JP2002023254A - Developer spreading device for instant film unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the generation of developing unevenness by removing foreign matters stuck to the outer peripheral surface of a spreading roller. SOLUTION: This developer spreading device 40 is constituted of the spreading rollers 41a and 41b, a fixed brush 42, a foreign matter receiver 43 and a partition wall 44. A film unit 12, clamped by the spreading rollers 41a and 41b, is sent out to the outside of a camera body 2 while being pressed, a pod part 12b is torn open, developer is spread inside and a developing processing is executed. The fixed brush 42 is abutted against the outer peripheral surface 45 of the spreading rollers 41a and 41b and scrapes off the foreign matters stuck to the outer peripheral surface 45. The foreign matter receiver 43 is positioned below the fixed brush 42 and receives the foreign maters scraped off from the spreading rollers 41.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing solution developing device for an instant film unit, and more particularly, to a developing solution developing device for an instant film unit.
The present invention relates to a developing solution developing device for an instant film unit having a developing roller cleaning function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An instant camera is widely known as a camera capable of immediately viewing a photograph after photographing. 2. Description of the Related Art A mono-sheet type self-developing photographic film unit (hereinafter simply referred to as a film unit) used in an instant camera is provided with a developer pod in which a developer is sealed at an edge portion on an exposure surface side. And
Each time a photograph is taken, the photographed film unit is pushed out of the pack and discharged from a film discharge port provided on the upper surface of the camera body. At this time, the film unit is sandwiched between the developing rollers in the camera body arranged near the outlet of the pack, and is sent out of the camera body while being pressed. As a result, the developer pod is split and the developer spreads in the film unit, and the developing process is performed. By this development processing, a positive image appears on the surface opposite to the exposure surface of the film unit.

On the other hand, an instant printer using a film unit as a recording medium for a hard copy is known, and an electronic still camera incorporating the instant printer has been commercialized by the present applicant. In this instant printer, a linear exposure head is moved on the photosensitive surface of the film unit, and red, green, and blue are sequentially exposed, and then the exposed film unit is passed through a developing roller. It is structured to discharge while performing development processing like an instant camera.

[0004]

In the above-described instant camera and instant printer, there is a problem that, during use, uneven development such as periodically appearing points occurs in the developed film unit. is there. Various investigations have been conducted on the cause of the development unevenness that appears periodically, and it has been found that foreign matters such as dust fitted into the developing roller are involved. That is, foreign substances such as dust entering from the film discharge port adhere to the developing roller while being used outdoors or the like, and when the developing roller sandwiches the film unit and pressurizes, the surface is blasted by blasting. The adhered foreign matter fits into the concave portion of the outer peripheral surface that has been matted. As a result, the pressure applied to the film unit in the portion where the foreign matter has been fitted increases during the development process, and the development thickness of the developing solution becomes thinner than in the other portions, thereby causing development unevenness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a developing solution developing apparatus for an instant film unit which prevents foreign matter from being stuck in a developing roller and causing uneven development during a developing process. The purpose is to provide.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the developing solution developing device for an instant film unit according to the present invention, a brush for cleaning the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller by contacting the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller is provided. Provided. In addition, it is preferable to provide a foreign matter receiver for accommodating the removed foreign matter below the brush.

In a third aspect of the present invention, the brush is a rotating brush, and is rotated by a motor in a direction opposite to the developing roller. In the developer developing device for an instant film unit, the discharge port from which the instant film unit is discharged to the outside is displaced from the direction in which the developing roller sandwiches and transports the instant film unit. .

[0008]

2 and 3 show the appearance of an electronic still camera with a printer (hereinafter abbreviated as a camera) 1 having a function of performing printing on an instant film unit. . An imaging unit 3 and a strobe light emitting unit 4 are provided above the front of the camera body 2.
A power switch 5 is provided on the upper surface. Imaging unit 3
A photographing lens and a CCD are incorporated in the back of the camera.

A release button 6 is provided below the image pickup section 3. By operating the release button 6, a subject formed on the CCD is picked up. When the brightness of the subject is low, the strobe light is emitted from the strobe light emitting unit 4 toward the subject. A battery chamber in which a dry battery 8 serving as a power supply of the camera 1 is mounted is provided on a side of the camera body 2. This battery chamber is covered by a battery lid 9. A slit-shaped outlet 11 is formed on the upper surface of the camera body 2, and when a printing operation is performed,
An exposed instant film unit (hereinafter abbreviated as a film unit) 12 is discharged from the discharge port 11.

On the back of the camera body 2, a liquid crystal (LCD)
Operation units such as a panel 13, a multi-operation button 14, a mode switching key 15, and a print start key 16 are incorporated. The LCD panel 13 constitutes an electronic viewfinder and is used for reproducing image data read from a memory. The mode switching key 15 is used for mode switching operations such as imaging, reproduction, and printing. The multi operation button 14
Used in combination with the mode switching key 15 such as digital zooming, it is used for operations in various image pickup modes and operations such as frame selection during reproduction and printing. When the print start key 16 is pressed, printing of the image displayed on the LCD panel 13 is started.

At the center of the front surface of the camera body 2, a plate-like opening / closing lid 18 is attached to the lower edge so as to be freely opened and closed. As shown in FIG. 1, behind the opening / closing lid 18, there is a pack chamber 20 which is a storage chamber in which a film pack 19 is loaded.
Is provided. The film pack 19 includes a plastic pack (case) 22 formed in a box shape, and a plurality of film units 12 stacked and stored in the pack 22. In the back of the pack room 20,
Printing unit 23 that prints on film unit 12
(See FIG. 4) and a discharge unit 24 (see FIG. 4) for discharging the film unit 12 out of the camera 2.

The film unit 12 has an exposure surface 12a on which an image is exposed, and a pod 12 which is disposed in the unit along one side of the exposure surface 12a and contains a developing solution.
b, and a trap portion 12c disposed in the unit so as to face the pod portion 12b with the exposure surface 12a interposed therebetween. The trap portion 12c absorbs the remaining developer after the spreading. The film unit 12 is a mono-sheet type film unit that is handled as one sheet from when not used until after a positive image is formed.

The pack 22 of the film pack 19 has an exposure opening 22a for exposing the exposure surface 12a of the stored film unit 12, and an exposure opening 22a for the exposed film unit 12.
And a delivery port 22b through which is delivered. The film pack 19 is loaded into the pack chamber 20 so that the back of the film pack 19 faces the front side of the camera body 2, so that the exposure opening 22a faces a print head 26 described later.

As shown in FIG. 4, the printing section 23 includes a print head 26 and a head moving mechanism 27 for moving the print head 26 along the exposure surface 12a of the film unit 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the print head 26 includes a liquid crystal array 28 in which a number of transmission liquid crystals of dot segments are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the film unit 12, and a light source for irradiating these with linear white illumination light. 29, and three kinds of band-shaped color filters 30 of red transmission, green transmission and blue transmission provided between the liquid crystal array 28 and the light source 29. The color filter 30 is sequentially inserted between the light source 29 and the liquid crystal array 28 every time the print head 26 scans the entire area of the exposure surface 12a. As a result, the print head 26 emits red, green, and blue print light toward the film unit 12, and a full-color image is exposed sequentially in three color planes.

The head moving mechanism 27 includes a print head 2
6 is moved at a constant speed in a sub-scanning direction parallel to the transport direction of the film unit 12 so that the print head 26 is moved.
Face the entire exposure surface 12a. The head moving mechanism 27 includes, for example, a scanning motor 32, a lead screw 33 rotated by the scanning motor 32, and a moving member 34 that moves in the axial direction (sub-scanning direction) of the lead screw 33. The shafts 26a and 26b provided at both ends of the print head 26 are inserted into the long holes 36a and 36b, and the shaft 26a at one end is fixed to the moving member 34. Thus, when the scanning motor 32 rotates, the print head 26 is moved in the sub-scanning direction. As the scanning motor 32, for example, a stepping motor is used.

The discharge section 24 includes a claw member 39 and a developing solution developing device 40. The developing solution developing device 40 of the present invention includes a pair of developing rollers 41a. 41b, a fixed brush 42, a foreign matter receiver 43, and a partition 44. The pair of developing rollers 41a and 41b are driven by a motor (not shown), and are rotated in directions different from each other to send the film unit 12 from the discharge port 11 to the outside after the three color plane sequential exposure. After the three color planes are sequentially exposed, the claw member 39 enters the inside of the film pack 19 through the notch 22c provided at the end of the exposure opening 22a, and pushes out the exposed film unit 12 from the film pack 19. . As a result, the exposed film unit 12 is rotated by the rotating developing rollers 41a and 41b.
And is discharged from the discharge port 11 by the rotation of the developing rollers 41a and 41b. The film unit 12
While passing through the developing rollers 41a and 41b, the pod 12b is ruptured and the developing solution is developed inside. The configuration of the claw member 39 is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H4-1948.
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 32, for example, it may be the same as that used in a conventional instant camera, and its function is exactly the same.

The developing rollers 41a and 41b are metal rollers made of iron or the like, and the outer peripheral surface 45 thereof is subjected to blast processing to form random irregularities on the surface. As a result, the film unit 12 is prevented from slipping on the outer peripheral surface 45, and the film unit 12 is spread over the developing rollers 41a, 41a.
1b can be reliably inserted.

The length of the pair of fixed brushes 42 in the longitudinal direction is the same as the dimension in the axial direction of the developing rollers 41a and 41b, and the axial direction of the developing rollers 41a and 41b is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the fixed brush 42. As shown in FIG. A large number of steel wires 46 are implanted in the fixed brush 42, and the tip of the steel wire 46 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface 45. The position where the steel wire 46 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface 45 is at a sandwiching position 4 where the developing rollers 41a and 41b sandwich the film unit 12 and spread the developing solution.
7 is located below.

The foreign matter receiver 43 has a size in the longitudinal direction slightly larger than the size in the axial direction of the developing rollers 41a and 41b, and is positioned below the fixed brush 42, respectively.
It is formed integrally with the pack chamber 20. The partition 44 separates the conveyance path 12 d from the foreign matter receiver 43, and
To prevent the foreign matter scraped off from entering the transport path 12d.

As shown in FIG. 1, the discharge port 11 is provided so as to be displaced from above the sandwiching position 47 and to be positioned above one of the developing rollers 41a. The direction of the transport path 12 d is changed by the inclined surface 48 provided between the outlets 11
It is bent to the side. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent foreign matter such as dust from entering the sandwiching position 47 from the outlet 11. When the developing roller 41a is rotating, the developing roller 41a enters the inside of the camera body 2 from the outlet 11 and
The foreign matter that has fallen on the outer peripheral surface 45 of the developing roller 41a is
Is dropped in the direction opposite to the transport path 12 d and received by the foreign substance receiver 43.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. In the camera 1, when the power switch 5 is operated, the mode is automatically set to the imaging mode. The user turns the imaging unit 3 toward the subject, performs framing with the image displayed on the LCD panel 13, and presses the release button 6. Thereby, an image is captured by the built-in CCD, and the captured image is recorded as image data on a memory card or the like.

When the photographing is completed and the user views or prints the photographed image, the user checks the image displayed on the LCD panel 13 and presses the print start key 16 while the favorite image is displayed. Operate. By operating the print start key 16, the print unit 23 operates. In the printing unit 23, the head moving mechanism 27 moves the print head 26 along the film unit 12, and during this movement, the print head 26 emits light in accordance with the image data. Thereby, the film unit 12
The image is exposed on the exposure surface 12a.

The film unit 1 by the print unit 23
Upon completion of the exposure to 2, the motor is operated, the developing rollers 41a and 41b start rotating, and the claw member 39 is inserted into the notch 22c. At this time, the fixed brush 42 scrapes foreign substances such as dust adhered to the developing rollers 41a and 41b, and the scraped foreign substances are received by the foreign substance receiving 43. The film unit 1 sent to the developing rollers 41a and 41b by the claw member 39
2 is transported toward the discharge port 11 while the pod 1
2b is pinched and ruptured, and the contained developer flows out into the film unit 12.

Since the foreign matter adhering to the developing rollers 41a and 41b has been removed by the fixed brush 42,
Foreign matter is strongly pinched by the pressure contact between the developing rollers 41a and 41b, and is not fitted into the concave portion of the outer peripheral surface 45. If the foreign matter is still caught between the developing rollers 41a and 41b, the thickness of the developing solution changes and dot-like development unevenness occurs.

As described above, the developing rollers 41a, 41b
Since the outer peripheral surface 45 is cleaned while the film unit 12 is being conveyed during the developing process,
The development thickness of the developing solution is always constant, and no development unevenness occurs. Further, the fixed brush 42 is attached to the developing roller 4.
1a and 41b, and the partition wall 44 separates the foreign substance receiver 43 from the transport path 12d, so that the foreign substances scraped off by the fixed brush 42 adhere to the developing rollers 41a and 41b again. Can be prevented.

In the first embodiment described above, the fixed brush fixed to the camera body is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller to scrape off the foreign matter adhering to the developing roller. The foreign matter may be removed by contacting the outer peripheral surface of the roller. Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention using a rotating brush will be described, but the same components as those described in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The developing solution developing device 50 shown in FIG. 5 includes developing rollers 41a and 41b, a rotating brush 51,
3 and a partition 44. The pair of rotating brushes 51 have axial dimensions of the developing rollers 41 a, 41.
b, the axial direction of the developing rollers 41 a and 41 b is parallel to the axial direction of the rotating brush 51, and the center axis of the rotating brush 49 is located below the central axis of the developing roller 41. Are held rotatably. A large number of steel wires 46 are radially implanted in the rotating brush 51, and the tip of the steel wire 46 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface 45. Thus, when the film unit 12 is discharged, the rotating brush 51 is driven by the motor to rotate the outer peripheral surface 4.
Scratches off foreign matter adhering to 5.

Further, as shown in FIG.
A transmission gear 52 may be provided, which is fixed to one end of the roller 1 and transmits the rotation of the developing rollers 41a and 41b to the rotating brush 51 and rotates the rotating brush 51 in the direction opposite to the direction of the developing rollers 41a and 41b. Thus, the unfolding rollers 41a and 41b and the rotating brush 51 can be driven by one motor. Further, since the rotating brush 51 is also driven, foreign matters can be more reliably removed from the developing rollers 41a and 41b. In this case, the rotating brush 5
As 1, it is more effective to use not a steel wire implanted as described above but a steel wire densely packed in a scalloped shape.

In each of the above embodiments, a steel wire is used for the brush. However, a brush in which a copper wire, a resin fiber, or the like is implanted may be used as the fixed brush or the rotating brush.

In each of the above embodiments, a fixed brush or a rotating brush for cleaning the pair of developing rollers is provided, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the position of the discharge port 11 is further shifted from above the developing roller 41a and provided at a position further away from the other developing roller 41b. In this case, foreign matter such as dust does not enter the developing roller 41b, so that a fixed brush or a rotating brush may be provided only for one of the developing rollers 41a.

In each of the above embodiments, an electronic still camera with a printer has been described as an example. However, the developing solution developing apparatus of the present invention is also used for a conventional instant camera, a printer using an instant film unit, and the like. be able to.

[0032]

As described above, according to the developing device for an instant film unit of the present invention, the fixed brush is fixed so as to contact the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller and cleans the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller. Or a rotating brush that abuts on the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller and is rotatably held to clean the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller, so that it is possible to remove foreign matters attached to the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller, It is possible to prevent development unevenness such as a point occurring during processing. Further, since the apparatus is provided with the foreign matter receiving member for receiving the foreign matter removed from the developing roller by the fixed brush or the rotating brush, the removed foreign matter does not adhere to the developing roller again.

In the case where the developing roller is formed of a steel material and the outer peripheral surface is subjected to a blast treatment for preventing slippage, in a conventional developing solution developing device, shavings and the like of the steel material formed at the time of manufacturing may have a concave portion on the outer peripheral surface. Although it became a part of the cause of development unevenness, by providing a fixed brush or a rotating brush implanted with resin fibers finer than the concave portion on the outer peripheral surface, the shavings formed at the time of the manufacturing described above also become Can be removed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part showing a configuration of a developing solution developing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an electronic still camera with a printer.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the back side of the electronic still camera with a printer.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a printer unit and a discharge unit incorporated in the electronic still camera with a printer shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a configuration of a developing solution developing device provided with a rotating brush.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a developing solution developing device configured to rotate a rotating brush in conjunction with a developing roller.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 electronic still camera with printer 2 camera body 11 outlet 12 film unit 12a exposure surface 12b pod 40, 50 developer developing device 41a, 41b developing roller 42 fixed brush 43 foreign matter receiver 44 partition 45 outer peripheral surface 46 steel wire 51 rotating brush 52 Transmission gear

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G03C 3/00 555 G03C 3/00 555E 599 599B G03D 9/00 G03D 9/00 B

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A developing solution developing device for an instant film unit, comprising: a pair of developing rollers that rotate while sandwiching an instant film unit and spread a stored developing solution into the instant film unit. A developing solution developing device for an instant film unit, wherein a brush is provided in contact with the surface to clean an outer peripheral surface of the developing roller. 2. The developer developing device for an instant film unit according to claim 1, further comprising a foreign matter receiver for storing the removed foreign matter below said brush. 3. The developing device for an instant film unit according to claim 1, wherein said brush is a rotating brush, and is rotated by a motor in a direction opposite to a developing roller. 4. The discharge port from which the instant film unit is discharged to the outside is displaced from the direction in which the developing roller sandwiches and transports the instant film unit. 3. The developer developing device for an instant film unit according to any one of 3.