JPH06179265A - Sublimating type printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a reduction of a printing time and free setting of the size of photographic paper, by a method wherein an evaporating part for evaporating evaporating dyes by evaporating heat is provided and the evaporated evaporating dyes are allowed to adhere to the photographic paper. CONSTITUTION:A sublimting type printer is constituted of a min body part 10 formed of polyimide, dye tanks 11, 12, 13 holding evaporating dyes under a powdery state, introducing parts 14, 15, 16 leading the evaporating dyes by liquefying the same by melting up to the melting point and the evaporating parts 17, 18, 19 evaporating the liquefied evaporating dyes by evaporating heat by laser beams. The evaporated evaporating dyes are clad to photographic paper 21 through an evaporation hole provided in the bottom part of dents 20 for accumulation of paints of evaporating parts 17, 18, 19. The laser beams are applied respectively to the evaporating parts 17, 18, 19 through a laser beam generating part for the evaporating dyes like arrows 35, 36, 37. The laser beams are applied to a transparent part 22 formed of a glass material having favorable optical transmission as indicated an arrow 38.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sublimation printer for thermally transferring still images of various images such as images picked up by a video camera and television images onto photographic paper by using a vaporizing dye.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a sublimation type printer has a sublimation ink ribbon coated with a sublimation dye, which is superposed on a printing paper, and electric energy corresponding to image information is applied to the heat sensitive head. The sublimation dye on the ink ribbon is sublimated and transferred onto the printing paper by the generated thermal energy.

The sublimable ink ribbon is prepared by dissolving a sublimable dye in an acetate or polyester solution and adding a dispersant to form a colloidal solution, which is then made into an ink and mixed with a binder, which is coated on a base paper. It is made by.

Further, the above-mentioned photographic printing paper usually comprises a photographic printing paper base on which a receiving layer made of a thermal transfer recording material is formed. As the thermal transfer recording material, a dye resin such as a polyester resin or a polycarbonate resin to which an additive such as a lubricant is added has been conventionally used.

The thermal head is an element that converts electric energy into heat energy. That is, it is an element for sublimating a dye from the sublimable ink ribbon by Joule heat generated by passing an electric current through a resistor and transferring the dye to a printing paper.

[0006]

The conventional sublimation printer described above prints on the printing paper using the sublimable ink ribbon and the thermal head. Therefore, the winding mechanism for winding the ink ribbon is used. And a heat dissipation mechanism for the thermal head. Further, the thermal head generally has a heat conversion efficiency of 10% or less and requires a large amount of electric power. Therefore, in the conventional sublimation printer, power saving,
It was difficult to realize miniaturization and low cost.

Further, the sublimable ink ribbon is uneconomical since it can be used only once per image. In addition, the used ink ribbon cassette cannot be recycled and must be disposed of, and the disposal method requires sufficient care to protect the global environment.

The overall mechanism is yellow (Y),
Since magenta (M) and cyan (C) are printed on top of each other,
Ribbon feeding, thermal head up / down, photographic paper feeding three times, etc. are required, which is complicated and time consuming.

In general, when the sublimable dye on the ink ribbon is sublimated and transferred onto the printing paper by the thermal head, the receiving layer of the printing paper is also preferably heated. Heat was applied after increasing the force to increase the adhesion between the ink ribbon and the printing paper. However, in this case, a large amount of energy is required for the drive system of the thermal head and the printing.

Further, the thermal head often has a line head structure in which a plurality of thin resistors formed by sputtering or the like are arranged in-line, and the size of the printing paper cannot be freely selected.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and since the thermal head and the ink ribbon are not used,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sublimation type printer that can realize power saving, downsizing, and cost reduction, and further that can shorten printing time and freely set the size of printing paper.

[0012]

A sublimation printer according to the present invention is a sublimation printer in which a vaporized dye is thermally transferred onto a printing paper, and a dye tank for containing the powdered vaporized dye and the vaporized dye in the dye tank are provided. A liquefying and introducing section, and a vaporizing section for vaporizing the liquefied vaporized dye introduced from the introducing section by heat of vaporization, and characterized in that the vaporized vaporized dye is applied to the printing paper. Solve the problem.

Here, the vaporizing section vaporizes the liquefied vaporizing dye by heat of vaporization according to the laser light. At this time, it is desirable that this laser light is a laser light whose irradiation distribution is equalized.

Further, the distance from the dye layer to the vaporizing part is 5
It is kept warm by heat of 0 ° to 300 °. Further, the introduction part guides the liquefied vaporized dye to the vaporization part by utilizing the capillary phenomenon. Further, the vaporizing section may apply a vaporizing dye vaporized by utilizing a diffusion phenomenon obtained by beads to photographic paper.

The vaporizing dye used in the present invention is a general term for solidifying disperse dyes, liquefying disperse dyes, vaporizing disperse dyes, sublimable dyes and disperse dyes, and in the temperature range from 25 ° C. to decomposition temperature. , And is defined as a dye having a temperature range in which its vapor pressure is 0.01 Pascal or more. However, in the gas phase, the dye molecules have an average number n of associations.
In the case of a meeting with the
Divide by 0.01 to be 0.01 Pascal or more.

Among such vaporizing dyes, in the printing apparatus according to the present invention, as the yellow dye, for example, "ESC-Yellow 155" manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., which has a color index number of "CIDisperse Yellow 201", is used as a cyan dye. As a dye, for example, the color index number is "CI Solvent
"ESC-Blue 655" made by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. which is "Blue 63"
As a magenta dye, for example, "HS
R-2031 "tricyanomethine dye is used.

[0017]

In the sublimation printer according to the present invention, the dye tank contains the powdered vaporizing dye, the introducing portion liquefies and guides the vaporizing dye, and the vaporizing portion is guided by the introducing portion by the heat of vaporization by the laser beam. By vaporizing the liquefied vaporized dye, it is possible to deposit the vaporized vaporized dye on the printing paper,
Printing can be performed without using an ink ribbon and a thermal head. As a result, power saving, downsizing, and cost reduction can be realized, and further, printing time can be shortened and printing paper size can be freely set.

[0018]

Embodiments of the sublimation printer according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the first embodiment of the present invention uses a vaporizing dye as the dye. The vaporized dye is a generic name for solidified disperse dyes, liquefied disperse dyes, vaporized disperse dyes, sublimable dyes, and disperse dyes.
It is a dye having a temperature range in which the vapor pressure is 0.01 Pascal or more in the temperature range from 5 ° C to the decomposition temperature. However, when the dye molecules are associated with the average number of associations n in the gas phase, the vapor pressure is divided by the average number of associations n to be 0.01 Pascal or more.

In particular, in the first embodiment, among the above vaporizing dyes, a yellow (hereinafter referred to as Y) dye, for example, a color index number of "CIDisperse Yellow" is used.
"ESC-Yellow 155" manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. which is "201" is used.

As the C dye, for example, "ESC-Blue 655" manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., which has a color index number of "CI Solvent Blue 63" is used.

As the M dye, for example,

[0022]

[Chemical 1]

The tricyanomethine dye of "HSR-2031" manufactured by Mitsubishi Kasei Co., Ltd. is used.

In the first embodiment, the dyes of Y, C and M described above are vaporized and thermally transferred to the printing paper, and therefore, hereinafter, the sublimation printer according to the first embodiment will be described.

The sublimation type printer according to the first embodiment has a high melting point, as shown in the schematic configuration of the main part in FIG.
There is no thermoformability and the main body 10 is made of a special engineering plastic such as polyimide which is a low thermal conductor, and the dye tanks 11 and 12 which store the above-mentioned vaporizing dyes Y, M and C dyes in a powder state. 13 and the introduction parts 14, 15 and 16 for melting and liquefying the powdery Y, M and C vaporizing dyes contained in these dye tanks 11, 12 and 13 to the melting point and guiding them.
And vaporizing parts 17 and 1 for vaporizing the vaporized dye liquefied in the introduction parts 14, 15 and 16 by heat of vaporization by laser light.
8 and 19, vaporized vaporized dye is applied to the photographic printing paper 21 through vaporization holes (not shown) provided at the bottom of the dye reservoir recess 20 of the vaporization sections 17, 18 and 19. In addition, Y (not shown) is provided in each of the vaporization units 17, 18 and 19.
Laser light is emitted from each of the M and C laser generators as indicated by arrows 35, 36, and 37. Further, the transparent portion 22 formed of a glass material or the like having a high light transmittance so that the laser light can pass without loss is also irradiated with the laser light from a laser generator (not shown) as shown by an arrow 38.

The detailed construction of the sublimation printer according to the first embodiment is shown in FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the main part shown in FIG. 1, and also shows the laser generator 34 and the vaporization hole 23, which are omitted in FIG. Since the dye tanks 11, 12 and 13, the introduction sections 14, 15 and 16, and the vaporization sections 17, 18 and 19 have the same structure, respectively, here, in particular, Y
The dye tank 11, the introduction unit 14, and the vaporization unit 17 will be described as representatives.

A protective layer 33 is provided on the introduction part 14 and the vaporization part 17.
The photographic printing paper 21 is provided with the first heating element 31 formed so as not to give heat directly. One end 31a of the first heating element 31 is bent almost vertically and inserted into the dye bath 11. The other end 31 b of the first heating element 31 extends to the end of the vaporizing section 17.

The liquefied vaporizing dye of Y (hereinafter referred to as liquefied vaporizing dye 32) melted and liquefied by one end portion 31a of the first heating element 31 is introduced into the vaporizing portion 1 by the introducing portion 14.
Guided up to 7. The introduction part 14 has the first
Although the heating element 31 is provided, the first heating element 3
1 is formed of, for example, carbon or a silicon compound,
By applying electricity, heat of 50 ° to 300 ° is generated to liquefy the vaporized dye and keep it in the liquefied state. The first heating element 31 has, for example, a capillary structure having a groove on the surface thereof, and the vaporized dye 3 liquefied by utilizing the capillary phenomenon.
2 is led to the vaporization section 17.

That is, the first heating element 31 guides the vaporizing dye 17 to the vaporizing portion 17 by a capillary phenomenon while keeping the vaporized dye 32 liquefied by heat of 50 ° to 300 ° so as not to solidify (condensate). There is.

The vaporizing section 17 is also introduced into the introducing section 14 as described above.
A first heating element 31 similar to the above is provided. In addition, the first heating element 31 of the vaporization section 17 is provided with a plurality of dye accumulating depressions 20 for accumulating the liquefied vaporized dye. Further, a large number of vaporizing holes 23, which are fine holes having a diameter of several μm, are provided at the bottom of the dye reservoir recess 20.

Further, the vaporizing section 17 has a first heating element 31.
Besides, a second heating element (not shown) is also provided. The second heating element is formed by applying a semitransparent light absorbing agent to the surfaces of the first heating element 31 and the plurality of dye reservoir recesses 20. (Hereinafter, the second heating element will be appropriately referred to as a light absorbing layer)

The light absorption layer efficiently converts the laser light from the laser generator 34, which is indicated by the arrow 35, into heat. That is, the liquefied vaporized dye 32 guided to the vaporization section 17 by the introduction section 14 is additionally heated by the light absorption layer that efficiently converts the laser light (shown by the arrow 35) from the laser generation section 34 into heat. It reaches the vaporization temperature and vaporizes. The vaporized vaporized dye is transferred to the receiving layer 21 a of the photographic printing paper 21 through the vaporization holes 23 provided in the bottom of the dye reservoir recess 20.

Here, the concrete structure of the vaporizing section 17 is shown in FIG.
Shown in. In FIG. 3, it is assumed that the first heating element 31 and the bottom surface of the dye accumulating depression 20 are coated with the semi-transparent light absorbing agent that is the second heating element. The liquefied vaporized dye 32 shown in FIG. 2, which has been guided to the vaporization section 17 by the first heating element 31 having a groove structure, is accumulated in the dye reservoir depression 20. At this time, when the laser light is irradiated from the laser generation unit 34 shown in FIG. 2 to the vicinity of the dye reservoir recess 20, the laser light is efficiently converted into heat and liquefied by the light absorbing layer made of the light absorbing agent. The vaporizing dye 32 is vaporized. The vaporized vaporized dye is absorbed by the vaporization hole 23, which is a fine hole having a diameter of several microns or less, which is formed at the bottom of the dye reservoir recess 20 by a diffusion phenomenon. This vaporization hole 2
Since 3 is formed so as to pass through the protective layer 33, the vaporized vaporized dye is transferred to the receiving layer 21a of the printing paper 21 shown in FIG. 2 by the diffusion phenomenon.

Further, since the light absorption layer is semitransparent, a part of light is transmitted to the photographic printing paper 21. A part of the transmitted light is generated by the vaporized vaporizing dye, which is the receiving layer 2 of the photographic paper 21.
It is used to heat the receiving layer 21a of the printing paper 21 when it is transferred to 1a. Specifically, it is conceivable to provide a light absorbing layer on the photographic paper 21 itself, and the light absorbing layer of the photographic paper is irradiated with laser light to heat the receiving layer. However,
Since the light absorbing layer of the photographic paper is for absorbing light, it is not black but colored black or light.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of the photographic printing paper 21 provided with the light absorbing layer 21b. The photographic printing paper 21 includes a receiving layer 21a, which is a layer formed of a cellulosic resin or the like from the upper layer and which absorbs vaporized dye, and a light absorbing layer 21b provided with a light absorbing agent that absorbs laser light and efficiently converts it into heat. It has a structure in which polypropylene 21c having high heat resistance and good non-hygroscopicity, a base paper 21d, and a polypropylene 21e for keeping the photographic printing paper 21 from warping are balanced.

By the way, after the vaporized dyes that have been vaporized are respectively transferred to the receiving layer 21a of the photographic paper 21 by the laser beams for Y, M and C (arrows 35, 36 and 37), the light of the photographic paper is If the absorption layer 21b is not white, the transferred image loses white and the image quality deteriorates.
Therefore, the laser light (indicated by the arrow 38) that has passed through the transparent portion 22 shown in FIG.
May be destroyed, or the capsule containing the white agent provided in the light absorption layer 21b may be thermally destroyed to hide the light absorption agent.

That is, this first embodiment is based on the dye bath 1
The vaporized dye in 1 is heated to the melting point by the first heating element 31 of the introduction part 14 to be melted (liquefied), and the liquefied vaporized dye 32 is moved to the vaporization part 17 by the capillary phenomenon of the introduction part 14. . Then, the introduction section 14 heats the liquefied vaporized dye 32 with the first heating element 31 to keep it warm. The liquefied vaporized dye 32 that has moved to the vaporization unit 17 is further heated by the laser light from the laser generation unit 34 and vaporized.
In addition to the first heating element 31 which is the same as the introduction section 14, the vaporization section 17 has a semi-transparent light absorption layer (second
Heating element) is provided. The vaporized vaporized dye is transferred to the receiving layer 21 a of the photographic printing paper 21 by a diffusion phenomenon obtained by the vaporization holes 23 provided in the bottom surface of the dye reservoir recess 20 of the vaporization section 17. At this time, when the photographic paper 21 is provided with the light absorbing layer 21b as shown in FIG. 4, the light absorbing layer 21b of the photographic paper is irradiated by the laser light transmitted through the light absorbing layer which is the second heating element. Receives heat and the receiving layer 2
1a is heated to help transfer the vaporizing dye. Then, after that, the laser light transmitted through the transparent portion 22 destroys the light absorbing layer 21b or thermally destroys the capsule containing the white agent to make the light absorbing layer 21b white. Here, the intensity of each laser light is in the order of dye transfer laser light <paper light absorption layer laser light <paper light absorption layer whitening laser light.

As shown in FIG. 5, the vaporizing section 17 of the above-described first embodiment transfers the vaporized vaporized dye to the receiving layer 21a of the printing paper 21 by utilizing the diffusion phenomenon of beads, for example. Good.

Like FIG. 2, FIG. 5 also shows a cross-sectional view of the Y dye bath. The dye supply hole 42 at the lower end of the dye tank 41 has one end 43 a of the first heating element 43.
Has been inserted. One end 43a of the first heating element 43 melts and liquefies the vaporized dye. The liquefied vaporized dye is supplied to the introduction part 44. In this introducing section 44,
The beads 45 are arranged along the first heating element 43. The beads 45 have an upper portion bonded to the first heating element 43 with an adhesive and a lower portion covered with a protective layer 46.
The beads 45 are also adhered to the vaporization part 47 to the first heating element 43 and the second heating element 48. This vaporizer 47
There is nothing to cover the lower part of the beads 45 of. Further, the first heating element 43 and the second heating element 48 are bonded to the base 49.

The base 49 is required to be transparent in order to allow light to pass through, or to have a hole in the light-transmitting portion, and to have a structure as thin as possible. For this reason,
A reinforcing agent 50 is provided on the upper portion of the base 49.

Here, the beads 45 and the first heating element 4
The adhesive used to bond the third and second heating elements 48 is
It has heat resistance and has the property of transmitting light.

The protective layer 46 is for preventing contamination and contamination of foreign matter, and is made of a material having excellent heat resistance and abrasion resistance and low thermal conductivity. In addition, the beads 45
Has excellent heat resistance and is formed of a glass-based material or a heat-resistant plastic-based material.

Here, in the vaporizing section 47 for depositing the vaporizing dye vaporized by utilizing the diffusion phenomenon of the beads 45 on the printing paper 21, the beads 45 are arranged along the first heating element 43 and the second heating element 48. Since the beads 45 are arranged in such a manner, the arrangement area of the beads 45 can be expanded as shown in FIG. (This FIG. 6 is a view of the vaporizing section 47 and the introducing section as seen from the back side.)

The second heating element 48 used together with the first heating element 43 in the vaporizing section 47 is made of a light absorbing material. In the vaporizing section 47, the second heating element 48 is surrounded by the first heating element 43 as shown in FIG. (This FIG. 7 shows a state in which the beads 45 are removed from the above FIG. 6)

The operation of the vaporizing section 47 when the beads 45 are used in this way will be described below with reference to FIGS. The vaporized dye in the dye tank 41 is heated to, for example, 50 ° to 300 ° by the first heating element 43 and becomes a liquefied vaporized dye. The liquefied vaporized dye permeates between the beads 45 kept warm by the first heating element 43.
The liquefied vaporized dye that has penetrated is guided by the capillary phenomenon of the beads 45 and reaches the vaporization section 47.

The liquefied vaporized dye that has reached the vaporizing section 47 is additionally heated and vaporized by the second heating element 48 that efficiently generates heat by the laser light from the laser generating section 51. The vaporized vaporized dye passes through the space, which is a gap formed by the plurality of beads 45, by a diffusion phenomenon, and the protective layer 4
Transfer from the lower side of the beads 45 not covered by 6 to the receiving layer 21 a of the printing paper 21.

Further, as a modified example in which the beads 45 are used for the vaporizing part 47, the beads 45 are coated with carbon, a light-absorbing material or the like, or are applied on the surface of the beads 45 to form a second layer.
Can also serve as a light absorbing material for the heating element 48.

When the beads 45 are used in the vaporizing section 47 in this way, the pores become uniform, so that the vaporization amount can be made constant.
Also, the mechanism is simplified by applying or applying a light absorbing agent to the beads 45. Moreover, even a material that cannot be etched can easily generate a capillary phenomenon. Further, since the vaporization amount becomes constant, gradation control becomes easy. Also, beads 4
By selecting the size of 5, the amount of air can be controlled and the storage heat can be adjusted. Further, the thermal efficiency is improved by combining the base 49 and the reinforcing material. Further, by covering the portions other than the vaporization holes with the protective layer 46, it is possible to prevent dust and foreign matter from entering. Further, the beads can also serve as the abrasion resistant layer in contact with the photographic printing paper 21, which simplifies the structure.

Next, a specific example of a printing mechanism to which the sublimation type printer according to the first embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIG. This printing mechanism has vapor mechanism parts 51 and 52 integrally formed with a laser generation part for irradiating a laser beam to the sublimation type printer according to the first embodiment whose schematic configuration is shown in FIG. ing. The two vaporizing mechanism parts 51 and 52 have the same structure. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the dye layers 11, 12 and 13, the introducing portions 14, 15 and 16 and the vaporizing portions 17, 18 and 19 are provided.
It is composed of four laser generating parts and a transparent part 22.

These vaporizing mechanism parts 51 and 52 are connected to the signal lines 53 and 54, and are moved by the vaporizing feed shaft 55 and the vaporizing support shaft 56 in the vapor feed direction indicated by the arrow L.

The photographic printing paper 21 is fed in the paper feeding direction indicated by the arrow N by the photographic printing paper driving roller 57. Further, pressure is applied to the vaping mechanism units 51 and 52 and the photographic printing paper 21 so that they are brought into close contact with each other by the vapor receiving roller 58.

The photographic printing paper 21 is inserted between the vapor mechanism parts 51 and 52 and the vapor receiving roller 58. In the printing mechanism shown in FIG. 8, two vaporizing mechanism parts (51 and 52) are provided to print one line in two when the vapor feed direction is one line. The respective vaporizing dyes of Y, M and C are simultaneously heated and melted by the first heating element in the vapor mechanism parts 51 and 52 to become a liquefied vaporizing dye.

Next, the vaporized dyes liquefied in the vaporizing mechanism parts 51 and 52 are additionally heated by the respective laser beams corresponding to the image signals from the Y, M, and C laser generators, and the vaporized vaporized dyes are removed. It is transferred to the receiving layer 21 a of the printing paper 21.

When the printing of one line is completed, the printing paper driving roller 57 feeds the printing paper 21 for one line. Printing is sequentially started for each color, but the same printing is performed after 3 dots.

When the photographic printing paper 21 is provided with the light absorption layer 21b as shown in FIG.
Using the transparent part (corresponding to the transparent part 22 in FIG. 1) of
Light absorbing layer 21b of photographic paper with laser light having a large output
Is whitened as described above. In this case, the vapor mechanism unit 5
The laser beams 1 and 52 have a 4-beam configuration.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The dyes used in the second embodiment are also the same as the vaporizing dyes used in the sublimation printer according to the first embodiment, and the second embodiment also uses the Y, C and M dyes. Since the vaporizing dye is vaporized and transferred to the printing paper by heat, it will be referred to as a sublimation printer according to the second embodiment.

The sublimation type printer according to the second embodiment has a dye tank 6 for storing powdered vaporizing dyes of Y, M and C as described above, as shown in the schematic construction of the main part in FIG.
1, 62 and 63 and these dye tanks 61, 62 and 63
Introducing sections 64, 65 and 6 for liquefying and introducing each vaporized dye from
6 and vaporizers 67, 68 and 69 for vaporizing the vaporized dye liquefied by the introduction portions 64, 65 and 66 by heat of vaporization according to laser light from a laser generator (not shown). The vaporizing dye is transferred to the photographic paper through the vaporizing holes 67, 68 and 69. Here, each vaporization part 6
A plurality of 7, 68 and 69 are provided along the respective introducing portions 64, 65 and 66. For example, the vaporization unit 67
As many as the number of dots of the image are provided in the line direction of the printing paper indicated by the arrow L in the figure. The same applies to the vaporization units 68 and 69.

The operation of the sublimation printer according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the dye layer 61, the introducing section 64 and the vaporizing section 67 shown in FIG. First, the first heating element 71 of the introduction section 64 melts the vaporized dye in the dye tank 61, and liquefies the powdered vaporized dye. The introduction unit 64 guides the vaporized dye liquefied by the capillary phenomenon to the plurality of vaporization units 67, similarly to the sublimation printer according to the first embodiment described above.

The liquefied vaporized dye from the dye tank 61 is
The introduction section 64 guides the plurality of vaporization sections 67, and the plurality of vaporization sections 67 are sequentially irradiated with laser light from a laser generation section (not shown). That is, the first heating element 71 of the introduction section 64 liquefies the vaporized dye in the dye tank 61 at one end and keeps it at 50 ° to 300 ° so as not to solidify the liquefied vaporized dye. Meanwhile, it is guided to the plurality of vaporization parts 67 by a capillary structure composed of grooves or beads.

The vaporization section 67 is also provided with the first heating element 71 similar to the introduction section 64 as described above. In addition, the vaporization portion 67 is provided with a plurality of vaporization holes which are micropores having a diameter of several μm. Further, in the vaporization section 67, a second heating element is provided in addition to the first heating element 71. The second heating element is a light absorbing layer formed by applying a semitransparent light absorbing agent on the surfaces of the first heating element 71 and the plurality of vaporization holes. The second heating element efficiently converts the laser light from the laser generator (not shown) into heat, so that the liquefied vaporized dye introduced into the vaporizer 67 is vaporized and provided in the vaporizer 67. It is transferred to the receiving layer of the photographic paper through the vaporization holes. Dye tanks 62 and 63, introduction section 6
5 and 66 and the vaporization units 68 and 69 have the same configuration.

Further, since this light absorbing layer is semitransparent, a part of the light is transmitted to the photographic printing paper 21. A part of this transmitted light is used to generate heat in the light absorption layer 21b of the photographic printing paper 21 shown in FIG. 4 as in the first embodiment described above.

Further, the transparent portion 70 is irradiated with laser light for whitening the light absorbing layer 21b of the printing paper 21 after printing as in the first embodiment described above. The transparent portion 70 is
The laser light is transmitted and reaches the light absorption layer 21b of the photographic printing paper 21.

Next, a specific example of a printing mechanism to which the sublimation type printer according to the second embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIG. In this printing mechanism, the sublimation printer according to the second embodiment whose schematic configuration is shown in FIG. 9 is fixed as a head block 81, and laser blocks 82 and 83 for irradiating the head block 81 with laser light are provided. The laser blocks 82, 83 have a structure in which they are moved for printing.
Have the same structure.

The laser blocks 82 and 83 are shown in FIG.
As shown on the back surface of FIG.
Laser emitting hole 89b for printing, Laser emitting hole 89 for C printing
c and a photographic paper laser emission hole 89d, which is connected to the laser signal line 84 and moved in the line direction indicated by the arrow L by the laser block feed shaft 85 and the laser block support shaft 86. At this time, the Y printing laser emitting hole 89 a is located directly above the vaporizing section 67 of the head block 81, the M printing laser emitting hole 89 b is located directly above the vaporizing section 68, and the C printing laser is located directly above the vaporizing section 69. The laser emitting hole 89c for printing is located.

The photographic printing paper 21 is fed in the paper feeding direction indicated by the arrow N by the photographic printing paper driving roller 87. Further, pressure is applied to the photographic printing paper 21 by the photographic printing paper receiving roller 88 so that the printing paper 21 is brought into close contact with the head block 81.

Head block 81 and photographic paper receiving roller 8
The printing paper 21 is inserted between the sheets 8. Head block 81
The vaporizing units 67, 68, and 69 are arranged on the same line as the printing direction (arrow N), and are provided in the line direction (arrow L) by the number of pixels. Laser blocks 82 and 83
The position of the laser irradiation hole of the vaporizing portion 67 of the head block 81 is as described above in the paper feeding direction (printing direction).
Head block 8 in line direction according to 68 and 69
It is arranged at a ratio of 1: 1 or 1: 1 / n with the vaporization units 67, 68 and 69 of No. 1. In the case of 1: 1 with the head block 81, it may be fixed to the head block 81. Even in the case of 1 / n, it may be fixed to the head block 81 in units of 1 / n.

The respective vaporizing dyes of Y, M and C are simultaneously heated and melted by the first heating element in the head block 81,
It becomes a liquefied vaporized dye.

Next, the head block 81 is irradiated with a laser beam corresponding to the image signals from the laser blocks 82 and 83.
The vaporized dyes liquefied in the vaporizing sections 67, 68 and 69 therein are additionally heated, and the vaporized vaporized dyes are transferred to the receiving layer 21a of the photographic printing paper 21 through the vaporization holes for obtaining the diffusion structure. When the laser irradiation hole is 1 / n with respect to the vaporization portion, the laser blocks 82 and 83 are provided in the line direction (arrow N) by the number of pixels.
Are moved to form one line. Similarly, M and C are performed. The three lines at the beginning and end of printing are printed sequentially, but otherwise Y, M and C are performed simultaneously. When the printing of one line is completed, the printing paper driving roller 87 is used to print the printing paper 21.
Is sent for 1 line.

When the light absorbing layer 21b is provided on the photographic printing paper 21, after the printing is completed, the transparent portion of the head block 81 (the transparent portion 70 in FIG. 9) is passed through the laser irradiation hole 89d for the photographic printing paper of the laser blocks 82 and 83. (Corresponding to the above) is irradiated with a laser beam whose output is increased to whiten the light absorption layer 21b of the printing paper.

Therefore, in the sublimation printer according to the second embodiment, the head block 81 provided with a plurality of vaporizing parts 67, 68 and 69 is fixed, and the vaporizing parts 67, 68 are fixed.
Laser blocks 82 and 83 in which the positions of the laser irradiation holes are aligned with positions 69 and 69, the vaporized dye liquefied by the laser light according to the image signal is additionally heated, and vaporized to transfer each vaporized dye to the printing paper. .

Also in this second embodiment, each vaporizing portion may have a structure utilizing the capillary phenomenon by beads.

Here, the laser light radiated to the vaporization section of the sublimation printer according to the first and second embodiments is made uniform in the distribution range of the irradiation light in the laser generation section and the laser block. When the light is irradiated in the above state, the heat conversion in the light absorption layer is equalized, and the energy conversion efficiency can be maximized.

Conventionally, for example, when a central portion of a semiconductor laser is irradiated with a light distribution having a high energy density on a light absorption layer provided at a short distance, non-uniform thermal energy is obtained, which is used for dye transfer. Energy was not efficient. Further, since the energy density at the center is high, the receiving layer of the photographic printing paper to which the dye is transferred is melted or burnt by high heat. Further, the distance between the light emitting source and the portion irradiated with light has been limited to a relatively close distance from the spread angle of light. Further, since the light distribution is non-uniform, only the central part of the printing paper has a high density and the peripheral parts have a low density.

Therefore, it is conceivable to spread the light distribution of the laser light from the laser light source by using a diffusion plate or a concave lens so that the light distribution becomes uniform on the irradiation surface. That is, it is sufficient to obtain a flat light distribution after reducing the sharpness of the distribution having a high energy density in the center to reduce the concentration of light.

FIG. 12 shows a concrete optical system for generating the laser light whose distribution range is thus equalized. In this optical system, as shown in FIG. 11, laser light emitted from a semiconductor laser 91 is converted into parallel light by a collimator lens 92, and this parallel light is converted into dispersed light by, for example, a flat plate microlens 93 having a fine microlens array structure. It is incident on a convex lens. Then, the convex lens 94 collects each dispersed light and irradiates the light absorption layer with light having an even intensity distribution. That is, the light distribution close to the conventional Gaussian beam as shown in A of FIG. 13 is made into a substantially trapezoidal light distribution as shown in B of FIG.

Therefore, if the irradiation distribution of the laser light used to generate the heat of vaporization in the vaporizing section is equalized using the optical system shown in FIG. 12, the light energy can be converted into heat energy with high efficiency. Further, when the above optical system is used, uniform transfer density can be obtained, and high resolution color development is possible.
At this time, the distance between the light emitting source and the light irradiation unit can be freely set. Further, an appropriate color development size can be obtained by the power of the semiconductor laser and the design of the optical system.

[0077]

In the sublimation printer according to the present invention, the dye tank contains the powdered vaporizing dye, the introducing portion liquefies and guides the vaporizing dye, and the vaporizing portion introduces the liquefied vaporizing gas introduced by the introducing portion. By vaporizing the dye by heat of vaporization by laser light, the vaporized dye is transferred to the printing paper.
Therefore, the heat generation effect of the vaporization section is improved by the laser light, and the heat dissipation mechanism is reduced. Further, printing can be performed without using an ink ribbon and a thermal head, and as a result, power saving, downsizing and cost reduction can be realized. In addition, since the heat is preheated in the low thermal conductor and the heat corresponding to the laser is used for vaporization, the thermal efficiency is improved. Further, since the ink ribbon is not required, the degree of freedom in size of the printing paper is increased. Further, the photographic paper provided with the light absorbing layer can further improve the efficiency. Further, the printing time can be shortened.

Further, it is possible to guide the liquefied vaporizing dye to the vaporizing section by utilizing the capillary phenomenon using the beads, or to use the beads in the vaporizing section.

Further, since the receiving layer of the printing paper can be heated by the laser beam, the other parts are not affected by the heat.

If the light intensity of the laser light is made to have a flat light distribution, the efficiency of photothermal conversion is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing a schematic configuration of a main part of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram showing a specific structure of a vaporization section of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a structural diagram showing a structure of a photographic printing paper provided with a light absorbing layer.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the first embodiment when beads are used in the vaporizing part.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a main part of the first embodiment viewed from the back surface.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a structure of a main part of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an external view of an example of a printing mechanism to which the first embodiment is applied.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a main part of a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an external view of an example of a printing mechanism to which the second embodiment is applied.

11 is a diagram showing the back surface of a laser block provided in the example of the printing mechanism shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of an optical system for equalizing the intensity distribution of laser light.

13 is a characteristic diagram showing the intensity distribution of laser light when the optical system having the configuration shown in FIG. 12 is used, and the intensity distribution of laser light when the optical system having the configuration shown in FIG. 12 is used. It is a characteristic diagram.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11, 12, 13 ... Dye tank 14, 15, 16 ... Introducing part 17, 18, 19 ... Vaporizing part 20 ... Paper 22 ... Transparent part

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Office reference number FI Technical indication location 8305-2H B41M 5/26 Q (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Shioda 6-735 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Soni -Inside the corporation

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A sublimation printer for thermally transferring a vaporized dye onto a printing paper, a dye tank for containing the powdered vaporized dye, an introducing section for liquefying the vaporized dye in the dye tank, and an introducing section for introducing the vaporized dye. A sublimation printer, comprising: a vaporizing section that vaporizes the liquefied vaporized dye that is vaporized by vaporization heat, and deposits the vaporized vaporized dye on the printing paper. 2. The sublimation printer according to claim 1, wherein the vaporizing section vaporizes the vaporized dye that has been liquefied by heat of vaporization according to laser light. 3. The sublimation printer according to claim 2, wherein the laser light used when the heat of vaporization is generated in the vaporization section is a laser light whose irradiation distribution is equalized. 4. The distance from the dye layer to the vaporizing section is 50 °.
The sublimation printer according to claim 1, wherein the sublimation printer is kept warm by heat of 300 to 300 °. 5. The sublimation printer according to claim 1, wherein the introduction part guides the liquefied vaporized dye to the vaporization part by utilizing a capillary phenomenon. 6. The sublimation printer according to claim 1, wherein the vaporizing section deposits vaporized dye vaporized by using a capillary phenomenon using beads on the printing paper.