JP2002296801A - Device for processing sensitive material - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for processing sensitive materials which prevents damage caused by sticking to each other of the rolls of a roll pair with processing liquid. SOLUTION: When the rolls are cleaned at the time of start of device operation, time data stored in a memory is read, and a tuning-on time TON is set on the basis of this time data, and power is supplies and cut off repeatedly in each half cycle of an AC voltage on the basis of this turning-on time to supply the voltage of a root-mean-square value corresponding to the turning-on time (steps 200 to 08). This turning-on time is updated at intervals of a prescribed time to stepwise raise the root-mean-square value of the AC voltage (steps 206 to 216). Thus output torque of a carrying motor is slowly raised to prevent the damage of a gear or the like which transmits driving force to the carrying roll.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing a photosensitive material such as a photosensitive lithographic printing plate while treating the photosensitive material with a roller pair.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a photosensitive material, there is a photosensitive lithographic printing plate (hereinafter referred to as "PS plate") having a photosensitive layer provided on a support such as aluminum, and a photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing the PS plate. In the PS plate processor, a developing process in which the PS plate is immersed in a developing solution for processing, a rinsing process in which rinsing water is sprayed on the PS plate to perform a rinsing process, and an insensitive oil such as a gum solution on the surface of the PS plate after the rinsing process. A plurality of processing steps using a processing liquid such as a desensitizing step of applying a desensitizing treatment by applying a desensitizing processing liquid are provided, and developing, washing, desensitizing processing, etc. are performed on the image-exposed PS plate. Is applied.

In the desensitizing process of the PS plate processor, a gum solution is uniformly applied to the front and back surfaces of the PS plate while the PS plate is transported by a pair of transport rollers disposed outside the processing liquid. The excess gum solution is squeezed out by the pair of conveying rollers to form a thin film for plate surface protection on the front and back surfaces of the PS plate.

The gum solution used for the desensitizing treatment of the PS plate contains a component such as gum arabic. The gum solution is adhered to the conveying roller pair while the gum solution adheres to the surface of the conveying roller pair. When the rotation of the rubber solution is stopped and left, the components in the gum solution are deposited on the peripheral surface of the roller and fixed.

As described above, if the gum solution adheres to the contact portion between the rollers forming the transport roller pair, the gum solution may cause the rollers to stick together at the contact portion. If the transport roller pair is rotated in such a state, a large torque acts on a gear or the like that transmits a driving force to the roller, which may cause damage to the gear.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances. Even when a component in a processing solution such as a gum solution precipitates and a roller pair is fixed, a driving force is applied to the roller pair. It is an object of the present invention to propose a photosensitive material processing apparatus which can start driving smoothly without causing damage to a gear or the like for transmitting the light.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing a photosensitive material with a processing liquid while transporting the photosensitive material by a pair of rollers. Drive means for rotating the roller pair by driving a drive source, and drive control means for gradually increasing the voltage of electric power supplied to the drive source when the rotation of the roller pair is started. Features.

According to the present invention, when the photosensitive material is processed with the processing liquid while the photosensitive material is being conveyed by the roller pair, the rotation of the roller pair is stopped, and when the photosensitive material is again processed with the processing liquid, the drive means The drive source is operated to rotate the roller pair. At this time, the drive control means gradually increases the voltage of the power supplied to the drive source. This allows
When the rollers forming the roller pair are not stuck at the contact portions with each other, the rollers can be rotated so that the rotation speed of the rollers gradually increases.

Further, when sticking of the processing liquid or components in the processing liquid occurs at the portions where the rollers are in contact with each other, the output (output torque) of the driving source gradually increases, and the driving force is transmitted to the rollers. Since a large output torque is not suddenly applied to the driving means such as the gears, the gears and the like are not damaged.

Further, since the torque is gradually applied to the roller pair, the rollers can be peeled off each other without damaging the surface of the roller, and the sticking state can be released.

In the present invention, when an AC motor driven by AC power is used as the driving source,
Zero-crossing detecting means for detecting a zero-crossing point of an AC voltage input as driving power, and setting means for setting a power supply time for each half cycle of the AC voltage when driving of the driving source is started. The drive control means drives the drive source by repeating supply and cutoff of the AC power based on the setting result of the setting means and the detection result of the zero-cross detection means.

According to the present invention, the power supply time during the half cycle of the AC voltage is set, and the power supply and cutoff during the half cycle of the AC voltage are controlled by the power supply time. At this time, the AC voltage (effective value) is gradually increased by gradually increasing the power supply time.

As described above, by supplying and cutting off the power during the half cycle of the AC voltage, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of the rotation unevenness and the output unevenness of the drive source and to apply a stable drive force to the roller pair. Can be.

The present invention is not limited to this, and various control methods can be applied. For example, in an AC voltage, an ON cycle for supplying power and an OFF cycle for cutting off the supply of power are provided. The effective value of the AC voltage supplied to the drive source may be controlled by the ratio between the ON cycle and the OFF cycle.

By applying such a control method, for example, output irregularities of the driving source can be generated and the torque applied to the roller can be gradually increased while increasing or decreasing the torque, so that the sticking state of the roller can be effectively released. It is possible to do.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “P”) applied as an example of a photosensitive material processing apparatus.
S-version processor 10). The PS plate processor 10 performs development processing of a photosensitive lithographic printing plate (hereinafter, referred to as a “PS plate 12”) such as a photopolymer plate, which has been image-exposed as a photosensitive material by an exposure device (not shown). The PS plate 12 has a photosensitive layer formed on a thin rectangular flat plate such as an aluminum plate as a support, and the photopolymer plate has an optical bonding layer, a photopolymerization layer, and an overcoat layer stacked thereon. Thus, a photosensitive layer is formed, and the image is exposed to light by a laser beam, whereby a polymerization reaction of an image portion of the photopolymerizable layer is promoted.

The PS plate processor 10 includes a developing unit 14 for treating the PS plate 12 with a developing solution, a washing unit 16 for supplying and washing the PS plate 12 treated with the developing solution with washing water, A desensitizing unit 18 for applying a gum solution to the PS plate 12 to desensitize the PS plate 12;
And a drying unit 20 for drying the water. That is, in the PS plate processor 10, a developing step, a washing step, a desensitizing step, and a drying step are arranged in this order along the direction of transport of the PS plate 12 (arrow A in FIG. 1).

A processing tank 22 is provided in the PS plate processor 10. In the processing tank 22, a developing tank 24 is formed at a position to be the developing section 14, and the washing section 1 is formed.
A washing tank 26 and a desensitizing processing tank 28 are formed as processing tanks at positions that are to be 6 and the desensitizing processing section 18.

A slit-shaped insertion port 32 is formed in the outer panel 30 covering the processing tank 22 so that the processing tank 2
2, a discharge port 34 is formed on the drying unit 20 side.

The PS plate processor 10 is provided with a cover 36 that covers the upper part of the processing tank 22. The cover 36 integrally covers the developing step, the washing step, and the desensitizing step provided in the processing tank 22. The cover 36 includes the developing unit 14 and the washing unit 1.
6, a re-entry insertion port (sub-insertion port) 38 for inserting the PS plate 12 is provided. The sub-insertion opening 38 is used to insert the PS plate 12 for performing processing in the PS plate processor 10 except for processing in the developing unit 14.

An insertion table 40 is provided outside the insertion port 32, and a rubber conveying roller pair 42 is disposed on the side of the developing unit 14 where the PS plate 12 is inserted. The PS plate 12 on which the image has been printed is placed on the insertion table 40 and inserted from the insertion port 32 along the direction of arrow A, and the conveying roller pair 42 is inserted.
Sent between.

The conveying roller pair 42 is driven to rotate, and feeds the PS plate 12 to the developing unit 14 at an angle in the range of about 15 ° to 31 ° with respect to the horizontal direction while pulling the PS plate 12 from the insertion port 32. In this embodiment, a single-sided PS plate 12 having a photosensitive layer formed on one surface of the support is used. The PS plate 12 is inserted from the insertion port 32 with the photosensitive layer facing upward. It is inserted into the PS version processor 10.

The developing tank 2 formed in the processing tank 22
Numeral 4 has a substantially mountain shape with a bottom center protruding downward, and stores a developing solution for performing a developing process of the PS plate 12. In the developing tank 24, guide plates 44 and 46 are provided along the bottom on the lower side along the transport direction of the PS plate 12.

The guide plate 44 is provided upstream of the developing tank 24 (on the side of the insertion port 32), and guides the PS plate 12 fed by the pair of conveying rollers 42 obliquely downward.
The guide plate 46 is provided downstream of the developing tank 24 and guides the PS plate 12 obliquely upward along the bottom surface of the developing tank 24.

In the developing tank 24, a pair of conveying rollers 45 is provided between the guide plates 44 and 46.
The transport roller pair 45 applies a transport force to the PS plate 12 guided by the guide plate 44 while applying the transport force to the guide plate 4.
Send out to 6. Thus, the PS plate 12 is immersed in the developer while being guided and transported in the developing tank 24 in a substantially U-shape.

In the developing tank 24, a pair of conveying rollers 48 whose outer periphery is made of rubber are disposed on the washing section 16 side.
2 is guided toward the transport roller pair 48 by the guide plate 46, and is pulled out from the developing tank 24 by being pinched by the transport roller pair 48. The PS plate 12 is immersed in the developing solution when transported in the developing tank 24 in this manner, and unnecessary portions of the photosensitive layer exposed by the image exposure are swollen by the developing solution, peeled from the support, and exposed to light. Unnecessary photosensitive layers are removed according to the image.

Guide plates 44, 4
A spray pipe 50 is provided on the lower surface side of 6. In each of the guide plates 44 and 46, a large number of liquid passage holes (not shown) are formed.

The developer in the developing tank 24 sucked by a pump (not shown) is supplied to the spray pipe 50, and the developer is ejected from the spray pipe 50. As a result, the developer in the developing tank 24 is agitated so that the PS plate 12 can be uniformly processed. At this time, the developing solution flows to the PS plate 12 transport path side from the liquid passage holes formed in the guide plates 44 and 46, so that rapid development processing of the PS plate 12 and occurrence of processing unevenness are prevented. I have.

A brush roller 80 is provided in the developing tank 24 so as to face the guide plate 46. The brush roller 80 is immersed in the developing solution while the guide plate 46
By rotating while contacting the bristle material with the surface of the PS plate 12 conveyed thereon, the surface of the PS plate 12 is brushed, and removal of an unnecessary photosensitive layer from the surface of the PS plate 12 is promoted. .

On the other hand, the lower surface of the developing unit 14
The liquid level cover 52 is arranged so as to be lower than the liquid level of the developer stored in the liquid container. Further, on the wall surface of the developing tank 24 and the liquid surface lid 52, shielding members 54A, 54B
Are provided, and shielding members 54C and 54D are attached to the washing section 24 side. In the processing tank 22, shielding members 54E and 54F that come into contact with the peripheral surface of the pair of transport rollers 56 are attached near the discharge port 34, and the sub-insertion port 3 of the cover 36 is provided.
8 is provided with a shielding member 54G.

The shielding members 54A to 54G are made of silicon rubber or the like, and the inside of the developing tank 24 is filled with a liquid surface in a space in a sealed portion formed by the shielding members 54A to 54G, the pair of conveying rollers 42, 48 and the like. Is provided to reduce the amount of air trapped in this space, and the liquid level lid 52 and the shielding members 54A to 5A are provided.
4G or the like prevents fresh air from entering near the liquid surface of the developing solution, and suppresses deterioration of the developing solution and evaporation of water due to carbon dioxide gas in the air. In addition, the liquid level cover 5
2 is provided with skewer rollers 52A and 52B on the lower surfaces of the ends of the PS plate 12 on the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction.
The surface (mainly the photosensitive surface) is prevented from being damaged due to the PS plate 12 conveyed inside coming into contact with the lower surface of the liquid level cover 52.

The PS plate 12 pulled out from the developing tank 24 by the pair of transport rollers 48 is sent to the washing section 16 while the developer adhering to the surface is squeezed out by the pair of transport rollers 48.

In the rinsing section 16, a transport path for transporting the PS plate 12 in a substantially horizontal state by a pair of transport rollers 58 and 60 disposed above the rinsing tank 26 is formed.
2 is sandwiched between the conveying roller pairs 58 and 60 and
Is transported horizontally above the

The washing section 16 includes a pair of conveying rollers 58, 60.
Spray pipes 62A and 62B are provided in pairs between the upper and lower sides of the PS plate 12 conveyance path. The spray pipes 62A, 62B are arranged so that the axial direction is along the width direction of the PS plate 12 (the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction), face the conveying path of the PS plate 12, and at the same time, the spray pipes 62A, 62B,
A plurality of discharge holes are formed along the axial direction of 62B.

The washing tank 26 stores washing water as a treatment liquid. In the PS plate processor 10, the washing water is supplied to the spray pipes 62A and 62B by a water supply pump (not shown) in synchronization with the transport of the PS plate 12. Supply. As a result, the washing water is jetted from the spray pipes 62A and 62B toward the PS plate 12, and the developing solution attached to the surface of the PS plate 12 is washed away.

The washing water supplied to the PS plate 12 is sent out while the PS plate 12 is sandwiched between the pair of transport rollers 60 and sent out, together with the developer adhering to the front and back surfaces of the PS plate 12. And is collected in the washing tank 26. The spraying direction of the washing water from the spray pipes 62A and 62B is such that the spray pipe 62A is on the upstream side in the transport direction of the PS plate 12 and the spray pipe 62B is
Although the downstream side in the transport direction of the plate 12 is used, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be another direction. The new washing water is P
The S plate 12 is supplied to the washing tank 26 by means (not shown) in accordance with the processing amount.

The desensitizing section 18 is provided with a pair of conveying rollers 56 above the desensitizing tank 28,
Is desensitized by the conveying roller pair 56.
After being conveyed through the inside, it is sent out from the outlet 34.

The desensitizing section 18 is provided with a spray pipe 64 above the PS plate 12 transport path and a discharge unit 66 below the PS path. The spray pipe 64 and the discharge unit 66 are vertically arranged along the width direction of the PS plate 12 with a long direction (axial direction) interposed therebetween with respect to a transport path of the PS plate 12. A plurality of discharge holes are formed in the spray pipe 64 along the width direction of the PS plate 12, and a slit hole is formed in the discharge unit 66 along the width direction of the PS plate 12.

A gum solution used for protecting the plate surface of the PS plate 12 is stored in the desensitizing tank 28, and the gum solution is supplied to the spray pipe 64 and the discharge unit 66 in synchronization with the transport of the PS plate 12. Is done. The spray pipe 64 is
This gum solution is dropped toward the PS plate 12 and spread and applied on the surface of the PS plate 12. Further, the discharge unit 66 discharges the gum solution from the slit holes, and the PS plate 12 moves while contacting the gum solution, so that the gum solution is applied to the PS plate.

The PS plate 12 has a protective film formed by a gum solution applied to the front and back surfaces. The spray pipe 6
The discharge direction of the gum solution from 4 is not limited to the downstream side in the transport direction of the PS plate 12, and may be any other direction. Also, a straightening plate is provided, and the gum solution ejected toward the straightening plate is discharged. While uniformly spreading along the width direction of the PS plate 12 with the current plate,
It may be applied by flowing down onto the surface of the PS plate 12. Further, instead of the discharge unit 66, a spray pipe or the like may be used.

The PS plate 12 to which the gum solution has been applied in the desensitizing section 18 is sandwiched by the pair of transport rollers 56 and discharged from the outlet 34 with the gum solution slightly remaining on the front and back surfaces.
It is sent to the drying unit 20.

In the drying section 20, P
A support roller 68 for supporting the S plate 12 is provided.
A transport roller pair 72 and a transport roller pair 74 are disposed in the center of the PS plate 12 in the transport direction and near the discharge port 70. The PS plate 12 is transported in the drying section 20 by the support roller 68 and the transport roller pairs 72 and 74.

Ducts 76A, 7A are provided between the support roller 68 and the transport roller pair 72 and between the transport roller pair 72 and the transport roller pair 74 with the transport path of the PS plate 12 therebetween.
6B is provided. The ducts 76A and 76B are disposed such that the longitudinal direction is along the width direction of the PS plate 12,
A slit hole 78 is provided on a surface of the S plate 12 facing the conveyance path.

When the drying air generated by the drying air generating means (not shown) is supplied from one longitudinal end, the ducts 76A and 76B direct the drying air from the slit holes 78 to the transport path of the PS plate 12. And spray it onto the PS plate 12. Thereby, in the PS plate 12, the gum solution applied to the front and back surfaces is dried, and a protective film is formed. The outlet 34 has a processor unit up to the desensitizing unit 18 for treating the PS plate 12 with the processing liquid and the drying unit 2.
A shutter (not shown) is provided to separate the air from zero, and the discharge port 34 is unnecessarily opened to prevent the heated air in the drying unit 20 from entering the desensitization processing unit 18.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the desensitizing section 18 has a replenisher tank 10 for storing a replenishing gum solution.
The gum solution in the replenisher tank 104 is replenished to the desensitizing tank 28 by operating the replenishment pump 106 at a predetermined timing set in advance.

The desensitizing unit 18 includes a PS
A liquid supply pump 108 that operates in synchronization with the transport of the plate 12 is provided, and the gum liquid in the desensitizing tank 28 is supplied to the spray pipe 64 and the discharge unit 66 by the operation of the liquid supply pump 108. Then, it is applied to the front and back surfaces of the PS plate 12. The surplus gum solution is squeezed from the front and back surfaces of the PS plate 12 by the pair of conveying rollers 56 and collected in the desensitizing tank 28.

The gum solution stored in the desensitizing tank 28 contains a component such as gum arabic, and the conveying roller pair 56 to which the gum solution has adhered is moved to a state where the gum solution has adhered. When the gum solution is left for a long time, the components of the gum solution precipitate on the peripheral surfaces of the rollers 56A and 56B forming the transport roller pair 56, so that the rollers 56A and 56B are fixed, and the rollers 56A and 56B are rotated again. Attempting to do so may cause a large torque to act on a gear or the like that transmits a driving force to these rollers 56A and 56B, thereby causing damage to the gear and the like. The rollers 56A and 56B in which the components of the gum solution are deposited around the PS plate 1
2 damages the surface of the PS plate 12 and contacts P
In some cases, the finished quality of the S plate 12 may be reduced.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the desensitizing processing section 18 of the PS plate processor 10 is provided with a cleaning spray 102 as a cleaning means for the conveying roller pair 56.

The cleaning spray 102 has, for example, an axial direction arranged along the axial direction of the conveying roller pair 56, and has a plurality of discharge holes (not shown). The discharge hole is
The cleaning spray 102 is provided along the axial direction of the cleaning spray 102, and the discharge spray hole of the cleaning spray 102 is opposed to the roller 56 </ b> A above the transport roller pair 56.

The desensitizing unit 18 is provided with a water tank 110 for storing water for dilution and a washing pump 112. When the washing pump 112 operates, the water in the water tank 110 is reduced. , Cleaning spray 102.

When the water in the water tank 110 is supplied to the cleaning spray 102, the water is used as cleaning water.
It is dropped while diffusing on the peripheral surface of the roller 56A. Accordingly, the peripheral surface of the roller 56B as well as the peripheral surface of the roller 56A can be cleaned by the cleaning water dropped from the cleaning spray 102.

The washing means for washing away the gum solution adhering to the peripheral surface of the pair of conveying rollers 56 is not limited to the one using the cleaning spray 102, and may be, for example, a pair of conveying rollers 5
A water supply gutter is provided along the axial direction of 6, and by supplying washing water to the water supply gutter, the washing water may flow down to the conveyance roller pair 56 while diffusing the washing water in the axial direction of the conveyance roller pair 56, Furthermore, a backup roller is provided in contact with the peripheral surface of the roller 56A, and washing water is dropped on a contact portion between the roller 56A and the backup roller, so that the washing water is uniformly diffused in the axial direction of the roller 56A. Can be used.

The cleaning water supplied from the cleaning spray 102 to the conveying roller pair 56 is collected in the desensitizing tank 28 as diluting water for diluting the gum solution in the desensitizing tank 28, and is subjected to the desensitizing processing. The concentration in the gum solution stored in the tank 28 is prevented from rising due to evaporation of water and the like, and the components in the gum solution are adjusted to a predetermined concentration range (an appropriate concentration range of the gum solution for protecting the plate surface of the PS plate 12). ).

The water in the water tank 110 is supplied to the developing tank 2
Although it is also used as a diluting solution of the developing solution supplied to 4 and washing water to be replenished to the washing tank 26, in the present embodiment, illustration and description regarding the supply of the diluting water and the washing water for diluting the replenishing solution of the developing solution will be described. Omitted.

On the other hand, the PS plate processor 10 is provided with a transport motor 114 as a drive source for driving transport rollers inside the apparatus including the transport roller pair 56. The transport motor 114 is driven by a pair of transport rollers 5 via a driving force transmitting means formed by meshing a gear or the like (not shown).
6 is connected to each transport roller. This allows
By driving the transport motor 114, the PS plate 12 can be transported.

On the other hand, the PS plate processor 10 includes a replenisher pump 106, a supply pump 108, and a cleaning pump 112.
Control unit 11 for controlling the operation of the transport motor 114 together with
6 are provided. In the control unit 116, the cleaning pump 1
In accordance with the operation of 12, the transport motor 114 is driven,
By rotating the conveying roller pair 56 (rollers 56A and 56B), the cleaning efficiency of the rollers 56A and 56B is improved.

As shown in FIG. 3, a drive controller 118 is provided in the control unit 116, and the operation of the transport motor 114 is controlled by the drive controller 118. Note that the control unit 116 is the PS plate processor 10
Although a general function of controlling the operation of each of the devices is provided, in the present embodiment, the operation control of the transport motor 114 will be described.

The drive controller 118 includes a driver 1
20 are provided. The driver 120 is an AC power supply 1
The AC power supplied from 22 is supplied to and cut off from the transport motor 114.

In the PS plate processor 10, an AC motor that is driven to rotate by AC power is used as the transfer motor 114. The transfer motor 114 has an output torque and a rotation speed corresponding to the effective value of the input AC voltage. To rotate.

The drive controller 118 controls the transport motor 1
By controlling the effective value of the AC voltage supplied to the PS 14, the transport speed of the PS plate 12 by the PS plate processor 10 is controlled, and the output torque is controlled when the transport roller pair 56 is washed.

To this end, the drive controller 118 includes a rotation number detector 124 for detecting the number of rotations of the transport motor 114 and a reference for the transport motor 114 for transporting the PS plate 12 at a preset transport speed. A memory 126 for storing the number of rotations and a comparing unit 128 for comparing the number of rotations detected by the number of rotations detection unit 124 with the reference number of rotations stored in the memory 126 are provided. As a result, the drive controller 118 performs feedback control of the transport motor 114.

On the other hand, the drive controller 118 sets an ON time for supplying power and an OFF time for cutting off the power supply during a half cycle of the AC voltage when the transport motor 114 is operated. The driver 120 is operated based on. That is, FIG. 4 (A) and FIG.
As shown in (B), the driver 120 includes the transport motor 1
When operating 14, during a half cycle of the AC voltage,
Power is supplied to the transport motor 114 during the _ON time T _ON , and power supply is stopped during the _OFF time T _OFF . In addition, FIG.
FIG. 4A shows the output voltage (instantaneous value) according to the ON / OFF of the driver 120.
Are indicated by solid lines.

As shown in FIG. 3, the drive controller 11
8, a time setting unit 130 is provided. The time setting unit 130 controls the _ON time T _ON based on the comparison result of the comparing unit 128, so that the rotation speed of the transport motor 114 is reduced to a predetermined value. The rotation speed (for example, the reference rotation speed) is set.

That is, when the rotation speed of the transport motor 114 is higher than the reference rotation speed, the time setting section 130 shortens the _ON time T _ON to reduce the rotation speed of the transport motor 114, However, when the rotation speed is lower than the reference rotation speed, the rotation speed of the transport motor 114 is increased by increasing the _ON time T _ON . Thus, the PS plate processor 10 can accurately control the transport speed using a low-cost AC motor.

The drive controller 118 is provided with a timing setting section 132 and a zero cross detection section 134. The zero-cross detector 134 is connected to the AC power supply 12.
A zero-cross point P (see FIG. 4A) at which the polarity of the AC voltage input from 2 is switched is detected. Further, the timing setting unit 132 operates the driver 120 based on the detection result of the zero-cross detection unit 134 and the ON time T _ON set by the time setting unit 130.

On the other hand, the drive controller 118 is provided with a timer 136. Further, the memory 126 stores an _ON time T _ON for gradually increasing the effective value of the AC voltage supplied to the transport motor 114 when the transport motor 114 is operated in synchronization with the roller cleaning.

The drive controller 118 determines the ON time T _ON stored in the memory 126 at the time of roller cleaning.
Read at a predetermined time interval, set the _ON time T _ON ,
The effective value of the AC voltage supplied to the transport motor 114 is gradually increased.

As a result, in the drive controller 118, the output torque of the transport motor 114 during roller cleaning is reduced.
It is going to rise gradually.

In the PS plate processor 10 configured as described above, the PS plate 12 on which an image is recorded by a printing device (not shown) or the like is placed on the insertion table 40, and the insertion port 3
2, the PS plate 12 is pulled in by the transport roller pair 42 and sent to the developing unit 14. In the PS plate processor 10, the PS plate 1 passing through the insertion slot 32 is used.
When 2 is detected by a sensor (not shown), a timer is started. The timer measures the timing of discharging the washing water from the spray pipes 62A and 62B of the washing unit 16 and the timing of discharging the gum solution in the desensitizing unit 18 together with the operation of the driving unit for transporting the PS plate 12. Used for

In the developing section 14, the PS plate 12 is fed by the conveying roller pair 42 at an insertion angle of 15 ° to 31 ° with respect to the horizontal direction, and is conveyed while being immersed in the developing solution. The PS plate 12 is sent out of the developer at a discharge angle in the range of 17 ° to 31 °. PS version 12
By being immersed in a developing solution in the developing unit 14, unnecessary portions of the photosensitive layer swell according to the exposed image, and the swollen photosensitive layer is removed from the support. At this time, by brushing the surface of the PS plate 12 with a brush roller 80 disposed in the developing tank 24, removal of an unnecessary photosensitive layer from the surface of the PS plate 12 is promoted.

The PS version processor 10 includes:
A plurality of brush rollers 80 may be arranged to face the surface of the PS plate 12 for brushing,
Further, the processing of the PS plate 12 may be performed without using the brush roller 80.

The PS plate 12 thus processed with the developing solution and sent out of the developing solution is drawn out by the transport roller pair 48 and sent to the washing section 16. At this time, the transport roller pair 48 squeezes the developer adhering to the front and back surfaces of the PS plate 12 from the PS plate 12.

In the rinsing section 16, rinsing water is ejected from the spray pipes 62A and 62B while the PS plate 12 is held between the conveying rollers 58 and 60 and conveyed in a substantially horizontal state. The transport roller pair 60 disposed downstream in the transport direction of the PS plate 12 squeezes the washing water supplied to the front and back surfaces of the PS plate 12 together with the developer remaining without being squeezed by the transport roller pair 48. While dropping, this PS version 1
2 is sent to the desensitizing unit 18.

As a result, when the PS plate 12 passes through the water washing section 16, the developer remaining on the front and back surfaces is washed away.

The PS plate 12 sent to the desensitizing unit 18
Is passed between the spray pipe 64 and the discharge unit 66, and is pinched by the pair of transport rollers 56, so as to be sent out of the desensitizing unit 18 by the pair of transport rollers 56.

At this time, the desensitizing section 18 supplies the gum solution to the spray pipe 64 and the discharge unit 66, and applies the gum solution to the front and back surfaces of the PS plate 12. The transport roller pair 56 forms a thin film of the gum solution on the front and back surfaces of the PS plate 12 by pinching and sending out the PS plate 12, and squeezes excess gum solution from the front and back surfaces of the PS plate 12.

The PS plate 12 to which the gum solution has been applied is sent from the outlet 34 to the drying unit 20 by the pair of conveying rollers 56. The shutter (not shown) provided at the discharge port 34 is used for controlling the timing of starting the processing of the PS plate 12 or the PS timing.
The plate 12 operates at the timing of being sent out from the desensitizing unit 18 to open the discharge port 34, and the drying air from the drying unit 20 unnecessarily enters the desensitizing unit 18, and the gum solution is supplied to the conveying roller pair 56. To prevent sticking,
The air enters from the outlet 34 and reaches the developing unit 14 to prevent the developer from being deteriorated by carbon dioxide in the air, or the moisture in the developer, washing water, and moisture in the gum solution evaporate. It is prevented from getting out of the discharge port 34.

In the drying section 20, drying air is blown from the ducts 76A and 76B while the PS plate 12 is transported by the support roller 68 and the transport roller pairs 72 and 74. As a result, the PS plate 12 is discharged from the outlet 70 after the protective film is formed by the applied gum solution.

Incidentally, the gum solution used as a processing solution in the PS plate processor 10 contains components such as gum arabic, and the conveying roller pair 56 in which the gum solution is disposed outside the gum solution is applied to the gum solution. If left unattached, the components in the gum solution precipitate on the surfaces of the rollers 56A and 56B constituting the transport roller pair 56 and are fixed, and the rollers 56A and 56B are rotated again. In some cases, a large torque acts on a gear or the like that transmits a driving force to these rollers 56A and 56B, causing the gear to be damaged or the like. In addition, the rollers 56A and 56B, in which the components of the gum solution are deposited, adhere to the PS plate 12 to be newly processed or cause a defective finish such as damaging the surface of the PS plate 12.

In the PS plate processor 10, in order to prevent such damage of the gears and the like, and to prevent the PS plate 12 from being defectively finished, the transport roller pair 56 is washed at the start of the operation of the apparatus. Note that the cleaning of the transport roller pair 56 provided in the desensitization processing unit 18 may be performed by any conventionally known arbitrary timing and cleaning method (a method of supplying cleaning water). In the present embodiment, Detailed description is omitted.

For example, in the PS plate processor 10, the operation of the apparatus is stopped for a predetermined time or more, and the PS plate 1
When the operation is started to perform the process 2, the cleaning pump 112 is operated to start the cleaning spray 102. The water in the water tank 110 is used as cleaning water,
Is dropped on the upper roller 56A. At the same time, the PS plate processor 10 drives the transport motor 114 to rotate the transport roller pair 56.

Thus, the washing water dropped from the washing spray 102 is diffused on the peripheral surfaces of the rollers 56A and 56B,
Furthermore, it is squeezed down from the peripheral surfaces of the rollers 56A and 56B,
A PS plate in which the gum solution and components in the gum solution attached to the peripheral surfaces of the rollers 56A and 56B are removed, and the components in the gum solution fixed to the peripheral surfaces of the rollers 56A and 56B are processed by the PS plate processor 10. 12 can be prevented from deteriorating the finish quality by being attached to the surface or damaging the surface.

On the other hand, the roller 56 to which the gum solution has adhered
A and 56B, when the rotation of the rollers 56A and 56B is stopped, these rollers 56A and 56B
The contact portions of B may be stuck by the gum solution. If the rotation of the pair of conveying rollers 56 is to be started in such a state, a large load is applied to a gear or the like that transmits the driving force to the pair of conveying rollers 56, and if a large torque is applied suddenly, damage such as tooth breakage of the gears may occur. May be caused. Also, if a large torque is suddenly applied to separate the rollers 56A and 56B attached to each other, the peripheral surfaces of the rollers 56A and 56B may be damaged.

The transport controller 118 controls the transmission of such a driving force by damage to the components, the roller 56A,
In order to prevent damage to 56B, drive control of the transport motor 144 is performed so that the output torque of the transport motor 114 gradually increases.

Here, the drive control of the transport motor 114 by the drive controller 118 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the present embodiment, as an example, the time interval (time Ts) for changing the _ON time T _ON is set to 0.5 sec. In addition, the memory 126 stores the power (AC voltage) supplied to the transport motor 114 such that the power (AC voltage) supplied to the transport motor 114 increases by 10% of the effective value of the voltage set to the reference rotation speed at each time Ts. The set time data is stored.

This flowchart is executed when the power switch (not shown) of the PS plate processor 10 is turned on to start the operation. In the first step 200, it is confirmed whether or not the transport roller pair 56 is to be cleaned. At this time, if the stop time of the PS plate processor 10 is short or the operation start-up has been completed, a negative determination is made in step 200, and the process proceeds to step 202, where the normal operation for transporting the PS plate 12 at a constant speed is performed. Control is executed.

Here, when performing roller cleaning, an affirmative determination is made in step 200, and the drive control of the transport motor 114 is performed in accordance with the roller cleaning. In the drive control at the time of roller cleaning, the initial value (initial value) of the time data stored in the memory 126 is read in step 204,
In the next step 206, the ON time T _ON in a half cycle of the AC voltage is set from the time data.

Thereafter, in step 208, the power supply / conveyance to the transport motor 114 is determined based on the _ON time T _ON.
At the same time, the timer 136 is stopped at step 210.
Is reset / started to start measuring elapsed time.

As a result, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the energization / interruption of the transport motor 114 is repeated according to the _ON time T _ON during a half cycle of the AC voltage. Power is supplied and the operation is started by this power. At this time, since the ON time T _ON is short, the effective value of the input AC voltage is low, and the transport motor 114 starts rotating with a small output torque.

On the other hand, in the flowchart of FIG. 5, in the next step 212, it is confirmed whether or not the time T measured by the timer 136 has reached the time Ts.
If the determination at step s is affirmative, the routine proceeds to step 214, where it is determined whether or not the setting of the _ON time T _ON is at the final stage. Moves to step 216, reads the time data of the next stage from the memory, and sets the next ON time T _ON based on the time data (step 206,
At the same time, the timer 136 is reset / started (step 210).

In this way, the ON time T _ON for driving the transport motor 114 is gradually increased, and when the final stage is reached, the effective value of the AC voltage supplied to the transport motor 114 becomes a predetermined voltage (AC power supply). 122), a negative determination is made in step 214 and the process proceeds to step 202.
Start normal control.

As described above, by gradually increasing the _ON time T _ON , the effective value of the AC voltage supplied to the transport motor 114 is gradually increased.

When the effective value of the supplied AC voltage is low, the output torque of the transport motor 114 is small. For this,
Immediately after the operation of the drive motor 114 is started, the conveying roller pair 56
A large torque is not applied to the gear that transmits the driving force to the gear.

As a result, even if the rollers 56A and 56B are fixed by the gum solution, a large torque is not applied to the gear, so that the gear is not damaged.

On the other hand, by gradually increasing the _ON time T _ON , the output torque of the transport motor 114 gradually increases and increases. As a result, the rotational torque applied to the rollers 56A and 56B gradually increases, and the sticking of the gum solution is gradually removed when the sticking is performed by the gum solution. At this time, since the ON time T _ON and the OFF time T _OFF are set during the half cycle of the AC voltage, the output torque does not become uneven even if the power supply is repeatedly stopped.

In this way, the conveying roller pair 56 releases the sticking state of the rollers 56A and 56B by the gum solution in this manner, and thus the gear of the driving force transmission system by forcibly peeling off the sticking by the gum solution. Damaged, roller 56
There is no damage to the peripheral surfaces of A and 56B. Also,
The gum liquid adhering to the peripheral surface of the rollers 56A and 56B from which the sticking has been released is washed away by the washing water supplied from the washing spray 102.

As described above, in the PS plate processor 10, even if the rollers 56A and 56B of the pair of conveying rollers 56 for squeezing out the excess gum solution from the PS plate 12 are adhered by the components in the gum solution, This transport roller pair 5
The rollers 56A, 56B are peeled off without damaging the gear transmitting the driving force to the rollers 6A, 56B.
Can be restarted.

At the time of roller cleaning, the transport roller pair 56
Continuous rotation of a predetermined time interval (for example, several tens of seconds to several minutes)
In each case, the effective value of the AC voltage may be increased stepwise each time, and the control of the effective value of the AC voltage is performed only once or several times during the first continuous rotation of the conveying roller pair. It may be performed.

In the present embodiment described above, the ON time T _ON within a half cycle of the AC voltage is set.
However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an off-cycle of an AC voltage for supplying power to the conveyance motor 114 and an off-cycle for stopping the supply are set, and the effective of the So-called cycle control for controlling the value may be performed.

Further, in the present embodiment, an AC motor is used as the transport motor 114 as the driving means, but any control of the output torque is possible, and a DC motor may be used instead of the AC motor. . In this case, an arbitrary control method such as supplying a pulse waveform voltage to the DC motor and controlling the duty ratio can be used.

Further, in this embodiment, the PS plate processor 10 for processing a printing plate (PS plate) such as a photopolymer plate has been described as an example of a photosensitive material processing apparatus. The present invention is applicable to any photosensitive material processing apparatus that uses a processing liquid that may cause sticking between the rollers that form the transport roller pair. When the pair is driven to rotate, it is possible to reliably prevent the parts constituting the driving force transmitting means such as gears for transmitting the driving force to the conveying roller pair from being damaged or the like.

[0102]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the rotation of the roller pair to which the processing liquid is attached is started,
Since the voltage supplied to the drive source that drives the roller pair is gradually increased, the torque applied to the gears that transmit the driving force to the roller pair can be gradually increased, and the rollers stick together. An excellent effect is obtained in that damage to gears and the like due to slippage can be prevented.

In the present invention, since the roller pair can be rotated by gradually increasing the torque, the rollers adhered to each other can be gradually peeled off.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a PS plate processor applied to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a desensitization processing unit for cleaning a roller.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a drive controller that drives a transport motor.

FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of a waveform of an AC voltage supplied to a conveyance motor, and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating an example of a signal for driving the conveyance motor.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an outline of drive control of a transport motor.

FIG. 6A is a diagram schematically illustrating a voltage waveform supplied to a conveyance motor during roller cleaning, and FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating an example of a signal for driving a driver during roller cleaning.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 PS plate processor (photosensitive material processing apparatus) 12 PS plate (photosensitive material) 18 Desensitization processing part 28 Desensitization processing tank 56 Transport roller pair 56A, 56B roller 102 Cleaning spray (cleaning means) 112 Cleaning pump (cleaning means) 114 Conveying motor (AC motor, drive source, drive means) 118 Speed controller (drive control means) 120 Driver (drive control means) 126 Memory 130 Time setting unit (setting means) 132 Timing setting unit (drive control means) 134 Zero cross Detection unit (zero-cross detection means)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shinichi Matsuda 1250 Takematsu, Minamiashigara-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture F-Terminal Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H096 AA06 GA24 2H098 CA02 CA32 DA22

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing a photosensitive material with a processing liquid while transporting the photosensitive material by a pair of rollers, comprising a driving unit to which a power of a predetermined voltage is supplied and the pair of rollers is rotationally driven by driving a driving source. And a drive control means for gradually increasing the voltage of the power supplied to the drive source when starting the rotation drive of the roller pair. 2. When an AC motor driven by AC power is used as the drive source, a zero-cross detection means for detecting a zero-cross point of an AC voltage input as drive power, and when driving of the drive source is started. Setting means for setting a power supply time for each half cycle of the AC voltage, wherein the drive control means supplies the AC power based on a setting result of the setting means and a detection result of the zero-cross detection means. 2. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive source is driven by repeating the shutting down and the shutting off.