JP2000292893A - Heat developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a heat developing device capable of preventing the occurrence of unevenness in the density of a heat developed film due to the sudden lowering of the film temperature when the heat developable film is brought into contact with a heating member, heated and separated and to prevent the permanent set of the film due to the sudden lowering of the temperature after heating. SOLUTION: The heat developing device has a drum 14 which heats a heat developable film and a guide member 401 which separates the film from the drum 14 and guides it toward the discharge direction. The difference between the temperature Ts of the guide member 401 and the temperature of the film immediately after separation from the drum 14 is adjusted to <=40 deg.C. The temperature of the guide member 401 is made higher than the glass transition temperature of a substrate of the film.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heat developing apparatus for exposing a silver halide photosensitive heat developing material based on image information, and then heating and thermally developing the material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional thermal developing apparatus for thermally developing a silver halide photosensitive thermal developing material, a drum-shaped heating member whose temperature is controlled to a predetermined thermal developing temperature is exposed to a sheet-like heat-exposed material. Heat while rotating the developing material in close contact,
Thereafter, the heat development material is separated from the heating member and transported in the discharge direction. Through such a process, the heat development material is thermally developed. However, when the temperature of the heat-developable material is rapidly reduced when the heat-developed heat-developable material is separated from the heating member and conveyed, the density of the heat-developed silver halide photosensitive heat-developable material may be uneven. There was found. Furthermore, when the heat developing material is curved when separated from the drum-shaped heating member, if a sharp temperature drop occurs during this bending,
There is a possibility that the heat developing material is permanently deformed and discharged in a curled state while being curved.

[0003] An object of the present invention is to provide a heat-developable silver halide photothermographic material which is rapidly cooled when the photothermographic material is separated from the heat-developable material by heating the material. The purpose is to suppress the occurrence of density unevenness in the developing material. Another object of the present invention is to suppress permanent deformation of the photothermographic material caused by a sharp decrease in temperature after heating.

[0004]

According to the present invention, there is provided a heating member for heating a heat-developable material while the silver halide photosensitive heat-developable material is substantially adhered to the surface thereof; A guide member that separates the heat development material from the member and guides the heat development material in a discharge direction, wherein the heat development device thermally develops the heat development material by heating the heating member. And the temperature Tm (° C.) of the thermal developing material immediately after being separated from the heating member satisfies the following expression (1).

Tm−50 ≦ Ts ≦ Tm (1) As a result of the inventor's intense research to achieve the above object, the present invention has found that when a heat developing material is separated from a heating member and guided in a discharge direction, thermal development is performed. Even if the material is in contact with the guide member, if the temperature difference between the temperature of the guide member during thermal development and the temperature of the heat development material immediately after separation is 50 ° C. or less, the thermally developed silver halide photosensitive heat development material can be used. This is based on the finding that the density unevenness is suppressed. This is presumably because if the temperature difference between the heat developing material immediately after the separation of the guide member and the temperature of the heat developing material is 50 ° C. or less, a rapid decrease in the temperature of the heat developing material can be prevented. Further, for this reason, permanent deformation of the photosensitive heat developing material due to a rapid temperature drop can be suppressed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a heating member for heating a heat-developable material while a silver halide photosensitive heat-developable material is substantially adhered to the surface of the heat-developable material. A guide member that separates the heat development material and guides the heat development material in a discharge direction, wherein the temperature of the guide member is Ts (° C.) in a heat development device that thermally develops the heat development material by heating the heating member. It is characterized by having a temperature control means for controlling the temperature of the guide member so as to satisfy the temperature Tm (° C.) of the thermal developing material immediately after being separated from the heating member and the above-mentioned formula (1). As a result, the occurrence of uneven density and permanent deformation can be suppressed.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a heating member for heating a heat-developable silver halide photosensitive heat-developable material while rotating the heat-developable heat-developable material substantially in contact therewith;
A guide member that separates the heat development material from the heating member and guides the heat development material in a discharge direction, and detects the temperature of the guide member in a heat development device that thermally develops the heat development material by heating the heating member. Temperature detecting means for controlling the temperature of the guide member based on the detected temperature. As a result, the occurrence of uneven density and permanent deformation can be suppressed.

[0008] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a heating member for heating the heat-developable material while turning the heat-developable silver halide heat-developable material substantially on the surface thereof;
A guide member that separates the heat development material from the heating member and guides the heat development material in a discharge direction, and detects the temperature of the guide member in a heat development device that thermally develops the heat development material by heating the heating member. And a ventilation control means for controlling the air flowing to the guide member based on the detected temperature. As a result, the occurrence of uneven density and permanent deformation can be suppressed.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a heating member for heating a heat-developable silver halide photosensitive heat-developable material while rotating the heat-developable heat-developable material substantially in contact therewith;
A guide member that separates the heat development material from the heating member and guides the heat development material in a discharge direction; and a heat development device that thermally develops the heat development material by heating the heating member. The heat development material has a glass transition temperature or higher. As a result, the occurrence of uneven density and permanent deformation can be suppressed.

According to the present invention, when the temperature Ts of the guide member is equal to or higher than the glass transition temperature of the support of the heat development material, the heat development material guided in contact with the guide member does not become lower than the glass transition temperature. Even if the thermal developing material is curved for transport,
There is no permanent deformation. Further, when the glass transition temperature is, for example, PET as a support material, it is about 80 ° C., and the heat developing material is thermally developed at about 120 ° C. to 126 ° C.,
Within the above-mentioned formula (1), the temperature of the heat-developable material does not fall below 80 ° C. at a stretch, and the occurrence of density unevenness in the heat-developed silver halide photosensitive heat-developable material can be suppressed.

Further, by forming a gentle temperature gradient in the guide member so that the temperature gradually decreases in the discharge direction, it is possible to further prevent a rapid temperature drop of the thermal developing member. preferable. In this case, the temperature gradient is preferably at most 4 ° C./cm.

The guide member has a thermal conductivity of 10 W /
When the material is not more than m / K, the heat is not rapidly removed from the heat-developable material, so that the occurrence of uneven density and the permanent deformation can be suppressed. In addition, since a large number of concave portions or convex portions are formed on the surface of the guide member, the contact area is reduced, so that heat is not suddenly taken away, density unevenness is suppressed, and permanent deformation is prevented. Can also be suppressed.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a heating member for heating the heat-developable material while turning the heat-developable silver halide light-sensitive material substantially in contact with the surface thereof;
A guide member for guiding the thermal developing material separated from the heating member, and a roller pair for conveying the thermal developing material in a discharge direction, wherein the thermal developing material is thermally developed by heating the heating member. Wherein the guide member is disposed between the heating member and the roller pair, is made of metal, and has a temperature equal to or higher than a glass transition temperature of a support of the heat development material. And Thereby, since the temperature difference between the guide member and the heat developing material is small, a rapid temperature drop can be suppressed. Further, since the guide member is made of metal, it can be cooled uniformly in the width direction of the heat developing material, and the density unevenness can be reduced. Both generation and permanent deformation are suppressed.

For example, when PET is used as a support material, the glass transition temperature is about 80 ° C.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a heating member for heating a heat-developable silver halide photosensitive heat-developable material while rotating the heat-developable heat-developable material substantially in contact therewith;
A heat developing device that separates the heat developing material from the heating member and guides the heat developing material in a discharge direction, and thermally develops the heat developing material by heating the heating member; When viewed, the angle formed by a straight line extending from the heating member side tip of the portion where the guide member guides the thermal developing material and a tangent at a point where the straight line intersects the outer peripheral surface of the heating member is 51 degrees. The angle is not less than 89 degrees.

According to the present invention, the angle between the straight line extending from the heating member side tip in the portion where the guide member guides the heat developing material and the tangent at the point where the straight line intersects the outer peripheral surface of the heating member is 50 degrees. If the heat development material is below the temperature, it is necessary to sharply change the direction after the heat development material is separated by the guide member, so that the heat development material is more curved when cooled, and the risk of permanent deformation is increased. For 51
When the temperature is higher than the degree, the directionality of the thermally developed material after separation can be relatively stably changed, so that the risk of permanent deformation due to the curvature of the thermally developed material is reduced. On the other hand, if the angle is 90 degrees or more, separation becomes difficult.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a front view of a heat developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a left side view of the heat developing device. The thermal developing device 100 includes a feeding unit 110 that feeds the film F, which is a sheet-like thermal developing material, one by one, an exposing unit 120 that exposes the fed film F, and a developing unit that develops the exposed film F. And a developing unit 130. The heat developing device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 2, the feeding units 110 are provided in two upper and lower stages, and a film F (FIGS.
) Is stored for each case C. The film F is taken out of the case C by a take-out device (not shown) and pulled out in the direction (horizontal direction) shown by the arrow (1) in the figure. Further, the film F pulled out of the case C is transported in the direction (downward) indicated by the arrow (2) in the figure by the transport device 141 including a pair of rollers.

The film F conveyed below the heat developing device 100 is further conveyed to a conveying direction changing unit 145 located below the heat developing device 100, and the conveying direction is changed by the conveying direction changing unit 145 (see FIG. 2 (3) and arrow (4) in FIG. 1), the process proceeds to the exposure preparation stage. Further film F
From the left side of the heat developing device 100 by an arrow (5) in FIG.
In the direction (upward) shown in FIG.
2 is conveyed, and at that time, the infrared region 780
Scanning exposure is performed with a laser beam L within a range of 860 nm, for example, a laser beam of 810 nm.

Upon receiving the laser beam L, the film F forms a latent image in a manner described later. Thereafter, the film F is transported in the direction (upward) indicated by the arrow (6) in FIG.
4 That is, they are supplied at random timing. Alternatively, the vehicle may be temporarily stopped at the time of arrival. In this case, the supply roller pair 143 has a function of determining the timing of supplying the film F to the drum 14 of the developing unit 130 rotating at a constant rotation speed. The film F may be supplied onto the outer circumference of the drum 14 by the rotation of the supply roller pair 143 when the rotation is started. The specific configuration will be described later.

Further, the drum 14 rotates in the direction shown by the arrow (7) in FIG. 1 while holding the film F on the outer periphery of the drum 14. In this state, the film F is placed on the drum 1
4 is heated and thermally developed to form a visible image from a latent image in a manner described later. Thereafter, when the film F is rotated to the right side of the drum in FIG.
After being conveyed in the direction indicated by arrow (8) and cooled, it is conveyed by the conveying device 144 in the direction indicated by arrows (9) and (10) in FIG. Discharge to 160.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the exposure unit 120. The exposing unit 120 deflects the laser light L, the intensity of which has been modulated based on the image signal S, by the rotating polygon mirror 113 to perform main scanning on the film F, and also moves the film F in the main scanning direction with respect to the laser light L. The sub-scanning is performed by relatively moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to the above, and a latent image is formed on the film F using the laser beam L.

A more specific configuration will be described below. In FIG. 3, an image signal S which is a digital signal output from an image signal output device 121 is converted into an analog signal by a D / A converter 122 and input to a modulation circuit 123. The modulation circuit 123, based on the analog signal,
The driver 124 of the laser light source 110 is controlled so that the laser light L emitted from the laser light source 110 is modulated.

The laser light L emitted from the laser light source unit 110 is converged only in the vertical direction by the cylindrical lens 115, and is applied to a rotating polygon mirror 113 rotating in the direction of arrow A in FIG. The light is incident as an image. The rotary polygon mirror 113 reflects and deflects the laser light L in the main scanning direction.
After passing through an fθ lens 114 including a cylindrical lens formed by combining two lenses, the light is reflected by a mirror 116 provided on the optical path and extending in the main scanning direction, and is conveyed in the direction of the arrow Y by the conveying device 142. The main scanning is repeatedly performed in the arrow X direction on the scanned surface of the film F (sub-scanned). That is, the laser beam L is scanned over the entire surface to be scanned on the film F.

The cylindrical lens of the fθ lens 114 transmits the incident laser beam L onto the surface of the film F to be scanned.
The convergence is performed only in the sub-scanning direction, and the distance from the fθ lens 114 to the surface to be scanned is f
It is equal to the focal length of the entire θ lens 114. As described above, in the main exposure section 120, the fθ lens 114 including the cylindrical lens and the mirror 116 are provided, and the laser light L is once converged on the rotary polygon mirror 113 only in the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, even if the rotary polygon mirror 113 is tilted or deviated, the film F
On the surface to be scanned, the scanning position of the laser beam L is not shifted in the sub-scanning direction, so that scanning lines of equal pitch can be formed. The rotating polygon mirror 113
For example, there is an advantage that scanning stability is superior to other optical polarizers such as a galvanometer mirror. As described above, a latent image based on the image signal S is formed on the film F. The details of a specific chemical reaction for forming a latent image will be described later with reference to FIG.

FIGS. 4 to 6 are views showing the structure of the developing section 130 for heating the film F. More specifically, FIG.
5 is a perspective view of the developing unit 140, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the configuration of FIG. 4 taken along the line IV-IV and viewed in the direction of the arrow, and FIG. 6 is a view of the configuration of FIG. FIG.

The developing section 130 has a drum 14 as a heating member that can be heated while holding the film F almost in close contact with the outer periphery. The drum 14 has a function of forming the latent image formed on the film F as a visible image by maintaining the film F at a predetermined minimum heat development temperature or higher for a predetermined heat development time. Here, the minimum thermal development temperature is the minimum temperature at which the latent image formed on the film F starts to be thermally developed, and is 80 ° C. or higher in the film of the present embodiment. On the other hand, the term "thermal development time" refers to the time during which the latent image on the film F must be maintained at a temperature equal to or higher than the minimum thermal development temperature in order to develop the latent image into desired development characteristics. In addition, film F
Is preferably not substantially thermally developed at 40 ° C. or lower. The specific chemical reaction for visualizing the latent image by heating will be described later with reference to FIG.

In the present embodiment, the developing section 130 is incorporated in the thermal developing apparatus 100 together with the exposing section 120, but may be an apparatus independent of the exposing section 120. In such a case, it is preferable that there is a transport unit that transports the film F from the exposure unit 120 to the development unit 130.

Outside the drum 14, 20 small-diameter rollers 16 are provided as guide members and opposing members.
They are opposed to the drum 14 in parallel and are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the drum 14. Guide brackets 21 supported on the frame 18 are provided at both ends of the drum 14.
Are provided on each side. In addition, by combining the guide brackets 21, opposed C-shaped shapes are formed at both ends of the drum 14.

Each guide bracket 21 has nine elongated holes 42 extending in the radial direction. The shafts 40 provided at both ends of the roller 16 protrude from the long holes 42. One end of a coil spring 28 is attached to each of the shafts 40, and the other end of the coil spring 28 is attached near the inner edge of the guide bracket 21. Therefore, each roller 16 is urged to the outer periphery of the drum 14 by a predetermined force based on the urging force of the coil spring 28. When the film F enters between the outer periphery of the drum 14 and the roller 16, the film F is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the drum 14 by the predetermined force, thereby uniformly heating the film F over the entire surface.

The shaft 2 coaxially connected to the drum 14
The reference numeral 2 extends outward from the end member 20 of the frame 18 and is rotatably supported by the end member 20 by a shaft bearing 24. A gear (not shown) is formed on a rotating shaft 23 of a micro step motor (not shown) which is arranged below the shaft 22 and attached to the end member 20. On the other hand, a gear is also formed on the shaft 22. The power of the micro step motor is transmitted to the shaft 22 via a timing belt (belt on which the gear is cut) 25 connecting both gears, whereby the drum 14 rotates. The transmission of power from the rotating shaft 23 to the shaft 22 may be performed via a chain or a gear train instead of the timing belt.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the rollers 16 are provided in the direction around the drum 14 over an approximately angular range. Two reinforcing members 3
Reference numeral 0 (FIG. 5) connects both end members 20 of the frame 18 and additionally supports both end members 20.

A plate-like heater 32 is provided on the inner periphery of the drum 14.
Are mounted over the entire circumference to heat the outer circumference of the drum 14 under the control of the control electronic device 34 shown in FIG. Power is supplied to the heater 32 via a slip ring assembly 35 connected to an electronic device 34.

In the present embodiment, the drum 14 is formed in a rotatable cylindrical shape in order to make the structure of the heat developing device 100 compact, but another structure is used as a means for heating the film F. Is also good. For example, it is conceivable that the film F is placed on a belt conveyor provided with a heater, and the film F is heated while being conveyed by the belt conveyor.

As shown in FIG. 5, the drum 14 includes a support tube 36 made of aluminum, which is a metal support member, and a flexible layer (elastic layer) 38 attached to the outside of the support tube 36. ing. The flexible layer 38 may be indirectly attached to the support tube 36. The support tube 36 according to the present embodiment has a length of 45.7.
cm, the wall thickness is 0.64 cm, and the outer diameter is 16 cm.

On the other hand, the thickness unevenness of the support tube 36 is as follows.
For example, it is preferable to keep it within 4%. Further, the flexible layer 38 has a sufficiently smooth surface to increase the degree of adhesion to the film F to be heated.
The surface roughness Ra is desirably smaller than 5 μm (particularly 2 μm).

However, in order to prevent the film F from sticking to the drum 14, the surface roughness Ra of a specific material such as a silicon rubber-based material is
It is better to be 0.3 μm or more. If the surface roughness Ra is 0.3 μm or more, a gas, particularly a volatile material, is easily discharged from between the flexible layer 38 and the film F.

The flexible layer 38 has a sufficient thermal conductivity of 0.3 W / m / K or more, so that the surface temperature of the outer peripheral surface of the drum 14 is maintained uniformly. In the present embodiment, the thermal conductivity of the flexible layer 38 is 0.4 W / m /
K or more.

Since the flexible layer 38 is used, the film 16 can be more securely adhered to the drum 14 by the rollers 16 without sacrificing wear resistance. The flexible layer 38 has a Shore A measured with a durometer.
The hardness is preferably 70 or less (especially 60 or less). In the present embodiment, the Shore A hardness measured by a durometer is 55 or less.

Incidentally, the specific material contains an additive for increasing the thermal conductivity and silicon rubber.
Such a material has been found to be particularly useful for forming the compliant layer 38. Although the thermal conductivity of the silicone rubber contained in such a material is relatively small, the silicone rubber improves the pressing performance of the film F and the durability (abrasion resistance) to the film F.

On the other hand, in order to improve the processing capacity of development, it is necessary to increase the thermal conductivity. However, the additives in the above-mentioned materials contribute to maintaining the thermal conductivity at a high level. It is. However, in the material forming the flexible layer 38, if the amount of the additive is increased, the pressing performance and durability of the silicone rubber are reduced.
It is necessary to balance the amounts of the additives and the silicone rubber within a certain range. The silicon rubber-containing material has an advantage that it is easily separated from the film F and is chemically inert.

The thickness of the flexible layer 38 is from 0.1 mm to 2 m
m, it is possible to use a thinner flexible layer 38. However, as the thickness becomes thinner, the function of the flexible layer 30 deteriorates, and there is a problem that its manufacture becomes difficult. Therefore, the thickness of the flexible layer 38 is
It is preferably 0.4 mm or more. Further, the variation in the thickness of the flexible layer 38 is preferably 20% or less (particularly 10% or less) on the surface region. In the present embodiment, it is suppressed to 5% or less.

In this embodiment, a rotatable roller 16 is used as a guide member. However, other means, such as a small movable belt, can be used. In this embodiment, an aluminum tube having an outer diameter of 1 to 2 cm and a thickness of 2 mm is used as the roller 16.

As described above, the urging force of the coil spring 28 reduces the pressing force of the roller 16 so that the film F can be more closely adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the drum 14 and receive sufficient heat transfer. Care must be taken when choosing the value, as it is a decision. If the urging force of the coil spring 28 is too small, heat may be unevenly transmitted to the film F, so that image development may be incomplete. Therefore, the urging force from the roller 16 per 1 cm width of the film F is preferably 3 g or more (particularly 5 g or more). If the urging force from the roller 16 per 1 cm width of the film F is less than 14 g, there is a possibility that the roller 16 does not wrap around the drum 14. In particular, if the urging force is 7 g or less, no rotation occurs. In such a case, the film F rotates and moves together with the drum 14,
When the roller 16 is in contact with the film F, the film F may be damaged by the roller 16. In such a case, it is desirable to provide a rotation driven portion at both ends of the roller 16 and to rotate the gear 16 by a gear drive, a friction drive, or the like via the rotation driven portion.

On the other hand, the urging force of the coil spring 28 needs to be small enough that the roller 16 does not produce an indentation on the film F.

Therefore, the urging force from the roller 16 per 1 cm width of the film F is 200 g or less (especially 100 g
Below). In the present embodiment, this force is between 5 and 7 g per 1 cm in the width direction of the film F. In addition, a rotation driven portion is provided at both ends of the roller 16, and is driven to rotate by a gear drive via the rotation driven portion to maintain a force within this range, thereby reducing indentation and reducing image quality. Harmony with non-uniformity reduction can be ensured.

In addition, when each coil spring 28 is used for the roller 16 provided around the cylindrical drum 14, the urging force of each coil spring 28 is applied in consideration of the gravity acting on each roller 16. It is good to decide. For example, the coil spring 28 that urges the roller 16 located above the drum 14 responds more to the weight of the roller 16 than the other coil spring 28 that urges the roller 16 at the bottom of the drum 14. By setting the urging force to be smaller than the above, substantially the same surface pressure can be applied to the entire film F.

The space between adjacent rollers 16 in addition to the force exerted by each roller 16 can be said to be important in order to form a high quality image on the film F. When the film F is supplied to the drum 14,
The temperature is generally room temperature (approximately 20 ° C.). Therefore, in order to maximize the processing capacity of the developing unit 130,
The film F must be quickly heated from room temperature to the minimum heat development temperature (124 ° C. in the present embodiment) required to start development.

However, the base material contained in a certain type of film F, for example, a plate material based on a polyester film or a plate material based on another thermoplastic (material), There is a risk of thermal expansion and contraction (shrinkage). Therefore, in order to make the dimensional change uniform so that wrinkles (folds) are not formed, the film F
Must be evenly heated when alternating between a state held flat and an unrestrained state. In order to realize this, the plurality of rollers 16 change the area (region) of the film F located between the adjacent rollers 16 when the film F is not restrained between the rollers 16 and the drum 14. Are provided at intervals so as to allow for

However, as described above, in order to conduct heat sufficiently and uniformly to uniformly develop the film F, the roller 16 is held for a predetermined time while the film F is urged against the drum 14. Must.
As a result, the spacing located between adjacent rollers 16 should be selected so that wrinkles are minimized and that the heating of film F occurs quickly and uniformly. is there.

Further, on the outer periphery of the cylindrical drum 14,
The rigidity of the film F itself causes its leading edge to extend tangentially between the rollers 16, but the rollers 16 must be sufficiently close together to suppress this. Such an arrangement is important for holding the film F between the roller 16 and the drum 14.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, 20 rollers 1
6 are provided over 171 degrees in the rotation direction of the drum 14, and each space is about 9
Separated by degrees. In this configuration, the diameter of the drum 14 is 15 cm to 30 cm, and the diameter of the roller 16 is 1 to 30 cm.
When it is 2 cm, the thickness of the base is 0.1 to 0.2 m
m, a film such as a polyester film having a support having a thickness of 0.18 mm, such as a film having a relatively hard film F, or a polyester film having a base having a thickness of 0.10 mm. It is effective for F having a smaller hardness.

The heater 32 is mounted on the inner circumference of the drum 14 to heat the outer circumference of the drum 14. The heater 32 for heating the drum 14 may be, for example, an etched resistive foil heater.

An electronic device 34 for controlling the heater 32 rotates together with the drum 14, and operates in accordance with temperature information detected by temperature detecting means arranged on the drum 14.
Can be adjusted. The electronic device 34 controls the heater 32 so that a temperature suitable for developing the specific film F is obtained.
The outer surface temperature of the drum 14 is adjusted. In the present embodiment, the drum 14 can be heated to a temperature of 60C to 160C.

Here, the temperature in the width direction of the drum 14 is set within 2.0 ° C. (particularly,
(Within 1.0 ° C.). In the present embodiment, the temperature is maintained within 0.5 ° C.

The undeveloped film F supplied at a predetermined timing from the supply roller pair 143 approaches the drum 14 from the film supply port 201 in the developing unit 130, and contacts the drum 14 and the most upstream roller 161. Is supplied to the nip 52 formed by the above. Next, the film F rotates together with the drum 14. At this time, the film F is urged against the drum 14 by the roller 16 and is brought into contact with the outer periphery of the drum 14 for a predetermined time during the rotation.

Since the drum 14 can move at substantially the same speed as the film F to be developed, the possibility that the surface of the film F is scratched (scratched or damaged) is reduced, thereby ensuring a high quality image. can do. After being transported between the drum 14 and the roller 16, the developed film F is guided to a nip 50 formed by the roller 16 and the drum 14 located at the most downstream side, and as described later, It is pulled out from the drum 14 of the developing unit 130.

The developing section 130 contains, for example, a photosensitive heat-developable emulsion containing an infrared-sensitive silver halide as described in the examples.
It is configured to develop a film F coated on PET (polyethylene terephthalate) as a 78 mm support. The drum 14 has a temperature of 115 ° C to 13 ° C.
The temperature is maintained at 8 ° C., for example, 124 ° C., and the drum 14 is rotated at a rotational speed such that the film F is kept in contact with the outer peripheral surface for a predetermined time of about 15 seconds. At the predetermined time and the temperature, the film F
Can be raised to a temperature of 124 ° C. The glass transition temperature of PET is about 80 ° C.

The thickness and the thermal conductivity of the flexible layer 38 are selected so that a plurality of films F can be continuously processed efficiently. Of course, these parameters can be varied according to the characteristics of the film F to be developed and according to the desired throughput. For example,
The temperature and rotation speed of the drum 14 can be varied, as well as the predetermined time during which the film F contacts the drum 14, to develop a film F having different development requirements.

In addition, similarly to the drum 14, the rollers 16
A flexible layer can also be provided. Also, instead of providing the roller 16 with a flexible layer, the drum 14 may be provided with a less flexible outer layer. Further, the drum 14 may be a rotating roller, and a cylindrical drum or a supported flat endless belt may function as the roller 16.

It is preferable that the surface of the film F on the side having the photosensitive heat-developable emulsion layer is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the drum 14 (the flexible layer 38 in the present embodiment). However, the opposite surface of the film F can also be in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the drum 14 (the flexible layer 38 in the present embodiment).

As shown in FIG. 5, a metal guide member 401 for separating the developed film F from the drum 14 and guiding it in the transport direction is disposed below the lowermost guide member 16. Drum 14 and transport roller pair 402
And is located between. Surface 40 of guide member 401
The reference numeral 1a changes the angle intermittently so that the separated film is directed to a pair of transport rollers 402 arranged in the transport direction. The guide member 401 has its tip 4
01b is approaching the drum 14. For this reason, the temperature of the guide member 401 is increased to, for example, 85 ° C. by the heated drum 14. Further, since the guide member 401 is made of metal, the temperature tends to be uniform, so that the temperature of the passing film F in the transport width direction tends to be uniform.

When the developed film F comes out of the nip portion 50 between the roller 16 and the drum 14 located at the most downstream side with the rotation of the drum 14, first, a guide member as shown by a solid line in FIG. After coming into contact with the vicinity of the front end portion 401b of the film 401, the film F advances while changing the transport direction so that the front end F1 of the film F moves on the front surface 401a of the guide member 401 as shown by a dashed line in the drawing. At this time, the temperature of the film F raised to a temperature of 124 ° C. remains at this level immediately after being separated from the drum 14, and the temperature of the guide member 401 is 85 ° C., and the temperature difference is 50 ° C. From the following, it is possible to prevent a sharp decrease in temperature in the film F. For film F, the temperature is 80
The development proceeds until the temperature drops to about ° C. At this time, it is considered that there is no sharp drop in temperature, so that uneven development does not occur. Further, permanent deformation such as bending of the film F due to the rapid temperature drop can be prevented. After this, the film F
Is transported by the roller pair 402 to the right in the drawing direction in the discharge direction, and is transported in the direction F ′ in FIG.

Next, a modification of the guide member will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, a heater 403 is arranged near the surface 401a of the guide member 401 to maintain the temperature, and a thermocouple 405 is arranged as temperature detecting means. The heater 403 raises the temperature of the surface 401a to a set temperature based on the temperature detected by the thermocouple 405. With this configuration, the temperature difference between the temperature of the film F immediately after separation from the drum 14 and the surface temperature of the guide member 401 can be made 50 ° C. or less, so that a sharp decrease in the temperature of the film F can be prevented. In addition, uneven development of the film F can be prevented, and permanent deformation such as bending can be prevented.
The heaters 403 are separately provided to control the respective heaters, so that the surface 401 of the guide member 401 can be controlled.
By forming a gentle temperature gradient such that the temperature gradually decreases in the direction a in the transport direction, it is possible to further prevent a rapid temperature drop of the film F. In this case, the temperature gradient is preferably at most 4 ° C./cm.

Next, another modified example in which a suction fan is provided near the guide member will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, a fan 411 for sucking air near the guide member 401 is provided. The operation of the fan 411 allows hot air to flow from the periphery of the heated drum 14 in the direction K1 in FIG.
In the direction K2. Fan 41
1 is controlled in ventilation based on the temperature detected by the thermocouple 405 as the temperature detecting means, and can maintain the temperature of the surface 401a of the guide member 401 at the set temperature. Thus, it is possible to prevent a sharp decrease in temperature in the film F passing through the surface 401a of the guide member 401, prevent uneven development in the film F, and prevent permanent deformation such as bending. It should be noted that the fan 411 may also serve as a blower fan or a suction fan for a deodorizing unit provided near the developing unit 130. Further, by forming the guide member 401 from a plate of stainless steel or the like and forming a large number of concave portions or convex portions on the surface thereof, the heat transfer area is reduced, and the guide member does not suddenly remove heat from the film. For example, FIG.
As shown in (b), a large number of convex portions 401 are formed on the surface of a stainless steel plate 401c for forming the guide member 401.
d, and a film F is formed thereon as shown in FIG.
When passing through, reduce the contact area with the film F,
Suppress the temperature drop of the film F,
It can be maintained above ℃. Note that, by arranging the convex portions 401d alternately in the horizontal direction, the film F
Is preferably prevented from contacting the convex portion 401d at a certain position, whereby the occurrence of unevenness in the density of the film due to the unevenness of the temperature distribution in the film can be suppressed.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show another guide member 4.
01 shows a stainless steel plate 401c for constituting No. 01. FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b) show a stainless steel plate 4 as an example.
01c is provided with a large number of holes 401e. By configuring the film F to pass over this surface, the same effect as in FIG. 11 can be obtained. Many holes 401e
Are preferably arranged at random from the viewpoint of suppressing the occurrence of uneven density described above. 13A and 13B show an example in which a large number of concave portions 401f are provided in a stainless steel plate 401c. The recess 401f is formed deep on the side opposite to the arrow direction in the figure and shallow on the side in the arrow direction. By configuring the film F to pass over this surface,
The same effect as in FIG. 11 can be obtained. It is preferable that a large number of the concave portions 401e are arranged at random from the viewpoint of suppressing the occurrence of the density unevenness described above. Further, the guide member 401 has a thermal conductivity of 10 W / m / K or less, for example, 1 to 3 W / m / K.
Ceramics or heat-resistant plastic of 1 W / m / K or less. As a result, a sharp drop in temperature is suppressed, and the occurrence of uneven density and permanent deformation can be prevented.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the guide member 401 guides the film F at the portion (surface 401a) where the film F is guided.
An angle θ between a straight line s extending from the side tip 401b and a tangent t at a point 420 where the straight line s intersects the outer peripheral surface of the drum 14 will be described. Is greater than 51 degrees, the film F coming out of the nip 50 between the drum 14 and the most downstream roller 16 changes its direction largely at the linear portion of the front end 401b of the surface 401a of the guide member 401. After that, there is no need to largely curve the film, and the possibility of permanent deformation due to the curve of the film is reduced. When the angle is 90 degrees or more, the separation becomes difficult. On the other hand, when the angle is 89 degrees or less, the separation does not become difficult.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the film F shown in the example, schematically showing a chemical reaction in the film F during exposure. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 7, schematically showing a chemical reaction in the film F during heating. In the film F, a photosensitive layer mainly composed of polyvinyl butyral is formed on a support (base layer) made of PET, and a protective layer made of cellulose butyrate is further formed thereon. The photosensitive layer contains silver halide grains, silver behenate (Beh. Ag), a reducing agent and a toning agent.

When the film F is irradiated with the laser beam L from the exposure unit 120 during exposure, as shown in FIG.
Silver halide grains are exposed to the area irradiated with the laser beam L, and a latent image is formed. On the other hand, when the film F is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the minimum thermal development temperature, as shown in FIG. 8, silver ions (Ag ⁺ ) are released from the silver behenate, and the behenic acid releasing the silver ions is complexed with the toning agent and the complex. To form Thereafter, silver ions are diffused, and the reducing agent acts with the exposed silver halide grains as nuclei to form a silver image by a chemical reaction. As described above, the film F contains photosensitive silver halide grains, an organic silver salt, and a silver ion reducing agent, and is not substantially thermally developed at a temperature of 40 ° C. or less,
Thermal development is performed at a temperature not lower than the minimum development temperature of not less than ° C.

As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.
Various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the developing unit 130
Although it is incorporated in the thermal developing device 100 together with the exposure unit 120, it may be configured separately from the exposure unit 120. In such a case, a transport unit that transports the film F from the exposure unit 120 to the development unit 130 is required. As the temperature detecting means, a temperature sensor such as a thermistor or a platinum resistance thermometer can be used in addition to the thermocouple.

[0071]

According to the present invention, when the heat-developable photosensitive material is brought into close contact with the heating member and heated and then separated, the temperature of the heat-developable material is sharply reduced and the heat-developed silver halide photosensitive material is reduced. And a heat development device capable of preventing the occurrence of density unevenness in the heat development material. Further, it is possible to prevent permanent deformation of the photothermographic material due to a sharp drop in temperature after heating.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a heat developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a left side view of the heat developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an exposure unit 120.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a developing unit that heats a film, and is a perspective view of the developing unit.

5 is a cross-sectional view of the configuration of FIG. 4 taken along line IV-IV and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the configuration of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the film F, schematically showing a chemical reaction in the film F during exposure.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 7, schematically showing a chemical reaction in the film F during heating.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a modification of the guide member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view showing another modified example of the embodiment of the present invention, in which a suction fan is arranged near a guide member.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, showing a plate provided with a number of convex portions constituting the guide member shown in FIG.

12A and 12B are a perspective view and a sectional view, respectively, showing a plate provided with a large number of holes constituting the guide member shown in FIG. 5;

13A and 13B are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, showing a plate provided with a large number of concave portions constituting the guide member shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

14 Drum (heating member) 16 Roller (guide member) 32 Drum heater 100 Thermal developing device 110 Storage unit 120 Exposure unit 130 Developing unit 401 Guide member 402 Transport roller pair 403 Heater of guide member 404 Temperature control device of heater 403 405 Thermoelectric Pair 411 suction fan 401d convex part 401e hole part 401f concave part F film

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoichi Ono 591-7 Kamihirose, Sayama City, Saitama Prefecture Konica Corporation F-term (reference) 2H112 AA03 AA11 BA10 BA24 BB21 BC10 BC17 BC29 BC40

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A heating member for heating a heat-developable material while rotating a silver halide photosensitive heat-developable material substantially in contact with the surface thereof, and separating the heat-developable material from the heat member. And a guide member that guides the heat development material by heating the heating member, wherein a temperature Ts (° C.) of the guide member is separated from the heating member. A temperature Tm (° C.) of the heat development material immediately after the heat treatment satisfies the following expression. Tm-50 ≦ Ts ≦ Tm 2. A heating member for heating the heat developing material while rotating the silver halide photosensitive heat developing material substantially in contact with the surface thereof, and separating the heat developing material from the heating member. And a guide member that guides the heat development material by heating the heating member, wherein the temperature Ts (° C.) of the guide member is separated from the heating member. And a temperature control means for controlling the temperature of said guide member so that the temperature Tm (° C.) of the heat development material immediately after and the following equation is satisfied. Tm-50 ≦ Ts ≦ Tm 3. A heating member for heating the heat-developable material while rotating the silver halide photosensitive heat-developable material substantially in contact with the surface thereof, and separating the heat-developable material from the heat member. And a guide member that guides the heat development material by heating the heating member; and a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature of the guide member. A temperature control means for controlling the temperature of the guide member based on the temperature. 4. A heating member for heating the heat developing material while rotating the silver halide photosensitive heat developing material substantially in contact with the surface thereof, and separating the heat developing material from the heating member. And a guide member that guides the heat development material by heating the heating member; and a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature of the guide member. And a ventilation control means for controlling wind flowing to the guide member based on the temperature. 5. A heating member for heating the heat developing material while rotating the silver halide photosensitive heat developing material substantially in contact with the surface thereof, and separating the heat developing material from the heating member. And a guide member that guides the heat development material by heating the heating member. During the heat development, the temperature Ts of the guide member is set to A heat developing device having a temperature equal to or higher than the glass transition temperature of the support. 6. A heat developing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a gentle temperature gradient is formed in said guide member so that the temperature gradually decreases in said discharge direction during heat development. . 7. The thermal developing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the temperature gradient is at most 4 ° C./cm. 8. The thermal conductivity of the guide member is 10 W / m.
The thermal developing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thermal developing apparatus is made of a material having a density of not more than / K. 9. The thermal developing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a number of concave portions or convex portions are formed on a surface of said guide member. 10. A heating member for heating the heat development material while rotating the silver halide photosensitive heat development material substantially in contact with the surface thereof, and the heat development separated from the heating member. A heat developing device having a guide member for guiding the material, and a roller pair for conveying the heat development material in a discharge direction, wherein the heat development member heat develops the heat development material; Is disposed between the heating member and the roller pair, is made of metal, and has a temperature equal to or higher than a glass transition temperature of a support of the heat development material during heat development. apparatus. 11. The thermal developing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the glass transition temperature is about 80 ° C. 12. A heating member for heating the heat developing material while rotating the silver halide photosensitive heat developing material substantially in contact with the surface thereof, and separating the heat developing material from the heating member. And a guide member for guiding in a discharge direction, wherein the heat developing device heat-develops the heat-developable material by heating the heating member. When the heating member is viewed from a rotation axis direction, the guide member is The angle formed by a straight line extending from the heating member-side tip of the portion for guiding the heat development material and a tangent at a point where the straight line intersects the outer peripheral surface of the heating member is 51 ° or more.
A heat developing device having a temperature of 9 ° or less.