Image recording method using photosensitive sheet having microcapsules thereon

Claim 2

An image recording method for recording on a non-standard recording medium comprising the steps of: superposing a photosensitive sheet having a transparent substrate with microcapsules coated on a first surface of said substrate on a photosensitive member having a conductive layer and a photoconductive layer on the conductive layer to place an uncoated second surface of said substrate in contact with the photoconductive layer of the photosensitive member, each of said microcapsules encapsulating a photosensitive material and a chromogenic material, said photosensitive material changing viscosity to increase hardness upon irradiation by light; uniformly charging surfaces of the microcapsules, the substrate and the photoconductive layer; irradiating light having image information of an original image toward the surface of the microcapsules to form a chemical latent image defined by unexposed microcapsules corresponding to the original image on the photosensitive sheet and through the substrate to form an electric latent image corresponding to the original image on the photoconductive layer of the photosensitive member; providing a developer onto at least a portion of the photosensitive sheet on which the chemical latent image is formed; superposing the photosensitive sheet on which the developer is provided upon a recording medium; and rupturing the unexposed microcapsules whereby the chromogenic material flows out of each of the ruptured microcapsules to react with the developer to produce a copy of the original image on the recording medium.

Claim 3

An image recording method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the charging step is completed by superposing the photosensitive sheet upon the photosensitive member after the surface of the photoconductive layer of the photosensitive member has been charged to uniformly charge the photosensitive member, the substrate and the microcapsules.

Claim 4

An image recording method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the charging step is completed by uniformly charging the surface of the microcapsules after the photoconductive layer is placed in face to face contact with the substrate.

Claim 5

An image recording method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of charging the developer to a polarity opposite to that of the upper surface of the microcapsules at the area where a chemical latent image is formed prior to providing the developer.

Claim 6

An image recording method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microcapsules are ruptured by an application of pressure.

Claim 7

An image recording method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the microcapsules comprises a thermally fusible outside wall encapsulating the photosensitive and chromogenic materials.

Claim 8

An image recording method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the microcapsules are ruptured by an application of heat.

Claim 9

An image recording method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive layer is grounded prior to the photosensitive sheet being superposed on the photosensitive member and irradiated with light having image information.

Claim 10

An image recording sheet capable of recording an image on an optional recording medium, comprising: a photosensitive sheet carrying electrostatically charged microcapsules on a first surface, each microcapsule encapsulating therein a photosensitive material having a viscosity which changes upon exposure to irradiated light to become rigid and a chromogenic material, the irradiated light carrying image information and discharging the microcapsules at exposed areas; and an electrostatically charged developer having a polarity opposite to that of the charged microcapsules thereby overlying the unexposed areas.

Claim 11

An image recording sheet capable of recording an image on an optional recording medium, comprising: a photosensitive sheet carrying electrostatically charged microcapsules on a first surface, each microcapsule encapsulating therein a photosensitive material having a viscosity which changes upon exposure to irradiated light to become rigid and a chromogenic material, the irradiated light carrying image information and discharging the microcapsules at exposed areas; and an electrostatically charged developer having a polarity opposite to that of the charged microcapsules thereby overlying the unexposed areas.

Claim 12

An image recording sheet as claimed in claim 9, wherein said chromogenic material and said developer when brought into contact react to produce a colored dye.

Claim 13

An image recording sheet as claimed in claim 10, said microcapsules further comprising a pressure sensitive outer wall.

Claim 14

An image recording sheet as claimed in claim 11, said microcapsules further comprising a thermally sensitive outer wall.

Claim 15

An image recording method for recording a non-standard recording medium comprising the steps of: grounding a conductive layer of a photosensitive member having the conductive layer with a photoconductive layer on the conductive layer; superposing a photosensitive sheet having a transparent substrate with microcapsules coated on a first surface of said substrate on a photosensitive member having said grounded conductive layer to place an uncoated second surface of said substrate in contact with the photoconductive layer of the photosensitive member, each of said micro-capsules encapsulating a photosensitive material and a chromogenic material, such photosensitive material changing viscosity to increase hardness upon irradiation by light; uniformly charging surfaces of the micro-capsules, the substrate and the photoconductive layer; irradiating light having image information of an original image toward the surface of the microcapsules to form a chemical latent image defined by unexposed microcapsules corresponding to the original image on the photosensitive sheet and through the substrate to form an electric latent image corresponding to the original image on the photoconductive layer of the photosensitive member; providing a developer onto at least a portion of the photosensitive sheet on which the chemical latent image is formed; superposing the photosensitive sheet on which the developer is provided upon a recording medium; and rupturing the unexposed microcapsules whereby the chromogenic material flows out of each of the ruptured microcapsules to react with the developer to produce a copy of the original image on the recording medium.

Claim 16

An image recording method for recording a non-standard recording medium comprising the steps of: grounding a conductive layer of a photosensitive member having the conductive layer with a photoconductive layer on the conductive layer; superposing a photosensitive sheet having a transparent substrate with microcapsules coated on a first surface of said substrate on a photosensitive member having said grounded conductive layer to place an uncoated second surface of said substrate in contact with the photoconductive layer of the photosensitive member, each of said micro-capsules encapsulating a photosensitive material and a chromogenic material, such photosensitive material changing viscosity to increase hardness upon irradiation by light; uniformly charging surfaces of the micro-capsules, the substrate and the photoconductive layer; irradiating light having image information of an original image toward the surface of the microcapsules to form a chemical latent image defined by unexposed microcapsules corresponding to the original image on the photosensitive sheet and through the substrate to form an electric latent image corresponding to the original image on the photoconductive layer of the photosensitive member; providing a developer onto at least a portion of the photosensitive sheet on which the chemical latent image is formed; superposing the photosensitive sheet on which the developer is provided upon a recording medium; and rupturing the unexposed microcapsules whereby the chromogenic material flows out of each of the ruptured microcapsules to react with the developer to produce a copy of the original image on the recording medium.

Claim 17

An image recording method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the charging step is completed by superposing the photosensitive sheet upon the photosensitive member after the surface of the photoconductive layer of the photosensitive member has been charged to uniformly charge the photosensitive member, the substrate and the microcapsules.

Claim 18

An image recording method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the charging step is completed by uniformly charging the surface of the microcapsules after the photoconductive layer is placed in face to face contact with the substrate.

Claim 19

An image recording method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising the step of charging the developer to a polarity opposite to that of the upper surface of the microcapsules at the area where a chemical latent image is formed prior to providing the developer.

Claim 20

An image recording method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the microcapsules are ruptured by an application of pressure.

Claim 21

An image recording method as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of the microcapsules comprises a thermally fusible outside wall encapsulating the photosensitive and chromogenic materials.

Claim 22

An image recording method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the microcapsules are ruptured by an application of heat.