JP2002341509A - Fixing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fixing device capable of performing excellent fixation to photosensitive thermosensitive recording material by effectively utilizing light from a fluorescent lamp used for the fixation. SOLUTION: A lamp house 14 is equipped with the fluorescent lamp 10 emitting light for fixation to the photosensitive thermosensitive recording material S developed by light irradiation, a back reflector 30 reflecting the light emitted from the fluorescent lamp 10 to a back side, and a side reflector 26 reflecting the light emitted in the width direction of the material S. The reflector 26 is extended from the end position of the light emitting part 10L of the fluorescent lamp 10 to the material S. Thus, the exposure area of a socket 11 or the like, which is a light non-emitting part adjacent to the light emitting part 10L and does not reflect the light, is reduced, and the light from the fluorescent lamp 10 is made to efficiently reach both ends SS in the width direction of the material S.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fixing device for irradiating a recording material with light to perform a fixing process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional optical recording system represented by silver halide photography, a photograph is taken using a photographic film such as a negative film or a positive film, and the photographic film is developed. A process of visualizing a latent image obtained by optically exposing the obtained image information to a recording material such as photographic paper or plain paper is performed to obtain a print. In the following description, a photographic film refers to a film on which a negative image or a positive image is visualized after a subject is photographed and then developed. As described above, in order to obtain a print from a photographic film, it is necessary to visualize the image information recorded on the photographic film on a recording material. Has been used to visualize image information. For example, the recording materials include
There is a light- and heat-sensitive recording material in which a latent image is obtained by optically exposing image information and then developed and fixed by heat development.

A recording process for optically exposing image information to record a latent image, a developing process for visualizing (developing) the latent image by heat treatment, and irradiating light to the photosensitive and heat-sensitive recording material. Thus, a fixing process for fixing the developed image is sequentially performed. By using this light- and heat-sensitive recording material, for example, a color image can be obtained by laminating a single-color light- and heat-sensitive layer that develops each color of yellow, magenta and cyan on a support.

As shown in FIG. 7, for example, a plurality of fluorescent lamps 80 are provided in a fixing device for performing the fixing process.
2 has a lamp house 84 installed therein. The fluorescent lamps 80 are substantially equidistant from each other such that the longitudinal direction is a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction U of the light and heat sensitive recording material S, that is, the short direction is a direction parallel to the feeding direction U of the light and heat sensitive recording material S. It is arranged in.

A mirror surface is formed on the inner surface of the housing 82, and light emitted from the fluorescent lamp 80 to the rear side is reflected by the mirror surface, and is transmitted along with the light emitted downward from the fluorescent lamp 80 along the transport path. The photosensitive surface of the light and heat sensitive recording material S conveyed over the surface 90 is irradiated.

Conventionally, there has been a problem that the amount of light reaching the both ends SS of the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive and heat-sensitive recording material S in the width direction is insufficient, and the fixing process may not be performed sufficiently. Also, there has been a strong demand for more efficiently and effectively using light emitted to the rear side and both side sides of the fluorescent lamp 80.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above fact, the present invention provides a fixing device capable of effectively utilizing light from a fluorescent lamp used for a fixing process and performing a good fixing process on a recording material. The task is to provide.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the recording material that has been developed is arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording material, and is fixed by irradiating the conveyed recording material with light. A fluorescent lamp for processing, a back reflector for reflecting light emitted from the fluorescent lamp to the back side, and a side reflector for reflecting light emitted in the width direction of the recording material, In a fixing device for fixing an image by irradiating the recording material with direct light and reflected light,
The side reflector extends from an end position of a light emitting portion of the fluorescent lamp toward the recording material.

A side reflector extends from the end position of the light emitting portion of the fluorescent lamp toward the recording material, so that a non-light emitting portion adjacent to the light emitting portion and which does not reflect light (such as a socket). Since the exposed area is reduced, the light from the fluorescent lamp can efficiently reach the photosensitive surface of the recording material. Further, such a portion is at both ends of the fluorescent lamp, exposure of this portion is avoided, and reflected light from the side reflector reaches both ends in the width direction of the recording material (both ends along the transport direction). In addition, it is possible to avoid the shortage of the light amount reaching both ends in the width direction of the recording material.

In this specification, the term "housing" includes a cover that partially covers the fluorescent lamp (for example, a cover that covers only the upper side of the fluorescent lamp).

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluorescent lamp which is arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording material subjected to the development processing and irradiates the conveyed recording material with light to perform a fixing process; A back reflector that reflects light emitted from the fluorescent lamp to the back side, and a side reflector that reflects light emitted in the width direction of the recording material, includes direct light and reflected light from the fluorescent lamp. In the fixing device for fixing an image by irradiating the recording material, a distance between the fluorescent lamp and the rear reflector is gradually increased from a central portion to both ends of the fluorescent lamp.

The light emitted from the fluorescent lamp immediately above and reaching the rear reflector is reflected toward the widthwise end of the recording material from the arrival position. Thus, the light emitted from the fluorescent lamp to the back side can be effectively used to irradiate both ends in the width direction of the recording material, and it is easy to secure the minimum amount of light at both ends in the width direction.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluorescent lamp which is arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the recording material subjected to the development processing and irradiates the transported recording material with light to perform a fixing process; A back reflector that reflects light emitted from the fluorescent lamp to the back side, and a side reflector that reflects light emitted in the width direction of the recording material, includes direct light and reflected light from the fluorescent lamp. In the fixing device for fixing an image by irradiating the recording material, at least one of an end of the back reflector and an end in a conveying direction of the recording material has a concave curved surface with respect to the fluorescent lamp, and Light emitted from a lamp and reaching the end of the back reflector is reflected toward the recording material.

As a result, light can be used effectively, leading to energy saving.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of the fluorescent lamps are arranged so as to have a non-uniform height with respect to the rear reflector.

With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the light emitted toward the end of the back reflector in the conveying direction of the recording material from hitting the adjacent fluorescent lamps, so that the light can be used more effectively.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluorescent lamp having a slit-shaped transparent portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the fluorescent tube, and a reflecting surface formed on the inner surface of the fluorescent tube except for the transparent portion. Are arranged substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the recording material that has been subjected to the development processing, and the transparent portion is directed toward the transport path of the recording material.

When a plurality of such fluorescent lamps are arranged,
The direction of the transparent part of each fluorescent lamp may be adjusted in advance so that the light emitted from the transparent part reaches the same position on the recording material conveyed on the conveyance path.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since all the light emitted from the fluorescent lamp reaches the recording material, the light can be used extremely effectively.

It is possible to combine the invention described in any one of claims 3 to 5 with the invention described in claim 1 or 2 so that light can be effectively used. In addition, it is possible to avoid a shortage of the amount of light reaching both ends in the width direction of the recording material.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments using photosensitive and heat-sensitive recording materials as recording materials.

[First Embodiment] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixing device according to the first embodiment has a lamp house (lamp unit) having a plurality of fluorescent lamps 10 in a housing 12.
14. The fluorescent lamps 10 are substantially equidistant from each other so that the longitudinal direction is orthogonal to the feeding direction U of the light and heat sensitive recording material S, that is, the short direction is parallel to the feeding direction U of the light and heat sensitive recording material S. It is arranged in.

In the lower part of the front side and the back side of the housing 12, there are formed a carry-in port 16 and a carry-out port 18 for carrying in and out the photosensitive and heat-sensitive recording material S which has been developed by thermal development or the like, respectively. The heat-sensitive recording material S is transferred to the transport path 20
When the recording material S is conveyed through the housing 12 and passes through the housing 12, the light from the fluorescent lamp 10 is irradiated on the photosensitive surface, which is the upper surface of the photosensitive and heat-sensitive recording material S, to perform a fixing process.

At the upper part of the side wall of the housing 12 along the feeding direction of the light and heat sensitive recording material S, a storage part 13 surrounding the sockets 11 at both ends of the fluorescent lamp 10 is formed, and as shown in FIG. 13 is provided with an electrode portion 15 that engages with an electrode terminal protruding from the socket 11 and supplies electric power for discharge to the fluorescent lamp 10. The inner end 13E of the lower part of the storage portion 13 is the inner end 11E of the socket 11.
Is located directly below.

A side reflector (side reflection surface) 26 is formed downward from the inner end 13E of the storage section 13. The lower end 26E of the side reflector 26 reaches the vicinity of both sides 20E of the transport path 20. ing. A rear reflector (rear reflection surface) 30 is formed on an upper portion of the housing 12.

Therefore, the light emitted from the fluorescent lamp 10 toward the rear side, that is, upward, is reflected by the rear reflector 30, and a part of the light is further reflected by the side reflector 26, and emitted downward from the fluorescent lamp 10. The photosensitive surface of the light and heat sensitive recording material S is irradiated together with the light.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the light- and heat-sensitive recording material S is provided with the socket 1 which is a non-light emitting portion of the fluorescent lamp 10.
1 is covered by the housing 13, and the side reflector 26 is connected to the inner end portion 13 </ b> E of the housing 13, that is, the light emitting unit 1 which is a light emission effective portion of the fluorescent lamp 10.
It is connected directly below the end position of 0L, and extends downward from here (see FIG. 2). Therefore, the light emitting unit 1 of the fluorescent lamp 10
0L is emitted from the non-light-emitting portion, ie, the socket 1.
The light is reflected by the side reflector 26 without being emitted toward 1, and reaches the light and heat sensitive recording material S. The interval between the lower ends 26E of the side reflectors 26 is the same as the width of the transport path 20, that is, substantially equal to the width of the light and heat sensitive recording material S.

In this way, it is possible to avoid a shortage of light reaching the widthwise opposite ends SS of the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive and heat-sensitive recording material S, thereby sufficiently performing the fixing process.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, in the second embodiment, the shapes of the back reflector 40 and the side reflector 46 of the lamp house are different from those in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

The rear reflector 40 has a convex shape with respect to the fluorescent lamp 10, and both side portions 40E are raised above the central portion 40C. Accordingly, the distance d between the fluorescent lamp 10 and the rear reflector 40 is closest at the central portion 10C of the fluorescent lamp 10 and gradually increases from the central portion 10C of the fluorescent lamp 10 to both end portions 10T. The side reflector 46 extends downward from the end of the back reflector 40, and has a slope at the lower end from the fluorescent lamp 10 to the transport path 20 so as to correspond to the width of the transport path 20 for the light and heat sensitive recording material S. I have.

As a result, the light emitted from the central portion 40C of the fluorescent lamp 10 to the rear side and reaches the rear reflector 40 is reflected toward both ends in the width direction of the light and heat sensitive recording material S from this arrival position. . Also, both ends 1 of the fluorescent lamp 10
The light emitted to the back side from 0T and the vicinity thereof and reaching the back reflector 40 is reflected by the back reflector 40 and proceeds toward the side reflector 46, further reflected by the side reflector 46, and finally goes downward, The photosensitive thermal recording material S mainly reaches both ends in the width direction of the photosensitive surface (upper surface). Therefore, the light emitted from the fluorescent lamp 10 to the back side can be effectively used to irradiate the width direction both ends SS of the light and heat sensitive recording material S.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the third embodiment differs from the first and second embodiments in the shape of the back reflector 50.

In the third embodiment, of the rear reflector 50, the rear reflector side portion 50I constituting the loading side portion of the light and heat sensitive recording material S is formed into a concave curved surface with respect to the fluorescent lamp 10I near the rear reflector side portion 50I. ing. Similarly, the back reflector side portion 50E constituting the unloading side portion of the light and heat sensitive recording material S has a fluorescent lamp 1 close to the back reflector side portion 50E.
It has a concave shape with respect to 0E.

The positions of the front edges 50T of the rear reflector side portions 50I and 50E are such that the cylindrical surfaces of the fluorescent lamps 10I and 10E are covered by 1/4 turn or more, in other words,
The upper half of the fluorescent lamps 10I and 10E is set to be covered by the rear reflector 50. Then, the light is emitted from the fluorescent lamp 10 and the rear reflector side portions 50I, 50
The light that has reached E is transferred to the photosensitive and heat-sensitive recording material S.
The curved surface shape of the concave curved surface is determined so as to be reflected toward.

The back reflector side portions 50I, 50E
Are connected to the upper end edge of the side reflector 56, respectively.

According to the third embodiment, the back reflector side portions 50I and 50E emitted from the fluorescent lamps 10I and 10E, respectively.
Since the light reaching each of E can be reflected downward, that is, toward the conveyed photosensitive and heat-sensitive recording material S, the light can be effectively used and energy can be saved.

[Fourth Embodiment] Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, in the fourth embodiment, the height positions of the four fluorescent lamps 10 with respect to the rear reflector 60 are changed as compared with the third embodiment. That is, the fluorescent lamps 10I, 10I, 10I,
Adjust the height of E to the fluorescent lamps 10CI and 10CE near the center.
Lower than In addition, the shape of the rear reflector side portions 60I and 60E is changed in accordance with this, so that the light emitted from the fluorescent lamps 10I and 10E whose height has been lowered is reflected downward, as compared with the third embodiment. The end portion extends downward and is connected to the upper end of the side reflector 66.

In the fourth embodiment, the light emitted from the fluorescent lamp 10CI toward the rear reflector side 60I arrives at the rear reflector side 60I without being blocked by the fluorescent lamp 10I close to the carry-in side, and the light is emitted downward. Similarly, the light emitted from the fluorescent lamp 10CE toward the rear reflector side 60E is reflected by the fluorescent light-sensitive recording material S and reaches the photosensitive surface, without being blocked by the fluorescent lamp 10E close to the discharge side. The light reaches the rear reflector side portion 60E, is reflected downward, and reaches the light and heat sensitive recording material S.

As a result, the light can be more effectively used than in the third embodiment, which leads to further energy saving.

[Fifth Embodiment] Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, in the fifth embodiment, a reflective surface 74 is formed on the inner surface, and a slit-shaped transparent portion 7 is formed along the longitudinal direction.
2 is arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the developed photosensitive and heat-sensitive recording material S. When this arrangement is performed, the transparent section 72 is arranged toward the transport path 20 of the light and heat sensitive recording material S.

According to the fifth embodiment, all the light emitted from the fluorescent lamp 70 reaches the light and heat sensitive recording material S, so that the light can be used extremely effectively.

As shown in FIG. 6, the light emitted from the slit-shaped transparent portion 72 of each fluorescent lamp reaches the same position on the conveyed photosensitive and heat-sensitive recording material S. The orientation of the transparent part 72 of each fluorescent lamp may be adjusted and arranged.

[0043]

According to the present invention having the above-described structure, a fixing device which can effectively use light from a fluorescent lamp used for a fixing process and can perform a good fixing process on a recording material is realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a lamp house of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of the lamp house of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view of a lamp house of a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a lamp house according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of a lamp house according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing that a light emitted from a transparent portion of a fluorescent lamp is applied to a light and heat sensitive recording material in a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional lamp house.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Fluorescent lamp 10C Central part 10T Both ends 10L Light-emitting part 13E Inner end (end position) 14 Lamp house (fixing device) 26 Side reflector 30 Back reflector 40 Back reflector 46 Side reflector 50 Back reflector 50I Rear reflector side (Back surface) End of reflector) 50E Back reflector side (end of back reflector) 56 Side reflector 60 Back reflector 64 Lamp house (fixing device) 66 Side reflector 60I Back reflector side (end of back reflector) 60E Back reflector side (End of back reflector) 70 Fluorescent lamp 72 Transparent part 74 Reflecting surface

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A fluorescent lamp which is arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to a conveying direction of a developed recording material, and irradiates the conveyed recording material with light to perform a fixing process. A back reflector that reflects emitted light, and a side reflector that reflects light emitted in the width direction of the recording material, irradiates the recording material with direct light and reflected light from the fluorescent lamp. A fixing device for fixing an image, wherein the side reflector extends from an end position of a light emitting portion of the fluorescent lamp toward the recording material. 2. A fluorescent lamp, which is arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to a conveying direction of the developed recording material and irradiates the conveyed recording material with light to perform a fixing process, A back reflector that reflects emitted light, and a side reflector that reflects light emitted in the width direction of the recording material, irradiates the recording material with direct light and reflected light from the fluorescent lamp. A fixing device for fixing an image, wherein a distance between the fluorescent lamp and the rear reflector is gradually widened from a central portion to both end portions of the fluorescent lamp. 3. A fluorescent lamp which is arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to a conveying direction of the developed recording material and irradiates the conveyed recording material with light to perform a fixing process; A back reflector that reflects emitted light, and a side reflector that reflects light emitted in the width direction of the recording material, irradiates the recording material with direct light and reflected light from the fluorescent lamp. In the fixing device for fixing an image, at least one of an end of the back reflector and an end in a conveying direction of the recording material is concavely curved with respect to the fluorescent lamp, and is emitted from the fluorescent lamp to emit the rear surface. A fixing device, wherein light reaching an end of a reflector is reflected toward the recording material. 4. The fixing device according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of the fluorescent lamps are arranged so as to have a non-uniform height with respect to the rear reflector. 5. A fluorescent lamp having a slit-shaped transparent portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the fluorescent tube and a reflecting surface formed on the inner surface of the fluorescent tube excluding the transparent portion, and the processed fluorescent lamp is recorded. A fixing device, wherein the fixing device is disposed substantially perpendicular to a material conveying direction, and the transparent portion is arranged to face a recording material conveying path.