the developer material upon application of the pressure.

After developing operation, the developer sheet 6 is isolated from the microcapsule sheet 10, and the output image on the developer sheet 6 is fixed by the heat fixing rollers 14. The image-fixed developer sheet 6 is released and received by a sheet receiving tray 15.

On the other hand, the developed microcapsule sheet 10 is coated with the adhesive in a liquid or gel state by the coating roller 16 capable of rotating in contact with the microcapsule sheet 10. Whenever the microcapsule sheet 10 is wound up by the take-up roller 12, the microcapsule sheet 10 is adhered and fixed in a rolled shape. Thus, the rolled microcapsule sheet 10 is completely sealed to permit the image information secret, even if the rolled imcrocapsule sheet 10 is disassembled from the take-up roller 12.

Although the above described embodiment provides the adhesive on an overall surface of the microcapsule sheet 10, the adhesive may be selectively or intermittently applied to the secret parts on the microcapsule sheet 10.

The adhesive coating roller 16 may be replaced by a stationary type adhesive applying means, for example, a sponge shape applier, a solid-adhesive in a stick shape which is in direct contact with the microcapsule sheet 10.

Alternatively, a spray gun may also be available for spraying the adhesive solution to the microcapsule sheet 10.

As given explanation above, the first embodiment can seal the input image formed on the first recording medium (microcapsule sheet) by applying adhesive to the recording medium and rolling the same in a rolled shape. This system can reduce a complicated work, such as cutting the recording meidum into fine pieces. The rolled recording medium can be scrapped without any additional treatment.

A second embodiment according to this invention will next be described with reference to Figs. 2 throu 5(b). As shown in Fig. 3, a copying machine 100A includes a sheet cassette 116 in which a first image recording medium 10A (cut sheet) is stored. The sheet cassette 116 is detechably supported in one side of the machine 100A. An original support member 2A is arranged on the top surface of the machine 100A. The original support member 2A can be slidingly moved leftwardly (in Fig. 3) by means of a driving machine (not shown). In the copying machine l00A, the microcapsule sheet 10A is transported from the left side to the right side by a conveying unit 110. This conveying motion for the microcapsule sheet 10A is operated in synchronism with the motion for the original support member 2A.A light source 3 for light-exposing an original is arranged below the original support member 2A. The light emitted from the light source 3 is reflected by the original set on the original supported member 2A and collected onto the microcapsule sheet 10A to form a latent image (input image) corresponding to the original. The microcapsule sheet 10A formed with the latent image is fed to a pressure developer 13 arranged at downstream side of the exposure unit. Developer sheets 6 (second image recording medium) are stored in a developer sheet cassette 7 set below the conveying unit 110. The developer sheet 6 is fed to the pressure developer 13 by a feeding unit 9A.The pressure developer 13 includes a pair of pressure rollers 9Aa and 9Ab for applying pressure to the microcapsule sheet fed by the conveying unit 110 and the developer sheet overlapped with the sheet 10A and fed by the feeding unit 9A. The latent image formed on the microcapsule sheet 10A is developed, and the developed image (output image) is transferred onto the developer sheet 6.

The pressure developer 9A is further provided with an erasing unit 123 for erasing the image formed on the microcapsule sheet 10A. The erasing unit 123 is arranged at the upstream side of an outlet 122 of the pressure developer 9A. The erasing unit 123 includes a sheet separator 124 for separating the microcapsule sheet 10A from the developer sheet 6 and an ink coating member 125 for coating ink~ onto the imaging surface of the microcapsule sheet 10A. As shown in Figs. 4(a) and 5(a), the second embodiment employs a separating pawl 124a as the paper separator 124.

The ink coating member 125 is normally urged downwardly by springs 126 so that the edge of the ink coating member 125 is isolated from the microcapsule sheet 10A as shown in Figs. 5(a) and 5(b). A sensor unit 128 detects the separated microcapsule sheet 10A fed by conveying rollers 127 at a predetermined position. Upon this detection, a solenoids 129 are actuated by the signal from the sensor unit 128 to bring the edge of the ink coating member 125 into contact with the microcapsule sheet 10A as shown in Figs. 4(a) and 4(b). The microcapsule sheet 10A passing through the ink coating member 125 is wholly coated with ink. Accordingly, the image formed on the microcapsule sheet lOA can be changed into an unreadable form by the ink coating member 125.

As given explanation above, the second embodiment can erase the image formed on the microcapsule recording medium (first image recording medium) to render its image information secret. The second embodiment is not limited to the above-described arrangement, but other modifications would be available. For example, the ink coating member for erasing unit may be replaced by a blade for wiping out the input image or a sandpaper for rubbing out the image.

Further, the image recording medium is not limited to the transfer type photosensitive/pressure sensitive recording medium.

Next, a third embodiment of this invention will be described with reference to Fig. 6 wherein a mask member is employed in a color image recording apparatus 100B.

Generally, a color image recording apparatus provides a color image in accordance with synthesizing trichromatic image data such as red, blue and green images, inputted from an input device. The input device is not shown in the drawing nor described, since this embodiment is directed to an image recording apparatus per se. A red image data is firstly supplied to a thermal head 201 through a data input unit 204 and a control unit 203. A heat sensitive sheet F (a first recording medium) is interposed between the thermal head 211 and a platen 202. The heat sensitive sheet F is made of a transparent material which becomes opaque upon heating. The red image is recorded on the heat sensitive sheet F by the thermal head 201. In the same manner as the red image, a green image data is recorded on the heat sensitive sheet F isolated by a predetermined distance from the red image recorded area.Also a blue image data is recorded on the heat sensitive sheet F isolated by a predetermined distance from the green image recorded area.

The red, green and blue trichromatic image data are respectively recorded as monochrome mask images (input images) on the heat sensitive sheet F, and then these images are fed rightwardly in Fig. 6. The red mask image is stopped at a position below a light source 3. A transfer type photosensitive pressure sensitive sheet lOB (intermediate recording medium) carrying cyan, magenta and yellow color formers is positioned below the mask image recorded sheet F.

The photosensitive material carrying surface of the sheet lOB faces to the mask image recorded sheet F and is exposed to the light transmitted through a first filter 206a of a filter unit 206 and the red mask image. The first filter 206a exclusively transmits the light having wave length of 350 nm corresponding to the spectral sensitivity of the cyan color former. The microcapsules containing cyan color former on the photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium lOB are selectively photo-cured by the transmitted light. Then, the heat sensitive sheet F is fed rightwardly by a predetermined pitch to set the green mask image above stationarily maintained photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium lOB.The fiter unit 206 is also rotated to set a second filter 206b which exclusively transmits the light having wavelength of 385 nm corresponding to the spectral sensitivity of the magenta color former. The microcapsules containing magenta color former on the recording medium lOB are photo-cured by the transmitted light from the light source 3. Finally, a third filter 206c for exclusively transmitting the light having wave length of 475 nm corresponding to the spectral sensitivity of the yellow color former is set above the blue mask image. The microcapsules containing yellow color former on the recording medium lOB are photo-cured by the transmitted light.

With the manner thus organized, the identical area of the transfer type photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium lOB is exposed to the three different lights transmitted through the red, green and blue mask images. Then, the intermediate recording member lOB is overlaid with a developer sheet (second recording medium) 6 fed from a sheet cassette 7 and they are fed to a pressure developing and fixing unit 9 and interposed bewteen a pressure roller 9a and a follower roller 9b for developing and fixing the output image. Non cured microcapsules on the transfer type image recording medium lOB (intermediate recording medium) are ruptured upon pressure and the color formers are reacted with the developer materials coated on the developer sheet 6. The color image is reproduced on the developer sheet 6, and then released to a sheet receiving tray 15.

On the other hand, the mask images recorded on the heat sensitive recording medium (first recording medium) after the exposure operation and the transfer type photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium lOB (intermediate recording medium) after the developing and image-fixing operation are respectively fed by feed rollers 214a and 214b to a shredding unit 212 disposed in the image recording apparatus lOOB. The shredding unit 212 cuts them into fine pieces so as to allow the input and intermediate images to be unreadable at the same time. The pieces are accumulated in a collecting box 213. In the third embodiment, one shredding unit 212 simultaneously cuts the heat sensitive sheet F and the photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium lOB. This results in a simple construction.

The third embodiment is not limited to the above described arrangement. For example, the heat sensitive recording system for forming the mask image may be replaced by a thermal transferring system or an electronic photographic system. Futher, self-contained type image recording method is also applied in this embodiment, in which only the mask carrying medium F is cut at the shredding unit 212, and the self-contained type recording medium is not introduced into the shredding unit 212 but is discharged into the tray 15, since the latter recording medium is provided with a final output image.

Therefore, in the third embodiment, no leakage of secret occur after light exposure, since destroyed simultaneously are the mask carrying first recording medium F and the intermediate image recording medium lOB which carries the intermediate image transferable to the second image recording medium.

In the present invention, there is provided means for rendering the input image or intermediate image unreadable.

Such technical concept can be available for various types of image recording apparatus such as a line printer, a typewriting machine, thermo-transfer type printer, etc.

Take the line printer for instance, the first image recording medium may be an ink ribbon, and a second image recording medium may be a paper.

Claims

1. An image rcording apparatus for recording an image on an image recording medium, the recording medium including a first photosensitive image recording part for forming an input image, and a second image record part on which an output image is formed, the apparatus comprising; a light exposure unit for exposing the first photosensitive image recording part to provide the input image on it; means for providing contact between the first image recording part and the second image record part to provide the output image on the second image record part; and, means disposed at the downstream side of the light exposure unit, for rendering the input image on the first image recording part unreadable.

2. An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means to render the input image unreadable comprises means for applying adhesive to the first image recording part, and take-up means for taking-up the first image recording part to provide a sealed roll of the first image recording part, the take-up means being located downstream of the means for applying the adhesive.

3. An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means to render the input image unreadable comprises an erasing unit for erasing the input image on the first image recording part.

4. An image recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the erasing unit comprises a coating device for applying a coating of a coating material onto the first image recording part, and movable means for selectively bringing the coating member into contact with the first image recording part.

5. An image recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the erasing unit comprises scraping means for scraping the input image from the first image recording part.

6. An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means to render the input image unreadable comprises a shredder for shredding the first image recording part.

7. An image recording apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first image recording part comprises a photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium provided with microcapsules, the microcapsules encapsulating a first material having first and second phases dependent on light exposure, and the second image record medium comprises a developer provided with a second material which provides the output image upon reaction with the first material.

8. An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input image comprises a mask image and an intermediate image, and wherein the first image recording part comprises the mask carrying medium for carrying the input image as a mask image, and an intermediate image recording medium for carrying the intermediate image, and wherein the means to render unreadable the input image comprises a shredding means for shredding the mask carrying medium and the intermediate image recording medium.

9. An image recording apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the intermediate recording medium comprises photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium provided with microcapsules, the microcapsules encapsulating a first material having first and second phases dependent on light exposure, and the second image recording medium compreses a developer provided with a second material which provides the output image upon reaction with the first material, the means for providing the contact providing the output image on the second image record medium upon pressure contact with the intermediate recording medium.

10. An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input image comprises a mask image, and wherein the first image recording part comprises a mask carrying medium for carrying the input image as the mask image, and wherein the second image record medium comprises a photosensitive pressure sensitive image recording medium on which the output image is provided at the means for providing the contact, and wherein the means to render unreadable in the input image comprises a shredding means for shredding the mask carrying medium.

11. An image recording apparatus comprises; a mask image forming means for forming a mask image on a first recording medium in accordance with an image information; an exposure means for exposing a transfer type photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium through the mask image; a pressure developing and fixing means for pressure developing said transfer type photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium in contact with a developer medium and for transfer-fixing a developed image on the developer medium; and an image unreadable means for shredding said light-exposed mask image and the transfer type photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium after the developing and transfer-fixing.

12. An image recording apparatus for recording an image on an image recording medium, said image recording medium including a first image recording medium for recording an input image thereon and a second image recording medium for recording an output image thereon, said image recording apparatus comprising; an image inputting means for inputting the input image on the first image recording medium; means for providing the output image on the second image recording medium corresponding to the input image; and, means for rendering the input image on the first image recording medium unreadable.

13. An image recording apparatus substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.