Patent US4335957A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4335957A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image forming method and apparatus therefor
Assignee: Asahi Kasei Corp
•
Filing: 1981-05-22
•
Granted: 1982-06-22
•
Expires: 2001-05-22
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for forming an image using an image forming sheet that is normally non-photosensitive but can be rendered photosensitive by preheating and is exposed at the preheated area to a light image to form therein a latent image and then heat-developed to form a visible image. After preheating, the preheated area is cooled by cooling means prior to exposure.
Inventors
- 👤 Kohei Nonaka
- 👤 Masahiro Koyama
- 👤 Makoto Gonmori
- 👤 Takeo Kimura
- 👤 Tetsuo Shiga
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:31
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03C; G03C1/00; G03C1/494; G03C1/498; G03C1/49881
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
Image forming apparatus for forming an image using a heat-developable image forming sheet that is normally non-photosensitive but can be rendered photosensitive by preheating prior to exposure and exposed to a light image to form therein a latent image and then heat-developed to obtain a visible image, comprising one or two heating means for heating and heat-developing an image forming area of the image forming sheet; cooling means for cooling the preheated image forming area of the image forming sheet prior to exposure; and exposure means for projecting an optical image of a subject to the cooled image forming area of the image forming sheet for exposure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
Image forming apparatus for forming an image using a heat-developable image forming sheet that is normally non-photosensitive but can be rendered photosensitive by preheating prior to exposure and exposed to a light image to form therein a latent image and then heat-developed to obtain a visible image, comprising one or two heating means for heating and heat-developing an image forming area of the image forming sheet; cooling means for cooling the preheated image forming area of the image forming sheet prior to exposure; and exposure means for projecting an optical image of a subject to the cooled image forming area of the image forming sheet for exposure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cooling means has a thermally conductive solid body held at a temperature below 60° C. and making direct contact with the image forming area of the image forming sheet for cooling it.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein means is provided for applying a pressurizing fluid to the image forming sheet on the opposite side from the side on which the solid body is held in direct contact with the image forming sheet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pressurizing fluid is pressurized air.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein means is provided for producing a negative pressure between the solid body and the contact surface of the image forming sheet therewith when the former is held in direct contact with the latter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a frame-shaped member is disposed on the opposite side from the side on which the solid body makes contact with the image forming sheet, and wherein means is provided for introducing a pressurizing fluid from the outside into the frame-shaped member to apply the pressurizing fluid to the image forming sheet within the frame-shaped member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cooling means is means for blowing a gas of a temperature below about 60° C. against the image forming sheet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the cooling means is arranged so that the gas is applied to the surface of the image forming area of the image forming sheet from the inside of the frame-shaped member disposed in contact with the image forming sheet at the position of the heating or exposure means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the heating means, the cooling means and the exposure means is provided with means for fixing the image forming area of the image forming sheet at the position for the corresponding process.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the at least one fixing means has one frame-shaped member for holding the image forming sheet surrounding its image forming area.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the at least one fixing means comprises a pair of opposing first and second frame-shaped members for holding therebetween the image forming sheet surrounding its image forming area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the exposure means includes a body tube member, and wherein the end face of the body tube member on the side of the image forming sheet is frame-shaped to form at least one part of the fixing means for the exposure means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the fixing means comprises a second frame-shaped member provided for the exposure means in opposing relation to the frame-shaped end face of the body tube member and is arranged to hold the image forming sheet between the frame-shaped end face and the end face of the second frame-shaped member surrounding the image forming area of the image forming sheet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein there are provided means for directing projection light through the inside of the second frame-shaped member to the image forming area of the image forming sheet held in contact with the second frame-shaped member and means for projecting to a screen projection light having transmitted through the image forming area and passed through a through hole of the body tube member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating means has a high-temperature solid body which makes direct contact with the image forming area of the image forming sheet for heating it.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the high-temperature solid body is a heat conductor having incorporated therein a heater and includes means for controlling its temperature at a predetermined value.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein means is provided for applying a pressurizing fluid to the image forming sheet on the opposite side from the side on which the image forming sheet contacts the high-temperature solid body when the latter is held in direct contact with the former.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the pressurizing fluid is pressurized air.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
66 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a frame-shaped member is disposed on the opposite side from the side on which the high-temperature solid body is held in direct contact with the image forming sheet, and wherein means is provided for introducing a pressurizing fluid from the outside into the frame-shaped member to apply the pressurizing fluid to the image forming within the frame-shaped member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein means is provided for producing a negative pressure between the high-temperature solid body and the image forming sheet contacting therewith when the former is held in direct contact with the latter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating means heats the image forming area of the image forming sheet by contacting therewith a high-temperature gas.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the high-temperature gas is air heated up to 80° to 220° C.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the high-temperature gas is air which is present between the image forming sheet and a high-temperature solid body disposed in adjacent but spaced relation thereto and is heated by the high-temperature solid body.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating means irradiates the image forming area of the image forming sheet by infrared or far infrared rays.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating means comprises first and second heating means provided individually for preheating and for heat development.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 25, wherein at least three means of the first heating means, the exposure means and the second heating means are arranged in alignment.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the first heating means for preheating, the cooling means, the exposure means and the second heating means for heat development are arranged in alignment.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the first heating means, the cooling means, the exposure means and the second heating means are fixed in alignment relative to one another or formed as a unitary structure.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
50 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 27, which is arranged so that processings by the first heating means, the cooling means, the exposure means and the second heating means are respectively performed for a plurality of image forming areas on the image forming sheet in parallel at the same time.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein checking means for preventing double image formation in an already recorded image forming area.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
66 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the checking means includes a light emitting device and a photo detector, wherein light emitted from the light emitting device and transmitted through or reflected by the image forming sheet is received by the photo detector, and wherein double image formation is checked by a comparison of the intensity of the photo detector output with a preset value.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
82 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 31, wherein a portion for holding the subject is arranged so that the image of a strip different in reflection factor from the image forming sheet is formed to extend along at least one of all four side of the image forming area of the image forming sheet when the image of a subject is formed in the image forming area, and wherein the strip in the image forming area is detected by the checking means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
50 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 25, wherein checking means is provided for preventing double image formation in an already recorded image forming area, and wherein at least four means of the checking means, the first heating means, the exposure means and the second heating means are arranged in alignment.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
54 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 25, wherein checking means for preventing double image formation in an already recorded image forming area is provided adjacent the first heating means, and wherein the detecting means, the first heating means, the cooling means, the exposure means and the second heating means are all arranged in alignment.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
36 words
Image forming apparatus according to claim 34, which is arranged so that processings by the five means are respectively performed for different image forming areas of the image forming sheet in parallel at the same time.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-06-21 | 1985-12-21 | 1986-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-06-21 | 1989-12-21 | 1990-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-06-21 | 1993-12-21 | 1994-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |