JP2000131820A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively and efficiently use image forming solvent which is stored in a storage tank and which is used to be applied on photosensitive material or image receiving material. SOLUTION: Projection parts 240 and recessed parts 242 are formed on the bottom surface of the applying tank 202 of a water applying part 80, and the stripes formed by the projection/recessed parts are inclined at a prescribed angle in a photosensitive material carrying direction and a direction orthogonal to the carrying direction. Thus, the original purpose of reducing the scraping of water by the leading end part of the photosensitive material is accomplished (the recessed parts 242 function as a relief path), and also, uneven striped applying and defective carriage are prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming solvent for a photosensitive material and an image receiving material, wherein the photosensitive material or the image receiving material is conveyed before the bonding. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with an application device for applying the image forming solvent to the photosensitive material or the image receiving material by immersing the photosensitive material or the image receiving material in a storage tank in which is stored.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image is recorded on a photosensitive material, and the photosensitive material on which the image is recorded is subjected to a heat development process in a state of being superposed on an image receiving material. 2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus for transferring has been proposed.

In the above-mentioned thermal development processing, when an image is transferred from a photosensitive material to an image receiving material, it is performed in the presence of an image forming solvent. As the solvent for image formation, water can be used, a water application device is provided in the middle of the conveying route of the photosensitive material or the image receiving material, and in a step before the superposition.

[0004] The water application device is provided with a storage tank for storing water. The bottom surface of the storage layer is formed in an arc shape to guide the photosensitive material or the image receiving material in a substantially arc shape, whereby the photosensitive material entering the storage tank at a predetermined incident angle has a predetermined emission angle. Will be sent out of the storage tank.

[0005] By passing through the water application device, water is applied to one of the photosensitive material and the image receiving material, and can function as an image forming solvent at the time of superposition.

However, the storage tank has a small volume for storing water. When the leading end of the photosensitive material or the image receiving material reaches the storage tank and is conveyed along the arc-shaped bottom surface, most of the water is removed. It is scraped out of the storage tank. For this reason, the change in the water level was large, and it was necessary to frequently replenish the water. Since the change in water level is large, the amount of application differs between the front end side and the rear end side of the photosensitive material or the image receiving material.

In view of the above, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus which can be used effectively when the image forming solvent in the storage tank is applied when the image forming solvent is applied to the photosensitive material or the image receiving material. The purpose is to get.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in the case where a photosensitive material and an image receiving material are bonded to each other to perform a heat development process, the photosensitive material or the image receiving material is transported before the bonding. While the image forming solvent is immersed in a storage tank in which the image forming solvent is stored, the image forming apparatus is provided with a coating device for coating the photosensitive material or the image receiving material with the image forming solvent, wherein the coating device Formed on the bottom surface of the storage tank for guiding the photosensitive material or the image receiving material,
It has a streaky uneven portion having a predetermined angle with respect to the transport direction, and when the convex portion of the uneven portion passes through the tip of the photosensitive material or the image receiving material, supports the photosensitive material or the image receiving material,
The concave portion guides an excess amount of the image forming solvent behind the front end portion.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the coating device has the streaky irregularities on the bottom surface. At this time, the direction of the unevenness, that is, the direction of the streaks, is a direction having a predetermined angle with respect to the transport direction of the photosensitive material or the image receiving material. For example, in the case of a streak along the transport direction, the convex portion comes in contact with the photosensitive material or the image receiving material while being fixed at a fixed position during the transport, so that uneven coating occurs on the opposing surface between the convex portion and the concave portion.
On the other hand, for example, in the case of a streak along a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, the leading end of the photosensitive material or the image receiving material may enter the concave portion and cause transport failure.

[0010] For this reason, since the direction of the streaks of the concave and convex portions is set so as to be at a predetermined angle with respect to both the transport direction and the direction orthogonal to the transport direction, the above problem can be solved.

When the tip of the photosensitive material or the image receiving material passes through the storage tank of the coating apparatus, the solvent for image formation in the storage tank is scraped to the tip of the photosensitive material or the image receiving material. Since an uneven portion is provided on the bottom surface for guiding the leading end of the material or the image receiving material, the solvent for image forming, which has to be conventionally scraped off, may escape behind the leading end of the photosensitive material or the image receiving material through the concave portion. And the scraping amount can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to lengthen the interval of replenishment of the solvent for image formation to the storage tank of the coating apparatus.

[0012]

FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment.

The image forming apparatus 10 includes an image exposing device 10 and an image processing device 12.

The image exposure apparatus 10 includes a photosensitive material loading section 18.
, A correction circuit 20, a correction data creation unit 22, and an exposure unit 24. Further, the image processing apparatus 12 includes a face section 26 and a heat developing unit 28.
, A photosensitive material take-up unit 30, an image receiving and feeding unit 32, a color measurement sensor 34, and a temperature and humidity sensor 36.

The photosensitive material loading section 18 of the image exposure apparatus 10 is loaded with the photosensitive material 16 wound around a winding shaft 38. The photosensitive material 16 loaded in the photosensitive material loading section 18 is transported in a predetermined direction by driving a transport roller (not shown). An exposure unit 24 is provided downstream of the photosensitive material 16 in the transport direction. The exposure unit 24 includes a correction circuit 20 for correcting image data.
Are connected to each other, and the corrected image data generated by the correction circuit 20 is input thereto. That is, the exposure unit 24 is instructed to drive a laser (not shown) based on the corrected image data, and scans the photosensitive material 16 with a light beam to perform exposure. The exposure unit 2
4 is provided with an arc-shaped drum 78 having a central angle of approximately 180 °, and the photosensitive material 16 is wound and conveyed along the inner peripheral surface of the drum 78, and the light beam is transmitted in the (So-called inner spinner type) (hereinafter described in detail).

The output terminal of the correction data generator 22 is connected to the correction circuit 20 described above. Output terminals of a temperature / humidity sensor 36 and a color measurement sensor 34 provided in the image processing apparatus 12 are connected to the correction data creation unit 22.
The temperature / humidity sensor 36 is a sensor that detects the temperature and humidity in the image processing apparatus 12, and the color measurement sensor 34 measures the color of the image recorded on the image receiving paper 40 that has been heat-developed by the heat development unit 28. It is a sensor. Therefore, the correction data creation unit 22 uses the correction circuit 2 based on the detection (measurement) data from the temperature and humidity sensor 36 and the color measurement sensor 34.
At 0, correction data used for correcting image data is created.

Next, the details of the internal structure of the image processing device 12 provided adjacent to the image exposure device 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the image processing device 12
A face portion 26 is provided in the vicinity of the connection portion with the image exposure device 10 in. A branch guide (not shown) operated by a solenoid is disposed on the face portion 26. The branch guide is configured to be switched between a horizontal state and a vertical state. When the branch guide is switched to the vertical state, as shown by an imaginary line in FIG.
The photosensitive material 16 can be slackened between the two. Thereby, the processing speed of the image processing device 12 and the image exposure device 10
Speed difference with the processing speed can be absorbed. In addition,
The driving of the transport roller 42 is controlled by a control unit 94 provided below the image processing apparatus 12.

Below the face section 26, an image receiving / feeding section 32 is provided. Image receiving paper 40 wound around a take-up shaft 44 is loaded in the image receiving and feeding unit 32, and is transported by a transport roller 42 in a predetermined direction.

A thermal developing unit 28 is provided downstream of the photosensitive material 16 in the transport direction. Thermal development unit 28
Is provided with a water application section 80 in which the photosensitive material 16 is filled with water as a solvent for image formation.

The water application section 80 is supplied with water from a water tank 82 provided below the image processing apparatus 12 by a pump 81. By coating the photosensitive material 16 with water, the adhesion when the image receiving paper 40 and the photosensitive material 16 are bonded to each other can be improved. The water application section 80 will be described later.

The heat developing unit 28 is provided with a heating drum 84 in addition to the water application section 80. Heating drum 84
The heater 100 is accommodated in the inside, and the temperature rises as the heating drum 84 rotates. The heater 100 is provided with a temperature sensor 122.

The heater 100 employs a halogen lamp, and is arranged at a uniform pitch in a predetermined angle range around the center of the heating drum 84. By turning on and off the halogen lamp, the surface temperature of the heating drum 84 is controlled.

As a result, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 conveyed along the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 84 are heated for a predetermined time (that is, subjected to a heat development process), and an image is formed on the image receiving paper 40. A slip prevention belt 86 is provided near the outer circumference of the heating drum 84 to prevent the photosensitive material 16 conveyed along the outer circumference of the heating drum 84 and the image receiving paper 40 from shifting. Care is taken to ensure accurate formation.

On the downstream side of the heating drum 84 in the conveying direction of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40, a photosensitive material peeling member 88 for peeling off the photosensitive material 16 bonded to the image receiving paper 40, and the image receiving paper 40 are provided. An image receiving paper separating member 90 for separating from the heating drum 84 is provided.

The image receiving paper 4 is separated by the photosensitive material separating member 88.
The photosensitive material 16 that has been peeled off is wound around a winding shaft 92 provided in the photosensitive material winding section 30, and is disposed as waste material. Further, the color measurement sensor 34 is disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction of the image receiving paper 40 on which an image has been formed by being separated from the heating drum 84 by the image receiving paper separating member 90. The color measurement sensor 34 measures the color of the image formed on the image receiving paper 40, and outputs the measurement data to the correction data creation unit 22 provided in the image exposure device 10. The image receiving paper 40 whose color has been measured by the color measurement sensor 34 is stored in the image processing apparatus 1.
2 to the outside.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the details of the water application section 80. FIG.

The main body 200 of the water application section 80 is an integrally molded product of synthetic resin, and has an application tank 202 formed at the center thereof.
An overflow tank 204 is provided therearound.

At the four bottom corners of the overflow tank 204,
Each outlet 206 is provided and communicates with the lower end surface of the main body 200. Outlet 2 at this lower end
Nozzle 208 is integrally formed around 06, and one end of a hose 210 connected to the tank 81 is fitted.

The overflow tank 204 has a function of receiving water overflowing from the coating tank 202 and returning the water to the tank 81.

The coating tank 202 has a bottom surface 202A formed in an arc shape along the conveying direction of the photosensitive material 16, so that the photosensitive material 16 can be smoothly guided with a predetermined radius of curvature. I have.

The arc surface has a step at an intermediate portion in the photosensitive material conveying direction. A slit-like groove 212 extending in a direction perpendicular to the photosensitive material transport direction is formed in this step. The upstream side of the photosensitive material conveying direction is slightly higher than the downstream side with respect to the groove portion 212, and the photosensitive material 16 is conveyed over the groove portion 212 due to the step, and is not caught by the groove portion 212.

One end of the coating tank 202 in the longitudinal direction, that is, the direction orthogonal to the photosensitive material conveying direction, and the groove 21
A discharge port 214 is provided at the same plane position as 2. The outlet 214 communicates with the lower end surface of the main body 200. Outlet 2 at the lower end surface of the main body 200
A nozzle 216 is integrally formed around the hose 14, and the hose 2 fitted to the nozzle 208 of the hover flow tank 204 is formed.
One end of a hose 218 branched from an intermediate part of the hose 10 is fitted.

An electromagnetic valve 220 is disposed in the middle of the branched hose 218, and is normally closed. Here, when it is time to replace all the water in the coating tank 202, the solenoid valve 220 is opened, and the coating tank 2
All the water in 02 can be returned to the tank 81.

In the tank 81, the hose 210 is connected to the lid 8
Water that passes through 1A and is returned from the overflow tank 204 and the coating tank 101 reaches a storage chamber 81C in the tank 81 via a filter 81B.

One end of a supply hose 222 is disposed near the bottom of the storage chamber 81C. This supply hose 2
An intermediate portion of the nozzle 22 penetrates the lid 81A, and a tip end thereof is fitted to an inflow port 224A provided on an upper surface of a heater block 224 disposed above the water application section 80. I have.

A pump 226 is provided at an intermediate portion of the supply hose 222 after penetrating the lid 81A.
And a filter 228 interposed therebetween, the water in the storage chamber 81C of the tank 81 is pumped by the drive of the pump 226, and after the dirt is removed by the filter 228, the water reaches the inlet 224A of the heater block 224. I have.

The heater block 224 is made of metal, and its outer dimensions correspond to the dimensions of the application tank 202 of the water application section 80 in plan view.

The upper surface of the heater block 224 is flat, and the heaters 230 are arranged. This heater 230
Is turned on, the heat is transmitted to the heater block 224. Here, the heater block 224
Is made of metal, the thermal conductivity is extremely high.

The lower portion of the heater block 224 is an arc surface having a radius of curvature substantially matching the radius of curvature of the arc surface on the bottom surface of the coating tank 202, and is formed between the arc surface of the coating tank 202 and the arc surface of the heater block 224. Are formed with gaps 232 at substantially constant intervals.

The gap 232 is also filled with water stored in the coating tank 202, and the photosensitive material 16
When passing through 32, water is applied.

A pair of guide plates 234 is provided on the entry side of the gap 232, and the photosensitive material 1 enters the gap 232.
6 has a role of guiding the insertion. Also, the gap 23
A pair of transport rollers 236 are disposed on the exit side of the photosensitive drum 2 so as to sandwich the photosensitive material 16 coming out of the gap 232 and transport the photosensitive material 16 to the above-described heat developing unit 28.

The heater block 224 has the
A pipe 224B having one end opening 24A is formed, and the other end opening is provided at a part of the arc surface and at a position coinciding with the inflow port 224A in plan view, and serves as a discharge port 224C. .

The conduit 224B is connected to the heater block 22.
4 through the inlet formed at one end in the longitudinal direction.
The heater block 224 is slightly extended in two directions, is turned by about 90 °, is extended to the other end of the heater block 224, makes a U-turn at this other end, returns to one end again, and turns at about 90 ° in this one end. It has been converted to reach the outlet 224C. That is, the pipeline 224B makes one reciprocation in the heater block 224 along the longitudinal direction. Here, the pump 22
6 is heated while passing through the pipe 224B. The heated water is discharged to the coating tank 202 and stored at an appropriate temperature as water for coating the photosensitive material 16. Further, since the lower portion of the heater block 224 is immersed in the water stored in the coating tank 202, the temperature is also kept at the same time.

As shown in FIG. 5, on the bottom surface of the coating tank 202, a line-shaped convex portion 240 having a predetermined angle θ with respect to the direction of transport of the photosensitive material 16 is formed. Due to the formation of the convex portion 240, the bottom surface of the coating tank 202 has a shape in which irregularities are repeated. Therefore, the photosensitive material 16 is guided and conveyed while being supported by the convex portions 240. Note that a portion between the convex portions 240 is referred to as a concave portion 242 as necessary.

The protruding portion 240 has a so-called R shape at its tip end surface and is rounded. Therefore, the projection 240 does not damage the photosensitive material 16 during transportation.

The angle θ of the convex portion 240 is
On the upstream side of 2, the photosensitive material 16 is inclined in the direction toward the center with respect to the center line in the transport direction of the photosensitive material 16. On the downstream side of the groove 212, the photosensitive material 16 is inclined in a direction away from the center with respect to a center line of the photosensitive material 16 in the transport direction.

Due to this inclination, the photosensitive material 16 is always supported by the convex portions 240 at different positions during the conveyance, so that the stripe-shaped coating unevenness due to being constantly supported at the same position does not occur. It has a structure.

Further, a gap (concave section 242) corresponding to the height of the convex section 240 is generated between the tip of the photosensitive material 16 and the bottom surface of the coating tank 202 at the time of water application due to the convex section 240.
The concave portion 242 serves as an escape route for water, so that the amount of water scraped can be reduced.

The surface of the water application section 202 having the above structure is entirely subjected to antibacterial treatment. As the antibacterial treatment material, Bacte Killer (“brand name” manufactured by Kanebo Co., Ltd.) is applicable. The general physical properties of this bakutekira are a PH of 8 to 1
0, specific gravity 2.1 to 2.2 (bulk specific gravity 0.4), particle size 2
μ and 5 μ. In addition, the antibacterial treatment method is to add about 0.5%
The effect can be obtained by kneading the amount of about 3%.

The operation of the present embodiment will be described below.

In the image exposure apparatus 10, the photosensitive material 16 loaded in the photosensitive material loading section 18 is sent to the exposure unit 24 by driving a transport roller (not shown). The exposure unit 24 scans and exposes the photosensitive material 16 with a light beam based on the corrected image data. That is,
The exposure unit 24 is provided with an arc-shaped drum 78 having a center angle of about 180 °.
The light beam is irradiated onto the photosensitive material 16 from the inner circumferential direction of the drum 78.

The photosensitive material 24 is provided on the face 2 provided near the connection between the image processing apparatus 12 and the image exposure apparatus 10.
6 and belongs to the thermal developing unit 28
Is applied to the photosensitive material and sent to the heating drum 84.

A heater 100 is housed inside the heating drum 84, and the temperature rises as the heating drum 84 rotates. Thus, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 conveyed along the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 84 are heated for a predetermined time, and an image is formed on the image receiving paper 40.

The image receiving paper 4 is separated by the photosensitive material separating member 88.
The photosensitive material 16 that has been peeled off from the photosensitive material 16 is wound around the winding shaft 92 of the photosensitive material winding section 30, and is disposed as waste material. Further, the toner image is peeled off from the heating drum 84 by the image receiving paper peeling member 90 and discharged to the outside of the image processing apparatus 12.

Here, in the water application section 80, the photosensitive material 16 is conveyed, guided by a pair of guide plates 234, and sent to the application tank 202. At this time, the photosensitive material 16
Is conveyed while contacting the bottom of the coating tank 202.

Here, conventionally, since the bottom of the coating tank 202 has a smooth circular arc surface, the front end and the bottom of the photosensitive material 16 are in close contact with each other, and the water in the coating tank 202 is scraped. .

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the convex portion 240 is formed on the bottom surface (the concave portion 242 is formed as a result), and the concave and convex shape is formed. Of the photosensitive material 16 escapes behind the front end of the photosensitive material 16, and as a result, the scraping amount can be reduced.

Since the convex portion 240 is inclined at a predetermined angle (angle θ) with respect to the photosensitive material transport direction and a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, the photosensitive material 16 is supported by the convex portion 240 when the photosensitive material 16 is transported. Since the support position moves in the width direction, uneven coating can be suppressed. Also,
There is no possibility that the concave portion 242 is caught by the photosensitive material to cause transport failure.

The photosensitive material 16 having passed through the coating tank 202
Is held between a pair of transport rollers 236 and transported in the direction of the heating drum 84 described above.

The surface of the water application section 80 according to the present embodiment is entirely subjected to antibacterial treatment. For this reason, even if the coating tank 202 is always filled with water, no bacteria such as molds will be generated, and no slimming of water will occur.

According to the present embodiment, the convex portion 240 and the concave portion 242 are formed on the bottom surface of the application tank 202 of the water application section 80, and the direction of the streaks due to the irregularities is determined by the transport direction and the transport direction of the photosensitive material 16. Since it is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the direction perpendicular to the direction, it is possible to achieve the original purpose of reducing the scraping of water by the front end portion of the photosensitive material 16 (the concave portion 242 serves as an escape route), and also to have a streaky coating unevenness and poor conveyance. Can also be prevented.

In the present embodiment, the water application section 80 is provided in the middle of the conveying path of the photosensitive material 16, but may be in the middle of the conveying path of the image receiving paper 40.

[0064]

As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention effectively utilizes the image forming solvent in the storage tank applied when the image forming solvent is applied to the photosensitive material or the image receiving material. It has an excellent effect that it can be produced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus forming a part of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a water application unit.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a water application section.

5A is a plan view showing a bottom surface of a coating tank, and FIG. 5B is a sectional view taken along line VB-VB in FIG. 5A.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 16 photosensitive material 40 image receiving paper (image receiving material) 80 water application section 81 tank 200 main body 202 application tank 240 convex section 242 concave section

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Koizumi 798, Miyadai, Kaisei-cho, Ashigara-gun, Kanagawa F-Term in Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. (Reference) 2H112 AA03 BA10 BA23 DA03 DA15

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A storage tank in which a solvent for image formation is stored while transporting the photosensitive material or the image receiving material before the bonding, in a case where the photosensitive material and the image receiving material are bonded to each other and subjected to thermal development processing. An image forming apparatus comprising a coating device for coating the photosensitive material or the image receiving material with the image forming solvent by immersing the photosensitive material or the image receiving material in the storage device for guiding the photosensitive material or the image receiving material in the coating device. Formed on the bottom surface, has a streak-like uneven portion having a predetermined angle with respect to the transport direction, and when the convex portion of the uneven portion passes through the tip of the photosensitive material or the image receiving material, the photosensitive material or the image receiving material An image forming apparatus, wherein the concave portion guides an excess amount of the image forming solvent rearward of the front end portion.