JP2002090969A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of stably executing a chemical reaction at a contact temperature. SOLUTION: Materials 17 to be processed which are transferred into a preheating device 56 are preheated in such a manner that their temperatures are brought closer to the temperature suitable for the chemical reaction for processing a liquid. When the preheated material 17 to be processed are subjected to heating temperature control to an adequate temperature with a heating temperature control means, the temperature change of the materials 17 to be processed can be eliminated or made extremely small. The processing liquid is therefore applied to the materials 17 after preheating by using a processing liquid application means 312 and the materials 17 are kept at the specified temperature suitable for the chemical reaction of the processing liquid by the heating temperature control means after the application of the processing liquid thereto until the end of the liquid processing. The degree of progression of the chemical reaction to be effected by the application of the processing liquid to the materials 17 to be processed is thus kept constant and stable execution of the liquid processing is made possible.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of performing a stable image forming process by applying a processing solution to a material to be processed such as a photosensitive material and then holding the material to be processed at a constant temperature. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, for example, Japanese Patent Application No.
000-8860, an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a silver halide photographic material has been proposed.

In this image forming apparatus, a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material comprising at least one photographic constituent layer provided on a support containing a dye-forming coupler and a color-forming reducing agent is provided on the photographic constituent layer side. After exposure to light, a processing solution applying means performs a development intensification process in which an alkaline processing solution containing hydrogen peroxide is adhered to the photographic constituent layer side to form an image on the silver halide photographic material.

In this image forming apparatus, in the step of developing intensification processing, a constant temperature heater or the like is arranged in a section from the time when the processing liquid is applied to the exposed photosensitive material by the processing liquid applying means until the end of the reaction processing. The photosensitive material during the reaction processing is kept at a predetermined constant temperature, the progress of the development intensification processing of the photosensitive material is kept constant, and the development intensification processing is stabilized.

[0005]

In the step of developing intensification processing of the image processing apparatus as described above, the reaction processing is performed at a constant temperature, so that the photosensitive material in the section from the processing liquid applying means to the end of the reaction processing is removed. Even if it is heated by a constant temperature heater to keep it at a predetermined temperature, the photosensitive material is heated by the constant temperature heater and reaches a predetermined temperature in accordance with the temperature of the photosensitive material itself entering the entrance of a processing step having a processing liquid applying means. The process of doing so is different.

That is, the time from when the photosensitive material enters the entrance of the processing step to when it is heated by the constant temperature heater to reach the predetermined temperature and the degree of temperature rise vary depending on the temperature of the photosensitive material itself before heating. Therefore, the degree of progress of the development intensification process changes in accordance with the temperature change in the initial stage of heating the photosensitive material, and thus there is a problem that the development intensification process becomes unstable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to newly provide an image forming apparatus capable of more stably executing a reaction process at a constant temperature.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: a preheating apparatus for preheating a supplied material to be processed so as to approach a temperature suitable for a chemical reaction in liquid processing; A treatment liquid applying means for applying the treatment liquid to the treatment material, and heating for holding the material to be treated at a constant temperature suitable for the chemical reaction of the liquid treatment after the treatment liquid is applied by the treatment liquid application means until the liquid treatment is completed. Temperature control means.

With the above-described structure, the material to be processed that has passed through the preheating device is heated to a temperature close to an appropriate temperature at which the processing liquid is applied and chemically reacted at a constant temperature. When the heating temperature is adjusted to an appropriate temperature, there is no change in the temperature of the material to be processed or the temperature change can be extremely small.

Therefore, the material to be treated is kept at a constant temperature in the section from the position where the treatment liquid is applied to the position where the chemical reaction by the treatment liquid is terminated by the heating temperature regulation action of the preheating device and the heating temperature regulation means. It can be maintained at an appropriate temperature for the reaction.

Therefore, the progress of the chemical reaction performed by applying the processing liquid to the material to be processed is kept constant, and the liquid processing can be stably executed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising:
The supplied sheet-like material to be processed is sandwiched between the flat surface of the heating temperature controller and the press-contact member, and is conveyed while pressing the flat material onto the flat surface of the heating temperature controller, thereby achieving the chemical treatment of the liquid processing. A preheating device that preheats to approach a temperature suitable for the reaction, a processing liquid application unit that applies the processing liquid to the material to be processed after the preheating, and until the liquid processing is completed after applying the processing liquid with the processing liquid application unit. A heating temperature adjusting means for maintaining the material to be processed at a constant temperature suitable for the chemical reaction of the liquid processing.

With the above-described structure, in addition to the operation and effect of the first aspect of the present invention, the material to be processed is pressed against the flat surface of the heating temperature controller, so that the material to be processed curls. It is made to come into contact with the flat surface of the heating temperature controller in a flat manner without any problems. Then, heat is directly and uniformly transmitted from the heating temperature controller to the material to be processed, and the entire material to be processed is heated on average.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the preheating device presses the material to be processed flatly against the flat portion of the heating temperature controller and transfers heat. It is characterized in that it has a pressing member that performs.

With the above-described structure, the material to be processed is heated by being transferred to the material to be processed from the press-contact member which presses the material to be planarized against the flat surface of the heating temperature controller. Can be done more quickly.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the preheating device includes a material to be processed placed on a flat portion of the heating temperature controller by its own weight or an elastic member. The pressing member has a pressing member that presses in a plane by the urging force of the pressing member, and transfers heat stored in the pressing member to the material to be processed or heat generated by the pressing member to the material to be processed. The material to be processed can be simultaneously heated from both sides by the pressing member and the heating temperature controller.

With the above-described structure, the material to be processed is extended so as not to curl and the entire material to be processed is heated evenly, and the material to be processed is simultaneously pressed from both sides by the pressing member and the heating temperature controller. A configuration in which the material to be processed is quickly heated by heating can be simplified.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the preheating device is configured to control the temperature corresponding to the supplied material to be processed detected by the temperature sensor. On the basis of this, automatic control is performed to change the heating temperature so that the supplied material to be processed can be heated to a temperature close to a temperature suitable for the chemical reaction of the liquid processing.

With the above-described configuration, even if there is a variation in the temperature of the material to be processed before being carried into the preheating device, the heating temperature when the material to be processed is heated by the preheating device is changed. Thus, the preheating device can be appropriately and automatically controlled so that the material to be heated after heating is heated to a temperature close to a temperature suitable for the chemical reaction of the liquid treatment.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Schematic of Entire Image Processing Apparatus) FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an entire image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the illustrated image forming apparatus, a paper feeding unit 12 is disposed inside a housing 10 of the apparatus main body at a lower left portion as viewed in the figure, and a transport path 14 originating from the paper feeding unit 12 is provided in the housing 10. Are provided in series toward the middle discharge port 28 at the right end as viewed in the figure while bending the inside of the inside.

In the housing 10 of the apparatus main body, a material 17 to be processed as an image recording material such as a photosensitive material sent from the paper supply unit 12 is sequentially provided from the paper supply unit 12 side in the transport path 14. An exposing unit 18 for exposing an image is arranged, followed by a developing intensifying unit 20, a stabilizing unit 22, a washing unit 24, and a drying unit 26. Is disposed, and an outlet 28 for discharging the material 17 to be processed, which is an image-formed image recording material.
Is arranged.

Inside the housing 10 of the apparatus main body, a tank for each processing liquid, a tank for washing water, and a waste liquid tank (not shown) are arranged.

In the paper feeding section 12 of the image forming apparatus, a material 17 to be processed as a photosensitive material, which is formed in a belt shape, is wound and stored in a roll shape, and is pulled out from the outer peripheral end of the roll. The tip of the processed material 17 is sent out onto the transport path 14.

In the transport path 14, feed rollers 30 are arranged at various places. Then, the material to be processed 17 is sandwiched between a pair of rollers that are rotated by each of the feed rollers 30, and from the upstream of the paper feed unit 12 side in the transport path 14,
The processing target material 17 is configured to be sent downstream to the discharge port 28 side.

The material to be processed 17 sent out from the paper feeding section 12 to the upstream side of the transport path 14 is transported on the transport path 14 to a predetermined size by a cutter 32 arranged near the paper feeding section 12. And is fed to the exposure unit 18.

The exposure section 18 processes the color image signal input by a scanner or the like (not shown), and exposes the material 17 to be processed at a predetermined position on the transport path 14 by a laser light source of the semiconductor laser unit to form a latent image. Form. The processing target material 17 on which the latent image has been formed in this way is sent to the developing intensification processing unit 20 by the transport path 14.

In the developing intensifying processing section 20, a developing intensifying processing liquid is applied by a processing liquid applying means to the photosensitive material emulsion surface 17A of the material 17 to be processed conveyed by the conveying means. The material 17 to which the developing intensification processing solution is applied in this manner is
While being conveyed by the conveying means while being heated by the heating temperature adjusting means and maintained at a predetermined temperature, a chemical reaction is performed to complete the development intensification processing, and the resultant is supplied to the next cleaning unit 24. .

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, for example, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the processing liquid applying means applies a processing liquid for processing the material 17 to be processed to only adhere to one side of the photosensitive material emulsion surface 17A. It is composed of devices. The coating apparatus includes a liquid ejecting apparatus 312 and a fluid circuit (not shown) for supplying a processing liquid into a liquid chamber of the liquid ejecting apparatus 312.

(Liquid ejecting device) This liquid ejecting device 312
As can be seen from FIGS. 6 to 9, the liquid chamber 321A extends along the longitudinal direction inside the substantially rectangular parallelepiped apparatus main body.
Is provided. In addition, on the bottom of this device body,
Nozzle plate 322 that is a part of partition wall in liquid chamber 321A
Are arranged.

That is, in the liquid ejecting apparatus 312, a long groove is formed in the structural member of the main body of the apparatus so as to open to the bottom along the longitudinal direction, and the opening in the bottom is formed by bending a rectangular thin plate which can be elastically deformed. The nozzle plate 322 formed in this way is closed to form an integral structure.

The structural members of the apparatus main body of the liquid ejecting apparatus 312 are integrally formed by overlapping a pair of frame members 314 and fastening them with bolts (not shown).

Each of the frame members 314 is formed symmetrically with respect to the left and right sides.
12B and the top wall 312C are integrally formed.

Each lever plate 320 is formed in a rectangular long plate shape, and is supported by a narrow and elastically deformable support portion 312B integrally formed below each side wall 312A of the liquid ejecting apparatus 312. Each support portion 312B is formed integrally and continuously.

Each of the frame members 314 is provided with a corresponding one of the side walls 312A.
A pair of top walls 312C is integrally formed on the upper part of the. Part of each of the top walls 312C is shaped to protrude to both lateral sides, and the lower side of the protruding top wall 312C and the lever plate 32
The two ends of the plurality of piezoelectric elements 326 (three on each side in the present embodiment) serving as an actuator are adhered and bridged between the outer ends of the piezoelectric elements 0 and 0.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus 312, the nozzle plate 322
Are formed so that a portion where the nozzle holes 324 arranged in a straight line are provided is projected outward in a trapezoidal shape, and both sides parallel to the longitudinal direction of the nozzle holes 324 arranged in a straight line are illustrated in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, it is arranged by being attached to a pair of lever plates 320 with an adhesive or the like.

In the nozzle plate 322, a processing liquid (a liquid in which an image forming agent is dissolved) filled in the liquid chamber 321A is provided.
A plurality of nozzle holes 324 (e.g., several tens of μm in diameter) for injecting are arranged in a straight line at regular intervals.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus 312, a plurality of nozzle holes 324 arranged in a straight line on the bottom surface thereof intersect, for example, the conveying direction A of the processing target material 17, which is a photosensitive material shown in FIGS. And a plurality of nozzle holes 324 arranged in a straight line are set so as to correspond over the entire width direction of the material 17 to be processed. Thereby, as described later, the liquid holes 32 are formed from these nozzle holes 324.
The processing liquid in 1A can be applied to the entire surface of the material 17 to be transported.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a thin sealing plate 328 is attached to each section defined by both ends in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle plate 322 and both ends of the pair of frame members 314. I do.

The sealing plate 328 is adhered to each end of the nozzle plate 322 and each end of the pair of frame members 314 with an elastic adhesive, for example, a silicone rubber adhesive. Is being worn.

Accordingly, the movement between the sealing plate 328, each end of the nozzle plate 322, and each end of the pair of frame members 314 is made elastic without obstructing the movement of both ends of the nozzle plate 322. It will be sealed.

The liquid ejecting apparatus 312 communicates with the respective sealing plates 328 at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the liquid ejecting apparatus 312 in the liquid chamber 321A.
Each liquid guide pipe 3 connected to a fluid circuit unit for supplying a processing liquid into the inside
31, 347 are provided. The frame member 3
Each liquid guide tube may be provided at both ends of 14.

The liquid ejecting apparatus 312 configured as described above
When power is supplied to each of the piezoelectric elements 326 from the power supply, the piezoelectric elements 326 extend as shown in FIG. 9 and rotate the lever plate 320 around the support portion 312B. As a result, the piezoelectric element 326 raises the central portion of the nozzle plate 322 along the direction of arrow B while elastically deforming the nozzle plate 322, and increases the pressure of the processing liquid in the liquid chamber 321A to form a plurality of linearly arranged nozzles. , A small amount of the processing liquid L is collectively ejected linearly from the nozzle hole 324. (Conveying Means of Developing Intensity Processing Unit) As shown in FIG. 1, the conveying means of the developing intensification processing unit 20 is constituted by a belt conveyor 34 arranged along the conveying path 14.

The belt conveyor 34 is configured by winding an endless belt 38 for conveyance around a plurality of (five in this embodiment) rollers 36, and is placed on the endless belt 38. The processing target material 17 is configured to be transported in the direction of arrow A.

Although not shown, a large number of through holes are formed in the mounting surface of the endless belt 38, and air is sucked from below the portion of the endless belt 38 along the conveyance path 14 to remove the material 17 to be processed. It is desirable that the sheet is conveyed in a state where it is adsorbed on the endless belt 38 without any gap and a flat surface is maintained.

A nip transport mechanism 40 for nipping and transporting the material 17 to be processed is arranged as a part of the transport means of the developing intensification processing section 20 in parallel with a portion along the transport path 14 of the belt conveyor 34. I do.

The nip transport mechanism 40 is configured by winding a timing belt 46, which is an endless belt for transport, around a pair of timing pulleys 42 and 44 so as to run parallel to the transport path 14. A nip member 48 in which an elastic member such as rubber is formed in a small projecting shape is provided at an appropriate position on a part of the timing belt 46.

Then, the nip member 48 comes into pressure contact with the material 17 placed on the portion of the belt conveyor 34 along the conveyance path 14 to lift the material 17 that is easily curled up from the upper surface of the belt conveyor 34. Material to be processed 1
7 is pressed on the upper surface of the belt conveyor 34 over the entire width direction of the leading end in the conveying direction and the entire width direction of the rear end in the conveying direction.

In this state, by moving the timing belt 46 in synchronization with the belt conveyor 34, the conveying means of the developing intensification processing section 20 transfers the material 17 placed on the endless belt 38 to the The sheet is stably transported in the direction of arrow A in a state where it is pressed against the endless belt 38 so that the whole becomes a uniform plane and is held so as not to move. (Heating Temperature Adjusting Means of Developing Intensity Processing Unit) As shown in FIG. 1, the heating temperature adjusting means of the developing intensification processing unit 20 includes a lower heating unit disposed below a portion of the endless belt 38 along the conveyance path 14. It has a temperature control device 50 and an upper heating temperature control device 52 arranged above the transport path 14.

In the lower heating temperature controller 50, a table-shaped heating element is slid on the lower surface of the belt conveyor 34, and the material 17 to be processed placed on the upper surface of the belt conveyor 34 is heated by the heater. The heating temperature can be controlled by controlling the temperature operation means.

The upper heating temperature controller 52 accommodates the nip transport mechanism 40 disposed above the belt conveyor 34 in a case 54 and surrounds the processing target material 17 placed on the upper surface of the endless belt 38. The apparatus and air are heated to a predetermined temperature, and the material 1 to be treated is combined with the lower heating temperature controller 50.
7 is configured to be able to control the heating temperature by controlling the heater temperature raising operation means. (Preheating Device) The developing intensification processing unit 20 shown in FIG.
As a heating temperature adjusting means, a preheating device 56 is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction of the material 17 from the entrance of the lower heating temperature adjusting device 50 of the belt conveyor 34.

Since the developing intensification processing section 20 is configured to apply a small amount of processing liquid to the material 17 to be processed by using the liquid ejecting device 312, the developing intensification processing section 20 is so-called that the processing liquid is blown. When the material to be treated 17 is immersed in the treatment liquid heated to a predetermined temperature, the temperature of the material to be treated 17 cannot be increased. Therefore, it becomes effective to use such a preheating device 56.

The pre-heating device 56 includes a heating temperature controller 5
8 and a pressing mechanism 60 for pressing the material 17 to be processed. The heating temperature controller 58 is formed in a trapezoidal shape having a flat traveling road surface having a predetermined length disposed along the lower side of the transport path 14. The heating temperature controller 58 controls the heating of the heater provided therein under the control of the heater temperature raising operation means to heat and adjust the flat traveling road surface portion, and heats the material 17 passing on the traveling road surface to normal temperature. Thus, the material to be treated 17 can be heated to an appropriate temperature at which the treatment liquid is applied to the material to be treated 17 and chemically reacted at a constant temperature while the material to be treated 17 passes through the heating temperature controller 58.

The press-contact mechanism 60 of the preheating device 56 includes a press-contact member 62, which comes into planar contact with the flat traveling road surface portion of the heating temperature controller 58, and a resilient member such as a compression coil spring provided between the fixed member 64 and the elastic member. The urging force of the member 66 appropriately presses the heating temperature controller 58.

The pressing member 62 is made of a material having a high thermal conductivity such as a heat-storable metal in the form of a thick plate, and has a smoothly inclined obliquely upward at a tip end thereof facing upstream in the transport direction. A guide head 68 formed as described above is provided.

The pressure contact member 62 thus configured guides the front end of the material 17 to be processed sent on the transport path 14 by the guide head 68 and the pressure contact member 62 and the heating temperature controller 58.
And sandwich it between. Further, the pressing member 62 presses the material to be processed 17 appropriately against the flat traveling road surface portion of the heating temperature controller 58 so as not to curl, and makes a sliding contact with the material 17 in a closely contacted state. Material to be treated 17
Good heat conduction.

At the same time, when the press contact member 62 is placed on the heating temperature controller 58, it is heated and stored by the heating temperature controller 58, so that the heat stored in the press contact member 62 is The heat is transferred to the material to be processed 17.

That is, when the material to be treated 17 passes through the preheating device 56, one surface thereof is heated by the heating temperature controller 5.
8 and the other surface is heated by the pressing member 62.

Since the material 17 to be treated is simultaneously heated from both the sheet-shaped and thin-walled surfaces thereof, the material 17 is rapidly heated to the core. Further, since the heating temperature controller 58 and the pressure contact member 62 in the preheating device 56 have the same temperature, the material to be treated 17 is heated to the predetermined temperature on average within a predetermined short time. (Another Configuration Example of Preheating Device) As illustrated in FIG. 2, the press-contact mechanism 60 of the preheating device 56 can be simply configured. That is, the pressure contact member 62 is configured to have its own weight suitable for pressing the material to be processed 17 against the heating temperature controller 58. The pressing member 62 has a shaft pin 70 inserted in a shaft hole formed in the guide head 68,
By fixing the shaft pin 70 to a fixing member of the housing 10 (not shown), the press-contact member 62 is rotatably mounted on the fixing member of the housing 10 by the shaft pin 70.

The preheating device 56 thus configured
When the material 17 to be processed conveyed on the conveyance path 14 enters between the heating temperature controller 58 and the press-contact member 62, the press-contact member 62 slightly rotates around the shaft pin 70, and The opposing surfaces are parallel to each other and are appropriately pressed against both surfaces of the material to be processed 17, so that the material to be processed 17 can be satisfactorily heated. Further, since other members such as springs are unnecessary, the number of parts can be reduced and the structure can be simplified. (Heating Temperature Controlling Means of Preheating Apparatus) The preheating apparatus 56 controls the temperature of the material 17 to be processed at room temperature, which has been sent on the transport path 14, by the lower heating temperature controller 50 and the upper heating temperature controller 52. Before entering the place where the liquid ejecting device 312 is arranged on the transport path 14
The heating temperature control is performed so as to preliminarily raise the temperature of the material 17 to be processed sent at the normal temperature to the lower heating temperature controller 50 and the upper heating temperature controller 52.

As a part of the heating temperature control means of the preheating device 56, as shown in FIG. 1, the paper feed unit 12 inside the housing 10 is wound in a roll shape and placed therein. A temperature sensor 72 is disposed as temperature detection means corresponding to the material to be processed, which detects the temperature of the material 17 to be processed. The temperature sensor as the temperature detection means corresponding to the material to be treated is such that the material to be treated 17 is
6, the temperature of the air in the paper supply unit 12, the temperature of the material 17 itself, or the path from the paper supply unit 12 to the pre-heating device 56 on the transport path 14. It goes without saying that various configurations may be adopted to detect the temperature of the nearby air and the like.

The heating temperature controller 58 includes the material 1 to be treated.
A temperature sensor 74 is mounted as a heater temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the flat portion for heating the heater 7.

Further, the heating temperature controller 58 is configured to be capable of raising and lowering the temperature by means of a heater temperature raising operation means 76 operated in accordance with a command from the central processing unit 78.

As shown in FIG. 4, the heating temperature control section of the pre-heating apparatus includes a ROM 8 in the central processing unit 78 (CPU).
0 and the RAM 82 are connected. The central processing unit 78
Are connected so that signals detected by the temperature sensor 72 and the temperature sensor unit 74 can be received via the input and output ports 84, respectively. At the same time, the central processing unit 78
A control signal generated by the central processing unit 78 is connected to the heater temperature raising operation means 76 via an input / output port 84 so that the control signal can be transmitted.

Next, an example of a control operation at the time of the preheating process by the central processing unit 78 will be described with reference to FIG. The central processing unit 78 waits until the main switch of the image forming apparatus is turned on in step 100.

If it is determined in step 100 that the main switch has been turned on, the flow advances to step 102 to execute a temperature detection operation corresponding to the material to be processed by reading and recognizing the detection value of the temperature sensor 72, and then to step 104.

In step 104, an appropriate heating temperature for heating the material 17 to be processed by the heating temperature controller 58 from the value detected by the temperature sensor 72 is determined from a formula of a predetermined experimental value or a table, and the process proceeds to step 106.

For example, as shown in FIG.
When the detection value of the temperature sensor 72 corresponding to the temperature at the time of standby (before the liquid treatment) is 10 ° C., the set temperature of the heating temperature controller 58 is set to 55 ° C. Alternatively, when the detection value of the temperature sensor 72 is, for example, 30 ° C., the set temperature of the heating temperature controller 58 is set to 45 ° C.

Next, at step 106, the heating temperature controller 58
A temperature detection operation of a heater is performed by reading and recognizing the current temperature of the flat surface portion for heating the material 17 to be processed as a detection value of the temperature sensor unit 74, and the process proceeds to step 108.

Next, in Step 108, Step 10
The value of the appropriate heating temperature obtained in step 4 is compared with the current temperature of the heating temperature controller 58 obtained in step 106. If the current temperature of the heating temperature controller 58 is low, step 110
If the current temperature of the heating temperature controller 58 is equal to or higher than the appropriate heating temperature, the process proceeds to step 112.

In step 110, the heater temperature raising operation means 76 is operated to raise the temperature of the heating temperature controller 58. Thereby, the heating temperature controller 58 is heated until the value of the appropriate heating temperature obtained in step 104 is reached. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a temperature sensor 7 corresponding to the temperature of the material 17 to be processed.
When the detected value of 2 is 10 ° C., the set temperature of the heating temperature controller 58 is raised to 55 ° C. For example, when the detected value of the temperature sensor 72 is 30 ° C., the set temperature of the heating temperature controller 58 is increased. Heat to 45 ° C.

Next, at step 112, the process returns to step 102 until it is determined that the main switch has been turned off. As a result, steps 102 to 112
The control routine up to is repeatedly executed. If it is determined in step 112 that the main switch has been turned off, the control operation during the preheating process by the central processing unit 78 ends.

As described above, by controlling the heating temperature controller 58 during the preheating process by the central processing unit 78, the temperature of the material 17 to be processed during standby (before the liquid processing) is any temperature. However, after the material to be processed 17 has passed through the preheating device 56, the material to be processed 17 is heated to a temperature close to an appropriate temperature at which the processing liquid is applied and chemically reacted at a constant temperature.

For example, as shown in FIG.
When the detected value of the temperature sensor 72 corresponding to the temperature of the temperature is 10 ° C., the set temperature of the heating temperature controller 58 is raised to 55 ° C.
When the material to be treated 17 passes through the heating temperature controller 58 at time t and comes out, the entire temperature is heated to 40 ° C., which is an appropriate temperature for applying the treatment liquid and causing a chemical reaction at a constant temperature. .

For example, when the detected value of the temperature sensor 72 corresponding to the temperature of the material 17 to be processed is 30 ° C., the set temperature of the heating temperature controller 58 is raised to 45 ° C. When the material to be treated 17 passes through at time t and comes out, it is heated to an appropriate temperature of 40 ° C. during the liquid treatment.

That is, since the material 17 to be processed that has passed through the preheating device 56 is heated to a temperature close to an appropriate temperature (40 ° C. in the present embodiment) for applying a processing liquid and causing a chemical reaction at a constant temperature, the material 17 is not heated. When the heating temperature is adjusted to an appropriate temperature (40 ° C. in the present embodiment) by the lower heating temperature controller 50 and the upper heating temperature controller 52 on the belt conveyor 34, there is no change in the temperature of the material 17 to be processed, or the temperature changes. Can be made extremely small.

Therefore, the material to be treated 17 is supplied to the preheating device 56, the lower heating temperature controller 50 and the upper heating temperature controller 5.
The section from the position where the processing liquid is applied by the liquid ejecting device 312 of the developing intensification processing section 20 to the position where a so-called stop liquid (not shown) is applied and the chemical reaction by the processing liquid is stopped by the heating temperature control effect of No. 2 In this case, it is possible to maintain a proper temperature (40 ° C. in the present embodiment) at which a certain treatment liquid is applied and chemically reacted at a constant temperature.

Therefore, the progress of the chemical reaction performed by applying the processing liquid to the material 17 to be processed can be kept constant, and the liquid processing can be performed stably.

For example, the material 17 to be processed is
In the case where the processing liquid is applied in step 12 and then heated to an appropriate temperature (for example, 40 ° C.) when a chemical reaction is performed at a constant temperature by a heating temperature controller, the material 17 to be processed is in various standby states (before the liquid processing) )) To an appropriate temperature (for example, 40 ° C.), the temperature rising state varies, and the degree of progress of the chemical reaction becomes nonuniform, and the liquid treatment becomes unstable.

However, if the preheating device 56 is used,
Since the material 17 to be processed is heated from various standby times (before the liquid processing) to an appropriate temperature (for example, 40 ° C.) by the preheating device 56 irrespective of the liquid processing, the processing liquid is It is unlikely that the temperature of the material to be treated 17 varies after application.

Accordingly, it is possible to sufficiently prevent the chemical reaction from becoming non-uniform due to the variation in the temperature-raising state of the material to be processed 17 and the liquid processing from becoming unstable. In the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, in order to form an image on the photosensitive material by subjecting the photosensitive material to development intensification processing, the pre-heating device 56 heats the material 17 to be processed in a temperature range of 35 ° C. to 55 ° C. It is a rule of thumb to teach that it is effective to heat up the heat.

The processing target material 17 processed by the developing intensification processing unit 20 as described above is transported along the transport path 14 to ensure the preservation of the image formed on the processing target material 17. Is sent to the stabilizing unit 22 as a post-processing means.

As shown in the overall schematic configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1, the stabilizing section 22 supplies a required amount of the stabilizing liquid by a liquid coating device 86 configured as a shower device as a non-contact coating device. The emulsion surface 17A is stabilized by being applied only on the emulsion surface 17A of the material 17 to be processed. As described above, by using the liquid coating device 86 as a shower device, the stabilizing liquid can be applied onto the emulsion surface 17A in a non-contact state in which a part of the liquid coating device 86 does not contact the emulsion surface 17A. At this time, it is desirable to provide a wetting preventing means for preventing the planar portion of the material 17 to be processed from being wetted with the stabilizing solution on the side opposite to the emulsion surface 17A.

A stabilizing liquid tray 88 is disposed below the liquid coating device 86 with the transport path 14 interposed therebetween. The receiving tray 88 is connected to a liquid application device 86 on the transport path 14.
The stabilizing liquid that has fallen over the range from the feed path 14 to the squeeze roller 90 on the downstream side of the transport path 14 is received.

The squeezing roller 90 is configured so as to squeeze the stabilizing liquid on the emulsion surface 17A by rolling the pair of rollers so as to sandwich the material 17 to be processed.
The used stabilizing liquid received in the receiving tray 88 is regenerated and reused or treated as waste liquid. The processing target material 17 from which the stabilizing liquid has been squeezed out by the squeezing roller 90
Is sent to the cleaning section 24 on the downstream side on the transport path 14.

In the cleaning section 24, cleaning water is applied to the emulsion surface 17 A of the processing target material 17 by a shower device 92 as a non-contact coating means to perform a cleaning process. Material 1 to be treated
The washing water on 7 is configured to be squeezed by a squeezing roller 94, and is configured to receive the spilled washing water on a plate 96. The configurations of the shower device 92, the squeezing roller 94, and the tray 96 are the same as those of the liquid coating device 86, the tray 88, and the squeezing roller 90 of the stabilizing unit 22 described above.

The processing target material 17 that has been subjected to the cleaning process in the cleaning section 24 is sent to the drying section 26 on the downstream side of the transport path 14. The drying unit 26 is configured by a drying method using a heat roller and hot air blowing. That is, the drying unit 2
Reference numeral 6 denotes a portion corresponding to the drying section 26 on the transport path 14 covered with a cover member 98, and hot air is blown onto the emulsion surface 17A of the material 17 to be dried inside the cover member 98, and dried at a predetermined temperature. The heat roller 99 is heated and rolled, dried and fed.

The material 17 to be processed, on which an image is formed by drying in the drying section 26, is sent out as a finished product from the discharge port 28 onto the tray 10A protruding from the side of the housing 10 and is stocked.

The material 17 to be processed and each processing solution used in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment are described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-2000.
Equivalent to or similar to that described in 8860 can be used.

Next, the operation and operation of the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIG. First, an image document is input by a scanner or the like, image-processed, and the exposure unit 18 is prepared for operation.

Next, when an instruction to form an image of the original on the material 17 is input to a control unit (not shown) of the apparatus main body,
The paper feed unit 12 is operated by a command from the control unit, and the belt-shaped material 17 to be processed is sent out onto the transport path 14. The processing target material 17 which has been sent out onto the transfer path 14 by a predetermined length in this manner is
Is cut into a predetermined size by the cutter 32 and sent to the exposure unit 18.

At this time, the corresponding temperature of the material 17 to be processed in the paper feeding section 12 is detected by the temperature sensor 72 and the central processing unit 7
8 is transmitted. At the same time, the temperature of the heating temperature controller 58 is detected by the temperature sensor 74 and sent to the central processing unit 78.

Then, the control operation at the time of the preheating process by the central processing unit 78 is executed, and the heating temperature controller 58 and the press-contact member 62 are heated to a required temperature related to the normal temperature of the material 17 to be processed and stand by.

Next, in the exposure section 18, the material 17 to be processed is exposed to a required original image on one emulsion surface 17 A thereof and sent to the development intensification processing section 20. In the developing intensification processing unit 20, a predetermined temperature (40
℃) to the material 17 preheated to near
While the processing liquid for developing intensification is applied to the emulsion surface 17A of the material 17 to be processed by the liquid ejecting device 312 as the processing liquid applying means, and is conveyed on the conveyance path 14 at a predetermined temperature (40 ° C.). After developing for a predetermined time, it is sent to the stabilizing unit 22.

In the stabilizing section 25, a stabilizing liquid is applied to the emulsion surface 17A of the material 17 to be processed by the liquid coating device 86.
After a stabilization process (desilvering process) for a predetermined time during the conveyance on the conveyance path 14, the stabilizing liquid attached to the material 17 to be processed is squeezed by the squeezing roller 90 and then sent to the cleaning unit 24.

Next, in the washing section 24, washing water was applied to the emulsion surface 17A of the material 17 to be treated by the shower device 92, and the alkali was removed by washing with water for a predetermined time while being conveyed on the conveyance path 14 for a predetermined distance. Thereafter, the remaining cleaning water adhered to the material 17 to be processed is squeezed out by the squeezing roller 94 and the material 17 to be processed is sent to the drying unit 26.

In the drying section 26, a finished product on which an image is formed by drying the emulsion surface 17A of the material 17 to be processed, which has been wet with the processing liquid, for a predetermined time while being conveyed on the conveyance path 14 for a predetermined distance. Is sent from the outlet 28 onto the tray 10A to complete a series of control operations of the image forming process.

Since the processing in each of the working steps in the above-described embodiment is performed on one emulsion surface 17A of the material 17 to be processed, the material 17 to be processed is processed as in a conventional so-called dipping method. In contrast to the case where both the emulsion surface 17A and the opposite flat surface are similarly wetted, each processing solution is applied only to one emulsion surface 17A of the material 17 to be processed,
Alternatively, since it is sufficient to perform the stabilization treatment and the cleaning treatment, the amount of the treatment liquid to be applied can be reduced, and the deterioration of the entire treatment liquid can be reduced. Further, in the present embodiment, since the emulsion surface 17A side of the processing target material 17 may be mainly dried, the processing target material 17
Since the drying time can be reduced as compared with the case where the entire front and back surfaces are similarly dried, the processing time can be greatly reduced.

The image forming apparatus may be provided with a plurality of routes for performing the above-described processing operations such as exposure, development, bleach-fixing, washing, and drying.

In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment,
As the post-processing, for example, a water washing means for removing the residue in the photosensitive material after the fixing treatment (washing out the silver component of the photosensitive material with hypo, etc.) is performed, and the remaining silver (silver halide) remaining in the photosensitive material is subjected to complex salt. A process of applying a stabilizing solution that acts to neutralize the alkali component applied in the previous step with an acid while stabilizing and stabilizing, thereby ensuring the preservation of the image formed on the photosensitive material (a so-called stop process). And so on.

[0101]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the material to be processed is preheated to a temperature close to an appropriate temperature when the processing liquid is applied by the preheating device and chemically reacted at a constant temperature. There is no temperature change or the temperature change is extremely small, and the heating temperature can be adjusted to an appropriate temperature by the heating temperature adjusting means. When the material to be processed is chemically reacted at a constant temperature in a section from a position where the processing liquid is applied to a position where the chemical reaction by the processing liquid is terminated by a heating temperature adjusting action of the preheating device and the heating temperature adjusting means. At an appropriate temperature. Accordingly, there is an effect that the degree of progress of the chemical reaction performed by applying the processing liquid to the material to be processed is kept constant, and the liquid processing can be executed stably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural explanatory view of an entire image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing another example of the configuration of the pressing mechanism of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating a state in which a material to be processed is heated by a preheating device of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a central control unit in the preheating device of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control operation in the preheating device of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing a liquid ejecting apparatus used in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view showing a state in which the material to be processed is transported below the liquid ejecting device of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid ejecting apparatus showing a cross section taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the processing liquid is jetted from the liquid jetting device of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention in a cross section corresponding to FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Paper feed part 14 Conveying path 17 Material to be processed 20 Developing intensification processing part 34 Belt conveyor 38 Endless belt 40 Nip conveyance mechanism 50 Lower heating temperature controller 52 Upper heating temperature controller 54 Case 56 Preheating device 58 Heating temperature controller 60 Pressing mechanism 62 Pressing member 64 Fixing member 66 Elastic member 68 Guide head 70 Shaft pin 72 Temperature sensor 74 Temperature sensor unit 76 Heater temperature increasing operation means 78 Central processing unit 86 Liquid coating device 312 Liquid ejecting device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A preheating apparatus for preheating a supplied material to be processed so as to approach a temperature suitable for a chemical reaction of liquid processing, a processing liquid application unit for applying a processing liquid to the material to be processed after the preheating, and the processing And a heating temperature control unit for maintaining the material to be processed at a constant temperature suitable for a chemical reaction of the liquid processing from the application of the processing liquid by the liquid application unit until the completion of the liquid processing. apparatus. 2. The supplied sheet-like material to be processed is conveyed while pressing the material to be processed onto the plane of the heating temperature controller while sandwiching the supplied sheet-like material between the plane of the heating temperature controller and the pressing member. A preheating apparatus for preheating so as to approach a temperature suitable for a chemical reaction of the liquid processing, a processing liquid applying means for applying a processing liquid to the material to be processed after the preheating, and a processing liquid applied by the processing liquid applying means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a heating temperature adjusting unit that maintains the material to be processed at a constant temperature suitable for a chemical reaction of the liquid processing until the liquid processing is completed. 3. The preheating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preheating device includes a press-contact member that presses the material to be processed onto a flat surface of the heating temperature controller in a planar manner and transfers heat. The image forming apparatus as described in the above. 4. The preheating device has a pressing member for pressing the material to be processed flatly against the flat surface of the heating temperature controller by its own weight or the urging force of an elastic member. The heat stored in the heat transfer to the material to be processed or the heat generated by the pressure contact member is transferred to the material to be processed, so that the material to be processed is the pressure contact member and the heating temperature controller. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to be capable of simultaneously heating from both sides. 5. The preheating device heats the supplied material to be close to a temperature suitable for a chemical reaction of liquid processing based on a temperature corresponding to the supplied material to be supplied detected by a temperature sensor. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is automatically controlled to change the heating temperature as much as possible.