JP2004219431A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus, enabling daylight loading and dust proofing of a thermally developable photosensitive film and temperature increase prevention of the inside of the apparatus, and having a structure suitable for making it compact in size. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus 10 comprises a film supply means 11, including a film mounting base 14 for mounting the thermally developable photosensitive film and moving a film-carrying position and a film-loading position for the apparatus body; a first means 13, having at least a heating part, related to image formation; and a second means 12, having at least a heating related to image formation. The first means, the film supply means, and the second means are arranged in this order starting from the upper part of the apparatus, and an exhaust wind passage 71 is provided in between the first means and the film supply means, and an exhaust wind passage 72 is provided between the film supply means and the second means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a photothermographic film.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus that forms a visible image by thermally developing a film made of a photosensitive material for thermal development is known. If the unprocessed state of the film continues while the film package is opened and the film is loaded on the film mounting table of such an apparatus, the film characteristics are changed due to the temperature inside the machine, and an image with an appropriate density cannot be obtained. There are cases.
[0003]
In the case of a large-sized image forming apparatus, it is possible to suppress the thermal effect by separating the heat-generating electrical unit and the heat developing unit from the film mounting unit and providing a cooling air passage in each unit. A major issue is the treatment of heat radiated from inside the aircraft. In addition, arranging a heat insulating material to reduce the amount of heat transfer to the film mounting table hinders miniaturization of the apparatus.
[0004]
On the other hand, when loading the film, pull out the film mounting table, remove the used barrier and this ball, etc., and repeat the operation of loading a new package.Dust such as fiber scraps in the zipper part for opening the package in the supply part If the dust accumulates and leaks into the machine and adheres to the guide for transporting the film, it may cause a flaw or an image defect (for example, a white streak in the transport direction if adhered to an optical system). In addition, when the film is loaded, dust flows out of the film mounting table under the influence of the wind flow due to the insertion operation of the film mounting table with respect to the apparatus main body, accumulates in the lower part of the apparatus over time, transfers to the film, and as a result, image defects (so-called “ White spots ”).
[0005]
As a countermeasure against dust as described above, Patent Document 1 below describes an image / information recording device provided with a fan that operates when a lid is opened when a material is loaded to prevent dust from entering the device. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses that a fan is used to exhaust the inside of a transfer system housing unit to prevent image quality from being deteriorated due to the attachment of minute substances such as dust and dust, and to remove dust and dust floating in the transfer system housing unit by airflow. And a dustproof device that discharges to the outside.
[0006]
However, Patent Documents 1 and 2 both deal with dust and do not refer to measures against the temperature inside the machine, and do not particularly describe the relationship between the temperature inside the machine and the storage stability of the photothermographic film.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-348377
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-250369 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the related art, and provides an image forming apparatus having a structure optimal for miniaturization, capable of loading a photothermographic film into a bright room, preventing dust, and preventing temperature rise in the apparatus. Aim.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a film supply unit including a film mounting table capable of mounting a photothermographic film and moving a film transport position and a film loading position with respect to an apparatus body. A first unit having at least a heating unit related to image formation, and a second unit having at least a heating unit related to image formation, wherein the first unit, the film supply unit, The apparatus further comprises means arranged in the order of the second means and forming an air curtain between the first means and the film supply means and / or between the film supply means and the second means. I do.
[0011]
According to this image forming apparatus, it is possible to perform bright room loading by using a film mounting table movable between a film transport position and a film loading position. In addition, a film supply means is disposed between the first means and the second means, and an air curtain formed above and / or below the film supply means, from at least one of the heat generating portions of the first means and the second means. Since the radiated heat is exhausted to the outside of the apparatus through the exhaust air path, the photothermographic film before processing on the film loading table is not heated more than necessary, thereby suppressing a change (deterioration) in film characteristics and an exhaust air. Dust can be removed through the route. In this way, dust prevention and temperature rise prevention in the apparatus can be realized, and no heat insulating material or the like is required to prevent the temperature rise, which contributes to downsizing of the apparatus.
[0012]
In the above-described image forming apparatus, the first unit is preferably a thermal developing unit including a heating drum that thermally develops the photothermographic film to form a visible image, and the second unit is the thermal developing photosensitive film. It is preferable to use a laser exposure unit that forms a latent image by exposing to a laser beam from a laser light source.
[0013]
The air inlet of the air curtain is preferably provided in the bottom plate of the apparatus main body, and is preferably provided near the film mounting table on the front surface of the apparatus main body, or may be provided in both.
[0014]
In addition, it is preferable to arrange a fan at the air inlet, and it is preferable to arrange a filter at the air inlet for dust prevention measures. Further, it is preferable that a fan is disposed at an air outlet of the air curtain.
[0015]
In each of the above image forming apparatuses, it is preferable to dispose the first unit and the second unit so that the heat value of the first unit is larger than the heat value of the second unit in order to reduce the temperature effect on the film mounting table. Is preferred.
[0016]
Another image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus that uses a heat development process, and is capable of mounting a photothermographic film and moving a film transport position and a film loading position with respect to the apparatus main body. A film supply unit including a mounting unit, a first heat generation unit related to the thermal development process, and a second heat generation unit different from the first heat generation unit. A film supply unit and the second heating unit are arranged in this order, and a unit for forming an air curtain between the film supply unit and the second heating unit below the film supply unit is further provided.
[0017]
According to this image forming apparatus, it is possible to perform bright room loading by using a film mounting table movable between a film transport position and a film loading position. Further, a film supply means is disposed between the first heat generation part and the second heat generation part, and heat radiated from the second heat generation part is formed by an air curtain formed below the film supply means and above the second heat generation part. Since the photothermographic film before being processed by the film loading table is not heated more than necessary, the change (deterioration) of the film characteristics is suppressed, and the dust is removed through the air discharge path. Can be planned. In this way, dust prevention and temperature rise prevention in the apparatus can be realized, and no heat insulating material or the like is required to prevent the temperature rise, which contributes to downsizing of the apparatus.
[0018]
In the above-described image forming apparatus, arranging the first heating unit and the second heating unit such that the amount of heat generated by the first heating unit is larger than the amount of heat generated by the second heating unit is affected by the temperature of the film mounting table. It is preferable in terms of reduction. Further, it is preferable that the second heat generating unit is an electrical unit including an AC power supply or a DC power supply.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a supply unit 11 that takes out a film from a film mounting table 14 on which a film F, which is a sheet-shaped photothermographic material, is mounted, and transports the film. An exposure unit 12 for exposing the exposed film F, a thermal development unit 13 for developing the exposed film F, and an electrical unit 9 including a DC power supply such as 5 V or 24 V, and are stacked from below in this order. Are arranged as follows.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 1, the film mounting table 14 stores a plurality of stacked films F, is configured to be able to be pulled out and pushed into the apparatus main body, and a film package in which the film is wrapped in a state of being pulled out from the apparatus main body. The film in the film package can be conveyed for image formation while being loaded into the apparatus main body while being pushed into the apparatus main body. That is, the supply unit 11 has a suction cup 21 for sucking the film F. The suction cup 21 descends to the position indicated by the broken line in FIG. Bite into 30. By repeating this operation, the film F is taken out one by one, conveyed downward by a pair of conveying rollers 30, and then conveyed horizontally below the exposure unit 12.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 1, the exposure unit 12 applies an infrared light from a laser light source unit 31 via a fθ lens, a polygon mirror 32 and a mirror 33 to a film F conveyed in a horizontal direction by a conveyance roller pair 34. Exposure is performed while scanning with laser light L having a wavelength in the range of 780 to 860 nm, and a latent image corresponding to an exposure image signal is formed.
[0023]
The film F on which the latent image has been formed by the exposure unit 12 is transported upward by the transport roller pair 35 and is transported into the thermal developing unit 13. The heat developing unit 13 includes a heating drum 15 that is heated to a predetermined temperature by energizing a planar heater 19 attached to an inner peripheral surface, and a plurality of guides disposed near the outer periphery of the heating drum 15. A roller 16 is provided with a first cooling unit 17 for cooling while conveying the film heated by the pair of conveying rollers 17a, and a second cooling unit 18 for cooling while conveying the film with the pair of conveying rollers 18a.
[0024]
The film F conveyed to the heat developing unit 13 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 15 between the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 15 and the plurality of guide rollers 16. The latent image of the film F is formed into a visible image by heating and thermally developing the film F while rotating in the rotation direction R of FIG.
[0025]
Thereafter, the heated film F comes out from the left side of the heating drum 131 in FIG. 1, is cooled by the first cooling unit 17, is then conveyed while being cooled by the second cooling unit 18, and is discharged by the discharging unit 36. Is discharged to
[0026]
Next, the film loading position of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 2, the film mounting table 14 of the supply unit 11 in the image forming apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 includes a storage recess 7 capable of loading a large number of films in a film package and storing the film, and a storage recess 7. And a removing unit 6 that is provided integrally on the back side of the device and winds up and removes the loaded barrier bag of the film package.
[0028]
The film mounting table 14 is entirely configured to be able to be pushed into and pulled out from the apparatus main body, and when pushed into the apparatus main body in the direction H of FIG. 2, and the film package can be loaded at the loading position when the film package is pulled out from the apparatus main body in the direction H 'as shown in FIG. Thus, the film mounting table 14 has a structure that can be moved between the film transport position in the apparatus and the film loading position outside the apparatus.
[0029]
Next, the removing section 6 provided on the back side of the film mounting table 14 in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view of a main part showing a removing part of the barrier bag.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 3, when the film package P is loaded into the storage recess 7 of the film mounting table 14 at the film loading position in FIG. 2, the removing unit 6 illustrates one of the guide roller pairs 110 that can be driven to rotate with each other. 3, the plurality of engaging holes at the side ends of the film package P are engaged with the engaging claws 260, and the guide roller pair 110 sandwiches both sides of the barrier bag B of the film package P, The mounting table 14 is pushed into the apparatus main body.
[0031]
Next, the removing unit 6 removes the barrier bag B by rotating the driving roller 300 provided with the engagement claw 260 around the driving roller 300 in the rotation direction c and winding the barrier bag B around the driving roller 300. The laminated film F positioned on the holding member D is exposed in the film mounting table 14. Thus, the film F in the film package P can be conveyed by the suction cup 21 of the supply unit 11 in FIG. As described above, the film mounting table 14 enables the film to be loaded into a bright room.
[0032]
Next, an exhaust passage provided inside the image forming apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a perspective view specifically showing a supply section, a film mounting table, an exposure section, and a pair of transport rollers inside the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 partially omitted from illustration and viewed from above FIG. 4 and viewed from the rear side of FIG. 4 to 6, the illustration of the heat developing unit and the electrical unit is omitted.
[0033]
As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, an air discharge path 71 having an air gap is provided between the thermal developing section 13 and the supply section 11, and a gap is formed between the film loading 14 of the supply section 11 and the exposure section 12. Is provided with an air discharge path 72 composed of an air gap.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of air introduction holes 75 and 76 for introducing air are provided in the bottom plate 74 of the apparatus main body. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, an exhaust fan 73 is disposed near between the film mounting table 14 and the exposure unit 12 for exhausting the inside of the apparatus. Note that a plurality of exhaust fans may be provided.
[0035]
When the inside of the apparatus is exhausted by driving the exhaust fan 73, the air introduced from the air introduction holes 75, 76 of the bottom plate 74 passes through the exhaust air passages 71, 72 as shown by arrows in FIG. 6 is exhausted from the exhaust fan 73 to the outside of the apparatus. As the air is exhausted, the heat is exhausted through the exhaust air passages 71 and 72, so that the gap between the exhaust air passages 71 and 72 forms an air curtain and forms a heat insulating structure that prevents heat transfer.
[0036]
As shown in FIG. 1, in the image forming apparatus 10, the first heat generation group includes the heating drum 15 heated by the heater 19 of the heat developing unit 13, and is arranged at the top of the main body because the heat generation amount is the largest. A second heat generation group is disposed below the group. An exhaust path 71 formed between the first heat generation group and the second heat generation group prevents heat transfer from the first heat generation group to the film mounting table 14.
[0037]
The second heat generation group includes an electrical unit 9 such as a DC power supply with self-heating and an exposure unit 12 including heat generating components such as a laser light source unit 31 and a motor for a polygon mirror 32. The film mounting table 14 and the supply unit 11 that can move between the film loading position and the film pickup position (transport position) are arranged at the highest position of the second heat generation group, and are located between the film mounting table 14 and the second heat generation group. The heat radiated from the heating element such as the exposure unit 12 below the apparatus main body is discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the exhaust path 72 formed in the apparatus, so that the heat transfer from the second heat generating group to the film mounting table 14 is prevented. .
[0038]
As described above, the heat-developable photosensitive film on which the image is not formed on the film mounting table 14 is not heated more than necessary, so that the change (deterioration) of the film characteristics is suppressed. In addition, dust and the like that are carried into the apparatus when the film is loaded on the film mounting table 14 and are likely to flow out of the apparatus due to the pushing operation of the film mounting table 14 also follow the airflow of the exhaust air passages 71 and 72. Since the dust is discharged to the outside, it is possible to prevent the accumulation of dust on the exposure unit 12, the pair of transport rollers 34, and the like. As described above, it is possible to realize the dust prevention and the prevention of temperature rise in the device, and it is not necessary to dispose a heat insulating material or the like for preventing the temperature rise, which contributes to the miniaturization of the device.
[0039]
As described above, the present invention has been described with the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications can be made within the technical idea of the present invention. For example, the air introduction hole may be provided in a portion other than the bottom plate 74 of the apparatus main body in FIG. 5, and may be provided, for example, on the front side of the apparatus (an operation surface for loading a film) or on both sides. In this case, it is preferable to provide an air introduction hole in the lower part of the film mounting table 14 and on the front side, since the effect of preventing temperature rise is large. Further, a filter may be arranged on the air introduction hole side so that dust outside the device does not enter the inside. Further, a fan 77 may be provided on the air introduction hole side as shown by a broken line in FIG.
[0040]
Further, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 1, a communication path 80 is provided in which the gap 81 between the supply section 11 and the film mounting table 14 communicates with the inside of the second cooling section 18 and the exhaust path 71, The cooling air may be sent from the air gap 81 and the exhaust passage 71 into the second cooling unit 18. In this case, an air introduction hole is provided near the gap 81, and the film on the film mounting table 14 is cooled with cooling air to stabilize the film temperature, while the second cooling unit 18 controls the developing temperature of the film. be able to.
[0041]
Further, the film supply means is not limited to the sucker method, but may be a roller feed method or the like. Further, an exhaust path may be further provided between the electrical unit 9 and the transport roller pair 34 and the like.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus having a structure optimal for miniaturization and capable of loading a heat-developable photosensitive film into a bright room, preventing dust and preventing temperature rise in the apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a front side of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side view of a main part showing a removal section of the barrier bag of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view specifically showing a supply unit, a film mounting table, an exposure unit, and a pair of conveying rollers in the image forming apparatus of FIG.
5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the exposure unit omitted and viewed from above FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view partially showing the inside of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 as viewed from the back side of FIG. 4;
9 ... Electric part (second heat generating part)
10 image forming apparatus 11 supply unit (film supply means)
12 Exposure unit (second means, second heat generating unit)
13: thermal developing section (first means, first heat generating section)
14 ... Film mounting table (film supply means)
15 Heating drum 19 Heater 31 Laser light source 71, 72 Air exhaust path 74 Exhaust fan 75, 76 Air introduction hole F Photothermographic film

Claims (12)

Film supply means including a film mounting table capable of mounting the photothermographic film and moving the film transport position and the film loading position with respect to the apparatus main body,
A first unit having at least a heating unit related to image formation;
A second unit having at least a heating unit related to image formation,
The first means, the film supply means, and the second means are arranged in this order from the top of the apparatus main body,
An image forming apparatus further comprising: means for forming an air curtain between the first means and the film supply means and / or between the film supply means and the second means. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first unit is a thermal developing unit including a heating drum for thermally developing the photothermographic film to form a visible image. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second unit is a laser exposure unit that forms a latent image by exposing the photothermographic film with a laser beam from a laser light source. 4. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air inlet of the air curtain is provided in a bottom plate of the apparatus main body. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an air introduction port of the air curtain is provided near the film mounting table on a front surface of the apparatus main body. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a fan is disposed at the air inlet. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a filter is arranged at the air inlet. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a fan is disposed at an air outlet of the air curtain. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a heat value of the first unit is larger than a heat value of the second unit. An image forming apparatus using a thermal development process,
Film supply means including a film mounting means capable of mounting the photothermographic film and moving the film transport position and the film loading position with respect to the apparatus body,
A first heating unit related to the heat development process;
A second heat generating portion different from the first heat generating portion;
The first heating unit, the film supply means, and the second heating unit are arranged in this order from the top of the apparatus main body,
An image forming apparatus further comprising: means for forming an air curtain between the second heat generating portion and a position below the film supply means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a heat value of the first heat generating portion is larger than a heat value of the second heat generating portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second heat generating unit is an electrical unit including an AC power supply or a DC power supply.

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