Thermal fixing device in an image recording apparatus

Claim 2

In an image recording apparatus including an exposure light source for exposing a photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet to an image bearing light to form a latent image thereon, said exposure light source generating heat, and a pressure developing device for pressure developing said latent image on said photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet into a visible image and transferring said visible image onto a color developer sheet, a thermal fixing device for thermally fixing said visible image on said color developer sheet, said thermal fixing device comprising: a heat storing/radiating means disposed between said exposure light source and said color developer sheet on which said visible image is formed, in substantial contact with said color developer sheet, for storing said heat generated by said exposure light source and radiating said heat stored therein toward said color developer sheet for thermally fixing said visible image thereon; a heat collecting means disposed between said exposure light source and said heat storing/radiating means for collecting said heat generated by said exposure light source, the heat collected by said heat collecting means being applied to said heat storing/radiating means; a temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of said heat storing/radiating means and producing a temperature signal representative of said temperature of said heat storing/radiating means; and a heat amount control means responsive to said temperature signal for controlling an amount of heat applied to said color developer sheet to be maintained substantially constant, said temperature sensing means comprising a bimetallic element thermally coupled to said heat storing/radiating means and deformable in accordance with a temperature change in said heat storing/radiating means; said heat amount control means comprising a shutter means provided in said heat collecting means and operable in response to said deformation of said bimetallic element to control an amount of heat collected by said heat collecting means.

Claim 3

A thermal fixing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said heat storing/radiating means comprises a block-shaped massive member.

Claim 4

A thermal fixing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said massive member is made of aluminum.

Claim 5

A thermal fixing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said massive member is made of copper.

Claim 6

A thermal fixing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said massive member is made of ceramics.

Claim 7

The thermal fixing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet is coated with pressure-rupturable microcapsules containing therein dye precursours, a mechanical strength of said microcapsule being variable upon exposure to light, and wherein said color developer sheet is coated with a color developer which reacts with said dye precursours flowing out of the ruptured microcapsules when said latent image on said photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet is subjected to pressure development.

Claim 8

In an image recording apparatus including an exposure light source for exposing a photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet to an image bearing light to form a latent image thereon, said exposure light source generating heat, and a pressure developing device for pressure developing said latent image into a visible image, a thermal fixing device for thermally fixing said visible image on said sheet, said thermal fixing device comprising a heat storing/radiating means disposed between said exposure light source and said sheet on which said visible image is formed, in substantial contact with said color developer sheet, for storing said heat generated by said exposure light source and radiating said heat stored therein toward said sheet for thermally fixing said visible image thereon; a heat collecting means disposed between said exposure light source and said heat storing/radiating means for collecting said heat generated by said exposure light source, the heat collected by said collecting means being applied to said heat storing/radiating means; a temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of said heat storing/radiating means and producing a temperature signal representative of said temperature of said heat storing/radiating means; and a heat amount control means responsive to said temperature signal for controlling an amount of heat applied to said sheet to be maintained substantially constant, said temperature sensing means comprising a bimetallic element thermally coupled to said heat storing/radiating means and deformable in accordance with a temperature change in said heat storing/radiating means; said heat amount control means comprising shutter means provided in said heat collecting means and operable in response to said deformation of said bimetallic element to control an amount of heat collected by said heat collecting means.

Claim 9

In an image recording apparatus including an exposure light source for exposing a photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet to an image bearing light to form a latent image thereon, said exposure light source generating heat, and a pressure developing device for pressure developing said latent image into a visible image, a thermal fixing device for thermally fixing said visible image on said sheet, said thermal fixing device comprising a heat storing/radiating means disposed between said exposure light source and said sheet on which said visible image is formed, in substantial contact with said color developer sheet, for storing said heat generated by said exposure light source and radiating said heat stored therein toward said sheet for thermally fixing said visible image thereon; a heat collecting means disposed between said exposure light source and said heat storing/radiating means for collecting said heat generated by said exposure light source, the heat collected by said collecting means being applied to said heat storing/radiating means; a temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of said heat storing/radiating means and producing a temperature signal representative of said temperature of said heat storing/radiating means; and a heat amount control means responsive to said temperature signal for controlling an amount of heat applied to said sheet to be maintained substantially constant, said temperature sensing means comprising a bimetallic element thermally coupled to said heat storing/radiating means and deformable in accordance with a temperature change in said heat storing/radiating means; said heat amount control means comprising shutter means provided in said heat collecting means and operable in response to said deformation of said bimetallic element to control an amount of heat collected by said heat collecting means.

Claim 10

A thermal fixing device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said heat storing/radiating means comprises a block-shaped massive member.

Claim 11

A thermal fixing device as set forth in claim 8, wherein said massive member is made of aluminum.

Claim 12

A thermal fixing device as set forth in claim 8, wherein said massive member is made of copper.

Claim 13

A thermal fixing device as set forth in claim 8, wherein said massive member is made of ceramics.

Claim 14

A thermal fixing device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet comprises a substrate, pressure-rupturable microcapsules coated on one surface of said substrate, said microcapsules containing therein dye precursours, and a developer material co-deposited on said one surface as one layer.

Claim 15

A thermal fixing device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet comprises a substrate, pressure-rupturable microcapsules coated on one surface of said substrate, said microcapsules containing therein dye precursours, and a developer material co-deposited on said one surface as two contiguous layers.

Claim 16

In an image recording apparatus including an exposure light source for exposing a photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet to an image bearing light to form a latent image thereon, said exposure light source generating heat, and a pressure developing device for pressure developing said latent image on said photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet into a visible image and transferring said visible image onto a color developer sheet, a thermal fixing device for thermally fixing said visible image on said color developer sheet, said thermal fixing device comprising: a heat storing/radiating means disposed between said exposure light source and said color developer sheet on which said visible image is formed, in substantial contact with said color developer sheet, for storing said heat generated by said exposure light source and radiating said heat stored therein toward said color developer sheet for thermally fixing said visible image thereon; a heat collecting means disposed between said exposure light source and said heat storing/radiating means for collecting said heat generated by said exposure light source, the heat collected by said heat collecting means being applied to said heat storing/radiating means; a temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of said heat storing/radiating means and producing a temperature signal representative of said temperature of said heat storing/radiating means; and a heat amount control means responsive to said temperature signal for controlling an amount of heat applied to said color developer sheet to be maintained substantially constant, said temperature sensing means comprising a shape memory alloy element thermally coupled to said heat storing/radiating means and deformable in accordance with a temperature change in said heat storing/radiating means; said heat amount control means comprising a shutter means provided in said heat collecting means and operable in response to said deformation of said shape memory alloy element to control an amount of heat collected by said heat collecting means.

Claim 17

In an image recording apparatus including an exposure light source for exposing a photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet to an image bearing light to form a latent image thereon, said exposure light source generating heat, and a pressure developing device for pressure developing said latent image on said photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet into a visible image and transferring said visible image onto a color developer sheet, a thermal fixing device for thermally fixing said visible image on said color developer sheet, said thermal fixing device comprising: a heat storing/radiating means disposed between said exposure light source and said color developer sheet on which said visible image is formed, in substantial contact with said color developer sheet, for storing said heat generated by said exposure light source and radiating said heat stored therein toward said color developer sheet for thermally fixing said visible image thereon; a heat collecting means disposed between said exposure light source and said heat storing/radiating means for collecting said heat generated by said exposure light source, the heat collected by said heat collecting means being applied to said heat storing/radiating means; a temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of said heat storing/radiating means and producing a temperature signal representative of said temperature of said heat storing/radiating means; and a heat amount control means responsive to said temperature signal for controlling an amount of heat applied to said color developer sheet to be maintained substantially constant, said temperature sensing means comprising a shape memory alloy element thermally coupled to said heat storing/radiating means and deformable in accordance with a temperature change in said heat storing/radiating means; said heat amount control means comprising a shutter means provided in said heat collecting means and operable in response to said deformation of said shape memory alloy element to control an amount of heat collected by said heat collecting means.

Claim 18

In an image recording apparatus including an exposure light source for exposing a photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet to an image bearing light to form a latent image thereon, said exposure light source generating heat, and a pressure developing device for pressure developing said latent image on said photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet into a visible image and transferring said visible image onto a color developer sheet, a thermal fixing device for thermally fixing said visible image on said color developer sheet, said thermal fixing device comprising: a heat storing/radiating means disposed between said exposure light source and said color developer sheet on which said visible image is formed, in substantial contact with said color developer sheet, for storing said heat generated by said exposure light source and radiating said heat stored therein toward said color developer sheet for thermally fixing said visible image thereon; a heat collecting means disposed between said exposure light source and said heat storing/radiating means for collecting said heat generated by said exposure light source, the heat collected by said heat collecting means being applied to said heat storing/radiating means; a temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of said heat storing/radiating means and producing a temperature signal representative of said temperature of said heat storing/radiating means; and a heat amount control means responsive to said temperature signal for controlling an amount of heat applied to said color developer sheet to be maintained substantially constant, said heat amount control means comprising at least one feed roller for feeding said color developer sheet, and a drive motor for rotating said feed roller, wherein a rotational speed of said feed roller is controlled in response to said temperature signal.

Claim 19

In an image recording apparatus including an exposure light source for exposing a photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet to an image bearing light to form a latent image thereon, said exposure light source generating heat, and a pressure developing device for pressure developing said latent image on said photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet into a visible image and transferring said visible image onto a color developer sheet, a thermal fixing device for thermally fixing said visible image on said color developer sheet, said thermal fixing device comprising: a heat storing/radiating means disposed between said exposure light source and said color developer sheet on which said visible image is formed, in substantial contact with said color developer sheet, for storing said heat generated by said exposure light source and radiating said heat stored therein toward said color developer sheet for thermally fixing said visible image thereon; a heat collecting means disposed between said exposure light source and said heat storing/radiating means for collecting said heat generated by said exposure light source, the heat collected by said heat collecting means being applied to said heat storing/radiating means; a temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of said heat storing/radiating means and producing a temperature signal representative of said temperature of said heat storing/radiating means; and a heat amount control means responsive to said temperature signal for controlling an amount of heat applied to said color developer sheet to be maintained substantially constant, said heat amount control means comprising at least one feed roller for feeding said color developer sheet, and a drive motor for rotating said feed roller, wherein a rotational speed of said feed roller is controlled in response to said temperature signal.

Claim 20

A thermal fixing device as set forth in claim 15, wherein said heat storing/radiating means comprises a plate-like member, wherein said color developer sheet is travelled by said feed roller while being in sliding contact with said plate-like member.

Claim 21

In an image recording apparatus including an exposure light source for exposing a photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet to an image bearing light to form a latent image thereon, said exposure light source generating heat, and a pressure developing device for pressure developing said latent image into a visible image, a thermal fixing device for thermally fixing said visible image on said sheet, said thermal fixing device comprising: a heat storing/radiating means disposed between said exposure light source and said sheet on which said visible image is formed for storing said heat generated by said exposure light source and radiating said heat stored therein toward said sheet for thermally fixing said visible image thereon; a heat collecting means disposed between said exposure light source and said heat storing/radiating means for collecting said heat generated by said exposure light source, the heat collected by said heat collecting means being applied to said heat storing/radiating means; a temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of said heat storing/radiating means and producing a temperature signal representative of said temperature of said heat storing/radiating means; and a heat amount control means responsive to said temperature signal for controlling an amount of heat applied to said sheet to be maintained substantially constant, said temperature sensing means comprising a shape memory alloy element thermally coupled to said heat storing/radiating means and deformable in accordance with a temperature change in said heat storing/radiating means; said heat amount control means comprising a shutter means provided in said heat collecting means and operable in response to said deformation of said shape memory alloy element to control an amount of heat collected by said heat collecting means.

Claim 22

In an image recording apparatus including an exposure light source for exposing a photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet to an image bearing light to form a latent image thereon, said exposure light source generating heat, and a pressure developing device for pressure developing said latent image into a visible image, a thermal fixing device for thermally fixing said visible image on said sheet, said thermal fixing device comprising: a heat storing/radiating means disposed between said exposure light source and said sheet on which said visible image is formed for storing said heat generated by said exposure light source and radiating said heat stored therein toward said sheet for thermally fixing said visible image thereon; a heat collecting means disposed between said exposure light source and said heat storing/radiating means for collecting said heat generated by said exposure light source, the heat collected by said heat collecting means being applied to said heat storing/radiating means; a temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of said heat storing/radiating means and producing a temperature signal representative of said temperature of said heat storing/radiating means; and a heat amount control means responsive to said temperature signal for controlling an amount of heat applied to said sheet to be maintained substantially constant, said temperature sensing means comprising a shape memory alloy element thermally coupled to said heat storing/radiating means and deformable in accordance with a temperature change in said heat storing/radiating means; said heat amount control means comprising a shutter means provided in said heat collecting means and operable in response to said deformation of said shape memory alloy element to control an amount of heat collected by said heat collecting means.

Claim 23

In an image recording apparatus including an exposure light source for exposing a photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet to an image bearing light to form a latent image thereon, said exposure light source generating heat, and a pressure developing device for pressure developing said latent image into a visible image, a thermal fixing device for thermally fixing said visible image on said sheet, said thermal fixing device comprising: a heat storing/radiating means disposed between said exposure light source and said sheet on which said visible image is formed for storing said heat generated by said exposure light source and radiating said heat stored therein toward said sheet for thermally fixing said visible image thereon; a heat collecting means disposed between said exposure light source and said heat storing/radiating means for collecting said heat generated by said exposure light source, the heat collected by said heat collecting means being applied to said heat storing/radiating means; a temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of said heat storing/radiating means and producing a temperature signal representative of said temperature of said heat storing/radiating means; and a heat amount control means responsive to said temperature signal for controlling an amount of heat applied to said sheet to be maintained substantially constant, said heat amount control means comprising at least one feed roller for feeding said sheet, and a drive motor for rotating said feed roller, wherein a rotational speed of said feed roller is controlled in response to said temperature signal.

Claim 24

In an image recording apparatus including an exposure light source for exposing a photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet to an image bearing light to form a latent image thereon, said exposure light source generating heat, and a pressure developing device for pressure developing said latent image into a visible image, a thermal fixing device for thermally fixing said visible image on said sheet, said thermal fixing device comprising: a heat storing/radiating means disposed between said exposure light source and said sheet on which said visible image is formed for storing said heat generated by said exposure light source and radiating said heat stored therein toward said sheet for thermally fixing said visible image thereon; a heat collecting means disposed between said exposure light source and said heat storing/radiating means for collecting said heat generated by said exposure light source, the heat collected by said heat collecting means being applied to said heat storing/radiating means; a temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of said heat storing/radiating means and producing a temperature signal representative of said temperature of said heat storing/radiating means; and a heat amount control means responsive to said temperature signal for controlling an amount of heat applied to said sheet to be maintained substantially constant, said heat amount control means comprising at least one feed roller for feeding said sheet, and a drive motor for rotating said feed roller, wherein a rotational speed of said feed roller is controlled in response to said temperature signal.

Claim 25

A thermal fixing device as set forth in claim 8, wherein said heat storing/radiating means comprises a plate-like member, wherein said sheet is travelled by said feed roller while being in sliding contact with said plate-like member.