JP2000250193A - Temperature control device for solvent for forming image - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To decrease the temp. change of the solvent for forming image in the storage vessel due to the replenishment of the solvent for forming image and to restore the tamp. of solvent for forming image in a storage vessel to a stable state (to uniformly keep a prescribed temp.) for a short time after replenishing. SOLUTION: In the case that a pump 222 is driven, a heater 202A and a heater 202B are independently controlled. In the case of independently controlling, the heater 202A supplies larger calories than the heater 202B does. Water flowing in a heater block 204 and heated while being guided to a guiding passage 206 is most strongly heated direct after flowing in. That is, the water flowing in a relatively low temp. is rapidly heated to be controlled to the prescribed temp. while being guided in the heater block.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling the temperature of a solvent for forming an image, and more particularly, to a case in which a photosensitive material and an image receiving material are bonded to each other and subjected to a heat development process, before the bonding. The present invention relates to an image forming solvent temperature control device used in a coating device for applying an image forming solvent to an image receiving material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a heat development process in which a photosensitive material such as a lithographic film can be developed without performing complicated processes such as development and fixing (wet process), it is necessary to adhere the photosensitive material and the image receiving material tightly. An image forming solvent is applied to a photosensitive material on which an image has been exposed, and then bonded to an image receiving material and heated for a predetermined time. Thereafter, the photosensitive material and the image receiving material are separated and dried (a so-called dry process is performed). Developing.

[0003] Application of an image forming solvent is performed by immersing a photosensitive material in a storage tank in which the image forming solvent is stored. Aged and degraded imaging solvents must be disposed of as industrial waste. Since it is very troublesome and costly to dispose of a large amount of industrial waste, it is necessary to reduce the amount of an image forming solvent used. In addition, a small and lightweight storage tank is required from the viewpoint of easy handling of the image forming solvent temperature control device. Therefore, this storage tank has only a minimum capacity for immersing the photosensitive material and applying the image forming solvent.

As described above, only a minimum amount of an image forming solvent necessary for coating can be stored in a storage tank (the amount of the image forming solvent is not large), and the amount of the image forming solvent in the storage tank by coating or evaporation is reduced. The reduction of the solvent for image formation cannot be ignored.
Therefore, it is required to replenish the storage tank with a certain amount of the image forming solvent for a certain time.

Further, in order to obtain a high quality image, it is necessary to uniformly apply an image forming solvent (to tightly bond the photosensitive material and the image receiving material), so that the image in the storage tank is The temperature of the forming solvent must be uniform and stable. However, usually, the replenishing image forming solvent is lower than the temperature of the image forming solvent in the storage tank, and the replenishment of the image forming solvent causes a temperature change in the image forming solvent in the storage tank. . Therefore, it is required to heat the replenishing image forming solvent to a predetermined temperature and to keep the image forming solvent in the storage tank constant at the predetermined temperature.

Conventionally, a heat block is heated by a single heater, and the image forming solvent is heated by guiding the image forming solvent to a guide path provided in the heated heat block, and is heated for a certain amount of time. Was refilling the storage tank. The heat block is preferably made of a material having high thermal conductivity, for example, metal. One end of the heat block is contained in an image forming solvent stored in a storage tank, and the heat of the image forming solvent in the storage tank is also maintained. Here, in order to keep the temperature of the image forming solvent constant, conventionally, the heating state of the image forming solvent is measured by one sensor, and the intensity of the one heater is controlled according to the measurement result ( One heater system).

[0007]

However, when the temperature of the new solvent for image formation (the solvent for image formation heated by the heat block) is low, the temperature of the solvent for image formation in the storage tank is changed with respect to the conveying direction of the photosensitive material. May be non-uniform in a direction orthogonal to the width (hereinafter, referred to as a width direction). This is because the temperature of the heat block itself becomes non-uniform across the width of the photosensitive material due to the inflow of the low-temperature image forming solvent. The conventional one-heater method cannot quickly respond to the uneven temperature. In addition, the image forming solvent cannot be heated accurately within a predetermined temperature range while passing through the heater block. Therefore, the temperature of the image forming solvent in the storage tank greatly changes due to the replenishment of the image forming solvent, and the temperature in the width direction of the image forming solvent in the storage tank after the replenishment is stable (uniformly at a predetermined temperature). There is a problem that it takes time to return to ()).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and there is little change in the temperature of the image forming solvent in the storage tank due to replenishment of the image forming solvent. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming solvent temperature control device in which the temperature in the width direction of the forming solvent returns to a stable state (uniformly predetermined temperature).

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the case where a photosensitive material and an image receiving material are bonded to each other and subjected to a heat development process, the heat treatment is performed before the bonding. While transporting the photosensitive material or the image receiving material,
An image forming solvent temperature control device used in a coating apparatus that applies the image forming solvent to the photosensitive material or the image receiving material by immersing the image forming solvent in a storage tank storing the image forming solvent, A guide path for guiding the solvent for formation is provided, and a block having a surface facing the storage tank as a guide surface of the photosensitive material is provided, and a block is provided near an inflow path to the guide path of the block, and flows into the guide path. A first heating unit for heating the coming image forming solvent, a second heating unit for heating the image forming solvent guided in the guide path of the block, the first heating unit, Detecting means for individually measuring a heating state of the image forming solvent by the second heating means; and individually controlling the first heating means and the second heating means, thereby controlling the image forming solvent. , The guideway During some, and a heating control means for heating control within a predetermined temperature range determined in advance.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first heating unit and the second heating unit immediately after the solvent for image formation flows into the guide path provided in the block and while the solvent is passing through the guide path. The block is heated by the heat supplied and transmitted to the block by the heating means, and injected into a storage tank in which the photosensitive material or the image receiving material is immersed. At this time, the first heating means and the second heating means are controlled independently. So, for example,
If the temperature of the solvent in the area near the first heating means is lower than the normal temperature (the temperature predicted), the amount of heat of the first heating means is increased, and the second heating means is operated as before. Can also be controlled. As a result, when the temperature of the flowing solvent is lower than the predicted temperature, the difference from the predicted value can be offset. Further, it is possible to heat the image forming solvent to a substantially predetermined temperature by the first heating means, and to finely adjust the temperature of the image forming solvent by heating by the second heating means. The temperature of the image forming solvent can be controlled more accurately than the technique described in the above.

In order to efficiently transfer the heat supplied by the first and second heating means, the block is made of a metal having a high thermal conductivity such as aluminum or duralumin. The first and second heating means may be embedded in the block, may be in contact with the block, or may be attached with a gap. One surface of the block faces the storage tank, and the heat of the block heated by the first and second heating means may be used for keeping the temperature of the image forming solvent in the storage tank.

The number of heating sources (for example, heaters) of the first heating means is not limited to one, but a plurality of heating sources for heating the image forming solvent immediately after flowing into the guide path provided in the metal block. When used, the plurality of heating sources are collectively referred to as first heating means. The same applies to the second heating unit, and a plurality of heating sources that heat the image forming solvent passing through the guide path provided in the metal block are collectively referred to as a second heating unit.

The detecting means for individually measuring the heating state of the image forming solvent by the first heating means and the second heating means directly measures the temperature of the image forming solvent in the guide path of the metal block. Alternatively, the temperature of the image forming solvent may be estimated by measuring the temperature of the metal block.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the amount of heat supplied by the first heating means is set to a maximum value of an allowable heat quantity of the first heating means, or It is characterized in that it is larger than the average amount of heat supplied by the heating means.

Usually, the temperature of the image forming solvent flowing into the guide path provided in the block is lower than a predetermined temperature. For this reason, the block near the inlet of the image forming solvent is cooled by the flowing image forming solvent, and the temperature of the block becomes uneven in the width direction.
This block is contained in the image forming solvent stored in the storage tank, and also plays a role of keeping the temperature of the image forming solvent in the storage tank. Therefore, if the temperature of the block becomes uneven in the width direction, the temperature distribution of the image forming solvent stored in the storage tank tends to become uneven.

Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 2,
The block near the inlet, which is cooled by the low-temperature image forming solvent flowing into the guide path, can be more concentratedly heated by the first heating means than the other parts of the block, and the temperature of the block can be increased. Can be prevented from becoming uneven in the width direction. Thus, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the image forming solvent in the storage tank kept warm by the block from becoming uneven in the width direction. Therefore, the temperature distribution of the image forming solvent stored in the storage tank can be kept substantially uniform.

As described above, the conventional heating means is divided into a first heating means and a second heating means, and these are replenished into the storage tank by an image forming solvent temperature control device which controls these independently. The temperature of the image forming solvent and the temperature of the image forming solvent stored in the storage tank can be kept within a predetermined range. Therefore, the temperature change of the image forming solvent in the storage tank due to the replenishment of the image forming solvent is small, and the temperature in the width direction of the image forming solvent in the storage tank is stable in a short time after the replenishment (uniformly predetermined). Temperature).

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (Schematic Configuration of Entire System) The configuration of the entire system of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a box-shaped image forming apparatus 14 comprising an image exposing apparatus 10 and a heat developing apparatus 12.
Is shown.

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. The thermal developing device 12 includes a face 26, a thermal developing unit 28,
It comprises a photosensitive material take-up unit 30, an image receiving paper loading unit 32, a color measurement sensor 34, and a temperature / 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 24 is provided with an arc-shaped drum 78, and the photosensitive material 16
Is wound and transported along the inner peripheral surface of the drum 78, and the light beam is transmitted from the inner peripheral direction of the drum 78 to the photosensitive material 16.
(So-called inner spinner type).

The output terminal of the correction data generator 22 is connected to the correction circuit 20 described above. The correction data creating unit 22 includes a temperature and humidity sensor 3 provided in the heat developing device 12.
6 and the output end of the color measurement sensor 34 are connected. The temperature / humidity sensor 36 is a sensor that detects the temperature and humidity in the heat developing device 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 developing unit 28. It is a sensor. Therefore, the correction data creation unit 22 includes the temperature and humidity sensor 36 and the color measurement sensor 3
Based on the detection (measurement) data obtained in step 4, the correction circuit 20 creates correction data used when correcting the image data.

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

As shown in FIG. 2, a face portion 26 is provided in the vicinity of a connection portion of the thermal developing device 12 with the image exposure device 10. A branch guide (not shown) operated by a solenoid is disposed on the face portion 26. The branch guide can be switched between a horizontal state and a vertical state. When the branch guide is switched to the vertical state, as shown by the imaginary lines in FIGS. Can be relaxed.
Thereby, a speed difference between the processing speed of the heat developing device 12 and the processing speed of the image exposure device 10 can be absorbed. The driving of the transport roller 42 is controlled by a control unit 94 provided below the thermal developing device 12.

Below the face section 26, an image receiving paper loading section 32 is provided. The image receiving paper 40 wound around the winding shaft 44 is loaded in the image receiving paper loading section 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.

The thermal developing unit 28 is provided with a water coating tank 80 in which the photosensitive material 16 is filled with water as a solvent for image formation. Details of the configuration of the water application tank 80 will be described later. By applying water to the photosensitive material 16 by the water application tank 80, the adhesion when the image receiving paper 40 and the photosensitive material 16 are bonded by the bonding roller 50 can be improved.

The heat developing unit 28 is provided with a heating drum 84 in addition to the water application tank. A heater (not shown) is housed inside the heating drum 84, and the temperature rises as the heating drum 84 rotates.

The photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 bonded by the bonding roller 50 are conveyed along the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 84. As a result, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are heated for a predetermined time (that is, subjected to thermal development processing), 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.

On the downstream side of the heating drum 84 in the transport 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
Is discharged to the outside.

(Configuration of Water Application Tank) The internal configuration of the water application tank 80 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

The main body 230 of the water application tank 80 is an integrally formed product of a synthetic resin. A storage tank 208 for storing water (hereinafter, simply referred to as water) as a solvent for image formation is provided at a central portion, and an overflow tank is provided around the storage tank 208. Is formed. Water is applied by immersing the photosensitive material 16 in the storage tank 208.

At the entrance of the photosensitive material 16 in the storage tank 208,
A pair of plate-like photosensitive material guide plates 212 made of metal is attached. The photosensitive material 16 is a pair of the photosensitive material guide plates 2.
12 and is guided to the storage tank 208. Also,
A pair of transport rollers 232 is attached to the output side of the photosensitive material 16 in the storage tank 208. The photosensitive material 16 coated with water in the storage tank 208 is transported to the heating drum 84 by the transport rollers 232.

The bottom of the storage tank 208 is formed in an arc shape so that the photosensitive material 16 can be smoothly guided with a predetermined radius of curvature. Also, at the bottom of the storage tank 208,
A belt-like projection (not shown) is formed. Photosensitive material 16
Are smoothly transported without being in close contact with the bottom of the storage 208 tank by the belt-like projections.

At the bottom of the storage tank, a step is formed at an intermediate portion of the photosensitive material 16 in the transport direction. A slit-like groove 209 extending in a direction orthogonal to the photosensitive material is formed in this step. The upstream side in the photosensitive material transport direction is slightly higher than the downstream side with respect to the groove 209, and the photosensitive material 16 is transported over the groove 16 due to the step, and is not caught by the groove 209.

Further, a drain port 236 is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of the coating tank 80 of the storage tank 208, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the direction of transport of the photosensitive material (hereinafter, referred to as the width direction), and at the same plane position as the groove 209. (FIG. 4) is provided.
This drain port 236 communicates with the lower end surface of the main body 230. A nozzle 237 (FIG. 3) is integrally formed around the drain port 236 on the lower end surface.

An overflow tank 216 is formed around the storage tank 208. This overflow tank 21
Reference numeral 6 plays a role in receiving water overflowing from the storage tank 208 when the photosensitive material 16 passes through the storage tank 208.

At the bottom four corners of the overflow tank 216,
Each is provided with a drain port 238 (FIG. 4) and communicates with the lower end surface of the main body 230. A nozzle 239 (FIG. 3) is integrally formed around the drain port 238 on the lower end surface, and one end of a hose 244 is fitted thereto.
The other end of the hose 244 is connected to a replenishing tank 218 provided at a lower part of the image processing apparatus 12. The water received by the overflow tank 216 is discharged from a drain port 238, and is refilled by a refill tank 218 described later.
Sent to

The hose 244 branches on the way, and its end is fitted to the nozzle 237. The branched hose 244 has an electromagnetic valve 226 attached to an intermediate portion. Normally, the solenoid valve 226 is in a closed state, and is opened only when the water in the storage tank 208 is replaced. Solenoid valve 2
26 is opened, the water in the storage tank 208 is supplied to the replenishing tank 2
Drained to 18.

The replenishing tank 218 is formed in a box shape, and the hose 244 penetrates the upper lid. A filter 220 is attached above the inside of the replenishment tank 218, and a lower part is a storage chamber 221. Storage tank 20
8 and the water drained from the overflow tank 216 are purified by the filter 220 and stored in the storage chamber 221. This water is used to replenish the storage tank 208.

One end of a supply hose 246 is disposed near the bottom of the storage chamber 221. This supply hose 2
46 penetrates the top cover of the refill tank 218 and
2 and the filter 224, the supply hose 246
Is connected to an inflow port 240 provided on the upper surface of the heater block 204.

The water stored in the storage chamber 221 of the replenishment tank 218 pumped up by the pump 222 is purified by the filter 224 and flows into the heater block 204 from the inflow port 240 for a certain amount of time for a certain amount of time.

The heater block 204 is provided with the water application tank 80 above the storage tank 208. Inside the heater block 204, a guide path 206 having the inlet 240 as one end opening is formed. The inflow port 240 is provided at one longitudinal end of the upper surface of the heater block 204. On the other hand, the other end opening of the guide path 206 is provided on the lower surface of the heater block 240 and at a position that matches the inlet 240 in a plan view, and is an outlet 242.

The guide path 206 extends slightly from the inlet 240 provided at one end of the heater block 204 in the longitudinal direction to the storage tank 208 side, changes its direction by approximately 90 °, and extends to the other end of the heater block 204. At the other end
Turn, return to one end again, and at this end approximately 90 °
The direction is changed to reach the outlet 242. That is, the guide path 206 makes one reciprocation in the heater block 204 along the longitudinal direction.

The upper portion of the heater block 204 is flat, and a heater 202A is mounted near the inlet 240. The heater 202A is arranged in the longitudinal direction with the heater 202A.
2B is placed. The heaters 202A and 202B
By heating the heater block 204, the water guided in the guide path 206 provided inside the heater block 204 is heated. That is, the heater 202A supplies heat to the area of the heater block 204 near the inflow port 240 and heats the water immediately after flowing into the guide path 206. In addition, the heater 202B supplies heat to a region other than the vicinity of the inlet of the heater block 204, and heats water guided in the guide path 206. Heater 202A and heater 202
B are connected to a controller 228 described later, and are independently controlled.

The heater block 204 includes a heater 2
In order to efficiently transfer the heat supplied from 02A and 202B, it is made of metal such as aluminum or duralumin having high thermal conductivity.

A sensor 214A is embedded near the heater 202A of the heater block 204. Further, a sensor 214B is embedded near the heater 202B of the heater block 204. The sensors 214A and 214B are temperature detectors for measuring the temperature of the heater block 204, and output information relating to the temperature at each position (hereinafter, referred to as temperature information). The sensors 214A and 214B are connected to a controller 228 described later, and the temperature information is sent to the controller 228, and the heaters 202A and
Used for 2B control.

The lower surface of the heater block 204 (the storage tank 20)
8) is formed on an arc surface having a radius of curvature substantially matching the radius of curvature of the arc surface on the bottom surface of the storage tank 208. A substantially constant gap is formed between the arc surface of the coating tank 208 and the arc surface of the heater block. The gap is filled with water (that is, water is stored in the storage tank 208), and the photosensitive material 16 is coated with water by passing through the gap.

The lower surface of the heater block 204 is immersed in water stored in the storage tank 208. Therefore, the water in the storage tank 208 depends on the heaters 202A, 20A.
Receiving the heat of the heater block 204 heated from 2B,
It is kept warm.

Next, the controller 228 will be described. FIG.
3 shows a schematic configuration of an electric system of the controller 228.

A microcomputer 252 is mounted on the controller 228. This microcomputer 252 has a RAM 25
6, ROM 258, CPU 260, I / O port 262
The RAM 256 and the ROM 25
8, the CPU 260 and the I / O port 262 are connected to the bus 254
Connected through.

An input terminal of the I / O port 262 is connected to an A / D converter 272 mounted on a board of the controller 228.
A, 272B. The input terminals of the A / D converters 272A and 272B are connected to the sensor 214.
A and 214B are connected to output terminals, respectively. Therefore, the analog temperature information sent from the sensors 214A and 214B is transmitted to the A / D converter 272.
A, 272B is converted into a digital signal and the microcomputer 2
52 is input to the I / O port 262.

The output terminal of the I / O port 262 is connected to the driver 264A,
64B, 266, and 268.

The output terminals of the drivers 264A and 264B are:
The heaters are connected to the heaters 202A and 202B, respectively. A command to turn on or off the power of the heaters 202A and 202B is sent from the CPU 260 to the drivers 264A and 264B via the I / O port 262, and the heaters 202A and 202B are turned on or off.

The output terminal of the driver 268 is connected to the solenoid valve 2.
26. When the water stored in the storage tank 208 is replaced, the CPU 260 sends the electromagnetic valve 2
26 is sent to the driver 268 via the I / O port 262, the solenoid valve 226 is opened, and the storage tank 208 is opened.
The water stored in the area is drained. When drainage is completed,
A command to close the electromagnetic valve 226 is sent from the CPU 260 to the driver 268 via the I / O port 262, and the electromagnetic valve 2
26 is closed.

The output terminal of the driver 266 is connected to the pump 222. Every time a predetermined number of photosensitive materials are subjected to the water application process, or every time a predetermined time elapses and the water is reduced by evaporation, a command to drive the pump is sent from the CPU 260 via the I / O port 262 to the driver 266.
And the pump is driven.

Also, when the water stored in the storage tank 208 is replaced, after the drainage is completed and the solenoid valve 226 is closed, a command to drive the pump is sent from the CPU 260 via the I / O port 262. Sent to the driver 266,
The pump is driven.

The CPU 260 includes sensors 214A, 214
The temperature information transmitted from B and input to the I / O port 262 is received (converted from analog to digital signals by A / D converters 272A and 272B on the way) and converted into temperatures TA and TB, respectively. Temperature TA, TB is R
Stored in AM256.

The CPU 260 determines the temperatures TA, T
On / off control of the heater 214A and the heater 214B is performed based on the value of B (for details, see the operation described later).

The temperature TA indicates the heating state of the water immediately after flowing into the guide passage 206, and the temperature TB indicates the heating condition of the guide passage 206.
2 shows a heating state of the water being guided.

Further, the CPU 260 performs drive / stop control of the pump 222 and open / close control of the solenoid valve 226.

The ROM 256 stores the temperature range θAL to θ in advance.
AH, θBL to θBH, and θCL to θCH are stored.

Note that this temperature range θAL to θAH, θB
L to θBH are ideal temperatures TA and TB measured by the sensors 214A and 214B when the pump is driven, that is, when water flows into the heater block 204 and is refilled into the storage tank 208. In addition, θCL to θCH indicate the sensor 2 when the pump is stopped, that is, when water does not flow into the heater block, and the heat of the heaters 202A and 202B is used only for keeping the water stored in the storage tank 208 warm.
14A is an ideal temperature of the temperature TA to be measured. The above temperature range θAL to θAH, θBL to θBH, θCL to
The width of the upper limit and the lower limit of θCH can be freely set, and when severe temperature control is required, this width may be set to a narrow width such as 1 ° C. When rough temperature control is performed, this width may be set to a wide width such as 5 ° C.

(Operation of the Entire System) The operation of the entire system of the present embodiment will be described below.

In the image exposure apparatus 10, when the photosensitive material 16 is loaded in the photosensitive material loading section 18, a transport roller (not shown) is driven, and the photosensitive material 16 is transported in a predetermined direction. The photosensitive material 16 that has reached the exposure unit 24 is wound around the inner peripheral surface of the drum 78 and conveyed, and exposure processing is started based on the corrected image data output from the correction circuit 20. That is, based on the corrected image data, the photosensitive material 16
Is irradiated with a light beam, whereby an image is exposed on the photosensitive material 16.

The photosensitive material 16 that has been subjected to the exposure processing by the image exposure device 10 is transported to the heat developing device 12. In the thermal developing device 12, the photosensitive material 16 is immersed in a water coating tank 80 and coated with water. Details of the operation of the water application tank 208 will be described later.

In the thermal developing device 12, when the image receiving paper 40 is loaded in the image receiving paper loading section 32, the transport roller 42 is driven to transport the image receiving paper 40 in a predetermined direction.

After that, the photosensitive material 16 coated with water,
The image receiving paper 40 is bonded by a bonding roller 50. The bonded photosensitive material 16 and image receiving paper 40 are heated by being pressed by a slip prevention belt 86 and conveyed along the outer peripheral surface of a heating drum 84 to be subjected to a thermal development process.

(Operation of Water Application Tank) The operation of the water application tank 80 will be described below.

In the water application tank 80, the photosensitive material 16 is guided by the photosensitive material guide plate 212, immersed in a storage tank 208 in which water as an image forming solvent is stored, and is coated with water. To the heating drum. At this time, water overflowing from the storage tank 208 is received by the overflow tank 216 and drained from the drain port 238. The drained water is conveyed to the replenishing tank 218 through the drainage channel 244 and the filter 220 of the replenishing tank 218
, And stored in the replenishment tank 218.

When the water stored in the storage tank 208 is reduced by performing a water coating process on a predetermined number of photosensitive materials or by evaporating after a certain period of time, the photosensitive material is replenished from the replenishing tank 218. The water pumped up by the pump 222 from the replenishment tank 218 is purified by the filter 224 and flows from the inflow port 240 into the guide path 206 provided in the heater block 204. The water immediately after flowing into the guide path 206 is strongly heated by the heater 202A controlled by the controller 228. Next, the water guided to the guide path 206 is heated by the heater 202B controlled by the controller 228. The water heated to a predetermined temperature passing through the guide path 206 flows out of the outlet 242 and is supplied to the storage tank 208. Note that the heaters 202A and 202B are controlled independently by the controller 228.

Next, the heater 20 is controlled by the controller 228.
An outline of the control of 2A and 202B will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the control is started, it is determined whether the pump 222 is operating (step 300). When the pump 222 is operating, the heater 202A and the heater 202B are controlled independently (step 400). If the pump 222 is stopped, the heaters 202A and 202B are controlled collectively (step 500). The above processing is repeated until the control is completed, and the heater 2
Control of 02A and 202B is continued (step 600).

The details of the independent control of the heaters 202A and 202B (step 400) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

From the ROM 258, the temperature range θAL to θ
AH and θBL to θBH are read into the CPU 260 (step 410). In this case, the width of each temperature range is preferably narrow, and θAL = θAH and θBL = θBH.

The temperature TA of the heater block 204 near the inflow port 240 of the guide path 206 is measured by the sensor 214A. Actually, information about the temperature is obtained from the sensor 214A, and is converted into the temperature TA by the CPU 260 (step 420).

The temperature TA and the temperature range θAL are determined by the CPU 260.
Compare θAH. Temperature TA is in the temperature range θAL to θA
If it is lower than H, that is, if the temperature TA is lower than the temperature θAL, a command to turn on the heater 202A is issued from the CPU 260, and the heater 202A is turned on (steps 430, 432).

If the temperature TA is higher than the temperature range θAL to θAH, that is, if the temperature TA is higher than the temperature θAH, a command to turn off the heater 202A is issued from the CPU 260 and the heater 202A is turned off (step 440). , 442).

Next, the guide path 2 is detected by the sensor 214B.
The temperature TB of the heater block 204 other than the vicinity of the inflow port 240 at 06 is measured. In practice, the sensor 214
Information on temperature is obtained from B, and is converted into temperature TB by CPU 260 (step 450).

The temperature TB and the temperature range θBL are determined by the CPU 260.
Compare θBH. Temperature TB is in the temperature range θBL to θB
If the temperature is lower than H, that is, if the temperature TB is lower than the temperature θBL, a command to turn on the heater 202B is issued from the CPU 260, and the heater 202B is turned on (steps 460 and 462).

When temperature TA is higher than temperature range θBL to θBH, that is, when temperature TB is higher than temperature θBH, CPU 260 issues a command to turn off heater 202B, and turns off heater 202B (step 470). , 472).

As described above, when the pump 222 is driven, the heater 202A and the heater 202B are controlled independently. In the case of independent control, the heater 202A
Supplies a larger amount of heat than the heater 202B. That is, the water that flows into the heater block 204 and is heated while being guided by the guide path 206 of the heater block 204 is heated most strongly immediately after flowing. That is, since the relatively low-temperature water that flows in can be heated quickly, the water can be brought to a predetermined temperature while being guided in the heater block.

The details of the collective control of the heaters 202A and 202B (step 400) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

From the ROM 258, the temperature range θCL
To θCH are read into the CPU 260 (step 51).
0).

The temperature TA of the heater block 204 near the inflow port 240 of the guide path 206 is measured by the sensor 214A. Actually, information on the temperature is obtained from the sensor 214A, and is converted into the temperature TA by the CPU 260 (step 520).

The temperature TA and the temperature range θCL are determined by the CPU 260.
Compare ＣＨCH. Temperature TA is in the temperature range θCL to θC
H, that is, when the temperature TA is lower than the temperature θCL, the CPU 260 sends the heaters 202A, 202B
Is turned on, and the heaters 202A and 202B are turned on (steps 530 and 532).

If the temperature TA is higher than the temperature range θCL to θCH, that is, if the temperature TA is higher than the temperature θCH, a command to turn off the heater 202A is issued from the CPU 260, and the heaters 202A and 202B are turned off ( Steps 440, 442).

As described above, when the pump 222 is stopped, the heaters 202A and 202B are controlled collectively. While the pump is stopped, the heater 202
The heat supplied from A and 202B is used only for keeping the water stored in the storage tank 208 warm. Therefore, in the case of the batch control, the heater 202A and the heater 202B supply the same amount of heat and a smaller amount of heat (only the amount of heat necessary for keeping the heat) than in the case of the independent control. Can be controlled to a uniform temperature.

As described above, when the pump 222 is driven (when replenishing water), the heater A and the heater 202B are independently controlled so that the temperature change of the image forming solvent in the storage tank due to the replenishment of water is small, and after the replenishment, The temperature of the image forming solvent in the storage tank can be returned to a stable state in a short time.
When the pump 222 is stopped, the heater A and the heater 202B
, The temperature of the image forming solvent in the storage tank can be kept constant.

FIG. 9 shows a temperature change characteristic of the water in the storage tank in the longitudinal direction of the heater block 204 due to the replenishment of water when the pump 222 is driven, that is, in the width direction of the photosensitive material 16 (FIG. B) and the temperature change characteristics of the present embodiment (see FIG. 9A). In the figure, indicates a change in time, indicates immediately before pump driving (before refilling water), immediately after starting pump driving (immediately after starting refilling water), and after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of pump driving (refilling water) (After a lapse of a predetermined time from the start). As can be seen from FIG. 9, the present embodiment in which two heaters are used and the two heaters are independently controlled can return to the state more quickly.

In the above description, the heaters 202A, 202B
Is a control for switching ON / OFF, but is not limited to this. Either or both of the heaters 202A and 202B may be capable of continuously changing the amount of heat supply, and fine adjustment control of the amount of heat supply may be performed.

In the above embodiment, two heaters, the heater 202A and the heater 202B, are used (see FIG. 10 (A) for an example of the arrangement of the heater and the sensor as viewed from above the water application tank). Not something. As shown in FIG. 10B, three heaters are used: a heater 202A near the inflow port 240 at one end in the width direction of the heater block 204, a heater 202B at the middle in the width direction, and a heater 202C at the other end in the width direction. Alternatively, three or more heaters may be used.

Further, the inlet 240 and the outlet 242 are provided at one end in the width direction on the upper surface of the heater block 204 at positions corresponding to the inlet 240 on the lower surface of the heater block 204 in plan view, but are not limited thereto. Not something. As shown in FIG. 11, the inflow port 240 may be provided at the center of the upper surface of the heater block, and the outflow port 242 may be located at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the lower surface of the heater block, or may be at other positions.

[0095]

As described above, according to the present invention, the conventional heating means is divided into first and second heating means, and these are independently controlled so that the heating means flows into the storage tank. The temperature of the image forming solvent to be caused and the temperature of the image forming solvent stored in the storage tank can be kept within a predetermined range. Therefore, the temperature change of the image forming solvent in the storage tank due to the replenishment of the image forming solvent is small, and the temperature of the image forming solvent in the storage tank is stable in a short time after the replenishment (uniformly predetermined temperature). It has an excellent effect of being able to return to normal.

[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 a heat developing device.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view showing an internal configuration of a water application tank.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing an internal configuration of a water application tank.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a flow of an electric signal of the controller.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a rough control flow in the controller.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of independent control in a controller.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of collective control by a controller.

9A and 9B are diagrams showing a temperature change characteristic of water in a storage tank due to replenishment of water, wherein FIG. 9A shows a temperature change characteristic of water in the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 shows the temperature change characteristics of water.

FIG. 10 is a schematic top view showing the arrangement of heaters in a water application tank, where (A) shows the arrangement of heaters in the present embodiment;
(B) shows the arrangement of heaters according to another embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing another embodiment,
(A) shows a top view of the water application tank, and (B) shows a cross-sectional view of the heater and the heater block.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 Thermal development device 80 Water application tank 202A Heater (first heating means) 202B Heater (second heating means) 204 Heater block (block) 208 Storage tank 214A Sensor (detection means for first heating means) 214B sensor ( (Detection means for the second heating means) 222 Pump 228 Controller (Heating control means)

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshihiro Koyanagi 798, Miyadai, Kaisei-cho, Ashigara-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takashi Kato 1-3324 Uetake-cho, Omiya City, Saitama Prefecture Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 2H112 AA03 BA08 BA23 BA24 BB21 BC04 BC18 DA03 DA14 DA15 DA20

Claims (2)

[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 lamination, 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 solvent temperature control device used in a coating device that applies the image forming solvent to the photosensitive material or the image receiving material by immersing the photosensitive material or the image receiving material, wherein a guide path for guiding the image forming solvent is provided. A block having a surface facing the storage tank serving as a guide surface of the photosensitive material or the image receiving material; and a block provided near the inflow path to the guide path of the block, and the image forming member flowing into the guide path. A first heating unit for heating the solvent, a second heating unit for heating the image forming solvent guided in the guide path of the block, and the first heating unit and the second heating unit. Detecting means for individually measuring a heating state of the image forming solvent, and individually controlling the first heating means and the second heating means, so that the image forming solvent is in the guide path. An image forming solvent temperature control device for a coating apparatus, comprising: a heating control means for controlling heating within a predetermined temperature range therebetween. 2. The amount of heat supplied by the first heating unit is set to a maximum value of the allowable amount of heat of the first heating unit, or is set to be larger than the average amount of heat supplied by the second heating unit. The image forming solvent temperature control device according to claim 1.